Chapter 42

The young man had a certain youthfulness in his features, and appeared to be even younger than Jin Wang. The corner of one eye was marked by a small cinnabar mole, yet there was nothing delicate about him.

Ye Shu had been reading a great deal about kun-sovereigns lately and recognized at a glance that the small mole was the characteristic mark of a kun-sovereign.

He should have seen this coming. The world he was living in diverged enormously from the novel's settings as he knew them.

Just as the beauty who had been presented to Jin Wang had turned out to be a kun-sovereign, the cherished companion who was supposed to be introduced to Jin Wang had now also turned into a kun-sovereign.

Ye Shu gave a cold inward laugh.

How accommodating.

The group stepped out of the Imperial Study. Jin Wang was mid-conversation when he looked up and happened to meet Ye Shu's gaze.

Evidently not expecting Ye Shu to have come to find him, a flicker of surprise crossed Jin Wang's eyes — then he smiled at Ye Shu from a distance.

Ye Shu's expression was blank. He decisively dropped the curtain of the imperial palanquin, cutting off Jin Wang's view.

Jin Wang: "…"

What on earth did I do wrong this time???

"…Your Majesty, what are you looking at?" The Duke Protector was mid-conversation with Jin Wang, and seeing him trail off, tilted his head to ask.

Jin Wang considered for a moment and said mildly: "One moment, please."

With that, he left the two of them standing outside the Imperial Study and strode off toward the imperial palanquin.

Attendants all around knelt in greeting. Jin Wang ignored them and simply lifted the curtain and climbed in.

The Duke Protector: "???"

Inside the palanquin, Ye Shu shifted away and turned his head. "Hmph."

"…"

Jin Wang settled beside Ye Shu without fanfare and took his fingers into his palm. "How long have you been waiting outside? Why didn't you come in?"

It had snowed the previous night, and outside was bitterly cold. The imperial palanquin had no heating, and naturally couldn't compare with being indoors.

Only now did Ye Shu notice that his fingers had gone ice-cold.

Jin Wang tucked his hand inside his own robe. Ye Shu's fingertips moved slightly — and in the end, he didn't pull them from the warmth.

He looked away and said coolly: "However long Your Majesty spent with those people, that is how long this subject waited."

He deliberately gave particular weight to the words "with those people."

Jin Wang's eyes shifted slightly. He raised his arm and pulled Ye Shu close. "No wonder you're so cold."

Ye Shu frowned and pushed at him. "Move away…"

Jin Wang wouldn't be pushed. He pressed closer instead, pinning him against the seatback with a gleam of amusement in his handsome eyes. "Are you upset?"

"…" Ye Shu turned his head and said nothing.

Jin Wang leaned in and kissed him on the side of his face. "Don't be. I was wrong."

His voice was very soft. Ye Shu's expression was starting to crack. He said stiffly: "I'm not upset. Why would I be upset?"

"Indeed — why would you…" Jin Wang smiled at him, pressing the tip of his nose affectionately against Ye Shu's cool cheek. "Let me guess. Was it because I promised to keep you company today, and then abandoned you?"

Ye Shu answered without thinking: "Of course not!"

Jin Wang was unsurprised. He continued quietly: "I promised to keep you company, and then left you alone in the bedchamber while I came here to meet another kun-sovereign. Is that it?"

Ye Shu didn't answer.

In truth, the moment Jin Wang had climbed into the palanquin, more than half of his irritation had already dissolved.

What was there to be upset about? There were so many kun-sovereigns in the world — Jin Wang was an emperor, and could Ye Shu really expect him to have no dealings with any of them?

When had he become so unreasonable.

But Jin Wang didn't mind. He patiently explained: "I didn't know beforehand that Xiao Huan would be accompanying his father to the palace."

He was warming Ye Shu's hands carefully inside his own. He said gently: "He's young — he only just differentiated recently. I didn't know he had become a kun-sovereign until I saw him."

Jin Wang's expression was sincere and earnest. Ye Shu was actually a little embarrassed. "I wasn't—"

"It's all right — I should have explained to you." Jin Wang looked into Ye Shu's eyes, and then suddenly smiled. "Though seeing that A Shu cares so much about me — I'm pleased."

The tips of Ye Shu's ears turned faintly warm. He changed the subject. "The Duke Protector is still waiting outside. It's not appropriate for Your Majesty to abandon them."

"What's inappropriate about it." Jin Wang said. "I promised to do better — so naturally I can't let you be upset."

"Though speaking of which…" Jin Wang paused and added: "Xiao Huan becoming a kun-sovereign is actually rather a relief. He always used to be so attached to you — at least now he has no way to take you from me."

Ye Shu paused. "We… did we know each other before?"

