Their eyes remained locked.
Xiao Yun said nothing.
His gaze slowly drifted from Xie Caiqing’s wet, dark eyes to his soft lips, weighing something, as if instinct and reason were locked in silent battle.
Before one could win, Xie Caiqing suddenly came to his senses. His gaze scattered in panic. He dropped his eyes and his long, dark lashes fluttered violently.
“…I-I admit my mistake. I’ll never dare again. My heart is always with Your Majesty—it’s just that my body acted on its own…”
“Whether Your Majesty marries me or not, your happiness is what matters most…”
Despite his obvious embarrassment, his messy thoughts written all over his face, his eyes were still full of admiration and reverence—as though Xiao Yun were a flawless deity, a righteous saint, the noble man who had saved his life without taking advantage.
Xiao Yun remained silent for a long time, then suddenly stepped back with a frown.
“Enough. Let that be a lesson. Go back.”
Xie Caiqing slowly got up from the table, rubbed his sore wrists, and whispered, “Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.”
“You act well enough. This’ll keep you from being ostracized. Go home and fake illness for a couple of days.”
With that, Xiao Yun turned and strode into the inner chamber without looking back.
Xie Caiqing watched him leave.
A small, victorious smile crept onto his lips.
Serves him right for bullying me.
….
As the court officials outside Xiao Yun’s sleeping quarters dispersed, Xie Caiqing was quietly led out by the Changling Guards.
He was guided only a few steps before reaching a simple and unassuming carriage. Xie Zhe lifted the curtain and said, “I happen to be heading home, so I’ll take you back along the way.”
Xie Caiqing nodded. “Thank you, Commander.”
Worried that Xie Caiqing was in pain, Xie Zhe bent down considerately and offered his hand to help him onto the carriage.
Xie Caiqing took his hand and stepped inside. Upon seeing a thick and long cushion laid across the seat opposite Xie Zhe, his expression shifted slightly.
Xie Zhe said warmly, “You can lie down. No need to be embarrassed.”
“…” Xie Caiqing hesitated. “Caiqing…”
Xie Zhe assumed he was just shy and put on a stern face. “I specifically had this prepared for you. If you don’t use it, you won’t be accepting my goodwill.”
Xie Caiqing: “…”
The carriage curtain fell, leaving only the two of them inside.
Since Xie Zhe was someone close to the emperor, he would naturally know what had happened. Xie Caiqing softly said, “Caiqing wasn’t beaten with the paddle.”
He leisurely sat down on the cushion, his face showing no sign of pain—he truly didn’t look like someone who had just been punished.
Xie Zhe was momentarily stunned.
Not beaten?
“Did His Majesty make you take off your trousers and stand as punishment?”
“…” Xie Caiqing shook his head.
Xie Zhe was even more confused. “Could it be that His Majesty didn’t punish you at all?”
Xie Caiqing had dared to say such things in front of the emperor in the Jinluan Hall. The emperor was not one to repay offense with kindness. Even if he found Xie Caiqing attractive and couldn’t bear to punish him severely, he would at least have given him a lesson to vent his anger.
“…He punished me.” Xie Caiqing’s face flushed, and he replied awkwardly, “Commander, please don’t ask.”
Seeing his expression, Xie Zhe was shocked.
No paddling, no forced standing, yet still punished in some other way… Could it be… the emperor made him eat the paddle?
The more Xie Zhe thought about it, the more complicated his expression became. With concern, he said, “You should rest well for the next two days. There’s no rush to return to the Hanlin Academy—I’ll put in a word for you.”
“Thank you—”
With a soft thud, something fell onto Xie Zhe’s boot.
Xie Caiqing’s eyes widened, and he quickly bent down to retrieve it, but Xie Zhe had already lowered his gaze and caught sight of the object.
A pure white bandage, about a palm wide and half an arm’s length, with a slightly raised center.
The atmosphere froze slightly.
Xie Zhe picked it up first, lightly weighing it in his hand. The central portion was padded, seemingly filled with sand, giving it some weight. Judging by the softness, it must have been stuffed with feathers for cushioning as well.
