Crossdress Ch100

Though they had only met for the third time, it felt as if they had known each other for years. Xu Yan almost couldn’t resist pouring out everything that had just happened, but upon reflection, he realized it would do no good. Eunuch Wu was a favorite of the crown prince, with deep-rooted connections in the palace. It was better not to drag Wen Sinian into this mess. “It’s nothing…” Xu Yan said, unwilling to elaborate. “Don’t ask. Let me go.”

Though Wen Sinian already knew what had happened, he still wanted to hear it from Xu Yan himself. He could be wronged, resentful, furious, or even curse loudly. Or perhaps he would just look pitiful, burying his face in Wen Sinian’s chest and shedding a few tears—of course, Wen Sinian would stand up for him. But Xu Yan showed no emotion, only biting his lip lightly, his eyes downcast, the redness at the corners of his eyes making him look even more vulnerable.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t say.” Wen Sinian loosened his grip slightly and straightened Xu Yan’s clothes. His fingers smoothed the fine, soft fabric, which was the same material as his own. Eunuch Wu wasn’t wrong—it was the finest tribute silk from Jiangnan.

Xu Yan thought the conversation was over, but unexpectedly, Wen Sinian suddenly grabbed his collar and pulled him closer. Xu Yan stood on his tiptoes, his entire body pressed against Wen Sinian. Those cold, phoenix-like eyes gazed at him steadily, warm breath brushing against his nose, their noses almost touching.

Wen Sinian looked at him and asked lightly, “Should I just kill them all?”

Xu Yan froze. “Kill… kill who?”

Wen Sinian replied, “Those people in the palace just now. Not a single one left.” The steward of the Eastern Palace, Eunuch Wu, the laundry maid who reported the incident, the eunuchs who watched the spectacle, and even the guards who stood by coldly outside the palace gate.

Xu Yan instinctively objected, “No, don’t kill them!”

Wen Sinian’s eyes sharpened. “You’re pleading for them?”

“Most of them don’t deserve to die,” Xu Yan said earnestly. “Besides, this is the Eastern Palace. Without the crown prince’s decree, how can you just kill people? You’d lose your head too. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to implicate you.”

The latter part of his words was more to Wen Sinian’s liking. Wen Sinian embraced him. “Worried about me?”

Xu Yan was pressed so tightly he could barely breathe, his back arching as his waist was held firmly against Wen Sinian. “You—just talk if you’re going to talk. Why do you have to be so close?” Xu Yan couldn’t push him away, and fearing someone might hear, he didn’t dare raise his voice. “Let me go…”

Wen Sinian ignored his feeble resistance. Instead, the soft sound of Xu Yan’s breathing made his scalp tingle. Unable to resist, he lowered his head and buried his face in Xu Yan’s neck. His straight nose pressed against the throbbing blue veins, inhaling deeply as if it weren’t enough. His thin lips parted, his canines gently grinding, producing a chilling friction, like a starving beast ready to pounce.

Xu Yan’s neck itched uncomfortably. He thought he had misheard the grinding sound, but the next moment, he felt a slight pain on the side of his neck. “Mmm…” Realizing he had been bitten, Xu Yan struggled fiercely, but his hands were twisted behind his back, rendering him immobile. Instead, he was forced to arch his chest forward. After a few futile struggles, Xu Yan went limp, leaning weakly against Wen Sinian’s shoulder, his lips slightly parted, his back trembling occasionally as he breathed lightly, as if melting.

Wen Sinian hadn’t expected him to be so sensitive. After holding him for a while, as Xu Yan calmed down, Wen Sinian was about to speak when Xu Yan suddenly straightened up and swung his hand, slapping him.

Wen Sinian didn’t dodge at all, taking the hit squarely on his face. He raised his hand to touch his cheek. The pain was slight, but it stirred something wild within him, threatening to break free. Who in this world dared to lay a hand on him? A faint, sinister smile curved his lips.

