Chapter 197: Even If You Express Your Love Openly, It’s Impossible Others Will Understand.

The next morning, when the dawn was about to break in the East, Yan HeQing got up early and went to the Court, while Xiao YuAn was still sleeping soundly. Yan HeQing knew that he was already quite tired from yesterday’s activities, so he bowed his head to tenderly kiss his beloved. His eyes, which used to be cold as ice, softened a lot.

Xiao YuAn, who was kissed twice, subconsciously grabbed the quilt to cover up his head. However, Yan HeQing reached out to pull down the quilt and teased him a little bit more before reluctantly standing up.

Yan HeQing walked two steps away when he suddenly turned back in a hurry. After he saw Xiao YuAn lying peacefully on his bed, he breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing that he shouldn’t do it, he ruthlessly pushed down his inner fears and forced himself to go out of the bedchamber. It was hard for him to walk away from the bedchamber, but as soon as he got out, he suddenly saw that there was a thick layer of snow outside. Just like how the red and white intertwined in one that depressing day. Yan HeQing was stuck in place, panic emerging in his eyes. Right then he turned around, walked back to the bedchamber, leaned down and pressed himself against Xiao YuAn as he kissed him for a bit. Feeling the warmth of the man in his arms, Xiao YuAn vaguely cried ‘Yan-ge’ before giving up.

“Yan-ge? Are you going to the morning Court?” Xiao YuAn was still half-asleep and asked vaguely.

Yan HeQing hummed.

Xiao YuAn said intermittently: “Then, I’ll wait… for you… to come back.”

Yan HeQing’s eyes fluttered as he lowered his head and kissed Xiao YuAn on the forehead: “Alright.”

When Xiao YuAn woke up, it was already noon and the sun was hanging high in the sky. Xiao YuAn moved his soft limbs and slowly opened his eyes. When Tian Xiang, who was standing at the side, saw that he was finally awake, she hurriedly came forward: “Xiao Jun Wang, you’re finally awake. This servant was waiting to help you change your clothes.”

Xiao YuAn looked around and asked: “Where’s His Majesty?”

Tian Xiang said: “His Majesty has gone to the Court. Don’t worry, Xiao Jun Wang, His Majesty won’t come back for a while, don’t be afraid.”

‘Hiss…. Why is she saying such strange words?’

Xiao YuAn held his waist and tried to sit up, but when he leaned forward, he suddenly felt pain coming from a ‘certain place’. With a miserable cry, he laid on his back again.

‘My waist ah, my waist! Why did I have to flirt with the Male Protagonist of a Stallion novel who spent a night with 10 women? This is retribution! Punishment!’

When she saw Xiao YuAn’s miserable appearance, Tian Xiang’s eyes suddenly turned red. When Xiao YuAn saw her like that, he forgot about his pain and quickly asked softly: “What’s wrong? Who bullied you?”

Tian Xang shook her head and sobbed: “This maidservant is all right. It’s just that this maidservant feels sorry for Xiao Jun Wang. Why do you have to suffer like this when you’re such a good person?”

‘What, what the hell?’

Xiao YuAn was confused, and Tian Xiang was still wiping her tears: “If I had known this would happen, this maidservant wouldn’t have shown that pattern to His Majesty. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been brought back to the Southern Yan Kingdom by His Majesty, and you wouldn’t have been insulted like this. It’s all this maidservant’s fault.”

Xiao YuAn: “No…. No….. Tian Xiang, you misunderstood. I’m not…. I know what it looks like…. But I wanted to do it. It’s not what you think.”

Tian Xiang: “I know, Xiao Jun Wang, that you’re willing to do it for the sake of the Western Shu Kingdom, but this maidservant thinks that you shouldn’t suffer this kind of crime. It’s too miserable! Waah wah!”

Xiao YuAn stroked his forehead with one hand as he thought; ‘How the hell am I supposed to explain this?’

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps came from outside the bedchamber. Yan HeQing, who hurried back from the morning Court, walked in at a quick pace. Tian Xian wiped her tears in a hurry, bowed, and retreated to the side in fear.

When Yan HeQing saw that Xiao YuAn was awake, he sat on the side of the bed and reached out to touch his hair: “Do you feel any discomfort?”

Although they did a lot last night, Yan HeQing did a good job in cleaning him and massaging him afterwards, so Xiao YuAn just felt tired, not really feeling hurt. He shook his head as he said with a smile: “No.”

Yan HeQing asked again: “What would you like to eat?”

Xiao YuAn said lazily: “I’ll just have some porridge and noodles with a clear soup. I felt really hungry when you mentioned that.”

Yan HeQing hummed and got up to order the food personally, emphasizing a few times that they should be quick before returning to the bedside.

Xiao YuAn asked: “Do you still have Court affairs to deal with?”

