“He was barely hanging on to life anyway.” Liang Ye laughed coldly. “Dying is too easy for him.”
Chong Heng wanted to say something but hesitated, probably due to Wang Dian’s presence. Liang Ye impatiently waved his hand, “If he’s dead, then he’s dead. Throw him in the mass grave.”
“Yes,” Chong Heng responded and retreated.
On his way back to the secret dungeon, he was passing by a certain palace when melodious music drifted out. This place was very close to Shoukang Palace. He leapt onto the wall, about to follow the music, when suddenly he heard a delicate shout. “Who goes there!?”
Immediately after came a flurry of hidden weapons. Chong Heng barely dodged them and looked down at the other person with a cold expression.
After recognizing him, Shen Yueli sneered, “Where did this young upstart come from? How dare you climb walls and peep in the imperial palace.”
Chong Heng spent most of his time with Liang Ye but rarely appeared in public. With his extraordinary disguise skills, few people knew him except for the few palace servants and guards who served Liang Ye closely.
However, he recognized Shen Yueli.
“This isn’t your Eastern Chen palace, you’re overstepping. Even if I were peeping, it wouldn’t be at you,” Chong Heng stood on the wall with his arms crossed. “As for you, a princess overstaying her welcome in our Great Liang, what are your intentions?”
“Clearly, you people are detaining me here!” Anger flashed in Shen Yueli’s eyes. “Your His Majesty first broke his promise by not recognizing the token, then killed Cui Yuxian. Eastern Chen will never forgive you.”
“Hmm.” Chong Heng glanced at her. “That’s rich, coming from you. You clearly stole that token through some underhanded means. Cui Yuxian rebelled first, who else should we kill? Moreover, the envoys from Southern Zhao and Loufan fled when they saw the situation turn sour. It’s clearly your own stupidity, yet you have the gall to blame others.”
Shen Yueli coldly threw another volley of hidden weapons. Chong Heng first blocked them with his scabbard, but as Shen Yueli’s attacks grew more fierce, he impatiently drew his sword.
“You little thief, spewing nonsense!” Shen Yueli raged. “That token clearly belonged to Liang Ye! He handed it to me himself!”
“When my master lost his jade pendant back then, he was so ill he could barely see people clearly. Who knows if you snatched it or stole it!” Dealing with her posed no challenge for Chong Heng, but since Liang Ye hadn’t ordered her death, he could only restrain his strength. The impatience and irritation in his eyes mirrored Liang Ye’s exactly.
“Who’s making a commotion in there?” A cool female voice came from the other side of the wall.
Hearing this, Chong Heng’s expression suddenly changed. After a feint, he swiftly sheathed his sword, leapt onto the wall, and jumped down.
Shen Yueli glared hatefully at the top of the wall. Not wanting to cause trouble, she angrily retrieved her hidden weapons.
“In response to the Imperial Concubine, Princess Yueli of Eastern Chen resides inside,” the guard at the gate respectfully answered.
Tan Yishuang nodded, having no intention to visit, and continued walking forward.
The palace maid beside her smiled and continued their previous topic, “Imperial Concubine, this slave heard them say the plum blossoms in Zhouxi Garden are blooming best, and there’s a warm pavilion in the garden, perfect for appreciating plum blossoms.”
Tan Yishuang nodded casually, catching sight of a figure hurrying past. “Xiao Heng?”
Chong Heng abruptly halted, bowing with clasped hands. “Greetings, Imperial Concubine.”
“Where are you rushing off to?” Tan Yishuang smiled. “It’s freezing, yet you’re sweating.”
Chong Heng hesitated, wiping sweat from his nose with his sleeve. He glanced at her quickly, then lowered his eyes obediently. “Going to Zhouxi Garden to pick plum blossoms for Master.”
Tan Yishuang was surprised. “His Majesty wants plum blossoms?”
“It’s for Master’s beloved to see,” Chong Heng declared earnestly, thinking Wang Dian must like plum blossoms if he liked lotuses. He glanced nervously at Tan Yishuang again. “Does the Imperial Concubine like plum blossoms?”
The nearby palace maid giggled behind her sleeve. Tan Yishuang gave her a cool look, and she immediately lowered her head.
“Plum blossoms are lovely, but in this harsh weather, forcing oneself to view them loses the essence,” Tan Yishuang said gently. “Since His Majesty ordered you, go pick them quickly. Liuli, let’s return to the palace.”
