In the study within the emperor’s sleeping palace,
Wen Liangyu hadn’t expected Bai Lishen to handle things so smoothly; he went and returned by noon.
However, watching the other person drenched in sweat, with a face full of fear, he couldn’t help but feel depressed.
Did Bai Lishen go to lie down at Prince Jing’s residence?
For those unaware, it might seem like he took a trip to the gates of the underworld.
Thinking of this, Wen Liangyu quickly ordered someone to bring a handkerchief and some tea. “Sir, why do you look so troubled? Did He Heng make things difficult for you?”
“No, it’s not.”
When Bai Lishen lifted his gaze to look at Wen Liangyu, he couldn’t help but recall the scene where He Heng kept addressing him as “Madam” earlier. He stuttered for a moment and quickly lowered his head again.
“He Heng didn’t trouble me; he agreed quite readily.”
Observing this, Wen Liangyu became even more puzzled. “Then, sir, why are you sweating so much?”
As he spoke, he looked out the window, where a cold wind swept through, causing the fallen leaves to scatter on the ground.
Wen Liangyu couldn’t fathom how Bai Lishen could be sweating so much on such a cold day.
“As an old subject who has aged, my body is not as robust as it used to be. Thinking about the advice the imperial physician gave me recently, suggesting that I engage in more exercise to promote circulation and flexibility, I just took a lap inside the palace, and that’s why I ended up sweating so much.”
Wen Liangyu: “…”
Suddenly, he didn’t know what to say.
After a pause, he managed to utter a sentence.
“Sir, you’re right. Indeed, it’s a good idea to get some exercise.”
Bai Lishen wiped the sweat off his face, nodded repeatedly, and awkwardly changed the subject, “If Your Majesty has some free time, you can also engage in some exercise.”
He couldn’t help but glance repeatedly towards the palace door, “Since everything has been handled, this old subject will take his leave.”
Seeing the eagerness in his demeanor, Wen Liangyu nodded and escorted him to the palace door.
After bidding farewell to Bai Lishen, it didn’t take long for another figure, appearing to be a palace guard, to show up outside the sleeping palace.
The attendant at the palace door, upon recognizing the golden token hanging from his waist, allowed him entry without further ado.
The newcomer walked straight to the study and took out a letter from his pocket, handing it to Wen Liangyu.
“Your Majesty, this is a letter General Luo sent through a carrier pigeon from the border.”
Wen Liangyu took the letter, glanced at its contents, and then heard the messenger continue:
“General Luo says he will continue to leave some men behind to divert attention, but secretly, he has already instructed Vice General Li to lead the majority of the troops back to the capital overnight, taking the northern passage through Beiqu Pass. The Regent Prince is unaware of this development.”
“In less than three days, Vice General Li will lead the majority of the forces to reach the capital, and at that time, he will contact Your Majesty through a secret report.”
After reading the letter, Wen Liangyu carefully stowed it away and nodded calmly.
“I understand.”
The next moment, the messenger disappeared like a gust of wind.
The capital, located to the north, had a short spring and autumn while enduring long and harsh summers and winters. As deep autumn set in, it only took a few days for the seasons to change. During such transitions, the weather became unpredictable, with frequent outbreaks of flu. Carelessness could easily lead to illness, especially for those with weak health and low resistance.
Since Wen Liangyu took charge of the government affairs, he woke up shortly after dawn each day. Following that, he convened the court, gathering officials and military officers to report on various matters. After the court session, he spent most of his time dealing with various administrative tasks. Often, he remained in Qianqing Palace handling affairs of state until well past midnight before returning to the sleeping palace to rest.
His own health was not robust, and with insufficient rest, coupled with the demanding responsibilities of governance, it didn’t take long for him to develop a sore throat and fever.
Even though he was unwell, Wen Liangyu persisted in spending most of his time in Qianqing Palace dealing with state affairs.
For example, on this day, after the morning court session, he hastily ate a few bites of food before returning to Qianqing Palace to review memorials.
On Wen Liangyu’s desk lay a pile of thick memorials from various ministries. They addressed issues such as:
—Winter was approaching, and the previously stockpiled grain needed careful distribution; otherwise, some regions might face famine.
