Chapter 38: Awakening

Chapter 38: Awakening

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"

The royal physician, seeing Lu Changping sitting silently by the bed, grew increasingly puzzled.

Logically, only a man highly favored by His Majesty could share the Emperor's bed. Moreover, a man becoming pregnant is such a rare event that His Majesty should be overjoyed.

Yet, after the initial shock, His Majesty seems unable to utter a single word.

Could it be that the child in this young man's belly does not belong to His Majesty?

Realizing this, the royal physician approached Lu Changping, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Your Majesty, would you like to keep the child or not? If not, I can immediately prepare the abortion medicine."

Struck by thunder, Emperor Lu, upon hearing this, finally regained his senses, immediately rejecting the dangerous suggestion:

"To stay or leave isn't a decision I can make alone. The final decision rests with the gentleman on the bed once he awakens."

The imperial physician, having practiced medicine in the palace for half a lifetime, had never heard of any prince or noble's concubine deciding whether to keep a child. In an instant, his view of Xie Xuan Yuan changed, leading him to silently lament:

"This young lord is indeed favored."

Emperor Lu was utterly oblivious to the extraordinary concern and preference his words conveyed towards Xie Xuan Yuan. Having just learned of his impending fatherhood, although uncertain if he could continue in this role, his heart was undeniably filled with tender affection.

He held the tyrant's hand, and while the latter was unconscious and unable to resist, he leaned in close.

The tyrant's hands were long and graceful, slightly cold, now resting on Emperor Lu's face with a rare tender affection.

Emperor Lu, looking down at the beautiful tyrant on the bed, thought how his fair skin and dark hair, with long and curled eyelashes, resembled the "Snow White" known to everyone in a dream world after eating a poisoned apple.

Yet, this "Snow White" in his grasp was irritable and headstrong when awake, a little madman willing to wage wars and bring chaos to the world for his aims.

Such beautiful hands had already been stained with blood in the quest for power, causing worry and headaches at the thought.

Despite the instinctual warnings of the immense potential for destruction in the person before him, having the important one securely in hand left Emperor Lu feeling ultimately at ease...

He was lucky to have arrived in time to save Xie Xuan Yuan. As for the child, he hadn't even considered the possibility before now.

That night, influenced by the drugs and unable to control himself, he indulged once, but who would have thought he'd be so exceptionally lucky? It was his first attempt, and even he was somewhat impressed with himself.

But then again, he had been overlooking a crucial issue since the beginning—how could the tyrant, a man, become pregnant and bear a child?

……

After the royal physician left, Emperor Lu stepped outside the tent alone, disarrayed in the chill northern wind for a long while.

To prevent misdiagnosis, he had the physician take Xie Xuan Yuan's pulse several times, but the result was consistently a slippery pulse.

The physician, experienced and knowledgeable, briefly explained the situation under Emperor Lu's relentless questioning.

According to the physician's speculation, Xie Xuan Yuan must possess a rare ancestral bloodline from a tribe known for living in the harsh, cold northern lands and constantly warring, making survival and reproduction extremely difficult. To preserve their lineage, males in the tribe also had the unique physiology to bear children.

However, this tribe had disappeared under the Northern Wei's conquest decades ago. Further investigation into the legend of men bearing children is exceedingly difficult.

Emperor Lu felt bewildered, thinking that whatever he feared most in this world always seemed to find him. He had once secretly rejoiced at escaping the Northern Wei palace, not realizing that was just the beginning of his troubles.

After spending a night with the tyrant, and now the tyrant bearing their child, it became increasingly unclear who was right or wrong, who was more at a loss...

Yet, naturally optimistic, Emperor Lu managed to calm down and accept reality after the shock. After all, being pregnant was better than being truly ill.

Xie Xuan Yuan's pregnancy was his doing. Whether intentional or accidental, he had to take responsibility. He had a fondness for children but worried about the tyrant on the bed suffering further.

Recognizing the significance of childbirth, Emperor Lu decided he must reveal the truth, regardless of whether Xie Xuan Yuan would chase after him with a knife.

In the days that followed, the Southern Chu army swept through the leaderless remnants of the enemy like autumn winds through fallen leaves, causing the Northern Wei's 500,000-strong army to retreat in defeat.

This series of victories for Southern Chu was undoubtedly linked to Emperor Lu's urgency to return south with his family for healing and recuperation, but fundamentally, the issue lay within the Northern Wei itself.

Since the night of the arson and assassination attempt, the Northern Wei had been in turmoil. Emperor Xie Xuan Yuan of Northern Wei disappeared, and Empress Dowager He's faction suffered greatly.