Chong Heng lowered his head in defeat, but noticing her plain sleeve, he boldly stepped forward. “If the Imperial Consort doesn’t wish to go see them, I’ll pick some for you.”
Before Tan Yishuang could respond, he had quickly left.
She glanced at his footprints in the snow and sighed softly.
****
In the bedchamber, Wang Dian emerged from the bath to see red plum blossoms on the table, mostly stripped bare, with petals scattered about. “Where did these come from?”
“Chong Heng picked them,” Liang Ye tossed a flower onto Wang Dian’s robe. It slid onto the thick carpet.
“The kid’s quite refined,” Wang Dian stepped on the fallen blossom, plucked another, and tucked it behind Liang Ye’s ear, smiling. “Not bad.”
Liang Ye grasped his wrist. “Stay in the palace tonight.”
Wang Dian teased, “Aren’t couples not supposed to meet before the wedding here?”
“If Zhen says we can meet, we can meet,” Liang Ye pulled him to straddle his lap, embracing his waist and burying his face in Wang Dian’s collar, his breath hot. “Zhen can’t sleep well without you.”
Wang Dian tilted his head, studying the flower behind Liang Ye’s ear, then kissed his ear, chuckling. “Can’t sleep well, or can’t sleep satisfyingly?”
That ear twitched sensitively, turning slightly red. Liang Ye looked up at him, stating firmly, “Wang Dian, your mind is full of dirty thoughts.”
“I’m just thinking,” Wang Dian crushed the red plum blossom with his fingertips, watching as the already reddish skin behind Liang Ye’s ear was stained with the deep red flower juice. He lowered his head to lick away that redness, frowning slightly at the bitterness.
Liang Ye leaned back lazily against the backrest, lifting his eyelids to glance at him. “Wanton.”
Wang Dian, fresh from his bath, wore his robes loosely, his collar disheveled and exposing much of his chest. He casually broke off a small plum branch, lightly brushing it across Liang Ye’s chin and then touching it to his Adam’s apple after pushing aside his collar. “Inexperienced.”
The soft petals barely grazed the skin, like an itch that couldn’t quite be scratched. Liang Ye’s gaze fixed on Wang Dian’s chest as he boldly reached out to touch it, raising an eyebrow. “Tsk.”
Wang Dian swatted away his mischievous paw with the flower branch, stood up, and straightened his robes. He glanced at Liang Ye’s disheveled hem. “Tsk.”
Liang Ye’s expression remained unabashed, boasting proudly, “Jealous?”
“How impressive,” Wang Dian tossed the flower branch onto Liang Ye’s lap disdainfully, which Liang Ye caught swiftly.
“Zhen understands, given your kidney deficiency,” he smiled meaningfully. “Zhen will instruct Li Bu to give you more tonics.”
Wang Dian’s mouth twitched, using a smile to conceal the darkness in his eyes. “Very well.”
Joking aside, when he passed by the desk piled high with memorials, his temple throbbed visibly. He asked uncertainly, “Have you finished reading all of these?”
“Haven’t read them,” Liang Ye, who had been eagerly setting up a game board, immediately deflated.
“How many haven’t you read?” Wang Dian asked.
Liang Ye was silent for a moment, lowering his head to arrange the game pieces. After a long while without Wang Dian coming over, he admitted defeatedly, “Haven’t read a single one.”
Wang Dian asked incredulously, “How many days have these piled up? What have you been doing all day?”
“Yu Ying and the others have already picked out the urgent ones,” Liang Ye touched the cool game pieces. “Come play a game.”
Wang Dian had previously reformed the writing style and submission system for memorials, greatly improving efficiency in reviewing them. Liang Ye had been using this system, but the premise for improved efficiency was that he actually “read” them.
“Have you finished the important ones?” Wang Dian asked again.
Liang Ye hesitated, pointing to a small table piled high nearby, and muttered vaguely, “More or less.”
“Liang Ye,” Wang Dian’s tone deepened slightly.
Liang Ye stared at him resentfully. “You promised to teach Zhen gobang. Zhen hasn’t even settled accounts with you for your dalliance with Zhao Qi.”
“Don’t try to change the subject.” Wang Dian wasn’t swayed at all, expressionlessly pointing at the table full of memorials. “Don’t you know how important these are?”
“Zhen is very busy,” Liang Ye frowned.
