Poor stamina

Beigong Qiyi tossed a silver ingot to the dumbstruck vendor, waved the mask he’d just bought, and smiled, “Brother, I’ll give this to you.” Beigong Juechen cast him a displeased glance, turned on his heel, and strode away. Qiyi pursed his lips as he looked at the mask in his hand, then hurried after him in small, quick steps.

The vendor, still dazed, watched their retreating figures and muttered, “Is it that nowadays, all the good-looking men end up together?” One must admit, young man, you’ve seen through the truth!

“Brother,” Qiyi caught up to Juechen, took his hand in a placating gesture, “Brother, where are we going?” Juechen replied coldly, “Wasn’t it you who insisted we come out for a stroll?” Qiyi thought for a moment, then grinned, “Brother, why don’t we head beyond the borders?” Juechen looked at him strangely, “Beyond the borders? Traveling for more than half a month just to play for a day?” Qiyi rubbed his nose and gave a dry laugh, “It doesn’t seem like such a great idea…” Juechen sneered, “It’s a terrible idea. But if we can’t go beyond the borders, let’s go to the outskirts instead.”

“The outskirts?” Qiyi asked, “What for?” Juechen snapped his fingers, and a shadow darted past behind them. He strolled into “Jade Rinsing Pavilion,” and Qiyi followed close behind. They found a secluded corner and sat down. Juechen chuckled softly, “How about a horse race?” Qiyi blinked, “Are we racing each other?”

The innkeeper, ever perceptive, had already instructed the waiter to bring over a pot of tea. Juechen lifted his teacup and nodded slowly. Qiyi’s eyes brightened, but his smile turned sly, “Speaking of competitions, I suddenly remembered last time, when we played chess. Brother, your wager hasn’t been fulfilled yet.”

Juechen’s hand paused mid-sip. He glared at Qiyi and said, half-smiling, “Why not bet again this time? If you win, I’ll double it. If I win, it’s wiped clean. How about that?” Qiyi rested his chin in his hand and sighed, “Brother, you’re so calculating. Either way, I’m at a disadvantage!”

Juechen set down his teacup, lifted Qiyi’s chin, and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, “So, you have so little confidence in yourself?” Qiyi gazed at him as if bewitched, then after a moment, laughed softly, “Brother, you win.” Juechen smiled in satisfaction.

The innkeeper, happily tallying his accounts, glanced toward the door and his face instantly turned ashen. He quickly called over a waiter, pointed at the two approaching figures, and whispered, “Go, don’t let those two troublemakers in!” Following the direction of the innkeeper’s finger, the waiter’s face fell.

The waiter blocked the entrance, wearing a strained smile, “Sorry, gentlemen, we’re closed today.” The young girl in pink widened her eyes, “If you’re closed, why are the doors open?” The waiter hurriedly explained, “Sorry, sorry, we’re just about to shut up for the day.”

The girl craned her neck and peeked inside; the tea house was indeed empty. She pouted and mumbled a few words, and the waiter breathed a sigh of relief, “Sorry, perhaps you could come another day?” The maid tugged at her sleeve and advised quietly, “Miss, it’s been days already and we haven’t seen him. Looks like he’s not returning.” The girl glared at her, took a deep breath, “Alright then! We’ll come back another day!” The maid rolled her eyes silently.

The sound of hooves rang out. Juechen stood up, raised his brow, “Let’s go.” Qiyi grabbed the teacup Juechen had just used, gulped down the tea, and followed him out.

The girl walked away, head bowed, her spirits low. The maid wandered idly, and suddenly her eyes lit up. She tugged at the girl’s sleeve and whispered, “Miss, look—is that him?” The girl’s head shot up, and she followed the direction indicated. Instantly, her previously lifeless eyes brightened.

Watching Juechen mount his horse with effortless grace, Qiyi laughed mischievously, slightly raising his chin, “Brother, watch me!” He turned his back, gripped the reins, and swept up his robes to attempt a stylish leap onto the horse. Just as he was about to mount, someone tugged at his robes and yanked him back down.

A low, magnetic laugh sounded beside him. Qiyi spat in annoyance, face darkened as he looked at the culprit. In stark contrast to Qiyi’s grim expression, the girl’s face blossomed with joy. She held onto Qiyi’s sleeve, beaming, “Do you remember me?”

Qiyi looked at her coldly, “No.” Her smile froze at the corners of her mouth. She awkwardly forced a grin and whispered, “I’m the one who asked you for your jade.”

Qiyi arched a brow, half-smiling, “What do you want?” The girl’s cheeks flushed crimson. She lowered her head, “I never told you my name before—my name is Zhao Zisu.”