Rumors occasionally circulated in the military that Emperor Xie was no longer alive, yet a significant number of troops loyal to Xie Xuan Yuan remained.

These people, as stubbornly principled as Xie Xuan Yuan himself, insisted on seeing proof of life or death and advocated for confronting the Southern Chu army that attacked that night to demand their emperor's return, leading to conflicts with the peace faction within the Northern Wei camp.

While the North Wei military harbored their own schemes, under Lu Changping's leadership, the Southern Chu army strengthened its borders, provided refuge for disaster victims, ultimately reaping both name and benefits.

Days later, following the physician's advice, Emperor Lu concluded this disaster-turned-farce of a war. He then had a newly made shock-absorbent carriage ready for Xie Xuan Yuan, heading straight for the Southern Chu capital, Yongchun.

The journey back to the capital was still bumpy and exposed to the elements. Initially worried about the tyrant's discomfort, Emperor Lu was perhaps overly concerned, as Xie Xuan Yuan, having hit his head hard, slept quietly in the luxurious carriage the entire way.

Initially, Emperor Lu restrained himself, riding near the carriage. But seeing Xie Xuan Yuan remain unconscious, he eventually climbed into the carriage to quietly hold him.

Xie Xuan Yuan, usually intimidating countless subordinates and political rivals with his unpredictable and willful tyrant temperament, now lay pale in Emperor Lu's arms. Without his usual scornful remarks, he looked excessively beautiful and harmless, like a fierce tiger tamed into a harmless kitten.

Emperor Lu's slender fingers unconsciously twirled a strand of the tyrant's black hair as he murmured by the tyrant's ear about the events that had transpired during his days of unconsciousness:

"There's actually no need to worry too much about the situation in North Wei's court. As you know, the North Wei royal family was already a mess before you ascended the throne, and now you are the last of the previous emperor's legitimate line. Even if you can't return right away, they won't be able to quickly find someone to replace you. After all, Your Majesty, with your exceptional talents and looks, there's no second person like you in this world."

At this point, Emperor Lu's eyes smiled, his peach blossom eyes slightly narrowing: "As for Empress Dowager He, there's even less need to worry. She has the crime of colluding with the enemy held in my grasp. After you were injured, I've already sent out the land cession edict stamped with her phoenix seal, by now she must have been handled properly."

Emperor Lu, feeling a bit parched, poured himself a cup of tea to moisten his throat, a hint of melancholy crossing his eyes: "Doctor Wang said talking to you more would help you wake up sooner, but now we're almost at Yongchun, and you're still asleep?"

"Well, it's better for you to sleep through the bumpy ride, especially now that you're carrying extra weight. It spares you some discomfort."

"Really, none of that matters as long as you wake up safely. Once you're better, if you want to go back to North Wei, I'll arrange for your return. If you want to dig a hole and bury Empress Dowager He, I'll lend you a hand."

"In short, except for castrating me, whatever you wish to do, I agree to it…"

Like soothing a child, Emperor Lu cared for the capriciously sleeping tyrant all the way, revealing only occasional worry amidst an indescribable tenderness.

After more than ten days, they finally returned to the imperial capital, Yongchun. The still unconscious "Snow White" was secretly carried into his own bedchamber by Lu Changping, followed by the best physicians and the finest medicines flooding into the once Spartan emperor's bedchamber.

Aside from attending court, Emperor Lu spent almost all his time in his bedchamber, even setting up a small table in front of the tyrant's bed to review documents, finding peace only when he could glance at the sleeping beauty.

Days passed in this manner.

One day, Emperor Lu ended his court duties early and returned to his bedchamber, as usual, ordering the small table moved in front of Xie Xuan Yuan's bed. While approving documents, he stole glances at his beloved, much like a pair of library lovers who study together under the guise of courtship in a dream world.

The morning sunlight was perfect, shining through the carved wooden window facing south right onto Xie Xuan Yuan's bed. The golden sunlight made the quilt on him look soft and warm. Over time, the bed warmed up, feeling cozy and snug.

The quilt, gilded by sunlight, resembled a golden, crispy pie, and the only cool-toned beauty on the bed was undoubtedly the accidental spill of white sugar and black sesame filling from this pie.

Emperor Lu, beholding this scene, suddenly felt a craving, almost shedding tears of desire from the corners of his mouth...

He restrained the odd impulse to burrow into the blankets for a nap, deciding instead to request the imperial kitchen to prepare some small pastries filled with white sugar and black sesame for his afternoon meal.

Unlike the busy Emperor Lu, his pet black cat, Coal Ball, had plenty of leisure during the day.

