Crash—
The crisp sound of a teacup breaking came from the inner room. The servants in the courtyard all shrank their necks, they silently looked at each other to convey a message in their eyes: The Ninth Prince is losing his temper again.
“Idiot! He is an idiot!” After breaking the teacup, Du Ci went and grabbed the vase under the windowsill. Douding hurriedly stopped him in panick.
“My prince! My prince! Be careful of hurting your hand!” Douding pleaded, “If you are angry, just tell someone else to smash stuff for you. Let’s bring them to the courtyard, you can smash whatever you want!”
Du Ci pushed Douding away and rolled his sleeves up. His face flushed red with anger as he stomped on the letter thrown on the ground. Afterwards, a watery mist filled his eyes, he was about to cry from vexation. In a choked voice, he asked: “Tell me Douding, did he deliberately do this to harass me? He actually didn’t want to marry me, right? So he’s just stalling for time!”
Douding’s face fell. He secretly complained about general Qi’s character that was too inflexible, but he still did his best to convince his master: “My dear ancestor, how did you come to that conclusion? This is a marriage bestowed by Dasheng’s emperor, his majesty has also agreed, and your dowry has been prepared a long time ago. It’s a marriage to connect two countries. Would it be called off just because general Qi called it quit? Besides, the general likes you very much, everyone can see it, how can he not want to marry you?”
“Then why is he being like this?” The little prince pointed to the letter under his foot, “Year after year passed, I’ve reached twenty-one years old now! Do I have to wait another year? Is this what he meant by like? Like my foot!”
Douding grumbled helplessly: “Isn’t it all because of your capriciousness?”
“What did I do?!”
“You were…cough,” Douding swallowed the words “too nitpicky” down and said, “You were not easy to please. The year before last, you said the large sedan was not nice enough, the wedding attire was too effeminate, not imposing enough. Last year, the general sent over the gift list and especially invited Yongge’s best matchmaker to come. You wanted three letters and six ceremonies, he gave you three letters and six ceremonies. But you said the list wasn’t long enough, the gift quality wasn’t good enough, not enough sincerity!”
Douding felt a headache as he spoke.
“What can the general even say? You chased the bride-receiving team away twice, even the emperor of Dasheng had to open his eyes wide. But the general didn’t mind and prepared the new gift list, and what did you say you wanted? Heavenly spirit grass? My great ancestor ah, can you read those nonsensical books less? Where in the world can people find spirit grass for you?!”
Du Ci sat in the chair, frowning quietly for a long time, “Did I go too far?”
Douding nodded.
Du Ci pursed his lips, his face crumpled: “I just wanted to test him.”
“Look at this, he said…” Du Ci pointed at the letter on the ground, “Pick it up and bring it over!”
Dou Ding picked up the letter, carefully patted the dust on it and sighed, “You ripped it.”
“Ah? Ripped? No way!” Du Ci hurriedly stood up and snatched the letter personally written by general Qi. The handwriting was strong and powerful, every stroke was a dance of dragons and phoenixes. It was many times more beautiful than the chicken scratch written by Du Ci.
Du Ci felt heartache for the letter as he blew away the dust and carefully smoothed out the wrinkles, “He said that he needs to prepare a new gift list and will not be able to come until next year.”
Du Ci looked at Douding pitifully, “Will I really have to wait until next year?”
Douding thought for a bit: “My prince, the general returned this time only to report work and get married. At most, he will only stay in Royal City for two years. It’s only a matter of time before he needs to go back to the border. If you miss the timing, when the border sends an emergency message and the general has to leave right away, what will you do then?”
Du Ci’s face turned pale: “Not good, I didn’t think about this… tsk, why didn’t you bring it up until now?”
Douding sighed, “Your highness might not be able to marry until you’re 30 years old.”
Du Ci was nervous now. He kept walking around in circles and no longer care about smashing stuff: “I’m going to change clothes. You go prepare the horse, I want to go to the palace!”
What does he need to go to the palace for? Of course it is to request being sent away to marry as soon as possible.
Forget gift list, three letters, six rituals and large sedan, he doesn’t want them. He only wants his general!
The new emperor ascended the throne two years ago and changed the era name to “Yanxing”. Now is the second year of Yanxing, there are many things need to be taken care of, Xiandu city is drown in work. Therefore, when Du Ci entered the palace, the attendant of the new emperor’s hurriedly ran out to stop him.
