The Lecherous Prince and His Playmate [BL]

Youxian stood with his hands tied together in front of the cold palace. Sighing, he turned to his daughter and saw she was near tears but fighting them. He smirked and crouched down. Tapping her on her chin he said, “Don’t worry my child, I’ll be out before you know it.”

She stared at him, letting her tears fall. “But I don’t understand. Why are they sending you here?”

“Because I did something bad,” he said.

“If it was bad, why did you do it?” Tian Cao asked.

Looking at him, he smiled. This child had secured a place in his heart and it looked like he was in his heart, too. Sighing, he looked at the children, saying, “I’ll be fine. Just focus on your studies and be good. I don’t know if you are allowed to, but you can ask your father for permission to visit me when you miss me.”

Xing Guang nodded her head. 

Youxian gave them both a kiss on the cheek, then stood up and side-eyed Ae Cha. 

Ae Cha frowned and stepped back when he approached them. Looking at Haeun, he said, “Look after them, will you?”

She nodded. “Just look after yourself. I heard this place is haunted.”

Youxian laughed as he turned his back on them and walked in. “I look forward to it.”

The doors closed behind him, and Youxian released the biggest sigh. He looked around at the broken down palace as he rubbed his wrists and said, “You’re some emperor.”

*

Haeun looked at Changling during dinner time. When he returned, he went to Youxian, then immediately called for a court hearing to find him guilty. They had to compensate Chef Jin. Youxian couldn’t be killed or beaten. What if they ruined his body and Changling was still hoping Youxian could give him a miracle?

“Your Highness, have you lost your appetite?” She asked.

Changling looked over at her, then down at his bowl. He hadn’t touched it. His mind was with Youxian. Shaking his head, he said, “I can’t eat knowing that Youxian isn’t with us. I don’t know if he’s okay or if he is eating.”

“I’ll send someone to deliver food,” Ae Cha said as she poured him tea.

Changling smiled, ready to thank her, but Haeun held up her hand, saying, “No, I will. You might poison him.”

She slammed her hand down on the table. “Enough, your highness. I would never do that to him.”

Looking at her, she shook her head. “Just leave the harem affairs to me. Attend to his highness.”

Ae Cha grew angry. She looked at her husband for support, but as usual, Changling was in his own world.

Xing Guang looked at her father, then her two mothers, and sighed. This was normal, but everything felt strange.

*

Unable to sleep, Xing Guang got up and walked around in the palace, ignoring the servants that urged her to go back to bed. Her robes were pulling behind her as she walked, and she just seemed lost.

You could say things were better when her father was locking himself up, but now that he was being punished and she didn’t know why? Now she no longer had her father to run to when she was tired of her studies.

As she continued walking, she found herself walking past the palace garden. She was going to continue on her path to nowhere, but then she heard a familiar voice laughing.

Walking in, she hid behind the bushes, minding not to make a sound, and peeked at the two people who were talking. It was Ae Cha and Haeun.

“You’re pathetic, really. If the citizens knew you were this spineless, you wouldn’t be the Crown Princess,” Ae Cha scoffed.

Haeun rolled her eyes. “Don’t get your hopes up! You will never replace me, no matter how hard you try to. I am warning you, Kwon Ae Cha, stay away from Youxian and Princess Youxia—you’ll end up dead just like those two.”

Ae Cha rolled her eyes. “If you think I’m scared of him, you must not know me. My father is a general and I am well taught. I can easily fare off against him, and there’s nothing to be afraid of. It is my luck that he has turned mad and killed that fellow.”

“He might kill you,” she said. 

Ae Cha laughed so loudly that it gave Xing Guang a fright, but she stood in place. Xing Guang was confused. Her father never killed anyone. Why was she lying about him?

Turning her back to Haeun, she said, “What was his name again? Wulin? I heard he was one of His Highness’s best men. He trained under him too and was left in charge of protecting Youxian when you ruined their relationship. And now look, who knows, Youxian might have to die. He will be a problem in the future for me and you. What if he decides one day to kill His Highness—the kingdom will be without an emperor!”

Haeun turned Ae Cha around and slapped her across the face. “How dare you utter those treacherous words! Youxian will never kill his highness. He loves him more than you ever will!”

Ae Cha slapped her back, saying, “Don’t get ahead of yourself, sister. You may be the crown princess, but your seat isn’t secured. I can get rid of you and Youxian. That brat of his and take everything of yours. Be careful how you treat me too, your days are numbered, my dear princess.”

Kicking the dust under her feet, she smirked, “Goodnight, your highness. Make sure you sleep with one eye open.”

When things cleared out, Xing Guang sat down on the grass, hugging her knees. ‘Daddy, he killed my father? I thought my other father killed him. Is that why he’s locked up and receiving punishment?’

She felt terrible, but it wasn’t because her father killed Wulin. She made peace with that a year ago, but why did this woman say she was going to kill her and her father? ‘I thought she liked me.’

Standing up, she dusted her robes off, then made her way back to her bedroom. Walking around absentmindedly, she bumped into someone.

Frowning as she looked at the person, she saw it was her grandfather. Smiling as she bowed, “Grandfather.”

“Ah-Xia, shouldn’t you be asleep?” He asked as he picked her up.

She nodded her head. “I tried, but I can’t. I keep thinking about my daddy. I hope he’s okay.”

Wu Yong sighed. Heading to his chamber, he said, “It’s unsettling, really. Let’s head to grandfather’s chamber. You can sleep with me tonight while we try to remember the good times.”

“But grandfather, what did my father do that was so bad? Please tell me, I know my father. He would only hurt someone if they harmed him first or threatened me.”

“My child, I don’t understand the situation too, but believe me when I say your father will be okay. He just needs to be alone for the time being to take responsibility for his actions and one day when you commit a crime, you will be punished as well but you’re my beautiful well mannered granddaughter, I expect you to behave yourself and never commit a crime.”

She giggled with a nod of her head. “Yes, I’ll try my best.”

As she laid her head on the pillow and listened to her grandfather’s stories, her mind drifted back to the conversations her two mothers had. Closing her eyes, she smiled. ‘It’s fine if you don’t like me. I’ll survive, but you won’t kill me or my daddy.’

*

Youxian looked at the sky. A flock of birds was flying by, covering his head. He said, “I hope you don’t shit on my head.”

The servant chuckled, “My lord, your food is here.”

He looked at the bland vegetables and rice. Feeling his stomach turn, he waved his hand. “Send it back. I’ll rather starve myself.”

“My lord, you didn’t have breakfast. What shall I do when his highness asks me why you have no appetite?”

“My stomach just doesn’t agree with it, Chu. Return it and don’t bother. If you must, avoid him at all costs.”

She shook her head, discouraged.

Placing a hand on his stomach, he could feel it cramping. He looked at the tray of food and shook his head, “I want salmon and honey. Or pork soup, but really, I’ll appreciate it if you can get me the salmon and honey. I’ll even eat those vegetables.”