Chapter 19: Then the Young Lord Shall Descend to Hell with Me

Chapter 19: Then, Young Marquis, Come to Hell with Me

"Imperial Advisor."

Pei Yuhuai got off the carriage halfway, cut off Lan He's carriage, and said with a grin, "I have something to ask you. Mind if I hop in?"

Lan He said nothing.

Pei Yuhuai didn't care whether he agreed or not; he stepped up and pushed aside the curtain to climb in.

In the spacious carriage, Lan He sat with his eyes shut, resting. Only after Pei Yuhuai entered and sat down did he speak: "What does the Young Marquis want to ask?"

"Heh, I wanted to ask—why did you help me earlier?"

"Honestly, I didn't help."

"Seriously?" Pei Yuhuai looked stunned. "That line might fool ghosts, but not me. I swear on the Buddha, how can you deceive a faithful devotee like me?"

"The Young Marquis is getting more and more out of line. If the Young Marquis wants to be the princess's consort, then..."

"No way, I don't want to be the consort. I'm just curious, okay? Curious, get it? How did you pull off that fire trick? And can you really read fortunes?"

Lan He opened his eyes.

Their eyes met, and Pei Yuhuai's mind went blank for a split second, but he quickly snapped back to himself and kept pushing.

"Come on, tell me—aren't you a great monk? If you can really read fortunes, give me a real reading."

Lan He felt a stir in his heart: "What do you want to know?"

"My true love and my fate."

At that, Pei Yuhuai hung his head glumly: "You know, I'm the heir of the marquis's estate, carrying the future of the estate on my shoulders, but..."

"But what is it?"

But I like guys? Saying that out loud sounds weird.

Pei Yuhuai looked away awkwardly: "Nothing. I was just thinking—I'm a pretty free-spirited guy. If I don't meet someone I truly like, I'd sooner die than get married. If that's the case, would my dad kill me?"

Lan He didn't answer that question: "Do you still have feelings for the consort?"

"!!!"

Pei Yuhuai almost jumped out of his seat. He'd never mentioned anything about his relationship with Ji Huaiyu, so why was Lan He so sure he liked Ji Huaiyu?

This was crazy.

Lan He leaned slightly forward, a faint smile on his lips as he looked at him: "The Young Marquis forgets—the Buddha's teachings are boundless. Of course I know."

"Hey—don't talk nonsense. I've got nothing to do with him."

"I remember when you were drunk at Xunhuan Tower, saying you'd been abandoned. Getting bullied in the palace."

"Lan He!!"

Pei Yuhuai's face flushed red: "Stop bad-mouthing me. He was just my study buddy for a few years; we're just a little close."

"A few years?"

"Why do you care? It's none of your business. Anyway, stop changing the subject—you haven't read my fortune yet. What's my future going to be like?"

"Really want to know?"

"Obviously."

"You'll wish you were dead but can't die."

Pei Yuhuai's eyes went wide, his heart hammering, a nameless dread flooding his chest, as if he'd really seen his miserable future.

"How did you know?"

"I divined it."

Divined... that accurately?

He'd once overheard Ji Huaiyu muttering to himself that his fate was to suffer and die torn apart by chariots.

Pei Yuhuai suddenly deflated like a popped balloon, unable to figure out why he'd end up like that.

Was it even worth it?

"Got something on your mind?"

"No."

"In that case, you should head back to the estate. We're almost there."

"That fast?" He pulled back the curtain and saw they were indeed at a street corner near his place.

So boring.

He was so down and pathetic, and this damn monk wouldn't even keep him company.

Pei Yuhuai turned, hands on his hips, looking annoyed: "Hey, Imperial Advisor, you in that big a hurry to get back?"

Lan He sat rock-solid: "What do you mean by that?"

"What a waste of that pretty face of yours. Seriously, tell me—you got a thing for the princess? You rushing me off so you can go...?"

At that, Lan He looked up, a barely noticeable hint of delight in his voice: "You jealous?"

"Jealous? You out of your mind? Who would I be jealous over? I don't have any feelings for the princess anyway. An actual engagement would be torture."

"..."

Lan He's face went cold.

"Why you staring at me like that?"

Pei Yuhuai touched his face and shot him a suspicious glare: "Fine, don't tell me then. I don't even care. I'm out."

"Hold it."

Lan He grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. Pei Yuhuai tumbled onto the soft cushion, his head landing in a warm palm.

"Why you pulling me? I didn't do anything—"

"Don't you want to know about me and the princess? I'll tell you now."

Lan He lowered his head slightly, leaning close to his ear, his voice low and hoarse, each word deliberate and teasing: "I have no connection with the princess. This humble monk is a man of the cloth, and it is absolutely impossible for me to develop feelings."

After a pause, Lan He added: "The most outrageous thing I have done was to detoxify His Royal Highness the Hereditary Prince, offering my body to serve him."

Buzz.

Pei Yuhuai's earlobes flushed crimson in an instant, his face flushed a deep, blotchy red.

A satisfied smile curved Lan He's lips.

He didn't touch Pei Yuhuai, but he let a strand of hair fall as if by accident, brushing across the young man's flushed face and the tip of his nose, then drifting down to rest on his pale, slender neck.

"I have already broken my vows because of you. If the Buddha were to punish me, I'd be damned beyond all redemption. What does Your Highness have to say to that?"

"I..." Pei Yuhuai shrank his neck, feeling a bit guilty. "I didn't mean to make you break your vows, I swear. But don't worry!"

He patted his chest and looked up to meet Lan He's eyes: "I'm a stand-up guy. If the Buddha punishes you, I'll take the punishment right alongside you."

His own damn fault for being so impulsive.

Lan He lowered his gaze and chuckled softly: "Very well, then Your Highness will come to hell with me."

He just looked up at Pei Yuhuai, like that, and Pei Yuhuai thought he looked like a gorgeous, mouthwatering treat. His mouth went dry, and he felt bewitched, his heart itching like crazy.

"I want to kiss you."

He said it—and then he did it.

Pei Yuhuai twisted around and grabbed Lan He's head, urgent, reckless, throwing caution to the wind.

Lan He froze for a beat, then seized his waist and yanked him close.

The heat inside the carriage climbed steadily.

"Mmm..."

The taste of blood filled his mouth.

Pei Yuhuai couldn't even tell whether it was his own lip or the monk's that had split, but he didn't stop. Instead, the metallic taste sparked a hunger deep inside him.

Descend into hell...

Descend into hell...

For some reason, hearing those words stirred an indescribable impulse in him, like something buried in his chest had finally broken free.

He wanted to go wild, completely out of control.

The carriage had been ordered to stop, and the same young novice monk as before sat outside, waiting obediently.

Inside, the rustling of clothing fabric was especially clear in the silent space, making your heart pound and your ears burn.

Just as Pei Yuhuai was about to make a further move—

Suddenly, from outside the carriage came the Crown Prince's startled cry, along with footsteps growing closer: "Master? Is Master in the carriage? I was just looking for you."

He spoke while striding quickly toward the carriage, only a few steps away.

Pei Yuhuai's whole body stiffened, almost getting himself castrated.