I, The Substitute, Am With The Main Character Chapter 74

Cui Lingjing didn’t speak immediately. After a moment, he called in the head eunuch. “The palace servants serving in Fengrui Palace are all registered. Bring me the registry.”

Once he had the registry in hand, he flipped directly to the last page, quickly scanned it, and then turned back a page. Finally, he found the name he was looking for.

After reading the details under the name, his lips tightened.

All the information matched: age 19, orphaned with no parents.

Cui Lingjing closed the registry and looked at the Chief Imperial Astronomer, who was still kneeling. “If the disaster star is offered as a sacrifice, will their life be in danger?”

The Chief Imperial Astronomer replied, “If the heavens show mercy and forgive the disaster star, their life will naturally be spared.”

“What do you mean?” Cui Lingjing frowned.

The Chief Imperial Astronomer carefully rephrased, “The disaster star will be placed on a high altar for the ritual. If the heavens are willing to forgive them, it will rain. If not, there will be no rain.”

Cui Lingjing understood. The Chief Imperial Astronomer was saying that if it rained, the disaster star would be allowed to descend from the altar. If it didn’t, they would likely die. In this weather, a person couldn’t survive under the scorching sun for more than a few days.

Looking out at the overly bright sunlight outside, his eyes narrowed slightly.

By evening, Cui Lingjing went to Ningfu Palace. As usual, he checked on He Xulan’s injuries and then searched the palace for Xueya, but didn’t see him. Not wanting to alarm He Xulan just yet, Cui Lingjing left quietly. As soon as he left, Huang Gonggong hurried into He Xulan’s bedchamber.

“Your Majesty seemed to be looking for Xueya,” Huang Gonggong said.

He Xulan’s gaze shifted to him. “Why would he suddenly want to find Xueya?”

Huang Gonggong shook his head. “I don’t know. But His Majesty seemed somewhat anxious.”

Hearing this, He Xulan closed the book in his hands. At this moment, Cui Lingjing shouldn’t have the leisure to be concerned with Xueya. If he was, something must have happened.

“Find out who the Emperor has met recently.”

The list arrived the following afternoon. When Huang Gonggong entered, Xueya was napping on He Xulan’s lap. He stepped lightly and handed over the letter.

He Xulan opened it, pulling out a sheet of paper that detailed everyone Cui Lingjing had met in recent days, including the exact times they entered and left Fengrui Palace.

He skimmed the list, and his gaze halted on a particular name. The Chief Imperial Astronomer had entered the palace twice in the past few days, each visit brief. Yesterday was his second visit, followed by meetings with ministers from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue. That evening, Cui Lingjing had come to Ningfu Palace.

The Chief Imperial Astronomer’s audience with the Emperor must have been about the drought. But how was this related to Xueya? Why would Cui Lingjing be looking for him?

As He Xulan pondered this, the boy sleeping on his lap suddenly woke up.

“It’s so hot,” Xueya mumbled, still groggy. He rolled over, fussing as he tugged at his collar, his eyes barely open, his cheeks flushed pink from the heat.

He Xulan picked up a fan and began fanning him, signaling to Huang Gonggong with his eyes. Shortly, palace attendants brought in fresh ice, adding it to the celadon urn from earlier.

But even this wasn’t enough to cool Xueya, who was particularly sensitive to heat. He sat up drowsily, peeled off his outer robe, revealing his pale shoulders and arms. After undressing, he no longer rested on He Xulan’s lap, finding it too warm, and instead laid down on the bamboo mat. Not long after, he slipped his hand under his skirt and tugged off his trousers.

Now he felt comfortable.

He Xulan’s fanning paused. Huang Gonggong, always alert, slipped away when he saw Xueya reaching for his neckline, leaving the room to just the two of them. Watching Xueya’s state of undress, He Xulan quietly turned his gaze away.

Xueya slept for another half hour before finally waking up. Seeing himself nearly naked, he gasped and sat up, looking at He Xulan with a mix of shyness and accusation.

When He Xulan met his gaze, he immediately realized that Xueya thought he had undressed him.

“Brother, you’re still recovering,” Xueya murmured, bashfully avoiding his eyes.

He Xulan didn’t bother explaining. Instead, he said, “There’s mung bean porridge in the kitchen. Go drink some to cool down.” As he spoke, he reached out to touch Xueya’s flushed cheek.

Xueya was really sensitive to heat, even after stripping down, his face was still hot.

Xueya blinked at He Xulan’s touch, leaning closer as he asked, “Brother, aren’t you going to have some too?”

He wasn’t a woman, and his chest was flat. Though his skirts were tailored to fit him, in this position, they still revealed a little too much, allowing He Xulan a glimpse of the scene beneath his bodice.

He had been about to let Xueya go drink the porridge, but now he couldn’t resist anymore.

“Alright,” He Xulan said, pulling the boy into his arms.

***

It was a full quarter of an hour before Xueya finally got to drink his mung bean porridge. As he drank, he couldn’t help feeling aggrieved, on the verge of tears from the pain. Usually, one round at night was tolerable, but now, in broad daylight, He Xulan had gone at it again.

He regretted initiating that kiss on He Xulan’s lips that night. Now it seemed like He Xulan had found some kind of pleasure in it, and after several consecutive nights, Xueya had suffered plenty.

After finishing his porridge, Xueya avoided He Xulan, sneaking a glance at his injury. Even though it had been treated, it was still red and swollen, with one side even damaged.

