Chapter 26 Letting Him Take Charge, Making Clothes for Him

Chapter 26: Indulging Him in Taking Charge, Making Him Clothes

Luo Yunchen then said, "My injuries are fine now, so it won't be a problem for me to sleep with you, big brother. But your wounds still need extra care. If no one watches over you at night, you might accidentally bump or press on them, and that wouldn't be good."

Seeing Su Zheng's hesitation, Luo Yunchen pressed on, "The longer your wounds take to heal, the longer it'll be before your diet returns to normal."

Feeling cornered, he gave in. The two of them got into bed, with Su Zheng lying on the inner side and Luo Yunchen undressed and lay down on the outer side.

Once lying down, Luo Yunchen turned onto his side, draped an arm across Su Zheng's waist and grasped the wrist of Su Zheng's injured hand, almost cradling him in his arms.

Su Zheng thought this position might be uncomfortable for sleeping and suggested, "Chen Di, what if I sleep on the outside? That way, you can hold my arm more easily."

Luo Yunchen said no, "No, just holding your arm isn't enough. What if you roll over and put pressure on your wound? It's better to sleep like this. Besides, if you need to get up in the middle of the night, I'll be on the outside, so I can help."

Su Zheng couldn't argue with that.

Luo Yunchen patted Su Zheng's forearm gently and said softly, "Alright, brother, go to sleep."

Su Zheng glanced at those five slender fingers—it had been years since he'd seen such a coaxing, childlike gesture.

He almost asked where Luo Yunchen had picked this up, but then remembered that Luo Yunchen had grown up under his grandfather's care. Perhaps it was related to that. Better not to ask, so as not to stir up old memories.

Su Zheng just said, "You sleep too. Good night," and closed his eyes, breathing softly.

Luo Yunchen also closed his eyes, but once he sensed the person beside him was asleep, he opened them again, his eyes tinged red.

He raised his free hand, stroking Su Zheng's cheek gently.

"Brother, were you getting revenge for me today? Keeping trouble away from me? Even trying to hunt down my enemies?"

"Brother, I can't figure out who you are. Why are you being so good to me? Do you have some ulterior motive?"

"Fine, whatever your goal is, I'll help you accomplish it."

"But brother, since you've come to me, you can never leave!"

Luo Yunchen rested his head on Su Zheng's shoulder, a satisfied smile on his face as he fell asleep.

The next morning, Su Zheng and Luo Yunchen woke up almost simultaneously.

Su Zheng felt a warmth near his ear—Luo Yunchen had buried his face in the crook of Su Zheng's neck.

One hand gripped his wrist tightly while the other held his waist, and one leg was tangled with Su Zheng's.

Su Zheng felt like he was tied up.

He moved a little, and Luo Yunchen got the hint, loosened his grip and sat up. "Brother, wait a moment. I'll have them bring hot water for you to wash up."

The servants brought in the washing supplies one by one.

Just like Su Zheng had taken care of him in the previous days, Luo Yunchen handled everything himself—helping Su Zheng wash up, get dressed, get out of bed, and put on his boots.

During breakfast, Xiaoyunzi came to announce that a few princes and princesses had come to see the Crown Prince and asked if they should let them in.

Before Su Zheng could respond, Luo Yunchen said, "The Crown Prince needs to rest and shouldn't be bothered. Send them all away."

Su Zheng raised an eyebrow just a little but continued eating without any comment.

Luo Yunchen observed Su Zheng's reaction and, seeing that Su Zheng was letting him take charge, felt pleased with himself.

Xiaoyunzi, knowing the Crown Prince probably agreed, was about to take his leave.

Su Zheng suddenly called him back. "Find some tailors and bring fine brocade to make several new outfits for Heir Luo."

Xiaoyunzi acknowledged and withdrew.

Luo Yunchen smiled innocently. "Thank you, big brother Crown Prince."

Over the next few days, Su Zheng didn't see any of his visitors, and Luo Yunchen didn't rush to interrogate the assassin.

They stayed together in the bedchamber, eating, drinking, reading, and chatting.

Luo Yunchen carefully and meticulously tended to Su Zheng's wounds until they began to scab and heal, no longer requiring his constant attention.

But as the wounds healed, they started to itch, and Su Zheng couldn't resist scratching them.

Each time, Luo Yunchen quickly caught his wrist. After several attempts, he simply held on and didn't let go.

Su Zheng couldn't break free from his grip, and the itching distracted him so much that he couldn't help rubbing his arm against Luo Yunchen.

Luo Yunchen smiled, indulging Su Zheng for a couple of rubs before pulling him closer, turning him so his back faced him.

He placed his other hand on Su Zheng's arm, gently pressing around the wound, and said softly, "Brother, does this feel better?"

Su Zheng sighed in satisfaction. "Much better. Keep pressing for a while."

Then he thought to ask, "Your wounds have healed too, haven't they? Don't they itch?"

Luo Yunchen chuckled. "It's bearable."

Su Zheng fell silent—was he mocking him for being fussy?

Well, after living a life of luxury, he had indeed become a bit pampered.

That night.

Since there was no longer any worry about pressing on the wounds, Su Zheng insisted they sleep separately.

After all, being tied up every night was affecting his sleep quality.

Luo Yunchen couldn't explain why, but he knew he didn't want to sleep apart from Su Zheng.

Though displeased, seeing Su Zheng's insistence, and thinking he should go interrogate the assassin, he suppressed his discontent and agreed, "Alright, as you wish, big brother. You sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the daybed."

Su Zheng had no objection—the daybed was a bit harder, but still sleepable.

Once Su Zheng was sound asleep, Luo Yunchen silently got up and left the bedchamber.

He instructed Xu Mo to guard the Crown Prince and then flew off to the Cold Palace.

In a remote, quiet corner of the Cold Palace overgrown with weeds, two of Luo Yunchen's men were watching the assassin. Seeing Luo Yunchen approach, they knelt and bowed. "Master."

"How is it?"

"As you ordered, my lord—no interrogation, no food, eyes and mouth sealed, ears blocked, not a drop of water in two days."

Luo Yunchen nodded, signaled his men to unblock the assassin's ears.

The assassin eagerly twisted his neck, straining his ears to catch any sound.

They'd crippled his martial arts, leaving him utterly weak, unable even to end his own life.

For nearly two days, his senses had been almost completely sealed off, cut off from all external stimuli, like he was cut off from the world.

Without a single drop of water or grain, his throat was bone-dry and cracked, and he was dying of thirst, and he'd soiled himself—a string of humiliations and tortures that made him long for a swift death.

As if reading his mind, Luo Yunchen crouched down to his level and spoke, his voice like a demon clawing its way out of hell, every word dripping with terror: "You want a quick death, or you wanna take your time and enjoy dying?"

The assassin nodded and then shook his head.

Luo Yunchen, as if oblivious, said to his men, "This place ought to be crawling with centipedes, scorpions, and snakes. Go catch 'em—bring back a bunch."