Chapter 54

Two days later by noon, the Emperor and his company arrived at the hunting grounds. Enormous tents stood by the front valleys to the looming dark forest. A magnificent feast was prepared.

Shen Nuo sat in between Li Yan and Minghe during the meals. He leisurely licked one of his fingers stained with sauce and slurped a tender piece of mushroom in his soup, causing several ministers to turn in the direction and look at him speechlessly. But he was a consort. They couldn't do anything but lower their heads and pretend to be deaf and blind. Li Yan glared at him. "Quiet!" He hissed in a furious whisper.

On the other hand, Shen Nuo looked very innocent. "Huh?" He asked in that know-nothing voice.

Li Yan leaned to the side and reached Shen Nuo's ear. "If you dare misbehave, then you're not allowed to join the hunt tomorrow." He whispered in a low voice. Shen Nuo nearly spat out the contents in his mouth. He looked at the dog darkly.

He doesn't even seem to have the freedom to eat as he wish it seems. The dog was really rebellious. Shen Nuo smiled sweetly. "Husband, eat more!" He shoved a dish of roasted garlic towards Li Yan.

Li Yan also smiled sweetly, picked a plumpy banana from the fruit bowl and stretched it towards Shen Nuo. "Wife also should eat more!" He gave Shen Nuo a meaningful look.

Zhanhua: "..."

Officials: "..."

Minghe: "???"

And Shen Nuo: "!!!"

Shen Nuo was speechless. He gritted his teeth and forced a sweet smile again. But his naughty hand that wanted to pinch Li Yan's leg, slid under the desk and onto the emperor's lap and accidentally gave a heavenly pinch to the wrong spot. Ok. He did not think too much when he felt that slender thing to the touch. He couldn't help but squeeze it a few more times.

But the moment Li Yan was attacked with that heavenly pinch on his ******, suddenly dropped his chopsticks with which he had been eating. His breath hitched and eyes went red.

However, it was a moment before Shen Nuo felt that soft and slender thing hardening into a monstrous iron rod in an instant did he realize what the f@#king hell it was.

"..." HoLY SHiT!!!

Shen Nuo thought he was going to have a heart attack. He withdrew back his hand as if scalded by fire and raised his eyes to look at Li Yan only to get his eyes locked with Li Yan's frightening gaze.

The near most officials who saw the sudden change in the emperor's face was horrified. "Your Majesty!"

Even Minghe who sat next to Li Yan couldn't help but raise his head. "Imperial Father?"

But by the next moment, startling everyone, Shen Nuo struggled to his feet with a beet red face and got lost in an instant.

Li Yan threw away the chopsticks, gritting his teeth and was not in a mood to continue eating. "You eat!" He said to his officials darkly in a hoarse voice before leaving away with a shrug. "Zhangsun, take Minghe to Zhen's tent when he's done!"

How dare Shen Nuo!!!

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It was past midnight. Li Yan still had not returned to the tent. Shen Nuo felt some discomfort spreading through his body at moments, weakening his entire body. Perhaps inside the tent, it was too hot. Jinyu who just provided him with the dinner, grinned broadly. "Have a long and a mirthful night!" He wished giggling.

Goldfish wasn't the sort who would speak something like this. Shen Nuo rolled his eyes. "Quickly get lost!"

Few minutes later, Shen Nuo couldn't take it anymore. So he went out of the tent to breath some fresh air. It was completely silent except for the sound of footsteps of the guards who were doing night patrols far away.

He found himself in a deserted valley amid tall pines and cedars. Why was he feeling very uncomfortable? He felt irritated.

The wind was rough and the moon rays gleamed queerly through the week canopy of the trees. Shen Nuo stared at the moon. Suddenly a pair of strong arms wrapped around his waist from behind.

"..."

Shen Nuo rather knew who had an obsession with his back, to be genuinely concerned. But suddenly he was not in a mood to mess around with Li Yan as usual. An uneasy feeling curled up his nerves. He did not like the taste of it.

