Chapter 30

Jin Wang carried Ye Shu back to the bedchamber. Attendants immediately came forward to meet them.

He passed the plum branch to one of them and gave the order "summon the physician," then strode into the hall. He set Ye Shu on the small couch, removed his snow-drenched fox fur and outer robe, took the ginger tea from an attendant, and held it to Ye Shu's lips.

Ye Shu reached out to take it himself. "I can—"

Jin Wang's brow gave a slight crease. Ye Shu immediately withdrew his hand and obediently drank.

Once the ginger tea was finished, Jin Wang pulled a soft blanket over and wrapped him up. "How do you feel now — still uncomfortable?"

Ye Shu shook his head.

He had been playing too recklessly earlier — on the way back he had genuinely felt some abdominal pain, which had sent Jin Wang hurrying to carry him back.

But it had only been a brief discomfort, and there was nothing unusual now.

Jin Wang took Ye Shu's icy hands in his own. "Still think it was a good idea to keep playing."

Ye Shu burrowed into the blanket and didn't dare say a word.

His gaze fell on Jin Wang's forearm. Beneath the sleeve, the outline of blood-soaked bandaging was faintly visible. He said urgently: "Has your wound opened up again? Let me look—"

"Stop fussing." Jin Wang held him in place, unbothered. "It's just a small—"

He stopped mid-sentence, caught by Ye Shu's reproachful expression, and forced a change of tack. "Fine — I'll have the physician rebandage it shortly."

Ye Shu gave a quiet "mm."

An attendant brought in a jade vase. The plum branch Ye Shu had carelessly plucked was now inserted in it. The snow on the branches had melted in the warmth of the underfloor heating, and the delicate petals looked as though they had just been rinsed clean, drops of water falling from them one by one.

Jin Wang set the jade vase on the small writing table where he usually handled official matters.

Ye Shu watched his careful, tender movements, and suddenly laughed.

This person was… a bit of a fool.

Quite endearing.

Jin Wang asked: "What?"

"Nothing… nothing." Ye Shu held back his smile and shook his head. "Your Majesty, once a branch is cut it won't live long. Why bother putting it in water?"

"Never mind." Jin Wang gently touched one of the petals and said quietly: "This way it lives a few days longer."

Ye Shu understood what he meant.

Because you gave it to me — I want it to live a little longer.

Ye Shu's chest gave a quiet tremor.

He lowered his eyes and shifted a little on the couch, then patted the empty space beside him. "Come sit here, Your Majesty."

Jin Wang sat.

Ye Shu rolled right off the couch and straight into his lap.

"You—" Jin Wang quickly caught him.

Ye Shu pillowed his head in Jin Wang's lap, arms wrapped around his waist, and said with a smile: "Much more comfortable. Your Majesty, do bear with me and let me lie here for a bit."

Jin Wang said: "We haven't even changed yet."

Ye Shu tightened his grip on Jin Wang's robe and closed his eyes. "No need. Just for a little while."

Jin Wang quietly agreed. His palm came to rest at the back of Ye Shu's head, stroking slowly.

The hall was tranquil. Ye Shu suddenly called out: "Jin Wang."

"Mm?"

Ye Shu seemed somewhat drowsy. His voice came out small, barely above a whisper. "This is the first time someone's ever played in the snow with me."

Jin Wang's hand stilled.

"Where I lived when I was small, it didn't snow. There might be one or two storms a year, but no one ever wanted to play with me. And when I grew older… there was even less chance of finding someone."

Jin Wang asked: "Was that back at the General's estate?"

Ye Shu smiled. "No. It wasn't."

It was the orphanage.

Back then, his legs were paralyzed — he couldn't stand. No one wanted to play with him.

Jin Wang didn't ask further. He said gently: "Next year We'll go with you again. And the year after. Every year."

Ye Shu thought for a moment, then shook his head. "…Let's not."

He rolled over and looked up at him. "Your snowman was too hideous."

"…" Jin Wang said earnestly: "We can practice."

Like with cooking — he didn't know how, but he was willing to learn.

Ye Shu looked up at that handsome face and smiled softly. "Alright."

Then he asked: "Winter has only just begun. Why wait until next year?"

Jin Wang's expression froze instantly.

Ye Shu rarely had the opportunity to enjoy His Majesty's blank-faced befuddlement at close range. Holding back laughter, he pressed on: "These past few days you've forbidden me from playing in the snow no matter what. But next year it would be fine — what's the logic there?"

"Because…" Jin Wang hesitated before speaking.

Ye Shu: "Because what?"

Jin Wang didn't answer. His gaze drifted to Ye Shu's lower abdomen.

He had specifically asked the physician — Ye Shu's slight build meant the pregnancy would not show easily. The belly probably wouldn't be visible until around four or five months.

