ITF Chapter127

The biting scent of fir pheromones carried an unusual sense of oppression. Luo Congye looked at Bai Heting’s weary face, his brows furrowing unconsciously. “Why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell?”

Bai Heting did not speak. He simply slid the urgent dispatch from Ximo toward the candleholder, the handwriting on the parchment standing out as starkly as the gilded family crest embossed upon it.

“In consideration of blood ties and affection, it is hoped that Damasen will lend a helping hand.” He repeated the final paragraph of the letter and let out a cold laugh. “When they sentenced the entire family of the late King to death, they didn’t care much about blood ties and affection.”

Luo Congye took the parchment to read it carefully—internal strife had broken out in Ximo again, and the King requested Damasen to dispatch troops to assist in quelling the rebellion. Years ago, Bai Heting’s grandfather had been executed by the Ximo royal family during a struggle for the throne; now, the descendants of the executioners wanted to beg them for protection.

But he knew Bai Heting too well. He did not make a rash judgment and only asked, “What do you think?”

Bai Heting picked up his wine glass to wet his throat.

“There is an old saying in the East: a neighbor close at hand is better than a relative far away,” he said flatly. “Diplomacy is especially so. Moreover, I had someone look into it, this internal strife in Ximo is also inextricably linked to the Church.”

The meaning was already self-evident.

Luo Congye was not particularly surprised. Bai Heting’s political decisions had never been mixed with too much personal emotion. He was like a ruthless state machine; those bonds of blood and private grievances that might shake ordinary people would be tempered by his hands into pure chips, calmly placed upon Damasen’s scales of interest.

“Leave the remaining documents for tomorrow. You need rest.” Luo Congye put the letter from Ximo back in its place, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of another letter on the desk—”To Her Honorable Majesty, the Queen of Damasen, my son…”

Having read only the beginning, he slammed the parchment heavily back onto the table, saying displeasedly, “Why is someone sending this kind of thing again?”

“Just like Zhong Maoru’s position in the south,” Bai Heting glanced sideways at the letter, “they have no rivals in the north either.”

“Don’t tell me you are seriously considering these people’s marriage alliance proposals.” Luo Congye could not help but grow serious. “Marriage is a matter that requires mutual willingness. How can you make decisions on her behalf? At least wait until she grows up—”

“When she grows up and is allowed to choose for herself, she will make the same choice as I did,” Bai Heting interrupted. “She is the ruler of a country. Do you think she will choose romance or national interest? She is different from ordinary children; she was born bearing an unshakeable burden.”

His emotions were rarely somewhat agitated, and Luo Congye swallowed back his subsequent words. He reached out to stroke Bai Heting’s face. Bai Heting closed his eyes slightly, his long eyelashes trembling gently, casting faint shadows under his eyes.

“Why are you being so pessimistic?” Luo Congye softened his voice. “Perhaps by then, affection and interest can coexist.”

Bai Heting tilted his head a little, leaning his cheek into Luo Congye’s palm and allowing his fingers to trace the tear mole beneath his eye. He let out a soft sigh and murmured, “Then she would have to be fortunate enough.”

Luo Congye shifted away from this rather unpleasant topic.

“Why have you lost weight again?” he whispered. “I’ll make you apple pie tomorrow.”

Bai Heting shook his head. “Don’t make it. I haven’t had much of an appetite lately.”

His expression was utterly exhausting. Luo Congye said no more, leaning down to capture his lips. The tequila pheromones shed their sharp bite, leaving only a warm, soft, and mellow sweetness. He unfastened Bai Heting’s sash with one hand, while his other hand swept all the documents on the desk straight onto the floor.

Bai Heting closed his eyes and said, “Didn’t you say you’d let me rest?”

“The Lord Prime Minister is busy with a myriad of state affairs and doesn’t even have time to come home.” Luo Congye gently nipped his wet, softened lips with his canine teeth, while the waistband fell to the floor at the sound. “Do you even remember where the front door of our home is?”

Bai Heting said, “I’ve only stayed here for three days.”

“Is that so?” Luo Congye said. “But for me, each day felt like a year.”

Bai Heting cursed softly, “Bastard.”

Luo Congye let out a low laugh. Slipping his arm beneath the crooks of Bai Heting’s knees, he lifted him directly onto the polished mahogany desk. The velvet robe slid onto the wool carpet, closely followed by the loose linen nightshirt.

“What about you then?” His fingertips lingered at Bai Heting’s waist, his pace of entry excruciatingly slow, carrying a slight hint of punishment. “Why did you choose me?”

“You have money, mines, soldiers, and weapons in your hands…” Bai Heting said. “You are the most suitable marriage partner.”

Luo Congye’s movements abruptly halted. He had wanted to take the opportunity to coax a few sweet words out of him, but he never expected to receive an answer like this.

“Just that?” He said dissatisfiedly.

Amidst the familiar swelling ache mixed with a secret pleasure, Bai Heting tilted his head back and answered honestly, “I was fortunate enough.”

Luo Congye was satisfied this time. Burying his face in the crook of Bai Heting’s neck, he gripped that narrow waist and drove all the way in. The fiery intensity of the tequila tore through the stillness of the fir. He kissed Bai Heting’s neck while murmuring in a low voice, “Why did you use inhibitors again?”

Bai Heting was bewildered. “What inhibitors…”

“The Lord Prime Minister doesn’t even need me for his heat anymore.”

What heat…

Bai Heting thought in a daze.

“No wonder those old geezers hiding behind the Church are trying every means possible to obstruct the research on inhibitors…” Luo Congye panted softly. “Inhibitors really are a bad thing.”

Bai Heting’s eyes, which had been closed moments before, suddenly snapped open, and he shoved Luo Congye hard in the waist.

“Get out.”

His tone was on the colder side. Thinking Bai Heting had taken his flirting seriously, Luo Congye explained, “I was joking.”

“I told you to get out!”

Bai Heting did not hold back his strength. Caught off guard, Luo Congye stumbled backward several steps. The fir pheromones carried a distinct edge of killing intent, and Luo Congye looked utterly bewildered. “What’s wrong?”

“Go…” Bai Heting lay flat on the long desk, his rapid breathing causing his entire body to tremble. “Call Jiang Han here.”

*

“Rest and recuperate with peace of mind. Starting tomorrow, I will personally come to deliver the medicinal decoctions.” Jiang Han rose from his chair, bent down to pick up a few documents from the floor, and casually placed them on the table. “Put these government affairs aside for the time being.” Turning to look at Luo Congye, he instructed, “Give him more pheromones.”

Luo Congye seemed to have been cast under a freezing spell, showing no reaction at all.

Leaning against the headboard, Bai Heting lazily waved his hand at Jiang Han and said, “Understood, go back and rest.”

Jiang Han nodded, picked up his medicine box, and withdrew along with Bei Yang. The attendant gently closed the room door, leaving only the crackling of the charcoal fire in the fireplace inside the room for a moment.

“Come here.”

This soft call finally brought Luo Congye back to his senses. He walked over to the bedside, sat down right next to Bai Heting, and let his palm hover for a moment before carefully covering his lower abdomen.

Jiang Han said this was a miracle.

He even kept his breathing extremely light as if breathing a heavier fraction would startle and scatter this strand of grace accidentally bestowed by the deities.

“It’s not that fragile.” Bai Heting caught his hand and pressed it down, making his warm palm fully adhere to his lower abdomen.

He could only feel even breathing beneath his palm, making it completely impossible to imagine that a new life had already been born there. Luo Congye stiffly lifted his head and found that Bai Heting was also looking at him.

“What should we call them?” Bai Heting asked.

Luo Congye opened his mouth, only squeezing out a short, “Ah.”

Bai Heting patted the hand resting on his lower abdomen. “Give our child a name.”

Our child.

Luo Congye stared blankly at his face, forcing his long-stalled mind to catch up, but when the words finally reached his lips, they came out as, “I love you.”

Bai Heting reminded him, “They can’t be called that.”

Luo Congye suddenly reached out and gathered the person into his arms.

Burying his face in the crook of Bai Heting’s neck, he foolishly repeated it once more, “I love you.”

The gentle tequila pheromones were more addictive than any soothing incense at this moment. Bai Heting took a deep breath and raised his hand to rub Luo Congye’s waist—the exact spot he had shoved earlier in his state of urgency.

“Does it hurt?” He asked.

Luo Congye tightened his arms and repeated yet again, “I love you.”

Bai Heting smiled helplessly.

It seemed a proper name would not be coming out tonight.

But it didn’t matter.

With the years ahead brightly lit, they still had plenty of time to slowly write that name filled with anticipation and love stroke by stroke into each other’s lives.