Xu Yan covered the bite mark on his neck, terrified. “You… you… you…” His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

Wen Sinian leaned in. “Not enough? Want to hit me again?” It seemed he wanted Xu Yan to continue.

Xu Yan had never seen someone so shameless. Afraid Wen Sinian would grab his hand and lick it again, he pushed hard against his chest and turned to stumble away. He ran all the way out of the bamboo forest, relieved that no one followed. But as he calmed down, he realized he might be in serious trouble. The crown prince had told him to wait by the pool, yet he had run away.

He didn’t dare go back to face Wen Sinian. He touched his cheeks, burning as if they could fry an egg. Just as he paced anxiously at the entrance of the bamboo forest, the guard arrived in time to inform Xu Yan that he no longer needed to wait and could return to the palace directly.

Confused, Xu Yan saw Shen Nanli rushing out to find him. The two returned to the Eastern Palace together, only to discover that in the short time Xu Yan had been gone, those troublemakers led by Eunuch Wu had already been dealt with. The steward, somehow spared, bowed deeply to Xu Yan, apologizing and even offering two years’ worth of his salary as compensation. The palace servants were stunned. If even the steward treated Xu Yan this way, everyone else had to follow suit.

After this incident, Xu Yan became the de facto authority in the Eastern Palace, commanding respect from all. He could have walked sideways if he wanted. But Xu Yan felt uneasy. He had no idea where this special treatment came from and could only cautiously accept everyone’s flattery.

His living quarters were moved to a side palace, far superior to those of the other servants. His clothes were openly different from everyone else’s, more vibrant and finer in quality. His meals were prepared separately by the palace kitchen, and according to the steward, what he ate was almost the same as the crown prince’s daily meals. The steward even assigned two eunuchs to attend to Xu Yan, making it seem as if he were a young master of the Eastern Palace.

The other servants whispered behind his back, some even saying that Xu Yan had long since climbed into the crown prince’s bed and might soon become their master. When these rumors reached Xu Yan through Shen Nanli, he was speechless. Only heaven knew of his innocence.

He hadn’t even seen the crown prince’s face. That evening, after eating too much at dinner, Xu Yan went outside to digest his food, his mind once again filled with worries. If only I could go back to the cleaning department, he thought. 

Even if sweeping floors is tiring, at least my head would be safe. Being an official in the palace was too dangerous. He hadn’t slept well these past few days. The golden silk quilt the crown prince had rewarded him with felt uncomfortable, he preferred the coarse cloth he used to sleep on. He had never met the crown prince, so why was he receiving such favor? Lost in thought, he suddenly realized he had wandered to the bamboo path behind the palace again.

The moon hung high, casting long, eerie shadows. A chill ran down Xu Yan’s spine. He instinctively felt something was wrong and turned to leave, but he suddenly noticed a tall, dark figure standing not far ahead. The moonlight stretched the shadow long and ghostly, as if it had been standing there watching him for who knows how long. Xu Yan nearly cried out in alarm. The figure quickly approached, pressing a warm palm against his cheek, covering most of his small face.

Xu Yan heard a familiar voice by his ear: “It’s me.” After not seeing him for several days, this man still liked to appear at night like a ghost. Xu Yan’s heart settled slightly. He tilted his face up and blinked hard at Wen Sinian, signaling for him to let go. 

Wen Sinian loosened his grip but used the back of his hand to gently stroke Xu Yan’s smooth cheek. “Haven’t seen you in days?” His slow breath drew closer. “Did you miss me?”

Xu Yan pulled Wen Sinian’s hand away from his face. His misty eyes, illuminated by the moonlight, didn’t answer. He just blinked at Wen Sinian a few times before turning to run away. Wen Sinian sighed slightly and, in two steps, caught up and pulled him back. Without another word, he led Xu Yan deeper into the bamboo forest. 

