A new cheeky character, you will fall in love!
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Lie Er – Chinese name literally means ‘Strong Child’
Updated FYJT world map:
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Purple is Ruo Yan, Red Li Guo, Green Fan Jia, Blue Tong Guo
During the Prince’s diplomatic journey, countless officials governing various regions of Xi Rei naturally provided his reverence with their utmost hospitality. His journey was accompanied by music and celebrative welcomes all along the way, until the entourage finally made their way to the outskirts of Xi Rei on the seventh day.
However, to arrive at their ultimate destination, Feng Ming and his retainers would have to cross a country called Ruo Y an. Ruo Yan was similar to Xi Rei, a country situated in mountain ranges and slopes. Ruo Yan bordered Xi Rei, Fan Jia and Tong Guo.
In this era with the vast number of countries spread across the land, parties of amba.s.sadors journeying was a common event, thus, Ruo Yan was a major transit portal with a regular stream of important officials.
Once Feng Ming’s group arrived at the border between the two countries, he had to wait for official correspondence concerning the pa.s.sage through Ruo Yan’s territory. They rested the day. When night fell, Zhang Qian, the local official in charge of the area the foreign Prince had entered personally arrived to greet the important guest and welcomed the weary travelers to an extravagant banquet prepared especially to fit the man’s status.
During the feast, the crowd was in high spirits and frequent toasts and flattering speeches were offered to the Prince. General Tong strictly upheld his duty, protecting the Prince as he enjoyed himself. The large man refused any alcohol offered to him, preferring to stand on guard with one hand rested on the hilt of his sword ready to serve his purpose if required. Contrary to his gallantry, official Xia loved his liquor and had a large capacity for his favorite beverage, even after his hundredth refill he appeared completely devoid of any signs of intoxication.
Prince An He’s great appet.i.te for good wines was notorious, poor Feng Ming was a victim to the late Prince’s only ability. Feng Ming couldn’t falter his guise and forced down countless and seemingly endless cups of strong alcohol served to him throughout the evening.
In reality, Feng Ming had actually never consumed alcohol in his previous life, and his initial encounter with alcohol was when he woke up in Xi Rei. It wasn’t surprising after a few gla.s.ses of wine his alcohol tolerance was met, he barely had a grip on staying upright and his sense of orientation went out the door.
Around him, he was only aware of the blaring music in the great hall and the ma.s.ses of dancers that made his head spin and eyes blur.
Early next morning, he had the joy of reflecting on the unfriendly consequences of alcohol, a devil of a jackhammer like hangover.
Feng Ming’s head was just about to split open, as he struggled to open his drowsy eyes, it was a challenge to sober from the drumming pain in his head. Even his vision remained slightly fuzzy.
He raised a hand and rested it on his forehead before releasing unearthly groans of pain several times over.
“Prince is awake?”
Who was beside him?
He had never heard this voice before.
Feng Ming reluctantly turned to face the stranger and with one look jumped out of his skin.
To his surprise sharing the other side of his bed and lying within the cozy blanket was an astoundingly beautiful youth. Soft slender eyes, translucent skin perfect like jade that had a healthy l.u.s.ter and long silky hair that covered his shoulders. Although his bed partner was a man, the stranger was exuding an air of seduction.
The most frightening aspect the attractive stranger’s arm jutting from the covers, the youth’s smooth exposed flesh was tainted with encircling marks around his wrist. The skin was sore and red, which didn’t leave much to the imagination. The sight made Feng Ming flush from head to toe.
Although Feng Ming’s feisty and defiant behavior towards Rong w.a.n.g was long in the past, the Prince was very clear what those marks were and under what circ.u.mstances it takes to acquire them.
Moreover, according to how raw the wounds appeared one could extrapolate that there was a high probability that they were formed last night.
“You…who are you? How did you get in here?” Feng Ming stuttered backing away from the stranger that shared his bed whilst maintaining the sheets over his own body.
“Your Highness has actually forgotten about me?” The boy winked, before issuing an accusing look then he diverted his gaze and bit his lip before answering the Prince.
“Last night, against General Tong’s attempts to persuade you, Your Highness refused to release me from your embrace.”
“WHAT?” the Prince let out a very loud bewildered scream, refusing to believe the young man.
Feng Ming recalled Rong w.a.n.g’s casual comments about h.o.m.os.e.xuality and how it was rampant across the lands. Especially within the Royal household, it was normal for an official to present a male pet as a gift in order to gain favor and promotion to their n.o.ble statuses.
With all his might, he tried to recall any remnants of last night, a hard task as his memory was completely evading him on this occasion to spite him.
Uneasily, Feng Ming motioned to lift up his corner of the bed spread and secretly peer down to verify his fears. Instantaneously, he retreated further to his side of the bed with his form completely disconsolate.
Confirming his suspicions not even a thread covered the boy’s body, he was completely b.u.t.t naked and whatever clothing he had worn was now scattered about the bedside.
