Chapter 80
For some reason, ever since waking up, Chu Yi always felt as if something was missing from his heart. He couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was. He only knew that whenever Sheng Qianheng left his side, even for a moment, he would become unbearably anxious.
He felt the warmth from Sheng Qianheng’s palm on his wrist, lifted his moist eyes to look at him, and asked, “Why are you unwilling to form a permanent mark with me?”
Sheng Qianheng kissed Chu Yi’s eyes, slowly releasing his xìnxiāng to soothe his emotions. “Brother,” he said, “it’s not that I’m unwilling. It’s just that if I were to force the matter now, wouldn’t I become a beast who disregards all human decency?”
Chu Yi turned his face away, avoiding Sheng Qianheng’s intimacy. He put on a nonchalant expression and said coldly, “When have you ever been such a gentleman before?”
Sheng Qianheng was so exasperated he laughed. What kind of image had he left in Chu Yi’s heart? Ever since Chu Yi’s late pregnancy, he had been enduring it day after day, constantly reciting a Clear Heart Mantra in his mind…
He was deeply afraid that an impulse would make him unable to suppress his desires and hurt Chu Yi, especially now.
The imperial physician had specifically warned him that Chu Yi, having just given birth and gone through so much pain, needed to abstain for about half a year for his body to fully recover.
He licked his thin lips, leaned in slightly, and pressed his forehead gently against Chu Yi’s. He said softly, “Brother A-Yi, if you ask whether I’m willing to form a permanent mark with you again, the answer has never changed from the very beginning. As long as you agree, once your body has recovered, I will definitely serve our A-Yi well every day. What does brother think?”
Enveloped by Sheng Qianheng’s xìnxiāng, the anxiety that had filled Chu Yi’s heart vanished in an instant. He looked up, gazing at his own reflection in Sheng Qianheng’s eyes, and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. In the end, he had been the older one by so many years for nothing.
On second thought, he realized he was probably just being unreasonable. He shifted slightly, trying to avoid Sheng Qianheng’s gaze.
Sheng Qianheng grabbed Chu Yi’s shoulder, making him face him. “A-Yi, did I say something that displeased you?”
Chu Yi shook his head. He tried to pull Sheng Qianheng’s hand away but was instead caught in an interlocking grip, their fingers intertwined tightly.
He stammered, “I just can’t control my emotions. Don’t take it to heart… It will be better in a few days.”
Sheng Qianheng gently wrapped an arm around Chu Yi’s slender waist, carefully pulling him into his embrace. The pad of his thumb brushed against his waist, almost imperceptibly, as he asked softly, “How can I let you endure your feelings like this? If there’s anything on your mind, just pour it all out to me.”
Hearing the faint sound of Shun’er’s breathing by his ear, and with Sheng Qianheng being so accommodating, Chu Yi only felt his eyes sting.
In his past life, even though he and Sheng Qianheng had loved each other, neither had ever spoken of it, and in the end, it had not borne good fruit.
He raised a hand to rub his eyes, not wanting to be seen by Sheng Qianheng, and teased, “A-Heng, sometimes I wonder which of us is the older one.”
Sheng Qianheng kissed Chu Yi’s lips, nibbling gently. When Chu Yi responded faintly, he pulled away and said, “Why care about who is older? I only know that loving the person before me is enough.”
Chu Yi’s throat trembled slightly. He suddenly grabbed Sheng Qianheng’s lapels, pulled him close, and pressed their lips together, biting down on his. In an instant, he easily pried open Sheng Qianheng’s slightly pursed lips, his tongue exploring gently yet domineeringly.
His soft tongue turned and churned in his mouth, as if greedily demanding every inch of his saliva, unwilling to let any of it go…
When Chu Yi felt slightly out of breath, he finally released Sheng Qianheng.
He rested his head on Sheng Qianheng’s shoulder and mumbled, “Sheng Qianheng, I wish I could lock you by my side, but you are, after all, an emperor. You can never belong to me alone.”
