Wang Dian heavily placed the empty bowl on the table. Liang Ye cautiously glanced at him, and when Wang Dian looked at him, he pitifully frowned, “Bitter.”
“If it’s bitter, eat some candied fruit.” Wang Dian was about to get up to fetch some from the table, but Liang Ye grabbed his sleeve.
Liang Ye smiled and pointed at the corner of his mouth. Wang Dian said with some difficulty, “Even with your mouth sewn shut, it’s still bitter.”
“…………” Liang Ye was silent for a moment, then said fiercely, “You promised to consummate with Zhen.”
“Your Majesty, your heart was almost pierced through, just by this much.” Wang Dian looked at him with a complicated expression, pinching his fingers to show a small gap. “You were about to meet the King of Hell.”
“Zhen is well aware.” Liang Ye stared at him suspiciously. “Are you going back on your word?”
“Let’s talk about it when you’re healed.” Wang Dian sighed, sitting on the bed and tucking in his blanket. “Vigorous activity is not advisable before your wound heals.”
“You could sit on top and—” Liang Ye’s mouth was pinched shut, and he lowered his brows in displeasure.
Wang Dian released his hand, felt Liang Ye’s still slightly warm forehead, and wiped away his cold sweat. Liang Ye lay in bed staring at him intently, but didn’t continue to make trouble. Just as Wang Dian was about to pull back his hand, Liang Ye whimpered and frowned, “Zhen’s back is also sweaty and sticky. Zhen wants to bathe.”
“Not yet.” Wang Dian was unusually patient, using a damp cloth to continue wiping the cold sweat from his neck. “The wound hasn’t healed yet, it can’t get wet. If you can turn over, I’ll wipe your back with a cloth later.”
Liang Ye blinked, and after a while, uncertainly asked, “Really?”
Wang Dian chuckled, “It’s just wiping your back, why would I lie to you?”
Liang Ye licked his dry, bitter lips and tentatively asked, “You’re… not angry?”
“Hmm?” Wang Dian took out Liang Ye’s hand from under the blanket, lowering his head to carefully and gently wipe each of his fingers clean. “Why would I be angry? I’m overjoyed that you’re alive.”
Liang Ye sensed something was off. He felt Wang Dian should be very angry, and had even prepared many ways to appease him in advance. But Wang Dian not only didn’t seem angry, he was even many times gentler than before… It seemed Wang Dian truly loved him desperately.
Even though he felt something wasn’t quite right, he was still happy to enjoy it. “Then why don’t you kiss Zhen?”
Wang Dian lowered his eyes, touching Liang Ye’s dry lips. “They’re too dry now, it wouldn’t feel good to kiss. How about drinking some more water?”
Liang Ye was a bit dazed, but between vigilance and compliance, he instinctively nodded.
Hah, Wang Dian was weak and powerless, with his life in Liang Ye’s hands. No matter how capable he might be, he couldn’t make any waves.
Wang Dian fed him half a bowl of water, then carefully wiped his back, helping him lie flat on the bed. He then had the imperial kitchen make Liang Ye’s favorite snacks and personally fed them to him. He did everything himself, even asking what was wrong when Liang Ye turned over or coughed lightly.
The happiness came too suddenly. Liang Ye was so excited the whole day after waking up that he couldn’t settle down. He ordered Wang Dian to do this and that, making some unreasonable demands. Wang Dian agreed to all of them, only firmly refusing when Liang Ye suggested they look at erotic picture books together.
“You’re seriously injured and not yet recovered. Looking at those things might make your blood rush, which isn’t good for your body,” Wang Dian said, looking at him somewhat tiredly. “If you want to hear stories, I can tell you some from the storybooks of my homeland.”
Wang Dian hadn’t slept much for a day and night. His eye sockets were slightly sunken, stubble had appeared on his chin, and his voice was very hoarse. Liang Ye finally felt a pang of conscience and said lazily, “Never mind, come up and sleep with Zhen.”
“I might accidentally press on your wound while sleeping.” Wang Dian pointed to the small couch by the window. “In a while, I’ll have Yun Fu bring people to move that couch next to the bed. You’ll be able to touch me by reaching out.”