With a half-smile, Xie Zhe reached for Xie Caiqing’s other knee, and sure enough, he felt another similar bandage.
Xie Caiqing coughed lightly, met Xie Zhe’s gaze, and his face turned even redder. “Commander, please don’t tell His Majesty.”
“You sure know how to take care of yourself,” Xie Zhe teased. “Even put some effort into making these.”
He recalled the emperor’s previous comment about Xie Caiqing being good at pampering himself. Now it seemed to be true—he didn’t even dare to pull such a trick himself.
Wasn’t he afraid of being caught by the emperor on the spot?
Xie Caiqing pressed his lips together.
These were made by Taifei last night. She had insisted that he wear them this morning.
If he hadn’t firmly refused, he wouldn’t just be wearing knee pads—he’d have a cushion for his backside as well.
And Xiao Yun had caught him.
When Liu Yun dragged him out, the pads kept slipping down. When Xiao Yun was about to punish him, he had feared they would fall out.
Xie Caiqing tugged on Xie Zhe’s sleeve and whispered, “Commander, please don’t tell His Majesty.”
Xie Zhe chuckled. “Oh? The top scholar knew all this yesterday but didn’t tell me, causing me to almost get beaten up today. And yet you pamper yourself, knowing there might be punishment, so you protected your knees. Now you expect me to cover for you?”
“Caiqing was also helpless in the situation, but my heart is still with you.”
“Well, my heart is with you too. But I’m His Majesty’s man—helpless as well,” Xie Zhe sighed.
“…” Xie Caiqing tugged on his sleeve again.
Xie Zhe laughed heartily.
…
When Xie Caiqing returned home, he went to his study and pulled out a sheet of Xuan paper from his meticulously organized desk.
Beside him, Ru Shi silently and attentively ground ink.
Xie Caiqing picked up a brush made of white rabbit hair, dipped it in ink, and wrote:
“Royal Brother, it has been a month and a half since we last met, and I miss you dearly. Huaichu is well. I am writing to urge you to marry soon, so that Huaichu may gain a sister-in-law who will care for him. I promise to return within four and a half months at the latest. By then, I would love to have a niece or nephew. Please ease your mind and do not worry.”
His handwriting was elegant and neat, in delicate zanhua xiaokai script—graceful and refined, completely different from the bold strokes he had used in the imperial examination.
After finishing, he folded the paper and handed it to Ru Shi.
“Please have someone deliver this swiftly to my royal brother.”
Ru Shi asked, “Does the young Wangye have anything urgent to say?”
The letter’s main message was simply urging Jiang Huaiyi to get married and have children.
Xie Caiqing shook his head.
Ru Shi nodded in acknowledgment and left with the letter.
Xie Caiqing sighed and did a quick calculation. It was now early April. He had to return in August, which meant that if his plan went smoothly, he should confirm carrying Xiao Yun’s child by mid-July at the latest.
Sending this letter on horseback would take over half a month to reach his brother, meaning he would receive it around early May.
If his brother married immediately, within two weeks his sister-in-law could conceive. One and a half months later, the pregnancy could be confirmed—only then would there be a chance of beating Xiao Yun.
After finishing, Xie Caiqing sat upright, suddenly feeling how childish his actions were.
After all, it was the Great Ning Dynasty that had provoked Nanruo first…
…
At the hunting grounds, Xiao Yun dismounted with practiced ease. “Have you figured it out?”
Xie Zhe coughed lightly.
Xiao Yun smirked. “Yin Xian?”
“…Your Majesty is wise.”
“That b*stard.” Xiao Yun’s expression flickered darkly. “I was wondering where they got the nerve… So now every court official knows about that part of me?”
Xie Zhe held back a laugh. “Your Majesty is imposing and heroic—”
“Scram, scram, scram.”
“It’s time to discipline them properly. I’ve been too lenient before, and they’ve all forgotten how much trouble I can stir up.” Xiao Yun grinned.
