Translator: Storm in a Teacup
“Mhmm.” Long nodded. “Fortunately, Qingzhou is not here and doesn’t see how miserable I am. If he sees me like this, how can I preserve my dignity in front of him?”
Liu found Long was so naive. He really wanted to tell Long that his lover was standing at the door!
In the end, however, Liu didn’t say anything.
At that moment, Shi already put his hand on the door and was about to push, but he stopped after hearing Long’s words.
Long didn’t want Shi to see how miserable he was?
Shi’s eyes, which were light red, were a little sore.
He knew that Long was suffering all because of him. Long didn’t want to die earlier than him and let him suffer alone in this world.
Long would always do something that warmed Shi’s heart and make Shi change. Shi felt that he was no longer like himself.
Shi had changed so much, but he thought it was worth it because that person was Long.
Liu helped Long to the tub.
“Hold the tub with your hands and stand for a moment.”
“Mhmm.” Long did as he said. Without Liu’s help, he almost fell down. However, he persisted and did not hurt himself.
Liu looked at him with concern. Seeing that Long did not fall down, he felt relieved.
Later, Liu went to feel the temperature of the bath water and then put more things in it.
With that, Liu said, “You need to be naked.”
Long curled his lips. “We’re both men. I don’t care.”
In fact, Liu didn’t mean to tell Long that. He wanted someone outside to know about that.
Sure enough. When Long was about to take off all his clothes, the door opened.
Then, Shi came in from outside.
“Whoa!” Long was surprised to see Shi. “Qingzhou? You…”
Shi pursed his lips and said coldly, “I’m back. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Uh…” Long felt very nervous and didn’t know what to do. He thought that Shi had just come back. What he didn’t know was that Shi had been standing outside for a while.
“Well, it suddenly occurred to me and it happened that Liu Suifeng was free, so I did it. Qingzhou, I didn’t mean to hide it from you.”
Long looked at Shi like a kid who had made a mistake. He was so pitiful that he didn’t look like an emperor at all!
Shi looked sideways at Long and didn’t plan to argue with him at this moment. Then, he turned to look at Liu and said, “I’ll do the rest. Is there anything I need to pay attention to?”
Liu said at once, “There’s nothing special. He just needs to bathe in the water for four hours. During this period, you don’t need to add hot water or do anything else. Four hours later, you can carry him out and help him to take a hot bath.”
Shi nodded and responded coldly.
Liu said, “I’m leaving then. If there is any problem, come find me at any time. I’ll be staying in my room.”
After Liu left, Long looked at Shi and smiled flatteringly. “Qingzhou, we’re the only ones here.”
“Mhmm.” Shi glanced at Long coldly. “And then?”
Long coughed. “Well… Qingzhou, are you angry?”
Shi noticed that Long was very nervous, so he looked at Long with a smile. “Are you afraid that I’m angry with you?”
Long coughed again. “Of course I am. I hope that you’ll never get angry and be happy forever.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Shi suddenly asked.
“Uh…” Long blinked. “I was afraid that you’d… stop me.”
“Why did you think I’d stop you?” Shi asked softly as he fixed Long with a stare.
“Well…” Long pursed his lips. “I was afraid that you wouldn’t think it was necessary and wouldn’t want me to suffer.”
Shi fell silent.
Long said gently, “Qingzhou, you must think that several decades is a very long time. Even if I die earlier than you, you won’t think it’s a big problem because you’ll come to accompany me in heaven soon. But Qingzhou, a lifetime is not as long as you think…. What’s more, if I die earlier than you, you might think the life without me is meaningless. I don’t want you to live alone for ten years or even longer in depression.”
Shi felt suffocated.
Long said gently but firmly, “Qingzhou, we’ve promised to live and die together, but I hope that we can live as long as possible and then leave the world happily in the end. That would be the best ending for both of us. If our future can be changed after I suffer a little, it would be great. Don’t you think so? What’s more, Liu Suifeng said that I’ll be much stronger and I’ll benefit a lot from the little pain. I think I’m so lucky and I should feel happy. Even an idiot would choose to do this, right? Although I’m afraid of pain, I’m a rational person. I know what’s the most beneficial. Qingzhou, what do you think?”
Shi took a deep breath. Finally, he opened his mouth and said slowly, “Long Xiaoyuan, sorry. I underestimated you.”
Long’s eyes widened. “What? Qingzhou? How dare you underestimate me? What kind of person am I in your eyes?”
Shi rolled his eyes. “Stop making a fuss. You’re much stronger than I expected. Well, stop talking. I’ll undress you.”
“Okay.” The corners of Long’s mouth curved up.
Shi gently took off Long’s underpants, which had been wet through.
It could be seen that Long did suffer a lot a moment ago!
Shi’s eyes flashed with concern. Long noticed Shi’s reaction and grinned. “Qingzhou, it’s okay. I’m fine. I just sweat a little.”
Shi slowly nodded and didn’t make a sound. Then, he held Long in his arms and carefully put him into the tub.
“Hiss… It feels great.” Once Long’s body touched the water, he exclaimed because he felt so comfortable.
Shi was a little nervous. “Does it hurt?”
Long looked at him smilingly. “Don’t worry. It doesn’t hurt.”
Shi observed Long’s expression and found that Long wasn’t lying, so he finally felt relieved. “That’s good.”
Long said with a smile, “But I’ll stay here for four hours. Tut. It’ll be troublesome to sit here for such a long time.”
“Are you hungry?” Shi asked, “I’ll ask Liu Suifeng if you can eat.”
“No.” Long stopped him. “I’m not hungry at all. Qingzhou, if you’re hungry, you can go and eat alone. I’ll be fine here.”
Shi shook his head. “I’m not hungry. I’ll wait for you.”
Long also shook his head. “Come on, what are you waiting for? I…”
“I will wait for you.” Shi interrupted Long firmly.
Long blinked and he had no choice but to compromise. “Well… Qingzhou, let’s eat together later.”
Anyway, Long was moved by Shi’s behavior.
He knew his empress could not keep anything down while he was suffering. If he was in Shi’s shoes, he would also do the same.
Therefore, Long stopped trying to persuade him.
What’s more, he knew clearly how stubborn his empress was.
At this moment, it was better to obey his empress. Otherwise, Shi would surely get angry with him.