After the meal, Physician Zhang delivered the Dragon’s Breath Pill. Those who consumed it would have their meridians sealed and internal energy dissolved, like a dragon stranded on a sandbar. Even the most formidable martial artist would be reduced to an ordinary person.
The Dragon’s Breath Pill was a secret formula unique to the Zhang family. To lift the pill’s restrictions, one could only take a specially crafted antidote.
Yu Zhi watched Luo Tingshi swallow the Dragon’s Breath Pill with his own eyes before he could finally relax.
Recalling what had just happened, he still felt his teeth itch with anger. He shot Luo Tingshi a glare. Luo Tingshi caught Yu Zhi’s gaze, turned his head, and curved his lips. A gentle smile spread across his brow and eyes. The frosty expression vanished from his face, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.
Imperial Physician Zhang observed the subtle exchange between the two men and murmured to himself, These two seem off.
However, judging by His Majesty’s appearance, they clearly hadn’t consummated their union last night.
Doctor Zhang silently fretted.
He knew the Emperor was in a difficult position. Being forced beneath the emperor of a hated enemy nation was something His Majesty couldn’t overcome mentally. Yet the two children couldn’t wait.
Doctor Zhang wished he could force them both onto the bed, but he lacked the courage, left only with helpless frustration.
Sigh…
The wind rustled through the bamboo curtains, carrying the faint fragrance of withered lotus blossoms.
Yu Zhi looked at the two of them: “I wish to go for a walk.”
Luo Tingshi glanced outside. Low-hanging clouds draped the sky like a curtain, the light as fluid as water. Cool breezes swept through the courtyard, dispelling the usual heat—a pleasant, agreeable day.
He smiled. “I’ll accompany you.”
The emperor’s outing was unassuming, accompanied only by a few guards and Physician Zhang, who remained close at hand in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
Though Gu Yue was a border region, it was far from a harsh, frigid land. On the contrary, it was prosperous and abundant, its people living quite comfortably. Shops lined the streets, stalls crowded the marketplaces, and the lively clamor of vendors mingled with the sounds of carriages and pedestrians.
The tense, solemn atmosphere from the citywide alert days ago had vanished without a trace, and life carried on as usual.
Yu Zhi surveyed the bustling street scenes, a smile playing around his eyes. His gaze returned to the man walking beside him, and he lowered his voice: “If you attack the city, this sight will be lost forever.”
Luo Tingshi replied, “The realm divides and reunites over time. Yu and Sheng have stood apart for centuries, yet they will inevitably be united once more.”
Yu Zhi countered, “Perhaps. But not now. Luo Tingshi, as long as I hold the throne, you shall not ignite the flames of war.”
Luo Tingshi chuckled softly, his eyes flashing with sharpness. “What will you use to stop me? If I am determined to attack Yu, what difference does it make that you bear my child? Do I fear a lack of heirs?”
“Yet you still withdrew your troops,” Yu Zhi stated calmly, stating the plain fact.
“Indeed!” Luo Tingshi sighed deeply. “I did it for you.”
Yu Zhi scoffed. “Don’t try to play the romantic with me, Luo Tingshi.”
Luo Tingshi lowered his eyes, saying nothing more.
The group walked along the long street, passing through the city gates toward the outskirts. It was late summer, the season of harvest. The fields stretched golden, wheat ears heavy and bowed, farmers busily reaping the grain.
A thought struck Yu Zhi. He turned to Luo Tingshi. “I’ve decided how to punish you.”
With a sweeping gesture, he commanded, “Go help them harvest the wheat.”
Luo Tingshi was slightly taken aback, not expecting such a punishment. He shot Yu Zhi a meaningful look before stepping down from the ridge and approaching a nearby farmer. After a brief exchange, the farmer demonstrated the technique and handed him a sickle.
Yu Zhi stood at the edge of the field, his gaze fixed on Luo Tingshi.