“Busy drugging me and watching me bathe?” Wang Dian tapped the table. “You’re an emperor, at least do something productive.”
Liang Ye irritably covered his ears. “Zhen wants to learn gobang.”
“Learn you nonsense.” Wang Dian pulled him up. “Read the memorials.”
Liang Ye looked painfully at the mountains of documents, admitting honestly, “Zhen would rather drink white jade soup than review these memorials.”
“Don’t dream,” Wang Dian said flatly. “If you could defeat Cui Yuxian, you can handle the affairs after merging the outer and inner courts.”
“Zhen is the emperor,” Liang Ye gritted his teeth. “If Zhen says no, it’s no.”
“See how peaceful things remain if you keep putting it off,” Wang Dian pushed him into the chair, smiling. “Besides, this is your duty as emperor. How could you not like it?”
Liang Ye looked longingly at the game board. “Go—”
“Five hours and you’ll be done,” Wang Dian whispered in his ear. “Just two hours tonight and three tomorrow, and you’ll complete the task.”
Liang Ye frowned. “No—”
“Don’t worry,” Wang Dian pressed his shoulders. “You can do it. Think of your empire, your people, your empty treasury, and the dangerous frontiers.”
Liang Ye said flatly, “They can all die.”
“…” Wang Dian’s mouth twitched violently.
Keeping one hand on Liang Ye, he accurately found two memorials from the Ministry of Revenue among the pile, tapping the table. “Read mine first.”
Liang Ye finally showed some interest, opening the document. Wang Dian’s calligraphy was beautiful, previously able to imitate his handwriting almost perfectly. His own writing also had style, bold and grand, very pleasing to the eye except for occasional missing strokes.
But no matter how nice the writing, the content was formal, serious, and boring, far less interesting than looking at picture books.
Wang Dian nearly punched him when he heard him muttering, but before he could speak, Liang Ye hugged his waist, looking at him pleadingly. “Help Zhen read, then Zhen won’t be bored.”
“Fine,” Wang Dian nodded readily. “But this is extra work, you’ll have to pay overtime. I’m not asking much, just ten times the average salary.”
“Ten times?” Liang Ye looked at him incredulously.
Wang Dian smiled, tapping his temple and tilting his head. “Your Majesty, given my brain, I’m already giving you a bargain.”
Liang Ye narrowed his eyes. “Ten times it is. Every merchant is a swindler.”
“This is what I deserve,” Wang Dian sat down and picked up a document. “A competent boss should learn to pay overtime.”
Liang Ye mischievously put his hand on Wang Dian’s waist. Wang Dian said coldly, “I’m only working two extra hours. Your harassment isn’t wasting time, it’s wasting the money you’re paying me.”
Liang Ye considered for a moment, silently withdrew his hand, and with a tense face, picked up the brush and began reading the memorials.
Headache.
Blurry vision.
The desk was too messy.
The room was too stuffy.
A quarter-hour later, Wang Dian looked at the neatly arranged memorials and brushes on the desk, then at Liang Ye rubbing his temples, getting up to open the window, then closing it again. He seemed very busy, but had only read two memorials in total.
It was as familiar as seeing an employee skilled at slacking off.
“Liang Ye, come back and sit properly,” Wang Dian said without looking up, quickly reviewing the memorial in his hand. “I’ll only read half. If you don’t finish the rest, don’t sleep.”
Liang Ye was about to refute when Wang Dian added, “Otherwise, I’ll leave the palace.”
Liang Ye reluctantly sat down beside him, reading the memorials with drooping eyelids, carelessly approving them and tossing them aside. He yawned lazily, his eyelashes slightly damp.
Wang Dian glanced at him, restraining the urge to kiss him, and continued patiently reading. Half an hour later, he looked up to find Liang Ye asleep on the memorials.
“…” Wang Dian was both annoyed and amused. He stared at him for a while before turning back to the memorials.
After reviewing exactly half of the memorials, he looked up. Two hours had passed, and he felt satisfied with completing the task on time. He glanced at Liang Ye, who had somehow ended up sleeping on his lap, and sighed helplessly.
Then he leaned down and kissed Liang Ye’s thin eyelids.
Liang Ye opened his eyes, alert yet slightly confused, his damp lashes trembling in the candlelight.
Mesmerizing.
Wang Dian smiled contentedly.
Consider it… an extra reward for completing the work.
