Chapter 27

An intimate charge had settled over Yangxin Hall. The temperature between them was gradually rising, as though even the air had grown thin.

Jin Wang drew a long breath and gently pushed Ye Shu back a little. "Not tonight."

Ye Shu: "?"

Jin Wang said: "We still have business to attend to. Behave yourself."

Jin Wang had spent the entire afternoon tormenting himself in the imperial kitchen for the sake of his little consort, and still had a great deal of affairs left unhandled.

Ye Shu pressed his lips together and gave a low "oh."

Plan failed.

He'd find another opportunity.

He was just about to wriggle free of Jin Wang's arms when an arm wrapped around him and held him in place. "Where are you going?"

"Your Majesty…"

Jin Wang rested his head on Ye Shu's shoulder and said: "Didn't you want to repay Us? Let Us hold you for a while."

His voice had a rough, low quality, deep and resonant. A tingling sensation ran up Ye Shu's spine, and the will to struggle left him all at once.

Although he didn't want to admit it — he didn't actually dislike being held like this by Jin Wang.

The qian-kun dynamic was truly too unreasonable.

Ye Shu leaned against Jin Wang and thought quietly to himself.

Jin Wang opened a memorial and continued reviewing it.

Ye Shu had nothing to do and read along with him.

"An envoy from the Dayan kingdom is coming to the capital?" Ye Shu suddenly spoke up.

Jin Wang's writing hand paused. He replied: "There was border conflict earlier. Changlu took several cities from Dayan, and they've sent someone to negotiate a ceasefire."

Ye Shu naturally knew.

This was a main plot beat from the novel.

Jin Wang had executed a great many Xixia spies earlier, and the situation between the two sides had grown extremely tense — war was on the verge of breaking out. After the new year, Jin Wang would officially declare war against Xixia. And the Dayan envoy coming to the capital at this moment — nominally to negotiate peace, but actually making a feigned show of submission to Changlu in exchange for a chance at survival.

More importantly, according to the novel's plot, once war broke out, it would not be long before Jin Wang had to lead the campaign personally.

— Leading the campaign personally!

Ye Shu perked up immediately.

That meant this dog emperor would finally be unable to keep watch over him.

As though sensing the shift in his mood, Jin Wang's arm tightened. He asked quietly: "What are you thinking about?"

Ye Shu blinked with an air of innocence. "Nothing… nothing at all…"

Jin Wang said nothing. He buried his face in Ye Shu's neck and took a quiet breath.

A kun-sovereign's pheromone perfectly reflected their inner state — it had grown animated and intense.

Ye Shu felt the breathing of the person behind him suddenly deepen.

What was… happening?

Ye Shu suddenly remembered what Imperial Physician Feng had told him about how the system worked.

The pheromones of qian-sovereigns and kun-sovereigns drew each other — when they were compatible, it was extremely easy to become aroused.

Ye Shu inconspicuously shifted away — and was immediately pulled back firmly.

A thread of wine-like fragrance began to spread around the two of them.

So this was… the qian-sovereign's pheromone?

Under that scent, Ye Shu's mind grew gradually hazy, and his body followed — softening, warming.

The patch of skin behind his ear rapidly flushed and burned, the cinnabar mole vivid red, and the sweet, ripe fragrance of green plum spilled out irresistibly, weaving itself perfectly into the wine-scented air.

In an instant, Ye Shu forgot entirely what he had been planning. He gripped Jin Wang's arm, his eyes growing misty.

"Jin… Jin Wang…" His voice was soft, carrying a certain yearning.

He… wanted…

He wanted this person's comfort, his embrace, his kiss — or something even closer…

Ye Shu's mind had grown muddled. By the time some sliver of awareness returned, he had already been pressed down onto the small couch by Jin Wang, who was kissing him gently.

Jin Wang held both his wrists pinned at his sides, kissing him from above — soft and thorough. "A Shu…"

Ye Shu clumsily responded, his body shifting restlessly.

