Dead silence fell over both inside and outside the room.
After a moment, the small bundle on the bed stirred slightly. Yu Zhi lifted his face from beneath the quilt, reaching his right hand above his head to grasp the bedrail, attempting to pull himself up. Luo Tingshi hurriedly leaned forward, taking his arm to help him sit up.
Yu Zhi shook off Luo Tingshi’s hand, his dark eyes fixed on the man as he snapped, “It’s all your fault! You’ve ruined my reputation!”
A faint smile tugged at Luo Tingshi’s lips as he gazed intently at the youth before him.
Fresh from sleep, his hair lay softly disheveled over his shoulders, the ends disappearing beneath his robe and resting against his neck, which glowed with a faint blush. A flush spread upward from his neck, his jade-white cheeks drenched in crimson, his eyes tinged with bashfulness.
His tone was fierce, yet his body betrayed him completely.
Yu Zhi was utterly embarrassed.
So adorable.
After four years on the throne, his nature remained as pure as in childhood. It seemed not only the Emperor and Empress of Yu Kingdom, but also the court officials, cherished him, unwilling to wear away the youth’s innocence.
Everyone doted on him.
Over the years, he was likely the only one who had ever bullied Yu Zhi.
For some reason, Luo Tingshi felt an overwhelming sense of joy welling up inside him.
Forcing back the urge to pull Yu Zhi into his arms and tease him, Luo Tingshi offered a sincere apology: “It was all my fault for letting Lord Lu discover we kissed all night. Your Majesty, punish me for all three offenses together.”
“How dare you say that!” Yu Zhi’s anger flared even brighter.
Luo Tingshi quickly replied, “Alright, alright, I won’t say another word. Please don’t be angry. Your Majesty, shall we not let Lord Lu enter?”
Yu Zhi’s face darkened with displeasure. “Hurry and help me change my clothes.”
Luo Tingshi: “Right away.”
Luo Tingshi assisted Yu Zhi in dressing. After inspecting himself to ensure everything was in order, Yu Zhi called out for Lu Jing to enter.
The door opened. Lu Jing bowed as he stepped inside, head lowered in respect as he reported to Yu Zhi, “Your Majesty, the Sheng army broke camp this morning and has departed eastward.”
Yu Zhi: “Excellent!”
Lu Jing: “Your Majesty, with Sheng’s forces withdrawn, shall we return to the capital?”
Before the Emperor could answer, a voice—deep yet tinged with chill—instructed him: “We shall not return to the capital. We shall remain in Gu Yue for now.”
“Luo Tingshi, you have overstepped your bounds.” The Emperor snorted coldly.
The man immediately spoke up: “Your Majesty, you may punish me as you see fit. But your current condition makes travel unwise. Please refrain from further journeys. It would be best to remain here and rest peacefully to nurture the pregnancy.”
Lu Jing stood with eyes fixed on his nose and mind focused inward, head bowed. From the moment he entered, his eyelids hadn’t lifted an inch, as if afraid to see something he shouldn’t.
After a moment of silence, the Emperor’s voice came from ahead: “The prefectural residence is inconvenient for many matters. Minister Lu, find a house outside.”
Lu Jing bowed his hands: “As you command.”
After waiting a moment with no further instructions, Lu Jing took his leave and exited the room.
–
Yu Zhi exhaled in relief.
Though Lu Jing knew of his affair with Luo Tingshi, knowing was one thing—hearing it firsthand, seeing it with his own eyes, was quite another.
Sigh. At this moment, he truly felt too ashamed to face Lu Jing.
How humiliating.
Suddenly, the man drew near. His amused voice reached Yu Zhi’s ears: “Your Majesty, still feeling shy?”
Yu Zhi looked up. They were mere inches apart, within an embrace’s reach. Luo Tingshi could wrap his arms around him with a single motion. Bent slightly at the waist, Luo Tingshi gazed down at him, his dark pupils brimming with amusement.
Yu Zhi instantly bristled. “Luo Tingshi!”
