Marked by the Tyrant After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 19

For the next few days, Jin Wang kept Ye Shu in the sleeping quarters under the guise of “recovering from injuries.”

…Injuries, my foot.

Ye Shu was simply suffering from muscle soreness because he didn’t exercise regularly and had stood for a few hours. He should have been fine in a day or two, but Jin Wang treated him as if he were critically wounded. For several days, Jin Wang refused to let his feet touch the ground, insisting on carrying him personally wherever they went.

The clinginess made Ye Shu feel incredibly restless.

“Where are you going now?” Ye Shu’s feet hadn’t even touched the floor before Jin Wang looked up from his scrolls.

Ye Shu froze, instinctively feeling a bit guilty, but he quickly regained his composure. He said righteously, “I’m tired and I want to go bathe.”

Jin Wang set down his brush and walked over to him.

Ye Shu looked like he was facing a great enemy. “What are you doing?”

“Carrying you to the bath.”

“…” Ye Shu huffed. “I can walk perfectly fine now!”

Ignoring him, Jin Wang scooped him up. Ye Shu struggled to get free, but Jin Wang gave his lower back a light squeeze. Instantly, a jolt like an electric current shot through Ye Shu’s spine, leaving him limp and tingling.

Lately, his body had become ten thousand times more sensitive than before; he couldn’t bear to be touched anywhere, and he feared this specific move of Jin Wang’s the most.

Ye Shu stopped squirming and allowed Jin Wang to carry him to the bathhouse.

As the hot spring water flowed from the dragon-head spout into the pool, Jin Wang set Ye Shu down by the edge and reached out to unfasten his robes.

Ye Shu gripped his collar tight. “I can at least do this part myself, can’t I?”

Jin Wang’s hand paused, and he took a half-step back.

Ye Shu wasn’t afraid of being seen; as he shed his outer robes, he muttered under his breath, “I’m not that fragile. The way you act makes me feel like I’ll never be able to walk again.”

Jin Wang sharply caught the wording. He frowned. “Again?”

Ye Shu: “…Nothing.”

Jin Wang wanted to press further, but Ye Shu waved him off. “Hurry up and get out. I want to bathe.”

“Then be careful,” Jin Wang said, turning to leave.

The water temperature was perfect. Ye Shu submerged himself, squinting in comfort. His long legs rested against the jade tiles of the pool, his toes lightly treading the water, feeling the gentle flow.

There was a time when these legs had no sensation.

Ye Shu had been born with a disability in both legs and grew up in an orphanage, dependent on others for his daily needs. That was the darkest period of his life. Perhaps because the experience was so grim, his memories of that time were blurred.

He only remembered that one day, several years ago, he woke up and suddenly regained feeling in his legs. No one could explain why; the experience, which doctors called a medical miracle, remained a mystery to Ye Shu to this day. His stomach ailment had started around that same time.

However, since there is no gain without loss, Ye Shu didn’t dwell on it.

He grew drowsy in the water, and after an unknown amount of time, the sound of splashing reached his ears. Someone lifted him from the pool.

“And you said you could handle it yourself, yet here you are falling asleep in the bath again…” Jin Wang grumbled under his breath. He wrapped a robe around the youth and carried him out.

Ye Shu hooked his arms around Jin Wang’s neck, murmuring in his sleep, “Stop bothering me…”

Jin Wang knew the man must be dreaming again. He smiled as he walked. “Tell me, how are you cursing me in your dreams this time?”

Ye Shu only let out a soft hum and didn’t answer.

Jin Wang returned him to the bed. Because he had been in the water so long, Ye Shu’s cheeks were flushed a soft pink, and his long lashes were damp with steam, trembling slightly.

Jin Wang’s thumb brushed those moist lashes, traced the silhouette of his face, and came to rest on his soft lips. The lips parted unconsciously in sleep. Jin Wang rubbed them gently—a lingering, intimate gesture. He tapped the lips one last time and was about to pull away when he heard a faint, weak call.

