Chapter 136
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An hour later, the Emperor’s carriage stopped at the entrance of the Xue residence.
The Emperor got off the carriage, his expression somewhat stern. He received a respectful bow from Old General Xue before pulling up the corners of his lips and asking, “Minister Xue, I’m intruding today.”
Old General Xue was pleasantly surprised, “Your Majesty’s visit is an honor for me. I am doubly delighted.”
Gu Yuanbai smiled, then walked past him into the Xue residence. Old General Xue hurried to follow, while the bustling crowd behind them was in disarray. Gu Yuanbai walked swiftly, his tone neither happy nor angry, “Minister Xue, why hasn’t Xue Jiuyao come out to see me?”
Old General Xue’s expression stiffened, and he stammered, “He… he…”
Gu Yuanbai abruptly stopped in his tracks.
Old General Xue also stopped, and the Emperor turned his head from the side, his profile shrouded in sunlight, his expression concealed by shadows, but Old General Xue felt that the Emperor’s gaze weighed heavily on him, making him feel uneasy.
After a moment, the Emperor’s lips curved up, and he said softly, “When Minister Xue was in the North, Xue Jiuyao managed the entire Xue residence in the capital. A few months ago, when Wan Taifei passed away, I was in poor health, and he volunteered to serve in the court, taking care of everything personally. His diligent work as a general over the past few months, his consistent dedication, and his humility are truly commendable.”
Old General Xue naturally replied, “Your Majesty is too kind. It is his duty to do these things.”
“His duty?” Gu Yuanbai was still smiling, but the smile was colder, “Minister Xue, Xue Jiuyao’s actions align with my intentions. He is a promising talent for leading troops. By doing such trivial things in the court, don’t you feel that I am wronging him?”
General Xue couldn’t possibly think like that. He quickly shook his head, “It’s my son’s fortune to be able to serve in front of Your Majesty. If he violates any rules, Your Majesty can punish him directly. There’s no need to spare an old servant like me.”
Gu Yuanbai gave Old General Xue a deep look, then turned and continued walking forward, “Minister Xue, if you say so, I can rest assured. To be honest, Xue Jiuyao pleases me very much. In that case, he should return to the court in a few days.”
General Xue hesitated, “Your Majesty, this…”
As if he hadn’t heard, Gu Yuanbai asked again, “Minister Xue, where is Xue Jiuyao?”
“Let him come to see me,” as if he knew something, the Emperor’s eyes were dark and fixed on Old General Xue, his smile slow, “If he can’t see Your Majesty, Minister Xue, you’ll have to explain to me why.”
***
Xue Yuan was still locked in the ancestral hall. Old General Xue led the Emperor to the window of the ancestral hall, where they could see a blurry figure kneeling in the darkness.
Gu Yuanbai’s nose was sensitive, and the moment the window opened, he smelled the scent of blood.
A cold laugh.
Oh.
Xue Jiuyao was beaten.
The person Gu Yuanbai wanted to sleep with, the other half of the bed after half a month, was beaten by Old General Xue Ping using family discipline, and was bleeding.
“General Xue,” Gu Yuanbai’s tone changed as he looked at the figure in the darkness, and he said softly, “What did Xue Jiuyao do to make you so furious?”
A flash of embarrassment crossed Old General Xue’s face, and the pity he felt when he saw Xue Yuan’s appearance turned into anger again. He snorted, “Your Majesty, the boy is unruly and deserves punishment!”
“Deserves punishment?” These words lingered on Gu Yuanbai’s tongue.
Tian Fusheng, hearing the Emperor’s tone, felt his skin tense all over and cautiously took a step back.
But Old General Xue, who had not been with the Emperor for a long time, nodded unconsciously and said with suppressed anger, “If he doesn’t repent and apologize, he will stay in the ancestral hall.”
Gu Yuanbai chuckled softly.
This laughter was abrupt, and Old General Xue couldn’t help but glance sideways.
“General Xue,” the Emperor’s voice was calm, “The world belongs to me.”
He raised his finger, pointing gently at Xue Yuan in the ancestral hall. The hand tucked into his sleeve remained calm, “The world is mine, the people are mine. Naturally, Xue Jiuyao is also mine.”
