Chapter 44

Chapter 44

The night was still when Pei Xingjian jolted awake from his sleep.

Inside the room, the red candle flickered, and his breathing was distinctly audible. He closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling slowly as he gazed at the canopy above, trying to banish the untimely images from his mind.

Lately, his headaches had been less frequent, and his health was gradually improving. Yet, a warmth pooled low in his body. Unwilling to take matters into his own hands, he could only lie in bed, waiting for the sensation to naturally dissipate.

About half an hour later, he rose and called out, "Zhao Dehai."

Zhao Dehai rushed in, his face anxious. "Your Majesty is awake?"

Pei Xingjian looked outside and saw several Tianxuan Guards standing in the courtyard. Frowning, he asked, "What happened?"

Zhao Dehai immediately replied, "Your Majesty, Qingshan just reported that Minister Lin's residence is on fire."

Pei Xingjian's expression darkened, and he stood up at once. "To Minister Lin's residence."

...

Lin Ting quickly pulled on his clothes and ran towards the storeroom, shouting, "My money! My retirement fund—!"

Reaching the backyard, he saw Zhang Ji and the servants dragging out several chests. Spotting him, Zhang Ji said, "Minister Lin, fortunately, we discovered it in time. Only some inexpensive items in the storeroom were damaged. The gold, silver, and jewels are all safe."

Lin Ting threw himself at the chests, patting them with lingering relief. "Thank goodness you're still here."

Zhang Ji then pulled him away. "Minister Lin, the fire is raging here. Please rest outside for now. I will report to you once it's extinguished."

Lin Ting was led to the front courtyard, watching servants rush back and forth with buckets. Finally, the fire was put out, its smoke dissipating into the dark night.

Zhang Ji hurried over to report, "Minister Lin, the fire has been extinguished."

Lin Ting immediately headed towards the backyard. "Quickly, take me to see what the storeroom looks like."

He followed Zhang Ji to the storeroom's exterior. The fire had been considerable, engulfing the entire storeroom in flames. Now, it was almost a ruin.

"Thankfully, the storeroom wasn't connected to other buildings, or the consequences would have been unimaginable," Zhang Ji said with lingering fear.

"Minister Lin, it might not be safe to stay at the residence tonight. Perhaps you should find another place to stay," he suggested.

Just then, the gatekeeper ran over. "Minister Lin, His Majesty has arrived."

Lin Ting was astonished. *At this hour, is no one sleeping?*

At the entrance, a luxurious carriage stood waiting.

Eunuch Zhao, standing by the carriage, his eyes curving into crescents when he saw Minister Lin emerge. "His Majesty rushed over as soon as he heard about the fire at your residence."

He peered inside. "How is the situation now? Do you need additional assistance?" He gestured to the row of Tianxuan Guards behind him.

Lin Ting waved his hand. "No need, no need. Only the storeroom caught fire, and it has already been put out."

"P-put out?" Zhao Dehai asked again, craning his neck to look inside. Indeed, the courtyard was quiet, and the buildings were intact.

Lin Ting nodded. Suddenly, he caught a fleeting look of disappointment on Eunuch Zhao's face.

Thinking he had imagined it, he blinked—just as Pei Xingjian pulled aside the curtain. "Get in."

Having stood in the courtyard for so long, Lin Ting felt a chill. Hearing the command, he quickly climbed inside.

The carriage was warm, scented with calming incense. The seat was cushioned with a golden soft pad, symbolizing the emperor's noble status.

The moment he sat down, Lin Ting couldn't help but let out a contented sigh. His tense nerves relaxed slightly, and as they did, drowsiness began to creep in.

Pei Xingjian observed his subtle expressions before asking, "Do you know what caused the fire?"

Lin Ting, leaning against the cushion and fighting sleep, shook his head. "No idea. Earlier, when I woke up, I saw a dark shadow flit past the wall outside my window. I thought it was someone from the Tianxuan Guard, so I ignored it."

As he spoke, his collar slipped open.

Pei Xingjian's eyes lingered on the exposed pale neck before he finally reached out to adjust the loose collar.

Lin Ting found the gesture a little strange, but at that moment, his mind was so clouded with sleep that he couldn't be bothered to think.

An abrupt silence fell.

Lin Ting's sluggish mind belatedly realized—the emperor had never told anyone about the Tianxuan Guard monitoring him.

This was... a bit awkward.