"You don't remember?" Jin Wang was unsuspecting, and explained: "Back when I was still a prince, I was sent south to oversee flood relief, and passed through Xiao Yuanfei's fief. We stayed for half a month. You were the one who suggested befriending him, saying he would be very useful during the struggle for succession."

Ye Shu had no memory of any of this.

But it was entirely in keeping with the original host's style.

Ye Shu nodded and said: "Mm — I remember now."

Jin Wang didn't press further. He raised his hand and brushed Ye Shu's hair aside, stroking it affectionately. "What would you like to do next? Go back to the bedchamber to rest, or come with me to watch the performance?"

The Duke Protector and his son had brought the performers to the palace today, and they certainly wouldn't leave before seeing the show. Even if Ye Shu wanted to go back now, Jin Wang wouldn't be able to accompany him.

Jin Wang watching a performance with a young kun-sovereign, while Ye Shu returned to the bedchamber to sleep.

No matter how he thought about it, that felt odd.

Ye Shu said decisively: "I'll watch the performance."

The two of them chatted inside the palanquin as though no one else existed. Outside, a faintly awkward atmosphere drifted.

The curtain hanging on the imperial palanquin was made of a semi-transparent black gauze — the faces inside weren't visible, but the outlines of the figures within were plain enough from outside.

After being left standing at the Imperial Study doors, the Duke Protector and his son had watched His Majesty climb into the imperial palanquin and then pull the person already inside it close. The two figures drew together, and it seemed as though they were…

Ahem. One should not look at improper things.

The Duke Protector's aged face grew somewhat stiff. He cleared his throat and looked away.

The young man at his side, however, was watching the palanquin, his expression one of not-quite-concealed pity. "Is that the new consort His Majesty has taken in? It's this cold out, and they've been made to wait outside the Imperial Study, and in front of guests too… how pitiable."

The Duke Protector: "Huan — matters of His Majesty's are not for us to judge."

"I was simply surprised." Xiao Huan's words carried a veiled edge. "I saw His Majesty just now and his manner and speech seemed no different from before. I had thought all the rumors were false — but apparently they aren't. To think he went and had Chancellor Ye killed, and then did all this."

"Huan!" The Duke Protector looked around anxiously and lowered his voice. "What did I tell you before we came? Have you forgotten all of it?"

"I haven't forgotten." Xiao Huan said with deliberate calm. "Chancellor Ye Shu was condemned for treason and executed. His name must not be mentioned. I remember perfectly."

"You still——"

Before the Duke Protector could finish, the palanquin curtain was suddenly pulled back, and Jin Wang helped Ye Shu down to the ground.

The moment the father and son laid eyes on Ye Shu, both of their expressions froze.

Ye Shu bowed to them. "Greetings, Duke Protector. Greetings, Young Master Xiao."

Xiao Huan returned the bow.

He stole a look up at Ye Shu.

The consort appeared delicately built, with a manner strikingly similar to the person he remembered. Slight and thin, even wrapped in fox fur there was a frail quality to it. His face had gone pale from the cold, but his lips were red — clearly he had just been the subject of a great deal of affection.

Before coming here, Xiao Huan had already heard that the consort at the sovereign's side looked almost exactly like Chancellor Ye. He had never believed two people could have identical faces and had dismissed the reports with skepticism — until today.

No matter how similar, though, it was nothing but a substitute.

Since Ye Shu had appeared at the state banquet, quite a few rumors had circulated in the capital.

They said His Majesty had grown increasingly cruel and merciless since Chancellor Ye's betrayal, and had specifically sought out someone who resembled the Chancellor — using this person day and night in humiliation and degradation as an outlet for his rage.

The moment this story appeared in the capital, His Majesty had it suppressed. But the Duke Protector's fief was too far away to be monitored, and the story had already spread there.

So pitiable.

Xiao Huan thought this quietly, and the gaze he directed at Ye Shu carried a measure of sympathy.

Ye Shu: "???"

The performance stage had been set up in the rear palace, and the troupe had been led by the attendants to have everything ready. The moment everyone was seated, the curtains on stage opened.

The troupe was a personal gift from the Duke Protector to Jin Wang, and even Ye Shu, who knew nothing of music or theatre, found himself thoroughly engrossed.

The others in the seats, however, were considerably less attentive.

The Duke Protector was a military man, and having put the troupe together himself, had long since grown tired of it. Xiao Huan took after his father and had little interest in such things. As for Jin Wang…

A certain person found himself thinking more and more about how endearing the little consort's sulking had looked just now. He was utterly incapable of directing his attention away from the person beside him. Had there not been outsiders present, and had he not been wary of the consort getting annoyed, he would hardly have been able to stop himself from pulling the person into his arms for a kiss.

Jin Wang leaned back in his seat with one arm around Ye Shu's waist. From time to time he leaned over to take a piece of fruit Ye Shu had just peeled, deliberately letting his tongue brush over Ye Shu's fingertip, making his ears go faintly pink.

