Chapter 274
The impending imperial wedding kept the officials at the Ministry of Rites incredibly busy. Not only was the unprecedented formal union between two men enough to throw them off, but also the unpredictable demands of the new emperor made their tasks even more challenging. Non-compliance with regulations seemed to be rampant, and the officials feared that once the wedding was over, the Ministry of Rites would be forever tarnished in the annals of history.
Facing certain detailed issues, the Minister of Rites dared not make judgments and could only subtly approach Yue Chen for guidance.
Yue Chen gave a straightforward response, “Lord Lin’s prominence may overshadow His Majesty’s, and instead of blame, His Majesty might even reward you.”
Hearing Yue Chen’s answer, the Minister of Rites couldn’t help but wonder if he had lost his mind. Could anyone be so infatuated as to disregard the emperor’s honor? There were boundaries that should not be crossed between sovereign and subject. However, Yue Chen didn’t seem to be joking, leaving the Minister of Rites puzzled and skeptical.
Following Yue Chen’s advice, the Minister of Rites tentatively tested the waters several times, only to find that he had not incurred the emperor’s displeasure and, to his surprise, even received praise.
The Minister of Rites also realized that Lord Lin was easy to deal with and accommodative of almost everything. Sometimes he would wonder if their actions were too lax, but looking at the emperor behind Lord Lin, he dared not say anything. The emperor seemed determined to ensure that every detail was perfect and was unwilling to let Lord Lin suffer even the slightest grievance. They were not about who married into whom family but more about getting married to each other.
However, there was one thing the Minister of Rites had to disagree with the emperor on again, to the point where he couldn’t even meet the emperor’s gaze anymore.
It couldn’t be helped though. Tomorrow was the wedding day, and it really wasn’t appropriate for Lord Lin to remain in the palace. They were supposed to be apart for the three days before the wedding.
But now, with it dragging on until this moment, the emperor’s mood had plummeted rapidly after seeing off Lin Qingyang in the morning. It was so chilly that no one dared to act too hastily.
“Your Majesty, the schedule for tomorrow is set. Is there anything you think needs to be changed?”
But when Yuan Ran shot him a slightly discontented look, the Minister of Rites was suddenly at a loss for words.
“Changed? If only you could make time pass a bit faster…” Yuan Ran said, glancing out at the sundial beyond the window, wishing he could control time itself.
Every time Lin Qingyang left his side, it filled him with extreme unease. Since he regained his memory, whenever Lin Qingyang woke up, they were inseparable. It wasn’t just because Lin Qingyang almost left him alone to go out and play, but also because the gap between his memory loss and recovery gave Yuan Ran a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Especially during his forgotten period, when Lin Qingyang faced his coronation alone.
The coronation was special for them, a secret belonging only to the two of them.
He remembered Lin Qingyang saying that his coronation would determine Lin Qingyang’s fate. Whether to stay or leave, to live or die.
If successful, that divine power, beyond his imagination, would detach from Lin Qingyang, and he would truly gain freedom, truly belong to himself.
At such a critical moment, he didn’t even realize it. Just thinking about it made Yuan Ran feel extremely frightened. He hated himself for missing it so much that he wished time could rewind, allowing him to grab Lin Qingyang’s hand and face it together at that critical moment.
Unfortunately, he missed it. All he could do was continuously make his body warm to prove that everything wasn’t an illusion, that Lin Qingyang, who didn’t belong in this world, had truly stayed by his side.
But now Lin Qingyang had been gone for two hours, and his skin had turned cold. If it weren’t for the courtiers saying that parting for one night for the sake of auspiciousness was the bottom line, Yuan Ran wouldn’t have agreed to let go.
Yuan Ran had no intention of doing anything now; he just wanted time to pass quickly.
As for the courtiers, seeing their former diligent and caring Crown Prince, who now ruled the world as the Emperor, saying such whimsical and amusing things without any concern, it was disillusioning. But the Emperor seemed even more unpredictable than before, his natural aura overwhelming them with just a glance, leaving them breathless. They dared not say much and could only pretend not to notice.
The historian on the side recorded it truthfully but in a subtle manner: The Emperor, eyes full of expectation, mind full of thoughts.
Just then, Hua Luo brought news that Qi Ci had timely returned to the capital and was ready to enter the palace.
There was someone to see now, which was a good opportunity for Yuan Ran to pass the time quickly without Lin Qingyang.
Meanwhile, there was a lively scene in the separate courtyard, with lanterns and decorations adorning the place. The courtyard was transformed with red silk banners bearing the word “happiness.”
Guests came and went in a continuous stream, creating a festive atmosphere.
With the exoneration of the Liu family and the return of their titles, although Liu Jingchen and Liu Xiaowei no longer led armies and could not retain the title of Prince Zhenbei, Yuan Ran directly conferred them new titles as princes of different surnames: Prince Beirui, Liu Jingchen, and Prince Beiwu, Liu Xiaowei. In addition, there was the County Princess Yawen, the future empress, making the Liu family a prominent new aristocratic family in the capital.
Initially, some people felt uneasy, thinking that this would cultivate another powerful family. However, the subsequent actions of the Liu family dispelled everyone’s concerns.
Prince Beirui, Liu Jingchen, only held a nominal position, attending court sessions but not wielding real power. His main focus was on assisting the Emperor in expanding the commerce of the Great Zhou and managing the Chen Lan Merchant Agency. As for Prince Beiwu, Liu Xiaowei, he didn’t even return to the capital when he was conferred the title; he simply wandered outside as a carefree prince, bearing the title in name only.
In the end, the Liu family gained prestige and status but no real power.
People speculated that the Emperor was ultimately wise, knowing that he couldn’t allow the external relatives to grow too powerful, so he made arrangements discreetly.
In fact, they guessed wrong. It was all Liu Jingchen’s idea. Their family had already produced a male empress, which was a bold move that defied convention. To ensure Lin Qingyang’s future safety and prevent him from becoming a target of criticism, their whole family had to keep a low profile, never giving others any opportunity to seize power.
Even though he knew that Yuan Ran would unconditionally protect Lin Qingyang—he could tell from the exaggerated rewards he gave to the Liu family—Yuan Ran was eager to give Lin Qingyang the best of everything. Even if Lin Qingyang didn’t care, Yuan Ran insisted on it. But as the head of the Liu family, and Lin Qingyang’s cousin and brother-in-law, Liu Jingchen remained rational and paved the way for Lin Qingyang.
As evening fell, the members of the Liu family were still busy entertaining guests.
