Forcefully Doting On You - v3c26

 

Chapter 82

Dressed in an apricot-yellow python robe, Qin Zhongjin sat with a pen in hand, listening to the report from a small eunuch by his side.

Now, he had become the crown prince.

To achieve this position, Qin Zhongjin worked several times harder than usual. He started to meticulously manage the power within the court by using the connections from his Empress mother and Han Dan. Most importantly, Qin Zhongjin attained the roles of the overseer and grader for the annual imperial exams.

In the current Da Liang dynasty, the imperial exams had become the most fair method of talent selection. Among the newly successful candidates, some were from affluent clans while others were scholars from humble backgrounds. The affluent clans were deeply entrenched in power, which Qin Zhongjin could leverage and intentionally befriend. As for the scholars from humble backgrounds, given his status as a fair and unbiased official, a small favor could easily win their good graces.

This year's top scorer, Su Yao, was no exception. His remarkable literary compositions could potentially make him a valuable asset. Even though his ways were still a bit immature, Qin Zhongjin believed that with proper refinement, Su Yao might be shaped into a powerful tool that could help him ascend to the throne, consolidate his rule, and eventually devote time to Cai Cai without worries.

However, before that, there was still a long journey ahead for Qin Zhongjin.

Even though he had become the crown prince and deterred Qin Zhongyi, preventing him from blatantly coveting Cai Cai in his presence, it also meant that he was busier and had less time to meet with Cai Cai. Moreover, being in such a high position attracted more scrutiny. Before officially ascending to the throne, anything could happen, and Qin Zhongjin had to be even more cautious.

However, Mu Cai gave him a pleasant surprise.

The mere thought brought a wash of joy over him that he couldn't help but display a rare smile on his usually solemn face.

He had assumed that a pure and naive childlike Cai Cai would not harbor any feelings beyond brotherly affection for him until he confessed his feelings.

But surprisingly, the heavens smiled upon him.

Cai Cai confessed his feelings to him!

He felt the same way about him, he shared those feelings! When he saw a light blush spread across his pale face and heard him stutter out his feelings, his mind nearly flew to the heavens. He wished he could immediately hold Cai Cai in his arms, leave the brutal palace, and be forever with him.

Sadly, Qin Zhongjin couldn’t do that.

He had his emperor father above him and Qin Zhongyi behind him. Once he lost his power, Qin Zhongjin would not be able to protect Cai Cai. He couldn't even reciprocate his feelings on the spot because of the poor location chosen for Cai Cai's confession.

Cai Cai confessed his feelings around noon, along the route Qin Zhongjin had to take daily in the palace. Even though it seemed deserted, there were numerous places like the surrounding thick trees and rockery pools that could hide people. Furthermore, this path was quite a distance from both his residence and the open stone road in front of the court, making it difficult to converse while moving.

Cai Cai, with his pure and simple mind, had not considered such complications. However, Qin Zhongjin had to. The palace was no stranger to incidents thought to be concealed but were disclosed by countless spies. Cai Cai, who had not experienced thought as such, could not understand. But Qin Zhongjin, who was raised in such an environment, did.

His years of self-restraint were nearly shattered by the joy in his heart. Qin Zhongjin had to quickly lower his head to hide his upturned lips. After a while, he solemnly said, "You are still young, it is too early to think about these things. You should focus on your studies."

Mu Cai did not expect such a reaction from Brother Zhongjin. Initially, when he did not receive an immediate response, he assumed that Qin Zhongjin did not hold any such feelings for him. Although he felt relieved, he was also disheartened.

Nevertheless, his response seemed to leave room for the future, igniting a tiny sliver of hope in Mu Cai's heart, but it also saddened him.

His brother Zhongjin, unlike before, no longer pampered him like he used to.

At this moment, Qin Zhongjin changed the subject and asked, "Is there anything that you are missing recently, Cai Cai? Do you want any type of cake? Is there any new plaything you want? You can tell brother Zhongjin, I will immediately send someone to deliver it to your residence."

Mu Cai was discontent with him changing the subject and curtly said, "I don't want anything."

Knowing Cai Cai was upset, Qin Zhongjin softly placated, "It's alright if you don't want anything. I recently received a batch of novelties from the foreign lands. I'll have them sent to your residence."

As he said this, he gazed at Cai Cai's white cheeks and long eyelashes, a slight hint of the greedy longing showing in his eyes. He continued, "I remember you liked to play with rice bags when you were little, saying they were soft and very comforting. I will send some to you too."

Mu Cai didn't understand why he mentioned this. He felt that Brother Zhongjin didn't take his confession seriously and still treated him like a child. Annoyed and hurt, he frowned with a mix of anger and sorrow in his eyes. He didn't have the heart to engage with Qin Zhongjin any longer and merely nodded his head in a nonspecific manner.

