Chapter 21: New Medicine

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Bindeya chuckled, "Doesn’t Your Excellency just want to get closer to Dr Yan? With this, you will get twice the result with half the effort."

A bang! startled Bindeya. Chao Ge, his expression dark, had slammed his palm onto the desk. "We don't need this. Get out," he snapped, feeling a headache coming on.

Bindeya sighed, frustrated, and thought to herself, why pretend? If he had spent all that effort into being polite [nice], he’d have caught that person long ago.

It’s been said that the people of Wugan are fierce and unrestrained, and Bindeya had some of that Jianghu spirit. But Chao Ge felt uneasy in his heart, and thought it was a bit humiliating.

Bindeya stuffed the medicine bottle back into her pocket and leisurely made her way to the pharmacy.

Yan Guan was writing something when he heard footsteps. Recognising them as Bindeya, he quickly called her over.

"Oh, done already? You've worked hard."

The small characters packed densely on the paper, arranged in neat rows and columns, clearly showed that a lot of effort had been put into writing it. It had taken nearly a month of hard work  for it to be accomplished. Once it was fully completed, he would share it with the other doctors in the Medical Bureau, so they could all finish the book together.

Yan Guan couldn't contain his joy. The stone that had been weighing on his heart had finally settled. He had worried that he might not be able to do a good job, but things had gone surprisingly smoothly.

Bindeya circled around the table thinking this matter could finally be put to rest. Right now, however, there was another, more pressing issue.

"Yan Guan, I’ve recently concocted a new medicine. Do you want to try it?"

Bindeya had experimented with potions when she was studying pharmacology. She had good medicinal skills, and wouldn’t cause him any harm. So he agreed without thinking, "Sure, what kind of medicine?"

Seeing his innocent expression, Bindeya suddenly felt a pang of guilt for tricking him. But then she thought about the deep affection between her lord and Yan Guan. Helping them could be considered as a good deed.

Ha, she just enjoyed stirring things up for fun. After working seriously for a few days, she was now looking to make a bit of mischief. Of course, this new medicine was also part of it.

"Here you go," Bindeya placed the medicine bottle down. "I’ve got a new business going. This medicine was originally intended to be sold, but I'll let you try it first. It's really a bargain for you guys, eh..."

Yan Guan looked puzzled. "You guys? Isn’t this medicine meant for one person?"

For once, Bindeya felt a bit embarrassed. She coughed and explained, "This is... a medicine for sex. It’s for you and Chao Ge to use together."

Yan Guan's face turned red with embarrassment. "This… this… how can you bring this up? Bindeya, you..."

"Oh come on, you and Chao Ge have been together for so long. What’s there to be shy about? Since I can sell this kind of product, it shows that this is not something to be ashamed of in Wugan. Just think of it as doing me a favour, and test the effectiveness of this medicine. It's not a loss for you, and it won't harm your body."

Bindeya felt a little guilty and deliberately raised her voice. Yan Guan was so flustered that he rushed over to cover her mouth.

Bindeya jumped away nimbly, "Take it, take it. Chao Ge’s too much of a coward to use it, so don’t be polite. I’m off now!"

With that, she ran off, skillfully leaping over rooftops, and left Yan Guan speechlessly staring at the medicine bottle.

After scratching his head for a while, Yan Guan finally stuffed the bottle into his sleeve.

………

When Yan Guan returned to Tongfeng Hall, Chao Ge was lying lazily on the couch reading a miscellaneous book. As soon as he saw Yan Guan, he immediately tossed the book aside and rushed over.

"You're early today," Chao Ge pulled Yan Guan onto his lap and, without waiting for a word, began teasing him.

Chao Ge grasped Yan Guan's hand, feeling along his sleeve. Before Yan Guan could react, Chao Ge's fingers touched a cold object hidden inside.

"What are you hiding?" Chao Ge pulled it out and his expression immediately became playful. "You..."

Yan Guan quickly snatched it back, explaining, "Bindeya gave me this new medicine."

"Oh? This bottle looks quite familiar."

Startled, Yan Guan glanced up at him, realizing that Chao Ge already knew. Apparently, Bindeya  had gone to him first. 