Luo Tingshi abruptly stepped forward, no longer restraining the imposing aura radiating from him. A dangerous smile played at the corners of his lips, and the gaze he fixed on Yu Zhi lost all gentleness, as if he intended to devour him whole.
“Your Majesty, I would love for Lu Jing to hear it.”
“It would be best if the entire world knew you belong to me.”
The beast bared its fangs once more, and the prey before it instantly grew wary.
“Luo Tingshi, don’t you dare do anything rash! If you dare announce our affair to the world, I will…” Yu Zhi stopped himself, glaring coldly at him.
Luo Tingshi laughed: Let me guess… Your Majesty intends to imprison me, or kill me?”
Before Yu Zhi could speak, he continued: “I told General Chu that should any disturbance arise, he must make this matter public. Then, the entire world will know that the seed within Your Majesty’s womb is mine.”
“Yu Zhi, our names are destined to be intertwined for millennia. When future generations speak of you, I shall always be by your side.”
Luo Tingshi raised his hand to caress Yu Zhi’s cheek, his palm gently cradling his chin as he murmured into his ear like a lover.
“Don’t even think of escaping me, Xiao Yu.”
“You are mine.”
The moment the words fell, Luo Tingshi suddenly lowered his head, biting into Yu Zhi’s slender neck. His canine teeth sank firmly into the protruding flesh at the throat.
His sharp teeth sank deeper, his rough tongue lashing over Yu Zhi’s Adam’s apple as if poised to snap his neck at any moment.
Yu Zhi felt a chill run through his body.
He wanted to flee, but escape was impossible.
He wanted to scream, but no sound came out.
Luo Tingshi had sealed his pressure points. He couldn’t even lift a hand, forced to watch helplessly as the man devoured his neck.
“Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”
Luo Tingshi scooped Yu Zhi up horizontally and strode back toward the bed.
Despair washed over Yu Zhi. Only now did he understand what it meant to invite a wolf into one’s home.
Yu Zhi looked as if he’d just been pulled from water, his temples and neck glistening with fine beads of sweat. His eyes remained closed in exhaustion, his chest rising and falling slightly as he gasped for breath in shallow, rapid breaths.
Luo Tingshi reached out to wipe the sweat from his forehead, but Yu Zhi jerked away, his hoarse voice thick with disgust. “Don’t touch me!”
Luo Tingshi let out a soft sigh.
He hadn’t been able to hold back.
He had intended to keep up the pretense before Yu Zhi for a while longer, but unexpectedly, on only the second day, he had already slipped up.
“Luo Tingshi, get out of my sight! Go back to Sheng Kingdom!” Yu Zhi glared fiercely at Luo Tingshi, his heart brimming with grievance.
“Don’t be angry.” “ Luo Tingshi lowered his head to kiss Yu Zhi’s cheek, coaxing him softly, ”If I leave, what will happen to you and the child? You both need me.”
Yu Zhi: “…”
At this very moment, he hated the demon blood within him with a passion. If not for this, he wouldn’t be under Luo Tingshi’s control.
The man murmured in his ear, “Punish me, Xiao Yu.”
Yu Zhi was furious. He lowered his head and bit down hard on the man’s arm.
Luo Tingshi’s eyes sparkled with amusement. After their last intimate moment, the beauty had left tooth marks on his arm too. It seemed Yu Zhi was truly enraged now.
Luo Tingshi gently patted Yu Zhi’s back, saying, “Bite me hard. Harder. Only a strong bite will ease your anger.”
Yu Zhi: “…” It felt like punching cotton.
How could there be such an infuriating man?
Yu Zhi turned his face away, seething with resentment.
Just now…
Luo Tingshi had kissed him from head to toe. It was the first time he’d engaged in such intimate acts with a man while fully conscious.
Wherever those thin lips touched, wildfire ignited….
Yu Zhi refused to dwell on it.
Damn Luo Tingshi!
“Xiao Yu, punish me again. I’ll do whatever you ask.” Luo Tingshi embraced him from behind, affectionately nuzzling his earlobe with his nose.
Yu Zhi gave a cold laugh and turned to look at him.
“You asked for it. Don’t blame me…”