I, The Substitute, Am With The Main Character Chapter 79

As he was halfway through undoing the buttons, the boy in his arms forcefully pushed his hand away, using the other hand to try and pull his loosened clothes back together. Cui Lingjing hadn’t expected Xueya to be so uncooperative even with something as simple as taking off his clothes. He had never waited on anyone before, and today, after feeding him medicine and now trying to undress him, despite all his care, the other person was still making a fuss. Frustrated, he decided that he would strip Xueya’s clothes off no matter what.

Although Xueya struggled with all his might, his body was still weak from just waking up. After a few moments, he was already panting heavily, completely drained and securely locked in Cui Lingjing’s arms. Seeing him like this, Cui Lingjing found it unexpectedly amusing. He teased, “Out of strength already? Then I’m going to undress you now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the boy in his arms start to whimper.

Even though his voice was hoarse, he continued crying softly. Cui Lingjing couldn’t understand why Xueya cried so much. In his eyes, a man should hold back tears, but Xueya was always crying, acting nothing like a man and more like a young girl.

Thinking this, Cui Lingjing adjusted Xueya’s position in his arms, turning him to face him. After seven days without proper food, Xueya had become thinner, his chin sharp and delicate, as if it could shatter with a pinch. During their earlier scuffle, Xueya’s clothes had become completely disheveled, leaving his collar wide open and exposing patches of skin.

Cui Lingjing’s gaze landed on that exposed skin, noticing it was mottled red and white. He was momentarily stunned. Reaching out to touch it, he felt Xueya trembling violently and withdrew his hand.

“Does it hurt?” he asked.

There was no response.

For the first time, Cui Lingjing didn’t know what to do with Xueya. If this had been in the past, he would have already lost his temper and sent Xueya away for crying so much in front of him.

“You don’t want to drink the medicine, and you don’t want to change clothes, so… how about the Seven-Linked Puzzle? You said you couldn’t solve it, right? I’ll teach you today.” Cui Lingjing called for someone to bring the puzzle, but Xueya didn’t even look at it when Cui Lingjing started solving it.

By now, Xueya had cried himself to exhaustion. His long eyelashes drooped, and he remained motionless in Cui Lingjing’s arms.

Seeing that Xueya wasn’t paying attention, Cui Lingjing frowned and threw the puzzle aside. For now, he couldn’t deal with Xueya, and besides, there were still many matters awaiting his attention, so he had to call the imperial physicians and attendants to take care of him.

Before leaving, Cui Lingjing specifically instructed, “Don’t leave a single scar or even a red mark on him.”

Because of this command, new herbs were added to Xueya’s daily medicinal baths.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Cui Lingjing visited Xueya every day, but Xueya always remained distant and resistant.

During this time, Xueya refused to speak to anyone. No matter what was asked, he stayed silent.

At times, Cui Lingjing’s temper got the better of him, and he would forcibly pull Xueya over, trying to make him talk, but in the end, all he heard was more crying.

After several such incidents, even Cui Lingjing felt exhausted. One day, he sat by Xueya’s bedside, watching the boy curled up under the covers.

After half a month of medicinal baths and rare ointments, Xueya’s skin had become incredibly smooth and well-nourished. Even in the dim light of the canopy, his exposed feet looked soft and almost glowing.

“The Beauty Pavilion is about to start planting trees. Have you thought about what you want to plant?” After asking, Cui Lingjing saw no response, so he added, “If you don’t speak, I’ll choose based on my preferences. By the time you move in, it’ll be too late for regrets.”

Still no response.

Cui Lingjing continued, “Once the trees are planted, you’ll move there. I’ve arranged for a seasoned eunuch to take care of you in the palace.”

As he spoke softly, he suddenly noticed that Xueya had turned his face towards him.

Xueya’s eyes had been red for a while now. Cui Lingjing initially thought it was due to illness, but the imperial physician had explained it was from prolonged crying.

“I… I don’t want to go to the Beauty Pavilion.” Finally, Xueya spoke his first words in days.

Cui Lingjing was momentarily pleased that Xueya had spoken but frowned once he understood the content. “You don’t want to live in the Beauty Pavilion? Then where do you want to stay? It’s improper for you to remain in Fengrui Palace.”

“I want to return to Ningfu Palace,” Xueya’s lips trembled slightly, but his voice was firm.

This answer caught Cui Lingjing completely off guard. “What’s the point of going back to Ningfu Palace? To be a servant again?”

In his memory, every time he had seen Xueya at Ningfu Palace, he hadn’t been in good shape. Back then, Xueya had cried and begged him to move back to Fengrui Palace, so why was he now asking to return to Ningfu?

Xueya didn’t answer Cui Lingjing’s question, only repeating his earlier statement, “I want to return to Ningfu Palace.”

Cui Lingjing’s delicate, elegant face began to show signs of anger. He felt that he had indulged Xueya enough over the past half-month, and now was not the time to be throwing tantrums.

