The rain had stopped, and it was time to return to the city.
Before departure, the Li family came out to see them off.
Li Daniu held out several fish to Luo Tingshi. His face, weathered dark by years of farm labor, wore a simple smile. “Young man, thanks for your help yesterday. I caught these fish by the river. Your wife is expecting—let him nourish himself.”
Yu Zhi sighed, pressing his hand to his forehead.
He couldn’t fathom why this family was so convinced he and Luo Ting were husband and wife.
Despite his repeated explanations yesterday, it took Li Daniu’s mother a while to accept he was a man. Yet the Li family didn’t seem overly surprised—after all, the world was full of wonders, and men of the Yu royal family could bear children.
They simply assumed he possessed a special bloodline.
But when he declared he had no connection whatsoever to Luo Tingshi, not a single soul took his words seriously.
Yu Zhi watched as Li Daniu pulled Luo Tingshi aside. Their hushed conversation drifted clearly into his ears.
“Young man, your wife seems like a kind soul. He must be upset with you, that’s why he’s giving you the cold shoulder. In marriage, don’t always worry about saving face. Know when to back down. Your wife is pregnant. You need to be more accommodating and comfort him. Marital quarrels don’t last overnight. If you cheer him up, he’ll stop sulking.”
“Thank you for your advice, Brother Li. I’ll take it to heart and treat my wife well.”
Yu Zhi: “…”
Their mistaken identity was one thing, but what was truly infuriating was Luo Tingshi, who had taken quite a few verbal liberties these past two days.
Hmph.
Yu Zhi lifted his chin slightly and addressed the man, “It’s time to return to the city. Come on, hurry up.”
Li Daniu chuckled, “Your wife’s urging you along. Go on, go.”
Luo Tingshi thanked Li Daniu before carrying the fish toward Yu Zhi. The little kitten nestled in Yu Zhi’s embrace twitched its ears, tugging at Yu Zhi’s sleeve to peek out. Spotting the plump fish in Luo Tingshi’s hands, it meowed excitedly.
Luo Tingshi raised an eyebrow. “That’s not for you to eat.”
Yu Zhi smiled and patted the little head nestled in his arms. “You greedy little thing, you can’t eat this yet.”
The kitten seemed to understand his words, letting out a dejected “meow” before curling back into Yu Zhi’s embrace. It had been pulled back from the brink of death by Physician Zhang, but its body was still too weak and sickly, requiring careful nurturing for some time.
Yu Zhi intended to take this kitten home to raise.
“Brother, can I come visit the kitten later?” ” Li Huanhuan trotted up to Yu Zhi, tilting her head up to look at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
Yu Zhi bent down to meet her gaze, his voice gentle. “Of course you can.” He removed the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to the little girl. “If you wish to see it, take this pendant to the Prefectural Governor’s residence. Someone there will guide you to me.”
Li Huanhuan let out a cheer and flashed Yu Zhi a sweet smile. “Thank you, Brother.”
Yu Zhi’s eyes curved into a gentle smile.
This scene fell into Luo Ting’s eyes. A swelling sensation rose in his chest, as if something was stirring, trying to burst out from within.
Strange.
Luo Tingshi raised his hand to cover his chest. Beneath his palm, his heart beat with surprising force. He carefully felt this unfamiliar emotion, lowering his gaze to ponder its origin.
He knew it was because of Yu Zhi.
But why?
“What’s wrong?” Yu Zhi bid farewell to Li Huanhuan and passed by Luo Tingshi. Noticing the peculiar expression on his face, his gaze instinctively fell on the spot Luo Tingshi was covering. Yu Zhi frowned. “Are you ill?”
Luo Tingshi snapped back to awareness and flashed him a smile. “Nothing matters.”
“Oh.” Yu Zhi said nothing more, brushing past him to step through the wooden gate and leave the small courtyard.
Doctor Zhang and his entourage were waiting outside. A chilly wind blew in gusts. The kitten in Yu Zhi’s arms burrowed spontaneously into his sleeve, burying itself completely.
