Chapter 15: The Timid Air

Chapter 15: A Timid Appearance

Zhu Yunxuan had not attended court for three consecutive days. Ceng Huai specially requested an audience, and upon seeing his pale complexion and furrowed brows, he became deeply concerned.

Zhu Yunxuan waved his hand dismissively, saying, "I'm fine."

Ceng Huai's intentions to console him were stifled, and after much hesitation, he decided not to speak further. Instead, he presented the newly proposed candidates for the position of Deputy Commander of the Jingnan Garrison from both the Ministry of Personnel and the Military Affairs Department.

Most of the names on the list were those of colonels from the two capital garrisons. Zhu Yunxuan scanned the list, pausing when he reached a particular name. He asked Ceng Huai, "Did Prince Zhao know about these nominations?"

"Clerk and military officials seemed to have consulted his opinion," Ceng Huai replied.

"In that case, let it be," Zhu Yunxuan sighed softly, circling the name with his pen.

After Ceng Huai left, Gao An approached cautiously to report to Zhu Yunxuan, "Prince Zhao has just sent word, requesting His Majesty to visit his manor for a spring outing tomorrow."

Zhu Yunxuan's expression turned cold. After a moment, he closed his eyes and instructed, "Make the necessary preparations."

Liang Zhen's secondary residence was also a gift from the previous emperor, located in the northwest of the capital, separate from the villas of other high-ranking officials. It was a prime location with beautiful scenery, yet it was serene and secluded. In spring, the flowers and trees flourished, and the landscape was lush with greenery, making it an ideal spot for a spring outing.

Zhu Yunxuan had ventured out in disguise, and upon leaving the palace gates, he boarded a carriage sent by Prince Zhao's estate. After an hour and a half's journey beyond the city walls, they finally arrived at their destination. Liang Zhen had been waiting outside the manor for quite some time.

Supported by Gao An, Zhu Yunxuan descended from the carriage, wearing only a thin silk shirt that accentuated his slightly thinner frame. Liang Zhen stepped forward, taking a cloak from a nearby eunuch to drape it over Zhu Yunxuan's shoulders. "It's not too warm yet, Your Majesty. After your recent illness, you should still dress warmly."

Zhu Yunxuan kept his gaze lowered, a subtle air of arrogance and detachment etched on his brow. Liang Zhen chuckled. "Shall we go? I'll show Your Majesty around."

Liang Zhen's manor was vast, nestled between water and mountains. Walking along the lake, spring flowers blossomed in vibrant colors, while young willows displayed their tender green hues. The lake was covered with layers of lotus leaves, their buds eagerly anticipating the summer's full bloom. Liang Zhen smiled, saying to Zhu Yunxuan, "In another two months, when the lotus seeds ripen, I'll have them harvested and sent to the palace for Your Majesty to enjoy."

Zhu Yunxuan nodded indifferently, and Liang Zhen took this as consent. A boat was moored at the lakeside. As they boarded, Liang Zhen extended his hand to Zhu Yunxuan, who hesitated briefly before placing his hand in Liang Zhen's.

The boat glided through the tranquil blue waters, heading towards the heart of the misty lake.

Inside the cabin, Zhu Yunxuan sat by the window, his eyes fixed on the spring landscape outside, though his expression betrayed no signs of pleasure or admiration. Liang Zhen placed a steaming cup of tea before him. "Why do you seem preoccupied today, Your Majesty?"

Zhu Yunxuan averted his gaze, raising his eyes to meet Liang Zhen's. He spoke softly, "Nothing, I just didn't expect Prince Zhao's manor to have such picturesque scenery. It truly is an ideal spot for appreciating nature and enjoying spring outings."

Liang Zhen chuckled softly. "If Your Majesty enjoys it, feel free to visit often."

Zhu Yunxuan didn't respond, instead holding his teacup as his gaze returned to the distant view.

