Taizi ch 4 (1)

Chapter 4 part 1

Translator: マイ

(Manhua ch 10 to 15)

After returning from the Internal Punishment Court in the morning, on that same day in the afternoon, Zhang Cheng reported to Yong Shan.

Yong Qi’s illness had become even worse. 

With all those things done to him, how could he not be sick? Being tossed around like that with his body in a high fever, making his fragile slender brother cry and plead. He was humiliated and was so frightened that even his soul almost couldn’t remain and that he couldn’t wait to die.

Yong Shan, with an absent mind, looked at his official attire that needed to be worn at the grand ceremony tomorrow. After dealing with several urgent matters at hand, he still had to accompany his mother to have a meal with her in the evening. Without much thought, Shu Fei said, “What’s the matter? Your morning mood doesn’t look good. It wasn’t this bad last night.” 


“Yong Qi is ill.” Yong Shan narrowed his eyes fiercely as this sentence slipped out from his mouth. He was so upset that he wished to give himself a whip.

Shu Fei looked into his eyes and said lightly. “That child, his body has never been any better to begin with.” After that, with no more questioning, she quietly took a piece of winter bamboo shoot and put it in her son’s bowl. “About Yong Lin, when are you planning to bring this matter up?”

“When the time comes, I will naturally bring him up.”

The heavy snow outside had not stopped snowing yet.

In the splendid Golden Pavilion, where decoration was generous and dazzling, many multicolored fabrics hung down from green windproof everywhere from all directions. Gold thread tassels fell from the four corners. The warmth coming from the heating system built underground could make people feel cozy and sleepy in winter. 

Within the tranquil and silent atmosphere, even though the food placed in front of him was full of delicacies, he no longer had the will to eat. 

Shu Fei, with much consideration, slowly put down her chopsticks. “Tomorrow will be the grand ceremony of you being crowned.” She said and sighed.

Yong Shan finished chewing the winter bamboo shoot in his mouth, wiped his hands, and smiled lightly. “What is mother sighing for? After tomorrow, you will be the Crown Prince’s mother. Within the harem, only You are the highest. As for Yong Lin… I will beg Father to let him return from the fief.”

“After tomorrow, us mother and sons will be the biggest targets.” Shu Fei sent away the waiting servants on her left and right. Her voice sounded low, as if she was either sighing or just talking to herself. “When Yong Qi was granted as the Crown Prince, it was a year ago. Hundreds of Officials went to pay him respect. Those people who sent gifts had to line up all the way outside the Imperial Palace gate. With that happy event, what a beautiful life Li Fei had at that time. However, in a blink of an eye, she was detained and locked in the Cold Palace. Without enough to fill her stomach, not to mention not enough warm clothes to wear as the season changes. Her life has become much inferior to that of a concubine.”


Yong Shan himself also experienced that chaotic event of that year. He saw Li Fei behaving impulsively, acting extremely arrogant as if she was the only one in the world, shouting and screaming then suddenly collapsed. Arrows and arrows came flying in the Imperial Palace. He wasn’t sure how many lives had lost at that time.

What his mother said was indeed all correct.

Being silent for almost half a day, finally he said a few words, “Mother can rest assured. For you and Yong Lin, I will not let anyone get a hold of me.”
(It wasn’t actually really half a day there.)

The words were faintly said, yet it seemed to hide the infinite determination and perseverance. As soon as those words were spoken, it suddenly filled the house with quietness, and even the breathing stopped.
Shu Fei stared at him quietly, and suddenly her heart went soft as if it was about to melt. Her tears rolled down. “Yong Shan, my good child.”

She stretched out her hand across the table, lovingly stroking the face of a boy, who clearly was still young and tender yet already had that mature expression on his face. “Only you can carry this burden in front of you. Once you put it on your shoulder, natural; it’s a no pain, no gain. In case, there are serious mistakes which can put us all in danger along the way, us three mother and sons, will definitely end up in miserable death that even corpses cannot be remained. My good son, you have to remember.”

Yong Shan nodded his head in silence. 

Shu Fei softly said. “After tomorrow, you will be the Crown Prince. Heaven has gods, under heaven, other than your Father Emperor, it’ll be only you; you’ll be one of a person who will stand below one but above all. Yong Shan, mother wants you… Listen to your mother for once, okay?”

She had always been very bais about her two twin sons.

Toward Yong Lin, she would scold him in the front but spoiling him rotten at the back. When she was enraged, she would order servants to tie him up and beat him hard. When she was happy, mother and son would sit down and chat happily. 

Toward Yong Shan, it was unsure if it was because of his cold personality, or perhaps his mother prefers the younger son better, but he felt that Shu Fei wasn’t very close to him. Not only the intimate words between mother and child were less spoken, but even little scolding from her had never happened ever since his childhood.