This suggestion left no room for objection. Liang Ye reluctantly agreed. Seeing Wang Dian turn around, he quickly called out, “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to find Li Bu to change my dressing.” Wang Dian raised his bandaged left hand, smiling with his hoarse voice. “I’ll be back soon. If you’re tired, sleep first.”
Liang Ye said unwillingly, “Have him come here to change it for you.”
“He’s still preparing medicine for you and can’t leave.” Wang Dian lowered his head and kissed the corner of Liang Ye’s mouth. “Wait for me to return.”
Liang Ye stared at his retreating figure, puzzled, touching the still-warm corner of his mouth. He casually knocked on the bedpost three times. A guard, completely wrapped from head to toe, flipped in from outside the window and knelt on the ground, saluting, “Master.”
“Speak,” Liang Ye said.
“After Master fainted, Wang Daren held you and wouldn’t let anyone approach. He was quite anxious, stayed up all night to care for you, and all the orders he gave, Yu Ying carried out one by one. He took out that pill to undo the Gu worm at one point, but put it away after a while, and then…” The guard hesitated, and seeing Liang Ye frown, hurriedly continued, “Then he kissed you…cough, for a long time.”
The way of kissing made the guard blush even now just thinking about it. From eyebrows to eyes, nose to lips, ears, and even fingertips, nothing was spared. Although he knew about the relationship between Liang Ye and Wang Dian, actually seeing his usually ruthless and unpredictable master being kissed and fondled like that by Wang Dian was truly shocking.
But he didn’t dare to elaborate even if he had a hundred times the courage, so he just glossed over it vaguely.
Liang Ye didn’t seem to think about it carefully either. He just waved his hand to dismiss the guard and stared expressionlessly at the tassels on the curtains, lost in thought.
In the adjacent hall, Li Bu was applying medicine to Wang Dian’s hand and wrist. He asked, “Wang Daren seems to be left-handed?”
“Yes, I was left-handed since childhood, but later forced myself to change,” Wang Dian said.
“No wonder you used your left hand in the emergency.” Li Bu smiled. “His Majesty was also left-handed as a child. He suffered a lot because of it, even asking this old minister if cutting off his left hand would make him use his right hand.”
Wang Dian’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “Has Imperial Physician Li been taking care of His Majesty since he was young?”
“Not really. When the late emperor was alive, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager were not favored. I was young then and occasionally helped His Majesty with small favors. He often snuck to the Imperial Medical Courtyard to find me.” Li Bu stroked his beard and said with a smile, “At that time, His Majesty was only five or six years old, thin and small. There was a pebble-paved road outside the Imperial Medical Courtyard. His Majesty loved to pick up those small stones to play with, but later…”
He seemed to realize he had said too much and laughed awkwardly. “Look at me, getting old and always wanting to reminisce about the past. Please forgive me, Wang Daren.”
“It’s alright.” Wang Dian didn’t pursue the topic further. After Li Bu finished bandaging the wound, he asked, “Imperial Physician Li, do you have any calming medicine here?”
“There are already many calming medicines in His Majesty’s medicine,” Li Bu said. “Adding more might be too high a dose.”
“Imperial Physician Li misunderstood. It’s for me to drink.” Wang Dian, with an exhausted face, rubbed his brow with his other hand. “Preferably a larger dose. I’m afraid the usual dosage won’t be effective.”
“This… medicine shouldn’t be taken carelessly.” Li Bu carefully observed his complexion. “Would Wang Daren allow me to take your pulse?”
Wang Dian was never shy about medical matters and calmly extended his hand for Li Bu to take his pulse. Li Bu pondered for a while and slowly said, “Is it startled palpitations and sleeplessness, restlessness?”
Wang Dian nodded, “A little bit.”
“Daren seems to have some depression,” Li Bu was about to take his pulse more carefully, but Wang Dian withdrew his hand.
Wang Dian smiled, “It’s an old problem. It was almost better, but… Just prescribe some medicine for depression. His Majesty’s medicine needs constant attention, so I won’t disturb you further.”
Li Bu wanted to say more but seeing Wang Dian’s smiling face, he finally just nodded. “Then I’ll adjust the dosage a bit to help you sleep.”
“Thank you.” Wang Dian cupped his hands in gratitude and slowly returned to the bedroom with his hands in his sleeves.
“You’re back?” Liang Ye’s weak voice sounded in the darkness, seemingly filled with endless resentment. “One might think you were planning to spend the night at Li Bu’s place.”
