OL CH24

Bai Su’s kisses were fierce, carrying a desperate, reckless edge.

He simply did not want the other man to speak. He feared that sweet deceptions would soften his resolve, and he feared even more that King Ning, once aware of his current predicament, would unleash a torrent of fury upon him.

No matter how greedy for power he might be, a high and mighty prince was bound to be proud. Now subjected to another’s control, how could he possibly submit willingly? He likely loathed Bai Su to the bone already.

A sharp ache gripped Bai Su’s heart, yet it only made his resolve harden.

His martial skills were formidable. Even if King Ning possessed martial training, how could it compare to a general tempered on bloody battlefields? Thus, he simply used physical dominance to keep him pinned.

The man who had intended to explain everything found his words smothered by the abrupt, overpowering kiss. His wrists were promptly seized by the young general and locked firmly above his head.

His lips stung with pain from being bitten. Chen Tian initially wanted to struggle, hoping to at least ask his beloved what had happened, but catching sight of the other’s bloodshot eyes, his heart lurched.

Evidently, his resistance was agitating his lover.

Realizing this, Chen Tian gave up resisting and did his best to accommodate Bai Su, ignoring the pain on his lips to respond gently and soothe him.

This tender reciprocation seemed to work. Bai Su’s taut nerves slowly unwound; he stopped ravaging their bruised lips, and the atmosphere between them grew soft and lingering.

After that, Bai Su shed his clothes with swift efficiency and pulled him into a fierce embrace once more. Whenever Chen Tian tried to speak, Bai Su immediately sealed his lips, refusing to grant him the slightest chance to utter a word.

Chen Tian finally recognized Bai Su’s intent. Sighing helplessly in his heart, he ceased trying to speak.

Only when they reached the most critical juncture did Chen Tian grow anxious upon seeing his lover about to plunge forward recklessly. Yet his slight hesitation caused Bai Su to unravel further, his expression twisting into something menacing.

“No, you will hurt yourself!” Chen Tian growled softly.

Only when those words left his mouth did the young general’s expression soften slightly. Reaching down, Bai Su retrieved a small jar from the pile of garments beside the bed. Opening it revealed a pale ointment.

Chen Tian hurriedly took it over and applied it with meticulous care. His heart ached for his lover, channeling all his tenderness into every touch.

For their momentous first time together, Chen Tian was careful and patient. When they finally united as one, both exhaled a quiet breath of relief.

The chamber filled with deep intimacy, waves of heat rolling through the cold late-autumn night.

Throughout the long hours, they gave themselves over entirely to each other. After the exhausting fervor, they drifted to sleep wrapped tightly in each other’s embrace.

Yet when Chen Tian woke the following morning, the bedding beside him was already cold. The person who should have been nestled in his arms had departed hours ago.

Chagrin washed over Chen Tian’s face. He had assumed that after so much exertion, his lover would never rise so early. Unfortunately, whenever he was faced with Bai Su, he lacked even an ounce of vigilance, allowing the man to slip away just like that.

Fortunately, Bai Su returned that night.

Chen Tian thought he had finally found an opportunity to explain everything and clear up their misunderstanding, but the entire routine repeated itself exactly like the night before.

Then came the third night, the fourth night, the fifth night…

Not only that, Bai Su even introduced all sorts of new variations, going so far as to procure illustrated albums to practice with him. Chen Tian’s happiness soared to new heights, leaving him utterly captivated.

Still, he knew full well that they could not just lose themselves in passion forever. He loved Bai Su deeply and refused to let any rift linger between them, so he kept testing the waters to communicate.

Yet even when he took advantage of Bai Su’s late-night exhaustion to explain, the young man turned a deaf ear, sometimes rising to leave on the spot, refusing all dialogue.

On this day, having finally settled the post-war arrangements, Bai Su waited until General Shang and the others departed the command tent before retrieving a jar of wine from beneath the bed, drinking in solitude.

Interacting with King Ning like this over the past few days had been completely deliberate.

He was a warrior, a brilliant commander, and naturally understood how to break down an opponent.

In his mind, King Ning was persuasive and silver-tongued, so he could not afford to listen to his arguments. He wanted Situ Chenye to realize that the rhetorical weapon he once wielded so effortlessly had lost all power.

His goal was to wear down King Ning’s mental defenses first, then dictate terms, leaving him no choice but to accept him unconditionally.

Furthermore, he wanted the man addicted to him, even if it were only physical.

At this thought, Bai Su narrowed his eyes. He could clearly feel that King Ning thoroughly enjoyed being intimate with him.

The fiery liquor burned down his throat and seared his chest, gradually dismantling his veneer of composure.

He could not stop a desolate smile from touching his lips. What kind of love was this, secured step by step through cold calculation?

He knew he was wronging King Ning, but he truly could not let go.

Late into the night, Bai Su had not arrived as usual, making Chen Tian worry.

He knew his lover had been terribly busy lately, burdened by knots in his heart, yet he had found no way to untangle them.

Given what he knew of his lover, Bai Su would always come no matter how late the hour, so why had he not appeared yet?

He was even weighing whether to slip out and look for him in person when the door was suddenly shoved open with a loud thud.

Bai Su stumbled inside, stripped of his usual steady composure. Chen Tian could catch the heavy stench of alcohol wafting from him.