The two held each other tightly, leaving no space between them. Chu Yi felt his nose, his lips, and the entire room filled with Sheng Qianheng’s scent. He was extremely at ease.
Neither of them spoke to break this moment of peace.
Shun’er, as if dissatisfied with seeing his father and daddy hugging, started to cry for attention.
It was the first time Chu Yi had heard his child cry. He turned to look at the cradle, at a loss.
Sheng Qianheng, on the other hand, picked up Shun’er with practiced ease, checked his diaper, and then said, “He’s wet and uncomfortable, that’s why he’s crying. Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of it.”
Chu Yi nodded.
He watched Sheng Qianheng’s competent fatherly appearance, a smile unconsciously spreading across his lips, and he couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. He secretly prayed that time could stand still in this instant…
The news of Jiang Xinrui’s death quickly reached Lu Wenhan’s ears. Fortunately, he had not gone to the appointed post station.
When he had rescued Jiang Xinrui, he had felt that this person was not to be trusted. How could a person like Jiang Xinrui, who only knew of love, be worthy of sharing the world with him? It was ridiculous.
He secretly continued to recruit troops and had accumulated a considerable force.
According to his spies, Sheng Qianheng was still in the Qianlin royal palace. In that case, the new capital of Da Mo was unguarded again.
If he launched a surprise attack at this time and seized the Da Mo imperial seal, then he would be the new emperor of Da Mo!
He sat in the private room and laughed out loud.
Even though Sheng Qianheng had already ordered Jiang Xinrui to be dealt with, Lu Wenhan had not yet been eliminated.
He had only accompanied Chu Yi for a few short days before returning to the new capital to plan a new strategy.
Suifeng came to report that Lu Wenhan was hiding in a private room at a post station outside the city. The troops he had accumulated in his hands were nearly a hundred thousand strong.
Sheng Qianheng’s brows furrowed, his face full of worry, and he faintly felt that the situation was not good. He had moved the capital on a large scale before, and the manpower and resources consumed were innumerable, just to barely build this new capital.
However, although this city was easy to defend and difficult to attack, if Lu Wenhan thought a little and used the ruthless move of setting fire and launching a strong attack, then they could only be trapped in this city, with no way to advance or retreat.
He sat in the imperial study, raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose, and relieved his headache.
Suifeng stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said in a clear voice, “Your Majesty, this subject has a plan. Now that the enemy is in the dark and we are in the light, we are always worried about what schemes Lu Wenhan might be up to. In this subject’s opinion, why not turn the tables and catch the turtle in a jar? We can take the initiative to lure him into a trap, trap him in our palm, and then we can deal with him calmly, with everything under control!”
The two of them discussed for a long time in the imperial study and finally settled on a plan.
Chu Yi was still lying on the bed to recuperate these past few days. Every time he held Shun’er for a moment, his arms would go limp and weak. Even worse, his vision would suddenly go black, and he would almost drop Shun’er.
Fortunately, Lianfang noticed it immediately and quickly supported him.
Lianfang took the little highness, poured a cup of tea for Chu Yi, and said, “Your Highness, you’d better not hold the little highness these few days! I’m afraid your body can’t take it!”
Chu Yi shook his head and retorted, “I know my own body.”
Shun’er, on the other hand, had a carefree personality, completely different from his crying and wailing a few days ago. Now, he was happy to be held by anyone.
His little hands could even reach out, grab Lianfang’s hair accessory, and play with it, drooling from his mouth, looking more and more likable.
Seeing that Shun’er was so strong even though he was born prematurely, Chu Yi felt much more at ease. He had originally thought that Shun’er might be weaker than a full-term baby, but he never expected that apart from being a little lighter in his hands, there was no difference.
He looked up slightly, his gaze passing through the simple window, and landed on the willow branches outside. The originally bare branches were now sprouting with green buds, becoming more and more eye-catching.
He couldn’t help but feel a hint of warmth in his heart. He only felt that the cold winter was already far away, and the days to come would surely be full of spring light and hope.
