Chapter 33

A short while later, Jin Wang carried Ye Shu back to the bedchamber after his bath.

Ye Shu sank into the soft bedding, too exhausted to move so much as a finger. Jin Wang bent down to kiss him and was given a frown and an averted head.

"Go away…" Ye Shu's voice was still a little rough, lethargic, without much energy.

Jin Wang gave his earlobe a gentle pinch and coaxed quietly: "Bear with it a little longer — good boy."

He received a ferocious glare in return.

His Majesty the sovereign was naturally not incapable in that regard. On the contrary, he was far too capable.

But however capable he was, there was currently nothing to be done about it.

Ye Shu was under three months along, and without the physician's approval, Jin Wang didn't dare cross that line.

Whether it was kisses, embraces, or manual relief — to a kun-sovereign it was all just scratching the surface. After brief relief, the feeling of being unsatisfied and unable to have what was truly needed only returned worse than before.

The more Ye Shu thought about it, the more furious he became — angry at himself for being in such a state of wanting, and angry at the prime culprit who had put him there.

He rolled over, yanked the blanket over himself, and left only the soft back of his head visible.

Jin Wang said helplessly: "We are going to deal with Our affairs. Lie here a little longer, and remember to eat your midday meal on time."

Ye Shu had no desire to say anything — but he felt Jin Wang standing at the bedside still watching him, and finally gave a muffled "I know."

Jin Wang smiled, leaned down and kissed him on the crown of his head, then left the bedchamber.

Only when the hall door closed again did Ye Shu roll off the bed.

He knelt at the bedside and rummaged beneath it for a moment before finding the jade vial Jin Wang had carelessly tossed off the bed.

This thing absolutely could not be lost.

Ye Shu surveyed the room, and finally placed the medicine behind the bookshelf, tucked away safely.

Having done that, he dusted off his hands and looked down at his lower belly.

"It's all your fault." Ye Shu said quietly. "Behave yourself these next few days. If you keep causing trouble for your father, don't blame me if your little life comes to an early end."

The little one whose life was perpetually under threat: "…"

The following noon, the Dayan envoy arrived in the capital.

His Majesty the sovereign led the court officials to the city gate to receive them, then had them settled in the palace to await the evening state banquet welcoming the visitors.

Ye Shu did not go to the city gate.

In fact, by the time he woke up, the envoy had already moved into the Huìtóng Tower — the guest quarters His Majesty had provided for foreign visitors.

…Jin Wang hadn't even called him.

The sovereign was occupied all day receiving the envoy and had no time to return to the bedchamber for the midday meal with Ye Shu. After finishing his lunch at a leisurely pace, an attendant brought the clothing he was to wear to the evening banquet.

It was a black and red court robe.

The robe was made of excellent fabric, embroidered with phoenix motifs throughout — well-crafted without being ostentatious, its cut remarkably similar to the one Jin Wang habitually wore.

Changlu used black and gold as the highest rank, and only the emperor and empress could wear black and red.

Jin Wang had said he would have him attend the state banquet in the capacity of consort-empress — and he had meant it.

Though they were not yet formally wed, the ceremonial treatment was already on par with that of an empress.

The attendant carrying the clothing also passed on Jin Wang's instructions: "His Majesty says Young Master may sleep a little longer and need only arrive at the Hall of Supreme Harmony before the banquet begins. Also, the envoy from the Dayan kingdom is His Royal Highness the Second Prince of Yan…"

"Wait." Ye Shu frowned. "Second Prince of Yan — Yu Yan?"

The attendant: "Yes."

That wasn't right.

In the novel, the person sent to Changlu had been a member of the Dayan imperial family's extended relatives and a diplomatic envoy — not this second prince.

Second Prince of Dayan, Yu Yan — Ye Shu was not unfamiliar with this name.

He was the future sovereign of Dayan.

His circumstances in childhood had been remarkably similar to Jin Wang's. When Yu Yan was young, his mother had been falsely accused and put to death by the Dayan empress. He had even been sent to be raised by the empress who had killed his mother.

Years of accumulated hatred had given him a deep, abiding hatred of the Dayan imperial family. When Changlu destroyed Xixia and turned to attack Dayan, Jin Wang had exploited his hatred of the imperial family, struck a deal with him, and used him as a foothold to push Dayan into retreat after retreat.

With Dayan beset by internal and external crises, Yu Yan — who had endured humiliation for years — seized the moment, took power, and voluntarily submitted to Changlu's supremacy, bringing the long years of war between the two nations to an end.

In the end, he and Jin Wang even found themselves kindred spirits and became the closest of friends.