The child was nearly due to arrive, and he still blushed this easily.

Impossibly endearing.

The more flustered Ye Shu was, the more Jin Wang wanted to tease him.

Jin Wang's palm slowly settled at Ye Shu's waist, finding the most sensitive spot and pressing against it lightly.

Ye Shu's fingers trembled. The piece of fruit dropped into the fruit dish with a small sound.

With a martial artist's hearing, the Duke Protector and his son both turned at the same moment.

Ye Shu didn't dare meet their eyes. The culprit alone was perfectly composed, calmly taking a sip of tea.

In truth, Jin Wang had only meant to graze and move on — nothing extreme.

But they had not had any intimate contact for several days now, and once the mind turned toward it, even a brief touch was enough to make the body restless.

The body had developed a taste for it, and after experiencing such indulgence and pleasure, restraint had become harder than before.

The tips of Ye Shu's ears had gone pink. He couldn't concentrate on the performance at all any longer.

Dog emperor — what was he doing teasing him for no reason!

What Ye Shu and Jin Wang looked like, to Xiao Huan, suggested an entirely different story.

Even watching a performance, His Majesty wouldn't let the consort be — this openly tormenting someone in front of guests, how was that different from treating a person as a toy to be played with?

So pitiable.

It was hard not to feel sorry.

After the performance, Jin Wang hosted a dinner for the Duke Protector and his son. By the time the banquet dispersed, the sky had fully darkened.

"You truly won't come back to the bedchamber with Us?" Inside the imperial palanquin, Jin Wang said quietly. "Or We could stay the night at Yongshou Palace with you."

Ye Shu: "No."

Jin Wang leaned closer. "A Shu…"

"No." Ye Shu was unmoved by coaxing or pleading, his resolve quite firm.

Seeing he couldn't change his mind, Jin Wang stopped trying and said with a theatrical sigh: "Throughout all dynasties, perhaps only We have ever been turned away at the door by Our own consort. Ah…"

Ye Shu looked down without answering. The palanquin came to a stop — Yongshou Palace had arrived.

Yet neither of them reacted.

The moment he heard the attendant announce their arrival at Yongshou Palace, Ye Shu became completely aware of his own feelings.

He… didn't want to go back alone.

He wanted Jin Wang to stay and keep him company.

Not just tonight. Every day he had spent alone in Yongshou Palace, he had wanted this person with him.

But he couldn't.

He had been relying on Jin Wang too much lately, and it wasn't a good thing.

Moving to Yongshou Palace in the first place had been to break this habit. He had held firm for this many days — giving in now would undo everything.

Ye Shu pressed his lips together and slowly stood. "I'm going in…"

Jin Wang suddenly caught his hand.

Ye Shu, completely unprepared, sat back down. Then he felt the other's presence lean in close.

Jin Wang pressed him into the seat. The two of them were face to face, and Ye Shu could clearly see his own reflection in the other man's eyes.

Jin Wang looked at him and said quietly: "A Shu — how much longer are you going to make me wait?"

"You said you were fond of me before. That must have been a lie." The distance between them was mere inches. Jin Wang's fingertip traced across Ye Shu's cheek. "You little liar — everything you say is false."

Ye Shu's whole body went rigid. His heartbeat sped up beyond his control.

"Don't be anxious — I'm not blaming you."

"I'm willing to give you time to think, to come to understand your own heart. Though…" Jin Wang gave a quiet laugh and shook his head. "No — never mind."

He pressed a kiss to the corner of Ye Shu's lip, then straightened up. He said in a passing tone: "What can I do — I like you so much. Waiting a little longer is fine."

Something stirred in Ye Shu's chest.

What can I do — I like you so much.

This was the first time Jin Wang had ever said something like this to him.

By the time the imperial palanquin had moved away, and Ye Shu was standing in the cold wind, his hazy mind was only slowly beginning to regain the ability to think.

Jin Wang had just said… he liked him.

It wasn't hard to see, in truth. If not for feelings, given how many offenses Ye Shu had committed, Jin Wang should have had him killed long ago.

But seeing it, and hearing it said aloud — those were two entirely different sensations.

Ye Shu breathed in deeply, and only after some time did his racing heartbeat slow.

He turned and walked toward the inner chamber. But from the corner of his eye, he caught a shadow slipping past the base of the wall.

One that looked somewhat familiar.

There happened to be no guards outside Yongshou Palace at this moment. Behind the wall was a dim alley. Ye Shu followed, and found a figure dressed in dark night-wear waiting there.

It was Xiao Huan — who was supposed to have left the palace already.

Ye Shu: "…"

Ye Shu asked: "You wanted to see me about something?"

"The way that dog emperor treats you — wouldn't you like to leave this place?" Xiao Huan glanced around swiftly and spoke with great seriousness. "I can help you escape."