“A-Yuan…”

Jin Wang froze.

In truth, Ye Shu hadn’t called him that in a long time. Since the coronation, every meeting had been stiff with court etiquette or ended in an argument. After the assassination attempt, Ye Shu had only used that name when he had an ulterior motive, which had made Jin Wang feel disgusted.

But this time was different. The youth’s voice was soft and warm, like a cat’s light scratch, striking the softest part of his heart.

Jin Wang leaned down, gazing at the sleeping face. “If only you were always as obedient as you are today.”

He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to Ye Shu’s forehead. “Goodnight, Shu.”

Ten days later, the Sovereign of Changlu led his fiancé to the Ancestral Temple to pay respects. The motorcade stretched across the length of Chang’an Street. Citizens lined the roads, peering curiously at the procession.

Everyone wanted to know what the Imperial Consort looked like. But no one saw.

The Consort shared the imperial carriage with the Sovereign, shielded so thoroughly by heavy curtains that not even a corner of his robes was visible.

In the afternoon, they arrived at the Ancestral Temple. As the carriage stopped, the accompanying officials prostrated themselves. The Head Attendant pulled back the curtain, and the Sovereign finally emerged, leading the Consort by the hand.

The legendary Consort wore a snow-white fox-fur cloak, with a white silk veil covering most of his face, leaving only a pair of bright, clear eyes visible. The Sovereign led the Consort through the front gate, and the officials only then entered through the side gates.

The ceremony was complex; even though the Emperor had ordered the process to be streamlined as much as possible, it would still take three days.

The front hall was already prepared. Ritual bells chimed. On the altar, meter-high incense sticks were lit, the heavy scent making Ye Shu feel waves of nausea.

Ye Shu’s footsteps faltered. His stomach turned. Jin Wang immediately noticed. “Unwell?”

“…I want to vomit.” Ye Shu’s face was pale as he rubbed his abdomen. “Must be motion sickness again.”

“…”

Jin Wang remained silent for a moment, looking at the burning incense, and understood perfectly. Only this person could mistake morning sickness for motion sickness and convince himself so thoroughly.

Ye Shu couldn’t stand the smell but didn’t dare actually vomit during the ritual. He struggled to endure. Seeing this, Jin Wang turned to Gao Jin. “Take the Young Master to rest first.”

Gao Jin was stunned. “But… Your Majesty, according to the rules, the Young Master must offer incense with you to comfort the ancestral spirits…”

Jin Wang shot him a cold look. Gao Jin’s voice died in his throat. He bowed. “…Yes.”

Attendants quickly supported Ye Shu as he left. The officials stood too far away to know what had happened; seeing the Consort leave mid-ceremony caused a stir. No one—not even the most favored concubine of the late Emperor—had ever received such treatment. It was completely against protocol!

Yet, they only dared to wonder in their hearts; no one dared object. Only the Minister of Imperial Sacrifices, who was responsible for the preparations, stood close enough to see clearly. He watched Ye Shu’s departing back, feeling a surge of confusion.

That person’s brow… why does it look so familiar?

Ye Shu was sent to the side hall to rest. An attendant opened a censer and placed a small piece of incense inside. Once away from the front hall, Ye Shu felt much better. “What is that?”

The attendant replied, “It is an incense to relieve the Young Master’s nausea and dizziness. His Majesty ordered it.”

“For motion sickness?”

The attendant’s expression became very subtle. It was actually a medicinal spice blended by the Imperial Physician to soothe morning sickness. Under the Emperor’s orders, the attendant didn’t dare say more and only whispered, “…Yes.”

Ye Shu didn’t suspect a thing. “Thoughtful of him. You may go.”

After resting for a while, the lingering nausea finally faded under the influence of the incense. As he lay lazily on the couch, there was a soft knock on the door.

Ye Shu sat up. “Enter.”

Chang Yuan walked in. “Well?”