“I say, Ninth Prince,” the attendant said with a pained expression, “Your Majesty is very busy. What kind of problem do you have this time?”
This young prince is extremely smart. He helped the Eldest prince to ascend to the throne in the past and is now the most favored person. However, he is also a troublemaker, causing trivial cat and dog fights all day long. Whenever there was something he was dissatisfied with, he would come running to the palace and demand his Eldest brother, the emperor, to uphold justice for him. Totally making use of being favored to the extreme.
Du Ci said with a smile: “Please report back to imperial brother that I have something important to discuss. This time, it’s truly an important matter!”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
The attendant was speechless. He retorted inside: “You also knew that the previous matters weren’t important?!”
Ktf jaafcvjca rlutfv, tf ibkfgfv tlr nblmf jcv rlcmfgfis jvnlrfv, “Tbeg Llutcfrr, jybea sbeg kfvvlcu, qifjrf ags ab tjcvif la qgbqfgis, ifra atf Gjrtfcu’r fwqfgbg yfmbwf ectjqqs.”
Ge Jl pera mjgfifrris gfqilfv klat j tew. Ktf jaafcvjca rtbbx tlr tfjv jcv kfca lcrlvf ab gfqbga tlr jgglnji. Coafg jktlif, tf mjwf yjmx bea jcv lcnlafv tlw lc.
As soon as Du Ci entered the door, he exclaimed, “Oh? Did your majesty change a new fragrance? This smells good!”
The new emperor reluctantly put down the memorial and looked at him from behind the table: “Disrespectful.”
Du Ci smiled and saluted: “Younger brother greets your majesty. Long live the emperor.”
The new emperor sternly pointed at Du Ci as a reproach before allowing him to sit, “Say it, what’s the matter this time? Which tavern deducted your wine? Which master refused to accompany you to listen to stories? I’m telling you now, the tavern you frequent doesn’t sell you wine because I asked them not to. You drank unrestrainedly everyday.”
Du Ci hurriedly made a “shush” gesture: “Your Majesty, don’t talk nonsense! If my jealous husband heard that, he would misunderstand!”
Then he grumbled: “Not drinking is fine, it’s just drinking anyway. I was just too bored from being idle, so I went to eat hot pot with some wine. As for those masters, everyone are just good sisters.”
The new emperor slapped the table: “You are a dignified prince! What are you doing becoming sisters with masters? Don’t you know any shame? You are not allowed to see them in the future!”
Du Ci pouted, feeling wronged. The new emperor continued scolding, “It’s been two years since the talk of your wedding, what is the matter with you? This marriage not only connects two countries, but also benefits Shu Shi’s trade. You keep delaying things and not getting married…”
He frowned: “Now I really wonder if you were forced into it. If you aren’t willing, I will try to find a way for you to refuse this marriage.”
“No no no!” Du Ci was flustered, “I only wanted to test that dummy.”
The new emperor: “…” He didn’t even want to ask who “that dummy” is.
The new emperor was at a loss for words and could only spit out: “Ridiculous.”
“I know I was wrong,” Du Ci hurriedly knelt down, “I’ve already thought it through. This marriage is a good thing for everyone. I don’t want to test him anymore, I want to get married!”
The new emperor: “…”
Looking at Du Ci, the new emperor felt his temples throbbed painfully.
“And how do you plan on doing that?”
“I’ll send myself over!” Du Ci said, “Please give your permission, your majesty!”
The new emperor: “…”
He has never heard of a bride who rushed to her husband’s home and demanded to be married.
Then again, they are two men. As long as Du Ci is willing, it doesn’t seem to matter.
The new emperor thought so, but he also felt reluctant about not conforming to the rules. When the time came and he carelessly nodded, the people from the Ministry of Rites would probably burst out crying in the courtroom.
“You only know how to make trouble for me all day!” He rubbed the bridge of his nose, “Leave first, I’ll take care of this later…”
Du Ci was afraid his goal wouldn’t be achieved and immediately threw a tantrum: “Your Majesty! I want to get married!”
The new emperor, “…Who told you not to marry before? You drove people away twice! What are you complaining to me about now?!”
Du Ci didn’t care. He sprawled on the floor and stretched out all over the place, as if the person who made things difficult before was not himself.
“Your younger brother wants to get married. Your younger brother is almost twenty one already, waaah!”
