Luo Tingshi’s gaze followed the hand that lightly tapped his cheek, moving up and down. To others, this gesture might carry a hint of humiliation.
But the youth’s touch was not heavy. It fell softly upon his cheek, almost as if caressing him.
Luo Tingshi murmured distractedly, “I submit to Your Majesty’s judgment.”
Yu Zhi withdrew his hand, steadying his waist as he slowly rose. His gaze swept past Luo Tingshi kneeling on the ground and settled upon the full moon beneath the eaves, lost in thought.
How exactly should Luo Tingshi be punished?
Yu Zhi rarely punished others. Court officials and palace attendants who erred were dealt with according to the law; he never intervened.
Yu Zhi tapped his chin with his knuckles, somewhat troubled.
Unbeknownst to him, in the dim night, the dark eyes before him were following the slender fingers circling his jawline, the gaze tinged with regret.
Lost in thought, Yu Zhi couldn’t help but yawn, sleepy tears welling in the corners of his eyes. Rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand, his voice thick with weariness, he declared, “The punishment shall be discussed tomorrow. I am weary.”
Luo Tingshi immediately responded, “I shall assist Your Majesty to bed.”
Yu Zhi glanced at him, extended his hand, and silently consented.
Luo Tingshi promptly rose, supporting Yu Zhi’s forearm while smoothly wrapping his other arm around the emperor’s waist. Yu Zhi couldn’t be bothered with further words; post-pregnancy drowsiness always struck without warning, and all he wanted now was sleep.
They navigated around tables, chairs, and screens until they reached the bed.
Luo Tingshi lit the lamp, helped Yu Zhi shed his clothes, guided him onto the bed, and carefully tucked a light quilt around him.
The light slanted in from behind, stretching Luo Tingshi’s shadow into a dark, flowing river. Half of the figure on the bed fell into the river, swallowed by the bottomless, heavy darkness.
Luo Tingshi stood by the bedside, gazing at the peaceful sleeping face before him. After a moment, he turned and left.
“Where are you going?”
A muffled question drifted from behind him, laced with drowsy confusion. The trailing syllables faded softly, as if ready to plunge back into slumber at any moment.
Luo Tingshi glanced back. “I’ll rest on the couch over there.”
“Who gave you permission to sleep on the couch? Hurry up and climb into bed to keep me company.” The figure on the bed struggled to lift their eyes, cat-like eyes opening to a narrow slit. The words carried authority, yet the soft, weary languor rolled off their voice, each syllable sticky and clinging to Luo Tingshi’s ears.
It sounded less like a scolding and more like a whine.
Luo Tingshi felt rooted to the spot, unable to resist listening for a few more moments.
Seeing him standing motionless for so long, the figure on the bed snapped angrily, “You good-for-nothing! I told you to get into bed. Why are you just standing there?”
The little beauty was coaxing him to join her.
Luo Tingshi thought to himself, his eyes crinkling with amusement. He obediently climbed into bed, burrowing beneath the covers, and whispered soothingly to the beauty, “Sleep now.”
Yu Zhi: “Hold me while you sleep.”
Luo Tingshi paused slightly, but his hands acted faster than his brain. He swiftly wrapped his arms around Yu Zhi’s waist, pulling him close.
The soft, fragrant body nestled against him. Luo Tingshi’s gaze deepened. His hands rested on the rounded belly beneath him. He lowered his head, gently brushing his nose against the dark, ink-like strands of hair, stealing a few kisses among the locks.
“Touch me. Kiss me.”
“Touch me. Kiss me.”
Luo Tingshi instantly understood. He lowered his head and captured those lips with a kiss.
He grasped the situation.
Yu Zhi’s sudden change in demeanor—allowing him to share a bed, kiss, and touch him—was certainly not because Yu Zhi had developed feelings for him. This matter was almost certainly related to the child.
Luo Tingshi gently stroked the belly of the person in his arms, his eyes smiling.
My child is truly sensible.
Even before birth, it understands how to bring parents together. When you emerge, Father Emperor will surely reward you handsomely.
Under his soothing touch, Yu Zhi gradually drifted off to sleep.
Yet his breathing wasn’t the smooth, steady rhythm of ordinary sleep, but carried a hint of urgency.
Luo Tingshi couldn’t bear to let him go. He hooked his tongue around Yu Zhi’s soft lips, wrapping it around several times before slowly withdrawing. The lips of the man in his arms were rubbed red, glistening with moisture, especially alluring in the warm yellow candlelight. Luo Tingshi couldn’t resist taking his lower lip into his mouth again, gently grinding it.
Once Yu Zhi was fast asleep, Luo Tingshi scooped him up and gently turned him over so they lay facing each other.
Ink-black hair cascaded over Yu Zhi’s neck, half his face buried within it, only his high, straight nose exposed. Luo Tingshi leaned in, his thin lips lightly touching the bridge of his nose, kissing downward until he gently nipped Yu Zhi’s nose tip.
A small, muffled grumble escaped Yu Zhi’s lips: “Damn you, Luo Tingshi, you bastard!”
