To Xu Tianran's mix of embarrassment and excitement, he found himself… stimulated by the scene unfolding before him.
Under normal circumstances, such a situation would evoke only humiliation and anger—his masculine dignity trampled. But now?
Excitement. Pain. Discomfort.
Seeing Juzi, the woman he had designated as his crown princess and even his future empress, nestled in Qianran's embrace and shamelessly toyed with, Xu Tianran's emotions surged uncontrollably.
For the first time in a long while, a pang of heartache surfaced from the depths of his frozen soul. At the same time, a fiery rage simmered beneath the surface. This was his territory, his mansion. How dare Qianran act with such impudence?
Juzi wasn't just another woman in his harem—she was his. Even as guests, no one dared misbehave under his roof.
But alongside these feelings of humiliation and fury, something else emerged—something he hadn't felt in years.
Excitement.
A dry throat. Rapid heartbeats. That forbidden stimulation stirred something dormant within him.
Even more shocking was the physical reaction: a fleeting warmth and vitality in his lower body, where numbness had reigned for so long.
Xu Tianran was dumbfounded. What was happening to him? Was this some buried inclination he hadn't realized he possessed?
Having lived within the imperial palace, Xu Tianran had witnessed his fair share of scandals. He was no stranger to the dark desires that simmered behind noble façades. Many aristocrats indulged in swapping concubines or servants as if they were mere possessions.
Until now, he had always looked down on such practices, dismissing them as vulgar and incomprehensible. How could one take pleasure in sharing someone they had cultivated and cherished?
But now, the picture of Juzi in Qianran's arms, her elegance and allure magnified, made his heartbeat quicken.
He was the future emperor of the Sun Moon Empire. How could someone like him harbor such a twisted inclination?
Yet, his rapid heartbeat and the unmistakable changes in his body told a different story.
As Xu Tianran reflected, he realized something even more unsettling.
Juzi always appeared beautiful to him, but that allure seemed to multiply when she was in someone else's arms. It was as if her worth and charm grew exponentially under these circumstances.
Such thoughts disgusted him. But they were undeniably real.
In the palace, such tendencies weren't uncommon among nobles with too much leisure and power. Some, in pursuit of satisfaction, would even invite friends to indulge in their deepest fantasies together. Compared to such extremes, Xu Tianran's reaction seemed tame—though his lofty status made it all the more taboo.
And Qianran knew it.
The moment Qianran met Xu Tianran, he had suspected a psychological flaw beneath the prince's composed façade. Now, seeing Xu Tianran's reaction, his suspicions were confirmed. Years of palace intrigue, political pressure, and physical disability had warped the prince's mind.
This was Qianran's perfect opportunity. By subtly nurturing Xu Tianran's neurosis, he could secure a unique ally—a crown prince who was both powerful and manipulable.
With Xu Tianran as an unwitting accomplice, Qianran could expand his influence over the Sun Moon Empire without lifting a sword.
Xu Tianran lingered in the courtyard for a while before retreating to avoid being discovered. Yet, Juzi's image, clad in that tight-fitting crimson qipao, remained vivid in his mind. The curve of her hips, the elegance of her gait—her beauty was etched into his thoughts.
Qianran, meanwhile, was inwardly celebrating.
His gamble had paid off. Xu Tianran was precisely the broken man he had anticipated—crushed by years of dysfunction and desperate for any spark of vitality, no matter how unconventional.
Now Qianran had the leverage he needed.
While others like Fan Yu and Dai Hao had submitted under duress or temptation, Xu Tianran was walking into Qianran's web of his own volition. The crown prince's fractured psyche made him a far more entertaining pawn.
Qianran's joy was palpable. Having a "brother" with such unique tendencies promised a life filled with delightful opportunities for mischief.
As Xu Tianran left, Qianran reluctantly let Juzi go.
Rushing things with Juzi felt premature. The presence of Xu Tianran, with his peculiar quirks, made the situation far too entertaining to resolve quickly.
With a smirk, Qianran muttered to himself, "Right, Xu Tianran has a younger sister, Xu Tianzhen. She's supposed to be quite the beauty, too…"
Xu Tianzhen, the Sun Moon Empire's princess, was known for her charm and wit. In the original story, she had represented the empire in later tournaments, even developing feelings for Wang Qiu'er. With her natural elegance and slightly naive demeanor, she seemed like an ideal target for Qianran's plans.
"Once I've dealt with Xu Tianran, taking Xu Tianzhen under my wing will be a walk in the park," Qianran thought with a wicked grin.
The next morning, Qianran headed straight for Juzi's quarters. No one else in Xu Tianran's domain would dare behave so audaciously.
Juzi, just finishing her morning routine, yelped in surprise when Qianran gave her a playful slap on the backside. Her cheeks flushed red as she turned to glare at him.
"How did you even find this place? And why can't you behave for a moment?" she scolded, half-jokingly.
"Simple. Your unique fragrance led me straight to you," Qianran replied, planting a light kiss on her forehead.
"Stop teasing me! If someone sees us, it'll cause trouble. Even if… we really are together, now isn't the time to provoke him," Juzi murmured nervously, her mind flashing to Xu Tianran's ruthless history.
"Don't worry about it. I won't kiss you in front of others—call it respect for his fragile ego. But right now, we're alone." Qianran grinned, pulling her close and nuzzling her soft cheek.
"Stop…" Juzi's protests grew weaker as Qianran's hands explored her legs encased in sheer stockings.
"Juzi, your figure is incredible. I could never get tired of you," Qianran whispered, one hand tracing the curve of her flat abdomen, the other cupping her firm yet soft rear.
Juzi blushed furiously. "You're impossible…"
Though she feigned indignation, her heart swelled with warmth. Qianran's words, as bold as they were, made her feel special in a way no one else had before.
Before long, Juzi pushed him away playfully, "Enough! I need to change. I'm meeting His Highness soon."
"Fine. But I get to watch," Qianran teased, dragging a chair closer.
Juzi sighed, resigning herself to his antics. With a blush, she removed her nightgown, revealing her flawless figure dressed in pink lingerie. As she pulled on her stockings, her movements became slow and awkward under Qianran's intense gaze, each step radiating an accidental allure.
Once dressed in a modest yet elegant gown, she waved a hand in front of his face. "All done. Happy now?"
Qianran simply smiled. Juzi couldn't help but feel a pang of self-consciousness. Compared to the other women in Qianran's life, was she enough to hold his attention?
Unbeknownst to her, Qianran's delay in pursuing her fully wasn't due to disinterest but a strategic choice. With Xu Tianran's peculiar tendencies now fully revealed, Qianran was savoring the situation, biding his time for maximum amusement.
(Chapter End)