The faint-colored lips were right in front of him. The Regent had intended to tease the Emperor, wanting to see the young Emperor’s shocked and angry expression. Little did he know that he himself was distracted first. He stared fixedly for a while, closed his eyes, and cautiously approached.
He remembered well the expression of the other self kissing those lips. What kind of delicacy and pleasure was it that made him so fond of it?
Was it sweet or fragrant? Lips intertwined with tongues, was there no disgust?
But before he could touch the lips, he was thrown to the ground. Pain spread throughout his body, and the Regent’s breath came out thick and hot, a bloody taste rushing from his throat to his mouth. “The dogs around you are truly more loyal than one another.”
The Chief Guard looked at him warily, sword drawn and blocking in front of him.
The Regent coughed a few times, blood spilling from his mouth. He wiped his mouth and unexpectedly chuckled, “It’s been a long time since I’ve been injured.”
His every move gave Gu Yuanbai an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Combining it with what he had said earlier, Gu Yuanbai had a ridiculous idea. He ordered the Chief Guard to step back and walked up to Second Young Master Xue himself, looking down on him.
He wanted to see through this outer shell into the soul inside.
“Get out.” After a long while, Gu Yuanbai gave the order.
The palace servants in the room left as instructed, even thoughtfully closing the door. Gu Yuanbai lifted his robe, bending down to grab Second Young Master Xue’s neck. “What were you just doing? Wanting to kiss me?”
The Regent honestly replied, “That was my original intention.”
Gu Yuanbai sneered coldly and tightened his grip. “What kind of creature are you?”
“Your thing to sleep with,” the Regent lowered his voice, “a spirited beauty is interesting, with its own flavor.”
Gu Yuanbai looked at him coldly, already leaving a mark on Second Young Master Xue’s neck with his hand. The Regent struggled to breathe, then continued, “But not anymore.”
The hand on his neck froze.
The Regent grinned, even though his skin was mediocre, now revealing a hint of evil. “It’s not that I don’t want to, but this skin doesn’t deserve to touch you.”
He laboriously lifted his hand to cover the mark on his neck, his touch cool, weaker than even this bleeding man.
The body of a thousand gold pieces needed good care.
For a moment, the Regent’s thoughts drifted. He finally found something better about himself than the world’s Xue Yuan. At least he was above ten thousand people, holding power over the land and countless treasures. If anyone could enjoy the world’s delicacies, it would only be him.
If he were to care for the person before him, perhaps only someone with overwhelming power like him could do so.
The Regent’s mood suddenly became somewhat pleasant, but Gu Yuanbai abruptly asked, “If we’re talking about skin, isn’t Zihu’s skin the most suitable?”
He couldn’t help but add a sting.
This person claimed to be Xue Yuan, though it seemed bizarre, Gu Yuanbai subconsciously thought of the Regent Xue Yuan from the original book.
Gu Yuanbai possessed Xue Jiuyao, his present and future, but occasionally wondered what would happen if he didn’t exist and Xue Yuan was with Chuu Wei.
Thinking of this made him uncomfortable, but he couldn’t speak out because it had never happened.
The Regent frowned, wondering if this emperor, who occupied “him,” still had affection for Chu Zhihui?
Originally in a good mood, his heart sank. “Chu Zihui?”
“Your Majesty, you are still young,” the Regent kindly advised, like an elder teaching a younger generation, “inevitably mesmerized by skin. You may think Chu Zihui’s skin suits you, but in my opinion, he is no match for Xue Jiuyao in height and strength.”
He sighed, “There’s no need to think about the cold face.”
While belittling Chu Wei’s appearance, he modestly praised himself.
The Regent couldn’t help but complain about his other self.
How could he not control even one man, let alone let him think of other men?
If he didn’t listen, he would act to make him obedient, tie his legs and tie his hands, such a simple truth, don’t you understand?
Gu Yuanbai was startled, then looked at him strangely, up and down, “What do you mean by that?”
The Regent said leisurely, “Apart from Xue Jiuyao in the world, no one can match you.”
Gu Yuanbai understood. He glanced at Second Young Master Xue with a complex expression before calling the people outside into the room.
The Regent’s gaze followed him, trying to discern what it was about the emperor that the other version of himself could fall in love with. He scrutinized him carefully—his frail build, overly delicate features, fine eyebrows, and faint lip color.
The world was full of beautiful people, and the Regent had seen more than his share. No matter how he looked at the emperor, he couldn’t help but find him somewhat plain.
Gu Yuanbai sensed his gaze and turned his head, his eyes meeting the Regent’s.
