After I Faked My Death, the Dog Emperor Completely Lost His Mind - Chapter 16

Shen Yuheng awkwardly withdrew his gaze and hurried to cover the youth with the blanket.

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” he murmured, trying to soothe the tension. “Everyone has moments like this.”

Xiao Jin’s eyes turned icy.

To him, Shen Yuheng’s nonchalant attitude acting as if this were a common occurrence was proof of his past. After all, before entering the palace, Shen Yuheng had countless paramours. Who would be more familiar with such “accidents” than a man who had belonged to so many?

He wanted to mock him, but the laughter died in his throat. He felt as though he were submerged in a pool of ice.

Meanwhile, Shen Yuheng, the victim of a colossal misunderstanding, truly didn’t expect such a complication. Before transmigrating, the kids in his kindergarten were all tiny four, five, six years old completely innocent and only interested in playing. Xiao Jin was still a “child” in his eyes, but he was seventeen… the peak of adolescence. A morning reaction was perfectly normal.

Imperial Physician Xu rushed in upon hearing the call, only to be shooed out by a blushing Shen Yuheng. He took some fresh gauze from the physician and handed it to Xiao Jin.

Xiao Jin took it and turned his back. Shen Yuheng watched him, his lips parting as he hesitated to speak.

“Xiao Jin,” he finally asked, each word deliberate, “yesterday, did you go to—”

“What?” Xiao Jin turned his head slightly.

“…Never mind, it’s nothing.” Shen Yuheng sighed. Xiao Jin was so badly injured; accusing him would only spark another fit of rage.

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, those eyes had terrified him. But thinking back, Xiao Jin shared similar features with his father and brothers; it could have been any of the other princes. Though… who would be perverted enough to watch their own father sleep? Shen Yuheng couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Once the youth had finished changing the gauze and returned to his usual cold, reticent self, Shen Yuheng allowed the physicians back in. A group of them hovered over the wound, confirming it was finally on the mend. One old physician stepped forward with a blue-silver carved box.

“This is a family heirloom ointment,” the physician said, presenting it to Shen Yuheng. “Apply it three times a day once the wound closes; it works wonders on scars.”

Xiao Jin’s wound had been deep. Even under the gauze, it was clear the scar would be significant. Whether it was the kids Shen Yuheng used to teach or the princes in this palace, they were all pampered treasures without a mark on them. Xiao Jin was so young, yet he was already going to be left with such a horrific mark.

Over the next few days, the terrifying wound finally began to heal. The moment it reached the stage where ointment could be applied, Shen Yuheng brought out the jar.

Naturally, Xiao Jin resisted. He didn’t want Shen Yuheng anywhere near him, but on this matter, Shen Yuheng was surprisingly firm.

“If you don’t use it, do you really want a scar?”

“I don’t care,” Xiao Jin said tonelessly.

“Well, I do,” Shen Yuheng countered. “When you take a consort in the future, such a large scar will frighten the poor girl.”

Consort? Xiao Jin let out a low, dry laugh. Shen Yuheng seemed to realize his wording was slightly off and cleared his throat. “When you marry… it’s the same thing.”

His fingertip, coated in ointment, cautiously touched the still-crimson line on Xiao Jin’s abdomen. The youth, who had been ready to mock him, suddenly tensed his waist and fell silent. He stared down at Shen Yuheng, who was leaning over the bed, focusing intently on his body.

Xiao Jin bit his lip until the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, using the pain to suppress his body’s treacherous reaction. Shen Yuheng, seeing the lack of resistance, thought his “marriage” lecture had worked. But before he could feel a sense of accomplishment, he saw that Xiao Jin’s… was once again…

Shen Yuheng froze and jerked his hand back. Adolescence is fine, but this is a bit too…

Even though he wasn’t the one reacting, his face was beet red. He stood up, awkwardly feigning ignorance, and bolted from the room. Xiao Jin gripped the sheets until his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood.

Compared to Xiao Jin’s humiliation, Shen Yuheng’s awkwardness was trivial. Xiao Jin hated Shen Yuheng’s casual touches, but he hated his own body’s response even more. He wanted to crush his own flesh.

[Host! Did you trigger some weird plot again? Why did I go into sleep mode?] The System’s voice returned.

“I didn’t!” Shen Yuheng stammered.

Just then, Jiaobai came running toward him, breathless and glowing with excitement. “Master! Good news! His Majesty has permitted General Shen to enter the palace! He’s right outside!”

Shen Yuheng jumped. “Which General Shen?” Both his father and eldest brother held the title.

“The First Young Master!”

Shen Yun , the  (Dingyuan) Great General. At eighteen, he had reclaimed several cities from the Huns. He was also the one who had rescued Xiao Jin from the borderlands.

Shen Yuheng had Zhou Yuan support him as he hurried toward the entrance. He was nervous. Why? Because his big brother, Yun  was homophobic.

The original owner never hid his preference for men, but he never dared bring them home. He knew his brother’s temper. Once, an admirer loitered near the Shen estate; he ended up bruised and hanging from the rafters of a tavern, too terrified to climb down.

Yun璟 was a man of iron will who despised “licentious” behavior between men. He was the only family member the original owner truly feared. Why would he suddenly come to the palace?

Outside Qingzhuo Hall, the young General stood like a sturdy pine in the cold wind, wrapped in fox fur. His presence made the surrounding eunuchs look like ants. He had waited for half an hour.

Normally, a consort’s family had to petition months in advance. But Eunuch Fang had urged him to speak up, noting that because Consort Shen was currently in favor, the Emperor would likely agree. He was right; Xiao Huai had granted permission instantly.

Yun璟 had spent most of his life at the border and had only spent about six months total with his younger brother. He was a pampered, scandalous mess, and Yun璟 found it a headache. He had been against the boy entering the palace as a male consort, but he couldn’t defy the imperial decree. Now that his brother was the most favored consort, Yun璟’s heart was a knot of conflicting emotions.

The Emperor was forty-three older than two Shen Yuhengs put together. Even if his brother liked men, surely he could have found someone better than a senile, muddle-headed Emperor?

The doors opened, and a young man in moon-white silk emerged. Seeing the clean, makeup-free face, Yun璟 froze for a few seconds. He recovered quickly and knelt. “Greetings, Consort Shen.”

Shen Yuheng hurried to help him up. He was shocked by the arm he touched it felt like solid lead, hard and heavy. If this man punched someone, they’d be dead.

As he helped him up, Shen Yuheng’s unhealed leg gave a twinge of pain. Yun璟 frowned and looked at him like he was a misbehaving recruit. “You twisted your ankle? How?”

“I was careless.”

“When?”

“…”

Yun璟 stared him down with a commanding aura. “I asked you: when did you twist it?”

Shen Yuheng mumbled a few words under his breath, feeling the pressure.

“Louder!” Yun璟 barked in his training-ground voice.

Shen Yuheng raised his voice slightly: “…During… favor… in bed…”

Shen Yun璟: “…”

He looked as if he could read a giant headline in the air: HOW CAN THE WORLD BE THIS SCANDALOUS!