Thinking of this, Qin Zhongjin, adorned in a yellow python robe and sitting behind his desk, couldn't help but smile. Although Cai Cai was angry, he was too soft-hearted towards him. He must have noticed the little note he had slipped into the rice bag he sent him, or else he, delicate and unable to stand being wronged, would not have come looking for him time and time again.

As long as he understood his feelings, that was enough.

However, he never expected that the young Cai Cai could be quite jealous, even giving him cold glares when he was discussing strategies with Su Yao. Qin Zhongjin secretly adored his angry yet caring demeanor. Nevertheless, he had to pretend to scold him on the surface to avoid any suspicions from others.

Standing outside the virtual scene, Mu Cai listened to the monologue, “…”

What rice bag??? The original body didn't even bother opening it!

The arm around his waist tightened, and Qin Zhongjin's head leaned closer, sniffing the nape of his neck, "Cai Cai, did you not read the note at all? It turns out that I was just kidding myself, and you've long grown tired of me."

His voice was filled with despair, like a neglected ancient maid lamenting her husband's indifference.

Mu Cai gave him a blank look and tried pushing his head away, "I'm not a child. Who would care about some useless rice bags?"

Just as he reached his hand out, a lean, strong hand caught his. Qin Zhongjin held his hand up to his lips, gently dropping a kiss on it, his face revealing a seldom seen affection, "In my heart, Cai Cai will always be the child who needs to be cherished."

Mu Cai was about to speak when suddenly, they heard a ruckus in front of them.

Looking up, they saw Qin Zhongyi, thoroughly bound, glaring angrily in their direction. His mouth was muffled by a golden lock belt stained with scarlet blood stains, rendering him only able to issue hums and grunts of protest.

Qin Zhongjin glanced over, the affectionate look on his face now entirely vanished, a tight smile playing on his lips, as he said to Qin Zhongyi in a deep voice, "What are you shouting for? Your scene is coming up."

________________________

In the virtual scene.

A smile rarely appeared on Qin Zhongjin's face.

The feeling of mutual affection was truly sublime. It would be even better if Cai Cai could spend the days and nights with him.

Qin Zhongjin didn't hear clearly what the eunuch next to him was saying. He was reminded of the almond crisps that were just sent to his mansion from the palace. These were made by the master chef in the palace and were only available at specific times, always in limited quantities.

Cai Cai liked snacks. He would give all of it to him.

Thinking of this, Qin Zhongjin turned his head and ordered the eunuch, "Take the almond crisps sent from the mansion to Mu Cai. Give them all to him."

The eunuch gave a bitter smile, but still honestly repeated what he had said before, "Your Highness, if you want to give something to Young Master Mu, you should go and deliver it yourself. Young Master Mu is waiting outside the palace."

Qin Zhongjin quickly stood up, put down the brush in his hand and started to walk out. The hem of his dragon robe flapped gently along with his hurried steps.

It seemed that Mu Cai had been waiting outside for quite some time.

He quickly stepped forward, a smile surfacing unconsciously. However, he saw the now grown-up young man looking at him coldly and saying calmly, "Your Royal Highness, what do you intend to do about the confession I made to you last time?"

Mu Cai's voice was originally ethereal and melodious, like a mountain stream. At this moment, however, in Qin Zhongjin's ears, it seemed as if spring water had frosted over, chilling to the bone.

He opened his mouth, his voice trembling slightly, carrying a detectable plea, "Cai Cai, don't talk to me like this."

It was akin to being sharply separated, as if everything between them never happened. Everyone could call him "Your Highness," but not Cai Cai. He didn't want to hear that word from the young man's charming lips.

But it seemed that Mu Cai had lost his patience, not even having the time to talk to him properly.

Impatience was evident on his face. With a wave of his sleeve, he turned and left.

This image effortlessly deeply pierced Qin Zhongjin's already hammered heart.

He couldn't help but quietly follow him.

Qin Zhongjin followed Mu Cai from in front of his mansion to the palace gate, finally watching Cai Cai getting into Qin Zhongyi's carriage.

During this time, Cai Cai didn't look back once.

And when Qin Zhongyi saw him, he didn't utter a word to remind Cai Cai, instead, he defiantly shot a glance at himself.

Qin Zhongjin's eyes were red!

Qin Zhongyi! Again, it was Qin Zhongyi!

From an early age, he had coveted his own treasure, Cai Cai. Now as a grown man, he clung onto it like a wolf with a scent of meat, audaciously trying time and again to snatch it away from him!

Experiencing loss of control for the first time since he returned, Qin Zhongjin tore down the calligraphy and paintings from the wall, knocked over the water cup placed at his side, and overthrew his own desk. Stacks of official papers tumbled from the desk, creating a dull, echoing noise.

