He truly never expected Fu Shen might encounter Cai Yue. In his heart, even if he had ultimately let Cai Yue go, the mistake had been made, and Fu Shen had already broken with him. No matter how he made up for it, he couldn’t pretend that the backstabbing never happened.”
Fu Shen saw that Yan Xiaohan hadn’t understood, but didn’t clarify further. He was a bit sly about this, as if he had caught Yan Xiaohan’s secret crush, always unable to resist subtly probing, both expecting his expression when things were revealed and wanting him to admit it to him directly.
“Just teasing you. How many past events do I have that didn’t involve you?” Fu Shen pinched his cheek like a rogue, “None are as good as you. You’re the best.”
Yan Xiaohan knew sweet talk was unreliable, but still couldn’t help being soothed.
The two wine cups clinked, Fu Shen drank in one gulp, and Yan Xiaohan seized the opportunity to serve him food: “Take it easy. Even good wine shouldn’t be drunk like this.”
Fu Shen lazily said, “Don’t worry. This Marquis has great alcohol tolerance. If you’re afraid I’ll cause trouble when drunk, I’ll sleep in the guest room.”
“Saying this, don’t you feel ashamed, Marquis,” Yan Xiaohan said coldly, “Since the day you arrived, when has the guest room ever let you in?”
Fu Shen awkwardly said, “…You’re too proactive.”
Yan Xiaohan: “Hmph.”
“Children are getting harder to manage as they grow,” Fu Shen dramatically sighed, “You used to say ‘I like you the most’, now you just know how to ‘hmph’.”
Yan Xiaohan instantly broke down.
After their banter, they began discussing the matter of the Pure Yang Taoist.
The wine rushed to his head, making him dizzy. Fu Shen’s eyes were half-closed as he quietly allowed Yan Xiao Han to help him change clothes and bathe, remaining docile and gentle until he was in bed.
Yan Xiao Han’s tense heart gradually relaxed, sighing with relief, yet feeling slightly disappointed that there was no “drunken passion” moment.
Before he could finish that thought, the drunk man suddenly called out softly. Yan Xiao Han didn’t hear clearly and leaned in, asking, “What—”
With a bang, the world spun.
When he came to his senses, Fu Shen had already pinned him to the inner side of the bed. The man above him had his hands propped on either side of Yan Xiao Han’s head, looking down at him: “Throwing yourself into my arms, hmm?”
Yan Xiao Han quickly reached out to hold his waist: “Be careful of your leg! Don’t kneel, get down!”
Yan Xiao Han helplessly said: “Jing Yuan, stop messing around…”
“A Kan.”
He was stunned, thinking he had misheard, and asked in disbelief: “What did you call me?”
“A Kan,” Fu Shen gently kissed the tip of his nose, then moved to his lip corner, “A Kan…”
These two words were more potent than strong liquor, and Yan Xiao Han felt his entire body was about to burn.
Little did he know, Fu Shen had another line, though slurred and hoarse, filled with tender affection: “…
Chapter 42: Entering the Palace | My Lord Hopes You Won’t Be So Proactive Next Time
All romantic thoughts were scattered by this sentence. Yan Xiao Han choked on his breath, stuck for a moment, and was ultimately laughed out of anger.
He realized that Fu Shen was all talk, putting on a show, actually understanding nothing, and trying to tease him like he would a young lady. He didn’t even open his eyes to see whether the person pinned beneath him was a submissive lamb or a beast hiding its fangs.
Fu Shen continued to whisper affectionately in his ear, but Yan Xiao Han had lost the previous excitement, only finding him cute and wanting to tease him. So he slightly adjusted his position to make Fu Shen more comfortable: “Call out again, okay?”
Fu Shen obliged: “A Kan.”
Yan Xiao Han said: “Not this.”
“Then what do you want to hear?” Fu Shen laughed with bleary eyes: “My heart, my treasure… my speaking flower…?”
Yan Xiao Han laughed helplessly. He tilted his head, receiving Fu Shen’s light and intimate pecks, still unsatisfied: “None of those. Something you’ve called me before.”
Fu Shen was confused: “Called what?”
Fu Shen’s mind was a vast ocean, unable to remember what he had said before.
He had a tendency to get stuck on details, usually subtle, but magnified when drunk. Stuck on this question, he set Yan Xiao Han aside and began to ponder deeply.
Yan Xiao Han suppressed his laughter: “Beg me, and I’ll tell you.”
Fu Shen was particularly stubborn: “No need, move aside.”
“Won’t beg?” His palm slid into the clothing, gently massaging his lower back, causing Fu Shen to unconsciously furrow his brow – comfortable, yet with a strange heat.
“Really don’t want to know?” Yan Xiao Han gently coaxed: “Who was going to love me just now?”
Fu Shen was indeed drawn in, mumbling indistinctly: “Brother…”
If Yan Xiao Han had a tail, it would have been wagging to the sky. He coaxed: “Louder, I didn’t hear.”
Fu Shen, who hadn’t called someone like this in years, felt embarrassed even when drunk, mumbling and unwilling to speak.
Yan Xiao Han pretended to be unhappy: “You just teased me, and now won’t even call me? Are you planning to abandon me after having your way?”
In Fu Shen’s eyes, the person beneath him now had reddened eyes, affectionate brows, slightly furrowed brow, and slightly pursed thin lips – clearly looking like someone who had been overly teased. He immediately softened, feeling helpless against this little demon.
Fu Shen generously compromised: “Fine… always arguing about these two years. You’re the older one, okay? Brother, A Kan brother, Meng Gui brother, whichever you like…”
After many years, this “brother” still had its power, instantly making Yan Xiao Han’s heart melt.
“Silly,” with passion fierce as a beast unleashed, he held Fu Shen’s waist, suddenly flipping over, his gaze suddenly deep, “Be good, brother will love you.”
The next morning, Fu Shen sat on the bed, nursing a hangover, looking coldly at Yan Xiao Han.
Not hitting someone while drunk doesn’t mean not hitting after sobering up.
Yan Xiao Han thought it was fortunate they didn’t go all the way yesterday. He preferred their first time to be mutual, not taking advantage. Last night was just a momentary impulse, a brief release. Fu Shen could naturally feel the murderous expression was mainly about being tricked while drunk and made to call “brother” many times.
“Okay, okay, don’t be angry,” Yan Xiao Han unconditionally pulled him into his embrace, taking advantage of the early morning to laze in bed a bit more, shamelessly saying: “Bedroom matters, why be so serious? Next time I’ll call you ‘master’ if you want, okay?”
Fu Shen threateningly poked his chest: “Get lost.”
“Besides, didn’t you enjoy it last night?” Yan Xiao Han smiled and said softly, “I served you so attentively, yet you’re not grateful. My Lord is so heartless.”
Fu Shen’s ears turned red, saying irritably: “Darling, my Lord hopes you’ll lie still next time and not be so proactive.”
Yan Xiao Han exclaimed, “Oh?
Emperor Yuan Tai had been absent from court for three days due to illness. After Yan Xiaohan’s memorial was submitted, he was indeed summoned that day. The eunuch’s attitude towards him was even more attentive than before, which spoke volumes.
First, the task was well handled; regardless of the true circumstances, the emperor was at least satisfied with the outcomes of these two cases. Second, Emperor Yuan Tai’s condition was severe. Besides the princes who visited daily to attend to his illness, only a few elderly and virtuous ministers were summoned. Speculation was rife outside. The fact that Yan Xiaohan was remembered by the emperor at this time could be considered a sign of being in the emperor’s favor.
The audience was still held in the Hall of Nurturing the Heart.
