Luo Tingshi couldn’t understand why everyone claimed he was deeply in love with Yu Zhi.
Old Master He had written the same in his letter.
He… loved Yu Zhi?
Luo Tingshi’s brows furrowed as every scene from their acquaintance flashed through his mind. He recalled them carefully.
Luo Tingshi admitted that Yu Zhi was the only one who could stir his emotions.
He was cold-hearted by nature, harboring little affection for anyone, including his mother, the Empress Dowager. When she died, he shed not a single tear.
The Empress Dowager was a disfavored consort. The Emperor seldom visited her palace, and when he did, he would usually stay only briefly before leaving. Each time, she vented her anger on him. Since a prince couldn’t bear visible wounds, she would pierce him with silver needles as fine as cowhair.
She did this for ten years.
Already emotionally detached, his childhood abuse by his mother only deepened his coldness.
Until his return from Yuguo.
Whenever his mother pricked him with needles, Luo Tingshi would recall that beautiful little crown prince who had thrown himself into his arms, sobbing.
He was truly beautiful when he cried.
He wanted him to cry forever.
Amidst the relentless pain, Luo Tingshi felt a strange, twisted pleasure stir within him, sometimes even laughing out loud.
“You madman!” his mother cried in horror.
Luo Tingshi thought, he truly was mad.
Alas, his madness was incomplete. Otherwise, he would have long since killed his father, usurped the throne, and snatched back that little crown prince of Yu.
Yu Zhi.
That name had accompanied him through those dark years, though the man himself knew nothing of it.
After news of Yu Zhi’s ascension reached him, he buried those thoughts deep within.
After all, the throne of a nation was not something he could claim for himself alone.
Only in the dead of night, when dreams returned, would he recall those tear-filled eyes.
That night, drugged, outside the Wangyan Pavilion, a pair of eyes—long buried in his heart—had burst into his own. Later, he ordered a massive search for the beauty who had shared his bed that spring night, all because of those eyes.
But back then, he was muddled and confused, unable to see his own heart clearly. He mistakenly believed he was searching for that beauty.
Little did he know…
From the very beginning, it was Yu Zhi he sought.
He shared a bed with the beauty because he mistook her for Yu Zhi.
He wished to marry “Lu Jing” because, deep down, he equated him with Yu Zhi.
And indeed, he was right.
That person was Yu Zhi.
After reuniting with Yu Zhi, he constantly suppressed those greedy, reckless desires within his heart.
As a child, he had only wanted to bring Yu Zhi back and lock him away. It was only after that night that he realized such exquisite pleasure existed in this world.
So, the thought in his heart became…
Later, he found himself unable to bear Yu Zhi’s sadness. Seeing Yu Zhi unhappy made his heart ache.
Why?
He only wanted to possess Yu Zhi—then why not just pin Yu Zhi beneath him and take him? Why did he still care about Yu Zhi’s feelings?
Luo Tingshi lowered his gaze to the person in his arms, his bottomless eyes holding a tenderness he couldn’t see.
Yu Zhi lay on his side, facing away from him in his embrace. He bent his head and kissed Yu Zhi’s cheek.
Yu Zhi showed no reaction.
His lips lingered and wandered across Yu Zhi’s cheek, kissing every inch of that pale, delicate half-face. He took the other’s earlobe into his mouth, sucking and nibbling gently. The body in his arms trembled ever so slightly.
Still no sign of waking.
Luo Tingshi plucked up the courage to unbutton Yu Zhi’s clothes, revealing the body in his arms slowly unfolding before him.
Over four months pregnant, Yu Zhi’s body had gained more flesh than before, his belly growing larger, like an inverted silver basin.
Luo Tingshi leaned down, gently kissing Yu Zhi’s rounded belly.
“Don’t you dare touch my child!” Yu Zhi jolted awake.
“It is I, Your Majesty. Fear not.” Luo Tingshi raised his head.
Just as Yu Zhi exhaled in relief, his gaze fell upon his own reflection. His heart skipped a beat, and he glared at Luo Tingshi, his cheeks flushed with indignation. “You scoundrel! How dare you commit such an outrage while I slept?”
Luo Tingshi chuckled softly. “I hadn’t done anything yet when Your Majesty awoke.”
His gaze deepened as he leaned close to Yu Zhi’s ear and murmured, “Does Your Majesty desire me? I see Your Majesty’s undergarments are already soaked through.”
Yu Zhi’s heart clenched.
This pregnant body was truly irritating…
He had once asked Physician Zhang about it.
Physician Zhang had explained, “During pregnancy, Bai Ling tribe women require comfort from the child’s father. Thus, the pregnant woman naturally secretes fluids to facilitate her partner’s actions.”
…Are the Bai Ling Clan truly not lustful beasts among demons?
Yu Zhi pressed his lips together, casting a flushed, annoyed glance at Luo Ting. He lifted his chin. “Since you know this, why haven’t you come to serve me?”
“As you command.”
A flicker of amusement crossed Luo Ting’s eyes as he slowly leaned forward.
