Arc 3: Chapter 14
Ever since being human, Lin Yuan had never been as uncomfortable as now. He not only had a splitting headache, but his brain buzzed as if it would shatter inside of his skull.
He used all of his force to open his eyes, and it took a while for his sight to focus.
Jiang Qian’s hanging heart finally fell when he saw Lin Yuan wake up. He held Lin Yuan’s hand and a shining layer of water brimmed in his beautiful eyes: “Sui Sui, you’re awake……”
There were thousands of words stuck in the back of his throat that he couldn’t voice: “You’re finally awake.”
521 had also been guarding beside Lin Yuan. It happily leaned closer to rub: “Senior, wuuuu, you finally woke up. You’ve been sleeping for almost a day.”
No wonder Lin Yuan’s throat felt so dry. He spoke with a bit of difficulty: “It…… it feels so uncomfortable, my head hurts……”
Jiang Qian instantly started panicking and didn’t know what to do with his hands or feet. He hurriedly went to call the imperial physician back.
521 said: “Senior, don’t worry. I scanned your head and you only have a minor concussion. You might experience headaches, dizziness, lack of concentration, or other symptoms like poor appetite or vomiting, but you’ll be fine after resting for seven to ten days.”
The imperial doctor came in and took Lin Yuan’s pulse. He diagnosed that: “The prince’s pulse seems fine, but I’m afraid you’ll have to endure the pain for a few more days. I can prescribe some pain-relieving medicine, but it can only temporarily numb the pain.”
Jiang Qian nodded: “We’ll have to inconvenience you, imperial physician.”
The imperial physician left to make medicine.
Jiang Qian came closer to the bed and looked down at Lin Yuan. Subconsciously, his hand grazed Lin Yuan’s Adam’s apple and he murmered: “Little prince……”
Lin Yuan felt a faint itching from Jiang Qian’s touch and it added to his overall discomfort. He couldn’t help huffing and whispered: “Don’t touch…”
Jiang Qian’s movements paused and he slowly hooked the corners of his lips. He leaned down and placed his hands at the side of Lin Yuan’s head and gazed at Lin Yuan closely. The teenager’s face was clean and as handsome as ever, but the image of the bloodied teenager in Taiji Hall was imprinted in his mind.
“Are you stupid? Just to be together with me, you don’t even want your life anymore?” Jiang Qian’s voice was choked and hoarse: “Even if… even if you married a woman and had a child with her, I… I wouldn’t say anything. That’s what every man must do. The century-long inheritance of Prince Chu’s palace can’t end with you, so… you really don’t have to do so much for me……”
Lin Yuan smiled with bent eyes and crescent dimples: “I… just want… it to be… just the two of us…”
Jiang Qian’s eyes deepened and darkened away from the candlelight. A storm began to stir at the bottom of his ink-like pupils that wanted to swallow Lin Yuan inside.
He lowered his head and kissed the corners of Lin Yuan’s mouth. His voice carried unconditional gentleness: “Okay, just the two of us. From now on, there will be no one else.”
A maid from Taiji Hall brought in a bowl of nourishing soup. Jiang Qian held the bowl and stirred it a few times before testing the temperature. He lifted the spoon and carefully fed it to Lin Yuan.
The soup was a little bitter and didn’t taste good, but Lin Yuan drank it all obediently. Once the maid retreated, he frowned and whispered to Jiang Qian: “So bitter, I… I want to spit it out.”
Now he could speak with less difficulty than before, and his words came out much smoother.
Jiang Qian’s heart softened and his fingers stroked Lin Yuan’s lips that were moistened from the soup: “It was bitter? Then what should I do? I’m just a slave and am suppressed by the rules, otherwise, I would go ask for some candied fruit to help the little prince.”
Lin Yuan was used to being coquettish in front of his husband so he complained without a second thought, but he didn’t want to make Jiang Qian feel bad. He immediately felt distressed and said softly: “I… I don’t need candied fruit… I only need you…”
An imperceptible glint flashed through Jiang Qian’s eyes and he said suggestively: “The little prince said that he only needs me?”
Lin Yuan made a sound of agreement and stared at Jiang Qian.
Jiang Qian rubbed the other’s soft lips with his fingers until they reddened like rubies and tempted people to kiss and lick. But because his little prince was still injured, he could only think about it in his mind.
Lin Yuan was confused by Jiang Qian’s actions but he still enjoyed the feeling.
Lin Yuan continued to lay down dazedly for a while before remembering that 521 had said he had been in a coma for a whole day. Jiang Qian must’ve stayed awake the whole time. But Lin Yuan thought sadly, Jiang Qian's health just got better, it wasn’t healthy to stay up for such a long time.
Lin Yuan’s drooping eyelids snapped open and he suddenly said to Jiang Qian: “Jiang Qian, come up onto the bed. Let’s sleep together.”
