Chapter 83: Reunion After a Brief Separation

Chapter 83: A Reunion After Parting

Upon docking, Zhu Yunxuan stepped off the boat onto the pier. Liang Zhen, supported by others, descended from the ship. Zhu Yunxuan strode forward, staring blankly at the man before him, pale and with blood on his chest. Liang Zhen smiled slightly at him, "Your Majesty..."

Zhu Yunxuan reached out and, in full view of everyone, embraced Liang Zhen.

Liang Zhen placed his hand around Zhu Yunxuan's waist and whispered hoarsely into his ear, "A Xuan, it hurts so much..."

Zhu Yunxuan's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he pressed his lips together before holding Liang Zhen even closer.

After embracing for a while, He Huailing, who had followed Liang Zhen, coughed awkwardly and, with great effort, reminded them, "Your Majesty, let's get in the carriage and return home first... Many people are watching."

On the ship, on the pier, and among those waiting below, countless pairs of eyes were upon them. Zhu Yunxuan took a step back, then naturally took Liang Zhen's hand, "Come on, let's go back."

Liang Zhen chuckled softly as he allowed Zhu Yunxuan to personally help him into the carriage.

Once inside, Zhu Yunxuan hastily began to tear at Liang Zhen's clothes, "How did you get hurt? Is it serious? Let me see."

Liang Zhen caught his hand, smiling as he reassured him, "It was just an accidental trap set by someone else. It's nothing."

Zhu Yunxuan forcefully tore open his clothing, revealing the blood-soaked bandages pressed against his chest. His brows knitted together in concern. "Why is the wound so close to your heart? What happened with Duke Ding? Weren't there military doctors on the ship? Why didn't he call for someone to stop the bleeding? Does it really hurt?"

Liang Zhen nonchalantly held his hand, teasing him. "If you kiss me, A Xuan, the pain will go away."

Zhu Yunxuan replied irritably, "How can you be like this? You're injured like this and still have the mind to joke around?"

"I'm not going to die anyway... Alright, I won't say anything more. Don't be angry, please."

Suppressing the untargeted anger in his heart, Zhu Yunxuan carefully avoided Liang Zhen's wound, leaning in to embrace him. He whispered hoarsely, "Thank goodness you're back..."

His tone was a mix of relief and lingering fear.

Liang Zhen reached up to caress Zhu Yunxuan's face. "I've caused Your Majesty to worry. It won't happen again."

"Okay."

Upon returning to the General's residence, Zhu Yunxuan promptly summoned the accompanying Doctor Fang to examine Liang Zhen. The old physician's hands trembled as he almost failed to take Liang Zhen's pulse. Liang Zhen chuckled, reminding him, "Why are you so nervous? I wouldn't eat you."

Zhu Yunxuan asked with a frown, "How severe is his injury?"

The experienced old physician quickly regained his composure and undid the bandages that Liang Zhen had been wrapped in. Zhu Yunxuan's eyes narrowed at the sight of the bloody mess, clenching his fists tightly.

Doctor Fang carefully examined Liang Zhen's wound, then looked up at him with some uncertainty before lowering his head again. After a moment of hesitation, he reported to Zhu Yunxuan, "The injury is indeed severe, quite close to his heart. The bleeding might have stopped initially but could have started again due to movement. There's a risk of infection, which would be troublesome. However, there's no need to worry excessively. This old servant will stop the bleeding, apply medicine, and prescribe some internal medication. As long as he remains in bed for the next two weeks, frequently changing the dressing, he should recover."

"Are you sure there won't be any complications?" Zhu Yunxuan asked anxiously.

"As long as the wound doesn't bleed again, there won't be any issues, Your Majesty. Please rest assured."

After applying medicine and re-bandaging the wound, the physician retreated to prepare an internal medication prescription. Zhu Yunxuan sat by the bed, taking Liang Zhen's hand in his, still feeling uneasy and worried. He asked, "Is there anywhere else that hurts? Are you hungry? Should I ask someone to prepare some light food for you?"

Seeing the unmasked anxiety and concern on Zhu Yunxuan's face, and the faint dark circles under his eyes, Liang Zhen realized that the other must not have slept well these past days. He suddenly felt regretful for causing such distress.

"I'm fine, A Xuan. Didn't the physician say that I'll recover in two weeks? I have a strong constitution; I won't die. I'm still waiting for you to crown me as your queen when we return."

Knowing that it was rare to hear anything sincere from this person, Zhu Yunxuan decided not to pursue the matter further. Instead, he leaned down and tenderly kissed Liang Zhen's chapped lips.

Liang Zhen blinked, smiling, and grabbed the back of Zhu Yunxuan's head, fiercely biting his lip. His tongue forcefully entered Zhu Yunxuan's soft mouth, licking and teasing playfully, their embrace seemingly endless.

Outside the window, twilight deepened, and the fading sunlight illuminated the edge of the bed, outlining their intertwined figures.

"Father!"

The sudden voice made both of them pause their actions. Liang Zhen chuckled softly and bit Zhu Yunxuan's lips playfully. Frustrated, Zhu Yunxuan sat up and turned his head to look. Rong'er was curiously peering at them from behind the screen.

"Daddy!" The child's eyes lit up instantly upon seeing Liang Zhen, and he rushed to the bed, calling out repeatedly, "Daddy! Daddy! You're back!"

Liang Zhen smiled and tickled his nose. "Missed your father, did you?"

Rong'er nodded vigorously. Zhu Yunxuan scooped him up and reminded, "Don't squirm around. Your father is injured. Don't touch his wounds."

