Cold… So cold…
That kind of ingrained chilliness that felt like every single drop of blood within your blood vessels had been frozen into dregs. No part of him had the tiniest trace of warmth.
Qiu Yutong was curled up tightly, his whole body couldn’t help trembling.
“What exactly is wrong with him?! Speak! Say something!!”
“Clatter!!”
Vaguely, it seemed like someone was speaking and also the sound of something breaking.
It sounded like… Xiao-er.
Yet also not.
His little disciple, had always been calm when encountering any situation; his tone had never been this frenetic, not would he throw things around.
After a while, Qiu Yutong could vaguely feel something warm on his back. Just as his blood was about to congeal into ice through the bone-deep chilliness, he muddleheadedly leaned back against the warmth, striving to stick against the living warmth.
The warmth against his back trembled for a bit before sticking even closer.
He felt so comfortable.
Yet a while later, something warm stuck itself against his lips… in his mouth was a strong bitter taste…
No, so bitter…
……
An unknown amount of time later, Qiu Yutong finally slowly opened his eyes.
In front of him was a snow-white bed curtain and he was covered by a thick soft brocade blanket. Behind… He was stunned, someone was tightly hugging onto him, the boiling hot body heat transferred through the thin inner robes, comfortable and tight.
What was happening?
Qiu Yutong unconsciously tried to struggle slightly, but the muscled arms that were like iron hoops around his waist were firmly fixed so he was completely unable to move.
After that, the person behind him suddenly shook and suddenly turned over his body and said, trembling, “You, you’re awake?”
Qiu Yutong looked up at the other party and was at a loss.
Lu Xiao used his hands to prop him up, a pair of pitch-black phoenix eyes stared unwaveringly at him. The originally clear whites of his eyes had become heavily bloodshot, looking extremely haggard.
“You’re finally awake…” Lu Xiao was incomparably hoarse.
The two of them looked at each other for a long while. Qiu Yutong only slowly came back to his sense. Right, he had found Lu Xiao on Qixue Terrace, numb with cold. Then, his own cold poison flared up and he fainted.
“I fainted?”
“En,” Lu Xiao couldn’t take his eyes off him. That gaze was like a ravenous wolf, his greed seemed almost blatant as if he had lost then regained his lifeblood or a reason for him to continue living.
Qiu Yutong felt slightly uneasy and couldn’t help shifting backwards a little.
He did his best to remember the situation; on Qixue Terrace, did Lu Xiao recognise him?
Even though he had blurted out “Xiao-er”, but at that time, Lu Xiao’s consciousness wasn’t clear…
Did Lu Xiao recognise him?
Qiu Yutong was unsure.
Speaking honestly, if Lu Xiao had recognised him already, he would just admit it, no matter how humiliating. Anyways, the situation was already like this. But if Lu Xiao didn’t recognise him, and he took the initiative to confess, he felt a little… unable to do so.
If Lu Xiao didn’t recognise him, he still wanted to go back to North Snow City first, recover his cultivation then using Qiu Yutong’s identity, come back to talk to Lu Xiao.
Qiu Yutong hesitated for a moment then decided to sound out, “Your Majesty?”
Lu Xiao’s breathing suddenly became sluggish, and his pupils shrunk slightly. He stared unwaveringly at Qiu Yutong, like he was judging something.
Qiu Yutong didn’t know if he did hear him and repeated, “Your Majesty?”
Lu Xiao was silent for a long time before he finally said hoarsely, “What is it?”
Looks like he didn’t recognise him.
Qiu Yutong’s heart relaxed.
Lu Xiao stared at him again for a moment before suddenly flipping himself up, casually putting on an outer robe, raising his voice to say, “Zhang Defu, summon Imperial Physician Li.”
Not long later, Imperial Physician Li came.
This Imperial Physician was the best physician. He carefully assessed Qiu Yutong’s pulse and stroked his grizzled beard, “Young Master Xue Rong’s current condition is extremely stable, but there is still some weakness, maybe it’s because he suffered from cold weather when on Qixue Terrace. This subject can prescribe a dose of supplements to warm Young Master Xue Rong up.
