Qin Yu trembled all over as he was pressed down, but gritted his teeth and said: “Instinctual pleasure is nothing. Are you, He Yundu, still short of people around you? Just find someone to accompany you.”

He Lan paused. The force of his grip lessened, and Qin Yu seized the opportunity. He turned around and pushed He Lan away, but when he looked up, he was stunned.

The He Lan in front of him was different than before. He seemed to have been dealt a heavy blow at this moment and was momentarily unable to digest the damage, his eyes turning red.

This image of He Lan was something Qin Yu had never before seen or imagined.

He was He Yundu, a playful, frivolous, willful, and overbearing man.

Qin Yu’s heart ached, but he turned his face away and said without mockery: “He Lan, perhaps you don’t understand your feelings for me at all. We were brothers, and only became entangled by happenstance. That kind of stimulation was novel to you, like you couldn’t put it down because you hadn’t had enough. I’m now considered a half-fugitive in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and you’re the famous deputy commander of the Jinyiwei. You are a noble in the capital, and I’m an exiled eunuch. There is no possibility of anything between us, so don’t mention affection.”

At this point, Qin Yu gave a bitter smile. He was a base person, and had come here knowing that he would meet He Lan. Knowing clearly that He Lan was stubborn and would not easily let him go, he still delivered himself to him.

Perhaps he was also unable to let go, and wanted to see He Lan one last time. From now on, there was really no need for them to see one another again.

He was just a lowly eunuch, not even a complete man. He was lucky enough to be his brother.

Being saved by He Lan and having this kind of relationship with him for a short time was a blessing from heaven. He wasn’t greedy. Why should he drag He Lan into the water with him? He Lan had a bright future.

No matter how Qin Yu usually scolded He Lan, he still felt inferior deep down.

Suddenly, He Lan said in a hoarse voice: “Don’t you understand what I’m saying? I’m saying that I like you, and there won’t be anyone else at my side except for you!

Qin Yu was taken aback. He looked up at He Lan, and his gaze became resolute. Leaning against the windowsill, he suddenly reached down and untied his belt, taking off his clothes in front of He Lan.

He Lan was initially struck dumb, and then his expression turned extremely ugly.

“Forget it, I won’t argue with you. Do as you please.” Qin Yu was somewhat mentally prepared – if he really met He Lan and the other wouldn’t let him go, he would just enjoy it. This was the last time, after all. 

He Lan’s eyes were fierce, and he laughed almost cruelly: “Qin Zichuan, you’re really the best at angering me. What? You want to disappear after spending one night with me again? What exactly do you think of me? You really are good at insulting people.”

After saying this, he turned to face away from Qin Yu.

Qin Yu stared. Did this mean he was being rejected?

Fingers shaking as he pulled his robes together, Qin Yu couldn’t tell exactly how he felt. He was a little embarrassed, but said: “If you don’t want it, just get out.”

Did he not want it anymore? This was obviously the only thing he could give him.

He Lan said: “Heh, how could I not want you? I want you even in my dreams. You just don’t understand.”

Qin Yu slowly raised his head to stare at He Lan’s almost desolate back.

He Lan said in a forlorn tone: “This is my first time falling in love with someone, and you don’t believe me? When events happened last year, I wanted to go with you, but it couldn’t be done. For Zhanyuan and the others, I had to stay in the capital.”

“Do you know why I asked Zhanyuan to bring you messages, and let you come find me instead of me seeking you out?”

Qin Yu was frozen. His eyes flickered slightly.

“Because I wanted to give you the opportunity to choose. Because I don’t know how you feel about me. One year. I waited for one year. I wanted to wait for you, so that I would know that I wasn’t just being hot-headed. If I were to catch you, it would be the complete opposite. I don’t want our relationship to be limited to sex.”

Stunned, Qin Yu took an involuntary step forward. He didn’t know that He Lan had put so much thought into it. Given He Lan’s free and easy personality, how could he be this unwilling to let go?

“This past year, I did a lot of things other than waiting for you. I didn’t seek power or promotion in the capital – I just tried my best to help erase all traces of you and Zhanyuan. It will be even more difficult than climbing to heaven for anyone to find the two of you again after that year.”

Qin Yu’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected this. After all, he had only heard about He Lan’s promotion.

“This year, I have indeed become the emperor’s new favorite, and many people want to marry their daughters to me,” He Lan spoke again.

Qin Yu paused mid-step and returned to his senses. That’s right, Bai Su had also said that. He ought to get married and have children. They didn’t have a relationship like Liu Zhenqing and Huo Fenglie. There was no need for He Lan to…..