"Li Yan???" He frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"That is what I should be asking you, Shen Nuo." Li Yan said, furrowing his brows. His heavy breath grazed past Shen Nuo's neck, causing Shen Nuo to shudder. "Didn't you kick me out of your room three days ago? So I gave my tent all to yourself. Now you're asking me why?"

"I didn't ask you to leave!" Shen Nuo said annoyed. "You went out of your free will! What are you doing here?"

"I was meditating." Li Yan said honestly. "I have to recover my cultivation soon, you know? But suddenly you came, so..."

"Ok, I'll go somewhere else." Shen Nuo tuned to go.

"Wait!" Li Yan grasped from his wrist, creasing his brows. "It's not elsewhere, Shen Nuo, you must be in your tent!"

"Don't try to control me, got it? I'm not your slave! It's very annoying!" Shen Nuo stroke off Li Yan's arm angrily. "Just why can't you be like once you were? Why can't you be that same person who didn't even care if I were dead or alive? Why are you now so clingy?"

Li Yan did not get angry. He quietly looked at Shen Nuo for a while. "Nuo Nuo, what happened to you that you've changed like this? You weren't like this before!"

"Does Your Majesty still need to ask? Have not you changed too? So can't I change too? Li Yan, I'm fed up..."

Li Yan's jaws tightened. "Because you think I'm clingy? That's a nice reason you've got. But -"

"Your Majesty, it seems like I have to make it clear tonight, no matter what. Your Majesty, actually I don't like you. So I hope you would stop forcing me."

And these words ended like a sharp stab in Li Yan's heart. "What... What did you say?" He couldn't believe his ears.

"Yes!" Shen Nuo said viciously. "All these times, it was just an act. I just didn't want Minghe to feel sad, do you understand?"

Li Yan grasped from Shen Nuo's wrist again. "You-"

But suddenly Shen Nuo stroke off Li Yan's arms when he felt that unfamiliar heat spreading through his body under Li Yan's touch. "Just don't touch me! I need to be alone!"

Li Yan spoke in a genuinely concerned voice. "Did something happen?"

"No!"

"..." Li Yan furrowed his brows. "Nuo Nuo..." He came closer and caught Shen Nuo in his firm wrap, coiling his strong arms around Shen Nuo's shoulders gently. "If there's something wrong, you can tell me, ok?"

"Li Yanlong, you shameless despicable hooligan, still you have the guts to touch me, do you?" Shen Nuo forced out in a highly shaky voice, going lame under Li Yan's touch. "It's already three months since we married. Have you ever wanted me even for once?"

Li Yan was stunned. What was wrong with Shen Nuo? Why was he suddenly acting strange? He did not know. He tried to calm Shen Nuo down.

"Nuo Nuo, I've always wanted you! I-"

"Shut up! I'm your Imperial Noble Consort and you? Even during the wedding night, I sat on my bed until dawn waiting for you but where were you?" Shen Nuo gritted his teeth narrowing his eyes. "You were sleeping with Consort Lian! Did you forget? And now I wonder why you're trying to stick to me. Don't worry Your Majesty, I will heal Consort Lian's face soon. She'll be beautiful again so that you can -"

Li Yan's eyes flashed. He in his sudden blind furry, raised his hand to slap Shen Nuo, but he restrained hard and his palm clenched into a fist in the attempt. A deep touch of golden dusts flashed past his pupils. And those eyes were suddenly so red and covered with fine blood vessels, as if to drip blood.

"Enough! Shen Nuo, you know nothing! You know nothing at all so shut up!!!"

Shen Nuo looked at the fist that was still raised up. Deeper to his eyes were but disbelief and sorrow. "You dare... Li Yan, did you just raise your hand to slap me?"