According to the novel's timeline, this person wasn't supposed to appear until the later half of the story.

His arrival in Changlu now — would it stir up more trouble?

A vague unease settled in Ye Shu's chest.

Night fell quickly. The Hall of Supreme Harmony rang with music and dancing.

The sovereign, dressed in black and gold court robes, sat in the main seat. Officials were seated in order of rank on both sides of the hall, and in the positions closest to the sovereign sat several members of the Dayan delegation.

Of all of them, Second Prince Yu Yan sat closest to the sovereign.

The Second Prince of Dayan was around the same age as Jin Wang. He was dressed in deep violet robes, his features refined and handsome, with an air of quiet distinction visible at a glance.

The two of them exchanged quiet words from time to time, appearing very much at ease in each other's company.

And yet… that was all there was.

The sovereign had still not announced the opening of the banquet.

With empty place settings in front of them, none of the assembled officials dared ask or urge. They could only continue watching the performances.

Behind Jin Wang, Gaojin finally couldn't hold back and quietly reminded: "Your Majesty — the hour for the banquet has come."

Jin Wang said mildly: "There's no rush. Wait a little longer."

Our little consort hasn't arrived yet.

After saying this, he even smiled pleasantly over at the Second Prince of Yan beside him. "Your Highness need not be restrained — please have some tea."

Yu Yan: "…Thank you, Your Majesty."

Yu Yan's manner was elegant, his smile pleasant — yet he had only raised the cup without drinking.

…Another cup and he would be full.

His Royal Highness the Second Prince felt a certain weary resignation.

When yet another performance ended, an attendant finally announced that the consort had arrived.

Jin Wang looked up toward the hall entrance.

A young man dressed in black and red court robes walked slowly into the hall.

The moment he appeared, the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony fell into absolute silence.

Ye Shu was not wearing a veil.

For the past two months, Ye Shu had resided in the rear palace and rarely encountered outsiders. The one time he had accompanied Jin Wang to the ancestral temple, his face had been covered with white gauze — no one had seen his features.

And so now, at the first sight of his face, the assembled officials were one and all stunned.

Was this not Chancellor Ye?

But hadn't Chancellor Ye already…

In an instant every eye in the room converged on Ye Shu. The latter appeared entirely oblivious. He walked of his own accord to the center of the hall, did not kneel, and offered a bow standing. "This subject greets His Majesty."

He looked up, and his gaze found Jin Wang seated on the dragon throne.

Their eyes met briefly. Jin Wang said warmly: "The beloved consort has finally arrived — come up."

Ye Shu: "Yes."

Ye Shu walked forward. Gaojin was just about to have an attendant bring an additional chair when His Majesty stood up directly, took the consort's hand, and had him sit beside him.

Gaojin: "…"

Very well.

Ye Shu sat down. Jin Wang turned his head and gave the order: "Begin the banquet."

Dozens of attendants filed in one after another, setting an array of exquisite dishes in front of each guest.

But no one paid any attention. No one had yet recovered from the shock of a moment ago.

This person's face was clearly Chancellor Ye's — so why was he the consort?

Why did the consort look exactly like Chancellor Ye?

The officials were in a collective stupor. Jin Wang turned his head and said quietly at Ye Shu's ear: "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"

Ye Shu played innocent. "What is Your Majesty referring to? This subject doesn't understand."

Jin Wang wasn't particularly bothered. He reached up and pinched his cheek. "Very well — what would you have Us say? That Chancellor Ye had an undeserved fate and was miraculously reborn? Or that We harbored lingering feelings for Chancellor Ye and found someone of similar appearance as a substitute?"

Ye Shu began earnestly considering both options.

Reincarnation and the body double trope.

Both sounded rather good, actually.

It wasn't as though Ye Shu had been trying to cause trouble for Jin Wang on purpose.

He had come to eat. How was one supposed to eat with a veil on?

Besides, wearing a white veil to a state banquet was already a breach of protocol.

Jin Wang hadn't told him to wear a disguise to the banquet — which amounted to tacit permission to appear as himself.

As for how to explain things afterward, that wasn't his problem to solve.

Ye Shu said: "Your Majesty can decide that yourself. This subject is very hungry — may we eat now?"

At a state banquet, no one could touch their chopsticks until the sovereign moved first.

Jin Wang gave a soft laugh. "You're hungry, yet you came so late?"

Ye Shu gave him an accusatory look. "…Whose fault is that?"

It was Jin Wang himself who had told the Yangxin Hall attendants not to wake him, and the result was that Ye Shu had woken to find the sky already dark — he had rushed to get here just in time.