“But if you returned to the capital once, you would be aware of the rumors about me. I tell every woman who likes me that I have someone in my heart, that he is a man, and I’m a cutsleeve. That I will only marry him in the future. My uncle beat me up several times, but it didn’t make me obedient.”

He Lan spoke in a murmur. This was totally unlike his usual self. Such an aggrieved narration of his friendship and dedication flustered Qin Yu. 

He didn’t know how to respond. He had liked He Lan and secretly watched him for so long, but he had never seen him like this.

“I’ve already resigned from my position in the capital, and I have no plans to go back. If I was still unable to meet you here, I had made up my mind to search for you all over the world.”

Qin Yu couldn’t stop shaking all over. He never could have imagined that He Lan would do this for him. He Lan was really……Qin Yu was caught in a storm of complex emotions, being blown endlessly around until he was disoriented and didn’t know what to do.

He Lan said with deep feeling: “Even if you don’t have me in your heart, I couldn’t let you go.”

“He Lan, you……” Qin Yu’s voice had become hoarse.

But He Lan sucked in a deep breath, and his shoulders trembled as if he was about to cry.

“But I can give up now. It turns out that you really don’t like me at all. You only want to avoid me, guard against me, and get rid of me. It was me who made up the affection between us. Qin Zichuan, I won’t bother you anymore. I’m leaving now. I won’t appear in front of you ever again.”

When He Lan finished speaking, Qin Yu felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. He stood there in shock, his clenched fists unknowingly shaking. Since childhood, his heart had been trained to be cold and hard. He could be habitually indifferent even when facing the person he secretly loved, but at this moment, he felt heartbroken.

He saw He Lan’s tall figure walking out without looking back, but every step he took was difficult, and he staggered as if he couldn’t bear the pain.

Had he really hurt He Lan so much?

He Lan didn’t look back, and where Qin Yu couldn’t see, his expression was ferocious. It took every bit of his patience not to tie the person behind him to the bed and fulfill his promise, making sure that the man couldn’t get out of bed until he surrendered and agreed.

But now, Qin Yu’s appearance hadn’t changed at all. He also understood that if they went through with it, they would just be repeating the past. He could only possess Qin Yu for a short while with this method, not for a lifetime. How could he just want to be with him for a short time?

So he had to change his approach and do the opposite in order to capture this cold snake.

He just didn’t believe that this cold-blooded creature couldn’t be warmed up!

But after walking a few steps, there was still no movement behind him. He Lan couldn’t help but panic. Could it be that Qin Yu was really so heartless? Since he didn’t like Huo Fenglie, he must like He Lan a little bit, ah! Had he really made the wrong judgment and dropped a stone on his own foot?

“Stop me now, ah!” He Lan muttered to himself. The moment he pushed open the door, He Lan had already made up his mind. If Qin Yu didn’t react when he stepped out, then don’t blame him for settling for the next best thing. If he couldn’t obtain his heart, he would possess this person forever and not let Qin Yu’s body separate from him. He didn’t believe that there was no way to open the man’s heart!

Just as He Lan was viciously pondering his revenge plan, there was suddenly a strong breeze behind him.

He Lan paused, feeling a weight on his back. Someone was hugging him from behind.

His heart finally fell back into its original place. He Lan’s face filled with ecstasy, and his body shook with excitement, but he couldn’t help wanting to get more.

“If you don’t like me, don’t hug me. I, He Yundu, am not so cheap as to let you play with my feelings.”

“……Like.”

Even though Qin Yu’s voice was naturally cold, it carried a hint of aggrieved tenderness at this moment. He Lan, who had just calmed down, was instantly stimulated by the sound of it.

“W-what did you say?” He Lan’s voice was unsteady.

“It wasn’t Zhanyuan who saved me as a child. It was you. The person I like has always been you, He Yundu. Do you really……want me?”

Qin Yu buried his head in He Lan’s back, as if he couldn’t face the things he had said and done on impulse. If he had been more sober tonight, he would have let He Lan leave, but he had eventually lost all self-control. He thought he was drunk.

He was like a venomous snake that had lost its fangs, and no longer had the ability to protect itself.

Suddenly, the person in front of him turned around and embraced him. The extreme, overwhelming force of the hug seemed to be trying to embed him into the other’s body, and a kiss came down like a fierce wind.

Qin Yu could no longer speak. He Lan held Qin Yu with one arm, pulled down his own belt, then hooked his foot on the door and slammed it shut. Twisting around, he pushed Qin Yu against the door.