However, Lin Qingyang only hosted friends in his small courtyard and did not go out to meet others. Qi Yan, Pei Jin, Xinyue, and the Dai siblings were all there.
Among his friends, Qi Yan was probably the most bewildered. His Cousin Chu disappeared? His good friend was about to marry the Emperor? It felt like he was dreaming.
But Qi Yan was also very tactful and didn’t press for details. Since Qi Yan’s two older brothers had actively sided with Yuan Ran, the Qi family had also benefited. However, Qi Yan chose to be a laid-back person, even if his good friend was about to become the empress. He just wanted to relax and enjoy life.
Pei Jin and Xinyue were essentially forced to stay and witness the ceremony. Previously, they had been kept in the envoy’s place and couldn’t see Lin Qingyang. But at this point, Lin Qingyang could make requests freely, and Yuan Ran didn’t restrict him.
Pei Jin and Dai Xueyang hit it off right away, chatting happily. When Pei Jin heard that Dai Xueyang had been appointed as a military officer, she couldn’t help but show envy in her eyes.
Lin Qingyang hinted to Pei Jin that she could stay. Under Yuan Ran’s gradual reforms, there would definitely be opportunities for Pei Jin to use her skills and fulfill her dreams.
However, Pei Jin shook her head and refused. Perhaps she considered that her focus had shifted to the Western Moon Country and didn’t want to change it again. Or maybe she remembered the actions of the Pei family towards Yuan Ran in the past and felt that she didn’t fit in with the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Fortunately, the Western Moon Country was a small nation and didn’t have deeply rooted traditions like the Great Zhou Dynasty. If the Great Zhou Dynasty started promoting the appointment of women officials, the Western Moon Country would likely follow suit, especially since Prince Tagan was now in control, and Pei Jin was already considered his military strategist.
Since Pei Jin had her own plans for the future, Lin Qingyang naturally supported her and promised to help her if she needed anything. With them as her support, Pei Jin should be able to lead a freer and happier life in the future.
Xinyue had a bit too much to drink and kept complaining while holding Lin Qingyang’s arm. She seemed to harbor a strong dislike for Yuan Ran, as if Lin Qingyang had walked into a tiger’s den and been completely deceived, like a little fool. Lin Qingyang could only chuckle and indulge her like a younger sister.
At that moment, Dai Heng suddenly became alert and aimed his spear at the person who had jumped over the wall.
The two nearly started fighting, but Lin Qingyang quickly intervened and stopped them.
The intruder turned out to be Little Sister Huo. She had come with Mo Jiahui to deliver gifts, and since Mo Jiahui was being entertained by Lin Qinglan, Huo Xiaomei took the opportunity to seek Lin Qingyang’s help.
Upon hearing Little Sister Huo’s request, everyone present burst out laughing or choking on their drinks. They hadn’t expected Little Sister Huo to be even more impatient than her older brother. She actually hoped that the future empress could influence Yuan Ran directly to decree a marriage between Huo Luo and Yue Chen. It left everyone amused and bewildered.
In fact, Huo Luo had applied for it before, but it was blocked by Yue Chen. It wasn’t that Yuan Ran was unwilling to help; using his imperial authority to force both families’ elders was not appropriate. They could only wait until the two families resolved their grievances on their own. A marriage bestowed under such circumstances would be honorable, but otherwise, it would be seen as coercion.
So Lin Qingyang could only regretfully tell Little Sister Huo that the key lay in their families’ reconciliation.
Little Sister Huo was very disappointed. Despite her young age, she could hold her liquor well. She immediately resorted to drowning her sorrows in alcohol and even challenged Dai Heng. Both of them were skilled in martial arts, and they engaged in a heated fight in Lin Qingyang’s courtyard until Mo Jiahui came searching for them and separated the two, who were thoroughly engrossed in their sparring.
As it was late at night, they couldn’t linger for too long. After some laughter and banter, everyone retired to rest, awaiting the ceremony the next day.
With the guests gone, Yawen and Lin Qinglan came to give Lin Qingyang some final advice.
The news of Cousin Chu becoming the current emperor had taken them some time to digest, all the way from Jiangnan to the capital. Upon their return, they had only managed to meet Lin Qingyang once in the palace and had a brief conversation. They hadn’t had the chance to see him again until now.
The three of them sat down, and the joy on Yawen and Lin Qinglan’s faces faded, replaced by a palpable sense of concern as they looked at Lin Qingyang.
“Yang Yang, after becoming the empress, you must remember what Jingchen said. We, the Liu family, don’t seek power. We only hope that you can peacefully become the first male empress in history. If one day, the emperor’s heart changes, you must know when to advance and when to retreat.”
Lin Qingyang’s decision to become the male empress meant that he would not have any offspring in the future, effectively depriving the emperor of legitimate heirs. At first, County Princess Yawen truly saw this as a grave mistake, not just for the royal family, the Yuan clan, but also for Great Zhou. Naturally, they wouldn’t oppose Lin Qingyang being with the emperor, but they couldn’t risk the condemnation of the world. They were worried that Lin Qingyang might suffer as a result. Besides, throughout history, who could fully control the heart of an emperor?
The fact that Yuan Ran could salvage such a situation showed his profound thoughts, which were beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. They were genuinely concerned.
Lin Qingyang smiled understandingly, knowing his mother and elder sister’s worries, and said, “Yuan Ran mentioned to me before that he had expressed his intentions to you. Did you forget?”
Yawen remembered what Chu Lishu had said before, about ensuring that as long as he was with Lin Qingyang, he could live his whole life without marrying or having children. At that time, Chu Lishu’s identity made Ya Wen believe in such a promise. But now, with Emperor Yuan Ran, how could she still believe it?
Yawen shook her head. “The words spoken by an emperor are favorable to him. If they are not favorable, they should be forgotten. Now that you are with His Majesty without any boundaries, and you dare to address him directly by his name, I’m really worried that you might become arrogant due to favoritism. Remember, no matter how much His Majesty loves you, you must maintain a sense of propriety. He can grant you immense honor, but he can also take it away. Having a sense of propriety will help you better control your future.”
Lin Qingyang didn’t stop Yawen’s admonitions. In his mother’s eyes, these admonitions were necessary, and Lin Qingyang also appreciated the sentiment, patiently listening.
As they talked, the issue of offspring came up. Yawen and Lin Qinglan tactfully reassured Lin Qingyang that if Emperor Yuan Ran were to expand his harem and raise children in the future, as a male empress, he must be magnanimous.