Luo Tingshi quickly withdrew from Yu Zhi’s nose and opened his mouth to apologize: “Your Majesty…”
But he stopped after uttering just one syllable.
Luo Tingshi reached up to brush aside the dark hair framing Yu Zhi’s face, tucking it behind his ear. His deep gaze lingered on Yu Zhi’s closed eyelids as a hint of amusement tinged his cold voice: “Is it only me in your dreams?”
His large hand slid slowly down the back of Yu Zhi’s neck to his cheek. Luo Tingshi’s thumb lingered on the soft flesh beside his ear, gently caressing it. In an instant, patches of crimson bloomed across that porcelain-white skin.
Luo Tingshi gazed silently at the face before him.
Without a doubt, Yu Zhi was a beauty.
This face had been beautiful since childhood.
Luo Tingshi could still discern traces of his younger self in Yu Zhi’s brows and eyes. Distant memories surfaced before him, and Luo Tingshi smiled softly.
When they first met, he hadn’t particularly liked Yu Zhi.
After catching Yu Zhi as he tumbled from the rockery, the Emperor of Yu ordered Luo Tingshi to take the boy out to play. The child chattered excitedly about playing hide-and-seek in the nearby grove of artificial hills.
It was a grove formed by clusters of oddly shaped rocks, with a cave nestled in its center.
Yu Zhi hid inside the cave.
Outside the cave, amidst the grass, Luo Tingshi stumbled upon a lost mask of a fierce beast—long, sharp fangs, a truly terrifying visage.
An idea struck Luo Tingshi. He picked up the mask, slipped it on, and decided to scare the child.
No reason—pure malice.
The thought of the child screaming in terror filled him with delight.
Before long, he spotted Yu Zhi’s trail. The child had squeezed himself between two rock walls, nearly impossible to notice without careful observation.
Luo Tingshi slowed his pace, tiptoeing to the rock wall. In the sudden silence, he abruptly peered around the corner. His dark eyes, piercing through the mask, locked onto the figure within the crevice. His voice dropped low: “Found you.”
“Ah! Waaah… Help! Brother…”
As expected, the child burst into tears at once, curling into a ball and wailing.
Luo Tingshi was thoroughly satisfied.
He strolled leisurely out of the cave, walked to a distant spot, and buried the mask in the dirt. Just as he turned back toward the cave entrance, a sobbing, screaming bundle slammed into his arms.
“Brother…”
The child sobbed breathlessly, yet Luo Tingshi felt not a shred of guilt. He gave the child a perfunctory pat on the head, feigning concern.
“What’s wrong, Your Highness? Don’t cry, don’t cry. Tell big brother.”
“Brother…” The child lifted a tear-streaked face.
Luo Tingshi’s heart suddenly trembled.
The beautiful little face was flushed crimson from crying. Cat-like round eyes brimmed with tears, droplets falling steadily. The pupils, glistening from the tears, held nothing but deep hurt.
For the first time in his life, Luo Tingshi felt panic.
He regretted it.
Years later, that guilt still lingered in his heart.
That night, outside the Wangyan Pavilion, a beauty had burrowed into his embrace. Luo Tingshi had intended to push him away and throw him out.
Until the beauty lifted his face, and Luo Tingshi saw a pair of tear-filled eyes buried deep in his memory.
In that instant, his reason was instantly devoured by desire.
Luo Tingshi lifted the beauty and walked into the dark night.
–
When Yu Zhi awoke, a magnified handsome face loomed directly before his eyes. Caught completely off guard, he startled.
A wave of warmth washed over his lips. Yu Zhi instinctively parted his mouth, his lips unexpectedly brushing against something warm and soft. Realizing what had happened, his eyes widened, and he jerked backward with lightning speed.
Separated from Luo Tingshi’s lips, Yu Zhi rolled to the inner side of the wooden bed. His fingers slipped out from his sleeves, gently pressing against his slightly swollen mouth.
Is Luo Tingshi a beast?!
He kissed him like this all night long.
Filled with rage and resentment, Yu Zhi kicked out at Luo Tingshi.
A cold breeze swept in as Luo Tingshi snapped his eyes open and shot upright. His hand shot out to block the incoming kick, only to find a snow-white, slender foot filling his vision.
He halted his offensive, letting the foot send him tumbling off the bed.
Thud—
Luo Tingshi’s knee slammed against the bedframe, sending waves of sharp pain through him. He ignored the discomfort. Rolling over to sit on the edge of the bed, he spoke earnestly to Yu Zhi, “Please don’t kick me anymore. You’re getting heavier and heavier. It’s harder for you to lift your leg. What if something happens?”
Yu Zhi glared at Luo Tingshi, fuming: “I didn’t punish you last night, yet you’ve erred again. Both offenses shall be punished together!”
Luo Tingshi was utterly baffled: “What crime have I committed now?”
Yu Zhi snapped angrily: “I told you to kiss me—not to kiss me all night long!”
Almost the instant he spoke, a knock sounded at the door. Lu Jing’s voice penetrated the chamber: “Your Majesty, I have matters—”
After a long pause, he finally managed the last two words: “…to report.”