Lu Xiao’s taut lips relaxed slightly, “Just this? But, why was he unconscious for so long? Five days and four nights, not even waking up in the middle of it.”
Imperial Physician Li shook his head and said, “Maybe Young Master Xue Rong’s body is too weak and was flogged before and kneeled on the snowy ground for so long…”
Lu Xiao trembled slightly, his face immediate paling.
Imperial Physician Li secretly glanced at His Majesty and paused, without daring to continue, “In short, Young Master Xue Rong’s body is too weak, He must not catch a cold, and he will need to take a tonic daily. Those previous situations must not happen again. Your Majesty?”
Lu Xiao’s thin lips trembled extremely slightly, “We know.”
Qiu Yutong knew that he did not suffer from the cold, but rather suffered from a cold poison that was coincidentally triggered by the cold winds. It’s just that this cold poison, the imperial physician is also unable to cure it so he didn’t want to mention it.
Anyways, he had already suffered through the flogging and knelt in the snow, he didn’t need to make Lu Xiao feel even more guilty.
He forced a smile towards Imperial Physician Li and with a hoarse voice, “Thank you Imperial Physician Li, I’m a lot better now.”
After Imperial Physician Li retired, Lu Xiao was silent for a moment, before he said in a trembling voice, “Why, even in that kind of situation, you weren’t willing… to speak?”
“What can I say?” Qiu Yutong was baffled.
What could he do, kneel and beg for forgiveness? At that time Lu Xiao was messily kneeling under the rain, booths hands were bleeding as they gripped the broken sword, looking like he would go crazy any second; begging for forgiveness is useless*.
[T/N: The raws here is a crude version of what I TL’d.]
Lu Xiao stared at him in a daze, his handsome face didn’t seem to have any blood.
After a long time, he finally shut his eyes and said lightly, “It’s nothing, it was me… it was Us that was not good.”
“Your Majesty, you don’t have to be like this,” Qiu Yutong felt his scalp go numb, completely unaccustomed to Lu Xiao being like this.
Lu Xiao was silent for a moment before saying lowly, “You are my… are Our benefactor. If you weren’t there, We would have frozen to death on Qixue Terrace. We are not someone who is ungrateful, We will treat you well.”
Qiu Yutong felt strange yet didn’t know where exactly this strangeness came from. An awkward silence fell across the room.
At this moment, Zhang Defu, carrying a bowl of medicine, carefully and cautiously walked over.
“Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Li’s medicine is done cooking.”
“Give it to Us,” Lu Xiao nodded and reached out to grab the medicine bowl.
Qiu Yutong looked at the dark medicine and his heart was filled with unhappiness.
He didn’t suffer from the cold winds but the Ice Jade Bloodworm Gu. Drinking this kind of medicine was completely useless, why did he need to needlessly suffer this?
Lu Xiao carried the medicine bowl and ladled out a small portion of it. He blew lightly on it before sending it to his mouth, “Drink the medicine.”
Qiu Yutong stared at him, unwilling to open his mouth no matter what.
Lu Xiao’s hand paused before gently cautioning, “There’s a first-grade thousand-year wild ginseng in this medicine and many extremely nourishing ingredients which is good for your body.”
Qiu Yutong closed his mouth tightly, not making a sound because he was afraid that if he were the slightest bit careless, the other party would stuff the spoon into his mouth.
Meanwhile, he couldn’t help feeling puzzled. Lu Xiao, this brat, when was he so patient? Was it merely because he had saved him on Qixue Terrace?
Lu Xiao cautioned him a few more times but Qiu Yutong was not moved.
Hmph, he had endured a beating and knelt on the ground, then even wanted him to drink bitter medicine, no way.
Lu Xiao frowned slightly and looked at him for a bit, his attitude became slightly more unyielding, moving the spoon closer to his mouth, “Open your mouth.”