Lin Qingyang dared not tell them that Yuan Ran had no intention of having a harem again and had grown to detest bloodline heirs, wishing to end the Yuan lineage. He was afraid that if he said so, Yawen and Lin Qinglan would bear an even greater psychological burden. All he could do was nod and say, “I understand. I will definitely not be jealous and will advise the emperor. If we have children, I will help raise them well.”
Just as they were speaking, a familiar sound of bells faintly drifted in from outside the window. Lin Qingyang was stunned, thinking he was imagining things. After all, he and Yuan Ran couldn’t meet, and he should be in the palace at this time.
Without dwelling on it too much, Lin Qingyang continued to reassure the others. After Yawen and Lin Qinglan bid farewell with red eyes, Cousin Liu came over for a visit.
“A gift,” Cousin Liu said handing something over to Lin Qingyang.
Lin Qingyang looked puzzled. “A gift isn’t usually delivered individually, is it?”
His cousin Liu wore a helpless expression. “It was sent by uncle through someone else. You’ll understand when you see it.”
Lin Qingyang’s expression shifted slightly.
Cousin Liu shook his head. “None of you can let me relax. You guys are really… Uncle doesn’t plan to return anytime soon. It seems he’s continuing his wandering plan.”
Lin Qingyang hurriedly asked, “Is he alone, or…”
“According to the messenger Flower Butterfly, he’s mostly traveling alone, but he stops by a small town in the south to rest for a few days every ten days.”
Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but smile. “Uncle is really a big help.”
After Cousin Liu finished his instructions for Lin Qingyang to rest early, he left to continue his business.
Alone in the room, Lin Qingyang slowly opened the box. Inside was a scroll, which didn’t seem like something his uncle would typically give as a gift.
As he unrolled the scroll, Lin Qingyang burst into laughter.
It was a landscape painting, depicting a beautiful scene with mountains, rivers, flowers, birds, and fish. Downstream from a small stream, there was a row of bamboo houses, where two silhouettes could be vaguely seen—one practicing martial arts, the other painting. They seemed carefree and content. Above the painting were some verses wishing congratulations for the imperial wedding, without any signature.
Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but hang up the painting and admire it. As he was enjoying it, there was another familiar sound of bells.
Lin Qingyang paused, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Come out, I can already hear the sound of your bells. No need to hide.”
Before long, the voice of Yuan Ran drifted down from the sky.
“Rules, can’t meet,” the voice sounded somewhat displeased, as if sulking.
“Then why did you come?” Lin Qingyang asked.
“I’ve missed you,” Yuan Ran responded directly.
Lin Qingyang felt a warmth in his heart, but also found it amusing. “Are you trying to find a loophole? As long as I can’t see you, you can watch me however you want, and it doesn’t break the rules?”
Yuan Ran grunted in frustration.
“Then why did you let Silver Rainbow make noise?” Lin Qingyang chuckled.
“You made me mad,” Yuan Ran grumbled.
Lin Qingyang: …What did he do this time?
Lin Qingyang thought for a moment, then surveyed the room. His gaze settled on the wedding robe beside him, the one he would wear tomorrow. Beside it, neatly placed in a box, was another set of phoenix robes with a veil.
Lin Qingyang took out the veil and covered his face with it. Just as his vision was obscured, he was pulled into someone’s embrace.
A familiar scent enveloped him, and the tight embrace was comforting.
Perhaps they had been too clingy these past few days. Lin Qingyang had to admit that after a few hours apart, he missed Yuan Ran just as much.
Yuan Ran found a loophole; Lin Qingyang countered with a bug.
“Where did this red veil come from?” Yuan Ran asked hoarsely.
“The Imperial Household Department made a phoenix robe according to the usual standards for empresses. Although it’s a men’s style and you still don’t like it, since it was already made, I accepted it as a keepsake.”
Consider it Lin Qingyang’s way of covering Yuan Ran with a red veil for once.
With these thoughts in mind, Lin Qingyang felt a bit shy. Just as he was about to speak, Yuan Ran suddenly released one hand and directly attacked the headscarf.
Lin Qingyang raised an eyebrow. Was he not going to play along? Actually, he didn’t mind these formalities. After all, their union was already quite unconventional.
But the next moment, Yuan Ran’s hand only grabbed the edge of the headscarf, adorned with tassels and pearls, slightly lifting it, revealing only half of Lin Qingyang’s face. Carefully, Lin Qingyang held it and then leaned in for a kiss.
The gentle kiss gradually intensified, making Lin Qingyang instinctively weak-kneed. Lately, he had gotten used to it.
With his eyes covered by the bright red headscarf, Lin Qingyang could only embrace Yuan Ran, relying on him to stand. Unconsciously, they ended up on the bed, until a certain someone’s hand started to wander. Lin Qingyang quickly pushed him away.
“Take it easy, do you still want to get married? If we’re not careful tomorrow, I don’t want to go out and become the subject of gossip.” Lin Qingyang pushed Yuan Ran away without much patience. Since Yuan Ran’s recovery, those days had felt like he was teetering on the edge of life and death every day. If it weren’t for various medicines researched by Muhui Chun to assist in nourishing him, his life would have surely been in Yuan Ran’s hands. Finally, he had a day of rest with great difficulties…. If he had known it would be like this, he wouldn’t have missed him.
“You don’t even miss me.” Yuan Ran’s refusal seemed to disappoint him, but in fact, every time Lin Qingyang’s physical strength waned, he would transmit internal energy to him, massage his body, so Lin Qingyang’s body could withstand his continuous affection. But even so, it wasn’t enough. He wanted more, like a greedy beast, never to be satisfied.
Yuan Ran held Lin Qingyang, rubbing his chin against the red headscarf on Lin Qingyang’s head, seemingly coquettish. But Lin Qingyang wasn’t falling for it anymore.
“I’m not as lustful as you. Let go quickly, don’t hug so tight, later you’ll feel uncomfortable yourself, I won’t take care of you.” Lin Qingyang was unusually firm.
“Just now, when you were joking with those people in the yard, and were chatting with Xinyue and Pei Jin. Throughout, you hardly mentioned me, obviously you don’t miss me.” Yuan Ran switched tactics, starting to complain.
“You came so early?” Lin Qingyang was surprised.
“You’ve been looking at Xu Wenze’s painting for so long, you didn’t even bother to look at my portrait. Obviously, you don’t miss me.” Yuan Ran continued.