–
Afternoon arrived, and envoys from the capital arrived. The Chancellor had compiled recent urgent matters into a memorial and sent it for Yu Zhi’s review.
Yu Zhi retreated into the study, forbidding Luo Ting from entering.
Luo Tingshi’s gaze lingered on the tightly shut wooden door. He shook his head, crossed his arms, and stood guard at the entrance, ready to enter at Yu Zhi’s summons.
As dusk deepened, Luo Tingshi pushed open the door. He stopped a few paces from the desk, reached out, and pressed down on the memorial Yu Zhi was closing.
“Review it tomorrow. Go to sleep.”
Yu Zhi shot him a glare. “How dare you interfere with the Emperor?”
Luo Tingshi replied, “You’ve been in the study for half a day. Let yourself rest, and let the child rest too. Delaying it one night won’t matter. With the Chancellor overseeing matters in the capital, it won’t delay important state affairs.”
Yu Zhi propped his chin on his hand, tilting his head to scrutinize Luo Tingshi with his round, kitten-like eyes. He snorted, “This is your scheme—to make me neglect state affairs so Shengguo can seize the opportunity, right?”
Luo Tingshi lifted his dark eyes to lock onto the figure seated before him, a low chuckle escaping his lips. “Your Majesty could easily turn your own tactics against you. Should you choose to employ the beauty trap upon me, I shall surely ‘cease attending court from this day forth’ and hand over the Sheng Kingdom’s throne to you.”
“A scheming man, trying to trick me into throwing myself at you,” Yu Zhi sneered. “You’ve gone to such lengths for the throne—how could you possibly hand it over to another?”
Luo Tingshi clapped his hands in laughter. “You’ve seen through me, Your Majesty. How clever.”
Yu Zhi: “…”
Even a blind man could see through that. What’s so clever about that?
He suspected Luo Tingshi was mocking him.
Yu Zhi picked up a memorial, stood up, and tapped Luo Tingshi’s forehead. ” I warn you—do not harbor any ill intentions toward Yu Kingdom. If you dare raise arms again, I shall…”
“What then? Kill me?” Luo Tingshi wrapped his arms around Yu Zhi’s waist, effortlessly lifting him onto the desk. He tilted his head up to meet Yu Zhi’s gaze. “Could you bear to do that?”
Yu Zhi stood on tiptoe, pressing his foot against Luo Tingshi’s shoulder, looking down at him. “That’s a strange thing to say. What is there to spare? You are my political enemy. Killing you would only fulfill my wish.”
Luo Tingshi: “Would you bear to leave two children fatherless?”
Yu Zhi’s expression shifted slightly, a wave of suffocating emotion rising within him.
Luo Tingshi had seized his Achilles’ heel.
He had grown up enveloped in the love of two fathers. His father-emperor and father-king loved each other deeply, and they loved him just as profoundly.
Ever since learning of his pregnancy, a quiet envy had stirred within him. He too wished for his children to grow up cherished by both parents.
Yet the father of both children was none other than Luo Tingshi.
This man he had despised since childhood.
Yu Zhi angrily pressed down on Luo Tingshi’s shoulders, commanding him, “Put me down. I’m going back to my chambers to rest.”
Hearing Yu Zhi finally agree to set aside the memorials and retire, Luo Tingshi hastily lowered him to the ground. Holding a lantern, he guided Yu Zhi back to their chambers.
After bathing and drying his hair, Luo Tingshi helped Yu Zhi into bed. He gently pressed the acupoints on the soles of his feet, stimulating the meridians.
–
The moon shone as bright as day, its silver glow quietly spilling across the bedside.
Luo Tingshi lay sleeping, arms wrapped around Yu Zhi.
“Your Majesty.”
Luo Tingshi’s low voice echoed in the darkness. His tone was unsteady; listening closely, one could detect a hint of tremor.
Yu Zhi, half-asleep, mumbled, “What is it?”
“I love you.”
Yu Zhi waved his hand, his voice fading like a dying candle flame: “How many times have I told you? Do not say such things to me…”
“I love you.” Luo Tingshi repeated.
He held the other tightly in his arms. A torrent of emotion crashed against his chest, drowning his heart and sending it plummeting to the ocean depths.
Luo Tingshi had his answer.
He loved Yu Zhi.
Everyone could see it, except for himself.
Yu Zhi clung tightly to his arms, sleeping soundly in his embrace.
Luo Tingshi knew this dependence was merely because He was carrying his child.
It was fine.
Luo Tingshi gently pressed a kiss to Yu Zhi’s forehead. The moment his lips parted, a deep reluctance welled up in his heart, compelling him to kiss him again.
A quarter of an hour later, Luo Tingshi rolled off the bed and retrieved a sheet of letter paper by moonlight.
How should he choose?
Should he follow Old Master He’s advice—seize Yuguo in one decisive strike, carry Yu Zhi back to the palace, lock him away, and make him his own forbidden treasure, to be enjoyed day after day?
Or…
Luo Tingshi turned back, gazing deeply at the sleeping figure. His resolve solidified.
He dipped his brush in ink.
He would reply to Elder He.