Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"San Lang,"

Hua Cheng looked up from the desk.

"Gege?"

Xie Lian sat, palm propped up under his chin while a concentrated gaze fixated on his husband's face.

"Have you worn lipstick before?"

Hua Cheng cocked his brow. He gave a warm, amused smile.

"Does gege want me to?"

Xie Lian faltered.

"No- No… I'm just asking, San Lang."

With a gentle 'swoosh' of his robes, the Ghost King crossed his legs and propped a hand under his chin. Almost as if he were telling Xie Lian to ‘go on’.

Xie Lian sucked in a breath.

"You wear jewelry, elegant robes, hair accessories-"

Hua Cheng nods, his head pieces jingling along.

"And even sometimes heels."

He opens his mouth but hesitates for a second, before continuing.

"Heels?"

Xie Lian panics.

"B-Boots! I meant boots! With... a heel."

Hua Cheng smiles with a nod, but Xie Lian quiets down. He gestures with a gentle move of the hand for his beloved to go on, once again.

"Thus, I wonder if you've gone further. You know, in... expressing yourself."

"Is gege becoming interested in makeup?" 

Xie Lian shakes his head rather cutely.

"No, no, San Lang! You have to listen!" 

Crimson Rain Sought Flower was, indefinitely, listening. Not only listening - but understanding. It is only that he cannot help himself when it comes to teasing his beloved, cruelly enjoying every second of it.

"San Lang is listening, go on." 

Xie Lian huffs in slight frustration.

"San Lang, have you ever worn red lipstick?"

A nod.

"Yes, I have."

Xie Lian's eyes lit up.

The Prince was truly in awe at such an objectively miniscule piece of information. Although, to him, it was precious. To imagine such a sight, the all-powerful Ghost King; “Crimson Rain Sought Flower” wearing rouge, something traditionally feminine and alluring - was beyond exciting.

But to see it, he thought, was a privilege. 

Hua Cheng's foot which dangled carelessly grazed over the side of Xie Lian's shin, prompting the prince to suddenly look ahead and exit out of his train of thought. What he was met with were a crimson eye glaring, demanding for an explanation. With a single look the Ghost King managed to get his beloved speaking.

"When, and… why?" 

Hua Cheng continued with the moving of his foot, up and down - noticing a glint of bashfulness in his beloved's eyes.

"San Lang will tell you. But…"

Hua Cheng stood up. Xie Lian looked up.

"Gege will have to help me."

Careful fingers slid under the prince's chin - and a devilish thumb rested atop it.

Xie Lian gulped.

"Yes, San Lang."

The hairs on Xie Lian’s neck stand.

He can feel it - San Lang’s grip on the fabric’s ends, his masterful fingers carefully tying a knot, occasionally grazing his hair. The movement traveled through the prince’s hair, acting as a divider, yet also a linkage between the skin of Xie Lian’s neck and Hua Cheng’s touch.

All he saw was black.

“San Lang… I will see you either way. Is the blindfold necessary?” 

Upon finishing, the Ghost King took a few steps beside Xie Lian.

“Unless gege wants to see me change, then no, it is not.”   

Xie Lian breathed out, settled in his seat and didn't dare to ask any more.

Hua Cheng’s steps continued far from the prince, thus settling in a spot, unmoving.

The sounds of various fabrics slipping and meshing traveled the bedroom, one’s which Xie Lian was far from unfamiliar with. They were royal fabrics, rich and prestigious - one’s which he has worn many times himself. The prince pondered, using the power of his imagination to guess which type and color of hanfu his husband would wear. The possibilities were truly limitless, considering Hua Cheng’s high status. 

“Sa-”

“Is gege feeling comfortable?”

Xie Lian gulped.

Hua Cheng now stood beside him. 

At awe with such a circumstance, the prince’s mouth hung slightly agape - left at a loss for words. How come San Lang made his way next to him unnoticed? 

“I apologize, gege. You may finish your sentence.”

Oh, right.

“...San Lang, are you sure that I am needed for this? I mean, I’m just sitting down…”

Hua Cheng put a hand on Xie Lian’s shoulder.

“Trust me, gege. If I need you to do more, I will ask. Besides, you’re perfect as you are right now.” 

Xie Lian’s lips curled into a small smile, deciding to trust his husband, no matter how unsure he feels. 

“...Right. Of course.”

Hua Cheng maneuvered around his beloved, now standing in front of him.

“Now, gege, I ask again; are you feeling comfortable?” 

Xie Lian fiddles with the ends of his sleeves.

Hua Cheng declares;

“Your Highness.”

