Chapter 26: Drugging
Chu Yi raised his hand and gave Sheng Qianheng a hard push, turning his head slightly to the side. “Sheng Qianheng, I’m still angry!”
“Cough… A-Yi, have you been well these past two days?” Sheng Qianheng took a few steps back, his hands clasped behind his back, trying to make small talk with Chu Yi.
Chu Yi, on the other hand, moved to the table, poured a cup of tea, and took a sip. Then he stood up, slowly walked in front of Sheng Qianheng, and looked up at him. “Sheng Qianheng, have you been sleeping well these past few days?”
Sheng Qianheng coughed lightly, feigning nonchalance. “It’s been alright…”
The hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. Chu Yi stood on his tiptoes, leaned close to Sheng Qianheng, and studied his face. “But I see the dark circles under your eyes. You look like you haven’t been sleeping well…”
Sheng Qianheng felt Chu Yi’s breath on his cheek, a tickling sensation that threw his thoughts into disarray. He turned his face away, unwilling to admit that these past few days, he could only sleep soundly through the night when he shared a bed with Chu Yi. He casually lied, “It’s because I was reviewing some memorials sent from the palace last night. It’s nothing.”
“So that’s how it is…” Chu Yi raised the teacup to Sheng Qianheng’s lips, the rim touching his. “But I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night these past two days. What should I do?”
Sheng Qianheng took the opportunity to open his mouth and drink the half-cup of tea in Chu Yi’s cup. His gaze fell on Chu Yi’s eyes, which were indeed bloodshot. He must not have slept well.
“Why don’t I have Liu Deshan (the head eunuch) cancel my other room?”
Chu Yi waved his hand and turned to walk back to the table.
But in a moment, he was held by the waist by Sheng Qianheng, unable to move. He poked Sheng Qianheng’s chest with his fingertip and asked bluntly, “Why were you so carefree when you booked the room that day? What’s the meaning of this now?”
Sheng Qianheng’s palm was pressed against Chu Yi’s lower back. He looked down at the crown of Chu Yi’s head and chuckled softly. In his eyes, Chu Yi at this moment was like a wife complaining to her husband, utterly endearing…
“That day, both of us were upset. It was my fault for slamming the door. Can Brother A-Yi not be angry anymore?”
Hearing Sheng Qianheng’s seemingly conciliatory words by his ear, Chu Yi raised an eyebrow. He lifted his head and rested his chin on Sheng Qianheng’s chest. “You’re calling me Brother A-Yi now? You still know I’m older than you?”
Sheng Qianheng smelled the faint scent of Danshen in the room, and his headache slowly subsided. He lifted Chu Yi up, walked to the chaise lounge, and sat down, slowly saying, “I often forget that you’re older than me. Your appearance hasn’t seemed to change over the years. You’re just the same as before.”
Chu Yi didn’t know what to say for a moment. He felt a little awkward straddling Sheng Qianheng and shifted several times before he was comfortable.
“Sheng Qianheng, that’s not how you praise someone.”
Sheng Qianheng was puzzled. Every word he said was from the bottom of his heart. Did Chu Yi not believe him?
“What I said is true. It’s not just to make you smile.”
Chu Yi smiled back. A man’s words are a deceiving ghost. Who doesn’t know how to say sweet nothings? If a man can’t even say such things, he probably won’t be able to get a wife in his lifetime!
“Don’t think you can just get over this with a few sweet words!”
Sheng Qianheng had never coaxed anyone before. In the past, he was just the most disliked abandoned child in the palace. It was only after meeting Chu Yi that he felt a little warmth…
“I don’t know how to apologize or coax people… Can Brother A-Yi teach me?”
Seeing that Sheng Qianheng seemed to be sincerely apologizing to him, Chu Yi couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. As long as he could survive, he could just continue acting with Sheng Qianheng.