Still not enough…

He wanted…

But Jin Wang stopped.

He brushed the loose strands of hair from Ye Shu's temples, his voice slightly husky. "Tell Us — were you upset today?"

Jin Wang had known Ye Shu for over ten years. He understood this person's nature too well.

In the years since ascending the throne, there had been a period where he felt this person had become someone he no longer recognized. But from their interactions recently, that familiar feeling had returned.

Whatever had happened in those three years — whether it had all been a performance or whether there had been other circumstances — Jin Wang no longer wanted to probe. He knew only one thing: the person remaining by his side now was the Ye Shu he had always known.

The little fool who believed himself impossible to read, yet had never once been able to hide anything from him.

"Mmm…" Jin Wang held still for a long moment. Ye Shu let out a low, plaintive sound, suffering under the effect of the lingering pheromone. "You stop…"

Jin Wang asked with unwavering persistence: "Why were you upset?"

Ye Shu's mind was fogged, and his tongue felt barely his own. He had almost let the words slip out — but Jin Wang bent down and stopped his mouth.

The kiss ended. Jin Wang looked up at him. "Is it because We have been confining you in the bedchamber and restricting your freedom?"

"And today you saw the snow, and after all that trouble keeping your heart settled, it went wild again?"

"We don't want things to be this way either." Jin Wang's fingertip brushed past the pink corners of Ye Shu's eyes, and said quietly: "But what can We do — you never let Us have a moment's peace."

His palm slowly slid down along the soft curves of the person in his arms, coming to rest on the flat abdomen.

"With you the way you are right now — how could We be at ease returning your freedom?"

Ye Shu could no longer make out what Jin Wang was saying clearly. His body grew softer and softer under the influence of the pheromone, and he was breathing in low, unsteady gasps as though drowning.

Jin Wang was so close. Ye Shu shifted in a way he couldn't fully control — which looked, from Jin Wang's vantage, very much as though he were pressing himself toward Jin Wang's palm on his own initiative.

"Can't wait?" Jin Wang immediately understood, and said with a smile: "The physician said the further along the pregnancy, the greater the need — I see that holds true indeed."

"Speaking of which — don't We still owe you once?"

"Your performance in the Imperial Study last time was truly rather poor — but a sovereign's word is his bond."

"…We'll repay you now."

…

One incense-stick's time later, Jin Wang rinsed his mouth with tea, then leaned down to kiss Ye Shu.

The latter had gone limp in all four limbs and lay curled on the dragon bed, his eyes red. When he saw Jin Wang coming in for a kiss, Ye Shu turned his face away to dodge — but didn't quite manage it, and was caught at the corner of his lips.

"What is it — are you uncomfortable?" Jin Wang's voice still had a slightly rough edge, but his mood seemed quite pleasant.

No matter how stubborn the mouth, the body's reactions never lied.

To like something was to like it.

Ye Shu was very comfortable. He also very much liked being treated this way by Jin Wang.

That recognition alone was enough to satisfy anyone's sense of achievement. Jin Wang, thoroughly pleased with himself, bent down and kissed Ye Shu again.

The red had spread from the tips of Ye Shu's ears all the way down his neck. He shot Jin Wang a furious look.

This wasn't how things were supposed to go.

Wasn't the correct script: first seduce this person until he was burning with desire, then give him a shove and walk away, leaving him to stew in his own frustration?

That's what all the stories said.

So why had the plot seemed to go slightly sideways in his case.

All blame belonged to the original host's kun-sovereign body — it had absolutely no self-restraint!

To Jin Wang, that look on Ye Shu's face read as embarrassed indignation.

He soothed him by ruffling his hair and said: "Now that you're feeling better, get some sleep quickly. Don't sulk anymore. If something upsets you in the future, just tell Us directly — no need to wear it on your body."

"I…"

"All right, We have affairs to deal with. And stop seducing Us." Jin Wang tapped his forehead lightly, his handsome eyes curved in a smile. "Little minx."

"…"

Who was the minx here!

