Delighted as he was, Qin Yuanxi still had a lingering concern. “You’re really agreeing to let me leave the palace? You’re sure about it?”
Zhao Tuo looked at him, smiling as he nodded, saying, “Your Majesty, if you want to leave the palace, you can. As long as you’re happy and safe, it doesn’t matter where you are.”
“But aren’t you worried that if our child is born outside the palace, people will gossip? They might say the child’s origin is unknown.”
“I’d like to see who dares,” Zhao Tuo said with a hint of coldness in his eyes, as if a sharp blade had been unsheathed. Just this one sentence made it clear that he considered it a non-issue.
Who would dare to question it, he asked, confidently, as if those things were never a problem in his presence.
“Do you have a place in mind, Your Majesty?” Zhao Tuo lowered his head and gently touched Qin Yuanxi’s belly, suggesting, “Considering Your Majesty’s unique situation, it’s best to stay close by, perhaps at the palace’s retreat. It’s convenient for handling matters, and it’s quiet with no disturbances. Your Majesty can rest there without worry.”
“Alright, the retreat it is. You can make the arrangements.”
For Qin Yuanxi, as long as he could leave the palace, the specific location didn’t matter much. The royal gardens were all lovely, and he needed a change from the palace.
“So, when do we leave?” This was the next concern for Qin Yuanxi. Convincing Zhao Tuo wasn’t difficult, but he worried that if they didn’t leave soon, Lu Bohuan might return, making it difficult to depart. This situation was full of uncertainties, and Qin Yuanxi wanted to act quickly to avoid complications.
“Anytime, Your Majesty. You decide.”
Any time is really in line with Qin Yuanxi’s wishes. Qin Yuanxi patted his thigh and made a decision right away. “How about tomorrow? During the early morning court session I’ll request leave from the ministers, and if there are any matters, they can find us at the villa. Then we’ll depart.”
With the plan set, Qin Yuanxi felt a sense of excitement. “Oh, and don’t forget Yan Shaoning. Inform him, and he should prepare as well.”
“Alright,” Zhao Tuo agreed and then asked, “Your Majesty, why are you so happy?”
Qin Yuanxi’s enthusiasm was evident. “Of course, I’m happy! How could I not be? I must be happy, indeed.”
“Is it because you’re with me?” Zhao Tuo asked with a subtle tone.
“Certainly,” Qin Yuanxi replied without thinking it was an unusual question. Since Zhao Tuo had asked, he answered honestly. He didn’t see anything wrong with it. If he paid closer attention to Zhao Tuo’s expression and tone, he might have noticed something different.
“I’m happy too, very happy.” Zhao Tuo took Qin Yuanxi’s wrist and pulled him closer. Then, he planted a tender kiss on his lips, and the two, knowing each other’s desires well, quickly descended into playful intimacy.
The end result was that, the following morning, during the early court session, Qin Yuanxi hadn’t woken up, as expected.
With half-closed eyes, he remembered that he was supposed to request leave. But in reality, he couldn’t open his eyes. His consciousness was muddled and chaotic. Zhao Tuo held him, stroked his face, and leaned down to kiss his lips. He whispered softly in Qin Yuanxi’s ear, “Your Majesty, go back to sleep. I’ll attend the court session. When you wake up, we’ll head directly to the villa, alright?”
Qin Yuanxi, who was half asleep and still in a daze, couldn’t make out the words clearly, but the voice was soothing, and he felt at ease. Without thinking, he nodded and turned over, slipping back into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, Zhao Tuo, by his side, looked at his peacefully sleeping figure, got up to change his attire. Unlike before, Zhao Tuo was wearing a purple and gold python-patterned robe today. This meant that he was wearing Lu Bohuan’s court attire. And all of this, Qin Yuanxi, in his sound sleep, was completely unaware of.
By the time he woke up, Zhao Tuo had returned, now wearing a dark blue warrior’s attire, the same style he often wore when they left the palace together. It exuded an air of valor and gave a hint of a martial hero from a wuxia novel.
“Oh, who’s this handsome young man? What are you up to? Come here, let me have a look.”
In good spirits, Qin Yuanxi playfully asked, teasingly, his gestures well-practiced. He pinched Zhao Tuo’s chin and kissed him, which, of course, led to an overly enthusiastic response.
Zhao Tuo was growing more assertive and dominant, taking the lead in their interactions. While before, Qin Yuanxi had initiated most advances, now Zhao Tuo quickly grasped Qin Yuanxi’s intentions and acted upon them. Qin Yuanxi, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed this audacious approach. To him, this kind of back-and-forth playfulness was the natural state of affairs for lovers.
“Are we ready to go?” Qin Yuanxi asked.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Once you change and have breakfast, we can depart.”
“Should I wear this?” Qin Yuanxi noticed the clothes hanging nearby.
