Chapter 56

Ye Shu hadn't thought about this at all.

Or rather — he had never imagined Jin Wang would think about it this way.

In truth, Ye Shu didn't place much weight on these things. Whether he was Chancellor or consort — as long as he could be with this person properly, that was enough.

But Jin Wang clearly didn't see it that way.

No wonder this person had been asking him all that time about how couples in the modern world got along.

He had always been trying his best — giving him enough respect and enough love.

Ye Shu was silent for a moment. Jin Wang leaned in close. "Moved?"

"…" Ye Shu looked away. "I'm — I'm not. Your words sound nice, but if you just wanted people to know you admire me, why write it in such a… such a…"

Cloying manner.

Terribly cloying.

"There was quite a bit more I left out." Jin Wang gave a small smile and said with complete seriousness: "Every word in that decree came directly from my heart. Not a single false syllable."

Ye Shu's ears were burning red. He turned his head and refused to look at Jin Wang.

Jin Wang's voice drifted over from behind him, unhurried. "After many years of deep friendship with Chancellor Ye, my heart was set upon him — yet alas, his heart, vast as the sea, held no place for this sort of sentiment…"

Ye Shu: "…"

Jin Wang had a copy of the decree in hand and was reading it at a leisurely pace. "…Though I gave everything of myself, I could not win so much as a single glance…"

"Stop reading!" Ye Shu snatched the decree away. His cheeks were burning as though they might actually catch fire.

Jin Wang laughed and leaned in to kiss the corner of Ye Shu's mouth. "And yet I do not regret it."

His hand traced down from the side of Ye Shu's face, tilting his chin gently upward so he was looking directly into Jin Wang's eyes. The amusement in Jin Wang's gaze carried a thread of teasing — but his tone was earnest and clear, each word landing like a tap on the very center of Ye Shu's heart.

"…My heart is set upon him — as it has always been. And I will not regret it for the rest of my life."

Jin Wang's "love letter" had been written with such genuine feeling that it moved readers to no small amount of sentimental tears.

So His Majesty and Chancellor Ye did have feelings between them — it was simply an unrequited love.

After that, the arguing voices at court suddenly fell quiet.

Not only that, but from that day onward, the streets and alleyways filled almost overnight with the story of Jin Wang and Ye Shu. Popular storytellers and novelists appeared like mushrooms after rain.

Even the Ye estate began receiving more visitors than usual — some clearly, some obliquely, all of them there to put in a good word for Jin Wang and hoping the Chancellor would hurry up and accept His Majesty so that the two could be together at last.

All of them were sent away by a helplessly amused Ye Shu.

As for Jin Wang.

Having pulled off this particular scheme, the man went quiet about the matter entirely and never brought it up again. But the gossip about the two of them didn't stop — it only grew.

The reason was simple: Jin Wang had recently been clinging to Ye Shu with increasing brazenness.

"If there is nothing further — court may be dismissed. Chancellor, please remain." The young sovereign sat upright on the dragon throne, his gaze drifting toward Ye Shu from across the hall.

Feeling the teasing glances from all sides, Ye Shu's ears burned. He was strongly tempted to dig a hole in the floor and bury himself in it.

And yet Jin Wang was still watching him with eyes that didn't waver — his expression even carrying a note of unguarded bashfulness and hope.

Here we go again.

This man had been becoming more and more brazen lately, keeping him behind every single day after court.

As for what happened when he was kept behind — Ye Shu would really rather not recall.

Ye Shu met Jin Wang's gaze and said calmly: "This official has an appointment with several gentlemen from the Hanlin Academy to discuss the examination marking."

The examination marking was official business. His Majesty must respect the priorities.

Jin Wang said: "That is what you said yesterday."

He was even pouting now.

Ye Shu was just about to answer again when he heard Jin Wang call out mildly: "Senior Academician Cheng — is there something you gentlemen from the Hanlin Academy still cannot resolve, that requires you to consult the Chancellor in particular?"

The Academician called upon broke into an instant sweat and said hastily: "N— nothing urgent at all. The matter was fully resolved yesterday."

"Very good." Jin Wang smiled pleasantly. "The Chancellor's health is not at its best and he should not be overtaxed. We trust everyone understands?"