If they went at it again tonight, he’d surely be in for more pain.

That evening, when it was time to head to He Xulan’s bedchamber, Xueya dawdled, reluctant to go. Huang Gonggong came to call him twice, and both times, Xueya made excuses, saying he was busy. On the third attempt, He Xulan came himself.

“Xueya,” He Xulan called from outside the door.

Hearing his voice, Xueya immediately tugged his collar tighter. After bathing tonight, he had avoided wearing any of his embroidered clothing.

“Brother, I… I want to sleep here tonight,” Xueya stammered.

There was silence outside the door for a moment, and then He Xulan’s voice, softer this time, said, “Open the door first, alright?”

Looking at the figure outside his door, Xueya hesitated, unsure of what to do. But He Xulan didn’t leave. The two remained in a standoff until, thinking about He Xulan’s still-unhealed injury, Xueya finally relented and opened the door.

As soon as the door opened, He Xulan stepped inside. He glanced at Xueya’s bed. “It’s tight, but the two of us can squeeze in.”

At that, Xueya immediately shook his head. “There’s no room!”

He Xulan looked at Xueya, as if he already guessed what Xueya was thinking. He pulled him closer and softly said, “Let me take a look.” Seeing Xueya raise his hands to cover his chest, he added, “I promise I won’t touch.”

With He Xulan’s promise, Xueya reluctantly agreed to let him take a look. When he did, He Xulan fell silent for a moment before saying, “You should have slapped me this afternoon.”

Xueya didn’t dare hit him, but hearing those words, the tears he had been holding back all day finally started to fall.

He felt that He Xulan was being excessive, but he didn’t dare say it, because he thought he himself was a hundred, maybe a thousand times more at fault. Out of guilt, he had endured the discomfort these past days, thinking he deserved it. But today it hurt too much, so he had tried to avoid him.

However, when He Xulan said he could hit him, all the grievances Xueya had bottled up seemed to have found an outlet.

Seeing this, He Xulan pulled him into his arms and gently patted his back. “It’s okay. In the future, if you’re uncomfortable, just tell me. There’s no need to endure it. Xueya, you have to understand, everything should be done only when you’re willing and comfortable.”

Xueya sniffled, his voice filled with grievance. “But I said it hurt before, and you didn’t stop, brother.”

He Xulan’s body stiffened slightly, and after a moment, he apologized. “That was my fault. Next time, I’ll stop. Don’t cry anymore. Let’s go back, I don’t have to be coaxed to sleep tonight.”

Hearing the words “coaxed to sleep,” Xueya’s face flushed uncontrollably. In fact, after the first time He Xulan “was coaxed to sleep,” Xueya had been too embarrassed to even look at him the next day. Not only had he fed He Xulan that night, but he had also said some things he shouldn’t have. At that time, He Xulan had paused for a moment, then chuckled.

He patted Xueya’s belly and said, “Do you want to be someone’s mother that badly?”

Realizing the foolish things he had said, Xueya blushed all over and wanted nothing more than to hide under the blankets.

***

Meanwhile, Cui Lingjing hadn’t seen Xueya for two days, and he was growing increasingly anxious. The rain ceremony couldn’t be delayed any longer. On the third day, while in Ningfu Palace, he directly called Huang Gonggong over.

“Where’s Xueya? Call him here.” Before Huang Gonggong could respond, he added, “Forget it, just tell me where he is right now.”

Huang Gonggong replied, “Xueya is in his room, but he’s suffering from heat exhaustion and may not be fit to meet Your Majesty.”

Cui Lingjing wasn’t in the mood to care about heat exhaustion at this point. As long as it wasn’t a contagious illness, it didn’t matter. But in the palace, no servant would dare contract a contagious disease. They weren’t the masters. If a physician couldn’t cure them quickly, they would be poisoned to prevent the illness from spreading.

“Just tell me where he is. Don’t bother with unnecessary explanations.” Cui Lingjing said coldly.

Seeing that he couldn’t avoid it any longer, Huang Gonggong had no choice but to lead Cui Lingjing to Xueya’s room. When Xueya heard that the Emperor was asking for him, his heart skipped a beat.

Why was Cui Lingjing looking for him?

Could it be that he found out he had injured He Xulan?

Xueya’s face turned pale as he nervously opened the door. It had been a long time since Cui Lingjing had seen him. Though his skin had healed, his complexion was pale, making him look as if he really had heatstroke.

“Everyone, leave,” Cui Lingjing ordered.

Huang Gonggong and the others complied. 

As the door closed, Huang Gonggong signaled one of his apprentices, who discreetly slipped away to inform He Xulan in his bedchamber.

Inside the room.

Xueya’s heart raced as he watched Cui Lingjing send everyone away and close the door. He nervously met Cui Lingjing’s gaze. After a moment’s thought, Cui Lingjing decided not to reveal the true purpose of his visit immediately. Instead, he asked, “How have you been here?”

“Your Majesty, this servant is fine,” Xueya replied, keeping his head down.

Remembering how Xueya’s skin had peeled the last time, Cui Lingjing didn’t believe him. He also felt that Xueya was now more distant than when he first returned from the laundry department.

But these concerns weren’t Cui Lingjing’s priority right now. After a few more meaningless questions, he finally got to the point, saying, “Xueya, I’m giving you a chance to earn merit.”