Chapter 52: Trouble

The modern-style football uniform that Jiang Luan had meticulously crafted had not yet completed its mission before meeting its demise at the hands of Qi Shaolin.

Of course, Qi Shaolin did it on purpose; he could never allow Jiang Luan to step out dressed like that.

Having already achieved a harmonious rhythm, the two of them quickly settled into the mood.

However, after being kissed for a prolonged time by Qi Shaolin and thoroughly teased until he could barely bear it, the fellow still dragged his feet and delayed getting down to business.

Impatient, Jiang Luan demanded, "How much longer are you going to keep kissing?"

Qi Shaolin could only confess honestly, "This outfit is tied too tightly. I don't know how to take it off, and I'm afraid of tearing it."

Damn it! The scoundrel actually cherished his own football uniform that much!

"Come, come, I'll help you!"

Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Jiang Luan eagerly helped Qi Shaolin strip.

Back when he was still a straight man, Jiang Luan's adolescent fantasies had always featured goddesses from the television screen.

If he ever had the chance to personally undress a goddess, it surely would have been the happiest thing in the world...

Who could have guessed that instead of waiting for a goddess, Jiang Luan ended up undressing a man first—and a man who was about to mount him, at that.

Catered to personally by Jiang Luan, Qi Shaolin became even more pumped up. Freeing himself from the constraints of the clothing, he immediately pinned Jiang Luan down.

......

After tossing and turning for ages, Jiang Luan was left exhausted and feeling rather hollow.

If things continued to go on in this dissolute and unrestrained manner, he feared he might completely run dry and die of exhaustion...

Why on earth was there such a vast disparity between them, even though they were both men?

Only after Jiang Luan had delivered several rounds and finally had nothing left to give did he feel Qi Shaolin's pace quicken, finally nearing the finish line.

"Wait!" Jiang Luan shouted.

"..."

Could anyone possibly wait at a time like this?

Forced to stop abruptly, Qi Shaolin listened as Jiang Luan asked, "What is it?"

"Put this on."

Fishing around under the pillow, Jiang Luan retrieved a small cloth pouch and took out an object.

It was a condom made from a fish bladder.

Although Qi Shaolin had never finished inside during their previous encounters,

how could a person walk along the riverbank often without getting their shoes wet?

Jiang Luan was always terrified that he might strike gold one day, and even had nightmares about his belly swelling up like a balloon.

After all, being gay and giving birth were two completely different matters! At least Jiang Luan was not mentally prepared for the latter.

Qi Shaolin presumably knew that Jiang Luan did not want children right now and respected his wishes.

Besides, having a child at this juncture would indeed be troublesome, as many affairs had yet to be properly settled.

Though he was confident in his ability to protect Jiang Luan, lugging around a tiny brat was troublesome nonetheless. Thus, he obediently put on the protective sheath and resumed.

......

Yet wearing it proved even worse than going without.

Believing that the fish bladder would ensure absolute safety, the two of them proceeded with even less restraint.

Qi Shaolin no longer felt the need to suppress himself, releasing all his pent-up passion with far more ferocious thrusts.

Bumping against him, Jiang Luan felt his heart rate skyrocket, as if his soul was about to leave his body and dance wildly above his head.

By the very last stroke, both felt a jolt in their hearts, instantly sensing that something was amiss.

Because the sensation was far too distinct...

......

Afterwards.

Holding the ruptured fish bladder, Qi Shaolin gave a light cough and asked, "What should we do? It seems it didn't work."

Jiang Luan was practically weeping as he cleaned up, desperately reassuring himself, "It only happened once, it'll be fine... I definitely won't strike gold..."

"My wife, if there is a child, I will take good care of him," Qi Shaolin said earnestly. "Didn't you say earlier that you wanted to assemble a football team?"

Viciously, Jiang Luan snapped, "Shut up!"

Assembling a football team was one thing, but damn it, he certainly didn't want to give birth to an entire football team!

......

......

Jiang Luan's grand ambition of introducing modern football matches to ancient times had yet to fully unfold before he was forced onto an entirely different path...

The Heavenly Longevity Festival was fast approaching.

The Heavenly Longevity Festival was the birthday of the Tianqi Emperor. On that day, commoners across the realm rested for a day, and lanterns and colored banners were hung everywhere, making the celebrations nearly as lively as the New Year.