Xu Yan was lifted by the waist, his feet barely touching the ground. “Where are you taking me? I don’t want to go with you. You’re a bad person, a bad person…” he protested softly.

Wen Sinian ignored him, taking him past the hot spring and into an unoccupied side palace. Only after stepping inside did he set Xu Yan down on a soft couch and go to light the candles. 

Xu Yan took the opportunity to get up and tried to sneak away. As he passed by Wen Sinian, he even held his breath, afraid of being noticed. But Wen Sinian turned around just then, towering over him, their eyes meeting.

Xu Yan shrank back slightly. “Where is this?”

Wen Sinian replied, “My old residence.” His old residence? Could it be something like the guards’ quarters? Xu Yan asked again, “Why did you bring me here?”

Wen Sinian put an arm around his waist and looked at him closely. Recently, palace affairs had kept him busy, but tonight he had finally managed to secretly come see Xu Yan. He seemed to be doing well in the palace—his complexion had improved, his face fairer and plumper, his cheeks flushed with health. Wen Sinian pulled him into his arms and inhaled deeply before asking the same question again: “Did you miss me?”

Xu Yan pushed at his head, unable to break free. He was about to hit him in frustration but remembered the bite mark on his neck that had taken days to fade, so he lowered his hand. “I didn’t miss you,” he said deliberately.

Wen Sinian replied, “Then I’ll kidnap you and kill you.”

Xu Yan was startled. “W-what?!”

“I’m a bad person,” Wen Sinian said. “Bad people kill and burn without hesitation.”

Xu Yan realized he was upset about what he had just said and quickly changed his tone: “You’re not bad. You’re a good person! A very good person!”

Wen Sinian looked at him in the dim candlelight. “Oh? How am I good?”

Xu Yan listed his virtues one by one: “You gave me a gold ingot, treated me to honey cakes and rare delicacies, and I know you pleaded with the crown prince for me when Eunuch Wu caused trouble, right? So you’re a good person. A very good person.”

Wen Sinian was slightly satisfied. “Do you think I’ve been good to you?”

Xu Yan nodded. “Very good.”

Wen Sinian continued, “Then will you follow me from now on?”

Xu Yan blinked. “Follow you to do what?”

Wen Sinian, without changing expression, said, “Do you know that many eunuchs and palace maids in the palace secretly form pairs as sworn companions?” This wasn’t a secret, and Xu Yan had heard of it, but Wen Sinian’s serious expression didn’t seem like a joke.

Xu Yan’s cheeks flushed instantly, as if he had been steamed alive. “You—what nonsense are you talking about…”

Wen Sinian caressed his cheek with the back of his hand, unable to let go. “How is it nonsense? We are mutually fond of each other. Why can’t we be together?”

Xu Yan’s words were muffled. “Who—who is mutually fond of you?”

Wen Sinian’s eyes seemed to hold a hint of sadness. “Aren’t you fond of me?”

Xu Yan hastily replied, “Of course not—” Before he could finish, his lips were suddenly warm. Wen Sinian kissed him and then said softly, “But I am fond of you. I can’t live without you.”

Xu Yan was stunned, taking a long time to recover. All he could do was stare wide-eyed, his small face tilted up at the man before him. Wen Sinian couldn’t resist lowering his head again, his thin lips brushing against Xu Yan’s cheek.

“If you don’t want to, I won’t force you.” Fearing Wen Sinian might kiss him again, Xu Yan covered his lips with both hands and nodded repeatedly at these words. But Wen Sinian continued, “Then the secret I’ve been keeping for you might accidentally slip out. What if people find out you eavesdropped on palace secrets, slept in the crown prince’s bed for a night, and even ate the crown prince’s food in the inner chamber? What do you think will happen?” As he spoke, his slender fingers traced lightly along Xu Yan’s fair neck.

Xu Yan didn’t need to hear more to know his head would roll. He shook his head frantically. “No, no, you can’t tell anyone.”