It was clearly this dog emperor who had released his pheromone first to entice him!

Ye Shu pulled the blanket over his head and was too angry for words.

The following day, Ye Shu didn't wake until noon.

He stretched lazily and sat up — and noticed the gold chain by the bed was gone.

In fact, Jin Wang hadn't reattached it since they'd gone to admire the snow the day before.

He'd worn that chain for so many days, and now that it was gone he felt oddly unaccustomed to the absence. Ye Shu stared at his pale bare ankle in a daze. Jin Wang came over. "We're not chaining you anymore — does that help you cool down a bit?"

He had just come from morning court and hadn't had the chance to change out of his court robes yet. The black and gold robe made his features look even more sharp and striking.

Ye Shu's gaze faltered for a moment, then looked away. "Isn't Your Majesty afraid I'll run?"

"Afraid." Jin Wang leaned down close to his ear. "Which is why — if you dare run again, We will chain you for the rest of your life. You'll never see it undone."

Ye Shu shrank a little and gave a subdued "oh."

Jin Wang straightened up and continued: "We have a great deal of business today. We are going to the Imperial Study now to discuss receiving the envoy with some ministers. Have your meal by yourself — after that, whether you want to rest or go out for a walk is entirely up to you."

"Yongshou Palace and Chengqian Palace have both been assigned to you. Attendants and court maids have been arranged. If you want to move in, We won't stop you."

Ye Shu's eyes lit up. "Then I'll—"

Before he could finish, Jin Wang continued: "We'll just come and stay there with you."

"…" Ye Shu said: "Never mind then. Yangxin Hall is perfectly fine."

There was nothing wrong with an emperor spending a night or two at a consort's chambers — but staying there every day would breach all protocol, and Ye Shu had no desire to have people pointing at him and calling him a bewitching consort.

— Though things weren't exactly flattering as it stood.

Jin Wang stroked his hair. "We have assigned half the shadow guards to protect you discreetly, but take care of yourself as well. We won't restrict your freedom, but We also hope you'll look after yourself. Understood?"

Ye Shu said quietly: "This subject understands."

Jin Wang and his attendants left Yangxin Hall.

Over the remaining days, Ye Shu was considerably more settled than before — he didn't even spend that much time going out.

It snowed outside all day. Ye Shu hated the cold, and now just wanted to stay on the bed and go nowhere.

With Jin Wang too busy to spend time with him these past few days, Ye Shu couldn't find the chance to cause him any trouble even when he wanted to.

The physician's medication also hadn't been finished yet.

…So dull.

So the palace was this boring without the dog emperor around.

When bored, Ye Shu liked to stir things up.

He rolled off the bed and sat up, and gave the order: "Prepare a palanquin."

Someone quickly appeared. "Where would Young Master like to go?"

"…" Ye Shu almost instinctively blurted out "the Imperial Study" — then gave a small cough, composed himself, and said: "Chengqian Palace."

Chengqian Palace was the residence Jin Wang had assigned to Consort An, and he had never been there. Now that Consort An had the air of someone who had cuckolded the sovereign, and for the convenience of future plans, it was exactly the right time to make a show of things.

Chengqian Palace wasn't far from Yangxin Hall, yet Ye Shu had the palace staff go to the trouble of bringing the imperial palanquin to take him there.

He was committed to playing the part of an imperious favorite to the last.

Chengqian Palace had been sitting empty since its assignment several days ago, and at last welcomed its occupant.

After being shown around the entire palace, Ye Shu returned to the main hall, where a court maid soon stepped forward to offer tea.

"Thank you." Ye Shu accepted it and murmured the response without thinking.

The court maid said hastily: "This servant would not dare."

Ye Shu said nothing more, and sat quietly drinking his tea.

The court maid stole glances at him.

The face Ye Shu had chosen for his disguise was dismissed out of hand by Jin Wang — but to others it was a rare and remarkable beauty.

The court maid became lost in looking. Ye Shu smiled and asked: "Am I good-looking?"

