When Teng Shang regained consciousness, he heard someone laughing outside the door and saying,  “Lord Marquis, why don’t you go in? What are you pacing at the door for?”

Xue Houyang’s voice was heard replying, “I’ve not returned in the Capital for a while, you think you can poke fun at your master?”

The first voice was still laughing, “This slave doesn’t dare! This slave is just tired of watching Master act so nervous. This is Master’s residence, your own territory. Why pace outside? If you want to see him, just go in already.”

Having his thoughts seen through, Xue Houyang was a bit embarrassed. Finally he forced his feet through the door.

Bypassing the separating screen, his gaze immediately collided with Teng Shang’s.

Xue Houyang was even more embarrassed. Scratching his nose, he coughed once to clear his throat before saying, “Minister Shang has woken up?”

Teng Shang didn’t say anything for a moment. His throat felt raw and painful. He opened his mouth to say something but no sound came out.

Xue Houyang was being a scatter-brain and looking elsewhere, so of course he didn’t notice. He thought that Teng Shang said nothing because he didn’t want to pay attention to himself. The servant girl who had come in behind Xue Houyang noticed and quickly poured tea into a cup which she then placed into Xue Houyang’s hand. Then she went out the door giggling.

Being laughed at, Xue Houyang felt even more embarrassed and his face was bright red. He steeled himself to go over to the bed, gently lifted Teng Shang up and made him lean against himself and handed him the cup.

Teng Shang didn’t have any strength to hold the offered cup. His hand shook and trembled, spilling the water. Luckily, Xue Houyang had quick reflex; when he caught the cup, it was still more than half-full.

Xue Houyang quickly got up and wiped the spilled tea. He was about to reach out and wipe Teng Shang’s clothes before he retracted his hands; afraid the other person would not want him to touch him after what had happened the previous night. would misunderstand that he wanted to take advantage, after what he did last night.

At this reaction, Teng Shang suddenly laughed.

Wef Lbesjcu kjr rajgaifv jcv tlr ujhf rtbkfv tlr lcojaejalbc, yfobgf tf abbx yjmx tlr ujhf. Lf tfiv atf meq ab Kfcu Vtjcu’r ilqr agslcu ab jnblv abemtlcu Kfcu Vtjcu jcsktfgf firf.

Kfcu Vtjcu vgjcx atf afj ugjafoeiis, atfc rjlv, “Ktjcx sbe.”

Wef Lbesjcu qea vbkc atf fwqas meq bc atf ajyif jcv atfc rja vbkc j ilaaif vlrajcmf jkjs ogbw Kfcu Vtjcu. Lf tfrlajafv jcv raewyifv klat tlr kbgvr obg j ktlif yfobgf olcjiis rjslcu, “Qtja jgf Zlclrafg Vtjcu’r qijcr tfgfjoafg?”

Teng Shang lay back on the bed and closed his eyes. He said, “Marquis might as well just say what he wants to say.”

“Minister Shang was kind to Houyang, Houyang never intended to humiliate Minister Shang………..”

Xue Houyang said cautiously, “Minister Shang must also have understood the situation. With the way King Teng treats you, there is no way you can go back to Teng Country….. Yesterday, when I went to the Palace, His Majesty had promised me he’d spare your life, it’s just…”

“Just what? Nothing in this world is worse than having your own family doubting you. This Teng person has prepared for the worst already. Lord Marquis mustn’t hesitate to tell me.”

Xue Houyang said, “It’s just that you… to have marry into the Marquis family willingly.”

Teng Shang immediately opened his eyes and turned his head sideways to look at Xue Houyang, but the latter was facing away from him, as if avoiding his eyes. Then Teng Shang laughed lightly before saying in a low voice, “Teng Shang is willing. Thank you, Lord Marquis, for your kindness…”

—

The new consort hadn’t even climbed into the dragon bed before she was thrown out of Emperor Xue’s residence. This news became the source of great amusement among the residents of the Imperial Harem and many concubines were happy to hear the news.

Since Xue Junliang ascended the throne, he had only ever favored Defei. She was young, beautiful and also well-educated. Furthermore, Defei was also backed up by her older brother, the Great General Zuo. On the contrary, Teng Qianyi was only a foreigner, who was just a pampered princess…

At the moment, Xiu Yao was doing Teng Yun’s hair, smiling happily. “Your Majesty, you’re so lucky. His Majesty has picked your nameplate three days in a row.”

