Chapter 19 - 1#

Resistance - Giving His Majesty a Heavy Kick#

Taiji Hall, Main Hall.

Outside, a fine autumn rain pitter-pattered, cold and chilling to the bone.

Inside, the floor heating was on, and charcoal braziers were lit, making it warm and cozy.

Yanzhi was wrapped in a tiger-skin blanket, sitting on the couch, holding a bowl of minced meat in both hands.

The meat was cooked until very soft and had been simmering on the stove, still steaming hot.

Yanzhi blew on it twice, peeked his tongue out to test the temperature, and after deciding it was just right, took a big gulp.

Since he had already decided to leave the palace, he had to eat more rice and meat now. Eat well and drink well to recover from his illness as soon as possible!

Thinking this, Yanzhi picked up a meat patty from the plate, opened his mouth wide, and took a big bite.

—“Pfft.”

A soft laugh suddenly came from beside him.

Following that was the Emperor’s mock-serious questioning.

“Now you know to be hungry?”

Yanzhi turned his head and looked toward the sound.

Xiao Cuan was sitting on the other side of the small couch, with Yanzhi’s two boxes placed in front of him.

His Majesty seemed to like these two boxes very much and had specifically ordered people to bring them over from the side hall.

At this moment, he was taking things out of the box one by one to look at them.

Not hearing Yanzhi speak, Xiao Cuan teased him again: “If you dare to get this sick next time, I’ll lock you up and give you nothing to eat.”

If it were before, Yanzhi would have gathered his courage and started to talk back.

Getting sick wasn’t something he could control, and he didn’t want to either.

But this time, Yanzhi just swallowed the food in his mouth and answered in a small voice: “I wouldn’t dare. There won’t be a next time.”

“Mm,” Xiao Cuan responded with satisfaction, casually picking up a piece of tin foil from the box and tossing it in front of him.

The tin foil was gold on the front and silver on the back. It was originally wrinkled, but Yanzhi had pressed it in a book for many years, finally pressing it flat.

“When did I give you chocolate? I don’t even remember it myself.”

“When I was nine,” Yanzhi answered. “Your Majesty gave me a piece of black, bitter candy.”

It was like bitter medicine, so very hard to eat.

He wanted to spit it out after just one bite, but thinking that His Majesty gave it to him, he closed his eyes, stiffened his neck, and forced it down.

Seeing that he was having a hard time eating it, His Majesty pinched the flesh on his cheeks and said that he really was a little dog who couldn’t eat chocolate.

Later, His Majesty never gave him this black candy again.

“And this?” Xiao Cuan picked up a clean, grape-shaped transparent shell from the box and asked intentionally, “Jelly?”

“I ate this when I was ten,” Yanzhi said. “Inside was something purple, slippery, cool, and sweet.”

This thing was very delicious.

However, he ate it in winter. It was too cold, and he fell ill right after eating it.

So His Majesty never gave it to him to eat again.

“And what is this?” Xiao Cuan finally picked up two small rose-red baskets and asked on purpose.

“It’s cream cake!”

At the mention of cream cake, Yanzhi’s eyes lit up, and his voice couldn’t help but get a bit louder.

Cream cake, like cream puffs, both have cream and are round snacks.

But cake is bigger than a puff, the cream on top is more than in a puff, and the cake underneath is also tastier than the puff’s crust.

There were also patterns on the cake—red flowers, green leaves, and little yellow ducks drawn with cream.

Something so delicious must be especially precious. Yanzhi had only eaten it twice, and both times were on his birthday.

His Majesty said that cake can only be eaten on birthdays, and only if he performed especially well that year would he be rewarded with it.

For example, the year he blocked an arrow for His Majesty, or the year he served as His Majesty’s antidote.

Normally, he could only eat puffs.

But in recent years, His Majesty had become more and more fierce and mean to him. He rarely even got to eat puffs, let alone cake.

If His Majesty hadn’t taken out these two baskets for cake, he would have almost forgotten about cake.

Yanzhi thought of that unforgettable, sweet taste, lowered his head, and took another big bite of the meat patty.

Xiao Cuan gave a low laugh, tossed the cake baskets back into the box, and leaned back on the couch: “I thought there were some treasures in your box, but it turns out they’re just these pieces of trash.”

Except for a few useful things like a kaleidoscope and calligraphy sheets, the rest were all these snack wrappers.

“Are you that greedy? Picking them up to smell them when you’re craving? Don’t you think it’s filthy?”