“I have no interest in knowing your name,” Qiyi retorted coldly, swung himself onto his horse, and Juechen, amusement flickering in his eyes, raised his brow at him, “Shall we go?” Qiyi nodded, but Zhao Zisu blocked their path, spreading her arms and looking up at them. Yet that glance left her dumbfounded.

She had thought that after seeing Qiyi’s face, nothing could astonish her again. She was wrong. Qiyi’s beauty was dazzling, but Juechen’s was exquisite as well—his was not the flashy allure of Qiyi, but a cold, sharp beauty, like a flower blooming amid thorns.

Zhao Zisu swallowed, her cheeks burning even hotter. “Who is he?” she asked shyly, lowering her head and speaking softly. Qiyi’s narrow eyes narrowed further. He held the reins, leaned forward slightly, and murmured, “He’s my elder brother.”

Zhao Zisu quickly straightened her clothes, shyly thinking, So his elder brother is just as handsome! Ah! Does this count as meeting the family? Was my behavior just now too brash? Will I leave a bad impression? She nervously touched a lock of hair draped before her, glanced at Juechen with bashful timidity, and softly said, “Brother.”

Juechen raised a brow and looked at Qiyi, chuckling, “So, are you bringing home a little sister-in-law?” Qiyi shook his head decisively, “Certainly not. I don’t know her.”

Zhao Zisu’s eyes widened in surprise. She looked at Qiyi and bit her lip, “You don’t know me? Last time, I said I liked you. You don’t remember?” Qiyi shrugged indifferently, “What does it matter? I don’t like you.”

Zhao Zisu’s face drained of color in an instant. Qiyi smiled faintly, and with his whip, lifted her chin, laughing softly, “Didn’t you always want to know who gave me the jade pendant? I might as well tell you—it was my brother.”

Zhao Zisu’s shock deepened. She staggered back a few steps, and Ying’er quickly steadied her. Zhao Zisu, trembling, pointed at the two, “You… you two…” Qiyi’s smile grew ever more wicked. He straightened, looking down at Zhao Zisu, “So what if we are?”

With that, he ignored her, turned to Juechen with a gentle smile, “Brother, shall we go?” Juechen nodded carelessly and rode away, and Qiyi tugged his reins, turning to give Zhao Zisu, who still looked utterly incredulous, a slow, sly smile.

Zhao Zisu shuddered, feeling chilled from head to toe.

The outskirts were wide and empty, with hardly a soul in sight. Qiyi and Juechen rode leisurely, as if enjoying a post-meal stroll, relaxed yet with a hint of caution. Juechen glanced at Qiyi, half-joking, “Zhao Zisu—why does that name sound familiar to me?”

Qiyi turned, puzzled, and thought for a moment before smiling, “I think she’s the legitimate daughter of Prince Rui.” Juechen’s lips curled, “First the second prince, now the daughter of Prince Rui. Your charm is quite formidable.”

Qiyi blinked, halted his horse, and laughed, “Brother… are you jealous?” Juechen’s brows knitted, and he scoffed, “Nonsense, why would I…”

“Brother!” Qiyi interrupted, leaping onto Juechen’s horse and wrapping his arms around the man’s waist from behind, resting his chin on Juechen’s shoulder, laughing softly, “Brother, you’re jealous. I can even smell the sourness!”

Juechen swung his arm back, but Qiyi was ready, springing up and balancing on the horse’s back, laughing, “Brother, are you angry out of embarrassment?” Juechen snorted, then suddenly whipped the horse’s flank. The steed, startled, bolted at full speed, and Qiyi wobbled wildly atop the saddle, shouting, “Brother, I was wrong!”

Juechen shot him a cold glare and whipped again, making the horse run even faster. Qiyi’s dark eyes spun, then suddenly he sat astride, threw his arms around Juechen, and hugged him tightly.

The whip lashed toward him, and Qiyi twisted aside, catching it in his hand, but it still left a thumb-width mark on his jade-like cheek. Qiyi touched the swelling, suddenly recalling how he had once, in a jealous rage, whipped Juechen himself.

Indeed, what goes around comes around. Qiyi thought, tightening his embrace even further as the horse galloped, sand flying in golden clouds. He grabbed Juechen’s chin and pressed a fierce kiss to his lips.

Juechen raised an eyebrow, then pulled Qiyi’s hair, yanking him from behind to the front, knocked away the hand gripping his chin, seized the reins in one hand and Qiyi’s hair in the other, and kissed him deeply, hungrily, claiming his lips.