Yan HeQing nodded: “Mm-hmm.”

“Then you should go ahead, don’t worry about me.” Xiao YuAn waved his hand boldly. Suddenly, he saw that Tian Xiang was carefully glancing at them, so he waved his hand towards Yan HeQing’s hand, and said: “Yan-ge, come closer.”

Yan HeQing leaned down, only to be kissed by Xiao YuAn. Then he laughed and said: “Yan-ge, I really love you. How about you?”

The corners of Yan HeQing’s mouth raised slightly as he replied: “Mm-hmm.”

Xiao YuAn was dissatisfied with that reply: “Hum, what does that mean?”

Yan HeQing: “Me too.”

Now Xiao YuAn was more satisfied, even kissing him on the cheek several times before letting him go.

After Yan HeQing left, Xiao YuAn looked at Tian Xiang with a smile on his face, thinking; ‘My words may be weak, but my actions should be more convincing.’

Tian Xiang didn’t say anything, she simply bowed her head and helped Xiao YuAn change his clothes in silence. While she was still busy tying up his clothes, she suddenly started to cry.

Xiao YuAn was startled and hurriedly wiped her tears in a panic. Before he could ask why she was crying, Tian Xiang cried: “Waaaahhh His Majesty obviously has someone in his heart, but he’s still deceiving you with your feelings and hurting you. Waaahh, Xiao Jun Wang, please don’t get emotional, if you do, it’ll be all over! You will definitely be used! Waaahh!”

Xiao YuAn said: “I, this…. This is…. Ah, forget it. Whatever.”

…

At this moment, in General Huang Yue’s residence, Huang Yue kept tapping the table with the four fingers of his right hand. His frown was also tightly knitted as his subordinate reported: “General Huang, Xiao Jun Wang’s journey to the Western Shu Kingdom was suddenly interrupted by His Majesty and he was brought back to the Imperial Palace. Our assassination attempt hasn’t succeeded yet. General Huang, although your subordinates haven’t revealed their footing, it could be estimated that Xiao Jun Wang and Xue Yan have already guessed who sent the assassins.”

Huang Yue sneered and said: “That’s not a problem. What waves can be caused by a General who had his armor removed because he had a conflict with the Emperor, and a desperate Emperor who had to submit himself for the sake of his Country? It’s just that Xiao Jun Wang took refuge with Xue Yan and won’t join us. I originally wanted to assassinate him and then negotiate with the Western Shu Kingdom, but it seems that this scheme had to be put aside.”

The subordinate said: “General Huang, Chen Ge is their other force. Chen Ge shouldn’t be underestimated.”

Huang Yue: “Although Chen Ge is a General, he isn’t an issue because of his restrained behavior. However, I heard that the Emperor himself went to intercept Xiao Jun Wang, is that true?”

The subordinate said: “It’s true, General Huang. I’m afraid that Xiao Jun Wang will expose to His Majesty that you have recruited him as a party member!”

Huang Yue shook his head and said: “No, he should know that I have a lot of incriminating evidence in my hands that can bring him back to hell. With this incriminating evidence, even if I send him to prison first and then report the evidence to His Majesty, His Majesty will still not blame me.”

The subordinate wanted to say something, but stopped himself and asked meaningfully: “Then, General Huang, are we now….”

Huang Yue’s fingers, which were tapping on the table before, finally knocked heavily on the wooden table: “Don’t make a single move. As we plot to take over the throne, we can’t afford to make any mistakes!”

…

Xiao YuAn rested for an entire day, and he was finally recovered by the next day, completely forgetting about the pain. As he pressed himself against Yan HeQing, he asked for a morning kiss.

“Come, come, give your Husband a smile.” Xiao YuAn, lying on top of Yan HeQing, playfully scratched his chin and laughed.

As the night light dawned on the tiles and the fog closed on the heavy eaves, Xiao YuAn’s long silk-like black hair slipped from his shoulders. The morning light that entered through the widow, as well as that bright smile, were reflected together in the bottom of Yan HeQing’s eyes.

Just like how the swallows danced and the warbles sang1 on that day.

The last bit is a reference to chapter 46 👀

YHQ is really traumatized huh? 😭😭😭 XYA, take care of your hubby’s mental health 💔

Ahh, but they’re so cute together (o´罒`o)♡ it melts my heart💕💖

Poor Tian Xiang, she thinks she did something wrong when she’s the savior here 😂

Footnotes

燕舞莺啼 yàn wǔ yīng tí; Chinese idiom, used as a metaphor for a bright Spring. Nowadays, it’s often used as a metaphor for prosperity. From《醒世恒言》(xǐng shì héng yán) “Stories to Caution the World”, by (冯梦龙 féng mèng lóng) Feng Menglong [1574-1646], a novelist from the late Ming Dynasty [1368-1644].