Chapter 173: I’m A Lustful Man.

“Ah, that’s right.” Xue Yan suddenly remembered something, and said to Chen Ge: “You must also pay close attention to General Huang.”

Chen Ge was stunned, and asked with some cautiousness: “Is General Xue talking about Huang Yue, General Huang?”

“Yes. Today, I heard him mention several times to other people, about His Majesty protecting the former Emperor of the Northern Kingdom. He even asked about those people’s thoughts on the matter. I suspect that he has the heart of Sima Zhao1.” Xue Yan said.

Chen Ge nodded: “Alright, General Xue. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Xue Yan nodded, placed his hands behind his back, and his eyes fell once again on the walls of the Imperial Palace not far away from him. The snow was chaotic, the wind was howling, and the world felt cold.

…

By the time Yan HeQing returned to his bedchamber, the snow had already accumulated above his ankles, making him not only leave deep footprints in the snow, but it also emitted a slight creaking sound. Yan HeQing grew up in the South, so the Northern climate wasn’t suitable for him. But no matter what, he would force himself to adapt.

The funniest part was that Xiao YuAn, in his last life, was also a Southerner who was afraid of the cold, so it was clear that this Imperial Palace of the former Northern Kingdom wasn’t suitable for the two of them to live in. However, Yan HeQing couldn’t leave this place aside. After all, this is where Xiao YuAn smiled at him for the first time.

Yan HeQing, who didn’t have the time to change his snow-drenched Imperial court attire, called out the maids and guards, and walked into the bedchamber as quietly as he could.

The bedchamber was completely dark, without any candlelights on. With the help of the moonlight, Yan HeQing saw Xiao YuAn lying on his side on the bed, sleeping peacefully.

‘Asleep?’

‘But, isn’t Xiao YuAn unable to sleep without company? Is he pretending to sleep?’

Yan HeQing reached out and gently stroked the side of Xiao YuAn’s face. When he saw that his breathing was still steady, he quickly withdrew his hand so that he won’t disturb him. As he stood aside, he took off his court attire to change into clean clothes.

However, as soon as he took off his clothes, and exposed his upper body, he suddenly heard the sound of coughing behind him, as if someone was choking in panic.

Yan HeQing’s hands stopped midway, slowly put on his clothes, and turned around to look.

When he turned around, he saw that Xiao YuAn was still maintaining his previous position, of lying on his side, as if the cough Yan HeQing heard just now was merely an illusion.

Yan HeQing wasn’t polite either. He leaned over and grabbed Xiao YuAn’s wrists, pressing them to the top of Xiao YuAn’s head. As he firmly pressed him down, he kissed Xiao YuAn until he was out of breath, making him open his eyes.

Yan HeQing lightly said: “Were you pretending to be asleep?”

It took Xiao YuAn a long time to ease his breath, and as he rubbed his neck, he refused to admit it: “Who, who, who’s pretending to sleep? You, you, you stole a kiss.”

The great President Xiao was full of calculations. He’ll first pretend to be asleep, so when his wife comes back, he might secretly steal a kiss. At this, he will slowly open his eyes, grab his wife’s neck, and with an evil smile, he’ll say: ‘Hmm? Why did this little demon steal a kiss from me? Tell me, what’s this about?’

When he thought about it, it’ll be both an stupid and interesting scenario!

However, who would’ve known that the second he saw Yan HeQing undress, he was exposed.

‘Can you even blame me for that? Can you?’

Illuminated by the white moonlight, Yan HeQing’s back looked like a perfect piece of white jade. The lines of his waist were strong and smooth, his long black hair was gathered on one side of his shoulder. There was a thin scar under his shoulder blade, which may even disappear in a few months, but now it looked very attractive. The scar went down his smooth and beautiful back, making your eyes follow that line all the way down, and further down….

Then, Xiao YuAn coughed.

‘Can you blame me for that!? Yan HeQing’s figure would make anyone unable to fucking control their seven emotions and six desires2, alright?!’

Even though his body’s movement was still limited by Yan HeQing, Xiao YuAn knew that he couldn’t lose. Originally, he wanted to complain, to arouse Yan HeQing’s sense of shame, but who would’ve known that Yan HeQing would lean down, once again blocking Xiao YuAn’s mouth with his own. As he kissed him, the lack of oxygen made Xiao YuAn pant and struggle. It wasn’t until his cheeks turned red that he was released.

Yan HeQing said leisurely: “I’m not stealing kisses, I’m kissing you openly.”

Xiao YuAn: “…. All right, all right!”

He was speechless!

Yan HeQing let go of Xiao YuAn’s hands, and laid down on his side. Xiao YuAn thought about what Chen Ge told him today, and felt that he couldn’t ask Yan HeQing about it without being too obvious. After he hesitated for a while, he asked: “Was it a tiring day?”

Yan HeQing looked at Xiao YuAn. Since the two of them were lying on their sides, their eyes were facing each other, their faces reflecting in each other’s eyes. Yan HeQing reached out to lift Xiao YuAn’s black silk-like hair, twisted it between his fingers, and kissed it. Then, he softly replied: “I’m in charge of governing the country, and you’re in charge of the chaotic harem. The rest, it doesn’t matter.”

Xiao YuAn’s heart suddenly felt sore as he reached out and hugged Yan HeQing tightly, burying his head in Yan HeQing’s neck and shoulder: “Mm-hmm.”

They hugged each other and slept. The next morning, Yan HeQing had to get up early, hurrying to the morning court.

Xiao YuAn didn’t have anything to do, so he found himself something to distract himself. He took out a wooden box from his luggage, which in addition to clothing, it was the only thing he brought from Taoyuan Village.

In the wooden box, there were three items quietly lying inside. A vermillion hairpin, a gray broken hairband, and a thin piece of paper filled with the names of the fallen soldiers from the Northern Kingdom.

Xiao YuAn grabbed the wooden box, and asked the maid: “Is the former Northern Kingdom’s Temple of Heaven still there?”

The maid saluted him and replied: “Answering to Xiao-gongzi, it’s still there.”

Xiao YuAn asked again: “Then, can I go?”

The maid smiled, and said: “His Majesty left an Imperial edict for Xiao-gongzi. With this Imperial edict, Xiao-gongzi can go anywhere he wants.” As she spoke, the maid handed over the Imperial edict to Xiao YuAn.

Xiao YuAn expressed a surprised sound, took the Imperial edict, and turned it over a few times. He couldn’t help curving his eyes, pursing the corners of his mouth, and giggling for a while. Then he raised his head and said to the maid: “Could you please prepare three incense sticks and a pot of wine for me?”

Even though the maid was puzzled, she quickly prepared everything that Xiao YuAn needed.

With this Imperial edict in his possession, Xiao YuAn was no longer worried. He wanted to go to the Temple of Heaven alone, but the Imperial Bodyguards said that the Emperor had ordered them to accompany him at all times. Since Xiao YuAn didn’t want to make it difficult for them, he let them accompany him.