Rong'er paused, no longer daring to be mischievous. He carefully sat on Zhu Yunxuan's lap, gazing at Liang Zhen with concern. After a long hesitation, he held Liang Zhen's hand and softly consoled him, "Father doesn't hurt you, don't cry."

Liang Zhen couldn't help but laugh, gently rubbing Rong'er's nose again. "Yes, don't cry."

The meal was brought into the room. Due to his injuries, Liang Zhen could only consume light porridge. Zhu Yunxuan personally held the bowl, feeding him spoonful by spoonful.

Liang Zhen playfully teased, "With His Majesty serving me like this, it would be worth lying here for another year or two."

Zhu Yunxuan frowned. "You might as well say you want to lie there forever. I don't nurture good-for-nothings. This is a one-time exception, don't let it happen again."

Rong'er chimed in from the side, "Father, please get better soon. Otherwise, Daddy will cry every day."

Zhu Yunxuan: "..." When did I cry every day?

Liang Zhen looked at him with a smile, "Are you really that upset? You cry every day without me?"

Before Zhu Yunxuan could reply, Rong'er nodded eagerly, "Daddy cries secretly every night. It's so sad, Rong'er saw it."

Zhu Yunxuan poked his son's forehead, "Don't talk nonsense."

The amusement in Liang Zhen's eyes deepened, "Rong'er is a good child and never tells lies. Why should His Majesty be angry over a joke?"

Zhu Yunxuan lowered his gaze, remaining silent. After a moment of tranquility, Liang Zhen took his hand, "Are you angry? I was just joking with you."

Zhu Yunxuan lifted his eyes to glare at him, his eyes gradually reddening, "If you knew, why didn't you come back sooner? Why didn't you try to send any news? Do you have any idea how worried I've been these past few days? You did this on purpose, didn't you? You wanted me to worry and be anxious, isn't that right?"

Liang Zhen was momentarily at a loss for words. He indeed had numerous reasons to placate Zhu Yunxuan, considering he hadn't intended to disappear after falling into the water. However, intentionally causing Zhu Yunxuan's concern was indeed his fault. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Zhu Yunxuan.

He didn't offer an excuse, instead gesturing to Rong'er, "Come, my little darling, and cheer up your Daddy."

Rong'er looked at Zhu Yunxuan in confusion, "Father, don't cry anymore..."

Faced with Rong'er, Zhu Yunxuan couldn't bring himself to say any harsh words. He composed himself and smiled at the child, "I'm fine, son."

He then stuffed the bowl back into Liang Zhen's hands and said, "Eat on your own," before carrying Rong'er outside for dinner.

Liang Zhen stirred the congee in his bowl, smiling helplessly with lowered eyes.

As night fell, after sending the wet nurse to take Rong'er back, Zhu Yunxuan stayed alone and asked for hot water to be brought in to bathe Liang Zhen.

"You don't have to do this yourself, just call a eunuch," Liang Zhen reminded him with a smile. Zhu Yunxuan ignored him, undressed Liang Zhen, and gazed at the old and new scars on his chest, feeling deeply uncomfortable. Holding the warm towel, he suddenly felt unsure of where to begin. After a moment, he averted his gaze and called for a eunuch to come in.

Liang Zhen patted the space beside him, inviting Zhu Yunxuan to sit down. Zhu Yunxuan leaned over and nuzzled against his forehead. Liang Zhen held his hand and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

"....I'll stay with you tonight."

"I, a severely injured person, can't serve in bed," Liang Zhen teased him on purpose.

Zhu Yunxuan gently closed his eyes. "I didn't ask you to serve me in bed, so why are you talking so much nonsense?"

Liang Zhen turned his head and kissed Zhu Yunxuan's cheek. "How many days haven't you slept well? Can't you sleep without me? How did you manage those first few years?"

Zhu Yunxuan didn't answer, instead nestling against Liang Zhen's earlobe, finally finding complete calmness in his restless heart.

After Liang Zhen finished cleaning himself, Zhu Yunxuan also quickly freshened up. He extinguished the lamp, climbed into bed, and lay down on the side that Liang Zhen wasn't injured, wrapping his arms around Liang Zhen's arm.

Liang Zhen lightly kissed his nose. "Is A Xuan being coquettish with me?"

"… I'm not Rong'er."

Liang Zhen chuckled. "Of course, I know you're not that little brat."

"Why do you always call your own son a brat? … I've already prepared to confer him as the crown prince. In the future, Rong'er's formal name will be Zhu Yinhuan. 'Yin' is the character for his generation. What do you think?"

"The emperor's decision is final. As he's destined to be the crown prince, he naturally needs to follow the proper protocols," Liang Zhen said nonchalantly. "Zhu Yinhuan, it sounds good."

Zhu Yunxuan lowered his voice. "You don't need to be jealous of him. If he's the crown prince, you'll be the empress. Your enthronement ceremony will come before his. I have to give you your title first before I can give him his."

Liang Zhen curled his lips. "Why would I be jealous of my own son? Am I that petty?"

Zhu Yunxuan scoffed softly, not exposing his true thoughts. "Sleep."

Liang Zhen embraced him and kissed his lips again, whispering hoarsely, "When I recover, I'll serve His Majesty in bed again."

Zhu Yunxuan's lips curved slightly. Lying close to Liang Zhen, he finally felt a weight lifted from his heart after so many days and drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Liang Zhen raised his hand to touch the wound, gasping at the pain. It was truly a self-inflicted suffering.

But when he heard Zhu Yunxuan's steady breathing beside him, he no longer regretted his actions. If not for this, he wouldn't have gained such a caring Emperor. It was worth it.