Chapter 40

For several consecutive nights, Xie Fuyi would feel a dull ache in his body. Jiang Yingyao would always keep an eye on him. The moment there was any movement from Xie Fuyi’s side, without waiting for him to speak, Jiang Yingyao would already be by his side, helping him suppress the pain.

Jiang Yingyao was worried about Xie Fuyi’s condition. Despite preparing various tonics for Xie Fuyi every day, the pain did not seem to lessen. Jiang Yingyao couldn’t help but feel uneasy; he searched Xie Fuyi’s body but couldn’t find the cause.

Of course, he couldn’t find it because it was the effect of the puppet gu that Xie Fuyi had activated himself.

Xie Fuyi ate the food prepared specially for him by Jiang Yingyao every day. If it weren’t for Ye Baisiao already correcting him that he didn’t need to trade kisses before eating, he’d have to give Jiang Yingyao a kiss.

But recently, Jiang Yingyao’s temper has indeed become quite heavy. This emotionally blank national teacher had encountered this kind of situation, where he was at a loss and couldn’t speak, for the first time.

At first, he thought about closing himself off for a period of time to avoid Xie Fuyi, but every night, when Xie Fuyi’s body pains flared up, he couldn’t leave.

As time passed, not only did he not want to avoid it, but he also began to comply with the changes in his body, giving rise to more uncontrollable thoughts.

Every night, his gaze inevitably fell on the snowy white neck, the crimson lips, the slender waist… This person seemed to have a captivating charm.

Tonight, Jiang Yingyao, as usual, developed a habit. As night fell, he went straight to the inner room.

He met Xie Fuyi’s bright eyes straight on. Today, he seemed fine, with a relaxed expression, lying obediently on the bed.

“Brother, I’m not in pain yet,” Xie Fuyi looked at him with concern. “You should go to sleep now. For my sake, you haven’t had a proper rest for several nights.”

Jiang Yingyao’s body stiffened, retracting the hand he was about to extend When did he develop such a habit? Clearly, he was unwilling to touch the other person when he first treated him.

Jiang Yingyao responded expressionlessly and turned stiffly, walking back to his own bed.

Empty in his embrace, he didn’t sleep well all night.

He only fell into a hazy sleep close to dawn, but there was always a figure pressed against him in his dreams —

The person with fair, soft skin, tossed about in distress…

That soft voice calling his name — “Brother Guoshi.”

Jiang Yingyao suddenly opened his eyes, his forehead covered in fine sweat.

Beside him, Xie Fuyi was leaning on his bed, reaching out to touch his forehead, somewhat worried. “Brother, it’s time to eat. Are you sick?”

Jiang Yingyao was hot all over, the mess under the covers making him dare not move. He held Xie Fuyi’s extended finger, lowered his eyes, and his cold voice softened, “I’m fine. You go eat first.”

Jiang Yingyao looked at Xie Fuyi’s departing figure with complex eyes. He had never desired anything, but now it seemed… he had developed a strong desire for him.

…

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

Early that day, Jiang Yingyao was nowhere to be found. As evening approached, Xie Fuyi still hadn’t seen Jiang Yingyao return. Only Xing Tong came to deliver dinner, reminding him, “Brother Guoshi asks you to rest early and not to wander around.”

Xie Fuyi looked at the darkening sky outside, feeling puzzled. “Where did Brother Guoshi go?”

Although Xing Tong had heard this title more than once, he was still shocked. Could that cold and ruthless Brother Guoshi actually allow someone to call him like that?

What was the relationship between this person and Brother Guoshi? He was carefully kept in the room by Brother Guoshi, without letting anyone know any news. Several times when he came to deliver water in the morning, he saw the two of them embracing each other on the bed.

Clearly, it was hiding in plain sight, but he was punished by Brother Guoshi for mentioning it last time.

Thinking about his close relationship with Brother Guoshi, Xing Tong didn’t deliberately conceal anything and explained, “Brother Guoshi goes into seclusion in the rear mountain on the fifteenth of every month. You don’t need to wait for him. Rest early.”

Only then did Xie Fuyi nod. After Xing Tong left, he recalled the outline of the plot. Brother Guoshi could calculate, use gu, and practice medicine, but his life was short, and he suffered from the cold poison every full moon night…

Xie Fuyi’s eyes lit up. He immediately took action and quietly pushed open the door, slipping out.

…

Xie Fuyi crossed the quiet courtyard and arrived at the rear mountain. Faint light emanated from a cave, and he made his way towards it, only to find a hot spring in the center, with Jiang Yingyao soaking in it.

