Murong Qiufeng’s heart sank as he felt a sense of worry for Shangguan Ye, but at the same time, he secretly let out a breath of relief. However, there was an inexplicable feeling of unease in his chest.
At that moment, a familiar figure appeared outside the door.
Shangguan Ye was still dressed in a black brocade robe with animal patterns, a red mink-collared cloak draped over his shoulders, exuding an air of nobility. He handed the cloak to Youxiang and stepped inside. His gaze first met Murong Qiufeng’s before looking at the Emperor. He merely nodded indifferently, his demeanor seemingly uninterested, yet an invisible aura of dominance surrounded him.
He then walked over to Murong Qiufeng, standing behind him, slightly bending over. One hand rested on his shoulder, and the other gently touched the wound on his neck. Frowning, he quietly asked, “How are you today? Does the wound still hurt?”
The intimate gesture made Murong Qiufeng’s face flush slightly, causing him to feel awkward. He was about to turn his head when he saw the Emperor staring at them intently. Not knowing what the Emperor was thinking, he didn’t avoid it and simply replied softly, “It doesn’t hurt much anymore. I can have the stitches removed tomorrow.”
“Oh,” Shangguan Ye responded, seemingly either by habit or design, lightly tracing the spot on his neck. “How are you today? Are you getting used to it?”
“It’s fine. Just the palace is a bit too large,” Murong Qiufeng replied, somewhat uneasy.
Shangguan Ye smiled slightly. “Heh, just bear with it for a few more days. We’ll return to the manor soon.” He said this while affectionately brushing Murong Qiufeng’s hair, then sat beside him.
The Emperor, however, was filled with surprise. Especially when he saw Shangguan Ye’s smile, he couldn’t hide his astonishment. At that moment, it was impossible to pretend the two weren’t close—no, it was more accurate to say that Shangguan Ye’s feelings for Murong Qiufeng were far from genuine. But…
He glanced at Murong Qiufeng, who seemed uncomfortable, and then at Shangguan Ye, who looked at him with tender eyes. The Emperor took a deep breath, adjusting his composure and forcing a smile. “Your brother is taking good care of my sister-in-law. By the way, how is Xiao Jun lately? Why not bring him into the palace as well? The Empress has been asking about him. I know you care for your wife, but she should get out more. It’s also a good idea for the royal physician to check on her. The Empress is always thinking about holding her nephew.”
As soon as the Emperor spoke, Murong Qiufeng’s body stiffened for a moment, and his face turned awkward.
The Emperor intended to remind Murong Qiufeng of something, but also to test them. When he saw Murong Qiufeng’s reaction, he understood. His expression shifted slightly.
In truth, Murong Qiufeng felt awkward due to the Emperor’s last sentence, as he was still pretending to be the Princess Consort. However, the Emperor’s words did have a certain effect—it made him think about an issue, namely, Shangguan Ye’s heir situation.
This matter directly influenced his ambiguous feelings, adding to his hesitation and causing him to want to avoid it. However, there was also a benefit: it helped him clarify his feelings toward Shangguan Ye.
Noticing Murong Qiufeng’s reaction, Shangguan Ye’s expression darkened. His eyes shot a cold glare at the Emperor, a faint dark flame flickering in his gaze—something the Emperor understood all too well.
While feeling resentful, he was also a bit regretful. But despite his anger, he wasn’t foolish enough to clash with Shangguan Ye at this moment.
“The Princess Consort is doing well. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. As for the heir issue, I’ve never thought about it. Whether I have children or not doesn’t matter, so please don’t worry about it,” Shangguan Ye replied coldly. His words were ambiguous, directed both at the Emperor and Murong Qiufeng.
The Emperor suddenly lost his anger. Although Shangguan Ye’s words were vague, they had already made it clear that he wouldn’t have children. This was actually good news for the Emperor. Now, perhaps he should try to matchmake Murong Qiufeng and Shangguan Ye, since an emperor without heirs wouldn’t be accepted. If Shangguan Ye truly cared for Murong Qiufeng, the Emperor shouldn’t stop them—he should help.
With that thought, the Emperor felt enlightened. He smiled broadly, “Heh, forget it. This is your personal matter. Do as you wish. It’s getting late, I should leave. Xiao Feng, get some rest. If anything happens, just send someone to report.”
As the Emperor finished speaking, he stood up and adjusted his clothes.
Murong Qiufeng immediately stood up and bowed carefully. “I bid you farewell, Your Majesty.”
Shangguan Ye didn’t even turn his head.
Murong Qiufeng watched the Emperor leave until he was sure he was gone, then turned to Shangguan Ye and, after a moment of hesitation, asked, “Do you and the Emperor not get along?”
Throughout history, serving a ruler has always been like walking with a tiger, for the imperial authority is untouchable, even for those close to it. But the relationship between Shangguan Ye and the Emperor seemed strange. The Emperor seemed to fear Shangguan Ye, and their positions almost seemed reversed.
Upon hearing Murong Qiufeng’s question, Shangguan Ye turned to look at him. His face was expressionless, but his deep eyes gleamed with an unreadable light.
Murong Qiufeng was momentarily stunned. His heart tightened as he realized he might have asked something inappropriate. He quickly opened his mouth to explain, yet at the same time, he felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
But Shangguan Ye suddenly reached out, grabbing Murong Qiufeng’s arm and pulling him toward him. Murong Qiufeng lost his balance and tumbled forward, only to realize he had ended up sitting on Shangguan Ye’s lap. Shangguan Ye had wrapped him in his embrace, his chin resting on Murong Qiufeng’s shoulder, his breath warm against his cheek.
Murong Qiufeng’s face instantly turned bright red, and he struggled to break free. “You, you, let go! Someone will see!”
“Heh-heh,” Shangguan Ye chuckled softly, his chest vibrating slightly. His warm breath swept across Murong Qiufeng’s neck, making his face flush even more. With a mischievous tone, he teased, “So, you’re afraid of being seen? Well, that’s fine.”
With a wave of his hand, the door was closed. Shangguan Ye then leaned in, whispering in Murong Qiufeng’s ear, “No one will see now.”
His tone suggested he was in a good mood.
In fact, Shangguan Ye was indeed in a better mood. Before the Emperor left, he had been feeling upset, but after Murong Qiufeng took the initiative to ask about his relationship with the Emperor, his mood shifted. Whether it was intentional or not, Murong Qiufeng’s willingness to inquire about him meant something significant.
It meant that Murong Qiufeng was starting to care about him, to want to understand him.
Murong Qiufeng suddenly felt a wave of heat rush through him. Embarrassed and annoyed, he tried to push Shangguan Ye away. Just as he managed to stand, Shangguan Ye pulled him back tightly into his embrace, his hold firm and domineering.
“Stop it,” Murong Qiufeng murmured, still trying to break free, but hearing Shangguan Ye’s low, slightly hoarse voice, his breath quickened. Shangguan Ye quietly commanded, “Don’t move.”
At the same time, Murong Qiufeng felt something hard pressed against his thigh.
As a man, even if he wasn’t familiar with intimate matters, he instantly recognized what it was. His face turned crimson, his whole body stiff as a board. He couldn’t even breathe without feeling like it would give him away.
Shangguan Ye took a deep breath, but seeing Murong Qiufeng’s flustered reaction only stirred the fire within him more. Unable to hold it back, he shifted the topic to distract him. “As for the Emperor and I, our current relationship is neither that of monarch and subject nor brothers.”
