Chapter 54

Ye Shu quietly stepped back.

How naive of him. He had thought that after all this time, they had grown genuinely fond of each other, caring and close — that even the most dog-like of emperors would eventually learn to be a person.

As it turned out, this man was forever worse than he imagined.

Jin Wang seemed entirely unaware of his reaction and walked forward to lift the lid off the brocade box.

A dazzling array of small objects blinded Ye Shu's eyes.

Jin Wang glanced up at Ye Shu, who had nearly pressed himself against the wall. "What are you running from — come here."

"Didn't you get rid of those things?!" Ye Shu said in agitation.

"I did dispose of them before." Jin Wang suppressed the amusement in his eyes. "But then I thought — this was a generous gift from the Second Prince of Dayan. In the spirit of goodwill between our two nations, it simply wouldn't do to let them go to waste."

Ye Shu: "…"

Your goodwill can go take a hike.

Jin Wang leisurely took out several jade vials from the top layer, then picked through the box, lifting and examining several objects of various shapes, turning them over in his hands with apparent interest.

Ye Shu's back was pressed against the wall. He said piteously: "Your Majesty…"

Jin Wang said offhandedly: "Mm?"

Ye Shu said quietly: "You're… you're really going to use these on me?"

As he said this, Jin Wang had just drawn from the box a jade implement roughly the diameter of a woman's forearm.

The jade was translucent throughout, its surface textured with raised and sunken coiling dragon patterns.

Ye Shu's legs nearly went out from under him just looking at it.

Jin Wang was barely containing his laughter. He deliberately weighed the object in his hand. "Can't take it?"

Ye Shu shook his head rapidly.

Jin Wang considered for a moment, then put it back in the box and drew out a more slender item instead.

It was narrow and of a length and width similar to a silver hairpin — hollow, with one end sealed by a small silver ball.

Jin Wang used the pad of his finger to flick at the little sphere, and deliberately drew it slowly out, as though studying how it worked.

Ye Shu's face burned as though it might catch fire. "Jin Wang!"

"Mm?"

"Not that either…" Ye Shu looked thoroughly aggrieved. "Don't use these things…"

Jin Wang let out a sigh. "I'm truly at a loss with you."

He set it back in the box and stood, walking to Ye Shu's side. He looked down at him. "Not this one, not that one — then what do you want?"

Ye Shu took his hand. "I want you."

Jin Wang couldn't hold back. He gave a quiet laugh. "That's sweet."

But he immediately pivoted. "But sweet words won't substitute for punishment."

"How about this — bearing in mind the Chancellor is with child, I'll give you an opportunity." Jin Wang said. "Choose three items from the box yourself."

Ye Shu: "But…"

Jin Wang said calmly: "If you haven't chosen within one incense-stick's time, I'll select according to my own preferences."

He said this, then turned and walked out of the warm room.

Dog! Emperor!

Ye Shu was furious enough to want to hit someone.

Jin Wang paid absolutely no mind to whatever the man was cursing him with internally. He went back to his dragon throne at a leisurely pace and even took up his brush to write, completely at ease. One incense-stick's time passed. Ye Shu stepped out of the warm room with a moment to spare.

Jin Wang set down his brush. "Made your selection?"

The flush on Ye Shu's face had not yet faded. He put both hands behind his back and gave a vague response.

Jin Wang: "Let me see."

Ye Shu didn't move. "I've agreed to your demands. You should release Xiao Huan now, shouldn't you?"

Jin Wang smiled.

He unrolled the decree at his side and pushed it in front of Ye Shu.

"War with Xixia draws near. I intend to appoint General Zuo as Supreme Commander to lead all the armies." Jin Wang said. "There happens to be an opening for a deputy general — Xiao Huan may as well take it."

"…"

"What — feeling sorry for him?" Jin Wang raised an eyebrow. "Xiao Huan is the Duke Protector's only son. He has studied military strategy and trained in martial arts since childhood. This day was coming for him sooner or later. Not to mention — his father had already spoken to me of wanting him to go to the frontier for more experience."

"But…"

Jin Wang said: "Xiao Huan broke into the Chancellor's estate and had a private meeting with the person I cherish most. I gave him a military rank instead of punishing him — is the Chancellor still not satisfied?"

Though he could no longer enjoy a leisurely life back at the fief, what Jin Wang had arranged was genuinely a promotion for Xiao Huan, not a punishment.

Ye Shu said quietly: "Then I'll defer to Your Majesty's decision…"

"Then why aren't you bringing out what you chose?" Jin Wang said. "Whether this decree reaches Xiao Huan or not depends on the Chancellor's performance."

Ye Shu's ears burned. He placed the items from behind his back onto the table.

A warm jade piece, a red silk ribbon, and a small gold bell.

The warm jade was no larger than a little finger. Its purpose was as an introduction for a first experience — to ease the way gently. As for the red silk and the gold bell, those were merely decorative accessories.