Qi Yuheng was a household servant of the imperial family, and coupled with Prince Suiping marrying into the Qi residence, the prominent figures of the household traveled to the capital every year to attend the grand imperial banquet in the palace.

It was also an excellent opportunity to mingle with the powerful and elite, making the festival exceptionally important to every family.

In previous years, Qi Yuheng would begin preparations several days in advance, leading the entire family on the road. This year, however, the circumstances were somewhat unusual.

The servants and maids within the Qi estate were as busy as ever, preparing food and supplies for the journey to the capital.

Yunjiang City was four hundred li away from the capital, a journey of three or four days by horse-drawn carriage with frequent stops. Upon arrival at the Qi family's estate in the capital, several more days would be spent unpacking and settling in.

Yet alongside the bustling activity, the Qi estate was gripped by an undercurrent of oppression and gloomy despair.

The masters of the Qi family sat gathered in the main hall, missing only Qi Tianxing, who had been bedridden for years.

Standing in the center of the room, Qi Shaoyang was in the process of peeling away the layers of gauze wrapped around his head.

Seated in the seat of honor, Qi Yuheng gazed upon Qi Shaoyang's face once the bandages were removed, unable to suppress an exclamation of shock, "It has already been half a month, why is it still this severe!"

Qi Shaoyang's face stood swollen like a pig's head, his skin mottled with bruises of purple and blue, while foul, yellowish pus still oozed from ruptured scabs.

The sight was utterly ghastly to behold. Prince Suiping's eyes instantly reddened, and he shot a vicious glare in Jiang Luan's direction.

Initially, Prince Suiping had wanted to pin the blame for Qi Shaoyang's injury entirely on Jiang Luan. Unfortunately, with numerous townspeople as witnesses in Lvshengzhou, Qi Yuheng merely made a few casual inquiries to learn the truth of the day's events, chalking it all up to an accident.

Later, gossiping tongues wagged across the entire city, and when Jiang Luan was caught red-handed associating with the Star-Plucking Pavilion—the very culprits behind the trouble—Prince Suiping had intercepted him, only to make a public fool of himself by tumbling headfirst into a pile of horse manure.

Upon returning, Prince Suiping had repeatedly brought the matter up to Qi Yuheng, but Qi Yuheng brushed it off every time he heard it involved Qi Baili, leaving Prince Suiping utterly furious.

The old and the young alike were all cut from the same cloth, Prince Suiping thought resentfully. Fortunately, they would be returning to the capital in a few days. Once they entered his territory, these people would be nothing more than clay in his hands to mold as he pleased.

Jiang Luan felt somewhat bewildered by the glare Prince Suiping threw his way.

To be fair, ever since Qi Shaoyang's incident, when had he not wanted to lend a helping hand or offer a warning? It was simply that these people were petty and insufferably determined to go against him.

Yet Qi Shaoyang's injuries truly looked excessively severe.

Jiang Luan could not help casting a glance at the Qi Shaokang family seated opposite.

Having to display his wounds under the scrutiny of everyone and endure their astonished gazes was already intensely humiliating for Qi Shaoyang, but Madame Zhou chose that exact moment to kick a man while he was down.

"Yang'er's injuries are actually this severe!" Madame Zhou remarked with feigned astonishment before turning to Qi Yuheng. "Ancestor, I believe it would be best for Yang'er to remain home to recuperate rather than dragging him along to the capital."

Knowing Madame Zhou was bound to pull such a stunt, Prince Suiping sneered, "Yang'er is His Majesty's own nephew; if he isn't qualified to go offer birthday greetings, then who is?"

Prince Suiping was merely engaging in a momentary duel of words and spoke without really thinking.

Such words concerning qualifications caused Qi Yuheng's expression to darken, and he glanced sideways at Prince Suiping repeatedly.

Covering her mouth with a handkerchief, Madame Zhou let out a soft laugh. "I was merely making a well-intentioned suggestion, Your Highness, why fly into a rage? I simply thought that since Kang'er is remaining at home, the two of them could keep each other company..."

Hearing this, Qi Yuheng declared, "An event as grand as the Heavenly Longevity Festival requires the whole family to move out. Why would Kang'er be left behind alone?"