—The taxation system in Great Wei was overly complicated and required adjustment.
He opened these memorials one by one, carefully reviewing and annotating them. Unbeknownst to him, an hour had passed in the blink of an eye.
Seeing the increasingly pallid complexion of the Emperor, Liu Fuyuan realized that Wen Liangyu hadn’t taken a break since morning, and during this hour, he hadn’t even had a sip of water. Persisting like this would undoubtedly take a toll on his health.
If the Emperor’s condition worsened, and he fell ill due to neglecting his well-being, the Prince Regent would surely question Liu Fuyuan when he returned.
With this in mind, Liu Fuyuan quickly stepped forward and advised, “Your Majesty, please take a short break. It won’t be too late to review these documents after you’ve taken your medicine.”
“Cough, cough,” as soon as Wen Liangyu spoke, his throat throbbed with pain, making it impossible for him to utter a complete sentence.
He didn’t put down the scroll in his hand, didn’t even lift an eyelid, just cleared his throat and hoarsely said, “Give me a little more time. I’ll finish going through these shortly.”
Seeing this, Liu Fuyuan didn’t say much more. He could only shake his head in resignation and step aside, secretly hoping that the Prince Regent would return soon. At least, when the Prince Regent was around, the young Emperor would obediently follow a routine of eating and sleeping on time.
Unlike now, once He Heng left, there was no one in the palace who could persuade him.
“Ah,” Liu Fuyuan sighed softly, leaning against the desk.
For the first time, he earnestly wished for the Prince Regent to return soon.
Meanwhile,
After continuing to work at the desk for a while, Wen Liangyu felt his head becoming increasingly heavy. Even though his forehead and body were burning hot, his hands and feet were ice-cold, giving him a shivering sensation.
He had thought of finishing the last batch of scrolls on the desk before returning to rest in the sleeping palace. However, as he continued reading, he began to feel increasingly uncomfortable. His hand holding the brush started trembling, causing his handwriting to distort.
At this moment, someone suddenly snatched the brush from his hand, and a shadow fell over him. Someone had approached him unnoticed.
The hands that took the brush were well-defined, slender, and powerful.
Surprised by the sudden action, Wen Liangyu was momentarily stunned. Then, his gaze followed those hands and met the deep eyes of He Heng.
For some reason, he felt that He Heng looked a bit displeased, with furrowed brows and narrowed eyes.
In the past few days, ever since he agreed to Bai Lishen’s request, He Heng had indeed kept his promise. He promptly returned the authority over state affairs to Wen Liangyu, seemingly to avoid suspicion. He himself took a few days off, ostensibly for vacation, and went around the outskirts.
During this period, he specifically instructed Liu Fuyuan to take good care of Wen Liangyu’s daily life, ensuring that he ate on time and got proper rest.
He had just returned to the capital this morning and, passing by the Yangxin Hall, noticed Liu Fuyuan standing at the palace door, looking very subservient.
He Heng subconsciously sensed that something was amiss. He instructed his subordinates to return to the Prince Jing’s residence first and entered the Yangxin Hall alone to take a look.
Upon entering, he was greeted by the sight of Wen Liangyu looking unwell. How could he not be angry?
“You…” Wen Liangyu stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words.
On one hand, his feverish state made his brain feel hazy, causing slow and sluggish thinking. On the other hand, seeing He Heng angry, he inexplicably felt guilty.
In that moment, some very unfamiliar and blurry memories suddenly rushed into Wen Liangyu’s mind.
The faces in the scenes appeared fuzzy, making it impossible for him to see clearly, but he seemed to faintly hear his own voice saying, “I’ll be good from now on; don’t be angry.”
It sounded like he was speaking to another man.
Who was that person?
He strained to see the other person’s face, but the images in his mind became increasingly blurry, memories growing more chaotic, and his head felt like it was exploding.
The next moment,
“Your Majesty, is this the result of your promise to me, to eat and rest properly?”
He Heng’s voice snapped Wen Liangyu back to the present.
When he raised his gaze, he saw He Heng standing right in front of him.
Wen Liangyu felt a bit bewildered.
Wasn’t he the one who had amnesia? How come he suddenly remembered the words he spoke earlier?
Did He Heng not experience memory loss?