Chang Yuan pulled out a rolled piece of parchment and presented it to Ye Shu. “I have mapped out the route to leave the Ancestral Temple and the weak points in the guard. Please look, Young Master.”

Ye Shu took the map and scanned it quickly. “Good. We move tonight.”

Chang Yuan seemed to hesitate. Ye Shu noticed and asked, “What is it?”

“I was just thinking…” Chang Yuan lowered his eyes and whispered, “The Emperor’s feelings for you seem sincere. Do you truly still wish to leave?”

“That isn’t called ‘sincere feelings.'” Ye Shu tucked the map into his robes, explaining casually, “Jin Wang is the Sovereign of a nation. Whether it’s thunder or rain, it’s all ‘Imperial Grace.’ No matter how well he treats someone, it’s just a favor. And since it’s a favor, it can be taken back at any moment based on his whim.”

…Besides, he’s only acting on his feelings for the original owner. To put it bluntly, even this “Imperial Grace” wasn’t meant for him.

Chang Yuan: “I don’t understand.”

“If you don’t, you don’t.” Chang Yuan’s worldview was different from his; he didn’t expect him to understand. Ye Shu asked, “Are the plans for tonight ready?”

Chang Yuan replied, “Tonight, I will draw away the secret guards and signal with a bamboo whistle. You must keep the Emperor occupied until then, take your chance to leave, and head down the mountain to meet me.”

The two of them finalized the plans for their nighttime operation before Chang Yuan departed.

It wasn’t until nightfall that Jin Wang returned to the side hall. When he entered, Ye Shu was leaning against the couch, reading a book. The floor heating made the room much warmer than the outside air. Ye Shu had tossed his snow-white fox fur cloak onto a small table by the couch, wearing only a single, thin layer of plain inner robes, which made his frame look even leaner.

One of his legs dangled off the edge of the bed, swinging unconsciously, revealing a sliver of bare, pale ankle.

Jin Wang stepped forward and cupped the leg in his hands. As expected, it was ice-cold. “How many times must I tell you? You are not allowed to run around the room barefoot.”

Ye Shu hurriedly retracted his foot under the blanket. “I know, I know.”

Jin Wang smiled. Just as he was about to lean in closer, Ye Shu covered his nose and scooted away. “You reek of incense and candles. Go bathe first.”

“…”

For the first time in his life, the Sovereign was being treated with disdain. Left with no choice, he had to go bathe and change his clothes first.

After dinner, Jin Wang continued to handle state affairs while Ye Shu brought him tea. “Your Majesty, please have some tea,” Ye Shu said softly.

Jin Wang raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to look at him. “Why are you so obedient today?”

Ye Shu asked, “What do you mean by that? Was I not obedient before?”

Jin Wang glanced at him, his eyes clearly flashing a retort: What do you think?

Jin Wang took the teacup and was about to drink when he suddenly paused. He lowered his head and sniffed it. “You brewed this yourself?”

Ye Shu’s fingertips curled tight, feeling inexplicably nervous. “How… how did you know?”

“It’s over-steeped.” Jin Wang took a sip and smiled. “In the future, leave these things to the palace maids. You don’t need to do everything yourself.”

Ye Shu lowered his eyes. “Understood.”

His submissive appearance greatly pleased Jin Wang. The Emperor patted the seat beside him, and Ye Shu sat down obediently. Jin Wang wrapped an arm around Ye Shu’s waist while he continued to read the scrolls.

They were pressed very close. The hand resting casually on Ye Shu’s waist soon made him feel restless.

Perhaps since their big argument, Jin Wang had developed a bit of a conscience. For several days, he hadn’t touched Ye Shu the way he used to; their contact had been limited to ordinary hugs.

…It wasn’t enough.

Ye Shu moved inconspicuously, resting his head on Jin Wang’s shoulder. Looking up, he could just see the sharp profile of Jin Wang’s face. As he watched him, Ye Shu felt his body gradually growing warm.