“I just asked him to prescribe some calming medicine for me.” Wang Dian picked up a nearby fire starter and lit a candle. “Why didn’t you have someone light the lamps?”
“No strength to call anyone.” Liang Ye lay pale on the bed, saying gloomily, “You were gone so long, Zhen could have died here without you knowing.”
Wang Dian noticed the small couch had been moved next to the bed, and teased, “Yet you had strength to have someone move the couch?”
Liang Ye stared at him discontentedly, but soon began coughing. Wang Dian quickly gave him water and helped him breathe, then leaned down to touch foreheads to check his temperature. “Hmm, it seems to have gone down.”
“No, Zhen is still feverish,” Liang Ye insisted. “Would have burned to death with no one watching.”
Wang Dian chuckled, speaking gently, “Alright, then I won’t sleep tonight, I’ll just watch you.”
Liang Ye gave him a strange look, then seemed worried, “Are you okay? Were you scared?”
“It’s not like I haven’t seen killing before. When you killed at Shizai Mountain, it was much more brutal than yesterday. Was I afraid then?” Wang Dian took off his outer robe and leaned on the couch, taking Liang Ye’s hand and playing with it leisurely. Lowering his eyes with a slight smile, he said, “I was just startled by you.”
Liang Ye felt somewhat uncomfortable with his hand being fondled, but didn’t pull away. He said seriously, “Zhen will give you advance notice next time.”
“Next time?” Wang Dian raised his eyes, looking at him with an ambiguous expression, seeming to smile yet also frowning.
Liang Ye narrowed his eyes, “Zhen didn’t inform you for good reason. Don’t be moody with Zhen.”
“How could I be moody with you?” Wang Dian smiled, holding his hand and kissing it softly. He said casually, “From what I know of you, your plan originally was for me to take that arrow, life or death notwithstanding. Why did you change your mind in the end?”
Liang Ye didn’t refute his guess, just scoffed, “With your delicate nature, you’d probably cry from the pain.”
Wang Dian’s eyes darkened as he said slowly, “Your Majesty, doing this makes me seem like a useless pawn.”
“Zhen keeps you for other uses.” Liang Ye frowned impatiently. Wang Dian’s gaze made him very uncomfortable. He instinctively felt resistant, but also truly guilty, so he couldn’t bring himself to lose his temper at Wang Dian. He said stiffly, “Sleep.”
“You can unhesitatingly put me in mortal danger, yet you changed your mind at the last moment. Liang Ye, is it that you truly couldn’t bear to—or do you want me to think you couldn’t bear to, so I’d be even more devoted to you?” Wang Dian kissed his fingertips.
Liang Ye raised an eyebrow, pressing his fingertip to Wang Dian’s soft lips. “You care a lot about this?”
“Not that much.” Wang Dian chuckled lightly. “The result is the same either way.”
Liang Ye wanted to put his hand in Wang Dian’s mouth, but Wang Dian held his hand and kissed it. “I’m tired. Drink your medicine and sleep.”
Liang Ye retracted his hand with some regret and drank the warm medicine in one gulp. Seeing Wang Dian also drinking medicine, he frowned, “What medicine are you drinking?”
“A calming medicine.” Wang Dian leaned in to pass some to him mouth-to-mouth, saying eerily, “Imperial Physician Li said I might have depression. I might eat people.”
Liang Ye swallowed the medicine passed to him in slight shock, taking a while to react, “Depression doesn’t make people eat others.”
“Of course not.” Wang Dian wiped the medicine from the corner of his mouth with his thumb, smiling. “Go to sleep.”
He then went to blow out the candle.
Liang Ye was already seriously injured, and after a day of exertion without sleep, he quickly fell into a deep sleep after taking the medicine. However, his wound hurt badly, making his sleep restless. In the midst of chaotic dreams, he vaguely sensed heavy breathing and suddenly awoke, immediately meeting a pair of cold, deep eyes.
A blue lightning bolt tore across the sky, illuminating the face of the person sitting straight-backed by the bed. Wang Dian unnaturally tilted his neck, his cold hand touching Liang Ye’s face, giving him a strange and terrifying smile.
Even the brave Liang Ye felt a chill down his spine. His hand had already reached for the Liu Ye sword as he cautiously called out, “Wang Dian?”