It was completely needless to enquire further what happened between the two.
The youth bellowed a laugh, “What is the matter my Prince? Last night you were very unconstrained, and the present Prince is completely different. Is the Prince no longer fond of Lie Er?”
Lie Er inched closer and frightened the poor Prince, who reacted by withdrawing so quickly he smacked the back of his head against a bedpost.
When the Prince’s head connected with the pillar, Lie Er immediately stopped in his tracks, he pouted before solemnly asking, “Prince, why do you fear Lie Er? Lie Er should be afraid of Your Highness, look, Prince played so rough with me I was at the verge of death from the pa.s.sion you enforced on my body on this bed last night.”
The stranger lifted his slender arms and extended them in front of Feng Ming, the tender flesh was patterned with an array of purple and red.
If it was someone else in his shoes, they might have been proud of their workmans.h.i.+p on the young boy. However, for Feng Ming all he could feel was embarra.s.sment from ear to ear. This was his first time ‘consuming’ another man, furthermore to add to his shame his drunk self covertly plastered love bites all over the young man’s body for his sober self to discover.
There’s a saying how alcohol can cause chaos by altering ones nature, and should not be taken lightly.
He seriously shouldn’t have drunken even a drop!
As Feng Ming repented his sins a thousand times over inside, he managed to stammer to his bed partner, “A mistake…this is a misunderstanding!”
“Misunderstanding?” Lie Er faced Feng Ming with a dead pan expression and his large doe like eyes grew watery. It seems like he was refraining himself from speaking. With such a forlorn look Feng Ming felt a twinge of guilt welling inside. Just as Feng Ming was at the point of offering a few words of comfort, Lie Er abruptly chimed in to cut him off with a sudden smile which also displayed his adorable dimples.
“His Highness claims this is a misunderstanding, so be it. What happened was a misunderstanding.” Lie Er agreed in a calm soft voice.
Feng Ming relaxed.
Lie Er then continued, “Lie Er, was originally a slave of a rich n.o.bleman living near the borderlines of Ruo Yan, last night Your Highness dragged me off and refused to release me. My master has already bestowed Lie Er as a present to Prince.”
The younger boy tore off the quilt, then unexpectedly climbed out of the bed with haste and knelt down on the ice cold ground and bowed his head.
“Prince is already Lie Er’s new master, if Prince feels dissatisfied with Lie Er after last night, please punish Lie Er at your will. Lie Er will not dare to complain.”
In his wildest imagination, Feng Ming could not foresee that the boy would resort to such an extreme reaction, without thinking he blurted out, “What are you doing!?”
“Hurry up! Get up! You will freeze to death.”
“Lie Er is nothing but a lowly slave, if Prince dislikes Lie Er, I shall commit suicide on Your Highness’s command.”
Winter was breathing is harsh winds, its icy tendrils lashed the land, and the chill was not spared in this bedchamber. Outside snow blanketed the grounds, and the great snow storms were at their peak. Given these conditions, Lie Er’s naked body s.h.i.+vered uncontrollably and was beginning to lose color.
Feng Ming didn’t know what else to do, he quickly followed suit and jumped out of the bed to pry the boy off the ground and hauled him by the arm back into the warm confines of the quilts.
“I do not resent you. Please don’t casually commit suicide for my sake.” Feng Ming surrendered.
Lie Er rubbed his eyes, “If the Prince does not have a need for Lie Er, Lie Er can only die.”
“I didn’t say I don’t want you.”
“Prince will permit Lie Er to attend to His Highness?”
Feng Ming pondered over the matter intensively and he looked at Lie Er’s longing face. He could only think to himself about how strange a slave-only society was, and that he had to ignore every ounce of decency in him that pushed of modern day human rights beliefs. In this case if he didn’t put his morals aside, there was a high chance the kid would end up killing himself.
Finally, he dipped his head and nodded.
“You can serve me, you only need to cater for fetching tea and water…” changing his tone to the most threatening he could feign, he enunciated, “You are absolutely forbidden to attend to me in bed.”
Lie Er made a small grunt of agreement and nodded his head.
Feng Ming reiterated himself and added “Even if I am drunk, and order you to join me in bed you must not climb in.”
Another small noise and a nod came from the boy, then the brows on his pretty face furrowed.
His voice was troubled as he murmured within threshold, “But if I don’t listen to master’s instructions it will be…”
“That’s why I am making an overriding instruction, in the case I ever get drunk again and demand that you join me to do anything in the nature to what happened last night, you must bring a pail of cold water and tip it on me, until I sober up.”
Lie Er stared at his new master red faced, hesitating before finally answered with a yes.
With that aside Feng Ming whispered, “Let me ask you, about last night apart from General Tong, who knows about this incident? Surely not everyone is aware.”
“I am not too sure,” Lie Er replied honestly and shook his head, “I was solely preoccupied with attending to Prince I paid no attention to anything else.”