"The Tianxuan Guard were not at your residence today," Pei Xingjian said coolly.

"Ah? Oh." Lin Ting's sleepiness receded somewhat as he rubbed his nose and hummed in acknowledgment.

After tidying Lin Ting's collar, Pei Xingjian withdrew his hand, though his gaze remained on Lin Ting. The night air was cool; perhaps having rushed out too quickly, Lin Ting was thinly dressed, with only an inner garment beneath a flimsy outer jacket.

His Adam's apple bobbed before he called, "Zhao Dehai, bring the cloak."

Zhao Dehai, standing guard outside, handed the cloak through the curtain. Catching a glimpse inside, he saw Minister Lin—lips red, teeth white, eyes drowsy—looking exceptionally charming.

Pei Xingjian mercilessly drew the curtain shut, cutting off the view of that pale figure.

Lin Ting's eyelids grew heavy. In his hazy state, he felt a shadow fall over him.

He struggled to open his eyes, meeting a pair of dark pupils. His gaze drifted downward—to a pair of thin lips, now pressed into a straight line...

Lin Ting was bewildered for a moment, then suddenly realized: *Damn, why is the emperor so close to me?*

They were less than half a meter apart, breaching the safety distance.

His body stiffened, fingers gripping the cushion as he blinked rapidly several times. "W-what are you doing?"

A sudden weight settled on his shoulders, and he was instantly enveloped in warmth.

Pei Xingjian fastened the cloak's ties before returning to his seat. "I saw Minister Lin was too thinly dressed, so I gave him an extra layer. Or did Minister Lin think I intended something else?"

Lin Ting's face flushed red. *It's all Pei Xingjian's fault! Even though they were both men, there was a proper distance between ruler and subject. Couldn't he, as emperor, maintain a respectful distance from his minister?*

Lin Ting gathered the cloak around him and slowly said, "N-no, Your Majesty's kindness humbles this unworthy servant." As soon as he finished speaking, his chin was lifted by a slender hand.

Lin Ting was forced to meet Pei Xingjian's gaze.

"Oh?" Pei Xingjian scrutinized the person before him. "Other subjects tremble in fear before me. Minister Lin's 'fear' is quite unique—still able to converse with me so boldly."

The night was deep, and the dim candlelight in the carriage illuminated the man's striking features: sword-like brows, star-bright eyes, exquisitely handsome, his lips appearing even redder in the candlelight.

Pei Xingjian's eyes darkened.

"Uh, perhaps this subject's demeanor is... peculiar," Lin Ting said, a small yawn escaping him as drowsiness clouded his mind.

After yawning, he looked a little awkwardly at Pei Xingjian and forced a smile. "Your Majesty, I'm tired. May I sleep first?" Unconsciously, his cheek brushed against the back of Pei Xingjian's hand.

The sudden touch of softness made Pei Xingjian's fingertips tremble slightly, and he immediately withdrew his hand.

"Sleep."

Lin Ting's sluggish mind keenly grasped those two words, and he immediately relaxed, leaning against the carriage frame as he drifted off to sleep.

The carriage fell silent once more.

Pei Xingjian closed his eyes and waited for a moment before lifting the curtain. "Return to the palace."

Zhao Dehai shivered from the cold and glanced at the figure inside the carriage, already fast asleep. "And Minister Lin—"

The emperor's tone left no room for argument: "He will stay in the palace these next few days. Have someone pack Minister Lin's belongings and bring them to the palace tomorrow."

Zhao Dehai's eyes lit up. "Yes, this old servant will arrange it at once." *Heh heh, Minister Lin is staying in the palace again.*

So, when Zhang Ji finally managed to sort out the rescued gold, silver, and jewels and was about to report back to his master, Eunuch Zhao informed him: "Minister Lin will be staying in the palace these next few days. Tomorrow, inventory Minister Lin's belongings and send them to the palace."

Left behind, Zhang Ji: *... My trembling heart has finally shattered.*

The carriage smoothly pulled up in front of Xiangning Hall.

Zhao Dehai and Pei Xingjian opened their eyes and glanced to the side—Lin Ting was still sound asleep.

Zhao Dehai immediately stood. "This old servant will carry Minister Lin back." He moved to take Minister Lin, but a hand was quicker, pulling Lin Ting away first.

Pei Xingjian picked up Lin Ting and instructed Zhao Dehai, "Light the way."

