At the end of spring and beginning of summer, several heavy rains fell in the capital, and Fu Shen’s old ailment recurred, so he took leave to recuperate at home. Yan Xiaohan followed suit, claiming his old Jingchu illness had flared up and also took leave.
Fu Shen knew his so-called “old illness” was not genuine, but after rushing about for nearly two years, now that they were finally settled, it was time to make up for all the tenderness and intimacy they had missed. Thinking this, he let it go.
One day in June, after waking from an afternoon nap and enjoying the coolness of an ice basin, they were lounging on a luohan bed, chatting and sharing fruit when the housekeeper quietly entered, standing behind the screen and reporting: “Sir, someone from the palace has come. His Majesty summons the Jingguo Duke for an audience.”
Yan Xiaohan’s face immediately fell: “It’s so hot, what if he gets heatstroke? Not going.”
“Not everyone is as delicate as you,” Fu Shen pulled a grape to stuff in his mouth, getting out of bed to put on shoes: “Stop whining, let’s go.”
Yan Xiaohan might complain loudly, but he couldn’t hold Fu Shen’s waist to stop him, frustratedly biting into a cool, juicy grape.
Who would have known that the person about to leave would suddenly lean down, quickly tracing a circle with the tip of their tongue on his lips, stealing a light and flirtatious kiss, and then smiling and saying: “So sweet.” Yan Xiaohan: “You…” Fu Shen raised an eyebrow, not without teasing: “My good sir, the road toll has been paid, can you let me go now?”
Chapter 72: Memorial to the Throne
The old palace in the capital has a history of hundreds of years, and although it has been repaired several times, it has essentially remained unchanged. Old houses naturally carry a quiet atmosphere, and even in the deep palace, it remains cool and serene despite the scorching midsummer heat outside.
However, this coolness seemed to seep into the bone marrow, and combined with the Emperor Changtai’s face that suggested an impending storm, it made Fu Shen’s old leg injury start to ache faintly.