Lin Qingyang chuckled, too lazy to argue with Yuan Ran’s unreasonable jealousy. “You recognized Xu Wenze’s painting at a glance. He’s currently… stuck. It’ll probably take him about ten years to realize his dream of traveling like my uncle. That’s fine. With my uncle looking out for him regularly, it’s safe. I wonder how they became friends. This time, Xu Wenze specially brought a gift to congratulate me, probably to reassure me.”
“He’ll leave when he leaves. Don’t dwell on him. Someone even used your nearly betrothed status against you…” Yuan Ran complained.
Lin Qingyang was truly helpless. He patted Yuan Ran’s back and said, “Alright, it’s getting ridiculous. I miss you, I think about you all the time, every day. Stop complaining.”
“What about the things your mother and sister said? How did you respond? Do you not believe me either? Didn’t Cousin Liu’s various actions pave the way for you? Isn’t it?”
Lin Qingyang reached out and pinched Yuan Ran’s cheek. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You know exactly what I think. I’ve devoted myself to you wholeheartedly. Why worry about those things? Just consider it comforting them. Are you upset about that?”
Yuan Ran playfully nibbled on Lin Qingyang’s wrist. “You should firmly refute them, tell everyone that you’ve enchanted me, that I can’t see anyone else, and I’ll never want children. You should act a bit spoiled.”
Thinking back to his thoughts during his amnesia, Yuan Ran couldn’t help but speak out.
Lin Qingyang chuckled at the teasing. “I’ll try to be a little spoiled in the future.”
Yuan Ran couldn’t resist kissing Lin Qingyang’s cheek through the veil, then asked, “And you? You weren’t originally interested in having children, but do you want your own now?”
“Well, my original family… It wasn’t really a family, and there wasn’t even genuine affection. I just wished for someone who belonged to me, someone who would always be with me. But that wasn’t possible, so I’ve always had a somewhat indifferent attitude toward such feelings. Now… if we could have a child together, I would want that child.”
“Our child?” Yuan Ran was momentarily taken aback.
Lin Qingyang smiled and asked, “What about you? Don’t you want that?”
Yuan Ran decisively stated, “No, I really don’t want to. I just want your attention to be focused on me, without adding another person into the mix.” For Yuan Ran, their current world, with so many outsiders involved, was already unsatisfactory. Adding another special blood relation would be even worse.
Well, Yuan Ran’s tone was very serious, and Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but feel relieved that he couldn’t have children. Otherwise, it would have been so pitiful for the child, with a father who didn’t even want them.
“Tell me about your world, I want to understand you better,” Yuan Ran greedily asked.
“There are no restrictions now, but it’ll take a while to explain. Are you not going back to the palace tonight?”
“I didn’t plan on it. I’ll just return tomorrow morning,” Yuan Ran replied, getting up and helping them both out of their outer robes. He then lay down with Lin Qingyang, face to face, and pulled the veil over his own head from behind, so Lin Qingyang wouldn’t feel suffocated while talking.
Lin Qingyang smiled as he looked at the man lying beside him with the veil covering his head. “I suddenly remembered the time at Wuxin Mountain. You really amazed me back then.”
“So, does that mean you prefer the appearance of Chu Lishu?” Yuan Ran seized the opportunity to ask.
Lin Qingyang knew it was a trap but decided to play along. “I like both.”
Yuan Ran grunted in response.
Lin Qingyang chuckled and kissed the veil covering Yuan Ran’s face before slowly recounting some modern things. Yuan Ran listened quietly, and although Lin Qingyang wasn’t sure how much he understood, the process of telling him made Lin Qingyang feel relieved, as if revealing the final secret before marriage to his chosen partner.
“Is there….. really such magical places, Qingyang?” Yuan Ran paused for a moment. “Coming here, won’t you feel constrained?”
Lin Qingyang smiled. “Not at all. I’ve gained familial love, friendship, and romantic love here. How could I feel constrained?”
Yuan Ran couldn’t help but hold Lin Qingyang tighter. “I will make Great Zhou even better, so you won’t have any regrets.”
Lin Qingyang leaned against Yuan Ran’s forehead. “As long as you’re here, I’ll never regret anything.”
Feeling Lin Qingyang’s affection, Yuan Ran’s heart trembled. His body was still burning with desire, but considering tomorrow’s wedding and Lin Qingyang’s condition, he suppressed it with inner strength, trying to distract himself. “I really want to… see your world.”
It was originally just an exclamation, but suddenly Lin Qingyang seemed to freeze. “Maybe… there might be a way.”
Lin Qingyang remembered the special medicines he had exchanged for. At the time, he had randomly selected them, and later during inventory, there was one that cost him five hundred points and seemed utterly useless. However, it might have another purpose.
Lin Qingyang got up and fetched the “Dreaming Pill.”
“It’s said to weave dreams for one person, and if two people share one, they can enter each other’s dreams. It’s like having a normal sleep. If I weave dreams about my world, wouldn’t you be able to see it? Do you want to give it a try?”
Originally, Yuan Ran was worried about some strange method, not wanting to take any risks. But if it was just dreaming, it seemed harmless. Since he couldn’t do much tonight anyway, why not dream and pass the time while exploring Lin Qingyang’s world?
Yuan Ran took the pill, placed it in his mouth, and lifted a part of the veil to kiss Lin Qingyang. During the kiss, they shared the Dreaming Pill.
The effects of the medicine quickly took hold, and the two embraced each other and drifted off to sleep.
But when Lin Qingyang opened his eyes, he was dumbfounded.
“Bowing to Heaven and Earth.”
A couple knelt slowly before the heavens and the earth amidst the lively atmosphere, and he was one of the newlyweds, still wearing a mask, holding the slender and soft hand of someone different from Yuan Ran, it was Chu Lishu’s hand.
And the surroundings were obviously the Wuxin Mountain stronghold.
Damn! This dream isn’t right!
Too unreliable!
Lin Qingyang was bewildered, but followed the dream to continue the ceremony. He couldn’t help but lament that the Dreaming Pill was really hard to control. They probably discussed Wuxin Mountain before going to sleep, and covering themselves with the red veil triggered their memories, leading to this dream. He didn’t know if it could be changed halfway through.
Lin Qingyang tried to think about modern things, but the surroundings remained unchanged. With no other choice, Lin Qingyang could only relax and continue dreaming.
However, it had been a long time since he had seen Yuan Ran in the guise of “Chu Lishu.” At this moment, Chu Lishu was still shorter than himself. Thinking about it, it was quite amusing.
Yuan Ran must be feeling confused right now too, Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but squeeze Chu Lishu’s hand, but the hand he held became stiff.