“Forget it. If others teach you, it won’t be sincere. Since our Your Majesty is willing to coax me, I’ll believe you for now. I haven’t been sleeping well these past two days, so I’ll allow you to sleep with me today~”
The corners of Sheng Qianheng’s lips turned up, his smile hard to conceal. He looked up and pecked Chu Yi’s lips. “Really?”
“If you’re not willing, then forget it…” Chu Yi placed his hands on Sheng Qianheng’s waist and was about to get up, but he was held by the lower back and couldn’t move.
The moment he looked back, he saw his own reflection in Sheng Qianheng’s eyes and was stunned for a moment.
Sheng Qianheng: “Don’t run. Of course I’m willing.”
Chu Yi took the opportunity to lean against Sheng Qianheng’s embrace, found the most comfortable position, and rested his head on his shoulder, whispering, “I’m very sleepy. I’ll take a short nap…”
Chu Yi had only been a little sleepy and was pretending to take a nap, but for some reason, when he smelled the scent on Sheng Qianheng, he actually fell into a deep sleep…
The sun shone through the mottled shadows of the trees. The afternoon breeze was gentle, carrying a hint of laziness.
Sheng Qianheng was dressed in a light cyan robe. He took off his outer robe and draped it over Chu Yi, patting his back gently to coax him to sleep.
A few strands of Chu Yi’s hair were gently lifted by the breeze, brushing against Sheng Qianheng’s nose. He lowered his gaze slightly, his eyes falling softly on his peaceful sleeping face. His brows were relaxed, not like his usual unapproachable self.
Sheng Qianheng placed a gentle kiss on Chu Yi’s forehead.
The sunlight fell on them, outlining a peaceful and beautiful picture, as if time had stood still, leaving only this quiet afternoon that belonged to them.
The two of them seemed to have a tacit understanding and did not bring up the argument again, as if it had been easily turned over like a page in a book by a gentle breeze.
When Chu Yi woke up, Sheng Qianheng was still asleep. He moved slowly for a long time before he managed to get up without waking him.
He tiptoed out of the room and said to the head eunuch, “Cancel the other room~ Also, I want to cook myself today. If he wakes up later, I hope Head Eunuch will keep it from Sheng Qianheng for me.”
The head eunuch: “Yes. Is madam preparing a surprise for the young master?”
Chu Yi nodded.
He took Lianfang into the inn’s kitchen and, following her instructions, personally made a bowl of longevity noodles.
After placing the fried egg on top of the noodles, Chu Yi asked Lianfang, “Did you get the medicine?”
Lianfang nodded and immediately handed it to Chu Yi.
Chu Yi poured the powder directly into the noodles and mixed it in.
Lianfang warned, “Madam, although this medicine is colorless and odorless and takes effect after twelve hours, causing one to sleep for twelve hours, there have been people who have no reaction to it… This servant has also heard that this medicine may have other miraculous effects… Does madam really want to use it?”
Chu Yi took a tray, placed the noodles on it, and replied, “Is there any record of how many out of ten people have no reaction to this medicine?”
Lianfang: “One.”
Chu Yi nodded. With a one-in-ten chance, he didn’t believe that Sheng Qianheng would be the lucky one for whom the medicine was ineffective.
When he brought the noodles into the room, Sheng Qianheng seemed to have just woken up. When he met Sheng Qianheng’s eyes, he actually saw a hint of panic. “You’re awake? Come and eat the noodles.”
Sheng Qianheng quickly stood up, moved in front of Chu Yi, and placed his hands on his shoulders, repeatedly confirming that Chu Yi was still in front of him before he stopped.
Chu Yi was puzzled. After placing the noodles on the desk, he cupped Sheng Qianheng’s face and asked, “Why are you sweating so much?”
Sheng Qianheng shook his head. “It’s nothing. I just had a nightmare. These noodles are…?”
Chu Yi helped Sheng Qianheng sit down, leaned against his shoulder, and said, “It’s your birthday today. Did you forget?”
