43

Yuhong Xun, finally, got what he wanted and raped Zhou Chuyu, who didn't offer any resistance. But it left Yuhong Xun feeling extremely agitated. First he couldn't kiss Zhou Chuyu because every time he tried to kiss him, Zhou Chuyu would bite either his lips or his tongue. Second throughout the entire process, Zhou Chuyu, like a died person, showed no expression and no response. Regardless of how Yuhong Xun tormented him, Zhou Chuyu remained silent, shedding not a single tear. However, Yuhong Xun knew it must have been painful, as after it was all over, Zhou Chuyu collapsed, drenched in sweat with bleeding on his lips. What infuriated Yuhong Xun even more was that Zhou Chuyu began vomiting continuously for two or three days, followed by a high fever. It took seven or eight days for Zhou Chuyu to recover each time. This outcome led Yuhong Xun to wield his whip vigorously, striking Zhou Chuyu mercilessly. Still, there were no cries, only silent endurance. It became the normal for them and their relationship. Yuhong Xun's attempt to establish a dream of a harmonious relationship with Zhou Chuyu had utterly shattered. 

However, he noticed that every time Zhou Chuyu would hold a jade pendant around his neck. Yes, Zhou Chuyu always clutched this pendant in his hand, whether during their moments of making love or when he was being whipped by Yuhong Xun. However, there was always a voice in his mind: "Ge, I'm sorry! Ge, I love you! This isn't you, Ge, sorry! I miss you! Please forgive me!" Initially, Yuhong Xun didn't pay much attention, but observing Zhou Chuyu tightly holding onto it, he couldn't help but take a closer look. It was a high-quality white jade pendant in the shape of a fish, but evidently, it was only half of the entire shape. There should be another half. This made Yuhong Xun think that Zhou Chuyu was not a virgin. It meant that the other half might be with someone else, Zhou Chuyu's lover. Each two persons held one half as a memento. Enraged and consumed by jealousy, he yanked the pendant off Zhou Chuyu's neck and threw it out the window. This time he saw Zhou Chuyu's reaction, the tears streaming down his face. Yuhong Xun fiercely lashed Zhou Chuyu with his whip. Zhou Chuyu cried, a silent weeping.

Watching as Zhou Chuqi, with tears in his eyes, applied medicine to Zhou Chuyu without even sparing a glancing at him, Yuhong Xun said weakly:

"I want to talk with you."

Zhou Chuqi said disdainfully:

"What do you want to talk about? About how do you have tortured my younger brother and sister?"

Yuhong Xun sighed helplessly and said:

"This isn't what I wanted. I wanted to have a good relationship with him but he shows no response. He neither cries nor smiles for me. His gaze is lifeless, lacking the liveliness and loveliness I initially saw. You know what he attracted me, that is, his affectionate eyes, cute demeanor and sweet smile but now all of them have been disappeared. The only time he shows a change is when he prays."

Zhou Chuqi said with a heavy heart:

"Because you killed them and when he prays, it's for the person he loves, not for you."

Yuhong Xun asked:

"How did that person treat him? Do you know that person?"

Zhou Chuqi replied:

"I only know that Chuyu was very happy with that person and liked to pestering him when he stayed with him."

"Why can't I find any information about that person? I know he doesn't seem to have any particularly close friend. How could he have a lover?"

"It's a relationship that obviously wouldn't be accepted by my parents. Of course they would be careful to conceal it, not letting others notice it."

"But you know and it seems like you're quite supportive."

"As long as he is happy, I will support him."

"I envy and am jealous of your sibling relationship. I also have brothers but I have never felt their care."

"That's truly sad but do you have cared for your brothers?" Seeing Yuhong Xun silent, Zhou Chuqi smiled and said, "If you don't care about others, how can you expect others to care about you? Care and love always are mutual."

"Care and love always are mutual. So I want to love your brother but how did he treat me?"

"I've told you that you have killed his emotion. And your love is too unique, possession, insult, torment and whipping. Is it the way you love him?"

"Can you talk to him? Persuade him to show some reaction towards me even if it's just a small emotion, smile or angry, any reaction. I would lavish him with everything even towards heaven if he does."

"I can talk to him because I also don't want to see my brother being tormented and whipped by you. He used to be afraid of pain."

"You tell him I can't control myself, especially when he is always like that. It makes me lose control even more."

In the end, what Yuhong Xun got from Zhou Chuyu:

"I promised him to stay by his side honestly, not to sell emotion to him. He can do whatever he wants with me. I don't care anymore."

Yuhong Xun was angry and felt inferior. Till now he knew one thing that Zhou Chuyu looked down on him completely. It was only his power that allowed him to act as he pleased but in Zhou Chuyu's eyes, it was worth nothing. He no longer hoped for anything. He would just completely confine Zhou Chuyu's body by his side even if he couldn't get Zhou Chuyu's love and heart. 

When Nie Huanzhang heard about the ordeal Zhou Chuyu had gone through, tears filled his eyes and Yu Weiwei kept wiping away tears, pulling Nie Huanzhang forcefully to prevent him from rushing out to kill someone. Nie Huanzhang shouted:

"Weiwei, what's the use of pulling me now? Can you pull me forever?"

"If I don't hold onto you, are you going to go out and kill someone?"

Nie Huanzhang roared angrily:

"You're right. I do want to go and kill someone, to kill that bitch. I'll take the blame for this. As long as I can free Wangshi from that perverted grasp."