Luo Ting initially struggled with the task, but after cutting a few stalks, he gained the hang of it. Soon, a row of wheat stalks piled up along the ridge. The farmer bound them into several large sheaves, hoisted two onto his back, and set off down the path toward the village.
“You should go help too,” Yu Zhi instructed the guards beside him.
The guards looked troubled. “We must protect your safety, Your Highness.”
Yu Zhi smiled. “There’s no danger here. You’re idle anyway. Go on, lend the villagers a hand.”
The emperor’s command could not be disobeyed. The guards had no choice but to descend into the fields and join Luo Tingshi in harvesting the wheat.
Yu Zhi’s gaze swept over the bustling fields. Seeing many children, barely taller than the wheat stalks, also helping in the fields, he sighed softly, “It’s a pity I cannot bend my back now. Otherwise, I would join them.”
“Your Majesty is truly benevolent,” Imperial Physician Zhang remarked with a smile.
He had watched the young emperor grow up, inheriting Minister Ye’s compassionate nature. From childhood, the prince had shown deep sympathy for others. Some court officials had once suggested that such kindness might prove detrimental to a ruler. Physician Zhang had strongly disagreed—did they truly prefer a cold-hearted monarch? He believed otherwise.
Indeed, he had been right. In the years since ascending the throne, the young emperor had governed the Kingdom of Yu with great skill.
Kindness was not a flaw.
Dr. Zhang approached with a warm smile, offering his arm. “Your Majesty must be weary after walking so long. Allow me to escort you to rest over there.”
Yu Zhi nodded. They walked to a banyan tree not far from the fields, where several bamboo chairs stood beneath its shade. An elderly woman with silver-streaked hair was sorting vegetables there.
Doctor Zhang raised his voice to ask her, “Old lady, might we rest here for a moment?”
The old woman looked up, sizing them both up. Her gaze lingered on Yu Zhi’s lower abdomen before a smile spread across her wrinkled face. “Young lady, please sit down.”
Yu Zhi: “Huh?”
He lowered his head, scrutinizing his own clothes with suspicion. These weren’t women’s garments either.
Yu Zhi sat in the bamboo chair, about to explain to the old woman, when she suddenly grasped his hand and asked with a warm smile, “How many months along are you?”
So that’s it…
The old woman had sharp eyes. Yu Zhi smiled helplessly. “Over three months now.”
She gazed tenderly at his belly. “How wonderful.”
–
“Mother! Thanks to these young men, the wheat in the field is all harvested!” A deep voice, tinged with delight, reached Yu Zhi’s ears.
Yu Zhi looked up.
Coincidentally, it was the farmer from earlier.
Behind him followed Luo Tingshi and several guards, each carrying bundles of wheat on their shoulders as they approached. Even in this attire, Luo Tingshi radiated an unmistakable air of nobility.
They carried the wheat into the courtyard.
Moments later, Luo Tingshi strode out of the courtyard, approached Yu Zhi, and took his hand with concern. “How are you? Thirsty? Hungry? Has the child been troubling you?”
Yu Zhi withdrew his hand. “Is all the wheat harvested?”
Luo Tingshi replied, “All of Brother Li’s fields are done.”
Yu Zhi looked up at the thickening dark clouds and worried, “It looks like rain. I see quite a bit of wheat still standing over there. We must finish harvesting before the rain comes.”
An old woman chimed in from the side, “That’s Widow Zhang’s field. Her husband died years ago, and her child just started crawling. She’s all alone at home. She probably won’t finish harvesting it. Big Ox, go help her quickly.”
“Got it! Mother, I’m on my way!” Li Daniu gulped down a bowl of water, hurriedly picked up the sickle from the ground, and ran off in that direction.
Yu Zhi instructed the others, “You all go too.”
Luo Tingshi said, “It’s about to rain. Go rest at Brother Li’s house. Don’t get caught in the rain.”
The old woman smiled, “Go without worry. Your wife is in my care.”