When the people around started cheering and toasting, Lin Qingyang treated it as a joke. He drank two cups of wine directly, lifted half of the veil, and kissed Chu Lishu’s face. Lips met, tongues intertwined, and the taste of wine spread. Chu Lishu’s body noticeably stiffened, and even the kiss became awkward and vulnerable.
Lin Qingyang wondered what was wrong with Yuan Ran. Didn’t he understand the current situation in the dream?
As for Chu Lishu, his mind was blank. This… this idiot. Lin Qingyang guessed that he would take advantage of the situation. Clearly, they could have just drank separately. Why did he have to do it this way? It was obvious… he was taking advantage of an opportunity to do as he pleased, insisting on drinking together, taking advantage again. Did he assume Lin Qingyang wouldn’t hold it against him afterward? After all, it was just acting. Lin Qingyang couldn’t really blame him for anything.
Well, just let it be. A kiss is just a kiss. He’s young after all, probably been holding back for a long time. He decided to give him a chance.
Chu Lishu blushed and accepted everything, until Lin Qingyang hugged him and left, returning to the courtyard.
Lin Qingyang gently placed Chu Lishu down, and Chu Lishu immediately lifted the veil, about to reprimand Lin Qingyang for taking such a reckless risk. However, he saw Lin Qingyang smiling warmly at him, looking at him with affectionate eyes.
“How did it come to this? But… it’s really nostalgic,” Lin Qingyang said, reaching out to touch Chu Lishu’s cheek, his love evident in his eyes.
Chu Lishu was completely stunned, unable to utter a single questioning word. Why did Lin Qingyang seem a bit different today? How dare he…
Seeing Chu Lishu speechless and blushing, Lin Qingyang felt even more curious, but it didn’t stop him from relishing the sight of ‘Chu Lishu’ after a long time. That was how he fell in love with Yuan Ran initially, so naturally, seeing him again brought joy to his heart. With no missions to rush, he could enjoy this moment fully.
“You look… truly beautiful,” Lin Qingyang scanned Chu Lishu from head to toe, making the bewildered Chu Lishu even more uncomfortable. He blurted out, “Cousin, you…”
But then Lin Qingyang paused, suddenly smiling, “C-Cousin?”
“What’s wrong with you?” Chu Lishu sensed something amiss with Lin Qingyang, thinking he might be poisoned or under some kind of hypnosis, and frowned in concern.
Lin Qingyang suppressed a laugh, wondering if Yuan Ran was trying to play some kind of trick on him. With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he spoke up, “Cousin, do you know? I’ve admired you for a long time, wanted to marry you. And now, I finally got you. I can’t believe it; I feel like I’m laughing in my dreams. Are you happy to marry me?”
Chu Lishu’s face alternated between pale and red, finally feeling completely at a loss. He awkwardly said, “Cousin, let me check your pulse.”
But just as he reached out, Lin Qingyang pulled his hand back, pressing it down instead.
Lin Qingyang rubbed Chu Lishu’s nose playfully, looking into his almost panicked eyes. He pretended to be sad, “Don’t you want to be with me? Don’t you like me? But we’ve already gone through the ceremony, and we’re about to enter the bridal chamber. You can’t refuse now.”
With that, Lin Qingyang pecked Chu Lishu’s lips, causing his face to flush with embarrassment.
Chu Lishu was dumbfounded, completely unsure of the situation. Was Lin Qingyang poisoned, or was he pretending to be crazy? Even if he liked him normally, it wouldn’t be to this extent…
Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Chu Lishu’s awkward and inexperienced demeanor. Normally, a little initiative from him and Yuan Ran would devour him eagerly. But now, he was so passive, it was just too funny.
Feeling mischievous, Lin Qingyang couldn’t resist teasing further, even resorting to physical actions, causing Chu Lishu to quickly roll over and pin him down.
“What… What are you doing?” Chu Lishu asked urgently. “Lin Qingyang, snap out of it. Do you know where we are?”
With a wounded expression, Lin Qingyang asked, “Do you really not like me at all? You don’t want me?”
Chu Lishu looked at Lin Qingyang, almost sweating bullets, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never experienced such torment before. He had many concerns and couldn’t easily admit to them. But faced with Lin Qingyang’s desperate inquiry, denying him was simply impossible to articulate.
Lin Qingyang had always been subtle and reserved before. How did he suddenly become like this? Was he really so fond of him that he couldn’t hide it anymore? What was going on?
Chu Lishu’s mind was in turmoil until Lin Qingyang leaned up and kissed him again. “Lishu, I want you.”
Finally, the rationality in Chu Lishu’s eyes shattered. “Lin Qingyang, I have a special status. I don’t want to hide it from you. Once we’re together, the danger is beyond your imagination. You…”
“I’m willing. I’m willing to face anything with you, even if it means life or death,” Lin Qingyang declared passionately.
Chu Lishu’s eyes reddened with emotion, as if forgetting the occasion and the situation, his heart and eyes filled only with Lin Qingyang’s heartfelt devotion.
“Qingyang, I’m not your cousin, but I love you. I want you.”
Lin Qingyang smirked, intending to end the role-playing game, but then watched as Chu Lishu’s eyes gradually clouded with affection. The depth of emotion in them caused Lin Qingyang’s heart to flutter, as if something inevitable was unfolding. Could it be that Yuan Ran wanted to continue like this?
This version of Chu Lishu stirred a long-lost feeling of attraction in Lin Qingyang.
It was a kind of amusement. After all, it was impossible to see Chu Lishu in real life like this. Having such an experience before the wedding was not bad. And since it was just a dream, it wouldn’t affect his real-life situation. So, why not indulge once?
Lin Qingyang reached up and hooked his arm around Chu Lishu’s neck.
Chu Lishu had expected some difficulty adjusting to the intimacy between two men, but to his surprise, everything felt natural, following his instincts. He found himself growing increasingly eager, even resentful for delaying it for so long. He felt he should have sought out Lin Qingyang as soon as he had made up his mind.
Everything around them seemed to blur into unreality.
Suddenly, a loud noise echoed from the doorway.
Chu Lishu instantly wrapped himself in the blanket, alertly turning towards the door. Lin Qingyang was startled too, wondering why he couldn’t control this dream. Such frights could lead to trouble.
But when Lin Qingyang saw the figure at the door, he froze.
“Yuan… Yuan Ran?”
A tall figure stood in the doorway, clad in red, with eyes ablaze with hostility, striding purposefully towards the bed, reaching out to grab Lin Qingyang.