Seeing Bai Su in such a state, Chen Tian leaped to his feet and hurried over to support him. “Zisu, what happened? Why did you drink so much?”

Before he could finish, Bai Su seized him tightly by the collar.

“Situ Chenye! You are mine, you belong to me!”

With that, Bai Su kissed him fiercely, rambling incoherently between breathless touches: “Stay with me. Forget that damn princess. I know you are Situ Hongshen’s son. I have military authority, I have the Iron Xuan Guards, and I can make you Emperor. As long as you stay obediently by my side, I will help you claim the throne.”

“Say it! Say that you are mine! Say that you will never leave me!”

Bai Su glared at him with bloodshot eyes, leaving Chen Tian unable to tell whether this was a furious threat or a desperate plea.

After a brief stunned silence, the full meaning of his lover’s words finally clicked.

It turned out Bai Su had assumed all along that he pursued him to seize military power and covet the imperial throne.

And as for that Take Tribe princess, it was complete nonsense.

Before leaving the capital, a foreign diplomatic mission had indeed arrived, but if Bai Su had not mentioned her, Chen Tian would not even have remembered the princess.

Now that he recalled, he could only remember that the princess seemed to have an eye twitch. She had kept staring at him during the banquet with her eyes fluttering spasmodically, probably suffering from some ailment.

009: Boss, she was winking at you…

He had set out for the border soon afterward and had not paid any attention to such trivial matters.

He had not imagined Bai Su’s misunderstanding ran so deep. Did that mean from the very beginning of their acquaintance, Bai Su had suspected his motives were impure?

Chen Tian knew that under normal circumstances, he ought to feel angry. Yet he knew Bai Su far too well.

Having basked in his lover’s trust and gentleness across countless lifetimes, knowing Bai Su had always been devoted without hesitation, Chen Tian knew none of this was Bai Su’s fault.

Having lost his memories, with his mind twisted by foul corruption, how could he possibly blame his beloved?

Moreover, looking at Bai Su now, it was obvious that beneath this aggressive coercion lay a fragile vulnerability born of yearning. In the end, he had never had the heart to truly harm him.

All that remained in Chen Tian’s heart was pure, overwhelming tenderness.

Furthermore, it was undeniable that he thoroughly enjoyed his lover’s fierce possessiveness.

He loved the feeling of Xiao Bai being entirely obsessed with him. Though he felt a touch of guilt, he could not help the secret delight bubbling inside.

Gently kissing the young general, Chen Tian wanted nothing more than to devour the delicacy delivered right to his doorstep. The hardened shell had been stripped away, leaving only a sweet, soft core brimming with honey.

After their passion subsided, seeing his lover lying in his arms with averting eyes, Chen Tian knew the alcohol had worn off.

Leaning down to press a tender kiss to his forehead, he said softly, “Zisu, I have a gift for you. In the hidden compartment of my carriage, there is a black wooden box. Could you have someone bring it here?”

Bai Su nodded. Though inwardly mortified by his drunken outburst, he granted his sweetheart’s request. He was also curious to see what the man wanted to give him.

Chen Tian’s luggage and entourage were settled nearby, so the attendants retrieved the box without difficulty.

Chen Tian handed the box directly to Bai Su, who opened it without hesitation, discovering a bright yellow imperial decree resting quietly within.

Furrowing his brow slightly, Bai Su unfurled the scroll, only for his eyes to widen in utter shock upon reading the contents.

“Th-this… how is this possible!” Bai Su murmured in disbelief.

Chen Tian embraced him gently from behind, murmuring softly, “There was never any princess, and I never harbored ambitions for the throne. Once I resolved to be with you, I went to Imperial Father of my own accord. I told him I was a cutsleeve and could never be with a woman in this lifetime.”

“Before heading to the frontier, I specifically entered the palace to confess my feelings for you and requested this decree. I originally planned to show it to you after the war was won to make you happy. I never imagined you held so many misunderstandings about me…”

As Chen Tian spoke, he lowered his eyelids with an air of dejection.

Hearing Chen Tian’s words, Bai Su trembled all over. He clutched the imperial decree tightly. Written upon it was indeed an imperial bestowment of marriage. Most importantly, it decreed that King Ning was to marry into his household.

Society had always viewed romance between men as unorthodox and perverse, looking down upon the one taking the role of the wife. Naturally, the old Emperor would never have willingly agreed to marry off his own biological son.

There was only one explanation: to shield Bai Su from criticism and scorn, Situ Chenye was willing to be the one who married out!

What depth of devotion could compel him to cast aside even his royal dignity?

Guilt and regret flooded Bai Su’s heart. He had never dreamed he could misunderstand a man who loved him so profoundly to such an extent.

“No, it isn’t like that. Chenye, I was wrong! It is all my fault. Please… don’t leave me!”

Panic gripped Bai Su entirely. Clasping Chen Tian’s hand, he terrified that his beloved had grown disillusioned with him, fearing abandonment above all else.

Seeing his lover’s eyes reddening with distress, Chen Tian quietly curved his lips and let out an exaggerated sigh.

Then, under Bai Su’s anxious, trembling gaze, he leaned in abruptly and planted a firm kiss on his lips.

Faced with an erring lover, what else could he do? Forgive him, of course!