CH 21

The tent went silent where even a needle drop could be heard. The Duke of Protection stood up hastily and bowed to Gu Yan: “Have mercy, Your Majesty. Yi’er is a martial artist and doesn’t understand the rules, please don’t take it to heart.” 

Gu Yan cast him a glance, not buying it at all: “I hope that the Duke will take good care of his own son. If he is not properly disciplined, I don’t mind doing the honors.” 

Since Gu Yan expressed his position, Emperor Jinghe acted as a peacemaker. After he said a few perfunctory words, he brought this topic to a close. Unable to get his desired outcome and was even glared at a few times by the Duke of Protection, Wen Yi kept a gloomy face throughout the dinner and didn’t dare open his mouth again.

Once the dinner banquet was over, Gu Yan brought Ye Zi back to their tent. 

It was late at night and Ye Zi was so tired today that he was about to call it a day. The two of them were about to rest when an announcement suddenly came from outside the tent: “Your Majesty, Commandery Princess Changning requests an audience.”

Ye Zi was taken aback.

It was late at night, what was Commandery Princess Changning doing here?

Gu Yan thought for a moment and told him to rest first before he put on an outer robe and headed out of the tent.  

Commandery Princess Changning stood alone outside the tent and bowed to Gu Yan: “Greetings, Prince Rui.”

Gu Yan replied indifferently: “What is it?”

Wen Zhi didn’t say anything and looked at the attendants behind Gu Yan with some discomfort: “May I speak with you in private?”

Gu Yan replied emotionlessly: “That’s not necessary, it’s not appropriate for the Commandery Princess to be alone with a man.”

Wen Zhi bit her lips and said in a low voice: “The reason for Changning’s arrival is simply to apologize. During the banquet……my elder brother spoke out of turn, it was an unintentional mistake, I hope Your Majesty will not take it to heart.” 

As she spoke, she took out a small wooden box from her sleeve and handed it to Gu Yan.

Wen Zhi continued: “This is a small token of appreciation not worthy of mentioning, but I hope that Your Majesty will forgive him.”

Gu Yan didn’t take it and asked: “Did the Duke send you here?”

Wen Zhi avoided his gaze for a moment and didn’t answer.

“Pushing a woman out at the first sign of trouble, the Duke’s behavior truly is amazing.” Gu Yan sneered and snorted, “This Prince doesn’t want to make things difficult for a woman, you can go back. Whether it’s to apologize or to ask for forgiveness, let Wen Yi come himself.”

Wen Zhi lowered her head, imperceptibly answered, turned her head, and left.

Gu Yan turned around and just so happened to catch the back of a figure hastily slipping back to the tent.

Ye Zi lay back on the bed and also took the extra step of pulling the quilt to cover himself as he pretended to have fallen asleep.

Gu Yan raised his eyebrows, pretending not to notice.

Ye Zi poked his head out from under the quilt, staring at Gu Yan’s back with a dazed expression.

Since he arrived at the Prince Rui Manor, he had never heard Gu Yan speak like that.

Gu Yan washed up, walked to the bed, bent down, and pinched his face: “Not pretending to sleep anymore?”

Ye Zi sat up: “I wasn’t pretending in the first place.”

Gu Yan laughed: “Alright, you weren’t pretending. Then what is my consort thinking about, why aren’t you sleeping yet?” 

“Thinking about you.” Ye Zi blurted out without thinking.

After Ye Zi finished speaking, he froze. He cleared his throat and explained solemnly: “I was thinking that Your Majesty’s actions today seem to be a little impulsive.”

“The Wen family’s eldest son is the Grand General of Huaihua personally appointed by His Holiness, who has just made military exploits and holds military power in his hands. He is also currently favored by His Holiness. Even if Your Majesty wanted to show our love in front of His Holiness, you shouldn’t offend the Duke of Protection’s family.”

Gu Yan straightened up and frowned slightly.

Ye Zi faltered for a second, worried that Gu Yan would get angry at him. He lowered his head and didn’t dare to say more.

However, Gu Yan reached out and gently lifted his chin, forcing him to look straight at him: “Did you think what I said and did today was all an act?”

Ye Zi pursed his lips, not daring to reply. 

Gu Yan looked at him for a long time and sighed: “A Zi, exactly what goes on through your mind?” 

“Yes, I did tell you that we need to act like we’re undoubtedly in love in front of others, but this doesn’t mean that I am acting all the time. If I didn’t step in today, should I have just allowed Wen Yi to bully you?” 

Gu Yan paused and stroked Ye Zi’s hair: “Little fool, I am protecting you.”

It was the first time Gu Yan ever spoke so bluntly. However, this answer was not what Ye Zi had expected. He was stunned for a while and a trace of bewilderment flashed in his eyes.

Protecting him……

Why was he protecting him?

Just because he promised to help him and play the role of his Princess Consort? 

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Frankly speaking, he didn’t do too many things during this time, most of them were effortless and perfunctory. On the contrary, Gu Yan always looked after him and helped him a lot.

Ye Zi stared at the face that was close at hand. His heart uncontrollably thumped a few times, giving birth to a warm ache and he felt some inexplicable emotions.

Ye Zi’s cheeks burned and he hastily turned his gaze away. He calmed down a bit and continued: “No matter what, what you said to Commandery Princess Changning just now was a  bit too……rude. She is still a lady, and for you to act like that……”

Gu Yan smiled: “Admitted to eavesdropping on me?”