Silence ensued. Liang Zhen narrowed his eyes, fixing his gaze on Zhu Yunxuan's profile. The memory of Zhu Yunxuan moaning softly beneath him, tears streaming down his face, was still vivid in his mind. The more the young emperor submitted, the more intense the indescribable emotions within Liang Zhen swirled, urging for release.

"Has His Majesty recovered?" Liang Zhen asked with genuine concern. Zhu Yunxuan was taken aback but replied calmly, "I've already recovered. Thank you, Prince Zhao, for your concern."

Liang Zhen suddenly reached out and embraced him from behind. Zhu Yunxuan's eyelashes fluttered, and he closed his eyes. Liang Zhen did nothing else but place a gentle kiss on his cheek, whispering, "Why are you so obedient today, Your Majesty?"

Zhu Yunxuan said coldly, "Would you have stopped if I resisted?"

Liang Zhen didn't answer, only tightened his hold around Zhu Yunxuan's waist. The emperor leaned back into his embrace, his empty eyes still fixed on the window. Liang Zhen frowned slightly, his heart tightening inexplicably. He raised his hand to cover Zhu Yunxuan's eyes.

The soft flutter of his eyelashes brushed against Liang Zhen's palm. After a moment, he felt a slight dampness. Liang Zhen sighed inwardly and heard Zhu Yunxuan ask in a barely audible, choked voice, "Why me?"

"Your Majesty..."

"You can have anyone you desire, male or female. I could offer you the beauties of the world. Why did it have to be me?"

Liang Zhen released his hold and lowered his head, brushing his lips against Zhu Yunxuan's damp cheek. "Your Majesty..."

"How will you let me go?"

With reddened eyes, Zhu Yunxuan questioned him, his gaze pleading. Liang Zhen was speechless for a moment before he said helplessly, "Why don't you believe that I genuinely like you?"

Zhu Yunxuan shook his head, tears flowing. "It...can't be."

"Why can't it? Because you think we're blood brothers?"

Too overwhelmed with sorrow, Zhu Yunxuan didn't detect the hidden meaning in Liang Zhen's words. He just cried, and Liang Zhen sighed. "With your gentle nature, how can you firmly hold onto the throne as an emperor? Without me, you might not even realize when those wolves and tigers tear you apart."

Tears kept streaming down Zhu Yunxuan's face as he stared blankly at Liang Zhen. "Wolves and tigers? Aren't you one of them?"

A small curve formed at the corner of Liang Zhen's lips. "Am I?"

Zhu Yunxuan blinked unconsciously, his lips trembling as he struggled to speak. Liang Zhen's fingers gently caressed his lips. "Your Majesty, do I truly have no place in your heart? Why are you willing to accommodate me? Is it out of fear of that secret imperial edict or because of the former crown prince? If we put these aside, do I really mean nothing to you?"

Zhu Yunxuan stood there in a daze for a long while before he murmured, "Throughout history, how many ministers dared to act as you do?"

"Why is it bad for me to be like this? Or do you really wish to be that distant and isolated ruler, pushing everyone away?"

Zhu Yunxuan's gaze froze for a moment. Liang Zhen leaned closer, his breath brushing against Zhu Yunxuan's ear as he whispered, "Your Majesty, if only you could divert half the affection you had for the former crown prince towards this subject."

"He is my own flesh and blood, my elder brother," Zhu Yunxuan reminded him in a deep voice.

Liang Zhen dismissed the sentiment with a wave of his hand. "How much familial love can there truly be within these palace walls?"

Zhu Yunxuan didn't want to elaborate; how could someone like Liang Zhen understand? His mother had died in childbirth while giving birth to him, so he owed his brother. As a child, rumors had circulated within the palace that he was an ill-omened child who had caused his mother's death. His father had never favored him, and the palace servants had treated him with disdain. Life had been difficult for him, and his brother, who originally disliked him, eventually couldn't bear to see him suffer. At the age of five, his brother took him under his wing and brought him to the Eastern Palace, where things started to improve. For all these years, it was his brother's protection that allowed him to survive and grow up safely within the palace. When his brother faced adversity, he was more than willing to give his life in return.