In Prince Chu’s Palace, it was okay for them to sleep together, but here was the palace. Although everyone knew about their relationship, Jiang Qian could not overstep his status in the palace without punishment.
Jiang Qian shook his head: “My status prevents it. We have to pay attention here.”
Lin Yuan didn’t insist anymore. Jiang Qian’s status as a slave bound him like thousands of pounds of shackles, they made him unable to straighten his spine and forced him to kneel. Lin Yuan raised his hand and wanted to hold Jiang Qian, but because of his dizziness, everything in front of him looked like a blurry shadow. He wasn’t able to grab Jiang Qian’s hand accurately, but Jiang Qian caught him and clasped their hands together.
Lin Yuan smiled weakly and said: “I understand. Jiang Qian, I’ll recover quickly. Once we go home, everything will be better.”
When Jiang Qian heard the word “home”, his eyes trembled. He lowered his head and looked at their tightly clasped hands and his long eyelashes fluttered: “En, I’ll wait for you to get better. Lin Yuan, I’ll wait…”
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Lin Yuan lay there for seven days. At the end, he could finally see things clearly and his appetite was back to normal. Although he sometimes felt his head throb, it was much better than when he would vomit when he moved.
Lin Yuan felt he was as good as new. When the emperor came to visit him, he took the initiative to mention: “Your Majesty, I’m feeling much better. I shouldn’t disturb Your Majesty any longer, I will return to my residence.”
The emperor discreetly glanced at Jiang Qian and responded: “Zhen will be more assured if you return tomorrow.”
The emperor left, but not before glancing at Jiang Qian again. Jiang Qian noticed.
He waited until he coaxed Lin Yuan to sleep and then walked towards Taiji Hall.
The eunuch at the door led him inside.
Jiang Qian knelt down and reported: “This slave, Jiang Qian, pays respects to Your Majesty.”
The emperor was reading a memorial on the dragon throne. He looked up and smiled: “Jiang liuyuan, please rise.”
Jiang Qian thanked the emperor and stood up. He was dressed in white, and his features were as elegant as jade. His pair of amber eyes reflected the light from the candles, not containing any dust.
The emperor felt that Jiang Qian looked even more posed than when he was named liuyuan. He put down his brush and said admirably: “Jiang Qian, when zhen looks at you, zhen cannot see any hint of you being a slave.”
Jiang Qian thought sarcastically, he could only look decent today because of Lin Yuan’s love and protection. When he was in Prince Yanping’s mansion, he didn’t even look as good as a slave.
“Your Majesty exaggerates. The only reason I am like this today is thanks to the little prince’s love. If there was no little prince, then I would have died at Prince Yanping’s mansion.”
Indeed, how could the emperor not know of Jiang Qian’s experience at Prince Yanping’s mansion? The emperor’s secret guard gave reported every day, and he knew everything.
Managing to restore Jiang Qian back to this point shows how much effort the little prince used.
The emperor paused for a bit and said: “So you’re saying that you really have feelings for Prince Chu. Zhen thought that you were being forced.”
Jiang Qian’s expression softened when he thought of Lin Yuan. “No, the prince’s mind is innocent, and he loves and protects this slave. A week ago in this hall, this slave saw how he was determined to give me pure affection. Such a person, this slave would not be able to find a second in the entire world. This slave can’t not adore the prince.”
The emperor made a sound of acknowledgement. He pondered for a moment before saying: “Jiang Qian, you are now just a slave, and Prince Chu is a first-ranked prince. Your identities are a thousand miles apart. Even if zhen wants to match you two together, this matter is not easy to do.”
Jiang Qian understood the emperor’s hidden meaning. He knelt down again and said: “Your Majesty, as long as you allow this slave and the prince to be together, this slave is willing to do anything. This slave only has the prince left, and this slave doesn’t want to lose the prince.”
The emperor smiled: “Prince Chu is someone zhen watched grow up. Seeing how he treats you, zhen wants to support his sincerity. And you are an unparalleled talent. Seeing you being demoted to slavery, zhen thinks it’s a pity. Jiang Qian, if you are willing to help zhen secretly with some matters, then it’s possible for zhen to pardon your slave status.”
Jiang Qian sneered in his heart but he acted surprised: “Really? Your Majesty, are you really willing to open the net on one side and pardon this slave’s crimes and status?” t/n to open the net on one side is an idiom saying to give someone a way out
The emperor nodded: “You have already studied for ten years in order to serve the court. Although you can’t become a court official, you will still be doing work for zhen. As long as you perform well, zhen will pardon your crimes and slave status.”
Jiang Qian kowtowed and saluted: “Yes, this slave will obey.”
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Back in Prince Chu’s mansion, Lin Yuan plopped onto the bed and felt that his own bed was much more comfortable.
Jiang Qian smiled at Lin Yuan’s lazy appearance and he took off his shoes. He walked over to the bed and pressed Lin Yuan underneath him.