Wen Sinian picked up a strand of Xu Yan’s hair that had fallen onto the couch and brought it to his nose. “Why should I take risks for someone unrelated to me?”

Xu Yan clutched at Wen Sinian’s robe, a hint of urgency in his voice. “I’m not unrelated to you. You just said you’re fond of me.”

Wen Sinian smiled. “So what?”

“You—” Xu Yan was at a loss for words. His mind spun for a long time before he seemed to make up his mind. With a mix of shyness and timidity, he looked into those dark eyes. “If I agree… would that be enough?”

Wen Sinian’s scorching gaze traced over him, pausing for a moment as if recalling the sight of what lay beneath Xu Yan’s robes that night. His blood surged. “Do you truly agree?” he asked.

Xu Yan seemed too shy to say more, but he opened his arms and wrapped them around Wen Sinian’s neck, his moist eyes sparkling. 

Following Wen Sinian didn’t seem like a bad idea—it came with many advantages. He was generous with money, handsome, and a trusted guard of the crown prince with a promising future. 

Maybe one day, he could even find a way to get Xu Yan out of the palace. Xu Yan thought himself incredibly clever and quickly added, “But you also have to promise not to tell anyone about those things.”

Wen Sinian saw how readily Xu Yan agreed, clearly only concerned with the immediate crisis and unaware of what truly awaited him. But it didn’t matter. He would find out soon enough.

“Kiss me once, and I’ll keep my mouth shut,” Wen Sinian said.

Xu Yan’s ears turned bright red, but seeing Wen Sinian leaning closer, he hesitated. “Just… once?”

“Mm.”

“…Alright. Where should I kiss?”

“Wherever you like.”

“Can I kiss your face?”

“You can.”

“You should lower your head a bit. I can’t reach…” Xu Yan puckered his lips from afar. Just as he was about to touch Wen Sinian’s cheek, the man suddenly turned his head. Unable to resist any longer, Wen Sinian captured Xu Yan’s soft, honey-like lips in a kiss.

The candlelight stretched their entwined shadows long and thin. A scorching tongue, hot as fire, darted out like a serpent, ruthlessly invading the cold night. They were supposed to just kiss his face, but things had somehow escalated to this point. Xu Yan was kissed until he was dizzy and disoriented, the world spinning around him, his moist mouth plundered.

If it were just kissing, it would have been fine, but he suddenly felt something was off. As if waking from a dream, he pushed against Wen Sinian’s chest. “No, don’t…” He had truly been fooled into losing his senses. How could he forget he had a secret that must never be discovered?

Wen Sinian released him and asked casually, “What’s wrong?”

Xu Yan’s face flushed crimson, almost to the point of tears, as he tightly clutched the waistband of his undergarments. “Why are you undressing me?”

Wen Sinian nuzzled his cheek affectionately. “I’ll see it eventually. What difference does it make if it’s sooner or later?”

Xu Yan was confused. “Why do you need to see?”

“Husbands and wives should be like this,” Wen Sinian whispered in his ear, taking his hand. “You should see me too.”

Xu Yan panicked and pulled his hand back. “No, no, I don’t want to see you, and you can’t see me.”

“Be good, don’t be afraid,” Wen Sinian said softly. “I know eunuchs have… deficiencies, but I like you just as you are. I cherish even your imperfections. Just let me see once. I promise I won’t touch you. Alright?”

Xu Yan still shook his head. “No…” He dared not let Wen Sinian know about this. Agreeing to be with him was just a delaying tactic. If Wen Sinian found out he was a fake eunuch, it would be like handing over his life. Xu Yan understood this much.

Xu Yan turned his back and fumbled to put his robe back on. Both his wrists were suddenly seized by Wen Sinian, who pressed close from behind and easily undid the outer robe Xu Yan had just wrapped around himself. Wen Sinian blew a breath in his ear and asked softly, “If you won’t let me see, could it be because you’re different from others?”