Chapter 2: Feelings, Truly Worthless

Chapter 2: Feelings, Truly Worthless

The next day.

When Pei Yuhuai woke up, his whole body ached, covered in bruises and marks of intimacy that spread across his skin—one glance was enough to make his face flush and heart race.

Hiss—

It was still the same room from last night. The bedding had been kicked to the floor, the wine and dishes from the table scattered everywhere, bottles and jars strewn about in utter disarray.

Pei Yuhuai's brow twitched hard. Shocked, he moved his stiff hand, only to touch a string of icy beads.

!

He jolted, scrambling to sit up for a closer look—it was a string of Buddhist prayer beads radiating a chill, with a faint hint of sandalwood.

Buddhist beads!

Last... last night—was that not a dream? It was real?

He remembered that last night, he seemed to have seen a strikingly handsome male attendant, though he couldn't recall the face, he seemed even better-looking than Ji Huaiyu.

And then what?

He'd acted like a total pervert, pawing at the guy, completely shameless.

The attendant had said: "You brought this on yourself, seducing a monk."

And then??

Pei Yuhuai shuddered, not wanting to think about it anymore. He scrambled off the bed in a panic, but the sudden movement shot pain through him, and he let out a miserable yelp as he hit the floor.

Unbelievable.

Hearing the noise, his page boy Pei Yi came rushing in frantically, wailing dramatically as he helped him up off the floor: "Young master, you're finally awake! Wuwuwu, you were moaning so loud last night, I thought you were dying, you scared me to death."

"..."

"Young master, are you alright? Last night... are you okay? Is your body still holding up?"

"..."

"Young master, why is your neck all bruised? Does it hurt?"

"..."

Pei Yi said this with a completely straight face.

He was the only one who knew about the young master's sexual orientation. When he first witnessed the young master arguing with Ji Huaiyu, he just couldn't wrap his head around two men being in love.

But because this was his master, he'd read up on some books and quickly came to accept the young master's situation.

Throughout history, some dynasties had even embraced it—it wasn't anything to be ashamed of.

It was just that the young master had a special status, and he was afraid of the marquis, so he never dared to reveal his preferences. Even when he went drinking, he only ever ordered female entertainers, never male ones.

He never expected last night to be the turning point.

Pei Yuhuai couldn't stand to meet Pei Yi's clear, innocent eyes. His face went red and pale by turns, wishing he could just slam his head into a wall and die.

He had thought it was a dream, and heartbroken and drunk, he'd let loose just a little too much—he never imagined someone had been listening the entire time.

God, help me.

Pei Yuhuai awkwardly looked away, quietly getting dressed, his racing heart slowly settling down.

From outside, the sound of festive music drifted in.

Pei Yi's face immediately flickered with guilt and panic, his eyes unconsciously darting to the window.

Pei Yuhuai asked, puzzled: "What's that outside?"

"Nothing, nothing. Would the young master like some tea?"

"..."

The kid's face just couldn't hide anything.

Pei Yuhuai walked to the window, opened it, and looked down. All he saw was a sea of red wedding decor. A dashing groom sat on a horse, radiating confidence and energy.

Behind him came a grand palanquin carried by eight bearers, all brimming with joy.

It was a lavish wedding parade.

"Please don't look, young master." Pei Yi said worriedly, "Young Master Ji and the princess are getting married today. It's already done. Let it go."

Oh, right. Ji Huaiyu was getting married today.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Pei Yuhuai's lips.

To say he wasn't sad at all would be a lie, but seeing him again stirred nothing in his heart. It was like the drum music had carried away the last of his hope.

Ji Huaiyu on horseback seemed to sense something. He looked up, but only saw an open window swaying slightly, with no one there.

"Strange..."

He muttered to himself, then shrugged it off and kept riding.

Pei Yuhuai stood behind the window, his face blank.

Feelings—truly worthless.

Not even worth a male attendant.

Pei Yi hesitated, carefully pouring him some tea: "Young master, have some tea."

"No need."

Pei Yuhuai suddenly thought of the male attendant from last night again. Though he couldn't recall the face anymore, he vaguely remembered the man's long legs, slim waist, and cool, sharp demeanor.

He'd been strong, fierce, gripping his waist and thrusting harder with each move. His waist still ached—he probably had finger marks on it.

Pei Yi watched his young master's expression keep changing, worried he might be grieving too much, but didn't dare console him for fear of setting him off.

After a long pause.

Pei Yuhuai raised his eyes: "Let's go. To the princess's residence."

"Huh? To... to the princess's place?"

Isn't that just asking for trouble? The Marquis's Heir must be out of his mind from grief—has he gone mad?

Pei Yuhuai chuckled. "As the Marquis's Heir, with the top-scoring scholar marrying the princess, how could I possibly miss it? Of course, I must go and congratulate them."

It was the dead of winter.

He returned to the residence, changed into a cloak with a large fur collar to hide the marks, and headed to the princess's estate.

Along the way, red lanterns and decorations lined the streets, spreading joy everywhere—truly lavish, and the common folk rejoiced along with it.

Pei Yuhuai arrived at the gates of the princess's estate, glanced up at the mansion, and was about to step inside when he heard crude insults and harassment coming from nearby.

"Pretty one? That pretty face of yours is just asking for it. Why not come back with me and be my concubine, how about that?"

"Don't be ungrateful. You should be grateful I've taken a liking to you."

From the sound of it, it was a drunkard causing a scene.

Otherwise, no one would be bold enough to stir up trouble at the princess's estate gates on such a joyous day, trying to snatch a woman.

Pei Yuhuai frowned and turned to look.

Sure enough, there was a drunken lout, grinning, his face all flabby flesh, reaching a wandering hand toward the beauty ahead.

The beauty dodged away, which only made the drunkard angrier.

"Damn bitch, how dare you! Men, beat her! Beat her hard!"

Just as the frail beauty was about to get hurt, Pei Yuhuai shouted sternly: "Stop!"

He sprinted over.

That was no beauty at all—those were clearly a man's clothes.

This drunkard was so drunk he couldn't even tell a man from a woman.

Pei Yuhuai scowled and reprimanded: "How dare you! Look around—do you know where you are? How dare you act so brazenly before me? Scram, now!"

When he was serious, he was quite intimidating, and with his luxurious attire and an aristocratic jade pendant at his waist, he clearly wasn't an ordinary man. The drunkard sobered up instantly in fright.

"Scram!"

"Yes, yes, I'll scram right away."

What a pain.

Pei Yuhuai turned his gaze to the victim.

Clad in purple robes with a jade crown, tall and slender, the blazing sun shone down on him, casting a faint halo that made him look like a celestial being descending to earth.

A gentle breeze swept by, carrying a faint, elusive scent. He took a deep breath and found it oddly familiar.

He handed over a handkerchief. "Wipe yourself off, shake off the bad luck."

The man reached out, and whether by accident or intent, the handkerchief fell to the ground, but his palm pressed against Pei Yuhuai's, scorching hot.

Pei Yuhuai: "You..."

The man slowly raised his head, revealing a handsome face, with a striking red mark between his brows that gleamed brilliantly, meeting Pei Yuhuai's gaze midway.

Pei Yuhuai's heart pounded wildly, unable to tear his eyes away from that touch of crimson. He murmured, "Have we met before? Do you know me?"

"The young master's surname is Pei, given name Heng, styled Yuhuai."