He Lan’s patience had truly reached its limit. He was like a person in the desert taking their first sip of water.

When the door could no longer bear the weight, He Lan said in a hoarse voice: “Zichuan, you’re mine. You can’t run away anymore.”

Qin Yu’s eyes seemed weak and unable to focus. He hugged He Lan’s shoulders and gave a soft hum.

Where Qin Yu couldn’t see, the corners of He Lan’s mouth curled up. He lifted Qin Yu up and carried him to bed, where he would fulfill his promise.

The eagle had finally caught the snake! He would take it back to his nest and enjoy it slowly.

This night, it was as if He Lan had taken an aphrodisiac for the first time. As if to punish Qin Yu, no matter how much he couldn’t bear it, begged for mercy, or even was made to cry, He Lan thoroughly fulfilled his promise.

In a daze, Qin Yu finally realized something was wrong, but in the next second, he was drawn into He Lan’s rhythm and was unable to dwell on it.

When the mighty Qin Yu was rendered unconscious, it was already daybreak. He Lan took out a special torture device of the Jinyiwei, the Thousand Mechanism Lock, and locked their wrists together.

It seemed there would be no need to go out these days.

Leaving aside the fierce combat here, Huo Fenglie fed porridge to the starving Liu Zhenqing when he returned.

Liu Zhenqing ate until he was full and had some strength, and took the initiative to pull Huo Fenglie into bed.

The light in Huo Fenglie’s eyes was deep and gentle. They were going to continue their wedding night.

However, Liu Zhenqing said with a smile: “Er-gou, shall we play something else?”

Liu Zhenqing was more open-minded in this regard than Huo Fenglie, and it was always he who drew Huo Fenglie to play. The other could only nod shyly.

Liu Zhenqing’s eyes slowly narrowed, and he smiled maliciously. This sort of expression immediately gave Huo Fenglie a bad feeling.

His hands were tied to the headboard. This was fine. They had played it before.

Huo Fenglie knew that Liu Zhenqing wanted to take the lead, so he cooperated. However, Liu Zhenqing sometimes agitated him on purpose, leaving Huo Fenglie with no choice but to endure it.

But this was all within his tolerable range.

Just as he was lost in thought, he saw Liu Zhenqing take the Rubik’s Cube beside him and dangle it in front of Huo Fenglie. This was irregular.

Huo Fenglie stared blankly.

“Have you memorized it?” Liu Zhenqing asked.

Before Huo Fenglie could answer, his eyes were blindfolded and the Rubik’s Cube was placed in the hands that were tied above him.

“Qing-ge?” Huo Fenglie asked in confusion.

“Little thing, you dared to lie to me. You’re pretty good with the Rubik’s Cube, aren’t you? Solving it blind shouldn’t be difficult for you. Just solve it well and return it to its original state, and the game will be over. Otherwise, I won’t make you feel good.”

This kind of childish game could usually be completed in a few seconds, but it was simply impossible for Liu Zhenqing to make him twist blindly in this situation. But since Qing-ge had spoken, he had to obey.

Huo Fenglie could only try with shaking hands to solve it as soon as possible. He was made to apologize for deceiving him in the past, and in the end, he had to endure…..

After some time, Liu Zhenqing looked at the Rubik’s Cube that had been returned to its original state. Huo Fenglie asked in hoarse voice: “Did I get it?”

Liu Zhenqing’s breathing was slow, and his movements were gentle. For him, this was a slow, easy pleasure, but for Huo Fenglie, it was torture.

“Nope. Try again.” With a click, the Rubik’s Cube became irregular again.

In the end, the Rubik’s Cube wasn’t solved, but Liu Zhenqing made him lose his mind. For the first time, he was disobedient and rough for a while, asserting his authority as husband.

The candles in the bridal chamber never went out.

The sun was rising above rolling waves and a pavilion on a quiet coastline.

Huo Fenglie came to this place, carrying an unconscious Liu Zhenqing. He sat down, wrapped this person up in a blanket, and held him in his arms.

He then said: “Qing-ge…..”

He had promised Qing-ge last night that he would take him to see the sunrise. It was supposed to commemorate their marriage.

Liu Zhenqing had just slept for a while and was a little grumpy when he woke up. He gave Huo Fenglie a hard smack, but then he smelled the scent of the seaside and opened his eyes.

He immediately saw the beautiful scene of the sun rising, its brilliant light soon dying the sea breeze.