“Ye- Yes, San Lang?” 

The blindfold slips off, and Xie Lian follows it with his eyes, but a second doesn’t pass before he’s staring right ahead - his husband’s mesmerizing pearl skin almost blinding him with its beauty. 

He’s wearing a single robe. One which is not made for outside adventures, nor daily indoor endeavors, but a time more intimate and private. It covers his body in the perfect places, leaving much to be discovered, and yet at the same time very little. It is red - but a dark red, much different from the reds Hua Cheng is known to wear. This one is deeper, more haunting and it contrasts against his skin like snow coated in blood. 

Xie Lian wishes to speak, but he feels as if all words have been fished out of his mouth - not a single one left to utter. 

Hua Cheng laughs.

Only then is it that Xie Lian looks up, eyes peeled away from his husband’s body for a single second - only to be met with another tantalizing view.

Rouge.

Like a rose petal it lay on his San Lang’s lips, so delicately and precisely applied - the true product of an artist’s touch. With a single gulp, images of “geji” flash before Xie Lian’s eyes, the graceful and captivating women which entertained his majesty once upon a time. Their lips were similarly painted; a deep rose which beautifully brought out their pale skin. It is only that Xie Lian has never before seen skin so pale and lips so inviting - not until now. Not until he gazed upon his San Lang’s.

None could compare.

“San Lang…”

Was the prince experiencing a second puberty, or simply the effects of a fever?

“You’re…”

In the midst of a warm haziness, Xie Lian would pan down.

“Barefoot?”

 Instinctively, Hua Cheng looked down at his feet, then back up at the prince.

“Is that what you have to say, gege?”

Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“N- No, San Lang, I just… realize now why I couldn't hear you walk up to me earlier. That’s it…”

“That’s it?”

Xie Lian gripped the silky bedsheets in shame, thus looked away. It felt as if every limb of his was weightless, yet on fire. He knew that this wasn’t the end of it, either. So he was only bracing for impact, really. 

Hua Cheng made his way towards him quietly, just like last time, and leaned down. He was looking at his beloved, but his beloved wasn’t looking back at him.

“What’s wrong, gege? Won’t you look at me?”

Xie Lian breathed out.

“San Lang…” he whined shakily.

Hua Cheng only embraced his beloved’s cheek, gentle but firm - turning his head back around. Xie Lian looked up into his eye, then at his lips and then at the loosely hung robe which framed his husband’s torso rather scandalously.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

“What do you think, gege? Do you like it?”

Xie Lian stared at Hua Cheng’s torso, still.

“Mm-hmm…”

“The rouge, gege.”

“Oh! Ah… I’m sorry.”

Hua Cheng chuckled.

“I do, I do!”

He cocked a brow.

“Do you?”

“Yes, I promise!”

Hua Cheng took a step back.

“Hmm...”

Xie Lian sucked in a breath.

“It- It looks very natural on you, San Lang.”

A light flickered in Hua Cheng’s eye.

“Go on.”

“You’re just...”

He’d breathe out.

“Very beautiful. And it looks really, really good on you… like it was made for you.”

Stood with his hands crossed while looking down at Xie Lian - Hua Cheng smiled. He looked rather satisfied.

“Gege,”

He’d squat down, now a little below eye level with the prince.

“do you know why I was doing this?”

Xie Lian looked puzzled. 

“Doing... this? You did this a lot of times before, San Lang?”

“En.”

Hua Cheng looked down, then caressed his own tattoo. Viewing him from above, it almost seemed as if he were solemn.

Xie Lian pushed Hua Cheng’s bangs to the side. 

“I… don’t know. Tell me, San Lang. Why were you doing it?”

Xie Lian’s hand traveled down to caress his husband’s cheek, which prompted him to look up.

“To worship you, Your Highness.”

Xie Lian’s eyes widened - mind immediately racing to piece together the true meaning of those words. But before the prince could retaliate, Hua Cheng took his hand, placing a gentle kiss on top of it.

Once he removed his lips, a mark was left.

A kiss from the Ghost King.

Xie Lian was afraid to think further, because if he were to, his heart simply could not handle the conclusion he would eventually come to.

“Centuries ago…” 

Hua Cheng’s warm breath lingered on Xie Lian’s skin as it traveled further up.

“in the Cave of Ten Thousand Gods,”

“San Lang...” Xie Lian pleaded as he gripped the robe which draped over his husband’s shoulder.

Hua Cheng placed a kiss on the prince’s wrist.

“I kissed you, just like this.”

Something caught inside of Xie Lian’s throat.

