chapter 73

Chapter 73: Discovering the Joy of Sleeping Together.

Shen He won the minor triad prize, which was a major celebration in the Eastern Palace.

The kitchen prepared many dishes, all of Shen He's favorites.

As Shen He was enjoying his meal, he suddenly heard Qi Zhuo Yun from across the table say, "With Hehe's intelligence, it wouldn't be hard for him to become the top scholar appointed by his brother in a few years."

Shen He nearly choked on his food.

Clenching his chopsticks, he took a mournful bite, thinking that his guardian was still as overbearing as ever.

And to think he was just feeling sympathetic a moment ago!

He buried his head and continued to eat silently. Qi Zhuo Yun did not press for a reply and simply smiled.

Shen He felt a sense of liberation, as if he had just finished a major exam.

Lately, he's been reluctant to sleep early, engrossed in his book, wanting to indulge himself late into the night.

Who would have thought that after years of sticking to a regular sleep schedule, he'd become drowsy at the usual hour, unable to indulge as he wished.

As Shen He was drifting into sleep, he felt someone embrace him.

The weather is now chilly, and he doesn't resist warmth. Being embraced doesn't particularly annoy him. Subconsciously furrowing his brows, he murmurs softly, "Mmm, don't move... so sleepy."

The one holding him lightened the embrace, a soft voice whispered in his ear, "Alright. Sleep well."

Shen He then drifted back into his dreams.

The next morning, the sky was hazy.

As November chills set in, dawn breaks much later. An early stroll among the grass and trees could drench the hem of one's robe with the cool morning dew.

He opened his eyes in the slightly cold air, but the side of his face felt warmly flushed.

A heartbeat resonated, steady and strong, rhythmically beating by his ear.

Staring at the canopy above, Shen He took a while to realize that he had shared the bed with Qi Zhuo Yun the previous night.

Listening to the heartbeat beside him, Shen He didn’t ponder why Qi Zhuo Yun slept next to him or whether he's about to go on a long journey.

Only one thing dominated his thoughts now.

... Is there someone who can tell him what to do when you wake up next to someone in bed, especially when that someone is your brother?

Shen He, already feeling warm, felt his cheeks redden even more when he realized the predicament.

With a thief's stealth, he tried to pry Qi Zhuo Yun's arm from around his waist, inching away from his chest, and was about to get up, hoping to dress quickly and escape this awkward scene before his guardian woke up.

He needed to calm down, and take a breather!

As Shen He tiptoed to step over Qi Zhuo Yun, an ankle on the edge of the blanket was suddenly gripped by a large hand.

The hand holding him had a warm, rough palm with calluses that tickled the skin above his ankle.

Startled, Shen He almost fell off the bed.

Qi Zhuo Yun sat up, hands wrapped around his legs. Pulling him down and wrapping him in the blanket, his voice was tinged with sleepiness, "Why are you up so early when you’re not going to school today?"

Frantically, Shen He pulled the blanket Qi Zhuo Yun had draped over him to cover himself. Sitting stiffly on Qi Zhuo Yun’s lap, he slapped away the arm wrapped around him, "I'm rested! I need to get up! Nature calls, so let go!"

Saying this, he tried to slip his feet off the bed.

Qi Zhuo Yun had no choice but to release him, smiling resignedly, "Go on then, but come back and sleep with me a little longer afterward."

Shen He quickly threw on a cloak and slipped into his boots. Gathering his clothes, he dashed out without looking back as if his life depended on it.

He genuinely appeared to be in dire urgency.

Watching Shen He's departing figure, the drowsiness in Qi Zhuo Yun's dark eyes instantly evaporated, making it impossible to tell that he had just appeared so weary.

His lips curled into a faint smile, his gaze deep and swirling with concealed emotions.

He reminded himself to be patient, Qi Zhuo Yun. Don't rush.

Don't scare him away.

One step at a time, take it slow, and let him adjust.

……

Shen He only spent a brief moment in the outhouse.

With flushed cheeks, after taking care of his business, he paused just as he was about to step out.

He thought, wouldn't it be terribly embarrassing to exit this quickly?

Wait, hold on.

Shen He felt as if his sleep had fogged his mind.

Assuming his urgency, Qi Zhuo Yun would likely think he had an upset stomach if he spent too long in there.

With that realization, Shen He relaxed, adjusted his robe, and strutted out, his demeanor no longer frantic as before.

As he was about to enter, Zhong Yan, who was guarding the door, asked, "Young master, do you plan to get up now or rest a bit more? The day has barely dawned; it's still early."

Shen He replied, "I'll rest a bit longer."

He then tiptoed inside, fearing Qi Zhuo Yun might have already fallen back asleep.

After all, he did seem very tired earlier.

Unexpectedly, as Shen He entered, he immediately locked eyes with the young man's deep, dark gaze.

There was a hint of amusement in those eyes.

Subtly, Shen He sensed a touch of surprise in that gaze, as if Qi Zhuo Yun hadn't expected him back so soon.

Shen He wondered, "Was that just my imagination?"

Taking a closer look, he couldn't discern anything further.

Qi Zhuo Yun raised a hand, beckoning him, "Hehe, what are you looking at? Come here."

Shen He approached the bed, kicked off his shoes, and started to climb in.

With both hands, Qi Zhuo Yun grasped his waist, lifting and placing Shen He comfortably on the bed.

Shen He shed his outer garment, and as Qi Zhuo Yun pulled him close and covered them with the blanket, they found themselves face-to-face, their proximity somewhat intimate.