At the age of five, his brother had stroked his head and said, "You are my younger brother, and no one can bully you as long as I am here." In the following decade, his brother had kept that promise through his actions. When his brother staged his own death and fled at fifteen, Zhu Yunxuan vowed that no matter the obstacles, he would claim that position to protect his brother for the rest of his life.

Liang Zhen couldn't understand, and never would.

Feeling embarrassed under Liang Zhen's blatant gaze after his tears, Zhu Yunxuan tried to avoid eye contact. Noticing his evasion, Liang Zhen chuckled softly, lowering his voice even further. "Your Majesty is mistaken. This subject doesn't desire any other beauties. This subject wants only you."

"You..."

Liang Zhen interrupted him. "Does Your Majesty recall how we first met?"

Zhu Yunxuan remained silent, for he naturally remembered. Back then, his elder brother had already left the capital, leaving him alone and vulnerable in the city. His younger brother, Zhu Yunxun, constantly plotted against him. Although he hadn't been implicated in the matter of the deposed crown prince, his situation had become increasingly dire. It was during that time that Liang Zhen appeared. From the beginning, he had harbored hostility towards this rumored illegitimate son of the emperor. Later, he fell into one of Zhu Yunxun's traps, nearly botching an assignment from the emperor and humiliating himself in public. It was Liang Zhen, who had never interacted with him before, who reached out and lent a helping hand, allowing him to overcome that crisis.

After that, he occasionally crossed paths with Liang Zhen privately, and Liang Zhen had helped him on multiple occasions. Though he couldn't fathom Liang Zhen's intentions, he genuinely felt grateful. Until Liang Zhen proposed trading himself as collateral.

The first time was when Liang Zhen discovered Zhu Yunxun's collusion with the He family to intercept military funds, giving him hope to overthrow Zhu Yunxun alongside his brother. Then he realized that Liang Zhen truly possessed extraordinary influence, so much so that even if he were to ascend the throne one day, they could never have a harmonious relationship as ruler and subject. Liang Zhen was too capable and demanded too much, especially something Zhu Yunxuan couldn't afford to give nor should give.

Zhu Yunxuan didn't deny his own baseness, willing to use any means to achieve his goals, even selling himself. Liang Zhen owed him nothing, yet he couldn't help but despise Liang Zhen, and more so, himself.

Liang Zhen's eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly lost in recollection, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Your Majesty, whether you believe it or not, from the very beginning, I genuinely wanted to help you."

Zhu Yunxuan remained unmoved. He had never been able to read Liang Zhen. His thoughts and true desires were impenetrable to others. Zhu Yunxuan didn't bother to distinguish truth from deception in Liang Zhen's words.

Liang Zhen chuckled softly. "Why be so obstinate, Your Majesty? That day... You did find pleasure, didn't you?"

Zhu Yunxuan's reaction couldn't deceive him. They had entwined physically many times, and every subtle change in expression beneath Zhu Yunxuan's body didn't escape his notice. The ecstatic state Zhu Yunxuan reached during climax was something he couldn't conceal, no matter how hard he tried.

"Do you have to push it?" Zhu Yunxuan's heart turned cold, filled with frustration at his previous weakness. From the start, he knew he had to learn endurance. In the past and now, he needed to bear with it all. Today, however, he momentarily lost control, revealing his vulnerability and pleading before Liang Zhen, only to feed his arrogance further.

He could only endure for now. Eventually, there would come a day when he and Liang Zhen would settle their rivalry once and for all.

Liang Zhen's hand gently grasped Zhu Yunxuan's chin, leaning down to capture his lips in a kiss.

Their lips intertwined intimately, and Zhu Yunxuan's eyes closed numbly.

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