Jin Wang looked them over in silence for a moment, then gave a quiet laugh. "You know how to pick."

Ye Shu was on high alert. "You said I could choose myself — no taking it back!"

"I'm not taking anything back." Jin Wang pulled him close and pressed an affectionate kiss to the corner of his lips. "Just as long as you don't regret it shortly."

The moment Jin Wang said that, Ye Shu was immediately filled with misgiving.

Yu Yan's treasure chest had contained an enormous variety, and some items Ye Shu had never seen before and couldn't begin to guess the purpose of.

These few were the ones Ye Shu had found the most acceptable out of the whole collection.

Given how mild and gentle these options were, it should… probably… possibly… mean he wouldn't be treated too terribly.

And yet Ye Shu had still underestimated the dog emperor's capabilities.

The temperature in the Imperial Study was pleasantly warm. The serving Chancellor had been settled into the dragon throne. His upper court robe was still neatly in place, but the elaborate layers of the skirt had been thrown into complete disarray, leaving two pale legs exposed.

Ye Shu's eyes were covered by the red silk blindfold. Both cheeks were flushed. His lips trembled almost imperceptibly.

Jin Wang's voice came from beside him. "Good boy, A Shu — just a little wider."

His whole body shuddered. Immediately, a bright ring of silver bells sounded at his ear.

A gold bell was fastened around his slender ankle.

"Why are you always squirming — it's distracting me from the memorials." Jin Wang set the warm jade in place, then lifted Ye Shu's leg to rest on the armrest of the dragon throne, pulling him into his lap. "One cup of tea's time. Each time the bell sounds, I read one more memorial."

Jin Wang bent his head and pressed a kiss to Ye Shu's forehead. "The Chancellor had better hold on."

…

…

The two of them indulged in the Imperial Study for an entire afternoon.

When the dinner hour arrived, Gaojin received permission and personally brought the evening meal in.

The front area around the dragon throne and writing table was already in utter disarray. The Chancellor's court robe and boots had been tossed carelessly on the floor — evidence of the severity of what had occurred.

But His Majesty and the Chancellor were not in the main hall.

Gaojin set out the meal, gathered his courage, and glanced toward the warm room. Through the layers of gauze curtains, the dim outlines of two figures could just be made out, nestled together on the small couch.

The shapes behind the curtain shifted slightly. Then a low, rough sound — not quite a sob — came from within.

Gaojin's aged face flushed red. He didn't dare look any further and quickly retreated.

Inside the curtained warmth, Jin Wang held the person in his arms close and gave a low laugh. "That nervous? He's already gone."

"…"

Jin Wang didn't move, and pressed a kiss to the corner of Ye Shu's lips. "My Chancellor is so enthusiastic — I do believe you don't want me to leave."

"I'm not—"

"Why didn't you answer the summons last night?" Jin Wang suddenly asked.

Back to that old business.

If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have been put through this ordeal. Ye Shu was deeply aggrieved and said quietly: "I really wasn't trying to meet with Xiao Huan…"

"I know." Jin Wang said. "I arrived just in time to see him coming through the window."

Ye Shu raised his head. "Then why did you still—"

Jin Wang met his gaze. A glint of mischief flickered in his eyes.

Ye Shu looked away. "You bully."

"Not at all." Jin Wang held Ye Shu's waist and said with a smile: "I was simply satisfying the wishes of the person I care for."

Jin Wang had intimate knowledge of Ye Shu's body — if anything, more so than Ye Shu himself.

Nothing in this person's reactions escaped Jin Wang's notice.

Yesterday before going to the estate, he genuinely hadn't known why Ye Shu had ignored the summons. But after one round of settling accounts last night, the reason had become immediately obvious.

He wanted it — but didn't dare say so openly — and could only hide from him in this way.

Still in need of a thorough handling.

With that thought, Jin Wang tightened his arms around the person and turned over, giving himself over entirely to the task.

…

After a while, Jin Wang held Ye Shu as they lay back down on the small couch, and asked quietly: "How long has it been like this?"

Ye Shu was floating in a pleasant aftermath of warmth and exhaustion, even his fingers a little limp. "Just… just the last few days…"

Jin Wang asked again: "Will you keep hiding it from me in the future?"

Ye Shu had been thoroughly managed into compliance and answered obediently: "I won't… I wouldn't dare…"

Jin Wang smiled with satisfaction and held him closer.

The room was quiet. The setting sun filled the hall with warm light.

Ye Shu leaned against Jin Wang's chest, enjoying the rare moment of tenderness. His heart felt fuller and more content than it had ever been.

Suddenly, Jin Wang spoke by his ear. "Last night — there's a question Xiao Huan asked you that you never answered."

Ye Shu startled.

"'Elder Brother Ye Shu, have you found someone you like?'"

Jin Wang's smile faded. He looked at Ye Shu and asked quietly: "Is it Jin Wang?"