“It’s not dirty!” Yanzhi said instinctively. “I washed them many times with soap beans; they’re all very clean.”

Moreover, he didn’t keep these things before just to smell them to satisfy his cravings.

He did it because…

Because these were all given to him by His Majesty, and he didn’t want to throw them away.

But now…

His Majesty was right. These were originally trash. He was about to leave the palace soon and couldn’t possibly take these things with him.

Yanzhi finally said: “If Your Majesty thinks it’s dirty, I’ll take them out and throw them away in a while.”

Xiao Cuan’s face darkened, and he asked back: “Where do you plan to throw them?”

“To the palace latrines,” Yanzhi didn’t think there was anything wrong. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. Someone will come to transport them away early tomorrow morning.”

“These things, others have never even seen them. If they casually flow outside, what will they think?” Xiao Cuan said instead. “Do you want them to think that Young Master Yanzhi is really favored, having all these strange-looking things?”

Yanzhi paused: “Then… then I won’t throw them away. I’ll still put them back in my room.”

“Mm,” Xiao Cuan was then satisfied. “When you have time, take them out to sun them, so they don’t attract insects.”

“They won’t attract insects. All these years, they haven’t…”

“Hmm?”

“But Your Majesty just said that I can’t let others see them.”

“You’ve had a sickness and have become quite sharp-tongued. I say one thing, and you talk back ten.”

Xiao Cuan seemed to sense something, sat up straight, frowned, and looked at him intently.

Meeting his cold, questioning gaze, Yanzhi instinctively shrank back a little and hid further back.

The wolf cub originally nestled at his feet sensed the wrong atmosphere, scrambled up, and stood in front of Yanzhi.

Xiao Cuan’s frown deepened, and he commanded: “What are you hiding for? Come here.”

Yanzhi was just about to move forward slowly.

Suddenly, Xiao Cuan reached his hand toward him. Yanzhi was startled and instinctively raised his hand to block.

His Majesty was going to grab him again!

No!

Xiao Cuan’s movement paused, the direction of his extended hand changed, and he touched Yanzhi’s forehead and cheek: “No fever.”

Oh, so His Majesty wasn’t going to grab him.

Every time His Majesty grabbed his shoulder or arm, it would be so very painful.

Yanzhi sighed in relief and sat properly again.

When Xiao Cuan withdrew his hand, he even broke off half a meat patty from his hand to attract the attention of the wolf cub on the ground.

“Stupid dog—” Xiao Cuan waved his hand and tossed the meat patty out. “I’m talking to your daddy; what are you doing listening? Get out.”

Half a meat patty flew over the wolf cub’s head. The cub moved its short legs and chased after it quickly.

With a “thump,” it made a running jump, opened its mouth wide, caught the meat patty precisely, chewed it a few times haphazardly, and swallowed it in one gulp.

It was a wolf and didn’t understand what Xiao Cuan was saying. So after finishing the snack, it wagged its tail again, returned to Yanzhi’s feet, lay down obediently, looking like it wouldn’t leave.

Yanzhi couldn’t help but smile. Turning to see His Majesty’s cold expression, he thought it was bad and quickly put down the bowl and spoon in his hand and picked up the “little dog.”

“I’ll take it out right now.”

Xiao Cuan was noncommittal.

Yanzhi then held the “little dog,” ran out of the inner hall, and handed it to the palace servants outside.

“Here, take it back to the back hall. Don’t let it run around anymore.”

“Young Master, don’t worry.”

The wolf cub was reluctant to leave Yanzhi and was held in the servant’s arms with stiff movements, whining “ying ying” continuously.

“Don’t worry, I won’t leave you behind. I’ll go see you when I have time.”

Yanzhi stroked the “little dog’s” head, pinched its pink paw pads, and high-fived it.

This was their secret agreement gesture.

“Okay, take it away.”

“Yes.”

The servant left with the “little dog.” Yanzhi patted the “dog hair” stuck to his body, thinking about going back to wash his hands.

As a result, as soon as he reached the inner hall door, he saw His Majesty leaning on the couch with his arms crossed, staring straight at him.

It seemed he had been staring for a long time.

Yanzhi pursed his lips and called out tentatively: “Your Majesty…”

“Idiot—” Xiao Cuan also called him, his tone without any ripples. “Do you remember what you dreamed of when you were sick?”

“I…” Yanzhi shook his head. “I don’t remember.”