Reclining leisurely in Huo Fenglie’s arms, Liu Zhenqing said: “From now on, let’s watch the sunset. I can’t get up at sunrise.”

Huo Fenglie responded affectionately, “The sunset in the desert is the most beautiful.”

“We’ll go and live in the desert after a while,” Liu Zhenqing said with a smile. “This is the life I wanted. Everywhere is home, as long as you’re by my side.”

Huo Fenglie could only tighten his embrace and lower his head to kiss the person in his arms: “Wherever Qing-ge wants to go, that’s where we’ll go. This is also the life I originally wanted.”

Liu Zhenqing suddenly said with a smile, “I heard from Junior Sister that you wanted to be my personal bodyguard before, so you should naturally follow me wherever I go.”

Huo Fenglie said, ill at ease: “En, I wanted to be your bodyguard at first, but later I just wanted to be your husband.”

Holding back his laughter, Liu Zhenqing said: “If there hadn’t been so many difficulties in the past, I feel like you wouldn’t be my bodyguard or my husband.”

Huo Fenglie froze, suddenly anxious over Liu Zhenqing’s hypothesis: “Why not?”

“You have so much talent, how could you just be my bodyguard? Even if your brother agreed, the Huo family and the court wouldn’t go along with it. If you didn’t become a general, you would have had to become a top scholar and enter the court. As for a husband…..” Liu Zhenqing thought for a moment, then said with a smile, “If there hadn’t been so much delaying me, by the time you were old enough to be with me, I’d probably have been married and had children at my age.”

Liu Zhenqing made a thorough analysis. If the crown prince hadn’t died, Great Zhou would have been stable. Although he and his junior sister had broken off their engagement, they were too old to delay for too long. He was ten years older than Huo Fenglie, so he wouldn’t have been able to wait for his confession. It was impossible for either of Huo Fenglie’s wishes to become reality.

He had only said this casually, but he noticed Huo Fenglie’s silence and turned to find him with a desolate look on his face. Liu Zhenqing was shocked, and said hurriedly: “What’s wrong? Er-gou, Baby, everything’s fine.”

Huo Fenglie suddenly said: “So if everything was peaceful and sound, you wouldn’t have fallen in love with me or accepted my confession, is that right?” 

Liu Zhenqing stared blankly, then pinched Huo Fenglie’s straight nose with an amused look: “What are you thinking, Baby? You’re this upset about a hypothetical question?”

“It’s not really hypothetical. Didn’t Qing-ge say that there are parallel universes? Doesn’t that mean there are worlds where we aren’t together? Where you didn’t accept me, and chose to be with someone else?” Huo Fenglie was seriously upset.

Liu Zhenqing immediately panicked, inwardly cursing himself for explaining parallel universes, transmigration, and rebirth to Huo Fenglie.

He quickly took hold of Huo Fenglie’s face and gave him a comforting kiss. When Huo Fenglie’s body was no longer tense, he said: “My dear Er-gou, don’t worry. In a hundred different worlds, no matter how things developed, I would still like you. I’m no ordinary person, so I certainly wouldn’t follow an ordinary path. And with Er-gou right next to me, how could he watch me be taken away by someone else? So we must still be together. I was only teasing you just now.”

Huo Fenglie stared: “Really?”

Liu Zhenqing nodded firmly: “Think about it, ah. There were so many people around me before, but was I ever attracted to any of them? But I met you as soon as I came back, and fell in love with you within a few months. We are destined by fate, so no matter which world we’re in, I’ll only love you.”

Liu Zhenqing naturally excelled at coaxing people with sweet words, and Er-gou was soon coaxed back to happiness.

Not long after, noise sounded from the other end of the coast. The two of them turned around to find that Li Xingruo had brought the twins out to watch the sunrise. The children ran over happily when they spotted them, and Li Xingruo followed.

The five of them watched the sunrise leisurely and chatted about daily life.

Liu Zhenqing nestled in Huo Fenglie’s arms, savoring the warm moment. Looking at the somewhat illusory reflection of sunlight on the water, he suddenly thought of the topic he had just been discussing with Huo Fenglie.

If there really was a parallel universe where the crown prince was alive, then everyone would have certainly lived a simpler, cleaner, happier life than here.

Did such a world exist?

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T/N: Up next is an alternate universe story where the crown prince lives and all the royal infighting doesn’t tear the country apart. It’s 22 chapters, so basically its own mini novel!

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Wedding Extra 6 << Table of Contents >> (Alt Universe) Extra 8