The Emperor smiled and turned his head to look at Old General Xue with gentle eyes, “General Xue, without my permission, how could you treat him like this?”
Old General Xue was stunned in place, and after a while, he hurriedly explained, “Your Majesty, there are reasons for my actions.”
“General Xue,” the Emperor spoke with emphasis, “No matter what the reason, you should not have used such heavy-handed methods.”
“Heaven, earth, the monarch, parents, and teachers,” Gu Yuanbai turned back to the window and looked into the ancestral hall, “I understand that you are Xue Jiuyao’s father this time, so I won’t pursue it. But General Xue,” the Emperor’s voice suddenly became heavy, “A slap, a single strand of hair, you cannot touch him without my permission. What belongs to me, whether good or bad, I will discipline it myself. If others interfere, I will be very unhappy, and I will be very angry.”
“Do you understand?”
***
The door of the ancestral hall was opened from the outside.
Xue Yuan felt thirsty, his lips chapped. He raised his eyelids to look into the light, wondering if it was someone bringing food and water.
The sound of water from the teapot, mixed with the aroma of tea and the rich scent of food. Xue Yuan’s eyes widened slightly as he watched the Emperor step into the light, his cloak fluttering, and in an instant, it was draped over him.
The red cloak’s corners slowly fell, and Gu Yuanbai squatted in front of him, “Stunned?”
Xue Yuan: “Your Majesty…”
Gu Yuanbai raised his lips, and he scrutinized Xue Yuan from top to bottom.
Xue Yuan was originally strong and robust, and after spending a night in the ancestral hall, there was nothing particularly wrong with his face. He looked better than Gu Yuanbai had imagined. Gu Yuanbai was relieved and gently patted his palm. A palace attendant placed a delicate low table in front of Xue Yuan. The dishes in the food box were still steaming, and delicious food and hot soup were placed on it. A court physician stepped forward to examine the wounds on Xue Yuan’s body.
It wasn’t until someone handed Xue Yuan a pair of jade chopsticks that he came back to his senses. He looked at the Emperor sitting on the cushion on the floor for a long time before he opened his mouth to speak, “Why did Your Majesty come?”
Gu Yuanbai replied succinctly, “You should eat first.”
Xue Yuan wanted to laugh, but his laughter turned into a muffled cough in his throat. The physician behind him hurriedly said, “Lord Xue, take it easy, be careful not to disturb the wounds while moving. We will apply medicine for you. Don’t touch the wounds.”
“I understand,” Xue Yuan suppressed the cough with a sip of tea, his eyes never leaving Gu Yuanbai’s, and he wanted to laugh again, “Let’s eat, shall we?”
He picked up a hot piece of meat with his chopsticks from the dishes and put it in the Emperor’s bowl, “Your Majesty, have some too.”
Gu Yuanbai picked up his chopsticks and casually took a bite.
While the court physician was treating Xue Yuan’s injuries, Xue Yuan kept picking food for the Emperor. He loved meat the most in his life, and all the dishes he picked for Gu Yuanbai were his favorite meat dishes. These dishes were blandly cooked, and Gu Yuanbai grew tired of them. Just as he was about to tell Xue Yuan not to pick food for him anymore, he looked up and saw Xue Yuan chewing on a piece of vegetable leaf, looking at him with a silly smile.
Gu Yuanbai closed his mouth and ate the meat.
After eating and drinking, some minor wounds had been bandaged by the court physician. The palace servants arranged bedding in the ancestral hall, and Xue Yuan was helped to lie on it. The physician used a small blade to cut open the clothes behind him and treat the more severe wounds.
The scars from the wooden stick were all over his body, some were just bruises, and some were cuts. Gu Yuanbai stood by and watched, his face gradually darkening.
After the two physicians finished their busy work, Gu Yuanbai leaned down and lightly touched Xue Yuan’s back with his fingertips.
Xue Yuan’s back tensed up.
Gu Yuanbai thought he was in pain, so he lifted his finger, suppressing his voice, “He hit you, didn’t you know to run away?”