Li Yan lowered his hand slowly and the clenched fist loosened. But his eyes narrowed darker. "I've given you the free rein all these times, Shen Nuo, but you must know your limits!" He spoke in an icy voice.

Shen Nuo suddenly choked. "Do you know why I hate you?" His eyes were red. "I used to love you but you? Took this whole affair simply for a trade so that you can get hold on the General's Manor isn't it? There are a hundred people who are beautiful than me. Isn't it weird if you should still chase after me but hesitate to consummate the marriage on our the wedding night?"

Li Yan was now shaking in anger. "Shen Nuo! Don't test my patience!"

"What?" Shen Nuo glared at him. "Cannot bare to hear the truth? I was so blind even for a month to have loved you so madly. I regret having married you, Li Yanlong! I shouldn't have married you at all!"

Li Yan was very silent. But his face was suddenly frightening. His cold face had that intense glare which made a shiver run down Shen Nuo's back. He took a step closer.

"So thinking about it?" He asked in a dangerous voice. "How could it be if you didn't? Perhaps married to Zhanhua?"

"You fucking shut up!" Shen Nuo shouted angrily. "Zhanhua has nothing to do with me! Even if he does, who are you to stop me?" He was breathing hard. He narrowed his eyes. "Since it had already come to this, I'll make two things clear. First thing, I don't like you! Second thing, if it was not for Minghe, I would have already fled the Palace!"

"Flee?" Li Yan's frightening voice coldly spoke in a softer but more dangerous whisper. "Can you?"

Shen Nuo looked resolute. "I would rather die than be your wife!" He spat out disgustedly through gritted teeth.

Li Yan suddenly pushed Shen Nuo with his palm.

Shen Nuo was thrown back in an astonishing pressure. His back slammed onto a pine trunk. Shen Nuo hissed with a stab of pain but the Emperor advanced immediately and locked Shen Nuo between his tall body and the tree.

"Do you think you're in the place to advice Zhen?" Li Yan hissed in a venomous voice that was cold as ice. His demonic face was transforming to something that looked even devilish. "You think it had been easy for me all these times?"

Shen Nuo felt tortured for no reason. His heart ached so much. He hated this man to the end of the hell. His eyes were touched with tears and the ends of his eyes were also very red. He gulped. "Yanlong, do you know how much I hate you?"

For a moment, the Emperor stared at Shen Nuo with eyes hard to read. In it was anger. But also sorrow. "Hate me? And in the end, what I got was another person who hates me? Say that again." He hissed.

"I hate you!"

"Once more!"

"I hate you!"

Li Yan hooked Shen Nuo's chin in his strong palms and raised it to his face. "Shen Nuo, look at my eyes and say that again!"

Shen Nuo's eyes suddenly met with Li Yan. It was too close. He could clearly see the anger in Li Yan's face. But he also saw tears that were moistening those eyes. Shen Nuo narrowed his eyes. "Li Yanlong! I said I -ummmgh-!!!"

Shen Nuo couldn't speak anymore. Suddenly his mouth was sealed by a pair of thin cold lips. Shen Nuo's scalp went numb. His entire body trembled and tensed up, stiffening like a piece of wood. He gulped, his eyes widening.

The Emperor was... kissing him!

Li Yan was very angered and hurt with each and every word Shen Nuo spoke. So he needed to vent over for it. He kissed Shen Nuo's lips furiously until they felt numb. He kissed him deeply, pulling him into a lingering torture. It was love... Also hate, and somewhere in the depths of Li Yan's heart, it was also sorrow and bitter.

When he let go of Shen Nuo's lips, Shen Nuo was panting hard. Their scattered breaths mingled ambiguously under the moonlight. Shen Nuo felt his entire body trembling and his adam's apple slid down his fair supple throat. The rising heat gradually devoured his body, weakening him. But he did not know that the reason for this was aphrodisiacs...

Half his mind only knew he wanted this person now. He wanted to drown himself in that intoxicating fragrance of Li Yan. He wanted to be touched by him. But... The other half of his mind resisted this because he was also scared.