Soon afterward, Yong Shan would be crowned as a Crown Prince. Although his personality was colder than other brothers, he was still only sixteen years old. Knowing that his future was going to be difficult, he also felt a state of uneasiness in his heart. At this moment, when he heard his mother speaking to him from within her heart, he couldn’t help but be touched. However, when he spoke, his face was as cold and colorless as usual. “Mother, please tell.”


“When you were young, you saw the swords and darts used by the guards and you were fond of it. You insisted on holding it with your hands. You didn’t even listen to all kinds of persuasion. When you got hold of it, even though it cut your small hands and bled, or that the pain was so painful it was unbearable, you wouldn’t let go. Yong Qi is someone who is sharper than a dart and will hurt you more easily.” Shu Fei’s voice drifted around in the quiet room, deep and still. “Son ah, even if you can avoid the invisible arrows coming from outside in the future, but you… can you be a hundred percent sure that you can stop the Yong Qi who is remaining by your side from bringing you any heartily harm?”


Halfway through after hearing this, Yong Shan’s face had already sunk. He gritted his teeth and asked in a low voice, “Yong Qi’s matter, did mother not promise me to let me dispose of him myself?”

Shu Fei secretly sighed and lowered her voice. “I didn’t say I want to intervene. I was just worried.”

“What is mother worried about?”

Shu Fei glanced at him, and slowly closed her eyes.

Silence suddenly occupied the space again.

Cold wind desperately blew hard on the thick curtains, and roared to rush into the warmth of the golden splendor.

As long as a small gap was opened, all the warmth and comfort could be destroyed in a flash. 

After a long time, Yong Shan quietly stood up. 

“The night is getting late, son is leaving. Mother also please take a rest.” He said: “If Yong Qi was to be a knife, even if I cut my hand with it, I will never throw it away… I’ll just find a way to smooth it down, that’s all.”

Shu Fei looked at him in doubt. “Can you bear it?”

Yong Shan pressed his lips together and smiled bitterly.

Cannot bear it, but still have to bear it.




The following days, the situation inside and outside the Royal Palace had changed to its usual.

The ceremony of conferring the new Crown Prince had made the whole capital engage with joyous singing and dancing. The noise of drums never stopped overnight. Under such peace and prosperity events, a stream of cold air invisibly rushed underneath making people chill to the bone.

The newly Crown Prince’s mother, Shu Fei wasn’t yet granted a title of an Empress by the emperor. 

As if the empty position of an empress which had been empty for a long time, still did not welcome its owner.

In this regard, the ministers also did not dare to express their opinions casually.

No one would forget that, just this month of the previous year, on the same snowy day, His Highness Yong Qi had also been conferred as a Crown Prince. However, in June of the same year, because the officials urged the emperor to grant Li Fei a title of an empress, which led the emperor to be furious, Yong Qi was therefore deposed of his title. 

Now Yong Qi was being imprisoned inside the Internal Punishment Court, without any chance to see even little light and hope again. 

In June of this same year, who knew whether the new Crown Prince Yong Shan could remain in the gorgeous and magnificent palace built solely for the crown prince? 

While drinking at home, Jin Fei’s elder brother, Fang Zuoming, smiled and said confidently to the people around him, “Seeing that the emperor has no intention of granting Shu Fei a title of an empress, I can say that the emperor doesn’t have enough trust in the new crown prince. At the same time, this Yong Shan, his crown prince title, is also unstable ah.”

The words of a drunken float into the emperor’s ear. Three days later, the imperial edict arrived at the Fang’s family, and Fang Zuoming was immediately sentenced to death.

While the ministers were shocked and trembling in fear, Jin Fei and her son, Yong Sheng, were unharmed and proved to be no involvement in this case. 

“What do you think what’s in the center of the emperor’s heart?”

Could the new Crown Prince Yong Shan be stable or be unstable? No one can answer it.

In a period when the people were most disturbed, 3rd prince Yong Lin, who had been named as the King of Jiangzhong, got permission from the emperor and returned to the palace from his fief.
(Note: King is the title granted to the son of emperor, they can rule over a region as their own.)


“Mother!”

Jumping out of the carriage, Yong Lin rushed into Shu Fei’s palace like a gust of wind. When he stepped past the threshold, he shouted fierily from afar. “Mother, I’m back!”

“Yong Lin! It is Yong Lin!” Shu Fei, who was still dressing up, when suddenly heard Yong Lin’s voice, she stood up, and instantly walked barefoot to the window, “It’s really Yong Lin!” She said, with full of pleasant surprises. 