Qiu Yutong could smell the unpleasant burnt smell of the medicine and unconsciously started fidgeting, casually pushing it away, “Not drinking.”
Lu Xiao shook slightly and the spoonful of medicine spilled onto him.
Zhang Defu couldn’t help saying, “Young Master Xue Rong, you’re…”
Lu Xiao said lowly, “Zhang Defu, go out.”
Zhang Defu shut his mouth and looked at Lu Xiao in puzzlement before leaving with the rustle of his robes.
There were only the two of them left in the room.
Lu Xiao looked at Qiu Yutong and sighed, “Don’t want to drink? Then how would you like Us to feed you? Like when you were unconscious?”
Qiu Yutong stared at him, confused, before he recalled what happened while he was unconscious, some unknown soft sensation against his lips.
He suddenly understood and his entire body felt like it was struck by lightning, his mind a sea of white.
“You, how can you do that?! This… this is so disgusting.”
This evil disciple! Actually made him (QYT) eat his (LX) saliva!
Lu Xiao’s breath became a little sluggish before saying a bit unclearly, “That’s right, it’s just as you thought. If you aren’t willing to drink, We don’t mind feeding you like this all the time, regardless of whether you’re dis… disgusted.”
Qiu Yutong stared at him then, without saying a word, he seized the medicine bowl and looking up, drank everything down in one gulp.
Drink, isn’t it good enough to drink it?
“That’s the way,” Lu Xiao forced a smile before stuffing something in his mouth.
A piece of sweet and sticky candied jujube.
“…” Qiu Yutong chewed the candied jujube sadly, not even wanting to speak.
This youngster had gone too far! He actually, actually used such a method to threaten him! But… this candied jujube was pretty good.
Lu Xiao watched him eat the candied jujube with drooping eyes.
After drinking the medicine and eating the candied jujube, perhaps because he had been tormented repeatedly, Qiu Yutong felt cold again. His teeth couldn’t help chattering softly.
“Cold?” Lu Xiao came back to himself and quickly took off his outer robe, hugging him from behind. His scolding hot body warmth passed through the thin under robes, snug and comfortable.
“Your Majesty, you, you don’t need to do this…” Qiu Yutong mumbled, so cold his voice was trembling, “Also, even, even if I didn’t go to Qixue Terrace, other, other people will also be able to find Your Majesty… There, there is no difference, all are the same.”
Lu Xiao endured and closed his eyes, not uttering a word, merely hugging him tightly from behind.
Qiu Yutong spoke for a long while but nothing worked so he embarrassedly shut his mouth.
After a long long time, Lu Xiao inclined his head slightly, burying his head against the neck of the person in his arms, within the black hair, letting him go extremely slowly. He took a deep breath, like a lonely wolf that had withstood the wind and rain for many years, finally finding the only home he had in this life. He was extreme;y reassured yet cherished it extremely as well.
Qiu Yutong felt a little itchy but he was helpless and could only let Lu Xiao hold him so. His previous body could be counted as slender and tall, only shorter than Lu Xiao by around two inches. But this body was shorter by a full head, as if he was entirely in Lu Xiao’s embrace; this made him feel… extremely unhappy.
……
The room was silent and no one spoke. After an unknown amount of time, there was a creak as the door was pushed open.
“Your Majesty, cabinet minister Lord Chen asks for an audience,” Zhang Defu said softly.
“Not seeing.”
Qiu Yutong couldn’t resist frowning. Lu Xiao had always been diligent and Chen Siru was also the Grand Secretariat. Such an important minister was seeking an audience, how could he refuse with just one word?
He hesitatingly said, “Your Majesty…”
“…” Lu Xiao helplessly sighed, “Send him in.”
Lu Xiao sat up and casually wore an outer robe before carefully tucking Qiu Yutong in. He thought for a bit before pulling down the bed curtains, covering Qiu Yutong up.