Chao Ge pulled Yan Guan closer into his arms. "Bindeya gave this to me earlier, but I didn’t want it. Did you bring it back because you wanted to use it?" He fixed his gaze on Yan Guan, eyes burning with intensity. 

Initially, Chao Ge had found the idea of using medicine distasteful, but if it was something Yan Guan also wanted, that was a different matter. After all, it would be hypocritical of him to say he wasn’t tempted.

Yan Guan, embarrassed, turned his head away and muttered softly, "These past days, I’ve been busy and haven’t had the time… but now things have calmed down a bit…"

Hearing this, Chao Ge understood immediately. He clamped Yan Guan's chin and kissed him passionately. It took him a long time to catch his breath. Before long, he was already hard, pressing against Yan Guan’s butt. 

Yan Guan grabbed Chao Ge's collar, bit the cork off the bottle, and poured the medicine into his mouth. Chao Ge lifted him up and carried him toward the bed.

It had been a while since they had been intimate. In the past, Chao Ge had been gentle, mindful of Yan Guan's health, and would at most rub against his body with restraint. But now, Chao Ge held nothing back, tearing off Yan Guan's outer robe without care, even snapping the ties.

"Xiao Guan..." Chao Ge's hot breath brushed against Yan Guan's ear, filled with endless desire.

The effect of the medicine took hold, and Yan Guan felt a burning sensation in his lower abdomen. His mind grew foggy, and he clung to Chao Ge, desperate for closeness. The touch of Chao Ge's hands felt overwhelmingly pleasurable.

If Bindeya had been there, perhaps she would have noticed something unusual about the reaction to the medicine. But by then, both men were too consumed by their desires to care.

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Chapter 20: Summer Villa

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The two of them shamelessly stayed in Cheng'en Hall for a few days, and only set off for the summer villa after Yan Guan had recovered.

The carriage was spacious and comfortable. Yan Guan reclined,  feeling a little drowsy. He felt that he had been spoiled a bit too much these past few days, and now couldn't bear even the little bumps [of the carriage]. Reflecting on this, he realised that this couldn't go on. As they say, it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go back. He decided to pick up his old habits again. So, he sat up straight.

"Just sleep if you're tired. It's okay," Chao Ge suggested as noticed his motion-sickness.

Yan Guan stubbornly shook his head, placed his hands on his knees, and sat very upright. This is a way of maintaining health, and of preventing qi and blood from stagnating after sitting for a long time. The previous slouching posture was not good [for health].

Since Yan Guan was determined, Chao Ge didn't persuade him any further.

When they arrived at the mountain villa, the sleeping chambers had already been tidied up. Yan Guan was stunned as soon as he got off the carriage. This mountain villa was not as big as the Imperial Palace, but it was exquisitely built with the Southern aesthetic in corners and eaves.

Chao Ge took his hand and went in, explaining, "It's modeled after Liang Dynasty’s architecture, as a symbol of the friendly relationship between the two nations. But, in truth, it was built because the founding monarch once favoured a woman from the Liang Dynasty."

Yan Guan found it novel but didn't look around too much. Hearing this, he couldn't help but be intrigued and asked, "Then what happened to this concubine later?"

Chao Ge paused, his expression stiffening, and changed the subject, "Our bedroom is over there. The servants are all outside, so there will be less restraint." After speaking, he pulled Yan Guan inside. Yan Guan understood that the concubine's ending was probably not good. Looking at himself and Chao Ge now, didn’t it feel like some kind of a karmic cycle? 

Yan Guan hurriedly banished these unpleasant thoughts from his mind and focused on listening to Chao Ge's rambling.

The Cheng'en Hall in the Imperial Palace was the emperor's residence. Naturally, it was built to be grand and majestic, with an abundance of heavy and opulent furnishings, but lacking warmth. But here, the sleeping chamber was called Tongfeng(1). Just hearing the name evoked a sense of romance, and upon entering, indeed it was [romantic] — jade-carved balustrades, every object, every item inside was exquisitely crafted. The most eye-catching thing, however, was the large bed — intricate patterns, emerald gemstones, gold-threaded brocade quilts…all these were secondary. The most important thing was that it was too big...