The officials: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Ye Shu: "…"

The officials, terrified of being caught up in anything, fled the moment Gaojin announced the dismissal of court.

Only once they had escaped the Hall of Supreme Harmony did a few of them allow themselves a faint, knowing smile.

Since His Majesty had used that decree to make his feelings public, the relationship between those two had only grown more charged rather than more distant. They exchanged lingering glances and light-hearted banter right in front of the assembled officials — it was enough to make one's teeth ache.

Anyone with eyes could see: the day His Majesty's wish was fulfilled was probably not far off.

The hall doors slowly closed behind Ye Shu. He let out a sigh and walked toward Jin Wang.

"I've told you before — just leave the marking to someone else." Jin Wang naturally drew him in and sat him down with him on the dragon throne. "Are you tired?"

Ye Shu: "No."

Early spring had arrived. Everyone in the entire court wore fitted robes, but Ye Shu alone still wore wide, flowing outer garments. His slight build meant that five months of pregnancy hardly showed at all.

Since Ye Shu's reinstatement, Jin Wang had been compressing morning court to under one incense-stick's time each day. If it ran a little long, he would have a chair brought and tea served for Ye Shu, terrified of letting him tire himself out.

If he himself wouldn't push Ye Shu too hard, he certainly wasn't going to let those old men from the Hanlin Academy summon him for meetings every day.

Jin Wang kneaded Ye Shu's shoulders and back, then said suddenly: "Would you like to see that litter of kittens?"

Ye Shu startled.

He meant the litter of kittens Ye Shu had picked up outside the Ye estate's back gate — they had not been brought back to the palace when Ye Shu returned, and had stayed at the traveling palace all this time.

The wide-open mountain scenery of the traveling palace was naturally more suited to kittens than the confines of the deep imperial palace.

"Once things settle down here, let's go and stay at the traveling palace for a few months." Jin Wang placed his palm on Ye Shu's lower belly and said softly. "You can't keep tiring yourself out like this. The little one will start to complain."

Ye Shu was just about to say he wasn't tired. He met Jin Wang's gaze and changed his answer. "Alright."

The capital had too many eyes. Their time together here came with too many inconveniences.

He wanted to spend time with Jin Wang alone.

Very much so.

And he understood — Jin Wang felt the same.

Something moved in Ye Shu's chest. The look he turned on Jin Wang grew soft.

Jin Wang gave a quiet laugh. "Why are you suddenly looking at me like that?"

Ye Shu looked away. "I'm not."

Jin Wang said nothing.

One hand braced on the armrest of the dragon throne, the other slipping slowly across Ye Shu's shoulder and back — then suddenly asked: "How does it feel, sitting here?"

Ye Shu paused.

This wasn't the first time he had sat here. The dragon throne was positioned on a high platform, with a clear view of every corner of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. With the doors open, the gaze could sweep all the way out to the palace grounds beyond.

At first it had been a novelty. But now it felt…

Isolated. Lonely. The heights were too cold to bear.

It was a good thing he wasn't sitting here alone.

But that clearly wasn't what Jin Wang was asking about.

Ye Shu caught the glint of mischief in the other man's eyes. He discreetly shifted backward — only to be pressed smoothly against the back of the dragon throne.

"Jin Wang!" Ye Shu struggled fiercely as Jin Wang leaned in. "This is the Hall of Supreme Harmony!"

"I know." Jin Wang moved dangerously along Ye Shu's waist and said quietly: "Don't you want to try it once?"

Ye Shu's movements hesitated for just an instant.

Actually… it wasn't entirely out of the question.

In that one moment of hesitation, Jin Wang had already undone his sash, and leaned in to kiss his eyes. "I knew you wanted to."

…

After that day, Jin Wang issued an order to accelerate the examination marking, and the palace examination was held in short order. The spring examinations — which were supposed to last two months — were compressed to half a month.

The day the results were posted, Jin Wang announced that the court would decamp to the traveling palace for summer relief, and all important matters were to be submitted to the traveling palace for handling.

As for why summer relief was needed in the third month of the year — and why it involved bringing the Chancellor along.

That was not to be spoken of.

Another half-month or so later, the war at the frontier officially broke out.