It’s nice, really nice. The simple white style, but looking at the clothes, it’s like dressing up as a rich young master. It’s just that, taking a glance at the waist, Qin Yuanxi hesitated a bit: “With how I look now, if I wear this, my tummy might show.”
“It’s not a problem, no one will notice, Your Majesty,” Zhao Tuo assured Qin Yuanxi, holding onto his waist and gently massaging it. “You’ll look great in this, I specifically chose it for you. If you’re worried about your belly showing, we can use a cloak to cover it later.”
“Alright then.”
Qin Yuanxi hesitated, but as soon as he heard that Zhao Tuo had personally chosen the clothes for him, his hesitation faded. It wasn’t a big deal, and if his tummy did show a bit, he could always cover it. Zhao Tuo was so considerate, and if he refused, it might hurt his feelings. It was just a piece of clothing, after all. Qin Yuanxi wasn’t overly concerned.
As Qin Yuanxi laid eyes on the grand procession of attendants, he was taken aback. He almost instinctively grabbed Zhao Tuo’s sleeve and said, “Why is there such a huge entourage? So many people? I thought we were, I thought it was…”
He had assumed it would be a private outing, similar to the time when he and Zhao Tuo had secretly left the palace. Just the two of them, keeping it low-key. He never expected that Zhao Tuo would arrange such a grand procession. It wasn’t just the Guards; even the Imperial Army from the palace had been mobilized. And why were there ministers seeing them off?
Looking at this procession, it was almost as grand as when they left the palace for an ancestral ceremony. Qin Yuanxi hadn’t anticipated all this commotion. It was just supposed to be a private trip. “For your safety, Your Majesty, we need to ensure it’s well-protected. Don’t worry; they’re only accompanying us to the remote villa. Later, they’ll return. If you plan to stay there for a while, it’s better to have some explanation,” Zhao Tuo reassured him. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty, you can get on the carriage. I’ll explain everything to them. There won’t be any trouble. You can relax.”
“Do we need an escort?” Qin Yuanxi frowned, expressing his disapproval. “I thought we could slip away quietly. Why make such a fuss? But fine, if we need an escort, there’s one thing you must remember. Once we arrive at the villa for the childbirth, this news must not leak out. Do you understand?”
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. It won’t,” Zhao Tuo smiled and comforted him. “I’ll handle it. Your trust is well-placed. After we reach the villa, my people will maintain a strict guard, and no news will escape. You can focus on your delivery, and the news about the little prince will only be shared when you’re ready.”
“Very well.” Qin Yuanxi was about to board the carriage when he suddenly remembered something and glanced back, asking, “What about Yan Shaoning? Where is he? Where did he go?”
“Divine Physician said he needed to prepare the medicinal herbs and other items to bring to the residence. This is a significant event, and we can’t afford any delays, so he’s making separate preparations. We’ll go ahead, and he’ll join us later,” Zhao Tuo explained.
“When will he arrive? Don’t let him take too long; I’m counting on him.”
“Your Majesty, rest assured, I’ve also arranged a palace physician to accompany us. I trust them. It’s just that Your Majesty may feel more secure with Yan Shaoning. It’s the same either way, so there’s no need to worry.”
“I suppose so,” Qin Yuanxi said, but he couldn’t quite shake his unease. “Alright, urge him to come earlier. If he needs anything, have someone prepare it.”
“I understand. I’ll make sure to urge him.”
Zhao Tuo closed the carriage curtain and said, “Your Majesty, take some rest. If you feel uncomfortable, just call me. I’ll be riding alongside.”
Qin Yuanxi looked at him with a somewhat innocent gaze. “Why can’t you come inside and sit with me?”
“Your Majesty, it’s not appropriate,” Zhao Tuo replied, a hint of helplessness on his face. “I’ll be riding alongside you. If you get bored, you can always talk to me. It’s the same as being inside the carriage.”
“But it’s not the same; I can’t lean on you,” Qin Yuanxi wasn’t entirely satisfied, but he couldn’t be stubborn. “Never mind, you can go. Don’t rush too much, and don’t overexert yourself. Rest when needed.”
“Alright, I’ll have them go slowly. I’ll do my best not to jostle Your Majesty.”
Qin Yuanxi wanted to roll his eyes. “You’re taking it too hard. Take care of yourself and rest when needed. What can I do while sitting here?”
“Your Majesty is worried about me,” Zhao Tuo chuckled. Just before leaving, he leaned over and kissed Qin Yuanxi, which made him lose his temper but also blush with a mix of anger and amusement.
Qin Yuanxi felt that Zhao Tuo had been different lately, but he couldn’t quite pinpoint the nature of the change. It was as if he had become a bit less sincere and more cunning. But Qin Yuanxi didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he found it rather endearing. Perhaps that’s what they call love being blind.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
