On Qin Yuanxi’s side, he played his part and observed Zhao Tuo’s expression. Seeing that he had indeed been persuaded, displaying a tinge of guilt on his face, Qin Yuanxi couldn’t help but heave a quiet sigh of relief. Holding hands, the two exchanged heartfelt words, soothing Zhao Tuo’s unease.
As the night grew late, Qin Yuanxi had originally intended to send Zhao Tuo back to his Moonlight Pavilion to rest, but he found Zhao Tuo holding onto his hand, his eyes filled with affection, and in that moment, Qin Yuanxi lost his self-control.
When they lay together on the dragon bed, Qin Yuanxi unconsciously protected his abdomen and cautioned Zhao Tuo, “Be careful, watch out for the child.”
These words made Zhao Tuo hesitant, but a gentle nudge from Qin Yuanxi and a soft kiss led to the removal of Qin Yuanxi’s clothes. They spent the night in silent passion. Qin Yuanxi had barely closed his eyes to sleep when he felt movement beside him. Struggling to keep his eyelids open, he saw Zhao Tuo rising.
“What are you doing?”
Qin Yuanxi instinctively asked, and then saw the figure freeze, as Zhao Tuo replied softly, “Nothing, Your Majesty, go back to sleep.”
Qin Yuanxi wanted to call him back, but he was too tired. His eyelids soon closed, and he drifted back to sleep.
Beside the bed, Lu Bohuan, who had woken up upon hearing the night guard’s report of the morning court’s timing, found himself in a very unusual situation. He wasn’t on his usual sleeping bed, and to his surprise, there was someone in his embrace. By the faint candlelight outside the bed curtain, he could see visible marks of affection on their bodies, not to mention their intimate entwined posture. He even had nail scratches on his own body, and at that moment, Lu Bohuan’s mind went blank.
Although he had long known of the relationship between Zhao Tuo and Qin Yuanxi, he had never imagined that one day he would wake up to such a scene. What made him feel even more uneasy was that the person in his embrace was cuddling him, using affectionate gestures, and Lu Bohuan experienced an uncontrollable physical reaction.
A warm flush spread through him, and he hurriedly got up, only to be halted by the person on the bed, who used an even more affectionate tone and a hint of playfulness. This further made Lu Bohuan feel uncomfortable. His ears burned, and he rushed outside to cool down with a gust of cold air before regaining control.
At the morning court, due to the Emperor’s illness, all matters were still being handled by the Regent. When Qin Yuanxi woke up, the sun was already well above the horizon. He squinted at the bright daylight and felt a momentary lapse, as if he had missed something important.
It wasn’t until Ding Yi came to inquire about his morning meal that Qin Yuanxi abruptly realized. He had spent a reckless half of the night and had, in fact, delayed the morning court.
“Um, that…,” flustered and unsure of how to explain, Qin Yuanxi’s mind was working rapidly now. He knew that he had spent the night with Zhao Tuo, but it was uncertain who was attending the morning court.
“Ahem, where is the Prince?”
“Prince Lu attended the court session and is currently in discussions with the ministers. Your Majesty, any specific instructions?”
Qin Yuanxi sipped his mouthwash tea, feeling a bit uneasy. He still inquired, “Did he say anything when he woke up?”
Ding Yi, lips concealed in a smile, replied, “He only said not to wake Your Majesty up.”
“Ah, that’s enough,” Qin Yuanxi felt a bit uneasy. His gut told him that Lu Bohuan had woken up. God knows how he reacted when he climbed down from his bed. Qin Yuanxi had feared that Lu Bohuan might lose his temper on the spot. This guy was known for his unpredictable nature. But instead of anger, what came out of his mouth was surprisingly considerate.
Or was it possible that it was Zhao Tuo who attended the morning court session instead of Lu?
If that were the case, it would be even stranger. Zhao Tuo had never been fond of court affairs. If he woke up, it was highly likely that he would pester Qin Yuanxi for a while, not to mention the night’s indulgence. Why would he diligently go to the early morning court session? Besides, Zhao Tuo was a military general. Attending the court was merely a formality for him, and it was unlikely that he’d engage in significant discussions with ministers afterward – only Prince Lu would do such a thing.
Leaning back on the soft mattress, Qin Yuanxi sighed. He pondered how he should face Lu Bohuan later.
As he thought about it, regret consumed him. It was all a big mistake, a terrible one. He shouldn’t have kept Zhao Tuo around so carelessly last night. Even if they couldn’t control themselves for a moment, he should have at least arranged for Zhao Tuo to leave once it was over. Sleeping beside him was a massive blunder. If Zhao Tuo had woken up, he would have had nothing to say, but with a fifty-fifty chance, it just had to be Lu Bohuan who woke up. Now it has become exceptionally awkward.
Qin Yuanxi’s expectations were spot on. Throughout the entire day, Lu Bohuan remained absent from his sight. It wasn’t until evening that a servant arrived with a few memorials and Qin Yuanxi’s assignments, taking the work he had from the previous day with them. Afterward, there was nothing more to be said.
“Does Prince Lu have any other instructions?” Qin Yuanxi slouched in disappointment. He regretted how he felt now. If only Lu Bohuan had acted as if he didn’t know anything, it would have been better. Qin Yuanxi wouldn’t have felt so uneasy.
But it seemed that Lu Bohuan’s reaction was equally intense. An entire day had passed without a glimpse of him. Qin Yuanxi wanted to say, ‘We’re both men; what’s the big deal?’ After all, Qin Yuanxi hadn’t asked him to take responsibility. Furthermore, it wasn’t Lu Bohuan’s fault, so there was no need for such awkwardness.
Unexpectedly, the usually stern Lu Bohuan turned out to be shy.
“Prince Lu says he caught a chill today, and he’s afraid to pass it on to His Majesty. Once he feels better, he’ll come to check on His Majesty’s assignments. During these days, he hopes His Majesty won’t be too playful and will diligently read the Four Books. Prince Lu will also prepare additional articles for His Majesty.”
The Imperial Tutor truly lived up to his name. Even in such an awkward situation, he was thinking about urging progress with the assignments. That was quite admirable.
Qin Yuanxi thought it would only last for the day. The next day, they would have to attend the morning court, and they could privately discuss it later. It was just a night’s sleep, not a big deal. They had slept together before. Lu Bohuan perhaps wasn’t fully aware of the significance of such matters before, but now that he was, they could simply accept it and move forward. What else could be done?
He had shared a bed with Zhao Tuo, not Lu Bohuan. There was no need for Lu Bohuan to be so uncomfortable. If it really troubled him, well, next time they slept, he just wouldn’t let Lu Bohuan know, and that would be the end of it. After all, it was just a matter between two lovers. Accidents can happen, and desires can be hard to control, right?
Qin Yuanxi had already prepared his explanations and reassured himself, but to his surprise, Prince Lu truly took sick leave. Not only was he absent at the morning court the next day, but several more days passed with no sign of Lu Bohuan. What was initially a minor matter had now made Qin Yuanxi appear like an unfaithful lover.
What a headache!
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)
