He gently laid the person down on the bed.
Chu Xiangtian returned in a dusty, exhausted state, his whole body covered in dirt, intending to change his clothes first.
But as soon as he stood up, the Little Marquis tugged at the hem of his garment.
Chu Xiangtian was momentarily taken aback and had no choice but to lean back against the bedside.
The lowered head immediately nuzzled affectionately, curling up in his arms.
“Want to hear me explain?”
His hands wrapped around the other person, one hand softly patting their back like soothing a restless little beast, slowly stroking from the top of the head down to the back.
Chu Xiangtian felt the body in his arms relax a little, then nuzzle against his chest again with lingering affection.
His chest felt like it was holding a warm, burning liquid, scorching his mouth dry.
The person in his arms sniffed, brows lowered, seemingly lost in thought.
After a long moment, they gave a nasal “hmm,” but their hands still didn’t loosen their grip.
His dry throat moved slightly, then he pressed a light kiss on the top of their head.
For a moment, Chu Xiangtian didn’t know where to begin.
After a long hesitation, he slowly spoke.
“I’m the emperor’s own younger brother. I came to Sifang Town to investigate the Jin Kuang Tan Mo Case.”
He could feel the body in his arms tense slightly; Chu Xiangtian sighed quietly and patted them to soothe.
He continued, “Originally, I was supposed to return to Qingyang once the case was closed, but there was a little accident…”
At this, a smile crept into his voice.
The Little Marquis shifted slightly in his arms, as if urging him to explain what kind of accident.
Strong emotions churned in his chest.
Worried that showing too much anxiety might scare the Little Marquis, he closed his eyes to suppress it and spoke as slowly as he could.
“I fell in love with someone.”
The room was quiet.
Outside, the cicadas sang, and bright moonlight poured through the window, scattering silver frost across the floor.
The Little Marquis remained silent.
Chu Xiangtian, unusually nervous, had always pampered the Little Marquis.
Partly because he was willing to, and partly because he had a hidden motive—to make the Little Marquis utterly dependent on him.
This accidental departure, though not by his design, proved that his intentions were beginning to bear fruit.
Feeling both tenderness and apprehension, he wanted Fu Tian’s complete love.
Dependence was a good start, but it was still not enough.
He wanted more.
The person in his arms shifted slightly again, and Chu Xiangtian felt their body stiffen once more; their pressed bodies grew hotter.
Fu Tian lifted his head, eyes and nose reddened, but his black, moist eyes looked at Chu Xiangtian and asked, “Is that person… me?”
He was a little nervous, his pale cheeks flushed red.
His fingers unconsciously clenched Chu Xiangtian’s arm, like a little beast lured by sweet candy—fearful, yet resolute, stepping closer to the sweetness.
Chu Xiangtian’s heart instantly melted into syrupy sweetness.
His dry throat slid twice as he restrained himself to press a kiss on Fu Tian’s forehead.
“Yes, it’s always been you.”
His lowered lashes trembled slightly.
The kissed spot tingled, quickly spreading through his limbs and body.
Even his heart thudded wildly.
Feeling the pounding grow stronger, Fu Tian mustered courage and pressed a misty kiss on Chu Xiangtian’s forehead.
“I-I like you too.”
The moment he spoke his feelings, all the previous anxiety and worry made sense.
All the joy and sorrow stemmed from liking him, and fearing he wouldn’t come back.
Chu Xiangtian thought he would eventually be worn down by Fu Tian’s sweetness.
How could there be someone so obedient and lovable?
Someone you want to hold in your mouth for fear of melting, hold in your hands for fear of breaking, and keep close to your heart every moment.
The Little Marquis looked at him nervously.
Chu Xiangtian chuckled softly.
One hand wrapped around his waist, the other pressed on the back of his head, and he kissed him gently.
First on the forehead, then the eyebrows, then the cheeks…
The lingering pecks finally landed on the soft, sweet lips.
The Little Marquis’s lips were very soft.
Kissing them felt like a warm, gentle floral fragrance.
Chu Xiangtian lightly held them with his mouth, tracing their shape with his tongue.
Fu Tian clutched at his chest, softly panting.
His thick black lashes fluttered like little fans.
When they lifted slightly, they revealed the watery light within.
The gentle movements gradually became more intense.
With tender dominance, Chu Xiangtian pried open the tightly shut lips and deepened the kiss.
Fu Tian wrapped his arms around his neck.
Without realizing it, he was already sitting on Chu Xiangtian’s lap, their bodies pressed intimately together, feeling each other’s uncontrollable heartbeats.
When the kiss ended, both were gasping for breath.
Chu Xiangtian’s restrained gaze suppressed the stirrings in his body.
He lifted Fu Tian back onto the bed.
“I’m going to change my clothes.”
He needed to calm down a bit more.
Fu Tian reluctantly tugged at his clothing, eyes silently pleading for him to stay.