But Chu Lishu intercepted with a palm, pushing him away. “Who are you?! Why do you have… that face?”
Chu Lishu couldn’t believe his eyes, staring at the ‘Yuan Ran’ who had suddenly appeared before him. It felt like he was having some strange dream. That was his own face!
Behind Chu Lishu, Lin Qingyang was filled with astonishment. How could there be two Yuan Rans?
Yuan Ran was furious. “Who are you, intruder! Lin Qingyang, what are you doing? You promised to never leave me, who gave others permission to touch you! Come out!”
Wait… both of them were Yuan Ran! Could it be that the red-eyed Yuan Ran was the real one who entered the dream with him? But something still felt off.
What a mess! Why did he feel like he was caught red-handed in bed?
Lin Qingyang, still feeling the effects of the earlier intimacy, could only awkwardly raise his hand. “Um, hold on, let me gather my thoughts.”
“What are you talking about! Qingyang, don’t move!” Seeing Lin Qingyang about to get up and dress, Chu Lishu pulled him back into his embrace, glaring fiercely at Yuan Ran. Lin Qingyang belonged to him now. They had just promised each other a lifetime together. No matter who this newcomer was, they couldn’t take Lin Qingyang away.
Yuan Ran’s rage knew no bounds. With his eyes red with fury, he seemed half-crazed, completely disregarding reason and attempting to strike down Chu Lishu.
Chu Lishu took a heavy blow, almost spitting blood. Seeing this, Lin Qingyang instinctively intervened. Even in a dream, Lin Qingyang couldn’t bear to see them harmed. “It’s all you. Stop this nonsense.”
But the red-eyed Yuan Ran ignored Lin Qingyang’s words, seizing him and flying out of the window, landing on the elephant-drawn carriage.
“Lin Qingyang, you are mine, only mine. You cannot leave me, you cannot be with others, only… only me…”
The half-mad Yuan Ran didn’t even give Lin Qingyang a chance to speak. He acted decisively, leaving Lin Qingyang no time to react.
Outside, the lively sounds of the crowd filled the air, while inside, the clash of blades echoed continuously. It was as if the scene of their reunion from that day was replaying, only this time Lin Qingyang was conscious of it. After some strained conversation, he realized this was the Yuan Ran from before their mission was completed — the most difficult Yuan Ran to control.
As they traversed the entire street, even though Lin Qingyang knew it was all false, he couldn’t help feeling embarrassed to the core.
Before long, the sound of swords clashing filled the air, followed by the unexpected voice of Chu Lishu.
Chu Lishu chased after them in frustration, while Yuan Ran grabbed Lin Qingyang and planted a forceful kiss on him. His kiss was different from Chu Lishu’s, full of possessiveness and frenzy, almost carrying a hint of blood.
“We’ll settle this later.”
Just as Lin Qingyang was about to intervene again, a streak of silver light shot out from Yuan Ran’s sleeve, trapping Lin Qingyang, whose clothes were now disheveled, leaving him to watch the two men fight.
As expected, everything in the dream was different. At this moment, Chu Lishu seemed to have regained his strength and fought Yuan Ran to a draw. Of course, it was a draw, considering they were essentially the same person!
Facing such chaos, Lin Qingyang was utterly speechless. What was this ridiculous dream drug?
Just as he was pondering this, the streak of silver dissipated. Lin Qingyang was taken aback and before he could react, he was pulled away by someone.
With extraordinary lightness skill, the person swiftly evaded the two skilled fighters and leapt off the elephant carriage, disappearing into the crowd.
When Lin Qingyang looked up, even his usually numb demeanor couldn’t hide his surprise.
“Yuan… Yuan Ran?”
Dressed in white robes and a jade crown, the Crown Prince had a dignified and gentle demeanor, and his black eyes were clear and bright. Yet, his gaze toward Lin Qingyang was warm and affectionate.
Lowering his head to look at Lin Qingyang, Yuan Ran asked with a complex expression, “What’s going on?”
Lin Qingyang opened his mouth, but then decided to give up resisting. This chaotic dream could wait until it ended.
But which version of Yuan Ran was this? Lin Qingyang asked curiously, “What’s our relationship?”
The Yuan Ran with black eyes blushed slightly. “Aren’t we mutual admirers? Even though I lost my memory, I won’t deny that identity.”
Oh, okay, so this is the Yuan Ran who just lost his memory.
Lin Qingyang gave up thinking altogether. Maybe all three were Yuan Ran, or maybe none of them were. They were just products of his memory in this dream. It was all too confusing.
“Even though I’m not sure what’s going on, those two seem pretty dangerous. Let’s get out of here before they catch up.”
Brother, both of them are you!
“I’ll treat you… better,” Yuan Ran murmured suddenly as he held Lin Qingyang and jumped down to a certain place.
In less than three seconds, they heard a splash as they landed in hot water.
Opening his eyes, Lin Qingyang found himself in a hot spring in another courtyard.
In the midst of this sudden change, Lin Qingyang suddenly realized that this wasn’t his own dream. These were all places Yuan Ran himself was unwilling to let go of. Yuan Ran had once mentioned hoping to make everything come true during their time at Wuxin Mountain. After all, they had already gone through the wedding ceremony and entered the bridal chamber. He had also expressed regret for the incident with the elephant carriage, vowing not to scare him again if given another chance. Additionally, there was the plan to build a hot spring pool in the palace, where he mentioned the unfinished business from their time in the hot spring. All of these were Yuan Ran’s deep regrets.
Emotionally exhausted from being manipulated, Lin Qingyang realized that all three of them were indeed the real Yuan Ran. This was essentially Yuan Ran’s dream world.
Feeling mentally drained and physically tired, Lin Qingyang realized that although dreams didn’t affect reality, everything that happened in dreams would continue to linger. It wouldn’t reset with a change of scenery, and his body still felt soft and weak. Now, soaking in the hot spring water, he felt his entire body relax.
Yuan Ran was also taken aback. Both of them were soaked through, which created a rather delicate situation. Especially when Yuan Ran saw Lin Qingyang’s disheveled clothes, almost falling apart, with the marks left by the previous two guys. Yuan Ran’s face flushed red, and an air of dignity and elegance, characteristic of a Crown Prince, emanated from him, making the atmosphere even hotter than the hot spring.
Lin Qingyang broke free from Yuan Ran’s embrace and leaned against the hot spring wall for a moment. He noticed Yuan Ran, who had been holding his hand tightly, blushing and avoiding eye contact, looking even more flustered than Chu Lishu. It was quite amusing.
