The Xirong army and Bixue City had been in a stalemate for many days, and their morale was no longer high. This attack on the rear camp resulted in thousands of casualties and nearly ten percent of the food and grass rations burned, so they had to hurriedly withdraw their troops and return to the border.

Li Tingqiu was in a coma for three to four days. During this period, he woke up occasionally and said a few words. During these times he was quite awake, but fell asleep soon after.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

On the morning of the fourth day, he finally recovered enough and started to get out of bed to walk around.

The several military officers who accompanied him in battles had gone through life and death with him. They all regarded him as a brother and would come to visit him from time to time.

One of the officers surnamed Tang admired his character very much and advised him: “I regard you as a brother, so I am not afraid to say some unpleasant things. This place is too close to the emperor’s residence. It was originally for the convenience of the imperial doctor to take care of you. But now that you have recovered from your injury, you… you are someone who has entered the palace. For the sake of reputation, why not leave here and move back to the military camp.”

Li Tingqiu frowned, but knowing his good intentions, he said: “Those who are good and innocent will remain so. Brother says this, do you see me as a sycophantic official?”

General Tang didn’t expect that he was such a calm and decisive person on the battlefield, yet he was not clear headed about this matter. He said anxiously: “As they say, the so-called right and wrong, it does not matter whether you are good and innocent or not. Though I don’t know how His Majesty changed his mind and let you out of the palace, but now that you have come out, you have to put the past far behind you, firstly to avoid people gossiping, and secondly…” He said a little awkwardly, “What if His Majesty sees you, and… again?”

Li Tingqiu couldn’t help laughing when he saw his embarrassment when mentioning the emperor.

“You laugh, but if you become a consort in the future, won’t you be the laughingstock of others!” General Tang was very anxious but seeing how he still refused to wake up, he sighed helplessly and went out. 

Li Tingqiu watched him go out, and when he could no longer see the other, his smile disappeared and he leaned against the bed. In his hand was an exquisite silk ball, stroking it inch by inch with his fingertips, his eyes grave.

Just as he was lost in his thoughts, he suddenly heard someone tapping the door twice. He thought it was the servant boy bringing water, so he said, “Come in.”

The door opened and it was Ye Mao. Li Tingqiu couldn’t help but straighten up. Ye Mao saluted him and retreated out. Jing Ye then came in and turned around to meet his eyes.

“Chen, Li Tingqiu respectfully welcomes Your Majesty.”

Li Tingqiu was about to get out of bed, but Jing Ye raised his hand to stop him and said, “Sit back quickly, don’t pull the wound.”

Ye Mao brought a wooden stool, and Jing Ye sat beside the bed. Li Tingqiu had not seen him in the past few days. Taking a closer look, he felt that although the war situation had become more reassuring, this person was still as thin as ever.

Jing Ye said: “Now that the army has recuperated, and your serious injury has not healed, it is not suitable for you to continue exhausting yourself in the army, so it is best to stay in Bixue City to recover and wait for orders first.”

Li Tingqiu looked at him without saying a word. Jing Ye added: “It has been more than half a month since Xu Ming raised the flag to rebel. There are people from all over the northwest who are following him and those who are leading troops to resist. Currently, the situation is very chaotic over there and it’s time to go over and stabilize the overall situation.”

Li Tingqiu said: “Chen is incompetent and cannot follow Your Majesty and relieve Your Majesty’s worries.”

Jing Ye smiled slightly and said, “Take good care of your health. Who knows how many more things will happen in the future, so it is of no matter to miss this time.”

His face was pale, but his smile was as warm as spring water, his eyebrows were like distant mountains, and his long eyelashes were thick and gentle. Li Tingqiu’s heart jumped when he saw it, and he couldn’t help but straighten up. This pulled the wound in his chest, and he couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan.

Jing Ye hurriedly leaned over to help him, but his hand was grabbed by the other instead. Before he could react, he was pulled over and hugged tightly.

Li Tingqiu’s brows furrowed in pain, and blood oozed from the bandage on his chest. Jing Ye held his shoulders, thought for a long time, and then said: “You don’t feel pain?”

Li Tingqiu whispered: “It hurts.” Then he pressed his right hand on the back of Jing Ye’s head and kissed him hard.

Jing Ye: “…”

Li Tingqiu’s kiss was inexperienced, he only knew to rub hard, and stick his tongue inside awkwardly. He had no skills, but he was very earnest at the same time.

Jing Ye was quite shocked but he didn’t dare to push him. After all, his whole body was covered with wounds, so he could only let him bite and kiss him. Sometimes when he lowered his head to avoid it, the other would simply kiss him on the corner of his mouth.

Jing Ye: “Wu, wu… you’re bleeding…”

Ye Mao listened attentively outside the door for a moment then turned his back to the door. The guards immediately lowered their heads.