Ye Zi looked at him sheepishly.

“I was being polite enough.” Gu Yan lightly sneered, “All I did was scold Wen Yi at the banquet, I didn’t even do anything to him. Do you think it is necessary for the Duke to send Changning over to apologize to me?” 

Ye Zi pursed his lips and understood.

Indeed, there was no need.

As a great general, the Duke of Protection, Wen Shuhou, had once fought for the country and had achieved remarkable military exploits. Now that he was old, he was consecrated by Emperor Jinghe as the Duke of Protection and this title was enough to show his status. Coupled with the fact that he was the Empress’s younger brother, he really didn’t need to give in to Gu Yan.

Doing this was nothing more than an excuse to let Wen Zhi get close to Gu Yan.

Gu Yan sneered: “That old bastard still hasn’t given up. Isn’t he afraid that I will really take his daughter as a concubine?”

Ye Zi was stunned and looked up at Gu Yan.

Gu Yan withdrew his smile: “I’m joking.”

Ye Zi sat cross-legged on the bed, tilted his head, and seriously pondered: “Speaking of which, do you really not plan to marry? If you let me take the position of the Princess Consort now, what if you meet someone you really like in the future? What would you do then? You can’t just have them be a concubine.” 

Ye Zi thought more and more deeply: “When that time comes, you must make sure you talk to them. I have no intention of competing for favor and I am not interested in fighting. If she wants the position of Princess Consort, I don’t mind giving it to her. We can all just get along and not interfere with each other, does that sound good?” 

Gu Yan: “……”

Ye Zi was still asking: “Is that okay?”

Gu Yan was furious and ordered, “Sleep.”

Ye Zi bit his lips and said nothing more. Gu Yan took off his outer robe, extinguished the oil lamp by the bed, and sat on the bed. Ye Zi was about to change back to his original form out of habit, but Gu Yan grabbed his wrist. 

Ye Zi was not prepared and was pulled into Gu Yan’s arms.

The dampness on Gu Yan’s body that he got from outside, as well as the faint fragrance of medicine, immediately wrapped around Ye Zi. Gu Yan got close to his ear and whispered: “Do you think we’re at home? Don’t make trouble.”

His voice was low and deep, and his breath brushed against Ye Zi’s ears. Ye Zi immediately blushed and struggled subconsciously.

Gu Yan tightly clasped his wrist. Not only did he not let him break free, he even pressed him down onto the soft bed. That solid and powerful body on top of his caused Ye Zi’s heart to pound and he almost flew off the bed. 

Gu Yan said softly: “Don’t move around.”

Ye Zi breathed in Gu Yan’s breath. His mind was muddled and his whole body was stiff with tension.

But Gu Yan only pressed against him and didn’t move for a while.

Ye Zi gradually came to his senses and asked in a low voice: “Someone is watching us?”

His body seemed to have practiced martial arts for many years. As Ye Zi gradually got used to it, his skills slowly recovered, and even his sense of hearing and touch became much sharper.

Gu Yan answered: “Mnn.”

Ye Zi asked: “Whose people could it be? Emperor Jinghe? The Duke of Protection? Or……the Third Imperial Prince?”

Gu Yan gently stroked Ye Zi’s hair and lifted the quilt to cover the two of them: “Don’t care, let them watch.”

The two maintained their embracing posture and Gu Yan’s hand fell on Ye Zi’s waist, hugging him very naturally. Ye Zi only wore a thin undergarment and could clearly feel the heat from Gu Yan’s body pressing against his skin inch by inch like a prairie fire.

In the past, when they slept together in the same bed, Ye Zi would simply change back to his original form and no matter how close he was to Gu Yan, he wouldn’t feel anything.

But now……

Ye Zi felt like he was about to burn up.

In the darkness, Gu Yan lowered his voice and laughed softly: “Why is your heart beating so fast? It’s not like I’m going to eat you.” 

Ye Zi flinched, unable to stand him talking in his ear. He tilted his head and said hesitantly, “I…..It’s not.”

“Really? Let me check.” Gu Yan stretched out his hand and gently pressed against Ye Zi’s heart, “You’re telling me it’s not but I can clearly feel it.”  

Ye Zi couldn’t bear it anymore and grabbed his hand, saying in a low voice: “Stop moving.” 

Gu Yan turned his hand over and re-grasped Ye Zi’s hand. His fingertips ended up intentionally or unintentionally sweeping over the sensitive part of the fingers causing Ye Zi’s head to tingle. 

Ye Zi didn’t dare to move or talk to him too much and could only stay still as he let the other party do as he pleased. After an unknown amount of time passed, Gu Yan whispered: “They’re gone.”

Ye Zi’s tense body suddenly relaxed.

With a smile on his face, Gu Yan leaned into his ear and whispered: “A Zi, your face is super red.”

Ye Zi shrank back like he had been electrocuted. He rolled over and turned his back to Gu Yan, arguing, “I was stuffy……stuffy!”

After he said this, he realized that the tent was so dark that he couldn’t see his fingers when his hand was stretched out, let alone the moonlight. So how could Gu Yan see if his face was red?

Ye Zi buried his head in the pillow, wanting to die of shame and anger.

……He confessed without duress.

This bastard.