And as the pregnancy stabilized, Ye Shu's abnormal symptoms would lessen, making it possible to keep it hidden for quite a while longer if he chose.

At the beginning, he hadn't dared tell Ye Shu because there had been so much misunderstanding between them. He had worried the man wouldn't be able to accept it.

But now that things between them had eased — he still didn't dare say it.

If he told him the truth now, would this person get angry with him again? Would he want to run again?

But if he didn't say it — it was deeply unfair to this person.

His Majesty the sovereign, in a rare moment, found himself feeling something like uncertainty and timidity. He didn't know what to do.

Ye Shu tugged his sleeve and said in a small voice: "Your Majesty, why aren't you talking to me?"

"…It's nothing." Jin Wang looked away. His voice came out a little strained. "The physician said your constitution has been poor lately and needs several months of careful treatment. Once it improves, you'll naturally be able to do whatever you like."

Ye Shu: "…"

This. Absolute. Fool.

He had asked the question on purpose, of course.

Ye Shu was actually in a rather good mood tonight.

Whether it was Jin Wang being injured for him, or the way he had handled matters with Changyuan — both had earned him a great deal of goodwill.

He had even been thinking to himself: if Jin Wang could come clean with him right now and offer a sincere apology, he might actually consider forgiving the man.

But now…

Dream on.

Dog emperor.

Emotional swings during a kun-sovereign's pregnancy were extreme. The more Ye Shu thought about it, the more furious he became. He gave a low huff, rolled over, and sat up.

Jin Wang: "…"

Did We say something wrong again?

Jin Wang grabbed his arm. "Where are you going?"

"None of your business!" Ye Shu shook his hand off in a huff and stepped off the couch — only for another wave of abdominal pain to hit.

Jin Wang quickly steadied him. "I told you not to get up and move around. Come and lie back down."

"I don't want to—"

Ye Shu reached out to push him away. At that very moment, an attendant led Imperial Physician Feng into the hall. "Your Majesty — Imperial Physician Feng has arrived."

Both of them stopped moving.

Jin Wang picked Ye Shu up without discussion and carried him back to the couch, then turned to Imperial Physician Feng with a grave expression. "He has abdominal discomfort. Please examine him."

Imperial Physician Feng looked at His Majesty's expression, then at Ye Shu sitting on the couch in a silent sulk. He understood what was going on.

He had heard that His Majesty had spent quite some time in Chengqian Palace this evening — and now, clearly, this was the result.

The senior consort had been upset.

Imperial Physician Feng sighed inwardly and sat down to take Ye Shu's pulse.

After a moment, the physician said: "Young Master's constitution is sound. It's only that today you caught a chill and experienced somewhat pronounced emotional fluctuations, which caused the discomfort. Rest in bed for the next few days, maintain a peaceful and even temper, and all should be well."

Ye Shu shot a look at Jin Wang and gave a cold huff. "With a certain someone around, a peaceful temper isn't possible."

Jin Wang: "…"

Imperial Physician Feng also turned to look at Jin Wang.

Jin Wang pressed his fingers to his brow and said to the physician: "Come with Us."

The two went to the side chamber's warm room.

Jin Wang dismissed the attendants and showed Imperial Physician Feng the wound on his arm.

Imperial Physician Feng was startled. "Your Majesty, how did you—"

Jin Wang said flatly: "When you leave here, please act as though none of this happened. Say nothing."

"…Yes."

Imperial Physician Feng sat down to treat Jin Wang's injury, but his mind was quietly forming a theory.

Evidently today's events had not been as simple as he had assumed.

He had originally thought: His Majesty went to Chengqian Palace and found his beauty; the senior consort went after him and the two had words; a quarrel broke out, causing the senior consort physical distress that had nearly disturbed the pregnancy.

But now, combined with the wound on His Majesty's arm — it seemed the two had not merely argued. There had been a physical altercation.

He wondered whether the senior consort had also been hurt.

Imperial Physician Feng grew more alarmed the more he thought about it. On one hand he marveled that the senior consort was indeed the former Chancellor Ye Shu, and even in a weakened position still had such spirit. On the other hand, he couldn't help but feel worried — if this kept up, how was his body supposed to take it?

It seemed the abortifacient needed to be delivered to the senior consort as soon as possible.

Jin Wang had no idea what the man had concocted in his imagination. He asked: "Is the senior consort truly alright?"

Imperial Physician Feng raised his head. His expression clearly communicated: "And you have the nerve to ask."

He shook his head. "Young Master's body is fine. But the heart — not so much."

Jin Wang: "?"

Imperial Physician Feng let out a heavy sigh and said with great earnest persuasion: "Young Master is already two months along. He cannot sustain this kind of provocation. This servant speaks boldly, but what you have done is… truly most inappropriate."

Jin Wang: "…"

What exactly had We done???