There was nothing charming or seductive about this kiss, but it felt like a feeling of happiness after surviving the odds, full of determination. When they separated, Jing Ye’s tongue was numb, and he gasped in a low voice: “…Now… can you let go?…”

Li Tingqiu leaned back slightly. His wounds were very painful and some of the wounds were already opened again, but a big stone fell to the ground in his heart.

His hands were shaking a little, but he still reached out to hold Jing Ye and said: “Your Majesty…”

Jing Ye lowered his head and saw the blood-stained cloth around his chest, and said, “It’s time to change your bandages. Zhen will go call someone over.”

Li Tingqiu held his hand and said: “Chen took a trip to the gate of hell and finally realized that seeking fame and reputation is the most stupid thing in the world. Life passes by in a flash, like lightning… Thus one should obey the heart in time…”

The more Jing Ye listened, the more he felt something was wrong. He moved his hands and said, “Qing is a meritorious minister. Whatever you want, as long as it is reasonable, zhen will easily agree… We are monarch and ministers. As you have made great contributions, zhen will not pursue your act of stepping over bounds just now…”

“Your Majesty.” Li Tingqiu stopped him, “Chen has my heart set on you…”

Before he finished speaking, Jing Ye had already pulled away. Li Tingqiu pressed his hands into the quilt, feeling severe pain in his chest.

Jing Ye really didn’t know how to react. Seeing the blood slowly oozing out from the wounds on his body, he also felt that he couldn’t bear to say a harsh word either. He turned around and hurried out. Ye Mao was still guarding the door. He trembled with fright at his fierce glare and immediately kneeled down to apologize.

Jing Ye first said to the servant boy serving Li Tingqiu: “Go in quickly and take care of your general.”

The servant boy hurriedly bowed and went in.

Jing Ye looked back, waved his sleeves and said to Ye Mao: “What are you doing kneeling? Go back.”

Ye Mao quickly got up and followed Jing Ye out.

When Jing Ye returned to his bedroom in the courtyard, Lin Xiaosheng was taking a small silver spoon and putting incense into the incense burner bit by bit. When he heard the sound, he looked over, stretched out his arms and saluted, “Your Majesty.”

Jing Ye’s heart was in turmoil. He said hastily “rise” and walked in, but his wrist was held by the other, “Don’t you feel any pain, Your Majesty?”

Jing Ye was startled, and Lin Xiaosheng stretched out his finger and wiped at his lips, only to see a spot of bright red blood on his fingertips. Jing Ye touched his lips, and it really stung. He felt embarrassed and said, “Simply an accident, it’s nothing.”

Lin Xiaosheng slid his fingers down, passed by his slightly loosened collar, and said, “Who bit it?”

“Of course myself…” Jing Ye lowered his head and realized that he couldn’t even cover it up now.

Lin Xiaosheng said: “Is it love that Ting Qiu is showing to Your Majesty?”

Jing Ye knew that he knew it very well, so he said, “No.”

“Then what is love?”

“Love is…” Jing Ye explained with difficulty, “…the mutual happiness of two people.”

“How to have mutual happiness?”

“En… in addition to doing, ahem, doing that, there are many other things… such as holding hands.”

Lin Xiaosheng went to hold his hand.

Lin Xiaosheng’s hands were cold, seeming due to some kind of illness. Due to his physique, Jing Ye couldn’t bear the cold or heat, so he said, “Let’s go there and talk.”

Jing Ye took two to three steps and felt a little dizzy. He wanted to sit on the couch but as soon as he took a step, his vision suddenly went dark and he fell straight down.

It wasn’t until late at night that Jing Ye slowly woke up with a headache. There was only one candle lit in the room and the lights were dim.

There was a familiar soothing scent surrounding the tip of his nose. Jing Ye moved his arms and his fingers touched warm and soft skin.

Turning his head, what came into view was a person’s gorgeous features, a few strands of hair sweeping down the bridge of his nose, and the graceful and sharp curves of his phoenix eyes.

Jing Ye: “…”

Lin Xiaosheng’s eyebrows moved, and he opened his eyes two looked at each other.

Jing Ye said hoarsely: “What time is it?”

“I don’t know.” Lin Xiaosheng sat up.

Jing Ye propped his elbows on the bed and tried to sit up, but found that his whole body was weak.

Lin Xiaosheng leaned over and slipped his hands under his lower back.

Jing Ye slowly sat up and didn’t quibble over how he slept here. He just lowered his head and said, “Is there any water?”

Lin Xiaosheng got out of bed and went to pour tea.

In order not to disturb Jing Ye with their noisy movements, the maids all retreated outside the house, and no one changed the tea in the teapot.

Lin Xiaosheng poured a cup and brought it over. Jing Ye took it and took a sip, trembling a bit at the cold.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Lin Xiaosheng frowned slightly, took the cup in his hand, turned around and went outside to call Ye Mao to bring in hot tea. When he came back in, Jing Ye had already curled up under the quilt and fell asleep.

He gently placed the porcelain pot on the table, sat on the edge of the bed, thought for a while, reached out to hold the other’s hand that was casually placed outside the quilt, and put it under the quilt.

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