Yan Guan stopped in his tracks, wondering whether he would fall off even if he rolled over three times. He had heard before that some wealthy families used such large beds where they could eat and dress without needing to move. Chao Ge wouldn't possibly... well, it was hard to say. After all, he had been treated quite roughly before, and hadn't gotten out of bed much.

Chao Ge saw him lost in thought and tugged at him, "What's wrong? Is there something you don't like?"

Yan Guan shook his head, quickly replying, "No, everything is fine, it's just a bit too extravagant."

Ordinary people yearned for a life of ease and abundance, but Yan Guan still couldn't adapt to it, always feeling unworthy of such treatment. Chao Ge understood that and, after a moment of contemplation, said, "In a few days, I'll introduce you to someone. She is proficient in witchcraft, which has some similarities with medical theory. Didn't you say you were thinking about medical books? You can discuss them with her. The borderlands of Wugan are freezing cold and frequently plagued by epidemics. Most of the people are illiterate and only know folk remedies. If you two can compile the folk remedies and medical theories into books, it would greatly benefit Wugan."

Yan Guan's eyes lit up. Doing something useful would also make him feel more at ease. Thinking this, Yan Guan couldn't wait to meet the person he was talking about.

Since helping to suppress the rebellion in Dezhou last time, Bindeya had been staying in the Holy Mountain to avoid the limelight. She was so bored that she was about to burst. When she finally received Chao Ge's summons, she immediately rushed to the mountain villa.

Bindeya’s identity was special. As a secret agent of the Imperial Court with a rare set of skills, ordinary people didn't dare to approach her, and with her elder brother, Boerjin, staying in Sangta, she had no one to talk to. When she learned that Chao Ge wanted her to interact with Yan Guan and work on medical books, she didn't even have time for gossip and was eager to meet Yan Guan.

Seeing them both so excited, Chao Ge inexplicably felt a bit jealous, and pressed Yan Guan down for a kiss.

"Don't bite there, I'm meeting someone tomorrow," Yan Guan pushed him away, his face flushed. Chao Ge stubbornly nipped at the skin on his neck.

Inevitably a mark was left, the dark red standing out starkly against the fair skin, obvious to anyone. Yan Guan covered his neck, belatedly realizing Chao Ge's intentions.

Chao Ge snorted, "You're already thinking about her before you've even met." It wasn't that he was wary of anything, but the thought of Yan Guan being busy all day in the future, spending more time with Bindeya than him, made him feel uneasy. At this moment, he had forgotten his own past actions of working day and night.

The next day, Bindeya and Yan Guan met in the pharmacy.

Bindeya had heard a little about Yan Guan's background, but she wasn't narrow-minded. She didn't care about his status as a convict, only judging people by their character and ability.

"Dr Yan, just call me by my name. We'll be working together in the future," she said, taking out the books she had collected in the past few days for Yan Guan to see.

Her straightforwardness made Yan Guan feel much more relaxed, and he bowed in thanks.

Both of them were a bit obsessed with medicine, and they forgot the time as they discussed and learned from each other. When Chao Ge came to call them, they were still buried in their discussions, completely engrossed.

"Witchcraft isn't all evil. It's just that it has a long history and is difficult to explain with medical theory. Moreover, much of it is passed down orally, so there are many omissions. The language and writing is also a problem." [writing refers to old script/alphabet]

Yan Guan nodded in agreement, "These things are too mysterious, I need to study them carefully."

"It doesn't matter, take these books first, I've already translated them," Bindeya had tried to record the techniques into books a few years ago. Just using Wugan script wouldn't spread them widely, so she also wrote them in Chinese characters.

Both earnestly shared the knowledge. Bindeya realised that these traditions would be passed down, and found Yan Guan more and more adorable.

"Ah, no wonder Chao Ge likes you," Bindeya couldn't help the urge to pinch his cheek, but barely restrained herself. Her keen hearing had caught the movement behind her.

Chao Ge had been standing there for a while, deliberately suppressing his presence so as not to disturb them. Who would have thought Bindeya was about to touch his? He walked forward with a stern face.

"Chao Ge, you're here," Yan Guan stepped up to greet him, while Bindeya smiled awkwardly from behind, preparing to slip away.

"Mm," Chao Ge held Yan Guan's hand, giving her a subtle glare.