Then what explained his strange behavior and actions?
Or perhaps,
At that moment, a bizarre thought flashed into Wen Liangyu’s mind. A bold idea began to form in his heart.
He Heng indeed seemed to have some issues; at least, the current him was vastly different from the cruel Regent Prince of the past.
However, the timing of his problems might not necessarily align with the widely believed incident during the autumn hunt.
In the eyes of everyone, he “lost his memory” after falling from his horse, as his behavior underwent significant changes afterward, as if he had become a different person.
However,
Wen Liangyu’s pupils suddenly contracted. In reality, the abnormality had already surfaced when He Heng used a cat teaser to tickle the soles of his feet before that incident.
This could explain why he still remembered the words he spoke at that time.
However, why did all of this happen?
Who was He Heng now?
Thinking about this, Wen Liangyu looked up at the man in front of him, feeling like he was both familiar and unfamiliar. Various chaotic thoughts entangled in his mind, and his head throbbed painfully. It was impossible to make sense of it all.
The next moment,
“Ugh!”
Before he could gather his thoughts, Wen Liangyu’s body was suddenly lifted off the ground.
He Heng directly cradled him horizontally in his arms.
The young Emperor instinctively wrapped his arms around He Heng’s neck. He noticed that the palace attendants, witnessing this scene, turned their faces away in embarrassment.
Realizing that their actions might be deemed inappropriate, Wen Liangyu’s ears immediately turned red. He then leaned closer to He Heng’s neck and softly protested, “P-Put me down!”
“Oh, what if I don’t let go?” He Heng, in his current state of anger, had no intention of reasoning with him.
“What will Your Majesty do? Are you going to call for help?”
As he said this, he lowered his head and deliberately got closer to Wen Liangyu’s ear. “The louder you shout, the clearer they’ll hear it.”
“I—”
Provoked by his words, Wen Liangyu’s face turned even redder, not from fever.
Moreover, due to his fever, he felt weak all over and had no strength to resist. He let He Heng carry him out without any attempt to resist.
At the moment they crossed the threshold, Wen Liangyu realized there were many palace attendants outside Qianqing Palace, and the pathway was filled with people coming and going. In response, he buried his head completely into He Heng’s chest. If people were going to stare, he might as well be a turtle and hide his head.
He Heng’s instinctive reaction was a subtle quirk of his mouth.
Unexpectedly, the young Emperor had a fiery temper but thin skin.
He Heng carried him straight back to Prince Jing’s residence.
Throughout the journey, Wen Liangyu remained quietly nestled in his arms.
He Heng felt that the person in his arms didn’t have much weight, and due to the fever, Wen Liangyu’s originally fair face was now adorned with a rosy tint. He resembled a shy kitten burying its head in his chest, and the loose strands of hair, released from the tied-up crown, looked particularly soft.
Watching the young Emperor’s ailing appearance, all the reproaches He Heng had in mind suddenly evaporated, leaving only a light sigh.
“You never listen.”
Upon arriving at Prince Jing’s residence, He Heng directly placed Wen Liangyu on his own large bed and promptly instructed the servants to prepare medicine.
The bed in He Heng’s bedroom was spacious, even larger than the Emperor’s bed. The bed frame was crafted from finely carved rosewood, the solid wood exuding a deep black hue with a faint purple glow.
The bed frame was exceptionally sturdy, easily accommodating four or five people. Suddenly finding himself in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by He Heng’s people, Wen Liangyu initially struggled to get up. However, upon spotting the cat teaser placed next to the bed, he instantly quieted down.
After placing Wen Liangyu on the bed, He Heng went to his study to change into a comfortable set of home clothes. Once he was dressed, the servants had already prepared the medicine, following his earlier instructions, and placed it on a table next to the bed.
Wen Liangyu looked at the bowl on the table, filled with a pitch-black, unpleasant-looking medicinal soup emitting a bitter scent, and felt a strong reluctance in his heart.
But the next moment, He Heng lifted the medicine bowl and brought it to Wen Liangyu’s lips.
The young Emperor lowered his head to inspect the bitter concoction, then looked up at the man with an expression that brooked no resistance. Finally, he gritted his teeth, lifted the medicine bowl, and gulped it down in one go.