Before she could even go out, a figure had already rushed in with arms wide opened and firmly hugged Shu Fei. He laughed ha ha and said, “I’m back! God, that ghostly place Jiangzhong is suffocating me.”

“Unruly child, still not hurry up and let go.” Shu Fei rebuked her son with a smile. After struggling to free herself from his arms, Shu Fei shook her head helplessly. “You are already a king, yet still acting like a fool. Where have the etiquettes taught by Taifu all gone to? Even the people around you can’t give you advice. Sit down and have a good talk to your mother. Someone, come and bring all the prepared desert… I know you are coming back, so I want them to be ready all the time. How have you been in Jiangzhong? I see you’re a lot thinner than before.”
(Note: Taifu; in case you forgot, they are the grand tutorer of the princes.)

Yong Lin sat down obediently, but his buttocks seemed to have grown nails on it; he couldn’t sit still at all. While touching the things in his hand left and right, he smiled excitedly. “I’m not hungry. Except for some boredom, there is nothing wrong in Jiangzhong. After all, I am a king. But I really miss my mother and my brothers.”

“Without me by your side, and with the person under you dare not supervise you, you must be having fun causing mischief everywhere?”

“I have not!” Yong Lin thought for a while, then a mischievous smile appeared on his face which was the same mold as Yong Shan. He laughed he he and said, “It’s just that on the day when my brother was conferred as the crown prince, I ordered someone to collect all the fireworks that could be collected, and let it fire for a night, and the sky turned red all night. By the way, the letter that I sent to mother, did mother receive it?”

“I already received it.”

“Then about Yong Qi gege, did mother also order them to take care of him?”

“I did.”

Knowing Yong Qi was being secured, he breathed a sigh with relief. A big pleasant smile was shown on his face, “I know. With mother’s care and concern, and my brother in the presence of a crown prince, Yong Qi gege can’t suffer any loss. Is he at Li Fei’s Palace now? I’ll go and greet him… “


Yong Lin was just about to stand up, but was pulled to sit down again by Shu Fei.

Her silent expression made Yong Lin startle.

“Mother?”

“Yong Qi is not staying at Li Fei’s palace.”

“Not at Li Fei’s palace?” asked Yong Lin. “Then where is he?”

“Internal Punishment Court.”

“Internal Punishment Court?” Yong Lin stood up doubtfully, “Isn’t that just a few common letters communicated between some relatives in the capital? It’s been more than a month since Father has called him to come back to be interrogated. Why hasn’t it been clearify yet? The Internal Punishment Court is the place where the royal family is being detained. It is a place full of sinister and uncomfortable at first glance. What if Yong Qi gege is being mistreated?”

“With your brother here, they will not dare mistreat Yong Qi.” Shu Fei caressed her son’s black hair lovingly, and said with a low voice, “You must have been tired on the road for these few days. Eat something first, then take a hot bath. After that let the palace maids give you a body massage. Tonight, accompany mother for dinner, okay?”

“Okay, but not only dinner, I won’t go back to my palace tonight and will stay with my mother to watch the stars and chat. By the way, I also brought gifts, it’s mother’s favourite Jiangzhong pickles. I got two big jars, and already told them to send over.” Yong Lin promised, not in the least of hesitation, then he said again. “Wait for me to go to the Internal Punishment Court first. I’ll come back right after I see Yong Qi gege, ” said Yong Lin as he stood up.

Shu Fei grasped hold on him again. “Is Mother not as good as your Yong Qi gege? Sit down, the Internal Punishment Court is a place where you must have an imperial edict to enter. Don’t get into any trouble as soon as you come back.”

Yong Lin had longed to see Yong Qi all the way when he was coming back. Upon hearing Shu Fei’s words, he immediately knitted his eyebrows. With a worried look on his face, he stood up. “Mother, I…”

“You’re not allowed to say it!” Shu Fei shouted. Her tone was sharp as she stared at Yong Lin. She turned around and told the palace maids, “Close all the doors, Yong Lin is not allowed to go out tonight.”

Then she turned her head to look at her son. The anger on her face once again slowly turned to a loving smile. “It’s not like he’s your biological brother, what matters if you see him a day later? Alright, I’ll allow you to see your Yong Qi gege tomorrow.”

At the same moment when Yong Lin was left in the palace per Shu Fei’s order, there were acts of embarrassment events happening in the Internal Punishment Court.


“Wu… spare me…”
(Note: wu; crying sound)

The repressed crying and moaning were enclosed in an elegant and distinguished private cell.

A foreign body was continuously deepened as it was drawn in and out in the soft tunnel, accompanied by a faint gasp, intermittent begging and sobbing.


After being forcibly violated by his younger brother for the third time today, the remaining strength in Yong Qi’s body had been exhausted.