So he wanted to refuse the urge violently. He did not know where he will end up if he let his urge take the lead. He was not yet ready for that of a venture mentally. When his attempts to chase away Li Yan by uttering some irresponsible nonsense kept repeatedly failing, he suddenly felt scared of the man who was taller and a thousand times stronger than him.

So gathering all what little strength that was left in him, he furiously raised his hand to slap the Emperor, but Li Yan grasped from his wrist, pinning it on to the trunk above his head and locked his lips with Shen Nuo again.

Scorching tears left Li Yan's eyes as he repeatedly kissed Shen Nuo.

Shen Nuo couldn't even move as he lied amid the Emperor's arms lamely. The last line of defence that he forced out shattered into bits. His head was buzzing. It was so much pain. It was as if the Emperor wanted to eat him alive. His heart was beating like thunder. He did not know what to do.

He did not know how much time had passed. Maybe it was hours, or maybe it was just a few seconds. But when Li Yan withdrew his lips slowly, Shen Nuo's lips were very red and swollen, also wet. Tears streamed down Shen Nuo's cheeks. He closed his eyes with his palm, lowering his head and cried miserably. Only hoarse and broken voices of sobs escaped his lips. But his shoulders trembled.

Li Yan slowly pulled away Shen Nuo's hand and pressed his forehead against Shen Nuo's forehead, caressing his sweat drenched silky black hair at the nape. "Nuo Nuo, you said you only waited for me for one month. But I've waited for you since the day I saw you first..." He whispered bitterly. "I need you too. Do you feel it?"

Shen Nuo's heart was in a mess. His heart was beating wildly. He wanted to flee but he felt lame all over. He could not move. The rising heat was spreading over his nerves, all over his body, weakening him. He felt suddenly dizzy. He felt a faint tickle amid the scorching pain in his cheeks. He knew they were his tears.

He did not know whether it had anything to do with the Emperor. These few days, every time the Emperor got too much close to him, he feels very uncomfortable. It was too hot...

"Nuo Nuo." Li Yan finally said in a hoarse whisper. "Ok, it's alright. I've already promised you not to consummate our marriage. I can wait until you're ready. I can wait until you're willing. But there's a reason I can't wait too long, ok? I want to see the face of our child before I... I- "

die...

No matter how hard Li Yan tried to say the next word, he just couldn't bring up himself to do it. Yes, he did not have much time. No one knew of this matter except his trusted subordinate Zhangsun. He won't be living for too long. So he wanted to cherish every second with the person he loved...

Li Yan wiped away Shen Nuo's tears with his fingertips, smiling and snuggled Shen Nuo into his warm embrace, pressing his lips against the top of Shen Nuo's head. Painful tears repeatedly felled onto Shen Nuo's hair, moistening it. "And Nuo Nuo..." He said in a broken whisper. "I can't loose you this time too so don't betray me, ok? Whether it's love or hate that's between us, I won't let you go!"

Then he gently released Shen Nuo from his grasp and nestled him up in a bridal carry, as if he was a doll. "Come, let's go..."

Shen Nuo sobbed, leaning his head weakly onto the sturdy chest of Li Yan not because he wanted to. But he felt entirely spiritless. His shoulders were still trembling slightly. Why is his heart aching so much? He was clearly not the original Shen Nuo. Why was his body not yielding to him?

He pursed his lips with tear stained eyes. He felt a faint tickle amid the burning pain in his cheek. He raised his slender fingers and touched his cheek only to find that they were tears...

And from the dark hidden shadows of the trees, a pair of cold and freezing eyes watched this with an emotion that was extremely hard to fathom. That person softly sighed. (Not Zhanhua. 😉 Have a guess!)

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Umm, yeah, friends, can someone tell me whether you got the notification of chapter 53 before? Because as the author I should definitely get but I didn't. I wonder if you all got.