Forgetting his own lesson, Lin Qingyang teased, “When you…. saved me just now, did you see what happened between me and them?”
Yuan Ran suddenly gasped, never expecting Lin Qingyang to be so mischievous. He had always thought Lin Qingyang was well-behaved and reserved, but now…
Yuan Ran’s dark eyes became deep and even murky, his gaze fixed on Lin Qingyang’s damp clothes, which were gradually slipping off due to their weight.
“This… isn’t good… we haven’t even had the wedding yet…” Yuan Ran swallowed hard and said directly.
Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but chuckle and nodded. “Yes, yes, you’re right. You should know how to restrain yourself. Don’t learn from them.”
Yuan Ran furrowed his brows slightly, feeling inexplicably annoyed. He felt like Lin Qingyang was looking down on him.
That’s right, why could the other two do it, but not him? After all, he was Yuan Ran too.
If he didn’t make a move, would Lin Qingyang run away with someone else? With his memory gone, it would be difficult to retain him. If Lin Qingyang really wanted to leave, he would lose his beloved, who was all he had in his heart and eyes.
He must be hinting at me with what he said.
So…. how could he disappoint him?
When the dark-eyed Yuan Ran approached, Lin Qingyang realized something was wrong. By the time he tried to dodge, he was already subdued.
The gentle yet firm Yuan Ran was still irresistible. Lin Qingyang could only console himself, thinking it was just a dream. In the real world, he had resisted Yuan Ran’s advances several times, so there shouldn’t be any problem in the dream, right?
There shouldn’t be… any problem, right…?
It wasn’t until the dazed Lin Qingyang, looking through the strands of Yuan Ran’s hair, glanced behind him and heard the sound of Silver Rainbow, that he saw two figures falling into the hot spring pool again.
With red-eyed Yuan Ran and black-eyed Chu Lishu slowly approaching him.
Lin Qingyang’s eyes gradually widened, with only one thought in his mind…
As dawn broke, Lin Qingyang opened his eyes and saw Yuan Ran lying next to him with an extremely satisfied smile on his face, while the red veil had long been lost somewhere. Lin Qingyang threw a punch at him.
Someone was punched awake and looked at Lin Qingyang with innocent eyes. There was even a trace of lingering affection in his eyes.
“You…” Lin Qingyang’s face turned red with anger.
Yuan Ran recalled the various things in the dream, and with an unusual shyness, he smiled and said, “It’s because of your Dreaming Pill. I don’t know why it turned out like that. Maybe it’s because I’m not… enough for you, so you…”
Yuan Ran reflected seriously…
Lin Qingyang raised both fists and smashed them into Yuan Ran’s abdomen. “You jerk! It was clearly your dream. How could I… You, how could you dream like that!”
Lin Qingyang felt utterly embarrassed, as if he couldn’t face anyone anymore. If it weren’t for the fact that it was a dream, he would have died of embarrassment right then and there. It was beyond all his limits.
However, Yuan Ran, after experiencing the evolution of the dream, completely lost all sense of shame, holding Lin Qingyang and coaxing him, “It’s just a dream, it won’t harm your body. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bear to do it. And you can’t blame me either. After all, you were the one who teased me first, weren’t you?”
Lin Qingyang was speechless. He could handle the earlier part, but what came after…
Yuan Ran reminisced, “Qingyang, do we still have any Dreaming Pills?”
“You!” Lin Qingyang was startled, trembling instinctively all over. “No, even if I have, I would throw them all away!”
“Ah?” Yuan Ran looked disappointed.
Just as the two were arguing, Lu Yi and Lu Shi started knocking on the window from outside, reminding Yuan Ran that it was time to leave. He couldn’t miss the auspicious moment for the wedding.
Yuan Ran hurriedly hugged Lin Qingyang, comforting and kissing him, “It’s just a dream. I can’t do this in real life. Don’t worry, today is our wedding day. Just wait for me obediently.”
Lin Qingyang was both angry and resentful, but with the ceremony ahead, he couldn’t quarrel with Yuan Ran. “You… You’re not allowed to sleep beside me tonight!”
Yuan Ran wanted to argue further, but time was truly running out, so he had to leave first.
When the attendants entered, Lin Qingyang was still dazed, unable to regain his normal composure. Everyone thought he was nervous about the wedding, but his mind was still filled with the dream.
Gradually coming back to his senses, Lin Qingyang remembered the sentence the three men had said to him in the dream, and he didn’t feel as angry anymore.
“Lin Qingyang, you’re truly formidable. Whether it’s the former Crown Prince, Chu Lishu, or the current Yuan Ran, they’re all madly in love with you. So you can’t take a single step away from me.”
At that moment, Lin Qingyang had no coherent response. But deep down, he thought, “You’re the formidable one, because no matter which version of you, I’d fall in love unconditionally.”
…
For the emperor’s wedding, it was customary for the emperor to wait in the palace while the empress was escorted to the imperial palace by the welcoming procession.
But Yuan Ran changed that.
He personally went to welcome Lin Qingyang.
Their attire was also a new style. Both wore men’s clothing, as required, but at Yuan Ran’s insistence, the styles were almost identical. The red wedding robes were embroidered with dragons, one in distinct gold and the other in subtle silver. This was already the compromise reached by the Imperial Household Department.
No one knew that the two had only been apart for an hour before they met again.
Lin Qingyang still felt a bit awkward, but seeing the emperor, who looked as handsome as an exiled immortal, in his wedding attire couldn’t help but fill his face with joy. Yuan Ran’s charm was indescribable in words, but Lin Qingyang knew that if he kept looking, he would soon get lost in his eyes. He almost turned into a face-loving dog, able to self-digest just by looking at his face.
Yuan Ran, gazing at Lin Qingyang in his wedding attire, was completely captivated, as if he had encountered unparalleled beauty in this lifetime. The adoration in his eyes spread around, and even those around could see the new emperor’s infatuation with his new empress.
Yuan Ran’s gaze seemed to materialize, enveloping Lin Qingyang from head to toe. Although he felt joyous, he couldn’t help but feel angry. Lin Qingyang shouldn’t be seen by others like this; he should only be seen by himself. All the surrounding presences became bothersome, and he just wanted to keep Lin Qingyang in a world where only he existed. But he couldn’t… he had to endure it.
When Yuan Ran reached out his hand, Lin Qingyang almost instantly grasped it without hesitation. This handshake actually dissipated some of Yuan Ran’s dissatisfaction. Quietly, the Dilver Rainbow, under Yuan Ran’s excited and uncontrollable inner power, silently looped around Lin Qingyang’s wrist, as if adding a lock to their joined hands.