Bindeya was naturally free-spirited, and she had joined Chao Ge purely out of admiration. So they didn’t adhere strictly to the formalities of a Sovereign and his subject. He usually didn't demand much from people like her, valuing their abilities, which had emboldened her, Chao Ge thought with some irritation.

Back at Tongfeng Hall for dinner, Chao Ge served Yan Guan food while reminding him not to get too engrossed and neglect his meals and sleep. He also subtly reminded him to stay away from Bindeya, as Boerjin's sister was capable of doing anything eccentric and might lead him astray. [dang the foreshadowing!]

But that was impossible. Yan Guan met with Bindeya almost every day, and they became  increasingly familiar.

After Yan Guan forgot the dinner time for who knows how many times, Chao Ge finally couldn't bear it anymore and took the time to call Bindeya over.

"What does Your Excellency want to see me for?" Her respectful demeanor was rather unsettling.

Chao Ge's eyes and nose were out of sorts, but he still patiently asked, "How's the progress of the book recently?"

"It's going well. Dr Yan is smart and understands everything with just a hint. He also taught me a lot. It's very enjoyable."

Very enjoyable? Chao Ge felt something was off. They were happy, but he wasn't happy at all. He had come to the summer retreat thinking there would be no one else, so he could be intimate with Yan Guan. But now, Yan Guan read until late every night, falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. How could he be intimate? With a warm jade in his arms, who knew how much he had to suppress his desires every day?

Chao Ge didn't speak for a long time, feeling angry.

Bindeya suddenly chuckled, "My apologies, the outline has been completed, and it should be finished in a few days."

Chao Ge looked miserable every day, treating Yan Guan like a bone, making his affection obvious to everyone. Bindeya had been a secret agent for many years, how could she not understand? Only Yan Guan was oblivious, focusing solely on his work.

"Your Excellency," Bindeya winked, indicating she was about to act up again.

"What?" Chao Ge asked impatiently, feeling that this person could never say anything good. She wasn't old, but she had seen and done a lot, even disguising herself as a man to visit brothels and spending lavishly. Speaking of which, it still puzzled Boerjin. How could a normal girl think of doing that? [oh my sweet summer child!]

That's a story for later. In short, Bindeya placed a small porcelain bottle in front of him, "Consider it an apology. It's a newly concocted medicine. Why doesn't Your Excellency help me test it?"

It probably wasn't anything proper.

---

Footnotes:

1. Tongfeng comes from the Chinese idiom 桐花凤栖 (tóng huā fèng qī) which translates to translates to "The Phoenix perches on the Paulownia Tree." 

The paulownia tree (桐, tóng) is believed to be the only tree where the phoenix (凤, fèng) will perch. This symbolizes the idea of finding the ideal home, partner, or environment. In poetry and romance, this phrase suggests a fated connection, where two people are destined to be together, just like the phoenix and the paulownia tree.

T/N: Sorry for taking so long. These few chapters (thanks to all the censorship) were basically hell to translate. I AM using chatgpt, but there was no coherancy between sentences. Which made the reading experience horrible. It was like a bad MTL and I couldn’t bring myself to upload it. It took a while, but I’m finally happy with this version. I have translated the rest of the story. Just some minor edits and then done. I will upload them soon as well.

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Chapter 19: First Time

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“It’s not…” Yan Guan shook his head. The cat-like eyes gazed pleadingly at Chao Ge, and his heart softened.

“Then what the hell are you thinking?” Chao Ge pinched his waist, lowering his voice as he asked.

Yan Guan thought for a moment and decided it was best to be honest. “I think of medical texts, of being a good doctor praised by everyone, in order to be worthy of you. You’ve done so much, how could I be indifferent…”

“Yan Guan!” Chao Ge stopped him, practically gritting his teeth.

Not a single word was what he wanted to hear.

Chao Ge pulled Yan Guan into his arms. “You don’t need to do any of this. Forcing it like this is pointless. You still haven’t figured me out, and you haven’t truly recognized who you are (to me).”

After saying that, Chao Ge closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, his fingers caressing the back of Yan Guan’s neck, as if trying to suppress the urge to tear everything apart.

