Chapter 25 Brother, Sleep on the Bed with Me

Chapter 25: Brother, Sleep in the Bed with Me

Luo Yunchen followed Su Zheng’s lead, rising and sitting down, still holding Su Zheng’s hand without letting go, and asked cautiously, “Crown Prince Brother, are you not mad at me anymore?”

Su Zheng tried to pull his hand back but couldn’t, his eyes flicking to their clasped hands.

Luo Yunchen followed Su Zheng’s gaze, then, as if just realizing it, suddenly let go.

Su Zheng withdrew his hand and patted Luo Yunchen’s shoulder. “A moment ago… I’m sorry.”

Luo Yunchen’s eyes reddened. “Why are you saying sorry, Brother?”

“Just think of it as… think of it as me having a fit. Don’t hold it against me, okay?”

Luo Yunchen shook his head. “Of course I won’t hold it against you, Brother. But, Brother, are you still sick or something? Should I call the imperial doctor?”

Su Zheng opened his mouth, then said, sounding weak, “No need, I’m fine. Let’s drop it and eat with me.”

Luo Yunchen pursed his lips but said nothing more.

In his heart, though, he resolved to give Su Zheng a thorough check-up when the chance arose.

As long as it didn’t harm Su Zheng’s health, if he wanted good food, fine. If only Su Zheng wouldn’t leave him, staying by his side, he’d happily give him all the world’s delicacies!

Su Zheng could only use one hand, so Luo Yunchen kept an eye on his meals, feeding him and placing dishes within reach.

Su Zheng didn’t fight it; he ate whatever Luo Yunchen gave him.

While eating, Su Zheng said to Luo Yunchen, “Chen Di, can you promise me something?”

“Go ahead, Brother Crown Prince.”

“I won’t tell you now; I’ll tell you when the time comes. Can you do that for me?”

Luo Yunchen was silent for a moment, then said, “Alright, I promise I’ll think about it, Brother.”

As long as it wasn’t about leaving him, he could agree.

Su Zheng didn’t push it and nodded in agreement.

Then he turned to business: “I already had Father get rid of Chen Momo and her people, and I gave the head guard job to Guard Xu. I’ll give you the keys to all the rooms shortly. I’m entrusting the personnel arrangements and guard deployments of the Eastern Palace to you. Make sure everyone in the Eastern Palace does their job—don’t let in anyone who shouldn’t be here, and don’t let out anyone who shouldn’t leave. Can you do that?”

Luo Yunchen’s eyes widened. He never thought Su Zheng would give him so much power.

This meant that, if Luo Yunchen wished, he could seize control of the entire Eastern Palace at any time, even making the Crown Prince a puppet!

Luo Yunchen set down his chopsticks, looking at Su Zheng, his eyes deep as an abyss, his voice low and rough: “Crown Prince Brother, do you really trust me that much?”

Su Zheng gazed back at Luo Yunchen, a smile in his eyes, but a cold calm underneath: “Naturally. You’re my Chen Di; if I don’t trust you, who can I? I wonder, Chen Di, can you handle that trust?”

Luo Yunchen met his gaze. Their gazes seemed to stab like thorns, each trying to see into the other’s heart to uncover the truth.

Suddenly, Luo Yunchen smiled—not the obedient, fawning smile of a kid, nor the creepy, sinister smirk of a villain.

It was a smile of pure, unrestrained joy, bright as a thousand pear trees in bloom.

His big brother was really something!

It made his heart sing!

After the midday meal incident, Su Zheng specifically asked Luo Yunchen to add a pigeon and a chicken to the evening meal. It could be light, but there had to be real meat.

Luo Yunchen only agreed after Su Zheng promised over and over to speak up if he felt unwell.

With Su Zheng handing over power, Xu Mo could now report to Luo Yunchen openly.

“Are you saying the Crown Prince deliberately shouted on the battlefield to draw the guards’ attention, so the assassin could wound the Tenth Prince? And that the Crown Prince intentionally engaged personally, dragging out the fight so the Tenth Prince’s treatment got delayed?”

Xu Mo paused, honestly confused why his master kept saying “deliberately,” but reported truthfully: “Based on the information I’ve gathered, it was the Crown Prince’s involvement that caused the mess and missed the opportunity.”

“And the assassin who came back from the dead—was it the Crown Prince who ordered you to take him away immediately?”

“Yes. The Crown Prince was furious that the assassin had wounded the Tenth Prince and ordered me to take his corpse to feed the dogs. But the assassin must have been feigning death; shortly after I took him away, I found he was still barely breathing.”

Xu Mo hesitated slightly at this point.

Luo Yunchen said coldly, “Speak.”

“Yes! Two days ago, Master ordered us to monitor suspicious persons in the Directorate of Palace Servants. I’ve confirmed that this feigning-death assassin is one of their men. I wonder if he’s the same person Master is looking for?”

Luo Yunchen showed little reaction upon hearing this, only asked after a moment of silence, “Did the assassin say anything publicly before being captured?”

“He did, Master. He said things like the Tenth Prince was reckless with lives and acted arbitrarily, but the Crown Prince interrupted him, so he couldn’t continue.”

This time, Luo Yunchen let out a low laugh.

Xu Mo didn’t understand why his master was acting so strangely and could only bow his head lower.

When Luo Yunchen had finished laughing, he said, “From now on, your primary task is to protect the Crown Prince’s safety. Understood?”

Xu Mo acknowledged the order.

“Also, when reporting to me in the future, if only the Crown Prince is present, don’t hide anything. Report directly.”

Xu Mo was startled, looking up sharply at Luo Yunchen. “Master, this…”

Wouldn’t that expose his identity and his relationship with his master?!

Luo Yunchen gave him a cold glance. “Did you not hear me?”

Xu Mo shuddered and quickly bowed his head. “Yes, I understand.”

Seeing that Luo Yunchen seemed about to leave, Xu Mo hurriedly asked, “Master, what about the assassin?”

“Keep him alive. I’ll interrogate him personally.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Luo Yunchen entered the inner hall, where Su Zheng was already half-reclining on a daybed. Seeing Luo Yunchen, he stood up and spread his arms. “Chen Di, help me undress.”

“Yes, Crown Prince Brother.” Luo Yunchen smiled and began removing Su Zheng’s outer garments one by one, asking, “Crown Prince Brother, aren’t you going to ask what I was doing outside just now?”

“What’s there to ask? I’ve handed the Eastern Palace over to you to manage; I don’t need to worry about it. Why bother asking?”

He paused, then added, “Just don’t skimp on my food and drink.”

Luo Yunchen gave a helpless smile. “As long as it doesn’t hinder Crown Prince Brother’s recovery, I’ll make sure you eat and drink your fill.”

Su Zheng smiled warmly and patted Luo Yunchen’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I know my own body. It won’t be a problem.”

With that, Su Zheng yawned slightly and, wearing his nightclothes, headed toward the daybed.

Luo Yunchen stopped him. “Tonight, Crown Prince Brother, sleep in the bed with me.”

Su Zheng opened his mouth, about to refuse.