CH 30

Jin Wang carried Ye Shu back to the bedchamber and was immediately greeted by a servant. He handed over the branch of plum blossoms and issued an order to summon the physician. He laid Ye Shu on the small couch, took off his snow covered white fox fur, and took the ginger tea brought by the servant to feed it to Ye Shu.

Ye Shu reached out to take it. “I’ll help myself—”

Jin Wang frowned slightly. Ye Shu immediately withdrew his hand and obediently drank a mouthful.

After finishing the tea, Jin Wang pulled over the velvet quilt to wrap Ye Shu in as he spoke, “How do you feel now? Still uncomfortable?”

Ye Shu shook his head.

He had played so much just then that he really did feel some abdominal pain when they were about to return. Frightened, Jin Wang promptly carried him back.

It was, however, only a momentary discomfort, as now there was nothing out of order.

Jin Wang held Ye Shu’s cold hands in the hollow of his palms and said coldly, “See if I let you play again.”

Ye Shu huddled in the velvet quilt, not daring to respond. His gaze swept to Jin Wang’s forearm where, beneath his sleeve, a sliver of blood-stained bandage was visible, and he said anxiously, “Did your wound split open again? Let me see—”

“Stop moving,” Jin Wang held the man down, unperturbed. “Why bother with this minor injury…”

He turned his head and paused as he saw Ye Shu’s aggrieved eyes. “Alright, Gu will have the imperial physician re-bandage it later.”

Ye Shu let out a low ‘hmn.’

The servant came and brought a jade vase, within which the branch of plum blossoms that Ye Shu had conveniently picked was placed. The accumulated snow on the flowers had by then been melted by the earth dragons in the chamber. The delicate petals seemed to have been washed with water as snowmelt trickled down.

Jin Wang placed the jade vase on the small table upon which he usually dealt with his state affairs.

Ye Shu looked at his cautious movements and gave a short, half-suppressed laugh.

This man… How silly. And really cute.

“What?” Jin Wang asked.

“It’s… It’s nothing.” Ye Shu held back his laugh and shook his head. “Your Majesty, this branch of plum blossom won’t last long having been broken off. Why bother to place it in there?”

“It’s no bother,” Jin Wang touched the petals gently and mumbled, “This way, it can still last for a few more days.”

Ye Shu heard the meaning behind his words.

Because you gave it to me, I want it to last for a few more days.

Ye Shu’s heart quivered. He collected his eyes and shifted his body a bit and patted the empty space beside him. “Your Majesty, sit over here ba.”

Jin Wang then sat down.

Ye Shu rolled on the couch and rolled directly into Jin Wang’s embrace.

“You—” Jin Wang hurriedly caught him.

Ye Shu pillowed his head on Jin Wang’s lap and wrapped his arms around the waist, and smilingly said, “So comfortable. Your Majesty, please, let me lie down for a while.”

Jin Wang said, “But Gu hasn’t changed yet.”

Ye Shu firmly grasped the hem of his clothes and closed his eyes. “No need. I’ll just lie down for a while.”

Jin Wang softly responded with a ‘hmn,’ his palm fell on the back of Ye Shu’s head, giving it a gentle caress.

The chamber was quiet for a moment, when Ye Shu suddenly called out, “Jin Wang.”

“Hmn?”

Ye Shu seemed to be somewhat spent, his voice sounded faint and very light. “That was the first time someone played with me in the snow.”

Jin Wang’s movement stalled.

“When I was a kid, I lived in a place where it doesn’t snow. It would rain once or twice a year, but not a single soul was willing to play with me. Even when I grew up…I still couldn’t find a companion.”

Jin Wang asked, “Was it when you were at the General’s mansion?”

Ye Shu laughed. “No, it was not.”

It was at the orphanage. In those days, both of his legs were disabled, he couldn’t stand up, thus no one was willing to play with him.

Jin Wang didn’t continue to ask and only said warmly, “Gu will accompany you again next year, every year hereafter.”

Ye Shu pondered for a moment and shook his head. “May as well not…”

He turned over and looked up at him. “The snowman you built was too unsightly.”

“……” Jin Wang said seriously, “Gu can practice.”

Just like cooking, he didn’t know how but he was willing to learn.

Ye Shu gazed at his handsome countenance and smiled softly, “Okay.”

He asked further again, “Winter has clearly just begun this year. Why do we have to wait for next year?”

Jin Wang’s expression instantly froze.

Ye Shu enjoyed His Majesty’s frozen appearance from up close. He held back a laugh as he continued to ask, “You forbid me from playing in the snow now, but next year I’ll be allowed to. How does that make sense?”

“Because…” Jin Wang spoke hesitantly.

Ye Shu, “Because what?”

Jin Wang didn’t answer, his gaze moved to Ye Shu’s lower abdomen. He had specially inquired from the physician: since Ye Shu had a thin figure, it was unlikely that his pregnancy bump would soon become obvious.

Probably only by the fourth or fifth month would the slightest bulge take shape.

And as the fetus stabilized, Ye Shu’s body would have fewer and fewer abnormalities. He could still keep it under wraps for a while if he wanted to.