It was as if black-and-white ink painting was suddenly splashed with color. His dark eyes and pale lips burst vividly into view, filling the Regent’s vision, leaving behind nothing but the image of a living, breathing Gu Yuanbai.
A moment later, the emperor had already walked out, but the Regent remained rooted in place, stunned, his head bowed as he uncertainly looked toward his own chest.
—
Gu Yuanbai stood in the corridor for a moment, lost in thought. The sound of footsteps splashing through water came from afar. When he looked up, Xue Yuan was rushing over with his men, carrying not only rain gear but also some food.
“Why are you standing here?” Xue Yuan quickly stepped onto the corridor, his robes damp at the hem from the rain. “So clingy, missing me after just a short time apart?”
Gu Yuanbai rolled his eyes at him. Xue Yuan chuckled, trying to coax him. “I’m soaked and chilled; I shouldn’t get too close to you. It looks like this rain will last until nightfall, and it’s almost time for lunch. Eat something warm first while I change my clothes.”
Gu Yuanbai nodded approvingly. “No rush. Let’s eat together after you change.”
Xue Yuan suppressed a smile and feigned a calm cough. “Alright.”
He hurried back to his room, changed into dry clothes, and returned to take Gu Yuanbai’s hand so they could dine together. Meanwhile, Second Young Master Xue slowly climbed into his wheelchair, rolling himself out of the room and quietly watching them as they walked away.
Only when the two figures ahead had disappeared did he start to move, slowly and quietly following after them.
Xue Yuan was sneakily taking advantage of the Emperor while feeding him, having just stolen a kiss when he saw Second Young Master Xue staring at them motionlessly from the doorway.
Xue Yuan and Second Young Master Xue locked eyes for a moment. Second Young Master Xue smiled politely, but his words were crude, “Did that kiss feel good?”
Xue Yuan didn’t get angry right away. Instead, he turned to Gu Yuanbai with a smile, masking the boiling fury inside, “Your Majesty, please continue eating. I’ll have a word with my dear brother.”
Gu Yuanbai patted his hand lightly, “Go ahead.”
Xue Yuan got up, smiling as he pushed Second Young Master Xue’s wheelchair away. A quarter of an hour later, he returned, drenched and wearing a fresh set of clothes, the scent of blood meticulously washed away so that Gu Yuanbai wouldn’t suspect a thing.
Gu Yuanbai, aware of everything but feigning ignorance, calmly continued eating. “Jiuyao, in a few days, will you accompany me to pay respects to Wan Taifei?”
Xue Yuan responded solemnly, “Certainly.”
—
The Regent awoke from searing pain, instinctively coughing, but after a few coughs, he realized something was off.
Outside, a group of servants waited cautiously. “My Lord, would you like us to attend to you?”
Inside, the room was exquisitely decorated, fragrant with incense. The Regent got out of bed, his broad chest half-exposed, his legs strong and intact.
Was it all just a dream?
The Regent stood there for a long while, the flickering candle casting a shadow on the wall.
When Chu Wei was invited into the Xue residence, he found the Regent drinking alone under the moonlight, the table in disarray with empty wine flasks. Chu Wei’s expression remained unchanged as he sat down beside him, pouring himself a drink.
After several silent cups, the Regent suddenly spoke, “Chu Zihu, the late emperor died young, and I only remember his name as Gu Lian.”
Chu Wei responded calmly, “He was the current Emperor’s uncle.”
The Regent paused, his drinking hand halting, and after a long moment, he drained his cup. “Do you know, if he hadn’t died, the world would be a different place, and I would be a different person?”
A peaceful world, unscarred by trials. Government officials would live steadily, not trembling under his authority.
Chu Wei rarely smiled, “My Lord, have you not yet awoken from your dream?”
After finishing his drink, the Regent felt an inexplicable melancholy. He rubbed the wine cup for a long time before finally saying, “Perhaps.”
Fortunately, it was just a dream, and fortunately, it only lasted a few days—not long enough for him to lose himself in it.
The Regent stood up, looking up at the bright moon, and felt a sudden surge of emotion. He recited loudly, “The bright moon shines, the river flows far.”
But after those lines, he suddenly faltered, shaking his head with a smile and grabbing the wine flask as he walked away.
“The bright moon shines, the river flows far. If I truly loved someone, I’d give them as much of my affection as this.”
—The End—
Dear translator, thank you for your hard work! I’ve been waiting for this novel for a long time and I have to say it was totally worth it. Such a pleasant surprise! Gu Yuanbai won me over from the beginning and even though I wanted to slap Xue Yuan during the first part of the story, he really became the most loyal boyfriend.