Shen He stretched his neck, leaning slightly back to create some space between them.

He asked softly, "Brother, where are you headed this time?"

Qi Zhuo Yun responded with a smile, "Nowhere."

Confused, Shen He inquired, "Then why join me in bed?"

Wasn't this a practice reserved for departures and returns?

Could it be because he had cried the day before that Qi Zhuo Yun wanted to comfort him?

Shen He felt slightly embarrassed at his own assumption.

Qi Zhuo Yun slid an arm under the blanket, resting it on Shen He's slender waist.

As they lay side by side, Shen He's delicate waist seemed even more pronounced.

Qi Zhuo Yun's hand held that curve, drawing Shen He closer. The distance Shen He had purposefully created by leaning back was not only negated but seemed to bring them even closer together.

Their breaths nearly brushed against each other's faces.

In a gentle tone, Qi Zhuo Yun murmured, "Winter is near, and with this distance, the cold air seeps in. Stay close, lest you catch a cold."

Shen He had to resist the urge to step back, all for his own good.

If he were to catch a cold and get sick, he'd have to drink that unbearably bitter medicine from Doctor Zhou.

There was an unexplainable tension in him. Perhaps being face-to-face, being this close, was a bit much, especially after doing something so embarrassing, which made him even more uncomfortable.

Ironically, the embarrassment seemed to be his alone. The person opposite him remained oblivious to his recent actions, solely focused on playing the role of the caring elder brother.

Qi Zhuoyun pulled him closer, and the two of them were covered under the same blanket, their breaths intertwining.

His eyelashes quivered slightly. He didn’t dare look into Shen He's eyes, dropping his gaze. All he could clearly see was the rosy lips and the delicate, round chin of the young man.

With a steady voice, he said, "Elder brother is here because he worries that He He might cry secretly at night, not because he wants to go out."

Shen He sighed inwardly.

He knew it.

He wished he hadn't cried yesterday.

Qi Zhuoyun said in a soft voice, "Seeing He He so concerned about me yesterday, I suddenly wondered if, as He He grows older, he would still care as deeply. So, while He He is still this tender-hearted, I want to spend more time with him, lest in the future, when he finds someone special, he forgets about his elder brother within days..."

Qi Zhuoyun's voice became especially soft as he finished.

Shen He felt guilty.

He protested, "How could that be!"

Inwardly, he thought of his original plan to leave the capital at twenty.

But seeing his guardian's predicament now, he thought maybe he could stay in the capital for a couple more years until Qi Zhuoyun firmly secures his throne. After all, his own sexual orientation was a major concern.

Regardless of everything, Qi Zhuoyun is the typical straight male protagonist. What if he's homophobic? Shen He was slightly afraid of repercussions.

This era was unlike modern times. In modern days, he hesitated for years before coming out to his parents, ready to face the worst consequences. In this age, where bloodline and offspring are paramount, he couldn't possibly marry a woman and ruin her life.

Shen He sighed internally, thinking the best strategy would still be to slip away discreetly.

After he's had his fill of the world outside, he could occasionally return to the capital to visit Qi Zhuoyun, and that would also keep their brotherly bond intact, right?

If Qi Zhuoyun ever faces any difficulties, he'd definitely rush back to the capital without hesitation, ready to lend a hand, unwilling to let him appear so pitifully alone.

In just a brief moment, Shen He's thoughts drifted far away, his gaze visibly becoming distant.

Qi Zhuoyun chuckled, pinching the young man's cheek, "What are you thinking about? Were you just saying sweet nothings to make me feel better?"

Shen He took his hand, holding it with both hands in a prayer-like gesture, fervently saying, "Not at all! I would never lie. You hold such an important place in my heart. I'd forget everyone but never you!"

After saying this, he chuckled a bit and then let go of the hand.

Suddenly aware, he peeked towards the curtain to check the daylight outside, asking, "Aren't you attending the morning court today, elder brother? You said you'd rest for a while, but if we keep chatting, won't you be late?"

Qi Zhuoyun laughed, "How thoughtful of Lord He to remember this."

With that, he pulled up the blanket, covering Shen He's head, then swiftly began dressing.

Shen He managed to free his head from the blanket. By the time his vision cleared, Qi Zhuoyun was already fully dressed, with Zhong Hong adjusting his belt and straightening his attire.

Shen He sat up, watched for a few seconds, then flopped back down on the bed, feeling entirely too lazy, deciding he wouldn’t get up until the sky was fully lit.

Snuggling with his blanket, he lazily waved from the bed, "Safe travels, elder brother. See you tonight."

Without waiting for Qi Zhuoyun's response, he turned over, showing only the back of his head.

With a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, Qi Zhuoyun replied, "See you tonight."

The sound of footsteps faded away, and the room door closed.

Unable to fall asleep, and hearing the departure, Shen He quickly got up, hopped to a box containing scrolls and books, picked out two new ones, and happily returned to bed.

His delightful life had begun!

He could sleep in, no school, no studying!

Woo-hoo!

Shen He lay in his blanket, finishing both books.

As sunlight shifted, moving from the window to the middle of the corridor, only the growling of his stomach made Shen He finally decide to get out of bed.

He jumped out of bed, dressed himself, and after washing his face, headed out, asking the kitchen to prepare a simple meal for him.

As he bowed his head to let Lianqiao help tie his hair, he said, "I've made plans with my cousins to go out and celebrate today. I'll be leaving soon and probably won't be back until after dark."

Lianqiao smiled, "Understood—I'll take note of it."