Zhao Dehai's eyes crinkled into slits. "Right away."

Carrying Lin Ting all the way back to the side chamber, where the bed had already been made with fresh, new quilts, the young emperor walked to the bedside, bent down, and gently laid the person in his arms onto the bed.

The moment he touched the bed, Lin Ting mumbled a few sounds, pulled the nearby quilt around himself, and burrowed in, leaving only a few tufts of messy hair sticking out.

Worried that the man might wrap himself too tightly and get stuck, Pei Xingjian patted the quilt. "Stick your head out." He tried to pull open a gap with his hand.

But as soon as he opened it, the quilt was immediately pulled back around him.

After several such attempts, Pei Xingjian finally gave up and instructed Zhao Dehai:

"Keep an eye on him, lest he wraps himself up again and can't get out."

Zhao Dehai immediately responded, "Yes, Your Majesty, Qingzi is watching."

The person on the bed was breathing evenly, his brows relaxed, already deeply asleep. Pei Xingjian watched him quietly for a few moments before leaving.

The next day, Lin Ting slept until mid-morning before finally waking. He looked at the bed canopy and realized—this wasn't his bed at home.

*Huh?*

He looked around and then realized he was in the side chamber of Xiangning Hall. "How did I end up in the palace?"

Wait—he remembered a fire breaking out at his residence last night. He had waited in the courtyard for the fire to be extinguished, and then he had gotten into a carriage.

That carriage had been warm and comfortable... it was the emperor's carriage.

And then, it seemed someone had put him to bed.

Combining this with the current situation, it must have been Pei Xingjian who brought him back.

The carriage could only stop outside the hall, so did that mean he had carried him back himself?

Lin Ting's heart pounded wildly. He kicked off the blanket and got up, then his eyes fell on a black cloak embroidered with gold.

The owner of this cloak was obvious.

And he vaguely remembered that it seemed, perhaps, someone had draped the cloak over him, and that person was very handsome...

Lin Ting dared not think further. The more he thought, the more alarmed he became.

*Could the relationship between ruler and subject be this close?*

*Even back in the dormitory, I wasn't this familiar with my own brothers, was I?*

As he pondered, he heard Qingzi's voice outside: "Minister Lin, are you awake?"

Lin Ting got out of bed, dressed, and went to open the door. "Eunuch Qing, where is His Majesty?"

At that moment, Pei Xingjian had just finished morning court and returned to Chonghua Hall when he saw a familiar figure.

Dressed in his blue official robes, his hair had grown slightly longer recently, just enough to cover his shoulders. As he bowed, the strands fell forward, making his fair, rosy complexion stand out even more.

Pei Xingjian watched him subtly for a few moments until Lin Ting noticed him.

"Your Majesty." Lin Ting bowed.

Pei Xingjian sat at the imperial desk with his usual composure and began reviewing memorials, while Lin Ting quietly prepared the ink beside him.

Amidst the tranquil and warm atmosphere—*creak!*

The ink brush in Pei Xingjian's hand nearly slipped off the memorial.

He steadied himself, continuing to focus on the memorial.

*Creak!* Another sharp, grating sound.

The vermilion brush had barely written a character before it was smudged.

Pei Xingjian: *...* He rubbed his brow and looked up at Lin Ting, who seemed lost in thought.

"Minister Lin?" Lin Ting's eyes were unfocused.

Pei Xingjian tapped the desk with his finger, emphasizing his tone, "Lin Ting."

Lin Ting finally snapped back to attention. "Your Majesty, did you call me?"

Pei Xingjian's gaze probed his eyes for a moment, then he asked, "Did you have something you wanted to ask earlier?" *Why are you so distracted?*

Lin Ting recalled the events of last night; it all felt like a dream.

"Your Majesty, last night... did you carry this subject back? And that cloak—"

He was even using formal address now.

Pei Xingjian said calmly, "The night was cold and damp. I could not bear to see you suffer, so I gave you my cloak. After returning to Chonghua Hall, I saw you were sleeping soundly and did not wish to disturb your good dream, so I did not wake you."

Lin Ting's voice grew even softer. "This subject thanks Your Majesty."

He inwardly chastised himself for his impure thoughts. After all, Pei Xingjian's way of thinking was different from other emperors. Perhaps, in his eyes, these actions were merely expressions of a ruler's high regard for his subject.

Nothing more than that.