“I hope that no one else knows about this,” Feng Ming stuck his tongue out with a grimace.
The Prince was crafting up a master plan to conceal his tryst when outside he heard Chiu Yue’s voice.
“His Highness, official Xia as advises that it is time to leave. Prince, please arise and change.”
Chiu Lan’s voice followed, “Pardon your humble servants, we are going to enter now.”
Feng Ming’s eyes jacked right open and frantically looked around him, Lie Er was still naked under the covers with him.
He desperately shouted his desire not to be interrupted, “No, Don’t! Don’t come in!”
His three chamberlains eyed each other, confused to why the Prince would forbid them to enter. However, they heeded his request and had paused in their footsteps just outside the entrance to the room, daring not to intrude.
“Your Highness?” The girls voiced their concerns.
“I’m not feeling well so I don’t want to see anyone at the moment.”
“Prince, if you are unwell then your servants will send for Official Xia to check your condition.”
“No! It’s not necessary!” Feng Ming body tensed, before faking two scratchy coughs, stalling as he quickly manifested nonsensical excuses “I’m not ill or anything, I’m actually quite healthy, it’s just something to do with my body’s immunity, that’s all.” He dearly hoped that they bought his terrible acting skills. “Hey, even if I tell you guys, you won’t understand, anyway I don’t want anyone to enter at this moment.”
The three maids looked at each other in dismay, all of them reluctantly replying to their master.
“As Prince orders.”
Feng Ming stumbled out from the bed and scrambled to get himself clothed, his complex outfit was usually catered by his maids, if not Rong Tian would ease him into the garments in the right order. Unsurprisingly, left to his own devices a very fl.u.s.tered Feng Ming easily created a tardy mess of himself.
Unlike his new master Lie Er had managed to clothe himself without any qualms, thus the sight of the poorly attired Feng Ming made had him hold back a giggle. Doing his best to suppress his laugh, he gestured to the Prince, “Please allow Lie Er to serve the Prince.”
Placing a halt to any further wardrobe catastrophes, the younger boy stepped closer to the Prince and in an orderly manner helped correct the mistakes made.
Feng Ming had feared the worst, after their night of pa.s.sion he didn’t want to be entangled with a sultry slave who may persist in giving him unnecessary bodily contact, he watched the boy, who busied himself wholeheartedly to aid him. Feeling no ulterior motive or any wandering hands on his body Feng Ming gradually calmed down.
Once dressing was completed, Feng Ming faced Lie Er, looking sternly before ordering, “Be obedient and stay here for now, after I leave you can take your exit a bit later. If you don’t want to be a slave, I have no issues with you deserting your role you can be a free man.”
The Prince scolded himself internally, being told to ‘be obedient’ by King Rong was beginning to influence his own behavior.
His servant refused the generous offer shaking his head.
“Lie Er will not leave and shall remain by your side. Lie Er has never been grace with a kind master like Prince.”
Feng Ming knew his company was awaiting his presence before they could set off, and there was no quick fix for what had happened between him and the youngster. Without further delay he gave Lie Er a rea.s.suring pat on his shoulder before walking out of the chamber in silence.
After he stepped out to join the gathered carriages, he found Chiu Lan and the other maids standing patiently next to his personal cart. Chiu Yue promptly parted the heavy extravagant curtains that adorned the carriage for her master to enter.
Chiu Xing swiveled around, taking a head check before asking nonchalantly, “Prince, is he not going to come?”
Feng Ming’s throat tightened, timidly he asking, “Who are you talking about?”
“Who else but Lie Er, wasn’t he Prince’s present?”
Chiu Lan interjected, “Last night His Highness was resolute in demanding Lie Er from Rou
Yan’s official, insisting the evening was too cold to spend alone and that someone must accompany you.”
“That’s right! His Highness also proclaimed that if they refused to give you Lie Er, you’d kidnap him during the night too!”
As his maids filled his memory lapses, he nearly face planted on the floor of his carriage from their quotations, he couldn’t help but burn with embarra.s.sment.
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “I, last night…what else did I say?”
The three women saw the blood literally drain from the Prince’s face, so they quickly stopped teasing him and unanimously shook their heads.
Feng Ming didn’t really want to pursue the matter further, so he slumped to one side of the carriage and spent a moment aloof with his own thoughts.
Shortly, the fact that the whole world was now fully aware of his prowess clicked inside. So it was pointless to conceal it.
He beckoned Chiu Lan, “Go and collect Lie Er from my bed chamber, he shall travel with the carriages, tell him he doesn’t need to follow us secretly anymore…given that everyone knows.”
“As you wish.”
Chiu Lian left to relay the message and quickly returned with Lie Er in tow. The young man happily paid his respects to the Prince before scuttling off into the attendant’s carriage.
The party proceeded with their long distance route, and it would take roughly eleven days through Rou Yan’s territory before they would finally enter Fan Jia’s territory.