“What about Yin Xian—”
“He likes staring at my crotch, doesn’t he? Transfer him to the Imperial Stables and have him shovel horse manure for a while.”
Xie Zhe: “…”
The Imperial Stables were responsible for the empire’s livestock and the rearing of the royal horses.
Xie Zhe silently mourned for Yin Xian.
The emperor’s affections came and went quickly. Once Yin Xian was out of sight, in ten days or half a month, the emperor would probably forget about him entirely.
Once he was sent to the Imperial Stables, chances were he wouldn’t be coming back.
“Understood. I’ll inform him to pack his things right away.”
Speaking of the Imperial Stables, Xie Zhe suddenly recalled something. As he walked back with Xiao Yun, he said, “Your Majesty, that beloved mare of yours that was pregnant last May is about to give birth in the next few days. Would you like to visit the stables and personally assist in the delivery?”
The emperor had spent years on horseback conquering the land, and horses were his most loyal companions.
With his medical expertise and love for horses, he was skilled at delivering foals and had successfully assisted in many difficult births.
“That’s fine,” Xiao Yun replied casually.
After a few seconds, he asked, “Which horse?”
“…” Xie Zhe answered, “The pitch-black one with a tuft of white on its head. You named it Hei Ze.”
“A few days ago, I ran into the Minister of the Imperial Stables. He told me that Bai Ze’s belly is huge. They suspect it might be twins, and they’re worried about a difficult birth. The veterinarians have been preparing for days.”
Horses usually gave birth to a single foal per pregnancy. A twin birth was as rare as triplets in humans.
“Got it.” Xiao Yun asked offhandedly, “And who’s the father?”
“The tallest and whitest stallion Your Majesty owns.”
Xiao Yun chuckled. “A black and white pair? What kind of foal will that make? Hopefully, it won’t look like a zebra.”
Xie Zhe: “…”
Xiao Yun’s expression changed slightly. “Which horse exactly?”
“…The one Your Majesty carried Xie Caiqing in your arms the other day.”
Xiao Yun’s brow furrowed sharply. “Why bring him up?”
“What’s wrong?” Xie Zhe lowered his voice. “Did he fail to please Your Majesty?”
“It’s not that—wait.” Xiao Yun abruptly turned to him. “Please?”
Xie Zhe realized something. “Your Majesty didn’t…?”
Xiao Yun sneered. “My sister-in-law is pregnant with my elder brother’s child. Not only does she think I’m a gentleman, but the baby isn’t even three months along yet. Do you think I’d touch him?”
“…” Xie Zhe felt the whole story was becoming more absurd, but the logic was sound. “Then, Your Majesty will wait until the pregnancy stabilizes before—”
“Get lost!” Xiao Yun kicked him hard.
This whole situation had been frustrating him endlessly, making it hard to sleep and even causing some awkward bodily reactions. Xiao Yun prided himself on control, but this mess had thrown him off balance, making it difficult to focus on affairs of state.
He wasn’t one to overthink things. Instead of getting tangled up in it, he preferred to cut it off cleanly. With a scowl, he ordered, “Go find him later and tell him not to come again. I have no shortage of attendants. He can stay put in the Hanlin Academy.”
Xie Zhe was startled—Xie Caiqing had fallen out of favor.
Thinking about it, it made sense. With Xiao Yun’s temperament, he wouldn’t force someone who was unwilling. He would find it tedious if someone cried and resisted. Mistreating others was fine, but being snubbed himself? That was unacceptable.
Besides, he was practically being worshiped.
The emperor had never been one to be blinded by lust. There were plenty of other amusements to replace this.
As for chasing someone? Since when had an emperor ever done that? And for a man, no less?
Not seeing him was the easiest way to resolve the matter.
Xie Zhe tested the waters. “Your Majesty won’t see him again?”
“Mhm.”
“What if he gives birth?”
Xiao Yun didn’t respond.
“What if the child is lost? What if he divorces your brother? What if he comes to pursue you?”
“Shut up!” Xiao Yun’s veins bulged on his forehead. “I said I won’t see him again. If he wants to give birth, that’s his problem—not mine.”
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