She had rejected him again.
Su Mo, who hadn't shed a tear even when facing castration, now found his eyes instantly reddening.
He lowered his head, weeping silently, saying nothing. Tears streamed down his fair cheeks, falling onto the ground like broken strings of pearls.
Hearing his stifled sobs, Qiao Ci felt an uncharacteristic annoyance.
What had she done to make this grown man cry so miserably?
Qiao Ci also felt wronged, as if the roles of man and woman between them were reversed.
He was like a bullied little bride, while she was the heartless scumbag who had taken everything and then abandoned him.
With a headache, she handed him a silk handkerchief.
Su Mo silently accepted her well-intentioned gesture. He wanted to forgive her, but his emotions wouldn't allow it. He had considered the possibility of her rejection, but now that it had happened, he found he could hardly accept it...
He could only lower his head, his heart sinking further. Tears flowed like a spring, unstoppable.
The bewilderment of his early days in the mortal world, his parents' indifference, his elder brother's disdain, the contempt of servants, his alienation from this world—all erupted within him like a volcano.
"This child, why is he so effeminate, not like me at all."
"Look at your elder brother; he's a man at such a young age, excelling in both literary and martial arts. And you? Why do you only enjoy things that girls favor? You cry at the slightest setback; you're truly a disgrace to your mother."
"You're not my brother, you're my sister, haha. Don't tell anyone you're my brother when we go out; I'd be too embarrassed, hahaha."
"Su Mo, come practice moves with me! Don't tell anyone; no one will stand up for you anyway. You're such a crybaby. Mom and Dad don't like you at all, and everyone else dislikes you too."
"I saw the young master admiring himself in the mirror every day..."
"Waaaa... Waaaa..."
His sobs gradually turned into the wails of a child, as if he were crying out all his grievances, his hardships, and all his unhappiness.
Qiao Ci was suddenly at a loss.
Why was he crying even harder?
What should she do now...
Seeing the handsome youth crying uncontrollably and struggling to breathe, Qiao Ci slowly walked over. Mimicking what she had seen on television, she gently hugged him, awkwardly patted his back, and offered a clumsy comfort:
"There, there, don't cry. Crying too much is bad for your health."
"It's just the two of us now. Others might think I've bullied you. There, there."
"Stop crying; you look so ugly when you cry. In the future—"
The crying abruptly stopped!
"Ugly... ugly...?"
Su Mo broke free from Qiao Ci's embrace, his back to her. He quickly took out a small mirror from his sleeve and saw that his eyes had swollen into goldfish eyes. Indeed, he looked very ugly.
He stealthily glanced at Qiao Ci's shadow and felt a surge of despair.
He was the most beloved little prince in the palace, possessing a beauty that made even the peony, the nation's flower, pale in comparison. His current appearance was only seven or eight tenths of his former glory. Crying into such a mess, it was no wonder the Empress repeatedly rejected him.
If only he were still the cherished, noble little prince, with endless beautiful clothes to wear, skin meticulously cared for daily, stars in his eyes and a smile on his face, she surely wouldn't have had the heart to refuse him so resolutely.
Seeing his shoulders tremble, with the hint of another crying fit, Qiao Ci rubbed her temples and conceded, "It's not that I don't want you, but you're still young and don't understand love. I don't want you to go down the wrong path."
Well, actually, I don't understand it myself.
"I'm seventeen already. In seven months, I'll be eighteen," he said, his voice still choked with sobs. He suddenly softened his tone and mumbled, "Where I come from, seventeen-year-olds are already married... or at least fathers of two children."
In their matriarchal country, men gave birth. Here, it was women. His gaze drifted as he secretly glanced at Qiao Ci's abdomen, finding the concept fascinating. Men here could avoid the pain of childbirth and have multiple wives, the complete opposite of his homeland.
"How about this: to prevent you from making a mistake due to your youth, I'll give you a chance to reconsider. You are seventeen this year. When your eighteenth birthday arrives, if you are still steadfast in wanting to stay by my side, I will agree."
"Do you truly mean that?" Su Mo's eyes suddenly lit up, as if containing countless stars. Even with his slightly swollen eyes, his stunning beauty was irresistible.
Qiao Ci almost couldn't bear it.
She pretended to look at the roof beams to hide her sudden blush and nodded nonchalantly, feigning a casual demeanor.
Her hands itched; she really wanted to pet him.
Were boys really this soft, cute, and lovable?
Amidst his joy, Su Mo suddenly thought of something and looked disappointed. "Will I not see you for these seven months...?"
Having just appeased him, and fearing he might cry again and ruin those beautiful eyes, Qiao Ci responded with strong self-preservation instincts, "Go back first, and stay home obediently. I will visit you often."
Su Mo left with a look of tragic determination but returned with a happy heart. Qiao Ci personally escorted him back.
Since someone had seen him leave the residence today, she didn't send him directly back to his courtyard. Instead, she took him to a corner not far from the Prime Minister's mansion. Su Mo looked back repeatedly as Qiao Ci patiently stood there, watching him leave.
Seeing Su Mo being blocked at the mansion gate, Qiao Ci slapped her forehead, remembering he was still wearing that eunuch's attire. The two obsequious guards, clearly recognizing him, refused him entry and verbally shamed him.
His status in the Prime Minister's mansion was evident.
Just as Qiao Ci was about to intervene, Prime Minister Su's carriage arrived. As the Prime Minister alighted, he saw his son in the eunuch's uniform and his already long face stretched even longer. "Are you not embarrassed enough yet? Hurry inside!"
The youth, who had cried so profusely and felt so wronged in front of her, obediently followed the Prime Minister, who had already entered the mansion.
With a light flick of her finger, an internal force shot towards the knees of the two guards at the gate. They instantly collapsed to the ground.
They wouldn't be able to stand up for at least three hours.
Recalling her promise to the youth, Qiao Ci felt she should do something.
He was still a child, but she was already an adult.
Regardless of the youth's decision, she had to prepare herself.
Upon returning to the mansion, Su Mo was severely reprimanded by Prime Minister Su, who even resorted to family punishment. Mother Su watched coldly from the side, making no move to intervene, her eyes filled with the wish that she had never had this son.
The supple rattan strikes landed on his back, and cold sweat streamed down his face. He, who had always been afraid of pain, now felt that the agony of torn flesh was somehow bearable.
Seven months. He only needed to wait seven more months to completely escape this indifferent Prime Minister's mansion.
Then he could depend on her.
This was not his home, and it never had been.
Even if it were a cold palace, even if it were incomplete, as long as she was there, he felt a sense of anticipation.
That warmth was enough to support his courage, and so was she.