The little black cat, wandering aimlessly around the palace, stumbled upon this perfect napping spot and made it a habit to arrive before Emperor Lu each day, comfortably basking in the sun next to the sleeping beauty on the bed.

Unaware that the sleeping beauty on the bed was its master's beloved, the cat became even more uninhibited in its sleep, sometimes burrowing its rear into Xie Xuan Yuan's blankets, other times resting its head on his chest.

Today, Coal Ball lay beside Xie Xuan Yuan, purring and occasionally brushing its fluffy tail across the sleeping beauty's pale, handsome face.

Midway through reviewing documents, Emperor Lu almost laughed out loud at the sight. Despite the amusement, he dutifully approached to try and remove Coal Ball's disobedient tail from Xie Xuan Yuan's face.

A breeze brushed past the tyrant's face, lifting strands of hair. Emperor Lu sat by the bed, lifting Coal Ball onto his lap, his fingers instinctively finding the acupoints the physician had mentioned, and began massaging Xie Xuan Yuan.

As he massaged, Emperor Lu couldn't help but ramble: "If you don't wake up soon, even little Coal Ball will start bullying you..."

When massaging the temples, he distinctly felt the person beneath him stir, followed by the ticklish sensation of fluttering eyelashes against his palm.

Emperor Lu hurriedly withdrew his hand, only to meet a pair of moist, hazel-grey eyes.

Those eyes, clear and tranquil under the brilliant sunlight, displayed a shade of beauty even lighter and more mesmerizing than usual.

After withdrawing his hand, Emperor Lu felt a wave of guilt and couldn't help but retreat a few inches with Coal Ball in his arms.

When Xie Xuan Yuan was unconscious, I eagerly hoped every day for him to wake up soon. But now that he has suddenly awakened, I suddenly feel somewhat unable to face him.

Currently, not only am I not in disguise, but I'm also wearing the round-necked dragon robe unique to the Southern Chu royal family. This is practically like being caught red-handed at the scene of a crime.

Now, I can't even begin to explain myself. The little tyrant is definitely going to fight me with a knife later...

Emperor Lu, in a panic, placed the little black cat on the bed and stood up clumsily, ready to take his leave: "Now that you're awake, then... then I shall take my leave first."

Hearing his sudden voice, the "Sleeping Beauty" who had just woken up on the bed suddenly showed a fragile and vacant look in his eyes.

Xie Xuan Yuan first blinked his beautiful brown-gray phoenix eyes, rubbed them vigorously, and looked towards Lu Changping in confusion, following the sound: "Did you just refer to yourself as... 'I' in the royal sense? Who exactly are you?"

Being in Southern Chu and due to his identity, Emperor Lu naturally used this pronoun exclusive to the supreme ruler. But now, he is in front of another person entitled to use this pronoun, and with that person's intelligence and sharpness, it would be impossible to hide his true identity...

He took a deep breath and then sighed: "Don't be angry, I can explain everything to you properly. Actually, I..."

However, before he could confess, he was interrupted by the shrill voice of a eunuch announcing:

"Your Majesty, the royal physician Wang is here for the follow-up consultation today and is currently waiting outside the hall."

Royal Physician Wang?

Upon hearing the address "Your Majesty," Xie Xuan Yuan habitually thought it was referring to himself, but he had never heard of any Royal Physician Wang in the palace. Hadn't Physician Liu always been the one attending to him?

While he was entangled in confusion, he heard the person beside him quickly respond: "Understood, ask him to wait outside the hall for a moment."

Xie Xuan Yuan was almost infuriated into fainting again when he heard someone daringly answer for him. However, the voice was gentle and clear, not unpleasant to hear, and aside from the Southern Chu accent mixed in, it oddly felt familiar.

"Your Majesty?" Xie Xuan Yuan slowly turned his head, pondering as he scrutinized Lu Changping, "Is this Southern Chu? Are you Emperor Lu Changping of Southern Chu?"

Having mentally prepared himself for confession only to be interrupted, Emperor Lu was feeling irked. Now, accurately addressed by the tyrant, his emotions became even more complex.

Whether he faced confrontation or avoided it, the outcome seemed the same. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the tyrant's public execution, and softly responded:

"Yes, I am Lu Changping of Southern Chu."

However, the anticipated storm did not immediately ensue.

After hearing his self-introduction, Xie Xuan Yuan simply stared at him and chuckled, not taking the altered self-reference seriously. After a pause, the tyrant very daringly asked:

"So you are that shrinking turtle Emperor of Southern Chu? You didn't invite me here just to have someone examine me, did you?"