Yu Zhi couldn’t help but chuckle. He withdrew his gaze from the kitten and scanned his surroundings, instantly facing a dilemma.
The road after the downpour was muddy and treacherous, offering no solid footing.
Yu Zhi lifted the hem of his robe, carefully navigating around a small puddle directly ahead.
The guard hurried forward, extending his arm. “Let me support you.”
Yu Zhi raised his hand, about to take the guard’s arm, when suddenly someone intercepted him midway. A large, calloused hand forcibly took his, then swept around his waist, half-lifting him into an embrace.
“Let me,” a deep voice murmured in his ear.
Yu Zhi turned his head to see the familiar, handsome profile. He frowned, displeased. “Luo Tingshi, you’ve overstepped.”
Truly incorrigible.
He still thought of himself as some lofty emperor, never bothering to ask for Yu Zhi’s thoughts, always forcing his own will upon him.
Yu Zhi hated this trait most of all.
Seeing Yu Zhi’s anger, Luo Tingshi immediately released him, bowing and offering his arm. “My mistake. May I walk with you?”
Yu Zhi’s eyes darted, and he reached out to take the arm of the guard beside him, giving a light snort. “Not necessary.”
Luo Tingshi looked up in confusion. The sight of their linked arms suddenly caught his eye. A flash of ferocity shot through Luo Tingshi’s eyes. His dark gaze slowly shifted to Yu Zhi, his aura growing intensely cold, his face turning ashen.
The guard shuddered in fright. Yu Zhi sensed his fear and patted the guard’s arm reassuringly.
Luo Tingshi caught Yu Zhi’s subtle gesture out of the corner of his eye. His eyes darkened, his thin lips tightened into a line, and his expression grew even more terrifying.
“Luo Tingshi, who are you trying to intimidate?” Yu Zhi shot him a glance, his expression tinged with displeasure.
He was displeased, and so was the Emperor.
Luo Tingshi fixed his gaze on Yu Zhi, stepping closer. His lips brushed against Yu Zhi’s ear, his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear: “You promised me. If I withdrew my troops, you wouldn’t involve yourself with other men. Are you going back on your word?”
Yu Zhi: “?”
He couldn’t help but curse under his breath: “Luo Tingshi, are you out of your mind?”
What did he mean by “involving yourself with other men”?
Was a guard helping him up considered involvement?
Yu Zhi laughed bitterly.
Luo Tingshi’s voice was deep and grave: “I have never touched another man or woman. You are the only one for me. I can overlook your past, but from now on, only I may be by your side.”
As he spoke, a faint prickling sensation touched Yu Zhi’s ear.
It was the scab formed where Luo Tingshi’s lips had been bitten the day before.
The medicine from Physician Zhang worked wonders—the slap mark on Luo Tingshi’s face had vanished by yesterday morning. But the flesh on his lips would likely take several days to heal and grow new skin.
Yu Zhi, a king’s word is final.
The moment Yu Zhi withdrew his hand, the guards, as if granted a reprieve, dashed back in a flash, hiding behind several others to avoid that terrifying gaze.
Luo Tingshi, having gotten his wish, pulled Yu Zhi back into his embrace. The chill around him gradually dissipated. He squeezed the fingers in his palm and said, ” This path is treacherous. I’ll carry Your Majesty.”
Yu Zhi shook his head. “Wouldn’t carrying me make you even more vulnerable?”
Luo Tingshi smiled. “Rest assured, I won’t let anything happen to you or your father.”
With that, he bent down and scooped Yu Zhi into a horizontal carry.
Yu Zhi: “…”
He couldn’t be bothered to argue.
Yu Zhi wrapped his arms around Luo Tingshi’s neck, settling into a comfortable position against his chest as he pondered the unusual look Luo Tingshi had worn moments ago.
What was wrong with him?
Yu Zhi had never seen Luo Tingshi like this before.
A faint worry stirred within him.
Leave a Reply