” Before he could finish, he was suddenly pressed down and his mouth was blocked. Newly married but forced to separate, this unexpected reunion meant some bottled-up emotions could only be expressed through actions. This kiss was more lingering than their parting, with a deliberate intensity. As if to retaliate for his previous teasing, Yan Xiaohan bit Fu Shen’s mouth, not too hard but not too soft. Fu Shen gripped his jaw and hissed, but didn’t scold him: “Petty. Be careful, don’t leave a mark…” As he inhaled sharply, Yan Xiaohan himself felt heartache, reaching out to support Fu Shen’s head and gently sucking the spot he had bitten: “Did it hurt?” Fu Shen patted his back, indicating he was fine, and continued to joke, “Sneaking around brothels behind my back. I haven’t even made a move, and you’re already feeling wronged.” Yan Xiaohan knelt halfway in front of him, slightly lower, gathering both of Fu Shen’s hands in his: “Are you jealous? Tell the truth.” Fu Shen scoffed, “Not everyone is like you, a vinegar jar.” Yan Xiaohan: “Really not jealous? What if I really went to a brothel?” Fu Shen smiled softly and whispered back, “Brother Yan, do you think I can’t lift a knife?” He should have long known that with Fu Shen’s temperament, any deception or betrayal would surely end in a clean break. “
Yan Xiaohan had already stumbled on this once before, but back then, Fu Shen was still young and soft-hearted, which gave him another chance to get close. He pretended not to hear Fu Shen’s last sentence and tactfully changed the subject: “How did you end up here?”
Fu Shen lowered his head to indicate the fan on his leg: “There’s a bamboo craft shop nearby that makes excellent folding fans. I had the boss make a few fans last year and just remembered to pick them up. Who knew I’d run into you so coincidentally.”
Fu Shen particularly loved light and elegant bamboo fans, not necessarily demanding specific materials, just appreciating clean and pure colors. Yan Xiaohan vaguely remembered that in previous years when Fu Shen returned to the capital, they would sometimes meet on the street, and Fu Shen never had empty hands.
Fu Shen asked, “What about you? The incident happened at Cui Jin Pavilion, so how did you trace it to Bai Ying House?” Yan Xiaohan replied, “The Gold Prohibition Guard died at Cui Jin Pavilion, but he had been to Bai Ying House that night. Something was missing from his body, not found at Cui Jin Pavilion, so I guess it might have fallen here.”
“What was missing?
Fu Shen asked reflexively, then realized it might be inappropriate, “Can I ask? If not, just pretend I didn’t ask.” Yan Xiaohan squeezed his hand and said calmly, “Let me keep you in suspense. It’s not that I can’t say, but I’ll tell you when we get home tonight.” He looked around and smiled meaningfully, “It’s not convenient to discuss here.”
Fu Shen returned late at night, and his group had already been settled in Yan Xiaohan’s residence. The bedroom, which had been empty for some time, was now lit up, with Fu Shen sitting under the lamp reading a book.
He was focused on reading, and others were focused on watching him.
“Keep staring and I’ll start charging,” Fu Shen flipped the book over on the table, coolly mocking, “Have some dignity. Your gaze is about to scrape off a layer of my skin. Wasn’t your fill of looking at the Hundred Warbler Pavilion not enough today?”
“Still saying you’re not jealous, every sentence is about the Hundred Warbler Pavilion,” Yan Xiaohan walked into the inner room, took off his outer robe, changed into home clothes, and sat across from Fu Shen, taking the tea he handed over.
The dialogue exchanged between Yan Xiaohan and Fu Shen focuses on their feelings, and the dramatic tension effectively contributes to the plot. However, there is some unnecessary repetition and filler that doesn’t enhance the narrative. Below is the edited version of the article, with the irrelevant parts removed.
“If you’re going to force me to speak directly, fine. I didn’t want to placate you with ‘you’re better looking than them’ because I feel comparing you to these people would be an insult.”
“In my heart, you are above everyone else, unmatched,” Yan Xiaohan took a sip of tea, speaking calmly. “This is true, I’m not joking.”
The sudden confession caught Fu Shen off guard.
“Brother Yan?”
Yan Xiaohan sighed, put down his teacup, walked to Fu Shen’s front, and reached out to embrace him.
“My lord, I really like you,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve liked someone so much in my life. So let’s have no misunderstandings between us. About the incident seven years ago, let’s not go through that again.”
Fu Shen was silent for a long time before slowly asking, “From… when did this start?”
He had thought they had developed feelings after living together, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
“Seven years ago,” Yan Xiaohan said with a bitter smile. “But at that time… I was too presumptuous.”
Fu Shen suppressed his shock: “Why?”
“If you’re willing to listen, I’ll slowly tell you later,” Yan Xiaohan carefully kissed his temple. “Just know that I won’t go behind your back to find anyone else, that’s all.”
“No,” Fu Shen said directly. “At least tell me what you like about me, to make me happy.”
Yan Xiaohan: “…”
The atmosphere, which had become heavy with personal revelations, was instantly lightened. Yan Xiaohan couldn’t help but laugh into Fu Shen’s shoulder. Fu Shen was strong in every aspect, especially in emotions. Sometimes Yan Xiaohan felt like he was walking on a precarious wooden bridge, and every time he was about to fall and thought he would be crushed, Fu Shen would catch him steadily below. When he fortunately opened his eyes, he would find that beneath the clouds, the ground was right under his feet.
He was always the one being embraced.
Yan Xiaohan whispered in his ear, voice barely a breath: “From head to toe, everything I’ve touched or haven’t touched – I like it all.”
Fu Shen almost choked on his porridge, guiltily recalling last night’s mischief, accidentally kicking the hot water bottle off the bed with a loud bang that woke up half the courtyard.
“You’ve asked the right person,” Yan Xiaohan licked the inner wound on his lip, gasping in pain while unrepentantly laughing, “Last night, your lordship insisted on fighting me, and he struck first.”
Chapter 33: Strange Medicine | Beyond Ultimate Pleasure
Inside the Feilong Guard courtyard, a solemn atmosphere prevailed.
Lord Yan walked into the yard, looking spirited, seeing everyone lying like dead dogs, and asked strangely, “Did you all go stealing last night?
Wei Xuzhou, barely alive, lifted his head: “Sir, if you had arrived a bit later, the brothers would have bid you farewell forever…”
“Is that so,” Yan Xiaohan turned, “I’ll go take a stroll, you can rest assured and go.”
“Where’s Shen Jizhi?” Yan Xiaohan sat at the central hall desk, “Did he get results from the drug test yesterday?”
“Don’t mention your drug,” Wei Xuzhou said, “Dr. Shen is still unconscious. You didn’t see yesterday’s miserable state – Yang Hexuan’s death was not undeserved.”
As he spoke, Shen Yice struggled over, his face pale as a ghost. Yan Xiaohan quickly said, “Bring him a chair.”
Tang helped Shen Yice sit.
Shen Yice wearily said: “Yesterday, I tested the drug on several death row prisoners from Beiyue. The drug was powdery, processed, with a strange fragrance. It wasn’t fatal, only causing bodily numbness. Later, I guessed the drug might not be for consumption, so I put it in a copper tray and heated it, wanting to test its properties.” He paused, as if remembering something terrifying, then continued: “After heating, it turned into an oil-like substance with an intoxicating aroma. Those prisoners all looked entranced. Standing close, I accidentally inhaled a breath—”