Even with Emperor Lu's patience, he couldn't just accept the title of "shrinking turtle Emperor" in front of the tyrant. He somewhat helplessly replied:

"I have no other motives. It was merely an act of drawing my sword to assist upon seeing injustice, unable to bear seeing Your Majesty as a wandering soul on the battlefield. Once your health is restored, I will aid your return to Bei Wei..."

Even as he spoke with such a low stance and soothing words, Xie Xuan Yuan's delicate face still wore a look of wariness and distance. Wrapping himself in the blanket, he slowly hugged his knees:

"Emperor Lu, feel free to state your conditions directly. I've never liked owing others."

Watching the tyrant's composed and cold demeanor, Emperor Lu felt a certain discomfort in his heart. Was Xie Xuan Yuan not only refraining from settling scores but also being so polite to him, intending to clearly separate their paths?

Not willing to be so easily discarded, Emperor Lu, determined, deliberately chose not to play by the rules:

"I haven't decided on the conditions yet. But there's something I must say even at the risk of your anger. During your coma, the royal physician has examined you... You're pregnant, nearly four months along now. Bearing a child is exceedingly risky for a man, not to mention the hardships involved. Do you truly wish to keep it?"

Hearing this, Xie Xuan Yuan's face showed no sign of the shock one might expect. Raising an eyebrow, his hazel-gray eyes betrayed a confusion that seemed out of place with his demeanor:

"Emperor Lu seems to be overly concerned. It is my child, the future heir to Bei Wei. Why should a mere word from you persuade me to give up?"

"You knew already?" Emperor Lu was taken aback, grasping at Xie Xuan Yuan's sleeve to inquire further, "Knowing this, why choose to keep it?"

By accepting the child's existence, could it mean he still holds a place in the tyrant's heart?

Xie Xuan Yuan, annoyed, pulled his sleeve back, finding Emperor Lu's neurotic behavior utterly unmanly.

To think he was defeated by such a person was truly humiliating.

He reasoned that Emperor Lu must have spared his life out of some need from him, showing none of the humility expected of a defeated captive, and proudly responded:

"If I'm not mistaken, we are hardly acquainted. What kind of decorum is this, pulling and tugging upon our first meeting?"

Their first meeting? Had Xie Xuan Yuan really lost his memory?

A chill went through Emperor Lu's heart as he let go, muttering to himself, "How did a perfectly fine person end up like this?"

Despite speaking softly, Xie Xuan Yuan, being close, heard every word clearly. Not to be outdone, he raised his voice to challenge, "Who did you just call stupid?"

His angrily posed question, louder than intended, startled Coal Ball, who had been sleeping by his pillow.

The little black cat, witnessing its quiet companion of recent days transform into an irascible tyrant upon waking, sprang into action, leaping onto the "tyrant's" leg in an attempt to subdue him.

Emperor Lu, seeing Coal Ball nearly collide with the tyrant's delicate stomach, was frightened into a cold sweat. He anxiously lifted the cat from Xie Xuan Yuan, asking with concern:

"Are you alright? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

Xie Xuan Yuan was slow to react, belatedly reaching to touch the spot where the cat had lain. Squinting at the fluffy black ball in Emperor Lu's hands, he deliberately teased the displeasing Emperor of Nan Chu:

"I'm fine. Your dog is quite nice, much cuter than you. What's its name?"

Dog???

The tyrant referred to the creature in his arms as a dog?

Emperor Lu carefully examined the coal-black furball for a long while...

Indeed, his cat may be a tad too black, but not to the extent that one might mistake it for a dog.

Could it be that Xie Xuan Yuan found him disagreeable, using a pun to insult him subtly?

Emperor Lu, feeling slighted, responded timidly, "This is not a dog; it is a cat I keep. Its name is Coalball."

Xie Xuan Yuan's face momentarily turned pale, but he quickly regained his composure. With a dissatisfied snort, he said:

"Did I not know it's a cat? I merely... remembered the dog I keep and misspoke. However, coincidentally, the name of the dog I keep matches well with your cat's name; it's called Snowball."

Emperor Lu was at a loss for words... Snowball's name was specifically chosen by him thinking of Coalball; how could it not match?

This tyrant even remembers the names of the dogs they keep; how could he just forget him?

Emperor Lu, undeterred, attempted to jog the tyrant's memory of their shared past. Yet, seeing Xie Xuan Yuan's pale, cracked lips, he suddenly felt a pang of pity.

"Are you thirsty? Would you like some tea?"