“San Lang - you can’t be serious!” 

“It is only that back then, you were made of clay.”

“No...” he argued against it, but also against the tears which inevitably started welling up in his eyes. The thought of that being true, of San Lang worshiping him in that way, all while he was out and about collecting scraps or doing God knows what other embarrassing act  - was mortifying. Xie Lian’s mind and body were both rejecting that image, both rejecting that reality. A reality where he is worshiped so earnestly and shamelessly was simply too much for him to bear. Xie Lian covered his face in humiliation.

“Yes… yes, gege. It’s true. Gege knows that I am sincere.”

The prince dared to peek at his husband, and what he caught was a youthful - almost innocent gaze which was filled with devotion. Like that of a child who relies on their parents earnestly, or a dog which loves its owner unconditionally. 

And what Hua Cheng caught from his beloved was the same.

“Time was nonexistent, nor relevant when I did so, gege. The only thing important to me - was you.”

Hua Cheng slowly rose up, not letting go of Xie Lian’s hand. He slid a single knee in between his legs, then settled his body weight onto the bed, leaning into his embrace. He’d intertwined their fingers and moved Xie Lian’s hand away from his face. Now he had a clear view of his beloved’s rosy cheeks - one’s which emitted a warmth of their own.

Xie Lian looked at him, dumbfounded.

“I would wear this robe...”

Hua Cheng continued, and Xie Lian’s eyes followed.

“and paint my lips...”

Xie Lian gulped.

“just so I could leave a mark on you.”

Hua Cheng placed a sudden kiss on the prince’s cheek, one so tender and soft it could be reserved only for the most precious of possessions.

“To ensure that you were mine… and mine only, Your Highness.” he spoke against his skin.

Xie Lian let out a small noise at the pressure as his cheek squished against Hua Cheng’s nose. His San Lang swiped a thumb over the remaining rouge print so delicately - as if Xie Lian were akin to a porcelain doll.

“You can’t... you can’t be serious, San Lang.”

The prince spoke shyly.

“Is it really true?” 

Almost as if he were whispering.

“Did you really… do it?”

Hua Cheng smiled.

“Your Highness,” he pressed their foreheads against one another, black hair meshing with brown.

“Do you trust me?”

Chapter Text

Xie Lian nodded.

It was quick, eager, almost as if the prince feared that he would accidentally make his husband think otherwise.

“I do!”

He gulped.

“ …I do.”

Hua Cheng couldn't help himself, thus he let out a breathy chuckle at the amusing sight. He bit his lower, rose colored lip.

With sparkling eyes the prince admired his husband’s beautiful smile, marveling at its rascally nature. Xie Lian ought to discipline him later on, he thought, since the frequency of his husband’s naughty endeavors was undeniably about to hit a high.  

Before the prince knew, Hua Cheng slid his knee away from him as he slowly stood up, letting a strand of his hair slip from his palm. 

Xie Lian followed, surprised at the sudden loss of contact, as he ultimately suspected more. He wanted more.

“San Lang-”

At the snap of Hua Cheng’s fingers, all of Paradise Manor descended into a deathly silence. The current stillness couldn’t compare to the manor’s usual eeriness, which sent an array of prickly shivers up Xie Lian’s spine. 

Like an ocean’s wave the candles that scattered around the bedroom gradually lit up, one by one. They flickered playfully as they illuminated the bedroom.

Mouth still agape from the previously attempted call, Xie Lian gazed up at Hua Cheng, only to be met with his back. 

The prince’s nerves were on fire.

Something about this seemed… different. His husband had laid with him before, but not like this. Not in this kind of atmosphere. Xie Lian knew him all too well not to suspect that something was afoot.

Something special.

Regardless, he couldn’t stop his heart from aching as it was naturally bracing for something negative in nature.

He eagerly sat on the edge of the bed, but now with a hint of worry painting his face.

Before Xie Lian could call out to him again, Hua Cheng slowly turned around.

“Your Royal Highness,”

As if his tongue were coated in honey, like it dripped gracefully with every word spoken; Hua Cheng called out to his beloved. 

The prince's eyes glued to him, filled with desire and need. 

“Yes, San Lang?” He’d answer.

The Ghost King glanced away in what, Xie Lian couldn’t believe, seemed like a hint of shame.

Hua Cheng breathed out shakily. 

“forgive me, for I am cursed with the sin of lust.” 

Xie Lian swallowed, wetting his dried throat.

“Through my ghostly veins still runs hot blood at the mere thought of your likeness.”

His finger twitched in uncertainty.

“If I could, I would rip my heart out and bestow it upon you as my final offering - but I cannot. For it is my heart which pumps that blood… that wicked, dirty blood that makes me desire you.”

A lump prodded inside of the prince's aforementioned throat. What was San Lang saying?

Hua Cheng now batted his lashes with unease, his eye averted; completely unlike his usually mischievous one.

It was difficult to inhale, difficult to exhale. Xie Lian pressed his legs together achingly, yet at the same time it felt like they weren’t even there to begin with. Shame was eating him up alive.

Has he completely lost his own mind? 

The sudden shuffling of robes made Xie Lian flinch, his previously stood husband now descended upon the floor and sat cross-legged, facing him.

If Xie Lian were to extend his foot, he would be able to touch him.

With trembling hands the Ghost King leisurely undid his maroon robes - the silky material grazing over the head of something hard, leaving a wet trail behind. 

In sudden worry, Xie Lian extended a hand but ultimately stopped at a halt upon the sight of his husband’s manhood.

He gasped.

No matter how many times he’s had the privilege of viewing his husband’s most sensitive, it still took his breath away. His heart thumped in eagerness.

Its impressive length twitched under his beloved’s gaze, as if it were inviting him in - inviting him to admire, to touch, to mount.

“My prince…” 

Hua Cheng exclaimed breathily.

“watch as the red blood turns to white, and accept my offering.” 

Like ink the Ghost King’s silky hair spilled over his shoulders, falling into his lap. A picture framed so beautifully and in the centre of it slender pale fingers wrapped around a burning erection - tip glossy and aching for his wife’s touch. He’d glide a hand over it, slowly, dedicated to taking in every single wave of pleasure.

Xie Lian shuffled in his seat.

His own breathing sped up rapidly as the bed’s cushion grazed over his hole, the prince suddenly becoming too aware of it. Too aware of its lack of stimulation, too aware of its emptiness.

Hua Cheng gazed up at his glossy eyes, bicep flexing at the repetitive motion.

“Is…”

With trembling lips, the prince spoke up. Amongst the current atmosphere, his words stood out immensely; like they weren’t supposed to be uttered. Like he was interfering in a sacred act; an act of devout worship. He thought that what his husband was doing right now was surely something which should be done in private. Wouldn’t Xie Lian’s presence make it uncomfortable for him?

“is this - what you were doing… in the Cave of Ten Thousand Gods?”

Each word made the lump in his throat grow bigger and the tears in his eyes swell up more. Beforehand, he was tearing up because he was emotional, but now… 

“Ah - Ahh… Yes, Your Highness…”

Hua Cheng groaned. 

Xie Lian’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Forgive me, ah…”

Then they raised.

“Please forgive me, Your Highness.. I - I couldn’t control myself - Ah… Hnng…”

Was San Lang… in some sort of a trance? 

“San Lang, my beloved-”

Before continuing with his sentence, Xie lian abruptly stopped. Be it due to the nature of the situation, or his own perverted brain, he’d suddenly gotten an idea. His husband ought to have corrupted his very own being for him to come to such a twisted conclusion, he thought.

“...Hong’er.”

Hua Cheng looked up. His usually slanted, playful eyes now bore a look so innocent and pure, widening in shock at his wife’s sweet voice. 

“My dear Hong’er… won’t you let Your Highness help you?”

The young man’s eyes sparkled.

Xie Lian leaned in, with an attitude almost motherly, extending a gentle helping hand. 

Hong’er blinked but looked away in shame, then muttered a quick “no”.

Xie Lian retreated in surprise.

“This… ahh… These are the fruits of my labor, Your Highness…”

He’d lean back, then prop a supporting hand behind himself and contort his face in pleasure.

“For… for you.” 

Hong’er gave the prince a sultry look with the blink of an eye, then licked his painted lips. Looking at him like this, the prince almost felt like the youth was imagining pumping his manhood in and out of him instead.

Xie Lian froze in place. Although, “froze” wouldn’t be the correct descriptor since he was burning up from the inside. Rather, he’d wondered if this was what it felt like to be a stone statue - propped up on an altar. 

He gripped the silky covers at his sides and played with his own feet out of pure restlessness, since he was commanded to do naught. Shame hadn’t let him go for a second, and even grew in size as a harrowing reality set in.

It really felt as if he was looking at Hong’er.

Xie Lian bit his lip.

It hurts.

Hesitantly, as if looking away would be disrespectful to the show being put on for him, Xie Lian peered down at his own lap.

A small tent formed his robes and, at the sight, he sighed out a staggering breath. Was the thought of young Hong’er masturbating in front of him really turning him on so much?

The prince whimpered in self pity.

“It’s…”

Hong’er’s movements now more hurried, desperate and violent painted the tips of his beloved's ears red as he tugged at his girth in slippery, clumsy motions. He glanced at them in pride before finally letting himself succumb to the inevitable.

“It’s coming… y-your offering, Your Highness… Ah- ah!”

Like it were instinct, Xie Lian jumped from his seat and hurriedly cupped his hands under Hong’er’s cock. A thick, white substance shot out from the youth in uneven spurts, painting the prince’s palms white.

“Hong’er…” 

Xie Lian was left in awe, focusing on Hong’er’s pulsating cock, focusing on how the liquid that coated his palms burned his skin. His mouth hung slightly agape, matching the youth’s own.

“Hah… hah…”

Hua Cheng smiled.

“Gege…”

He called out to his beloved in between breaths, giving him a weak, yet loving look.

“San Lang?”

“Thank you for catching it.”

Suddenly, Xie Lian jolted back.

“T-Thank you for the offering!!!”

He exclaimed in a panic, then fell back down onto the bed.

Hua Cheng snickered at the sight, marvelling at how the prince truly had no clue what to do with the said “offering” as he came down from his self-inflicted high.

The prince rested his palms on his own lap, still holding onto it, puzzled.

Hua Cheng found it truly endearing.

Then, he got on his feet and walked to the other side of the still dimly lit bedroom. Xie Lian watched him attentively as he shuffled around with undefined items, then as he walked back, holding a soaked cloth in hand. Hua Cheng crouched in front of him, giving him a little smile.

The prince’s lip quivered as his husband brought both of his hands, by the wrist, towards himself. He’d cleaned the “offering” up in a few firm strokes.

“You’re welcome, gege.”

Hua Cheng craned his neck up and planted a gentle kiss on his beloved's lips.

Xie Lian whined as their lips plushed against one another.

Their first kiss of the night. 

“Now…”

After setting aside the dirty cloth, Hua Cheng averted his gaze to the tent which seemed to have mysteriously appeared on his beloved's robes.

“what’s this, huh?”

Their eyes locked for a moment, and Xie Lian swiftly looked away. 

“I-It’s nothing…”

He lied.

“Hm…”

The prince tried and, of course, failed to cover it up with his hand - because his devilish husband quickly grabbed his wrist in retaliation.

“Ah- we can’t have that, now can we, gege?”

“Why… not?”

Xie Lian muttered without much confidence.

“It’s time for you to give back, no?”

Hua Cheng’s gaze pierced the prince's own, demanding his full attention. But due to Xie Lian’s weak body and weak mind, caused by his San Lang’s antics, he had little energy to react. 

So he stayed silent.

“Gege.”

Still.

“Look at me.”

Hua Cheng’s brows furrowed. He extended a hand and grabbed Xie Lian’s jaw, angling it so he had no choice but to look straight ahead.

His eyes welled up with tears.

Hua Cheng’s heart ached.

“What’s wrong, gege?”

The prince sniffled as tears finally glided down his flushed cheeks, painting his face in clear strokes. His chest bobbed up and down as he tried to find the air to speak.

“I-I’m just so... aroused, San Lang. It- it hurts... and I feel strange…”

His husband sighed out in relief at the confession, then removed his hand from his wife’s jaw and caressed his cheek.

“Sang Lang will take care of that, then. San Lang always does, no?”

Xie Lian nods, letting out a staggering sigh through sobs.

“Yes… You- you do…”

In the midst of his words, through blurry vision, he saw his husband’s once again throbbing manhood. He sniffled and needily caressed his arm.

“That…”

He pointed down.

“I want it… please.”

Hua Cheng cocked an eyebrow, then looked down as well, which brought upon a knowing smile.

“Ah… you want your gege’s seed again?”

Absent-mindedly, Xie Lian nods. He kept staring down, letting his gege’s words lead him.

“Yes… I want gege’s seed… inside.”

He muttered.

“Oh~, inside, huh?” 

Hua Cheng smiled. He then placed both of his palms on top of his wife’s firmly pressed knees and stood up. Lazily, he flung his robe to the side, cock now staring his beloved in the face.

“Inside where?”

He grabs the base of his length, and Xie Lian gulps.

“In…”

Like a maiden, the prince twists his body to the side - white robes twisting along as he juts out his ass. He presses two fingers to his hole.

“in here… gege.”

A string snaps inside of Hua Cheng’s subconscious.

He licks his lips.

“...You drive gege insane, Your Highness.”