At first, he was afraid to tell Ye Shu about this matter because the two had been having repetitious misunderstandings at that time, and he was worried that this man wouldn’t be able to accept it.

But now that his relationship with Ye Shu de-escalated, he was still afraid to speak out the truth.

If he revealed the reality of the situation now, would this man be angry with him again? Would he think of running away again?

But it would be unfair to the man if he didn’t say anything.

His Majesty the monarch had a rare moment of timidity, not knowing what he ought to do.

Ye Shu tugged his sleeve and urged in a low voice, “Your Majesty, why are you not responding to me?”

“…It’s nothing,” Jin Wang looked away and said in a daunting voice, “The imperial physician said that you have been in poor health recently and you have to recuperate for a few months. You can do whatever you want when you get better.”

Ye Shu, “……”

T-h-i-s—f-o-o-l!

Ye Shu had asked, of course, on purpose. He was actually in a very good mood tonight. Both Jin Wang’s injury because of him, as well as Chang Yuan’s case had garnered enough positive feelings for him in his heart.

He had thought that if this man confessed to him then and there along with a sincere apology, he might consider forgiving him.

But now……. Dream on ba.

Dog emperor.

A Kunjun’s mood fluctuated greatly during pregnancy. The more Ye Shu thought about it, the more angry he got. With a low humph, he turned over and sat up.

Jin Wang, “……” Did Gu say something wrong again?

Jin Wang pulled him back. “Where are you going?”

“None of your business!” Ye Shu huffed and puffed as he shook off his hand, but no sooner had he got off the ground, he felt another burst of pain in his abdomen.

Jin Wang hurriedly held him steady. “Stay put. Come and lie down here.”

“I’m not—”

Ye Shu reached out to push him, and exactly at that moment, a servant led physician Feng into the chamber. “Your Majesty, imperial physician Feng has arrived.”

The two men paused.

Jin Wang pressed Ye Shu back onto the small couch without giving him the opportunity to protest, then turned his head to physician Feng and said sternly, “He is having abdominal pains. Asking the imperial physician to check on him.”

Physician Feng glanced at His Majesty’s complexion, then at the seething Ye Shu sitting on the small couch and immediately understood the situation in his heart. He had heard that His Majesty had gone to Chengqian Palace earlier and stayed there for a long time. It truly seemed to be the case.

This made the noble consort incensed.

Physician Feng sighed inwardly and sat down to check Ye Shu’s pulse.

A moment later, physician Feng spoke, “The young master is in good health, but he has suffered from the cold and his mood has fluctuated greatly, which is why…ahem, he is experiencing some discomfort. Just keep him in bed for a few days and keep his state of mind calm, then he should be fine.”

Ye Shu glared at Jin Wang and coldly snorted, “With a certain someone around, there’s no way my state of mind can remain calm.”

Jin Wang, “……”

Physician Feng followed suit and looked at Jin Wang.

Jin Wang pressed the space between his brows and said to the physician, “Come with Gu.”

The two went to the warm room in the side chamber.

Jin Wang dismissed his attendants and showed the wound on his forearm for physician Feng to check.

Physician Feng was taken aback,”. “Your Majesty, you are…”

Jin Wang insipidly instructed, “Upon exiting this room, Imperial physician Feng will pretend that nothing has happened and on no account should it be disclosed.”

“…Understood.”

Physician Feng sat down to help Jin Wang treat his injury, while his heart made a vague conjecture.

It seemed that today’s affairs weren’t as simple as he had thought at all.

He had thought that His Majesty went to Chengqian Palace to play with his little beauty. During this time, the noble consort sent people out of the palace to look for him. The two ended up in a huge verbal argument, which caused the noble consort discomfort and restlessness in the abdomen. Now seeing this wound on His Majesty’s forearm, perhaps the two were not only wielding words, but also exchanging physical blows.

He wasn’t sure if the noble consort was also wounded.

The more Physician Feng thought about it, the more alarmed he got. On one hand, he admired the noble consort who was the exemplary former Minister Ye; even though he had been subjugated, he was still unyielding. On the other hand, he couldn’t help feeling worried for him. How could his body withstand it if these issues continued?

It seemed that the induced abortion pill must be delivered to the Imperial Comsort as soon as possible.

Jin Wang, not knowing at all what conclusion the latter had reached in his mind, asked, “Is the Imperial Consort’s health really fine?”

Physician Feng looked up at Jin Wang with the words ‘you still have the face to ask’ clearly written in his eyes.

He shook his head and said, “The young master’s health is fine, his heart is not.”

Jin Wang, “?”

Physician Feng heaved a sigh and persuaded patiently, “The young master is already two months pregnant; he can’t withstand such stimulation. This subject would be so bold as to say that for you to behave in this way……it is truly inappropriate ah.”

Jin Wang, “……” What exactly did Gu do?

(Little theater)

Imperial Physician: Not being faithful, domestic violence. What a scumbag.

Ye Shu: That mouth exclusively filled with lies. What a scumbag.

Jin Wang: ……