Chapter 142#

The Frail and Sickly Powerful Minister#

“…Ah.”

Lin Xiaodong only then remembered that if Jing Ji were drunk, the one who would take the upper hand in his consciousness would surely be Gu Xi.

“Damn thing.” Gu Xi’s face was moody as he suddenly cursed, climbed up, and walked over to the incense burner in the corner, extinguishing it without hesitation.

Lin Xiaodong had thought he was cursing him. Seeing Gu Xi’s actions while blinking his eyes, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He also couldn’t be bothered to sit properly on his knees anymore, and simply sprawled out recklessly in the fluffy cloak, wrapping himself into a caterpillar.

It was only in front of Gu Xi that he would show such a childish side.

Lin Xiaodong casually pointed to the fruit plate placed next to him and said willfully:

“Feed me.”

Gu Xi came back silently, sat down beside him, and started peeling grapes for him.

This scene was quite reminiscent of something.

Lin Xiaodong remembered the scene from the first world, opened his mouth, and swallowed the grapes sent to his lips with a “nom”.

Feeling the moisture from the fingertips, Gu Xi’s movements paused slightly, but he soon withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened.

“How many Good Person Cards are you short?” he asked.

Lin Xiaodong thought for a while: “Seems like two? Or maybe one, I can’t remember. But Gu Xinwen’s side definitely has one. It should be enough to go and wander in front of him before tomorrow’s morning court starts. After all, he’s always been unwilling to really believe I’d be willing to accompany the army.”

As for how Gu Xinwen, after being “deceived” by his feelings after the court meeting, would curse him as a backstabbing villain… Lin Xiaodong thought irresponsibly that it was none of his business.

After all, he was cursing Lin Dongqing, so what did it have to do with him, Lin Xiaodong?

Gu Xi helplessly wiped the juice from the corner of his mouth: “And your love tribulation?”

“Isn’t it already over?” Lin Xiaodong raised his eyebrows at him.

Gu Xi was stunned. Only then did he realize that after seven full worlds of partings and reunions, even if it was a hardship sent by the Heavenly Dao, it had reached its end.

They could finally return to their original place.

Looking at Gu Xi’s stunned expression, Lin Xiaodong couldn’t help but reveal a smile. He held the grape in his mouth without swallowing it, lazily stretched his arms, and hooked Gu Xi’s neck to bring him down as well.

“‘You’ seemed to have put some other things in this incense,” he said indistinctly. “As expected, from a child to an adult, it’s truly…”

Lin Xiaodong couldn’t say the rest of the sentence because Gu Xi had already blocked his mouth with quick hands.

The rich juice wound down from the corner of his mouth. The gold-inlaid jade belt and the buttons of the black robe were unfastened one by one by ten slender fingers, revealing the soft white flesh beneath. The wine he had drunk earlier was not wasted either; a faint blush gradually spread from his cheeks to his entire body, presenting a dizzying posture.

Gu Xi did not live up to “his” good intentions. He leaned down, his fingers interlaced with those of the young man with loose long hair, and without hesitation began to enjoy this sweet and juicy fruit.

More than two hours later, You Shu, who was guarding the door, finally received a secret order from His Majesty.

“Xiao Youzi,” a slightly hoarse voice came from inside the room, giving off a feeling of satisfaction. “Let him go.”

You Shu’s expression turned stern.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He understood what this meant. From now on, the Jing Dynasty would no longer have that all-powerful, unquestioned Lord Lin. Replacing him would be the first, and most likely only, lady in His Majesty’s inner palace.

From a powerful official to a favored consort in the inner palace, Lin Dongqing was probably the first in history.

However, at this moment, Lin Xiaodong was not “suffering humiliation” or “filled with grief and indignation” as You Shu imagined. Over the years, he had been gradually delegating power to Jing Ji, and Xie Chen could also complete most of the work on hand. Besides, is it reasonable to have an ill patient who’s about to die support the vast Jing Dynasty?

So Lin Xiaodong happily decided to follow the flow—he’s quitting!

The young man turned over, stretched out his hand, and hugged Gu Xi, who was lying beside him, like a pillow. His exhausted body soon dragged him into dreamland.

The spring was cold, so Gu Xi tucked the quilt for him, and his brows and eyes also softened.

Although they met that night before, he hadn’t been awake for long. Therefore, today was the first official meeting in this world. Gu Xi had believed from the beginning that the reason Lin Xiaodong went through these was because of his mistake, and he had even prepared himself to be hated. Because for immortals like them who have lived for countless years, emotions and trust are more precious than anything.

He had betrayed Lin Xiaodong’s trust.

But Lin Xiaodong didn’t seem to want to hear him apologize, so Gu Xi could only silently swallow the guilt and regret into his stomach and let time digest this emotion.

Now all he could do was hold the other’s hand tightly and never let go, no matter what happened.

That was all.

He integrated his longing into his bones and blood, and time after time, he confirmed the young man’s existence with his body. Lin Xiaodong didn’t stop him; instead, he rarely worked hard to cater to him. Although he soon fell into Gu Xi’s arms because he couldn’t hold on, he still stubbornly bit his lower lip, unwilling to call for a stop.

They both needed some time.