The junior eunuch at one side, who had never witnessed the usually restrained Third Prince so rattled, was trembling with fear, kneeling outside the door, and did not dare to rise.

Following this, Qin Zhongjin hastened his declaration of war against Qin Zhongyi. As the Emperor had fallen seriously ill for over a year, it was the perfect opportunity for him to consolidate his power and root out the opposition. Originally, Qin Zhongjin strategy was to slowly eliminate Qin Zhongyi's influence within the court. But now, he couldn't wait anymore and his measures became more aggressive.

Qin Zhongyi, cornered with nowhere to flee, could only fight back head on. However, he was no match for the formidable force of both his father and Qin Zhongjin, leading to a daily reduction in his own party members.

Qin Zhongyi's heart was filled with fury, threatening to spill over. After being humiliated in court, he took out his anger on the women at home. Unlike Qin Zhongjin, who would do something foolish like remaining celibate for the woman he had feelings for, Qin Zhongyi had married early and had taken two concubines, and had a mistress.

While he was roughly dominating a concubine, the woman below let out a broken moan of pain, and at the same time he shouted angrily: "Damn it! You are so disobedient! Cai Cai! Mu Cai!"

Mu Cai, standing outside the virtual scene, turned away.

He couldn't bear to watch any longer.

Qin Zhongjin hastened this memory with his hand. He extracted it from Qin Zhongyi's mind to reveal his true identity to the beauty he held.

Even as Qin Zhongyi was coveting his beloved, he was marrying, fathering children, taking concubines, and frolicking with women. By what right could Qin Zhongyi possess his treasure? The one he cherished so much that he wished to pamper it in the palm of his hand?!

The visual in the virtual scene skipped over this part.

Soon, the emperor who had been seriously ill for over a year could no longer hang on; he passed away one night.

Before Qin Zhongjin could completely eradicate Qin Zhongyi's supporters, he lost the strong backing of his father, the emperor. Meanwhile, his previous radical actions had attracted quite a bit of trouble. Amid the chaos, he never forgot the person he held dear to his heart.

Even when Qin Zhongyi knew he was powerful, he relentlessly tried to win his beloved for himself. Now cornered, Qin Zhongyi reportedly brutalized his concubines and servants daily, staining his mansion floor with blood. With such violent tendencies, there was no telling what horrifying things he might do to his beloved.

And he was still not in a position to fully protect that person.

After much thought, Qin Zhongjin decided to send his beloved Mu Cai to a relatively safe place.

When his foundation was solid and Qin Zhongyi was no more, he would bring his beloved back and have a genuine talk. Regardless of whether his beloved would accept him, Qin Zhongjin wanted him to know he had always loved him deeply.

Qin Zhongjin issued a decree, sending Mu Cai to Yong land, a place thousands of miles away.

Meanwhile, he simplified his coronation ceremony and other rituals as much as possible, omitting what could be omitted. Each day, Qin Zhongjin held court, dealt with public affairs, eliminated those she disagreed with, and addressed various issues arising in the capital, all while keeping an eye on Qin Zhongyi's movements.

Qin Zhongyi seemed to have settled down, as he started claiming illness to avoid attending court. However, Qin Zhongjin didn't dare let his guard down. He wanted to kill him directly, but first, as an emperor, he needed a legitimate reason to eliminate his brother, and unexpectedly he had been cautious recently, leaving him with no major handle to grasp. Second, Qin Zhongjin's power hadn't been completely eradicated, and there was still a possibility of escape.

Thus, Qin Zhongjin could only dispatch people to monitor the situation in Qin Zhongyi's estate and Yong land continually, while also accelerating the pace of eliminating his supporters.

However, what he never expected was that one day Qin Zhongyi suddenly fled his estate overnight.

Feeling that things were not good, Qin Zhongjin could no longer care about anything else. He immediately entrusted Su Yao to temporarily take care of the political affairs, while he personally led a team of Royal Guards and headed towards Yong land.

But, in the end, he was one step too late.

Despite his racing against time and calculating every possibility, he ultimately saw the fake Royal Guards carrying Mu Cai's motionless body and Qin Zhongyi, holding a scroll in his hand.

________________________

Author's Note: 

Mu Cai looked at Su Yao angrily: You are really not dressed tastefully! Not good-looking at all!

Qin Zhongjin pretended to scold: Cai Cai, stop fooling around. Mr. Su, please don't take Cai Cai's words to heart; he's still just a child.

Mu Cai felt sad: He really doesn't like me at all qwq.

Qin Zhongjin was pleased: He didn't refute Cai Cai's claim, and even let Su Yao indulge Cai Cai. Cai Cai wasn't wronged at all =w=

A little eunuch nearby, holding a rice bag, sighed: His Highness the Crown Prince usually appears shrewd and scheming, but who would have thought that he's actually a simple-minded person in private? Who's going to look at a rice bag???

Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter