AYM Chapter 108

A rebellion that threatened to overthrow the imperial authority was suppressed almost in the blink of an eye. Everyone said that although the current emperor had not been on the throne for long, he could predict the future as if he were a god and was incredibly insightful and decisive, directly removing two deeply embedded poisonous thorns that were King Qin and King Wei. He had also struck fear into the hearts of others, and from then on, his position on the throne was secure.

But King Yan knew very well just how far-sighted and strategic this young emperor was.

Even when he was still Crown Prince, he had already predicted that King Qin would rope the residence of King Yan into a rebellion and had made an alliance with them early on. But the Yan family had been loyal for generations, so how could they ever join forces with rebels?

King Yan had originally thought the emperor would have him strike King Qin head-on, but he never expected the emperor to play along with the scheme instead, accelerating King Qin’s growing confidence. In the end, not only did King Qin deliver himself into their hands, but they also eliminated the threat posed by King Wei.

More importantly, Du Yunsong, who had always been loyal to King Qin, also submitted to them. With one arrow, the emperor had done far more than kill two birds.

Yet even so, the emperor still did not completely trust King Yan and insisted on bringing Yihuan into the palace.

Everyone else said that the reason the emperor had suddenly appointed this grand historian was because he wanted to hold King Yan’s beloved son hostage. In truth, King Yan knew that he(LXM) was afraid he might actually rebel and implicate Yihuan.

Perhaps this was simply fate.

Some people were born to be emperors, while some, despite having the fate of an empress to rule the world like a phoenix…

King Yan could not help rubbing his forehead when he thought of his youngest son, who had narrowly escaped death. What part of him looked like someone who was supposed to have such a destiny?

The person who could make even his own father shake his head helplessly at the mere thought of him was now leaning against the dragon bed, both hands hanging limply at his sides as though they were useless. He swallowed the food that had been brought to his lips, chewing as he frowned.

“Too salty.”

“Too salty?” The emperor, who had just come down from court and had not even changed out of his court robes, hurriedly scooped up a spoonful of porridge. “Here, have some to cleanse your palate.”

“I’m full.” After reluctantly drinking this mouthful of porridge, Yan Yihuan instinctively tried to raise his hand to refuse, but after lifting it only an inch, he suddenly remembered that he was still “unable to move” and quietly lowered it again.

This slight movement did not escape Li Xuanming’s notice. He calmly looked away and set down the porridge. “If you’re full, then you don’t have to eat anymore.”

Hearing this, Yan Yihuan naturally raised his chin and let the emperor wipe the corner of his mouth clean before smiling smugly. “It still hurts when I move my arm. Your Majesty, help me lie down.”

He was extremely vengeful.

But the corners of Li Xuanming’s mouth still lifted uncontrollably as he indulged him in his deliberate antics.

Li Xuanjing’s arrow had been thrown off course by Tang Tong’s slash, missing his vital point by mere inches and allowing Yan Yihuan to narrowly escape death. Even so, he had remained unconscious for a full fifteen days, leaving Li Xuanming feeling as though his heart had been cut by a knife. He had stayed by the bedside day and night, never leaving his side. Even whenever he unknowingly drifted into sleep, he would wake with a start.

Not losing him had been the greatest blessing of all.

Although he let him have his way, Sun Zhicheng had also said that his wounds had almost completely healed. He shouldn’t remain bedridden and should move around.

“Did Imperial Physician Sun say that?” Yan Yihuan’s eyes widened. “Only I know whether I’m in pain or not. Anyway, I can’t move.”

Fine. He could indulge him for another day.

Now that Yan Yihuan had recovered, Li Xuanming naturally could not stay by his side every day. King Yan and Yan Zheng had also already set out for Linjing. Yan Rong, who was eventually released from the Imperial Prison, remained in the capital for the time being, occasionally entering the palace to accompany Yan Yihuan as he recovered.

After all, as a man, Yan Rong could not frequently enter the palace¹In ancient China, only the emperor’s household, close advisors, and eunuchs were allowed to enter the palace. This was to ensure the legitimacy of the imperial lineage, as concubines might sleep with other men to get pregnant and then claim to bear the emperor’s child in order to rise in rank.. Seeing Yan Yihuan in such good health today, he finally revealed a relieved smile. “Yan Manman²Reminder: Nickname for Yan Yihuan by Yan Rong. (First appearance of this nickname was in chapter 79), I still have to settle the score with you!”

“Settle the score?” Yan Yihuan had thought his second brother would feel sorry for him. He had not expected that after so many days apart, the first thing he would do upon arriving was demand an explanation. “I don’t owe you any money.”

“First of all, why didn’t you tell me that Zhao Chufeng was the emperor? You even let me make all those threats back then. Luckily, His Majesty didn’t hold it against me.”

“This… His Majesty didn’t tell you himself, so how would I have dared to say anything? I was scared too!”

“Secondly, you were the one who told me to deliver a letter to Father and the others, which got me stuck in the Imperial Prison for so long. It’s only fair to put that on your account, right?” Yan Rong stood with his hands on his hips, looking as though he were confronting him, but in truth he was deliberately teasing him just to make him anxious.

Seeing the colorful expressions on Yan Yihuan’s face, Yan Rong was relieved he finally no longer looked as lifeless as he had in the past few days.

“His Majesty was afraid that if you went out and started saying things you shouldn’t, Li Xuanjing might hurt you. Besides, you ate and slept well in the Imperial Prison. Your face has even gotten a whole lot rounder than before.”

“Why, you little Yan Manman, you’ve really started taking the outsiders’ side now.”

Taking the outsiders’ side?

The words were meant as a joke, but Yan Yihuan froze at once and fell into thought.

Strange. The Yan family had always been extremely protective of their own. Although he had always been sheltered by his family, whenever he was in front of outsiders, he had always put his family first. How could he possibly keep arguing in favor of outsiders?

Yet ever since he woke up, whether in front of his father or his two older brothers, he had been afraid that his family would find fault with the emperor. Every word he spoke seemed to be defending His Majesty.

Yan Yihuan touched his chest. Ever since that inexplicable moment on the battlefield, that strange feeling he could not put into words had lingered in his heart. It was especially intense whenever he saw the emperor, making him wish he could be clinging to him every moment of every day.

Still, it was not a bad thing.

Yan Yihuan thought happily that nowadays, whenever the emperor looked at him, he seemed willing to agree to anything. In a few days, he could have a little discussion with the emperor and ask him to strip him of his title as Grand Historian. Let them call him a wicked consort or a virtuous empress, he did not care, as long as he did not have to do any work.

If Li Xuanming knew what Yan Yihuan was thinking at this moment, he probably would not want to search for the imperial tomb or any souls anymore. But right now, as he looked at the memorial before him, he could not help falling into thought.

They had found the tomb keeper, which meant they had also found the legendary imperial tomb. Zhenyangzi’s intention was for this fragment of the soul to return to its rightful place as soon as possible.

However, he had also made it very clear that Yan Yihuan’s muddleheaded and innocent nature was largely due to his incomplete soul. After all, in his previous life, he had been a perceptive and resourceful man.

If the soul returned, setting aside the fact that his fate might change and becoming empress would no longer be a matter of course, even if he were made empress, there was no guarantee he would be willing to accept it.

Li Xuanming closed the memorial and placed it at the very bottom before leaving the imperial study. When he entered the bedchamber, he did not have anyone announce his presence. Instead, he deliberately slowed his steps and watched through the gap in the screen as Yan Yihuan scrambled and rolled his way onto the bed, then immediately put on another helpless, limp appearance.

“His Majesty is back so early today.” The nervousness in his eyes had not yet faded, but the affection that naturally surfaced the instant he saw him made Li Xuanming’s heart skip a beat. He immediately abandoned the thought of exposing him. Under Yan Yihuan’s excited and expectant gaze, he gradually approached, bent down, and gently caught his lips between his own, their color far less rosy than before.

The instant their lips touched, the mere softness of the contact made Yan Yihuan let out an involuntary hum. There was no longer any need to pretend that his hands and feet were immobile. His limbs instantly went weak and numb, his fingertips trembling, unable even to clench his fists.

After returning to the palace, he had fallen unconscious for a long time and had later remained extremely weak. This was the first time their breaths had become so intimately entwined, and Yan Yihuan was surprised to find himself so eager. Yet unlike before, when he had been impatient to have more, this time he was completely lost in the gentle friction of their lips.

“Still can’t move?”

“What…?”

Yan Yihuan opened his dazed eyes and only then realized that both his hands were tightly clutching the fabric at the emperor’s back, his waist raised high. The lie that he could not move was instantly exposed.

“It doesn’t matter.” Li Xuanming loosened his already disheveled collar and kissed Yan Yihuan’s freshly healed left shoulder.

That spot was extremely sensitive. Broken, uneven breaths escaped Yan Yihuan’s throat, but the kisses did not stop. Inch by inch, following the gradual loosening of his sash, the kisses moved downward until they reached the center of his desire.

“Whether you can move or not doesn’t matter.”

Yan Yihuan could not help trembling slightly, shocked yet unable to suppress the desire rising within him. He watched as those lips curved into a beautiful smile, then slowly lowered toward him, parting slightly.

• 1
  In ancient China, only the emperor’s household, close advisors, and eunuchs were allowed to enter the palace. This was to ensure the legitimacy of the imperial lineage, as concubines might sleep with other men to get pregnant and then claim to bear the emperor’s child in order to rise in rank.
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  Reminder: Nickname for Yan Yihuan by Yan Rong. (First appearance of this nickname was in chapter 79)