Clack— Jin Wang suddenly slammed a scroll shut and pressed his brow.

Ye Shu snapped back to reality and asked in a low voice, “Are you done reading?”

“How am I supposed to read like this?” Ye Shu didn’t catch the meaning at first, but Jin Wang let out a helpless laugh. “Shu, stop looking at me with those eyes.”

“…” Ye Shu looked away. “I’m sorry.”

Jin Wang sighed, resting his head on Ye Shu’s shoulder and pulling him tighter. “Are you… feeling a bit wanting?”

His voice was extremely soft, his breath tickling Ye Shu’s ear, making half of Ye Shu’s body go numb.

Jin Wang knew why Ye Shu was like this. The physician had said that a pregnant Kunjun would become intensely dependent on their Qianjun and easily moved to passion. However, before the three-month mark, the pregnancy was unstable; they couldn’t engage in full intimacy and could only use pheromones to soothe him.

“Mmph—!” Ye Shu shuddered as Jin Wang kissed the spot behind his ear.

The kiss was gentle and lingering, yet Ye Shu trembled uncontrollably, his eyes quickly misting over. “No…”

Jin Wang draped an arm over Ye Shu’s shoulder, locking him firmly in his embrace. He tilted Ye Shu’s neck up, making escape impossible. After a moment, the Qianjun pheromones were infused into him, and Ye Shu slumped exhaustedly into Jin Wang’s arms.

Jin Wang lifted him and laid him back on the bed, his palm affectionately stroking the hair at his temples. “Just endure it a bit longer. Two more months will be enough.”

Ye Shu’s unfocused gaze slowly cleared. He asked weakly, “Why… why two months?”

His voice sounded somewhat aggrieved. A Kunjun needed the physical comfort of their Qianjun; pheromone soothing wasn’t the same as true union and couldn’t easily satisfy him.

Jin Wang hesitated.

Ye Shu had been so well-behaved these past few days. It seemed that after that day, he had truly come to his senses and decided to stay by Jin Wang’s side. The atmosphere in the room was intimate and warm—the perfect setting to reveal the truth. Jin Wang’s hand slid down Ye Shu’s arm and rested on his lower abdomen.

“I have a secret I haven’t told you yet,” Jin Wang said tenderly.

Ye Shu asked, “What?”

Jin Wang tilted his head and smiled, whispering, “Right here…”

He stopped mid-sentence. Dizziness struck his mind without warning. Jin Wang realized something instantly, his brows knitting tight. “That tea…”

Before he could finish, he slumped against the edge of the bed and lost consciousness.

Ye Shu: “…”

Ye Shu lay on the bed for a moment to calm his racing heart, then rolled over and laid Jin Wang out flat. He leaned over Jin Wang, staring at the handsome face that remained striking even in sleep.

He had drugged the tea. It was the sedative Mu Jiuqing had left for him. To prevent Jin Wang from noticing, he had intentionally over-steeped the tea leaves to mask any taste. The man truly hadn’t suspected a thing.

Ye Shu took out the human-skin mask Chang Yuan had prepared for him and put it on, mumbling softly, “Dog-brained Jin Wang. Now you can’t bully me anymore.”

“Whether you have a past or a grudge with the original Ye Shu, it has nothing to do with me. Why take it out on me?”

“Still, maybe I can find a way to leave this place and swap your Ye Shu back.”

“Even if I don’t find a way, don’t you dare come looking for me… I don’t really want to see you again.”

A bamboo whistle sounded outside. Ye Shu had finished his preparations just in time. He went to the bedside, tucked the quilt around Jin Wang, and rose to leave. Suddenly, a thought struck him.

Come to think of it… what was that man trying to tell him just now?

Ye Shu looked at the sleeping Emperor, then looked down at his own flat stomach, blinking in confusion.

Whatever. I’m out of here.

He pulled open the door and slipped out of the bedroom.

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