Yan Guan rested his hand on Chao Ge's shoulder, moving closer with small, secretive motions like he was begging for mercy. He didn’t quite understand why Chao Ge was angry. He was always wrapped around him, hadn’t he ever thought about that?

Chao Ge rubbed his cheek against Yan Guan's ear, letting out a sigh. He thought to himself, ‘Forget it. Yan Guan is young and inexperienced. Since I’m so much older than him, I'll have to guide him well in the future. He’ll understand eventually.’

He told himself not to rush. Yan Guan had been lured onto this path by him, almost in defiance of all the upbringing and teachings he'd received in the past. The fact that he could even accept it already took a great deal of courage.

After a moment, Chao Ge patted Yan Guan’s back. "I’ll carry you to bed."

As he stood up and started walking toward the side hall, Yan Guan suddenly resisted.

“What is it?”

Yan Guan straightened up and faced Chao Ge. “Can I sleep here?”

Chao Ge gave a bitter smile. “You should think about what's most important first.”

Yan Guan's breathing quickened as he clung to Chao Ge’s arm, refusing to let go. "I have thought about it!"

“You're not even letting me finish,” Chao Ge said, sounding aggrieved.

Yan Guan continued, “Since I’ve already agreed to be with you, then rumours and my reputation are secondary. I just want... to be closer to you…”

Chao Ge froze, staring at him for a while, thinking to himself, "Did I misunderstand again?"

Yan Guan's face turned red with embarrassment. He couldn't help but regret saying such things. As they say, he who touches ink turns black….

"Once you get in bed, there's no turning back. Have you thought this through?" Chao Ge deliberately reminded him with a straight face.

Yan Guan smiled, not afraid at all, and hugged him a bit tighter.

The one who felt insecure was actually Chao Ge. He was so worried that Yan Guan might not be able to figure things out, that he went to great lengths to have their names engraved together. As Yan Guan thought of this, he was already pushed down onto the bed.

Chao Ge was excited and no longer bothered to hide it.

He immediately removed their clothes, and they tumbled together in a heap.

.....................

Finally, they got dirty…

Chao Ge once again nuzzled his neck—the dangerous spot—but only lightly placed his mouth there, not even daring to grind his teeth.

“What are you doing?” Yan Guan weakly pushed him, unable to catch his breath with this person pressing down on him.

“I want to bite you to death… but I can’t bring myself to.”

Yan Guan coughed as he laughed, probably understanding what Chao Ge meant. It was like when he was petting a cat, he couldn’t help but want to kiss the little kitten to death.

Yan Guan blinked, thinking this was interesting, and very much in line with Chao Ge’s usual straightforward style.

---

T/N: Hello, everyone and thanks for your patience, once again. I have been trying to put faces on the our leads for a while now, considering "dark-skinned nomadic warrior" ML are pretty rare in bls. No matter who I pictured, it just didn't seem right, until finally youtube algorithm came to my rescue.

So anyways... for Chao Ge, I see him as a combination of Gong brothers from My Journey to you, specifically Gong Shangjue, but with dressing style of Gong Yuanzhi.

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Chapter 18: Misunderstanding

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Yan Guan was forced to stay in Cheng'en Hall by Chao Ge. This man, who had tasted love for the first time, wished he could be with Yan Guan every moment. He would frequently pull him over for a kiss, or leave marks on his neck and shoulders.

Yan Guan was still young and inexperienced, and he was often kissed until he felt dizzy and breathless. When he couldn't bear it anymore, he would push Chao Ge away, muttering that he didn’t want it anymore.

Chao Ge shamelessly responded, "Kiss a little more, and you'll get used to it."

At night:

Chao Ge wandered around the sleeping chamber, restless at the thought of sleeping together. He reminded himself that it was too soon. After all, even Daxi knew that before marrying Cao Du, it was inappropriate to engage in intimate behavior. But he and Yan Guan couldn’t hold a wedding banquet. Having their names inscribed on the clan records, and in official history, was already the biggest concession of the Court. Even so, when word got out tomorrow, he would still face criticism.

Chao Ge paced back and forth, trying to figure out a solution.

Yan Guan, sleeping in the side hall, also had a restless night. Everything had happened so quickly, but it all seemed inevitable. In truth, he hadn't yet figured out what path to take next. However, since Chao Ge had already taken so many steps toward him, he thought it wouldn’t hurt to treat him a bit better.