Xue Yuan buried his head in his arms, his muscles tense, his voice muffled, as if he were in great pain, “I had to let General Xue vent his anger.”
Gu Yuanbai’s expression was indifferent, “Indeed filial.”
“It’s not filial piety,” Xue Yuan turned his head, holding Gu Yuanbai’s fingers, and said softly, “Your Majesty, let everyone leave. I have something heartfelt to say to you.”
Gu Yuanbai looked at him for a moment and then instructed everyone to leave.
Once the ancestral hall doors were closed, the room was lit only by the candles left by the palace servants. Xue Yuan’s hand moved upward, encircling Gu Yuanbai’s hand, pulling him onto the bedding, and holding him in his arms.
He sighed deeply, “Your Majesty, do you know why General Xue is angry?”
Gu Yuanbai’s layered robes covered Xue Yuan’s body. He carefully avoided pressing on Xue Yuan’s injuries and said casually, “I don’t know.”
Xue Yuan laughed in his ear, deliberately lowering his voice as if revealing a great secret, “Because I told the old man…”
He whispered, “I have feelings for a man. Only he can arouse me, seeing him makes my whole body hot, and no one else can.”
Gu Yuanbai was taken aback, his ears starting to heat up.
“General Xue doesn’t believe it and wants my beloved to give him a grandson,” Xue Yuan gently touched Gu Yuanbai’s abdomen and teased, “What do you think, can my beloved give him a grandson?”
Gu Yuanbai slapped his hand away, cold and unfeeling. “Get lost.”
“Roll into the Emperor’s arms then,” Xue Yuan kissed the Emperor’s earlobe. “My beloved has quite the temper. Since General Xue brought it up, I think we should clarify things to prevent any scoundrels from suddenly appearing and trying to mess with my beloved.”
Gu Yuanbai’s eyebrows and eyes showed a hint of displeasure. “Xue Jiuyou, who has a bad temper?”
Xue Yuan chuckled softly, “I do, I have a bad temper.”
He lowered his head, his dry and rough lips moving against Gu Yuanbai’s cheek. “I’ve angered General Xue; the Xue residence might not even let me in. I can only follow you, Your Majesty. Wherever you go, I’ll go.”
Gu Yuanbai thought, as if I’d believe your nonsense?
“Believe it or not,” Xue Yuan seemed to hear his thoughts, speaking softly, “you can’t stop me from doting on you. Whatever you want, I’ll get it. I’ve already spoken frankly with my parents. Whether they listen or not is their business. More importantly, I want to know, Your Majesty, is my embrace comfortable?”
He tightened his hold on Gu Yuanbai.
The smell of blood became stronger. Gu Yuanbai tilted his neck back to breathe clean air, his fair neck taut in a beautiful line.
Xue Yuan pressed his forehead against him, his strong legs pinning him down, whispering repeatedly, “Gu Lian, Gu Lian…”
Too clingy.
He had a fever.
Gu Yuanbai cursed under his breath, “Let go.”
Xue Yuan’s arm went numb, his expression hidden behind him turned suddenly ferocious, his eyes blood-red, looking terrifying like a demon.
He pried open his fingers one by one, suppressing the terrifying expression on his face bit by bit. Gu Yuanbai got up and was about to call for the imperial physician.
When he was almost at the door, he suddenly asked, “Will your wounds heal in half a month?”
The faint blood color on Xue Yuan’s face faded, then his eyes lit up, “Yes!”
“Will there be scars on your back?”
Xue Yuan took a deep breath, “Absolutely not.”
“Then we’ll talk about it when the time comes,” Gu Yuanbai coughed softly. “Recover well. If you get better, then we can sleep together. It’ll be a chance to see what it feels like.”
“If you don’t heal well,” the Emperor looked back at him, raising an eyebrow, “then General Xue Jiuyou will have to lie in bed alone to recover.”
Gu Yuanbai couldn’t help but smile, “Pretending to be strong, you might not be able to handle me.”
His eyes smiled, sweeping over Xue Yuan on the ground like water. Xue Yuan felt his whole body go numb under that gaze. He watched the Emperor push open the door and call for the imperial physician.
Handle it?
Weak?
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It’s both romantic and hot!