His highness's Allure - Chap 22
When Pei Zheng strode into the hall, Qi Yirou couldn’t help but straighten her back. For some reason, she felt like an open book under Pei Zheng’s piercing gaze.
The Emperor sent Qi Yirou back to her palace to rest. Whatever he was about to discuss with Pei Zheng would have to remain confidential.
Although Qi Yirou was reluctant, she wiped her tears and returned to her residence.
The only ones left in the hall were Pei Zheng and the Emperor. He asked, “What brings Pei-aiqing1 here so late?”
Pei Zheng stroked his sleeves, “Responding to the Emperor, the spy from the southwest barbarian tribe sends a report. The barbarian leader has agreed to a marriage alliance, and intends to send an envoy to the Celestial Dynasty2.”
The Emperor’s face visibly brightened. “Good, very good, this way we can recover the borderlands without any bloodshed!”
Pei Zheng’s eyes shifted, and he hesitated, “It’s just…”
The Emperor immediately asked, “What is it? There’s no harm in saying it. Aiqing has been diligent in regard to this matter, so I will definitely listen to your advice.”
Pei Zheng walked to the Emperor’s side and whispered in his ear, and the Emperor’s face immediately became strange.
“Is this true?”
Pei Zheng took a few steps back and lowered his head respectfully. “Of course.”
The Emperor sighed. “Since this is the case, in Pei-aiqing‘s opinion, is there a suitable candidate?”
Pei Zheng raised his head. The emotions in his eyes were masked by darkness.
…
The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Office of Careful Punishment.
Torture weapons of all shapes and sizes lined the walls, looking eerie and terrifying. It was said that there were 72 different types of torture, each one uniquely cruel. No matter how tightly shut one’s mouth was, there was definitely something here that could pry it open.
After Qi Changyi’s hands and feet were bound, he was thrown to the ground. Although he was still considered a prince, without the Emperor’s favor he was inferior to a chief eunuch.
What’s more, he had offended the third princess. He definitely wouldn’t be able to leave this hellhole without at least having his skin torn off.
Qi Changyi was truly terrified. There were bloodstains on the floor and walls, on the tables and chairs next to him, and the entire room carried an iron stench.
He wasn’t really going to die here, was he?
The door was suddenly pushed open, and two tall figures walked inside. They were the officers in charge of the torture, and they looked devilish and ready to kill.
One of the guards stepped forward and picked Qi Changyi up as if he were a little rabbit, before tying him to the wooden crucifix3. When he saw that Qi Changyi was only dressed in his underclothes, he smiled evilly.
“Second Brother, everybody says that His Highness is an alluring beauty4, but a few of our brothers still don’t believe it. Now we’ve seen it with our own eyes!”
“Second Brother” took advantage of the fact he was tying the rope around Qi Changyi’s wrists; he reached out and groped Qi Changyi’s white, jade-like fingers.
“This beauty, it’s a pity he’s a man born from a fool of a mother. Pei5, how unlucky.”
“Hey, you can’t say that.” The other man leaned forward and whispered something into “Second Brother”‘s ear, and they both laughed as they eyed Qi Changyi up and down.
“Third Brother, you’ve got big balls hahaha! If you actually dare to do something to the prince, I’ll call you ‘Second Brother’ instead!”
That “Third Brother” stared at Qi Changyi, his jade-smooth white face, his bright red lips, and the messy black hair that was stuck to his cheeks. He resembled a beautiful demon6 who had just eaten a human soul.
This little demon’s eyes were red, but his defiance only aroused others’ desires to conquer him.
“Third Brother”‘s head was muddled by lust: his huge, rough hands unceremoniously attached themselves to Qi Changyi’s waist and rubbed it a few times.
“Anyway, he’s a fool. Would be a pity to torture him to death before letting me7 have some fun with him!”
Notes
1: 爱卿: This is how Emperors referred to their ministers.
2: 天朝: Another name for the Imperial Court, but used when talking to foreign tribes.
3: During punishments, people were tied to wooden crosses, called 十字架.
4: 倾城: Someone so beautiful they can overthrow cities (the same qingcheng as in the title!)
5: 呸: Bah!
6. 妖精: usually refers to a female demon.
7. 老子: Not really sure how to explain it, it’s a way to refer to oneself as well, kind of like ‘old man’.