Soon, Chen Siru walked into the bedroom. He bent down to pay his respects and said, neither servile nor overbearing, “This subject, Chen Siru, greets Your Majesty.”
Lu Xiao sat on the bed and waved his hand, “Sit.”
Chen Siru also didn’t object and directly sat down. Then, he looked up, and stared directly across.
Qiu Yutong only felt that the piercing gaze of this Grand Secretariat seemed like it wanted to penetrate the thin bed curtains and dig out two holes in his face.
Eh, he reckoned that in the eyes of this Lord Chen, he was a demon that brought disaster unto the country.
Chen Siru was silent for a moment before saying, “Your Majesty has not been to court for quite a few days.”
“Did the northern barbarians invade again, or did Chanjing river breach it dike again?” Lu Xiao said indifferently.
“… These did not happen.”
“Since it’s been peaceful, then those trivial matters the cabinet can handle it themselves just like that. This is also the responsibility officials have.”
Chen Siru suddenly looked up, “Your Majesty, it is now Yuande’s fifth year, almost six years after the previous emperor’s funeral.”
Lu Xiao said coldly, “So what? What are you trying to say?”
“It’s been over three years since the filial period ended*, Your Majesty should select a concubine, open the branches and spread the leaves.”
[T/N: The filial period is basically the period of time, after a close relative dies, one is not allowed to have happy situations like marriage in order to observe filial piety.]
Lu Xiao slowly opened his eyes, expressionlessly staring at this pillar of the country. “These words, Cao Zirong had said them last year. You know how We had replied as well.”
Chen Siru said lowly, “This subject understands that these are words Your Majesty doesn’t like to listen to, but there are some words that have to be said. Even if Your Majesty sends this humble servant to be escorted to the Wumen* and lashed to death, this servant still has to say them.”
[T/N: Probably a gate that leads outside the palace or city.]
He suddenly stood up and deferentially saluted, saying clearly, “This subject dares to ask Your Majesty to select a concubine and open the branches and spread the leaves for my dachen dynasty.”
Lu Xiao didn’t reply, his eyes cold.
The air in the bedroom seemed to freeze.
After a long while, Lu Xiao suddenly inclined his head slightly and asked softly, “What do you think?”
“Your Majesty… is asking me?” Qiu Yutong hesitated.
Don’t tell him that because he saved Lu Xiao at Qixue Terrace that one time so now he had the qualifications to comment on such a big affair as the marriage of the heavenly family?
He hesitated, not knowing how to answer. He obviously wished that Lu Xiao would be able to marry the girl he liked but the mortal and cultivation worlds were different. After all, this was a huge matter for the heavenly family, regarding the foundations of the country…
Qiu Yutong hesitated for a while before saying, “This matter can only be decided by Your Majesty.”
Lu Xiao stared at him for a moment before saying unhurriedly, “Since that is so, then this matter shouldn’t be mentioned again.”
Chen Siru had restrained himself before but suddenly threw caution to the wind and raised his voice, “Your Majesty! Have you been bewitched by him? Have you actually forgotten what Immortal Master Qiu said before?”
Lu Xiao ferociously knitted his eyebrows, saying sternly, “Chen Siru, you’re impudent!”
“This subject doesn’t dare; this servant merely wants to remind Your Majesty the words that Immortal Master Qiu said previously, that he wanted Your Majesty to put the country first!” Chen Siru looked up and stared intently at Lu Xiao.
Qiu Yutong felt Lu Xiao’s body tremble.
After that this young emperor said acerbically, “… Shizun also said that these matters should not be forced.”
He didn’t know why but Qiu Yutong felt that this calm and competent little disciple was actually so helpless now.
Chen Siru didn’t back down and continued staring at Lu Xiao. Then, he suddenly reached out and pointed directly at Qiu Yutong’s nose, “Should not be forced?! So Your Majesty wants to raise such a toy?! And even missed a few days of court just for this mere toy?! There’s not even any need to mention his appearance… Your Majesty’s preposterous actions now, does Immortal Master Qiu know?”