The new emperor, “…”
Just as Du Ci was throwing a tantrum enthusiastically, a person stepped out from behind the partition. They knelt down and said, “Your Majesty, please grant it.”
Du Ci : “…”
Du Ci slowly turned his head. The dummy he was thinking about day and night was kneeling beside him, donning soft armor, black hair tying up.
Du Ci was in a daze for awhile. After some thinkings, he realized why the scent in the study today was different than usual. Wasn’t this the soothing scent he sent to the dummy last year?!
Qi Nanke wore a sachet on his waist, the scent actually came from there.
Du Ci kept staring stupidly at the other person. Qi Nanke couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing that, “I intended to trouble His Majesty to come up with a plan, but it seems like it’s not needed anymore.”
The new emperor also couldn’t help laughing at Du Ci’s silly appearance: “Alright, everyone get up. Border Protector General, quickly help your wife up, he’s so embarrassing.”
Qi Nanke smiled and turned around, half pulled, half hugged Du Ci up. Du Ci was still staring stupidly, like he couldn’t recognize the person in front of him.
The new emperor said: “Border Protector General is really devoted to you. This time, he personally followed the bride-receiving team. Because he was afraid you would drive them away for the third time, he came to me first to help him think of a plan. You really only create trouble all day, look at what kind of nonsense you’re making the general do?”
Du Ci bowed and apologized in a trance. The new emperor spoke a few more words and allowed them to go back first.
Leaving the palace hand in hand, Du Ci’s soul still hasn’t completely returned to its body, he muttered: “Why are you here?”
“Didn’t His Majesty already say it earlier?” Qi Nanke finally couldn’t hold back from laughing out loud. He stretched out his hand and pinched Du Ci’s cheek: “I haven’t seen you for two years, have you grown taller and fatter?”
Du Ci covered his face: “Who did you say got fat!”
Qi Nanke pulled the person back: “Not fat, very good-looking, just the right size. ”
Du Ci glared at him, but his heart was all flowers blooming and fireworks exploding in his head. His face blushed with excitement. He wanted to say something but also didn’t know what to say. In the end, he said, “Your skin became whiter.”
Qi Nanke: “…”
Qi Nanke could only say, “I haven’t been at the border for two years, so it got lighter.”
Du Ci observed carefully. Qi Nanke was wearing soft armor, on his back was the treasured sword, “Wind Fury”, which was returned after they left the palace, looking heroic and mighty.
Du Ci felt proud again, this powerful person belonged to him!
The two got on the carriage. As they snuggled in the small carriage, the pleasant scent spread out.
Mm, it’s the scent of love.
Du Ci asked, “Do you like this scent?”
Qi Nanke nodded: “I like everything you gave me.”
Du Ci chuckled: “Did you miss me?”
Qi Nanke squeezed Du Ci’s hand: “Yes.”
Looking at Qi Nanke like this, Du Ci’s heart softened. He took the initiative to apologize: “I shouldn’t have driven your people away, did I make you lose face?”
Qi Nanke thought for a while and nodded.
Du Ci pursed the corners of his mouth: “I’m sorry, it was me… I was too conceited.”
Qi Nanke hugged Du Ci and patted his arms lightly: “Losing face isn’t a big deal, not getting my wife is. As long as you can go back with me smoothly, everything is worth it.”
Qi Nanke looked at Du Ci: “I don’t want you to feel wronged. I want to do everything so you could be satisfied.”
Du Ci was wrapped up in a honey-like sweetness. He rubbed against Qi Nanke’s arms: “You have been in Yongge for two years, did you miss me every day?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you come find me earlier?”
“The Ministry of Rites said that I had to wait at the border. If I crossed the border, it would be inauspicious.”
“Did you come with the bride-receiving team every time?”
“Yes.”
“You…” Du Ci felt extremely guilty, at the same time, he felt that this person was really a big fool. Couldn’t he let him know through letters somehow?
“It doesn’t matter.” Qi Nanke smiled to comfort Du Ci, “Aren’t I here now?”
Thanks to that, I even gained an unexpected harvest: the image of the little prince rolling around on the floor, demanding to be sent away to get married.
Du Ci asked again, “Have you ever been to a brothel in Yongge?”
“…No.”
“Why did you hesitate?!”
“I didn’t expect you to ask this…”
“Should I not have asked?”
“It’s not like that.”
Du Ci mumbled: “Did you not feel empty and lonely at night? Did you not want someone to warm your bed?”