Yu Zhi: “…”
Luo Tingshi’s face broke into a broad smile. He bowed to the old woman and climbed up the pole: “Thank you, Grandma. My wife is in your care.”
With that, Luo Tingshi rose and left. Yu Zhi glared at his retreating back and explained to the old woman: “He’s not my husband.”
The old woman shook her head with a smile, assuming the young couple was just bickering.
–
Half an hour later, a fierce wind howled, and rain pelted the courtyard, forming a curtain of water.
Yu Zhi sat in the main hall, anxiously watching outside.
Soon, several dark figures broke through the curtain of rain and dashed under the eaves. Yu Zhi’s eyes lit up. He rose and approached Luo Tingshi, who stood soaked to the bone. But he suddenly stepped back.
“Don’t worry, all the wheat was harvested before the rain. Go inside quickly. Don’t let my dampness rub off on you.”
Yu Zhi glanced at him before heading inside. “Change your clothes. Drink some ginger tea later to warm yourself up. Don’t catch a chill.”
Luo Tingshi detected the concern in Yu Zhi’s voice, and a slow smile spread across his dark eyes.
Dusk was approaching, yet the sky remained thick with clouds, the downpour showing no sign of letting up anytime soon.
Yu Zhi decided they would make do for the night in the village. The Li household couldn’t accommodate everyone, so Physician Zhang and several guards went to stay elsewhere.
After dinner, Yu Zhi retired to his room to rest. Luo Tingshi brought in a basin of water and placed it by the bed. He removed Yu Zhi’s shoes and socks, then looked up at him and asked, “Did you eat enough earlier? Should I go back to the city and buy you some more food?”
Yu Zhi shook his head. “It’s unnecessary. You’ve worked hard today too. You should rest early.”
Luo Tingshi smiled warmly at him. “The Emperor cares about me. I’m very happy.”
Yu Zhi glared at him but said nothing.
Luo Tingshi held Yu Zhi’s feet, meticulously washing every inch with intense focus.
Yu Zhi stared at those broad, not-particularly-fair hands—thick knuckles, veins winding across the backs. Years of martial training had left calluses on his palms and fingertips, now gently rubbing the soles of Yu Zhi’s feet.
The roughness made Yu Zhi’s skin tingle slightly. He lifted his foot, pressing his toes against the man’s wrist beneath his rolled-up sleeve, and ordered Luo Tingshi, “Hurry up.”
Water droplets rolled down the pale instep, landing on Luo Tingshi’s wrist. His throat moved slightly.
Moments later, he lifted Yu Zhi’s foot from the water, dried the droplets, then rose to empty the basin. Having exerted himself considerably today, Luo Ting was drenched in sweat. With no time for formalities, he drew a basin of water, slipped off his coarse cotton tunic, and hastily rinsed himself.
Once the chill had left his body, Luo Tingshi returned to the room. His gaze swept over the neatly folded wide-sleeved robe beside the bed. He extinguished the lamp, climbed into bed, and drew the person lying on the inner side of the bed into his embrace.
The bed was extremely narrow, too small even to turn over. Luo Tingshi held the person in his arms tightly. In the darkness, their breaths were clearly audible to each other.
Yu Zhi couldn’t quite fall asleep.
The man’s warm breath brushed against his neck, stirring a flicker of restlessness within him. Suddenly, a series of violent thuds pierced through the downpour and reached Yu Zhi’s ears, followed by the muffled, fine gasps of a woman.
Yu Zhi’s body stiffened.
The neighbors next door—Li Daniu and his wife—were…
After a day of exhaustion, they still possessed such energy. Yu Zhi felt a surge of admiration. Thunder roared, yet the sounds grew clearer and clearer. Yu Zhi’s mouth grew dry.
“Your Majesty…” The man’s hoarse voice brushed against Yu Zhi’s ear, their intertwined arms growing uncomfortably hot.
Yu Zhi turned his head. Amidst the thunder and rain, he heard his own voice ring out.
“Luo Tingshi, I demand your presence in my bedchamber.”
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