The bitter taste filled his entire mouth, and he couldn’t hold back, covering his mouth while coughing vigorously. He even felt a bit nauseous.
Watching him in discomfort, He Heng sat down along the edge of the bed. He gently patted Wen Liangyu’s back to help him ease the discomfort, then extended his other hand, presenting a cup to him and softly asked, “Water?”
At this moment, Wen Liangyu finally started to recover a bit.
Hearing the offer, he raised his gaze to the palm in front of him, where there were several pieces of dried plum candy.
Upon seeing the dried plum candy, Wen Liangyu’s eyes lit up, and he subconsciously reached out to take it.
However, he hesitated for a moment.
Asking for candy after drinking medicine because it was too bitter seemed like something only a child would do. He wasn’t a child anymore, would it be embarrassing to act this way?
Thinking about it, Wen Liangyu, like a little cat, retracted the paw that had already stretched out, and his expression became entangled.
“Don’t want?”
Watching Wen Liangyu’s conflicted expression, clearly wanting to eat but hesitating, He Heng secretly curled his lips. Afraid that the young Emperor might actually run away with the candy, he quickly grabbed two pieces and stuffed them into his own mouth, puffing up his cheeks.
After eating the candy and rinsing his mouth,
Without any explanation, He Heng took off his outer robe, lifted the quilt, and laid down in bed, bringing Wen Liangyu along.
Caught off guard by this sudden embrace, Wen Liangyu was momentarily stunned. Before he could say anything, he heard the man’s deep voice in his ear.
“Don’t move, go to sleep.”
“This is punishment for you not behaving these past few days.”
The scorching breath brushed against his neck, making the already warm ears of the little emperor even hotter. Leaning against He Heng’s strong and firm chest, his body firmly held by the other’s long arms, he couldn’t move at all. Realizing that he couldn’t escape, he simply closed his eyes resignedly.
However, after lying down for a short while, his eyelids started to tremble incessantly. It seemed that being held like this by the other was not bad at all; it felt quite comfortable.
Originally, his blanket and bed were both cold, just like when Wen Liangyu slept alone these past few days. Although he was running a fever, his hands, feet, and body were all shivering from the cold. Every time he lifted the icy covers, lying inside, he couldn’t help but curl into a ball, yet still slept restlessly.
However, now with He Heng holding him and placing his chilly hands in the warmth of his embrace, Wen Liangyu felt a comforting warmth all around.
Coupled with the medicine he had just taken, drowsiness quickly washed over him.
So he adjusted his head, finding a more comfortable position in He Heng’s arms, and drifted into a deep sleep against the man’s chest.
When Wen Liangyu woke up again, he had no idea how much time had passed, but the sky outside the window had darkened.
He blinked his eyes wearily, propped himself up from the bed, and then realized the other side of the bed was empty. Although the sheets still bore the creases where He Heng had slept, the warmth had dissipated.
Wen Liangyu felt that his body temperature had decreased significantly, and he wasn’t as feverish as before. He also didn’t feel as uncomfortable.
However, as he looked at the vacant bed beside him, his fingertips curled slightly, and an inexplicable sense of emptiness welled up in his heart.
In this moment, the young emperor stared blankly at the large bed, and only one thought lingered in his mind—where did He Heng go?
This sensation was akin to going to sleep with his favorite teddy bear, only to wake up and find it mysteriously gone.
Wen Liangyu, still in a state of mental confusion, didn’t find anything inappropriate about relying on He Heng emotionally. Instead, he felt only a sense of grievance.
Feeling this way, he decided to get out of bed and look for He Heng.
After Wen Liangyu fell asleep, He Heng had left the bedroom. At this moment, he was in the courtyard behind the mansion, playing with the “little pets” he had acquired recently.
Still in the real world, He Heng has had a dream since childhood—to open a zoo in his backyard.
When he told his mother about this dream, she smiled and gently touched his head, saying, “No, you can’t, my son. There can only be one small creature at home, either you or the animals.”
“It’s okay, Mom. Then just throw me out.”
Although he expressed his determination to coexist harmoniously with small animals at that time, firmly answering his mother’s words, He Heng’s mother ultimately did not agree to his idea of keeping animals. Instead, she treated him to a meal of bamboo shoots and grilled meat.