The next day, as soon as Chao Ge woke up, a servant reported that several ministers were outside the hall requesting an audience.

Sighing, Chao Ge thought to himself, ‘No rest all year long. What is Chao Lun doing? He can't even stop them.’

Cai Dan led the group, kneeling with an unhappy expression. Clearly, he was dissatisfied with Chao Ge's actions the previous day. The next words out of his mouth were probably going to be to ask Chao Ge to take back his decision.

In their eyes, Yan Guan was a foreigner and an exiled slave, not to mention a man. No matter how skilled he was in medicine, or how many lives he saved, he was not worthy of being acknowledged in public. They simply didn’t want to bow down to him, clinging to their fragile pride and dignity.

Chao Ge stared coldly at them, not saying a word to let them rise, leaving them kneeling.

Chao Lun, who was handling political affairs in the front court, had deliberately allowed these people to come. He knew Chao Ge liked Yan Guan, but making Yan Guan a real member of the royal family was another matter entirely.

Chao Lun was different from Chao Ge. He had been raised as the rightful heir, and his sense of social hierarchy was deeply ingrained. Deep down, he didn't acknowledge Yan Guan's status. Besides, Yan Guan had once been his servant. Now, suddenly he was wang fei?

Before long, Chao Lun arrived.

"Big brother," Chao Lun greeted Chao Ge with a bow.

Chao Ge observed Chao Lun. Chao Lun’s reaction was expected, but Chao Ge didn’t care. 

“Are you all free today? Have you finished handling your affairs, that you have time to meddle in  mine?” His tone was quite rude.

"The elder already knows, so why don't you take a good look at the ancestral records? Yan Guan will not go through the formal title ceremony, nor will he receive royal salary. In terms of estates, power, wealth, and gold, who can compare with you? Is an honorary title worth kneeling for, so early in the morning? Why don’t you go and clean up Bulagan’s affairs if you have the time?”

Chao Ge was usually lenient, and rarely spoke so crudely, so they had forgotten what Chao Ge was like before he ascended the throne.

“With military power, He pacified the realm, and with literary virtue, He educated the land.” He was originally a prince wielding a sword on horseback, living on the borderlands. Someone who had survived the wars between the two nations of Liang and Xia, did they really expect him to be a mild-tempered person?

"If it’s just an empty title, why does the elder brother care so much and invite criticism?" Chao Lun interrupted from the side.

"This honorary title is to protect him from you all! Without written records or proof in the ancestral records, who knows what kind of filth would be thrown on Yan Guan a hundred years from now."

Everyone present suddenly lost their voice.

Chao Lun also felt awkward. What Chao Ge said was true—if Yan Guan had this "honorary title," it would formally legitimize his position, reducing baseless rumours in the future. However, doing so would also infringe upon the interests of many people.

Chao Ge had made up his mind. He had long said that he only wanted Yan Guan, and he would not let him suffer any grievances.

In the end, Chao Lun had to concede. “Since big brother is so determined, and Yan Guan has performed meritorious deeds in saving lives, as long as he doesn’t hold actual power and stays out of court politics in the future, then let it be.”

Chao Ge glanced at him and sneered, “As if anyone cares. Forget Yan Guan—after Bulagan's head is cut off, I’ll issue an edict to abdicate the throne and live freely.”

The expressions of everyone present changed. None of them had expected Chao Ge to speak so frankly. In fact, after Chao Ge had entrusted the handling of Bulagan's rebellion to Chao Lun, many courtiers had grown restless. They wondered what Chao Ge’s true intentions were—whether he was sincere, or if this was just the prelude to a lengthy power struggle.

Now that he had said it outright, it seemed he had no intention of vying for power. Otherwise, there would have been another bloodbath. For a moment, everyone felt a bit ashamed of their own suspicions.

Chao Ge noticed the change in their expressions, and his tone softened. “Throughout my life, I have owed nothing to the people and nothing to the court ministers. My conscience is clear. This is the one thing I am being selfish about. I hope you all will stop making things difficult.”

At this point, there was nothing more for them to say, and they retreated one by one.

Chao Ge sighed. The noble clans had always been intolerant of true feelings, constantly scheming against each other. He truly had had enough of it.