Ice had formed over his body, his sturdy chest cold and white, blue veins protruding on his neck, his face displaying obvious signs of pain and suppression.

Xie Fuyi didn’t hide his presence. When he saw Jiang Yingyao, he couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, then quickly spoke with concern, “Brother Guoshi, what’s wrong with you?”

Jiang Yingyao, who was battling against the cold poison, naturally didn’t have time to respond to him.

“I’ll help you.” Probably too anxious, Xie Fuyi didn’t even take off his clothes and just plunged into the water.

Moving towards Jiang Yingyao, the closer he got, the colder the water became.

“Brother, why are you so cold? Are you sick?” Xie Fuyi didn’t care about much, directly reaching out to embrace Jiang Yingyao, chattering away, “I’ll hold you to warm you up. This way, you’ll feel warm soon…”

His voice carried a hint of tears, wanting to hold the other tighter.

Jiang Yingyao, with his eyes tightly shut, suddenly opened them. He had already sensed Xie Fuyi’s approach when he was getting close, but since Xie Fuyi’s intention was not malicious and he was trying to suppress the cold poison, he didn’t distract himself to stop him.

However, he didn’t expect the innocent and kind-hearted Emperor to personally come into the water to hold him and warm him up. The person in his arms kept moving around, rubbing his delicate arms against him, radiating warmth…

Jiang Yingyao couldn’t focus on suppressing the cold poison anymore; his mind was in turmoil, and he lost control. His eyes turned red in an instant, and he forcefully pressed down on the waist of the person in his arms.

Xie Fuyi was almost pinned tightly against his sturdy chest by the iron-like arms, but he didn’t notice anything wrong. Looking at Jiang Yingyao, his initial reaction was somewhat joyful, “Brother Guoshi, are you awake?”

Jiang Yingyao’s mind was muddled, and his body needed urgent release. He didn’t respond but spoke in a cold tone, “Didn’t you want to warm me up? Take off your clothes.”

Xie Fuyi: … Huh?

…

One night passed.

Xie Fuyi sighed, realizing that Brother Guoshi was still that innocent. Fortunately, they were just helping each other out.

Although the other was inexperienced, he was rash.

Xie Fuyi was explored by the other, tossed, and turned over.

When Jiang Yingyao woke up, he looked at the person in his arms with an extremely gentle gaze. With Xie Fuyi’s help, the blood surged throughout the night, and the cold poison didn’t flare up as severely as before.

He held the sleepy Xie Fuyi back to the room. Observing Xie Fuyi’s features closely, he finally understood why he had been feeling so strange these days.

It was because of love.

He liked him.

Jiang Yingyao looked at the person sleeping soundly on the bed, lips slightly curved, and in an instant, it was as if the ice had melted.

Jiang Yingyao’s expression softened even more. The young Emperor’s true character was kind-hearted and sincere. With a little guidance, he would surely become a good emperor.

He was willing to accompany him for his whole life, assist him, and become the ruler of the world.

Jiang Yingyao took out a small bottle. He was prepared to extract the puppet Gu from Xie Fuyi’s body. This thing was ultimately a danger inside him.

My apologies for the oversight. Let me correct that:

He gently held Xie Fuyi’s finger, hesitated for a moment, then swiftly pierced it with the quickest motion possible, as if afraid of causing the slightest additional pain. Immediately, he placed the small bottle at the site of the blood.

But after a while, there was still no movement; the Gu didn’t emerge.

Jiang Yingyao’s face changed slightly. He carefully searched Xie Fuyi’s body along his meridians, and indeed, the puppet Gu was inside him, but he couldn’t extract it!

Sweat formed on Jiang Yingyao’s forehead. He bit his own fingertip. Normally, the Gu nourished by his blood would have a greater craving for it, but there was still no reaction from Xie Fuyi’s body.

Jiang Yingyao panicked and tried again carefully, but he still couldn’t find a way.

He looked at Xie Fuyi’s serene face, filled with regret. Why did he have to inflict the Gu on him the moment they met?

The national teacher, who always had strategies, had miscalculated his own heart.

With the Gu residing in his body for so long, it was inevitably harmful. Moreover, Xie Fuyi’s constitution was weaker than ordinary people, and now, he was already rejecting the Gu, experiencing pain every day. What about in the future…

Jiang Yingyao dared not think about it at all.

[Jiang Yingyao’s heartbreak level: 20/100.]

Xie Fuyi: … It’s finally moving. It’s easy to put the Gu in, but difficult to take it out!