Xie Xuan Yuan looked at him distrustfully, as if assessing the likelihood of poison being added to the tea. After a moment of evaluation, seemingly still unconvinced, Xie Xuan Yuan decided to get out of bed and slowly walked towards the small round table where the tea cups and teapot were placed.

Emperor Lu watched the tyrant's overly cautious steps and couldn't help but frown slightly.

Except for the concussion, Xie Xuan Yuan's other injuries should have all healed.

His way of walking was odd... as if he couldn't see the path in front of him clearly.

As various speculations emerged in Emperor Lu's mind, a crisp sound of breaking porcelain soon came from the direction of the small tea table.

Rushing over, Emperor Lu saw the delicate teacup shattered on the floor, with Xie Xuan Yuan's pale back of the hand scalded red by hot tea.

It seemed an accident had occurred while pouring the tea, spilling freshly boiled water directly onto his hand... It was unclear what the tyrant was thinking at that moment.

Xie Xuan Yuan stood stiffly by the table, cradling his scalded hand in silence. Emperor Lu, feeling both distressed and anxious, pressed him down into a chair. After ordering the attendants waiting outside to fetch burn ointment, he suddenly extended three slender, fair fingers under the tyrant's eyes and softly asked:

"Your Majesty, how many fingers am I holding up?"

Xie Xuan Yuan refused to answer, snorting coldly and turning his head away: "How childish."

Undeterred, Emperor Lu continued with his three fingers raised: "If you answer correctly, I'll grant you a request. Any wish, all up to you. What do you say?"

Xie Xuan Yuan seemed somewhat intrigued, slightly turning his head: "Really, any wish? Can I go back to my country? Can you hand over Southern Chu to me?"

Emperor Lu, eager to confirm his terrible suspicion, didn't mind the tyrant's quibbling at such a moment.

"Yes, anything is possible. Even if you want my person, it's possible."

Xie Xuan Yuan laughed at this response, his face's proud and distant expression gradually fading to a focused and serious one:

"I only want the man you sent to Northern Guard pretending to be your sister for the marriage alliance. Nothing else. You're not as good-looking as my Consort Lu, even if you really intended to offer yourself, I wouldn't be interested."

This answer left Emperor Lu speechless for a long while.

Now, he was eighty percent sure that Xie Xuan Yuan hadn't lost his memory. As for why he failed to recognize him upon waking up... that's a question for the stubborn tyrant himself.

Emperor Lu moved his finger slightly away from Xie Xuan Yuan and looked directly into those clear, piercing phoenix eyes: "I have agreed to your terms. Now, can you tell me what number this is?"

Since waking up, Xie Xuan Yuan's vision had been nothing but a blurry chaos. He couldn't see anything clearly, not even the face of the Emperor of Southern Chu, mere inches away, which appeared vague and indistinct, making it impossible to discern any facial features.

But how could he possibly admit to being nearly blind in a foreign land? If he did, wouldn't that be tantamount to letting this enemy emperor have his way with him?

Not to mention, if this man took advantage of his blindness to deceive him into signing a treaty that involved ceding territory, paying reparations, and bringing disgrace upon his country, he would be utterly powerless to resist...

His long eyelashes quivered, and after blinking, Xie Xuan Yuan tried hard to widen his eyes, staring unblinkingly at the fingers that merged into a blur in the void.

What number was it, after all?

It looked like two, like three, and also like four... even five was not impossible...

Due to his nervousness and anxiety, fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on his forehead, his delicate Adam's apple bobbed, and he remained silent for a long while.

Seeing him like this, Lu Changping's voice couldn't help but begin to tremble: "Can you see it clearly?"

Xie Xuan Yuan bit his lip, staring blankly ahead into the void. He would rather die than admit he couldn't see clearly, and ultimately chose the most likely number, steeling his heart before saying, "Two."

Emperor Lu: "I see you're really 'two' right now."

Lu Changping knew, his guess had been confirmed. The tyrant truly couldn't see anything now.

Not to mention his facial features. Even something as close as a foot away, guessing the number of fingers someone was holding up involved a mix of guessing and luck to report a wrong number.

After Xie Xuan Yuan gave his answer, seeing the Emperor of Southern Chu remain silent for a long time, his radiant appearance gradually dimmed, as if pearls were covered in dust.

He tentatively asked, unsure: "Did I... answer incorrectly just now?"

Emperor Lu, seeing the look of disappointment on his face, didn't have the heart to tell him he was wrong. After all, pretending in front of this tyrant wasn't new to him, so he decided to keep up the deceit.

He shook his head, answering gently: "No, Your Majesty, you got it exactly right."