Changlu's armies advanced like a breaking wave. Reports came of a previously unheard-of new type of firearm suddenly deployed in battle, against which the Xixia forces had no answer.

When the intelligence arrived, Ye Shu glanced up and shared a look and a smile with Jin Wang, then went back to petting the cats draped across the small couch.

This type of firearm wouldn't have been produced until at least the middle-to-late portion of the original novel's timeline. With Ye Shu here, progress had naturally been considerably accelerated.

In just three months, Xixia's fate was essentially sealed — and Ye Shu's due date was rapidly approaching.

Jin Wang had let even official business fall by the wayside, spending his days entirely revolving around Ye Shu. He had even relocated the entire Imperial Medical Bureau to the traveling palace, with all preparations in and out thoroughly made and ready.

Ye Shu himself was far less anxious.

The little one hadn't put him through too much suffering — but there was no getting around the fact that having a baby inside you slowed everything down, and constantly having to avoid this food and that was enough to make Ye Shu want to climb the walls.

Which meant he was too busy wanting to be done with it to spare any anxiety for the actual birth.

Late one night, Jin Wang had just come back from bathing when he heard Ye Shu cradling his belly and muttering under his breath: "Why aren't you coming out yet? Out here there's food and drink and entertainment — what's so good about staying in there? Be reasonable. I'll give you five more days… no, three. Get yourself out here."

Jin Wang: "…"

Was this something one could negotiate?

Jin Wang tapped him lightly on the forehead. "Stop talking nonsense. Go to sleep."

The lamps were put out and he got into bed. Ye Shu slipped into Jin Wang's arms with practiced ease.

It was midsummer, yet the traveling palace was still cool, and being pressed together didn't feel hot at all.

Jin Wang was patting Ye Shu's back in a slow, idle rhythm. After a moment's quiet, Ye Shu asked suddenly: "You still can't sleep?"

Jin Wang hadn't had a proper night's rest in half a month.

Ye Shu said: "Didn't the physician say — a kun-sovereign's constitution is well-suited for childbirth? Low risk, not much suffering."

"I know." Jin Wang said. "I'm just a little nervous."

Ye Shu nuzzled against Jin Wang in his arms. "What's there to be nervous about — I'm not even scared."

"Mm. You're very brave."

Ye Shu was quiet for a moment, then said quietly: "Actually… I am a little scared."

He paused, then added: "So after the little one is born — you have to properly reward me. Whatever I want to eat, you have to make it for me!"

Jin Wang answered: "Of course. Whatever you want — I'll learn to make it."

"Then I'd better think carefully…"

Before Ye Shu had a chance to think it over, a voice suddenly came from outside the door.

"Your Majesty — an urgent report from the front!"

Both of them startled.

With Ye Shu's due date approaching and Jin Wang's instructions in place, nothing short of urgency would have brought anyone to disturb their rest in the middle of the night.

Unless…

Jin Wang said: "Bring it in."

A guard brought in the letter. Jin Wang unfolded it and read, and a rare flash of delight crossed his eyes.

The front reported victory after victory. Changlu's armies were now encamped at the gates of the Xixia capital. Xixia's supply lines had been cut and there was no aid coming from any direction — it would be utterly crushed within days.

Word from the front, even by the fastest courier, took five or six days to reach the capital. Which meant Xixia might already have fallen by now.

Less than four months from the start of the war to the end.

The delivering guard called out: "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

Ye Shu hadn't seen the contents of the letter, but from the guard's reaction and Jin Wang's expression, he could make a reasonable guess.

Xixia was hardly a formidable power. With Yu Yan assisting from within Dayan as well, unifying the realm was only a matter of time.

Jin Wang set the letter down and looked back at Ye Shu.

Ye Shu smiled at him. "No thanks for the one who made it happen?"

"Thank you." Jin Wang leaned down and kissed him. "What would my Chancellor have me do in gratitude — pledge myself to you entirely?"

Ye Shu was just about to reply — and then suddenly frowned.

It seemed… a little painful?

The ache in his abdomen grew more and more pronounced. Ye Shu hugged his belly, half-laughing and half-helpless.

Such perfect timing. This little troublemaker really knew how to make an entrance.