He had no more power to resist, yet Yong Shan still insisted on tying his wrists together. The red soft rope was soaked in Yong Qi’s sweat and shone against the background of snow-white skin, making it look unusually embarrassing.

Pulling out his lethal weapon which was stuck in a part of his brother’s body, Yong Shan repositioned his brother by letting him turn over, forcing him with trembling knees to squat on the **, and forcefully pull up his slender waist.
(Note: text was blocked)

Yong Qi emitted a low whimper as when his buttock was forced to stick out.

The white half-mounds on both sides and the chrysanthemum-like entrance in the middle were trembling with fear, and the breathtaking scenery was unobstructed.

After repeatedly trampling on, the entrance blooms pitifully. The pink sphincter meat turned a little outward, and from here to his inside thigh, there were traces of white body fluid.

“Hasn’t it still eaten enough yet?” The cold fingertips reached the man’s anus, spreading it like a blooming obscene flower.

Sensitively feeling that he was about to be attacked again, and after a stiff moment, Yong Qi subconsciously tried to avoid it.

Yong Shan looked at him in an amusing manner. Until his brother managed to shrink to the corner, then did he pull him out with ease. He laughed, “Not bad. You still have the strength to hide.”


His lethal weapon was once again inserted inside his pale body, expanding the sensitive sphincter that had been injured to the limit.

“Don’t… Yong Shan, I will never… dare…” Yong Qi cried and begged.

Even if he was clear that pleading was useless, the pain of being tortured still made Yong Qi unable to resist the constant pleading.

For a month, as a new Crown Prince, Yong Shan could be gifted with more novelty toys, but he spent a lot of time toying with him instead.

It seemed to be an orderly trick. At first, he forced him to take the initiative to kiss, and then quickly demanded him to hold his younger brother, but even no matter how he compromised, in the end, Yong Shan still entered his body arrogantly. (Note: brother down there.)

Ever since the first time, Yong Shan had been interested in this matter enough to make Yong Qi so hurt that he didn’t want to live.

Even more terrifying was that every time before being formally violated, Yong Qi would endlessly suffer from his brother’s slow-paced play. With his wrists being bound, the new Crown Prince’s noble fingertips penetrated into his body, exploring his sensitive spot, and after he found it, he would repeatedly rub against it.

This action was often carried out, as to let Yong Qi cry and come several times, until his body fluid became too thin, then did he let him go. 

Yong Shan used a way that would exhaust both parties, each and every night, madly invading his brother’s body.

Only when he was tired to the extreme, did he give up the brutal attack and lay silently beside Yong Qi, and used his remaining strength to hug his brother’s torn and trembling body.

“Yong Qi, we are all born in the bush of thorns,” He licked Yong Qi’s ear as his voice muttered lowly, “Growing in the bush of thorns…”
(Note: bad circumstances with worse people around.)


At this time, his gentle touch only made Yong Qi give birth to a strange and extreme feeling.

Day after day, Yong Qi felt like he was going crazy.

Being imprisoned in the darkness inside the Internal Punishment Court, he seemed to have lost the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, and even began to dream of something of the ridiculously warm illusion after a long night torturing.


But whenever he dreamed of something, he would think of Yong Lin.

Yes, Yong Lin. 

He had been particularly fond of this younger brother since they were very young.

That huge careless behavior, lovable to everyone, the Yong Lin who shone like summer sunshine.

For him, tonight was as painful as usual.

The only difference was that after Yong Shan vented mercilessly, he lay quietly beside him, groping for the red rope on his brother’s binding wrist and gently holding the soft and weak hand.

“Yong Qi,” His chest was beating up and down, looking at the wavering candlelight that was not far away, calmly and quietly said. “Yong Lin is back.”

The hand that was being held suddenly moved, as if wanting to escape from his grip. 

However, Yong Shan used force to hold him firmly. 

“Do you want to see him?” He asked, gently embracing the sweet body that he had occupied countless times in various ways.

This body that was being held in his arm, was as stiff as a piece of iron.

His silence was also as hard as a piece of iron.

Yong Shan waited for a long time, and seemed to understand that he could not get an answer from him, then in a low voice, he whispered, “Okay, I will let you see him.”

No sight of a pressure.

His tone was as calm as usual.

When he said this, he felt as if his heart had been scratched and torn open with his own fingernails.

This intense pain caused tears to roll in his eyes.

However, he held back the urge to cry, as he opened his eyes strongly and looked at the beautiful back of Yong Qi.

The red on his back, the green and purple on his white and fair skin, were the scars that he made with his own hand, and the scene was sinister and terrifying.

There was no sound in the cell afterwards. 

This ultimate silence.

Yan Shan tightened his arms and hugged Yong Qi. 

As he silently buried his face on his brother’s back

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