Teng Yun felt somewhat powerless and couldn’t say anything. The same concubine being called to serve the Emperor in bed was naturally a very lucky thing. But for Teng Yun, this was especially like hell.

Xue Junliang enjoyed teasing Teng Yun, even promising that he wouldn’t touch and force Teng Yun to do anything Teng Yun was unwilling to do. But in Teng Yun’s mind, Xue Junliang was still the Xue Junliang he hated. Sleeping on the same bed and same pillow, not killing the man was good enough, so how could he sleep.

Teng Yun hadn’t slept properly in three days and it had started to show in his pale sickly face.  So Xue Junliang had summoned the Imperial Physician to examine Teng Yun for illness and reminded Teng Yun to recuperate well before leaving to attend the morning court.

The Imperial Physician felt Teng Yun’s pulse but couldn’t find anything wrong. He only said that the Empress’ body was fragile but it was nothing a good bed-rest could not cure. When the physician left, Teng Yun immediately led Xiu Yao and hurried back to Yunfeng Palace, fearing Xue Junliang would soon come back from the morning court and wouldn’t let Teng Yun go back.

Xue Junliang didn’t see the Empress when he came back to his residence and knew this Empress was avoiding him, not because of fear… but because of dislike or disdain towards him.

This made Xue Junliang, an Emperor, feel unbearable, as if he didn’t want to let that person go. Therefore, Xue Junliang always deliberately teased the Empress. Looking at her expression of forbearance and as if she was contemplating attacking him, Xue Junliang’s heart was somehow happy.

Watching Xue Junliang smiling strangely, Jiang Yu came up with a thought. He said, “Emperor, please forgive this old servant for speaking out of turn…. The Emperor only has one heir, the Crown Prince. The Empress is gentle and proper, so maybe it’s time to let the Imperial  physician make her a new prescription?”

Xue Junliang was silent for a moment before smiling. “You think I should have another heir, and that heir will come from the Empress?”

“This old servant doesn’t intend to be presumptuous.”

Xue Junliang said, “In that case, even you think the Empress is suitable.”

This time, Jiang Yu did not speak anymore and Xue Junliang didn’t ask more questions. But Jiang Yu was wrong at one point; even if the Imperial physician made her a prescription, the Empress would never become pregnant with an heir, not because of Xue Junliang’s lack of effort, but because Teng Yun simply ignored Xue Junliang.

Other people’s harem might have many wives and many sons, but Xue Junliang was different. All the consorts who spent the night with him were given a prescription by the Imperial  physician to prevent them becoming pregnant with a son. That was also the reason that though Defei was favored for so many years, she hadn’t had a single child.

Xue Junliang had his reason. That was because the fight for the throne was fierce and cruel, and he didn’t want to subject his children to that. He had experienced it himself, naturally he knew the fight was full of treachery and tricks. Of course, he, too, had done many treacherous things.

Xue Junliang reviewed the official documents for a while before suddenly looking up and said, “If this time the Empress comes back here this time, I’ll consider giving her a child.”

Jiang Yu wasn’t sure what he meant. Xue Junliang threw the rolled parchment in his hand to him and said, “This was sent by the ambassador from Feng Country. It is written here that King Feng misses his sister and hopes that the Empress could return to her hometown and visit her relatives.”

“This…” Jiang Yu was at a loss of words.

Xue Junliang waved a hand while the other hand supported his head. “Send Marquis Wannian a  summoning placate.”

“Yes.”

—

For the past few days, Xue Houyang had been taking care of Teng Shang. Teng Shang was supposed to live at a different residence, but because of his health he had stayed back at the Marquis’ Residence. The people in the Marquis’ Residence all treated Teng Shang kindly without discriminating against his identity.

Xue Houyang didn’t always come to see Teng Shang, but he had ordered his servants to take good care of Teng Shang in his stead. Xue Houyang was afraid the other person would hate him if he showed up. After all, they were both men. Teng Shang had his own dignity to maintain. Xue Houyang gazed at Teng Shang from afar. Teng Shang was currently absorbed in a book in the pavilion. A servant girl came up from behind him giggling. “Lord Marquis, why are you acting so sneaky?”

“…”

Xue Houyang stroked his temple and said, “Lower your voice. You’ve been behaving more and more insolent.”

“Lord Marquis, don’t lecture this slave servant and also don’t always stare at Lord Teng. The Emperor sent you a summoning placate!”

“Then I should quickly enter the Palace. Go and prepare my horse.”