Chu Yi hadn’t seen any sign of Sheng Qianheng for three or five days. Even after Sheng Qianheng’s comfort a few days ago, he was no longer so anxious and worried.
But after not seeing him for several days, he still missed him dearly. He muttered to himself, “In the end, he can’t stay by my side for long…”
Lianfang had heard that a postpartum person should not let their imagination run wild. She felt that her master seemed to be thinking of Sheng Qianheng again and teased, “Is Your Highness not suffering from lovesickness?”
Shun’er sucked his fingers and babbled in agreement with Lianfang.
Chu Yi looked back at Lianfang and Shun’er in her arms and denied it at once, “Don’t talk nonsense!”
Lianfang continued to ask, “Your Highness, are you still willing to go back to the Da Mo imperial palace?”
Chu Yi hadn’t thought about this question in a long time.
Now that he and Sheng Qianheng had already communicated their feelings, but Sheng Qianheng seemed to have never mentioned taking him back to Da Mo again.
He pinched Shun’er’s little hand and fell into silence.
If he didn’t go back to Da Mo, Shun’er would have his surname, Chu, and would be a member of the Qianlin royal family.
If he went back to Da Mo, he thought that Shun’er would have to change his name and surname and be recorded in the Da Mo imperial register.
Besides, Da Mo’s three palaces and six courtyards naturally couldn’t have only this one imperial heir…
But if he were asked to have another one, he was naturally unwilling!
He was not willing to suffer that kind of pain again. It was worse than death!
His brows furrowed instantly. After lying down, he pulled the quilt over himself and muffled himself in it.
Seeing that his daddy had disappeared, Shun’er could only babble nonstop. Seeing that the little highness was about to pounce toward Chu Yi, Lianfang could only place him on the bed and let him make a fuss.
Chu Yi felt the quilt being pulled. The moment he poked his head out, Shun’er, due to his unstable center of gravity, bumped his face against Chu Yi’s.
He picked up Shun’er, kissed his cheek, and asked the baby who was only a few dozen days old, “Shun’er, do you want to go and see your father-king’s imperial palace? Left hand is yes, right hand is no.”
Chu Yi held out his hands, looking forward to Shun’er’s choice. Even though he knew that no matter which hand Shun’er touched, it would be an unintentional act.
But when he placed both his hands on the palm of Chu Yi’s left hand without thinking, he was still unconsciously surprised.
Chu Yi had originally thought it was just a coincidence. However, when he switched the hands representing yes and no several times, Shun’er could always accurately touch the hand that meant yes.
He pinched Shun’er’s cheek and asked, “Shun’er, are you not a lobbyist sent by your father-king?”
Shun’er only knew how to giggle, pinched Chu Yi’s thumb, and took it into his mouth.
Five days later, Chu Yi followed the imperial physician’s advice and got out of bed to walk.
He only felt that his steps were unsteady, but with Lianfang’s support, it was much easier.
Chu Rui was originally in Chonghua Palace with little An’er and Shun’er. When he received the news that Sheng Qianheng was trapped in the new capital, he immediately stood up and summoned the ministers to discuss how to provide aid.
He was rushing past Chu Yi’s hall. Seeing his older brother’s fiery and anxious look, Chu Yi always felt that something was strange.
He immediately sent Moshu to investigate.
By the time Moshu returned to the hall to report, he was pressing his lips together, not knowing if he should say it or not.
Chu Yi was holding Shun’er and feeding him. He looked up at Moshu and asked, “Why aren’t you talking?”
Moshu cut to the chase and said, “Your Majesty is trapped in the new capital. Lu Wenhan is attacking the city!”
The hand holding the spoon trembled, and some of it spilled on Shun’er’s cheek.
Shun’er immediately started to cry. He could only put down the goat’s milk and comfort him. “It’s all daddy’s fault. Did I scald our Shun’er? Daddy apologizes to you.”
Chu Yi held Shun’er and swayed in the hall, but his heart was long gone.