Originally, the emperor shouldn’t have left the palace to greet the bride, but since he did, they just went along with it. At the very least, one should have ridden a horse while the other sat in the carriage.
But Yuan Ran changed it again.
This time, Chiteng cooperated. They not only looked festive but also allowed the two to ride together. Slowly, they made their way along the red carpet, passing through half the capital. The citizens gazed and knelt, the guards maintained order, and the procession was accompanied by music. The extravagance was unparalleled, perhaps never seen before in the memories of the city’s elders.
Entering the palace to receive the courtiers’ homage was solemn and majestic, marking their joint standing at the pinnacle of power and the beginning of their co-rule as emperor and empress.
At the ancestral ceremony, Yuan Ran and Lin Qingyang bowed to his acknowledged ancestors, a simple yet significant gesture of acknowledgment.
After the feast, congratulations poured in from all the courtiers.
However, this was probably the fastest-dispersing banquet ever.
Just as the courtiers were leaving, the emperor had already returned to the bedchamber with his empress in his arms.
Lin Qingyang pushed Yuan Ran away firmly and said, “We already discussed this in the morning. No! Besides, it’s been a hectic day, too exhausting. Let’s rest, just rest.”
Yuan Ran squinted slightly, looking down at his empress from above. He removed his crown with one hand and loosened his waistband with the other.
“I won’t sleep beside you. I’ll sleep… above you!”
“You… always teasing. After dreaming for so long, your body might not be tired, but surely your mind is?”
“What dream? Who remembers dreams? I’ve long forgotten. Unless you remember it in detail, then tell me…”
“Yuan Ran, you… shameless!”
“Be good, my empress. It’s our wedding night; it should be enjoyable. We have many days ahead of us. Do you really want to remember our wedding night as one where I’m driven away? That’s not good. Do you know how long I’ve waited for this night? Can you bear it?”
Lin Qingyang couldn’t continue his sentence.
In the bedchamber, the candles burned steadily, marking the emperor and empress’s wedding night. Music and poetry filled the air.
The next day… and the day after, the emperor’s figure was seen, but not that of the empress.
After the wedding, rumors spread that the Emperor was forced to spend several days in the study, causing some discomfort. With the Emperor’s unstable temper, everyone felt uneasy.
Until today’s court session, it seemed like the Emperor’s patience had reached its limit. Throughout the entire morning assembly, he didn’t look down but stared straight at a chair beside him.
It was the chair to the left of the Dragon Throne, reserved for the Empress. By the Emperor’s decree, the Empress never needed to kneel to anyone, including the Emperor himself.
The Emperor stood, the Empress stood; the Emperor sat, the Empress sat. It was an unprecedented change.
Although the ministers initially opposed it, they realized it was futile. Whatever the Emperor decided, no matter how absurd, was carried out to the end.
This actually spared the ministers for a while, as the Emperor’s gaze could mean the end for anyone else.
But the Empress remained calm, listening to state affairs.
Until the Emperor slammed his hand on the table, “If you can’t handle such trivial matters, you might as well remove your official hat!”
The people below were immediately silenced. Although they hadn’t done their best, was the Emperor really not venting his anger?
Lin Qingyang gave a dissatisfied look to Yuan Ran, but he glared back fiercely, then looked pleadingly.
Before they got married, Lin Qingyang used to go along with him, but now that they were married, things seemed to have changed. How dare he punish him like this, forbidding him from going back to sleep? It was outrageous.
Lin Qingyang completely ignored his expression. Who was being unreasonable here? With his frequent bouts of indulgence, he was risking his health. He wanted to live for many more years.
Seeing Lin Qingyang glance at him and then ignore him, Yuan Ran grew even more anxious. “Is there anything else to say? Say it together.”
Under Yuan Ran’s urging, the people below hurriedly shook their heads, indicating there was nothing more to add.
Yuan Ran waved his hand, dismissing everyone, and Lin Qingyang was about to get up to leave when his wrist was suddenly caught by Silver Rainbow. Lin Qingyang immediately looked at Yuan Ran with a serious expression.
As the ministers left, Chief Steward Hai immediately saw the situation and ushered out all the palace attendants with a keen eye.
The entire hall was now empty except for the two of them.
“What are you doing!” Lin Qingyang immediately felt something was amiss and snapped.
Yuan Ran squinted, his wrist turning, and the Silver Rainbow dragged Lin Qingyang into his arms.
“Qingyang, I was wrong. I promise from now on, if you say stop, I’ll stop. You’ve already punished me for days, and if you keep punishing me, I’ll really go crazy.”
Hearing Yuan Ran’s pitiful tone, Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but soften. Maybe… he had been punishing him for several days.
“Look at the dark circles under my eyes. I haven’t slept well for days.”
Lin Qingyang looked and indeed saw dark circles. He felt guilty for being misled.
“Give me a kiss, okay? I’m feeling bad inside.”
Lin Qingyang couldn’t keep up the act any longer and planted a kiss on Yuan Ran’s lips, coaxing, “Let’s take it slow from now on, okay? We need to proceed gradually, understand?”
Yuan Ran nodded obediently, still looking pitiful. Just as Lin Qingyang was letting his guard down.
The next moment, there was a thud from the Dragon Throne.
Lin Qingyang looked at Yuan Ran sitting there, nervously saying, “You… have you gone mad? Don’t be silly, let’s go back…”
“It’s just a hug, what are you thinking?” Yuan Ran’s eyes gradually emitted different gleams, his smile becoming increasingly captivating.
Lin Qingyang thought to himself that even if Yuan Ran was acting out of character, he wouldn’t do anything here… He cleared his throat, “Alright, let’s go back tonight.”
“I know, you can’t sleep well without me, right?” Yuan Ran said as he quietly moved his hands, and Lin Qingyang’s belt had unknowingly loosened.
“Who says so? I sleep just fine,” Lin Qingyang immediately retorted.
Yuan Ran chuckled, “Little liar, you toss and turn until dawn and call my name in your sleep.”
Lin Qingyang was about to retort, but suddenly froze, staring at Yuan Ran in disbelief, “How did you know…”
Yuan Ran paused, then as Lin Qingyang was about to erupt in anger, he lowered his head and kissed him.
With a gentle sound, although Yuan Ran promised to stop when Lin Qingyang asked, not giving him a chance to speak out would circumvent that, wouldn’t it?
“Yuan Ran! Chu Lishu! You bastards!”
“Yang Yang, be good.”
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