Yu Weiwei tightly pulled Nie Huanzhang while saying:

"Can you kill him? You know he is the regent now, surrounded by bodyguards protecting him. If you can't kill him, you not only lost your life but also placed the little fox in jeopardy. We need to discuss this carefully." 

Nie Huanzhang cried in pain:

"What a fuck fart! You're the same. He is His Highness's younger brother. Would His Highness kill his younger brother for Wangshi? Don't make a joke. Do you care about this? For you, Wangshi is just a child, who you have met only one time. But for me he is…he is my life, my…my baby. Wangshi, sorry, it's my fault. I don't have the power to protect you properly, sorry, my baby!"

Zhou Chuqi cried, trying to console him:

"Huanzhang, don't be impulsive! If Chuyu knew you were risking everything for him, he would be uneasy."

Nie Huanzhang grabbed hold of Zhou Chuqi, pleading:

"I want to meet him. Please, I want to see him. Can you draw a map of his room for me?"

Zhou Chuqi replied:

"Huanzhang, it is very difficult. His yard is next to Yuhong Xun's yard. As Mr. Yu said, there are many bodyguards around him. Even when I went to Chuyu's room, I had to be searched."

Nie Huanzhang continued to plead, looking at Zhou Chuqi, and said:

"Please help me! Is there any way I can see him alone? Please help me."

"Chuyu seldom leaves his yard. It's a regular life for him to visit Yuhuang Temple for pray on first and fifteenth day of every month. He usually arrives a day early and stays overnight for the first incense the following day. However, the yard where he stays is quite unique, situated on the edge of a cliff on three sides and only one path leading out. Inside the yard, there is a brick house where Chuyu lives alone, while his bodyguards and servant stay in another yard outside. It is impossible for you to enter the yard, as the bodyguards thoroughly inspect the area to ensure there is no one inside before allowing Chuyu to move in." 

Yu Weiwei asked:

"Huanzhang, do you need any help?"

"No, I've been climbing cliffs for training my kung fu since I was a child."

Zhou Chuqi exclaimed anxiously:

"Wh…what? Do you plan to climb the cliff? Don't take a risk. If something happens to you, do you have thought about what will happen to Chuyu?" 

Nie Huanzhang comforted Zhou Chuqi:

"Don't worry, it won't be in danger for me."

Nie Huanzhang gave him a determined eyes. Zhou Chuqi knew it was impossible to persuade Nie Huanzhang so he said:

"By the way, there are two more things I need you to check." He looked at Yu Weiwei for approval and continued, "One is my personal thing. I know it is a bit hard for you to find out where my parents are now as they are currently detained somewhere and no one knows where they are. But Chuqin's family has gone back home and I want to know whether they are safe or not." 

Nie Huanzhang said:

"Don't worry, I'll let Feng Yuan to do this. What else?"

"It was more than a month ago that Chuyu saved an official whose name is Xie Guansan. What I know was that the Second Prince wanted to kill him and Chuyu took a risk to save him."

Yu Weiwei asked:

"As for Chuqin, I will ask His Highness to advise the county magistrate not to overdo. Please tell me more about that official."

"Sorry, I don't know the specific details because Chuyu didn't tell me. He just asked me to find out any way to inform this Xie Guansan. Later I learned about a meeting for his son and the classmates in a restaurant. Chuyu informed the Second Prince that he wanted to have lunch alone at the same restaurant. It was unusual for Chuyu to ask for anything and this delighted the Second Prince, who readily agreed without doubt. Though I don't have all the details, Chuyu mentioned to me that he went there, discreetly caused a conflict involving the son of Xie Guansan, leading to a fight between two sides. Chuyu created an opportunity to be caught deliberately by Junior Xie. During this encounter, he warned Mr. Junior Xie that someone intended to kill his father. I don't know if that young man understood but because of this incident, Mr. Xie seemed to have been demoted. As for what happened afterward, we couldn't find out."

Yu Weiwei asked after some contemplation:

"Do you know more about this? Does Chuyu know it?"

Zhou Chuqi replied:

"I think he knows a little more but he didn't tell me. As he said, the more information I know the more danger I have."

Yu Weiwei said:

"I see. I'll check this but I don't have heard of any official being killed so I think he would be fine. By the way, that day I saw Zhou Chuyu, what's wrong with his skin?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chuqi said bitterly:

"That beast made Chuyu drink Yurong dripping, a kind of dripping which can repair and whiten skin. It's also known as a beauty tonic. Because Chuyu is covered in wounds everyday now, coupled with his disfigurement, Yuhong Xun made him drink this. In addition, Yuhong Xun likes the boys with the white skin. The potion does whiten the skin but its skin-repairing effect isn't very good. What's more harmful is that it damages the internal organs. Drinking it long-term can be detrimental to the body. As you know Chuyu occasionally vomits to expel some of the dripping from his body. I've also concocted some medicine to alleviate the effects of the dripping, but unfortunately, it isn't an antidote."

Nie Huanzhang slammed his fist on the table, causing a crack to appear. He gritted his teeth and said:

"I will kill him soon or later. Can you find the antidote? Please make more medicine for Wangshi and I bring it to him."

"I do my best to find the antidote. If you go there, please be extremely careful. Any mishap on your part could mean Chuyu's death."

Nie Huanzhang nodded and continued to say:

"And your sister, Zheng, has moved out of her husband's home. She is currently living in the store now, planning to divorce. But don't worry about her. She is protected secretly by someone. Right, Weiwei?

"Yes, Princess Yun likes her embroidery and her lady often goes there under the pretext of buying embroidery products to watch over her."

Zhou Chuqi deeply bowed to express his gratitude.