"I wanted you to sleep a little longer." Jin Wang placed a piece of lightly seasoned fish into Ye Shu's bowl. "Eat now."

The officials had a thousand questions burning in their hearts, but none dared raise them here. They had no choice but to reluctantly pick up their chopsticks along with everyone else.

Music played. The banquet continued.

Ye Shu, for once indifferent to how the assembled officials regarded him, had his head down focusing entirely on eating. During a pause in the meal he happened to look up — and met a pair of unfamiliar eyes.

It was Yu Yan.

From the moment Ye Shu had entered the hall, Yu Yan had been glancing at him from time to time, his expression thoughtful.

Now that he had been caught, Yu Yan showed not the slightest embarrassment. He smiled candidly at Ye Shu.

Ye Shu: "…" What was this person's problem?

Before he could react, a hand settled at his waist and gave him a measured pinch. "What is the beloved consort looking at?"

"…" Ye Shu looked away. "Nothing."

"But We saw." Jin Wang dropped his voice, a wave of jealousy coming off him clearly. "You are at Our side and yet you were looking at another man?"

Ye Shu: "…Absolutely not."

"Your Majesty!" A voice called out from beside them.

Both of them looked over. Yu Yan had risen from his seat, wine cup raised. "I have long heard that two months past, Your Majesty took home a beautiful consort. Seeing them today — the consort's beauty is truly extraordinary, just as the rumours say. I have brought fine wine especially from Dayan to present to Your Majesty and the consort. I toast to the two of you — may you be together always, unwavering in devotion."

The moment Yu Yan finished speaking, attendants immediately came forward to pour wine for both of them. Jin Wang accepted with a pleasant smile and made no move to stop it.

…Yet the hand at Ye Shu's waist gave a threatening press.

Ye Shu shivered and said haltingly: "I… I don't drink."

Yu Yan didn't back down. "This wine was brewed by an ancient method and is exclusive to the Dayan imperial family. Would the consort not give it the honor?"

Both cups were set before Ye Shu. Even the smell made him feel somewhat lightheaded. He held firm. "I truly don't…"

As he spoke, he turned to Jin Wang with a look of helpless appeal.

Jin Wang finally smiled with satisfaction and gave him a soothing pat on the back. "The beloved consort truly does not drink. If he finishes that cup, he will likely need to be carried back to the palace."

Jin Wang lifted one of Ye Shu's cups. "We will drink in his place."

Without waiting for Yu Yan's response, he tilted his head and drank it in one go.

He did the same with the second cup.

Jin Wang set both cups down and asked: "More?"

Yu Yan: "…"

The Second Prince of Yan, getting no satisfaction whatsoever, drained his own cup in resignation, and returned to his seat.

Where he did not dare address another word to Ye Shu for the rest of the banquet.

When the banquet was drawing to a close, Ye Shu excused himself from the Hall of Supreme Harmony first, stepping outside for some air.

The imperial palanquin was already waiting outside the hall.

Ye Shu was helped up by an attendant and settled in, feeling somewhat dizzy.

As someone who could get drunk just from smelling wine, attending an entire state banquet was genuinely asking too much of him.

Ye Shu wrapped himself in the blanket inside the palanquin and was on the verge of drowsing off.

Then, suddenly, a voice came from outside. "Yu Yan greets the honored consort."

Ye Shu lifted the curtain.

Yu Yan was standing a short distance away, offering Ye Shu a bow.

What was this man's problem, honestly.

Ye Shu asked with restrained patience: "Does Your Highness need something from me?"

Yu Yan said: "I feel an instant connection with the consort upon meeting. Would you honor me with a private word?"

Ye Shu: "No."

…I do not feel any instant connection with you.

His Majesty the sovereign's vinegar jar was already on the verge of tipping over — how could he possibly dare speak privately with this person?

Yu Yan wasn't offended. He said unhurriedly: "Then I wonder — does the consort know someone called Qi Xuan?"

Ye Shu: "…"

Of course he knew that name.

To avoid exposure, the original host had always used the alias Qi Xuan when communicating with external contacts.

So Dayan had also been in contact with the original host?

A note of suspicion stirred in Ye Shu's mind. He was just about to press further when the corner of his eye caught a figure approaching.

"First of all — I do not know the person you are referring to." Ye Shu quickly sat upright, cleared his throat, and put on a proper expression. "Second — I am the sovereign's consort, and you are a foreign prince. There should be propriety between us."

"…There is nothing more to discuss. Your Highness may leave."

Yu Yan: "?"

Before Yu Yan could react, a low, unhurried voice came from behind him. "What was the Second Prince and Our beloved consort discussing — share it with Us too?"