Wang Dian’s smile faded, his expression blank as he glanced at Liang Ye, saying softly, “Can’t sleep.”
Liang Ye felt secretly relieved, then annoyed, “If you can’t sleep, why are you staring at Zhen?”
“I can’t sleep, yet you’re sleeping so soundly.” Wang Dian’s expression was displeased. “I thought about covering your mouth and nose to wake you up, but who knew you’d be so alert.”
“You dare to think about waking Zhen up like that?” Liang Ye said in disbelief.
“Hmm.” Wang Dian lowered his eyes to stare at his lips, his voice carrying a strange coldness and indifference. “Don’t sleep anymore, let me kiss you.”
“…You must be out of your mind—mmph!” Before Liang Ye could finish expressing his shock, Wang Dian gripped his chin and kissed him forcefully. The reckless force almost made him cough up blood. If he hadn’t quickly blocked Wang Dian’s elbow, his wound that had just stopped bleeding might have opened up again.
But kissing with a hole in one’s chest was certainly not an enjoyable experience. He had only been putting on a brave face earlier. Wang Dian’s kiss was unusually rough and direct this time, not allowing him to catch his breath, even using his hand to grip his neck as the kiss deepened. Although Liang Ye wasn’t afraid of death, being kissed to death was somewhat embarrassing. He had to use some strength to push Wang Dian away, immediately feeling a sharp pain from his wound.
“You… are you trying to suffocate Zhen?” Liang Ye was irritated by the pain, mixed with some displeasure at Wang Dian’s defiance.
Wang Dian smiled gently at him, “Didn’t you want me to kiss you?”
Liang Ye glared at him, his face pale from the pain. After a moment of speechlessness, he said, “Why are you acting crazy in the middle of the night? Go to sleep quickly.”
“I told you, I can’t sleep,” Wang Dian leaned down, gently nuzzling his nose against Liang Ye’s, and said intimately, “Be good, don’t sleep either.”
Liang Ye felt somewhat aggrieved, “If you can’t sleep, why won’t you let Zhen sleep?”
“If I can’t sleep, why should you get to?” Wang Dian carefully kissed his eyebrows and eyes, his uninjured hand slipping under the blanket, slowly untying his belt. “Besides, I can make you feel good.”
Liang Ye was shocked. “Wait, Wang Dian, Zhen doesn’t want—”
However, the sudden pleasure and loss of control made him swallow the rest of his words. The stimulation intertwined with the pain from his wound, making even breathing difficult. He frowned and grabbed Wang Dian’s wrist, his breathing more unsteady than ever before. “Wang Dian… you’re utterly audacious.”
Wang Dian sat at the edge of the bed, fully clothed, staring at him coldly. “Not feeling good?”
Liang Ye felt strangely embarrassed and angry under that serious yet cold gaze. His body was unusually honest, a faint blush appearing on his previously pale face. He gritted his teeth and said, “Are you… taking revenge on Zhen?”
Wang Dian coldly tugged at the corner of his mouth, lowered his head to nuzzle against Liang Ye’s slightly sweaty nose tip, and said, “Then I’ll stop.”
With that, he withdrew his hand and slowly wiped his fingers with a handkerchief.
Liang Ye’s expression instantly contorted. He grabbed Wang Dian’s wrist, so angry his teeth itched. “Wang Dian!”
Wang Dian kissed the beautiful corner of his eye and asked gently, “Still sleepy?”
“You f*cking—” For the first time, Liang Ye was so angry he burst out with crude language. The well-bandaged wound had already been torn open by Wang Dian’s actions, with dark red blood seeping through.
Wang Dian glanced at it and said in a soothing voice, “Don’t be angry, it’s not good for your wound. I’ll go get some medicine to rebandage it for you.”
Liang Ye grabbed his sleeve, his expression twisted yet restrained, his breathing unsteady as he said, “You first… help Zhen.”
Wang Dian stroked his face, “If I help, you’ll fall asleep quickly. Why don’t you beg me, hmm?”
Liang Ye’s eyes were almost shooting fire, as he glared at him fiercely, clenching his jaw.
Outside the window, wind and rain raged with thunder and lightning. Wang Dian laughed with pleasure, “Liang Ye, you look so beautiful like this right now.”