“…No.”
“You hesitated again?!”
“I did feel lonely, but it only made me miss you more.”
Du Ci was immediately coaxed to become happy again. He smiled and said, “I’ll take you to eat delicious food.”
“Okay.”
“Do you like spicy food?”
“I’m okay with it.”
The carriage wheels rattled as they rolled. The wind carried the couple’s intimate whispers far away, so indistinct and vague, yet so warm and tender.
The little prince softly asked: “Would you like to sleep with me at night?”
After a moment of silence, General Qi, who barely learned to speak Shu Shi, spoke stiffly in strange tone: “Yes.”
Later on, it was recounted by the storyteller like this: the grand wedding between the two countries was very lively. An eight-man-carried large sedan traveled from Shu Shi’s territory to the border, then switched with another eight-man-carried large sedan that traveled from the border into Dasheng. The Border Protector General, whose taciturn face could scare crying children into silence, was also beaming with joy.
Gongs and drums were played while firecrackers set off in unison every time they reached a city, all the way until they entered the Royal City, Yongge.
Afterwards, it was said that General Qi refused to take in concubines and only favored the little prince. The little prince was probably raised too well, as he became more and more stunning. His smile was like a blooming jasmine, alluring and breathtaking.
A year later, the border really sent an emergency message. General Qi had to go back to the frontier. The little prince kicked up a fuss again. In the end, the emperor allowed him to follow his husband to the battlefield. But he didn’t expect that the little prince would promote business activities at the frontier, finally opened up the border trade and designed a common marketplace. The emperor greatly praised this achievement, he designated “Ning County” as the common marketplace and set the little prince up as “City Administrator”. Although the official ranking of the position was not high, he had real power. From then on, the little prince stayed at the border and lived with his general, only needed to return to Yongge to report once every few years.
Translator note: Done! I have no regrets left (towards this project).
I won’t translate the last 2 extra chapters. It’s just hard to find the passion that’s not there anymore.
Thank you everyone who has followed this story until now! And I’m sorry for disappearing (twice).
Oh, Ci Ci, Ci Ci 😂 Oh, if You saying that it’s the end, I need to write more! Sooo, it was super nice story with interesting plot, even if short! I really liked the characters and their adventures (=^w^=) Thank You for Your hard work and great translation! Hope You will find motivation again and we will see You soon~ ^^ (if not, no pressure!) Take care! ❤
Thank you Lico for reading and liking the story 😁. There’s no telling the future, but I also hope to find motivation again. I really appreciate for your kind words, it makes me super happy.
Thank you for the translation 😍😘❤️❤️
Really enjoyed this short story very much! 👍Thank you for translating this so well. Will be looking forward to when you are next inspired on a new story😊
It was a really strange novel, but thank you for your translation 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛
Thank you so much for translating this novel! Really enjoy it, so funny 😁
His tantrum sounds sooo adorable! Glad his husband got to see 😄. Thanks for finishing this. I don’t mind about the other extra chapters. The main story was really good.
Thank you for translating this far!~ really appreciated 🥹💚 If you really don’t want to continue translating it, would you mind if I ask someone to pick it up on novelupdates forum??🥺
I don’t mind. I’ve tagged the novel as dropped, so if someone wants to pick it up, it’d be nice 🙂
Thankyou thankyou 🥺🙇🏻♀️🙇🏻♀️🙇🏻♀️ it’s just I really like this novel…thnx for your hardwork!!
Aww, I’m happy that you like this novel too (≧▽≦). I really hope it’ll get adopted so it can be completed.
I hope so to! But no one’s really paying attention to it on the forumsಥ_ಥ
Please!! Du Ci is so smart and can be so spoiled! Its super cute!
Thanks for all your hard work <3
It was really fun and cute. I like a man who knows what he wants, mostly. That little prince.
Haha.. what a brat ..
Thanks for the translation..
Awwww 😂🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭😍😍😍😍 I wanna cry!!! Hahahaha this novel is so precious my goodness! Seriously guys you keep on giving me new favorites!!! Thank you so much 😍😍😍😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣🤣💗💗💗💗💗
👏👏👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you so much
Ninth prince first concern everytime he meets the general is whether his skin whiter or darker LOL
Thank you so much for this translation.
Aaawwhhh the story is too cute!! I’m melting 💕💕💕
Btw where can I read the last two extra?
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️