Xiao Cuan asked again: “What did you do then?”

Yanzhi still shook his head: “I don’t remember either.”

“What did you shout at me?”

“I… I don’t remember!”

Xiao Cuan nodded and said playfully: “Oh, you don’t remember any of it?”

“Mm mm…” Yanzhi shook his head forcefully. “I don’t remember any of it.”

Actually… he vaguely remembered some.

He dreamed that he was going to be dragged out to be castrated and also dreamed that the executioner was His Majesty.

So he pushed His Majesty away and shouted at His Majesty, saying he didn’t want him anymore.

But thinking about it now, how could it be his turn to decide whether to “want” or “not want” His Majesty?

His words, other than angering His Majesty, were completely useless.

So now, Yanzhi clutched his sleeve and made up his mind that he absolutely could not make His Majesty angry again.

Whatever His Majesty asked him, he would say he didn’t remember.

He couldn’t be silly like before and tell His Majesty everything.

Although it was difficult, he had to learn to lie in front of His Majesty.

Yanzhi stood by the door, like an abandoned little kitten, his hands hidden in his sleeves clutched tightly, looking at Xiao Cuan uneasily, afraid that his first lie would be seen through by the other party.

Xiao Cuan just glanced at him and finally said: “Fine, it’s fine if you don’t remember. Come back and eat.”

“Yes.” Yanzhi sighed in relief and ran back with light steps.

Before he sat down, Xiao Cuan suddenly reached out and picked up the half-eaten meat patty.

“Your Majesty…” Yanzhi was confused.

“You eat a new one.”

Xiao Cuan turned his head and took a bite exactly where he had just bitten.

To be fair, Yanzhi didn’t know how to lie at all.

Xiao Cuan only needed one glance to see through him.

But even if he saw through him and exposed his lie, what then?

Should he ask him—

“Didn’t you say you don’t like me anymore?”

“Didn’t you say you don’t want me anymore?”

“Didn’t you say you hate me?”

No, absolutely not. Yanzhi absolutely cannot stop liking him.

Since Yanzhi lied, it meant he knew he was wrong and was softening to him.

Xiao Cuan didn’t care if Yanzhi lied. As long as Yanzhi continued to like him, he wouldn’t mind letting him off once.

Xiao Cuan finished the half-eaten meat patty in his hand and turned to look at Yanzhi.

Yanzhi held a bowl in his left hand and a patty in his right.

One bite of minced meat, one bite of meat patty.

One bite of meat patty, one bite of minced meat.

Seeing His Majesty looking over, Yanzhi raised his left hand, then his right hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally handed the half-eaten patty to Xiao Cuan.

Xiao Cuan gave a low laugh and used his index finger to poke his puffed-up cheek.

Yanzhi had the deed of manumission in his chest, planning to leave the palace.

Xiao Cuan poked his cheek, thinking of the long future ahead.

—Same bed, different dreams; it was nothing more than this.

*

He didn’t know if it was Xiao Cuan’s illusion.

Since Yanzhi had this major illness and woke up, he had become exceptionally obedient.

Normally, he was either nestled on the couch sleeping or accompanying him to review memorials.

He spoke less, had fewer movements and expressions, and fewer things happened.

His appetite, however, had increased.

He slept when told to sleep and took medicine when told to take medicine.

Even when he took out pills and liquid medicine for Yanzhi to eat, Yanzhi had no doubts, let alone objections; he just took them and ate.

If it were before, when Yanzhi saw him take out pills and liquid medicine, he would have been like a little sparrow, chirping and pestering him to ask, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what is this?”

Even if he felt the medicine was bitter, he didn’t say it. He just tilted his head, wrinkled his face, and swallowed it with difficulty.

After taking the medicine, he wanted to drink some water to suppress the bitter taste.

But Xiao Cuan scolded him and wouldn’t let him drink, saying it would reduce the medicine’s effectiveness. He then obediently put down the teacup, hid in the corner himself, and quietly stuck out his tongue.

It wasn’t until the next morning, when he had to get up to wash, that he asked with a raspy voice: “Your Majesty, can I drink water now? Will it affect the medicine’s effectiveness?”

Only then did Xiao Cuan realize that Yanzhi hadn’t drunk water from noon yesterday when he took the medicine until now.

No wonder the corners of his mouth were peeling, and no wonder his lips were cracked.

Meeting Yanzhi’s cautious gaze, in an instant, Xiao Cuan only felt his blood surge, almost losing his reason.