The court maid dropped to her knees. "This servant begs Young Master's pardon!"

"Ah, don't be nervous." Ye Shu helped her up, his tone gentle. "I was only asking casually — I have no intention of punishing anyone."

He took a sip of tea and asked: "Come to mention it — is this all the staff there is? Far fewer than in Yangxin Hall."

The court maid quickly said: "Young Master may not know — Chengqian Palace has been furnished to the same standard as the bedchambers of former emperors and empresses. It ranks second only to His Majesty's own Qianqing Palace."

Ye Shu glanced at her and asked lightly: "And compared to Yongshou Palace?"

"This…"

Changlu placed west as the position of honor. Yongshou Palace was to the west of Yangxin Hall, which naturally made it the more prestigious of the two. And just from proximity, Yongshou Palace — assigned to the senior consort — was closer as well.

His Majesty the sovereign's two rear-palace consorts had been given their titles on the same day and assigned their palaces on the same day — and before that, both had lived together with His Majesty.

The rear palace had been quietly curious about how these two got along.

With just those two questions of Ye Shu's, everyone in the room understood: Consort An and the senior consort were not on good terms.

The attendants and court maids all had their own calculations to make.

Ye Shu had achieved his aim. He sent everyone away.

Left alone in the bedchamber, he yawned. He was sleepy.

He had been especially prone to sleep these days — drowsy after eating, hungry after sleeping. His days were as comfortable and pampered as those of the litter of kittens they had taken back to the traveling palace.

"If I end up fat, it'll all be your fault."

Ye Shu gave his lower belly a gentle pat, walked to the bed, lay down with his outer robe on, and prepared for a short nap.

Chengqian Palace's bed naturally couldn't compare with the dragon bed — not as soft, not as large. Ye Shu had grown spoiled from sleeping on the dragon bed these past few weeks, and slept fitfully here.

He drifted in a drowsy haze for some unknown length of time before an unexpected sound came from within the hall.

Ye Shu opened his eyes. A dark figure vaulted onto the bed and clamped a hand over his mouth.

The sky had grown dark. No lamps had been lit in the hall. Ye Shu could only make out a blurry silhouette.

A faint smell of blood spread through the bed canopy.

"Don't make a sound. If you bring others in here, you won't be able to protect your reputation." The person pressing down on him had a hoarse voice.

Ye Shu: "…"

What kind of script was this.

And that voice — why did it sound… somehow familiar?

Before Ye Shu could say anything, a voice came from outside the door. "Young Master — are you alright?"

The hand over Ye Shu's mouth gripped tighter. Ye Shu sighed inwardly, raised his hand, and tapped the back of the other person's forearm in a light, deliberate sequence.

A signal.

A signal that only he and Changyuan knew.

The person on top of him immediately let go, their expression stunned. "You're…"

Ye Shu shook his head at him and called out toward the door: "I'm fine — what happened?"

The person outside answered: "An intruder was spotted in Chengqian Palace just now. Does Young Master permit this subordinate to come in and search?"

Ye Shu decisively let the gauze curtains fall around the bed, grabbed the blanket, and swiftly bundled the person beside him inside. Then he called out: "Come in."

The hall door was pushed open. Several figures who appeared to be shadow guards entered.

Ye Shu leaned against the headboard and watched their movements calmly.

One shadow guard approached the bed and was just about to lift the curtains when Ye Shu stopped him from within. "You're going to search in here too?"

The two of them held a brief standoff. The shadow guard stepped back half a pace. "…This subordinate would not dare."

The shadow guards found nothing and quickly bowed their way out of the bedchamber.

The hall door closed. Ye Shu let out a breath and turned his head. "Changyuan — what are you doing here?"

Changyuan looked somewhat the worse for wear, dressed in a eunuch's disguise. Leaning closer, one could faintly smell dried blood on him.

He moved toward the foot of the bed and was just about to speak when another sound came from outside.

"All greet His Majesty!"

Ye Shu: "…"