Yan Guan had woken up early. Hearing the sounds from outside and the quiet murmurs of the servants, he understood the general situation.

Before he could dwell on it for long, Chao Ge came in, followed by a group of servants carrying meal boxes.

“From now on, I’ll have every meal with you,” Chao Ge said, patting the seat beside him, signaling Yan Guan to sit down.

Yan Guan ate with great elegance, chewing slowly and carefully; a clear indication of the great effort his parents had put into his upbringing when they were still alive. Chao Ge, on the other hand, took only a couple of bites before his eyes glued onto Yan Guan’s face.

Yan Guan’s mind was a mess. The words of those ministers were still ringing in his ears. How could he be worthy of the painstaking efforts Chao Ge had taken for him?

Chao Ge noticed his unease and after some thought, he felt he needed to hurry to the summer resort. Staying in the palace would only give rise to more rumours. No matter what he did, as the ruler, it wouldn’t be enough to silence the critics.

At night, a servant brought up a candlestick to light the lamps.

Yan Guan sat on a soft cushion, reading a book, while Chao Ge lazily flipped through a few pages of memorials. They were all matters that Chao Lun and the others had already dealt with. He just glanced over them, and since there were no mistakes, he let them be. Now that he intended to relinquish power, there were some things he didn’t need to manage anymore.

The bedchamber was quiet. Yan Guan was fully immersed in his book, sitting upright with his back straight —like a well-educated young master from a family of scholars and poets.

Chao Ge's gaze followed the line of his spine, but after a few moments, his thoughts shifted.

Yan Guan was wearing a light blue long robe, and the dark green accents made the few inches of his exposed skin appear astonishingly pale. In the dim candlelight, his skin seemed to shimmer faintly with a delicate glow. The three-finger-wide belt tightly cinched his waist. Chao Ge dared not look further down.

“Stop reading. Save it for tomorrow, the dim light will hurt your eyes,” Chao Ge leaned forward and very naturally put his hand on the young master's waist. Yan Guan raised his head and glanced at the dozens of candles burning around him, but said nothing.

Seeing that Yan Guan didn’t resist, Chao Ge took the opportunity to pull him onto his lap. Yan Guan stiffened slightly, his chin resting awkwardly on Chao Ge’s shoulder. He raised his eyes and saw the bed with curtains not far away.

After nuzzling him for a while, Chao Ge bit the tip of Yan Guan’s ear, as if to punish him for being distracted.

Suddenly, Yan Guan wrapped his arms around Chao Ge's neck and turned his head to kiss the corner of Chao Ge’s mouth. It was inexperienced, but undeniably shocking.

The warm tip of Yan Guan’s tongue tentatively licked, igniting a fire in Chao Ge. In an instant, he exerted force, pressing the back of Yan Guan's head to deepen the kiss.

Yan Guan half-opened his mouth, letting Chao Ge to intertwine their tongues. Chao Ge’s actions lacked finesse, and his movements were so rough that it gave the impression that he was going to eat him.

But Yan Guan was too obedient. After Chao Ge finished ravaging his lips, he moved down to Yan Guan's neck, kissing and sucking along the way, leaving a trail of ambiguous marks like red plum blossoms in the snow.

Finally, Chao Ge let go of him, caressed Yan Guan's face, the lust in his eyes not concealed, and asked: "This morning, did you hear?"

Yan Guan didn’t speak, but his arms tightened around Chao Ge as he leaned in again for a kiss, a very explicit temptation.

Chao Ge dodged, suppressing his anger and questioned, "Is this a transaction?"

Hearing his tone, Yan Guan froze in place.

“I did all that, so you thought about how to repay me with your body, right?” he added, hardening his heart.

He really hated it so much, why couldn’t Yan Guan understand?

Yan Guan wanted to say that wasn’t the case, but Chao Ge had turned too aggressive now. He instinctively tried to turn away, but Chao Ge grabbed his chin, not allowing him to lower his head.

---

T/N: Just a head's up, but next chapter onwards the story is going from sweet to lemon. Though most of the raws I found are censored, there's still enough to veer into NFSW territory. I'm trying to get as much uncensored as I can, so thanks for your patience.

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