Qi Shaokang sat quietly wearing a bamboo rain hat, offering no words in response to his grandfather's inquiry.

At this, Madame Zhou covered her face and began to fake tears. "It's all because of idle gossip, people saying that my Kang'er has been disfigured and that taking him to the capital would bring disgrace upon the family..."

Prince Suiping's attempt to keep Qi Shaokang confined at home was evidently done of his own accord, entirely without consulting Qi Yuheng.

Consequently, Qi Yuheng slammed his palm down on the table and roared in anger,

"Who is spreading such nonsense? Kang'er shall accompany us just the same. Let's see who dares wag their tongue!"

Earlier, when Qi Shaokang had walked around the estate with his face exposed, Qi Yuheng had reacted as if he'd seen a ghost and loathed the sight of him.

Now, following his mother's instructions, Qi Shaokang kept his bamboo hat on, blocking his face from view, and Qi Yuheng instantly reverted to being a benevolent grandfather.

Hidden beneath the veil of his bamboo hat, the corners of Qi Shaokang's mouth curled into a mocking arc.

Seeing her objective achieved, Madame Zhou used her handkerchief to dab at nonexistent tears. "With this, this daughter-in-law can finally set her mind at ease."

Prince Suiping let out a disdainful, cold snort and remained silent.

Gazing upon the family before him, Qi Yuheng noted that the younger generation were either injured or maimed, leaving only his foolish grandson Qi Shaolin as the sole presentable one.

When Qi Shaolin kept his mouth shut and sat upright, his appearance was rather striking and quite deceptive.

Yet after sitting quietly for a short while, he grew restless as if sitting on pins and needles, repeatedly tilting his head to whisper in Jiang Luan's ear.

Observing this grandson of his, Qi Yuheng sighed and internally made a decision.

"I have already prepared His Majesty's birthday gift this year," Qi Yuheng announced. "In previous years, Kang'er and Yang'er presented the offerings before the Imperial Throne. Since both boys are injured this year, Lin'er shall take their place."

Everyone present froze in astonishment at the declaration.

Only the couple Qi Shaolin and Jiang Luan remained completely out of the loop, wearing identical blank expressions.

Presenting birthday gifts before the Imperial Throne was far more than a mere formality. During the grand imperial banquet, the juniors of various noble houses would perform talents, presenting an excellent opportunity to showcase their capabilities.

In previous years, a prime minister's niece had danced before the throne and caught the emperor's eye, instantly entering the inner palace to become the fiercely favored Imperial Consort Wan.

Another year, a minister's son had performed a sword dance before the emperor, winning imperial favor and securing the post of Commandant of the Guard.

Even without winning imperial recognition, those who represented their families to showcase their talents earned considerable prestige for their households.

Furthermore, numerous young ladies and lords secured advantageous marriages through it, making the quota for presenting gifts before the throne a fiercely contested prize among many large, prolific families.

"But Qi Shaolin is obviously a fool—"

Before Prince Suiping could blurt out the rest of his words, a glare from Qi Yuheng forced him to swallow them back.

In past years, the role had invariably fallen to Qi Shaokang and Qi Shaoyang.

Though Madame Zhou was somewhat dissatisfied that Qi Shaokang was missing out, seeing Prince Suiping humiliated brought her joy, so she chimed in,

"Since Kang'er and Yang'er are both injured, they truly ought to rest properly. I think Lin'er will do quite well. There is still some time before the Heavenly Longevity Festival, and upon reaching the capital, we can find someone to tutor him properly. It won't be too late."

"Agreed," Qi Yuheng nodded, turning to Jiang Luan. "Lad Jiang, you must supervise him diligently."

Unaware of the underlying stakes and why everyone grew so tense over offering mere birthday greetings, Jiang Luan could only nod in temporary agreement.

Realizing that the matter was set in stone, Prince Suiping wore a dark expression.

Seeing no point in further argument, he simply stated, "Lin'er's situation is unique. Since Yang'er is injured, it would be better to have Yan'er accompany Lin'er so they can assist one another."

"Me?"

Qi Shaolin's younger brother, Qi Shaoyan, had been sitting quietly in the most inconspicuous corner. Hearing his name, he lifted his head with a bewildered expression.