“Be good, I’ll be back soon.”
With a light laugh, Chu Xiangtian pressed a soothing kiss at the corner of his lips before turning away.
His mind still occupied with him, Chu Xiangtian quickly took a cold shower, changed into clean clothes, then returned to the room.
When he entered, he saw Dai Fu still waiting in the outer room, looking hesitant and wanting to say something.
Chu Xiangtian closed the bedroom door right in front of him.
Fu Tian half-reclined on the bed.
His eyes lit up when he saw Chu Xiangtian, happily scooting over to make room for him.
Chu Xiangtian took off his outer robe and sat down beside him.
He reached out and pulled Fu Tian into his arms, wrapping him from behind.
“Want to keep listening?”
“Yes,” Fu Tian nodded.
His chin rubbed against the fluffy top of his head.
Chu Xiangtian resumed his story.
The Jin Kuang Tan Mo Case implicated a large number of officials.
The entire Nanmíng Commandery and even neighboring Xingdong Commandery were deeply involved.
And those officials all belonged to the faction of the Two Princes.
“The Second Prince, Chu Fengzhao, is the Imperial Concubine’s son,” Chu Xiangtian skimmed over some of the bloodier details.
“His maternal family, the Qingguo Duke’s lineage, has deep roots in the south.
Because of this, their power base in the south is very strong.
The Jin Mine case implicated many officials, causing them to fall from grace, but it was also a disguised move to weaken the Second Prince’s influence.”
The Second Prince Chu Fengzhao?
Wasn’t that the rebellious Zhaowang…
Fu Tian’s heart skipped a beat.
Chu Xiangtian continued, “I returned this time to suppress the Second Prince’s rebellion.
The local forces rooted there were all — uprooted.
There were open and covert attacks in court as well.
The new emperor’s ascension openly nurtured his own faction.
Officials who previously supported the Second Prince were successively dismissed or transferred under various pretexts.
The Second Prince, cornered and desperate, then bet everything on a coup.”
He planned to seize the emperor by surprise.
Rebels would kill disobedient ministers on the spot.
As long as they controlled the capital, with the Taifu as hostage, ascending the throne legally would be just a matter of time.
But he severely underestimated the emperor.
Though the emperor had acted mild these past three years, his innate ruthlessness wasn’t any less than Chu Xiangtian, who was known as the God of Killing.
When the emperor learned of the Second Prince’s plan, he set a trap, even willing to use himself as bait to lure him out.”
Chu Xiangtian added, “My summons back was just to prevent the Second Prince from having any backup.
But they all overestimated him.
If it weren’t for the Qingguo Duke Manor’s support behind him, the Second Prince probably wouldn’t have even gathered enough people for a coup.”
Fu Tian listened in terror, quickly turning to look at him with worried eyes.
“Were you hurt?”
Chu Xiangtian held his hand and kissed it, placing it on his chest.
His tone was teasing, “Why don’t you check?”
“You…” Fu Tian blushed but still shyly felt around his body.
He relaxed only after not finding any bandages.
The previous rebellion of the Yijun lasted several years.
He still remembered the vague rumors from those years, saying that the battlefield was littered with corpses.
The Yijun’s righteous cause attracted many refugees.
Coupled with natural disasters draining the treasury, even the valiant Yu Wang needed years to suppress the rebellion fully.
In his previous life, Fu Tian hid in his own small world after losing his family, never paying attention to the outside world.
But even the surrounding chatter made it clear that it was an extremely brutal war.
Though this lifetime’s path was different from the last, he knew a rebellion was never as simple as it seemed.
Looking at the gentle expression on Chu Xiangtian’s face, Fu Tian leaned in to kiss his chin, then nuzzled his neck affectionately.
He thought to himself that he should find a time to tell him about the previous life.
He hadn’t dared before because Chu Xiangtian lacked the power.
But now, maybe Chu Xiangtian could find a better way to solve things.
Chu Xiangtian thought he was scared.
He gently touched Fu Tian’s ear, soothing in a warm voice, “It’s all settled now. Nothing to worry about. Don’t be afraid.”
Fu Tian gave a soft “hmm” and let out a tiny yawn.
Noticing his drowsiness, Chu Xiangtian gently released him onto the pillow, then turned to look at him.
“Sleepy?”
Fu Tian nodded but was reluctant to close his eyes.
He stared at Chu Xiangtian as if afraid that if he shut his eyes, the person before him would disappear.
“Come on.”
Chu Xiangtian chuckled and covered his eyes with his hand.
A faint tickling spread in his palm.
He leaned down and kissed Fu Tian’s lips softly.
“Go to sleep, be good. I won’t go anywhere.”
Fu Tian was truly exhausted.
After a long day and emotional ups and downs, he soon fell asleep.
Chu Xiangtian gently adjusted him in his arms and pulled him close.
His eyes overflowed with tenderness.