When he grew up, he realized that his mother was right—only one, either small animals or himself, could survive in the house.
However, this dream did not disappear; instead, it followed him into this ancient world. After transmigrating into this world, as the regent, he possessed an extremely luxurious mansion, a massive backyard, and a dedicated group of servants.
So, the first thing that He Heng did to his yard was to bring in a group of small animals. Now, he didn’t have to worry about the house smelling bad, and he had servants to take care of the animals. His only task was to play with these little animals, occasionally getting bitten by them.
In the center of the courtyard, there was a cage with a brown rabbit. After He Heng fell off his horse during the autumn hunt, he couldn’t get over it and decided to capture the rabbit that caused him to fall. Now, the rabbit was kept in a cage in the backyard.
“Humph! Humph!”
The rabbit nudged its nose, hopped to the edge of the cage, and began nibbling on the rabbit hay that He Heng handed to it.
As the rabbit happily crunched away, He Heng suddenly heard footsteps behind him, as well as the distant voices of servants,
“Your Majesty, the weather is quite chilly today, and there’s a strong wind in the courtyard. Please add more layers.”
Seeing this, he turned around and saw Wen Liangyu standing behind him, looking somewhat bewildered.
The other person, who knows when, got up and was now standing in the cold courtyard wearing only a thin inner garment.
Clearly still unwell, yet ventured out without concern for the cold.
He Heng furrowed his brows, walked straight over, and draped his cloak over Wen Liangyu.
The heavy cloak, suddenly wrapping around him, dispelled a good amount of the chill. Wen Liangyu looked somewhat dazedly at the tall figure in front of him. Subconsciously, he uttered, “Thank you.”
Then he noticed the brown rabbit in front of He Heng, continuously making noises because it couldn’t reach the rabbit grass, and his attention was immediately drawn to it.
He Heng had intended to say a few words to him, advising him not to run around without clothes in the future. However, when he turned around after draping the cloak over Wen Liangyu, he found that the young emperor’s focus was entirely on the rabbit.
He looked genuinely curious.
Seeing this, He Heng subconsciously smirked, walked over to the rabbit cage, and said to Wen Liangyu, “Do you want to touch it?”
“Yeah.” Wen Liangyu nodded without hesitation.
Indeed,
He Heng knew that the young emperor must like this rabbit.
With a triumphant expression, He Heng opened the cage, grabbed the rabbit by its ears, and handed it to Wen Liangyu, stuffing it into the young emperor’s arms.
The brown wild rabbit was fluffy, not too big, and looked incredibly cute and adorable. Its round, shiny eyes resembled obsidian, and its furry head immediately began to wriggle around in Wen Liangyu’s arms.
Growing up in the deep palace, Wen Liangyu had learned the most about the word “rules” let alone keeping pets. Normally, he couldn’t even touch those fluffy creatures.
At this moment, with a fluffy rabbit in his arms and no one to admonish him, the young emperor’s playful side emerged. He embraced the rabbit, petting and rubbing it.
Seeing that he genuinely enjoyed it, and having fetched a handful of rabbit feed from the nearby garden, He Heng handed it to Wen Liangyu. He showed him how to play with the rabbit, feeding it with his own hands.
“Squeak! Squeak!”
The little rabbit eagerly nudged Wen Liangyu’s fingertips, getting them wet and causing a tickling sensation.
The young emperor, who had never experienced such joy, displayed a rare happy smile. For the moment, all the worries that troubled him were cast aside, and only one thought remained in his mind: how adorable this rabbit was.
Thinking of asking He Heng if he could keep the rabbit, Wen Liangyu was about to speak when he heard He Heng say, “Do you prefer braised or steamed?”
Upon hearing this, Wen Liangyu’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at him. Soon, he noticed a confident curve forming at the corner of He Heng’s mouth. Then, the man reached out to “caress” the fluffy head of the rabbit.
“Sautéed rabbit cubes or using it for soup is also an option. I’ve checked; the imperial kitchen can handle it,” He Heng confidently suggested.
Author’s note:
Heng Bao: Brothers, do you think I’m doing it right? This is how you win your wife’s favor, isn’t it?