…And because of this, Gu Xi only found out after the noise stopped that the young man seemed to have been tossed around by him a bit too much.

He could feel the waves in his subconscious; Jing Ji was probably about to wake up. After seeing this scene, he would probably think wrongly… no, he would definitely think wrongly.

Gu Xi’s face froze as he suddenly understood why Lin Xiaodong was so “enthusiastic” today.

…Now, he could only light a candle for “himself”.

Gu Xi only hesitated for a second and then very happily decided to continue sleeping while hugging Lin Xiaodong. As for after waking up?

That would be a headache for Jing Ji.

“Ugh…”

When Jing Ji woke up, he felt his head was dizzy and his temples were throbbing.

He wanted to sit up, but half of his body seemed to be pressed by a large rock, and his entire arm was numb. Jing Ji barely opened his eyes, wondering if some blind maid had climbed onto his bed, but then he saw the naked young man curled up in his arms.

Jing Ji: “…………”

He felt suffocated.

Lin Xiaodong slept very soundly, with teardrops from last night still on the corners of his eyes. His eyes and mouth were a bit swollen, and the most miserable part was his collarbone and neck, where various bite marks and hickeys were interlaced, like a crime scene. Feeling the movement of the person beside him, he still frowned and clutched the quilt on his body, murmuring softly. His voice was a softness Jing Ji had never heard before, like a sob squeezed from the depths of his throat after being pushed to the limit.

The culprit himself: “…………”

Jing Ji only felt his head “buzz”. He lay on the bed blankly, like a wooden board, not daring to move at all.

It shouldn’t be like this, he thought numbly.

How could he do such a thing to his teacher?!!

Yes, Jing Ji did tamper with the incense burner, but that small dose was just like drinking a pot of “Ten Complete Tonic Soup”; it was completely controllable. And all he ever wanted was to keep Lin Xiaodong by his side. Jing Ji didn’t ask for more; the years ahead were long, and patience was what he lacked least.

Even in his most optimistic predictions, he could only get a kiss tonight.

But now…

Jing Ji turned his head stiffly and looked at the young man curled up at his side, looking pitiful after being “forced” and “abused”. He only felt a surge of anger in his heart, but because the culprit was himself, he had nowhere to vent it.

Jing Ji, you are a bastard!

He cursed fiercely in his heart, regretting it so much that he wanted to slap himself twice. He could imagine what kind of look the teacher would give him when he woke up—at the thought of this, Jing Ji felt his vision go dark, and he was so desperate that he wanted to travel back a few hours and strangle himself.

—Therefore, when it comes to digging a pit for himself, Gu Xi has always been very good at it.

He carefully pulled his arm out of Lin Xiaodong’s arms bit by bit. On the way, he accidentally touched some key parts. Although Jing Ji had no memory of yesterday at all, his face turned bright red.

After getting up from the bed without looking sideways, he quickly put on his clothes and left the palace as fast as he could.

By this time, it was broad daylight, and the ministers who came to the morning court had already arrived one after another. But Jing Ji had told You Shu before that no one was allowed to break in without his permission, so he could only wait outside the door miserably.

Seeing the Emperor come out on his own, his eyes lit up. Although he had some guesses, he didn’t dare to look inside the palace at all. He just followed behind the hurried Jing Ji and asked in a low voice: “Your Majesty, about Lord Lin…”

Jing Ji’s face was bitter, but he still said: “Let him rest. If he wakes up, let me know immediately.”

“Yes.”

In court, as expected, the ministers one after another offered advice, hoping Jing Ji would not let Lin Dongqing accompany the army to the Northern Border.

But Jing Ji was clearly absent-minded today. He almost agreed in one breath, so fast that the ministers thought it was incredible.

You Shu knew this very well. Seeing the Emperor show such a distracted look, he cleared his throat and stood up voluntarily: “His Majesty is unwell. If there’s anything, report it; if not, the court is dismissed—”

The ministers looked at each other.

What’s going on today?

Not only did Lin Dongqing ask for leave, but even the Emperor was sick. Is it a coincidence? Or…

Some people who were more calculating had already started to speculate privately, but Jing Ji couldn’t care about them. Seeing that no one spoke, he immediately stood up from the dragon throne. Although he tried his best to maintain his steadiness, his movements always gave people a feeling of being in a hurry.

“The court is dismissed!”

A true warrior is one who dares to face a bleak reality.

But as soon as Jing Ji thought of the scene he saw when he woke up, he felt his little heart was cold. He lowered his head and walked back and forth outside the hall for an unknown number of circles, and sighed an unknown number of times. Finally, he heard the little eunuch come out to report:

“Your Majesty, Lord Lin is awake.”

Jing Ji suddenly lifted his head, his eyes lit up, but instantly darkened again.

“Did he… say anything? How was his emotion? Did he mention me?” he asked quickly, with a hint of hope in his expression that he hadn’t noticed himself.

“No,” the little eunuch replied. “Lord Lin just stared blankly in bed for a while and then said he wanted to take a bath.”

After a pause, he added blankly: “Lord Lin doesn’t seem to be angry, but he didn’t mention you, Your Majesty.”

Jing Ji: “…………”

Very good, he thought despairingly.

He was completely finished.