“Do you really want to go back to Ningfu Palace? If you go back, don’t expect to ever set foot in the Beauty Pavilion again,” Cui Lingjing said through gritted teeth.

With Xueya, his moods were always unpredictable, just like when they first met. Back then, Xueya had thought Cui Lingjing was a gentle young man and had eagerly followed him, only to be met with a whipping soon after.

Seeing Cui Lingjing’s expression, Xueya couldn’t help but feel scared. He nervously clutched his clothes, his breathing quickening. Cui Lingjing noticed and turned away, forcing himself to calm his anger before turning back again.

“Think it over carefully and tell me tomorrow. In the meantime, eat well. The imperial physician says you barely eat, and if you lose any more weight, you’ll look like a scrawny monkey.” With that, Cui Lingjing stood and left.

After leaving Xueya’s room, Cui Lingjing angrily kicked over a flowerpot in the hallway. The nearby servants were startled and quickly knelt on the ground, not daring to make a sound, afraid of provoking his wrath.

Still unsatisfied, Cui Lingjing glanced around and spotted a servant with a similar build to Xueya.

“You, bring me my whip,” he commanded coldly.

***

The next day, Cui Lingjing didn’t return to Xueya’s room until nightfall.

As soon as he entered, he asked, “Have you made up your mind?”

Today, Xueya wasn’t lying in bed but stood beside it, looking at Cui Lingjing. His face had remained pale for days, despite the carefully prepared medicinal meals from the imperial physicians.

“This servant has made up his mind, Your Majesty. This servant will return to Ningfu Palace,” Xueya said softly.

Hearing the word “servant” from Xueya’s lips, Cui Lingjing already guessed his answer. He stared at Xueya for a long time, his expression briefly turning cold and menacing. “Fine, I’ll have someone escort you back.”

***

As soon as Xueya got out of the soft sedan, he dashed towards Ningfu Palace. After only a few steps, he spotted Huang Gonggong.

Huang Gonggong visibly sighed in relief upon seeing Xueya. He quickly approached him, grabbed Xueya’s arm, and quietly reassured him, “You should go back to your room first.”

He instructed his apprentice to take Xueya back to his quarters, while he himself went to handle the palace servants who had brought Xueya back by offering them some silver.

Once he had settled the matter, Huang Gonggong went to Xueya’s room.

As soon as Xueya saw him, he eagerly asked, “Has my brother replied?”

Huang Gonggong nodded and pulled out a letter from his sleeve. Xueya hurriedly took it and tore it open. Unlike the brief notes he usually sent, He Xulan’s letter consisted of several pages, filled with densely written words.

Knowing that Xueya didn’t know many characters, He Xulan had used the simplest words possible. At the end of the letter, he had even drawn two pig heads. When Xueya saw those pig heads, the tears that had been welling up in his eyes finally began to fall in streams.

Huang Gonggong sighed softly at the sight.

Ever since the successful rain prayer, rain had been falling on and off in the capital, the summer heat was gradually fading, and autumn had begun. Xueya laid on the table, listening to the sound of the rain outside, and took out the letter he had read countless times already to read again. He had been back in Ningfu Palace for a month now, and it had been almost three months since He Xulan had left.

He didn’t know how much longer this war would last, but he firmly believed that He Xulan would return victorious. After all, in his dreams, He Xulan had even rebelled, so naturally, he wouldn’t lose to some General Lei.

Xueya placed the letter over his face, and the scent of osmanthus flowers drifted in through the window. Sleepiness began to overtake him, but just then, footsteps sounded outside the window. For some reason, a feeling of unease came over Xueya. He sat up straight and quickly covered the letter with a blank sheet of paper on the desk.

Just as he finished, the door opened.

The person who entered was Yin Qingxuan.

Yin Qingxuan didn’t seem surprised to find Xueya in He Xulan’s study. He took out a handkerchief from his chest and gently wiped the rain from his damp shoulders. “Is there any tea? Pour me a cup.”

Xueya hesitated for a moment before turning to pour tea for Yin Qingxuan. When he finished, he noticed that Yin Qingxuan had moved closer to the spot where he had just been sitting, which made Xueya’s heart tighten with anxiety.

Did Yin Qingxuan notice the letter hidden under the blank paper?

Feeling uneasy, Xueya brought the tea to Yin Qingxuan. “Prime Minister, please enjoy the tea.”

At these words, Yin Qingxuan glanced at the pile of blank papers on the desk before looking at Xueya. He accepted the tea from Xueya’s hands, took a small sip, and then placed the cup directly on top of the blank paper.

Xueya’s heart raced as he glanced at the paper.

If the cup were to spill, the tea would soak the letter beneath it.

Yin Qingxuan didn’t seem to notice Xueya’s worried look. He turned his head and surveyed the room, his gaze eventually settling back on Xueya. Under Yin Qingxuan’s intense stare, Xueya took a step back. Just as he was about to offer to fetch Huang Gonggong, Yin Qingxuan suddenly asked him:

“Do you like sweets?”