Chapter 108: Basking in the Sun

Chapter 108: Sunbathing

Su Zheng picked up the lockpicking tools prepared by the System and fiddled with them for a while. Before long, he had unlocked the chains around his wrists, ankles, and waist one by one.

He flexed his wrists and ankles, then dressed and got out of bed.

The cage door was not locked. Luo Yunchen had calculated the chain lengths precisely so that Su Zheng could reach the door and stretch out his hand, but his fingers would be an inch short of the door.

Stepping out of the golden cage, he opened the palace door. Su Zheng couldn't help squinting and raised a hand to shield his eyes from the slightly glaring light.

After adjusting for a while until his eyes could open and see normally, Su Zheng lowered his arm and walked out of the hall.

It was the season of spring again. The sunlight fell on him, warm and bright; the weather was quite pleasant.

Su Zheng looked around and waved toward the rooftop: "Someone come."

But after waiting a moment with no response, Su Zheng asked the System, "Aren't there any Shadow Guards nearby?"

"There are, Host. They're all on high alert watching you."

Su Zheng was speechless. Were they really treating him like a serious criminal?

"Isn't it Ying Yi and the others?"

"No. Ying Yi and the others were sent back by Luo Yunchen for punishment and retraining due to poor performance. This new team of twelve is named after the twelve two-hour periods of the day, and the leader is called Zi Ying."

Su Zheng unconsciously touched his nose and sighed inwardly. Ying Yi and the others could be considered his own people—loyal and capable. They had been caught up in this unjustly because of him. He would have to find a way to ask Luo Yunchen to take them back.

The System seemed to sense Su Zheng's slight regret and added, "The Shadow Guards have their own rules for rewards and punishments. Whatever mistakes they make, the punishments are according to the rules, and they all understand. Besides, even if they don't make mistakes, they have to return for training periodically. They are only reinstated after passing the training."

Su Zheng understood. Although Luo Yunchen often went crazy and dark when it came to matters concerning him, he was extremely intelligent and rational when dealing with serious affairs. He would not kill people loyal to him, nor would he do anything to lose the support of his troops, destabilize his position, or disrupt the larger situation.

He nodded secretly to himself, calmed his mind, and said, "Got it."

Then he looked up again and waved: "Zi Ying, come out."

This time, Su Zheng didn't have to wait. A young man in black, his face covered, flew down from somewhere and landed behind Su Zheng, kneeling on one knee: "Your Majesty."

Su Zheng turned around and waved his hand: "Rise. How did your master instruct you regarding me?"

Zi Ying did not hide anything. He cupped his hands and replied, "Guarding the palace strictly, not allowing anyone or anything to enter and disturb Your Majesty's rest. Monitoring the palace strictly, not allowing anyone or anything to leave the palace. Any unusual movement must be reported to the master immediately."

"So someone has already gone to inform him?"

Zi Ying lowered his head slightly and did not answer, but the meaning was clear.

Su Zheng negotiated with Zi Ying: "How about you send someone to call him back? I just came out to soak up some sun. Once I've had enough, I'll go back. There's no need to disturb him."

Zi Ying lowered his head and remained silent, obviously unwilling to negotiate.

Su Zheng clicked his tongue and said, "Forget it. Have someone bring a daybed and a low table."

Zi Ying acknowledged and made a gesture. Several figures emerged from the shadows, quickly brought a daybed, and placed it in a sunny spot as Su Zheng directed. On the low table were fruits and pastries.

Su Zheng waved at Zi Ying, and the figures retreated into the shadows.

Leaving Su Zheng alone, he lounged on the daybed, eating fruit and basking in the sun—enjoying it while he could. Once Luo Yunchen arrived, who knew when he'd have such leisure again.

Luo Yunchen arrived very quickly. Su Zheng had just swallowed one mouthful of fruit and hadn't even taken a second bite when Luo Yunchen appeared before him, his robes fluttering.

Su Zheng, slightly tilting his head to enjoy the view, met Luo Yunchen's gaze—fixed straight on him.

Luo Yunchen's lips were pressed tightly together. He stood motionless, his eyes locked on Su Zheng, clinging to him.

Su Zheng glanced down inadvertently and saw Luo Yunchen's slightly bent arm, his hand tightly gripping a writing brush.

It seemed that upon hearing the news, Luo Yunchen's mind had been so consumed with intercepting Su Zheng and preventing him from escaping again that he had forgotten he was still holding the brush.

Su Zheng found it both amusing and exasperating. He put down the fruit, got up, and walked toward the hall.

Luo Yunchen remained where he was, but his gaze followed Su Zheng intently.

Only when Su Zheng entered the hall did Luo Yunchen snap out of it, prompted by Zi Ying's voice: "Master?" He asked quietly, "What happened?"

Zi Ying recounted the situation in detail.

After hearing it, Luo Yunchen murmured, "Just sunbathing? Or have you still not given up? Still thinking of leaving me all the time..."

Su Zheng took off his outer robe, changed back into his previous undergarments, got onto the bed, and fastened the ankle chains around his ankles when he heard footsteps.

He turned his head and saw Luo Yunchen step into the cage, his hands now empty—either he had thrown away the brush or handed it to a subordinate.

Luo Yunchen paused slightly, his deep eyes fixed intently on Su Zheng.

Perhaps from just having sunbathed, or being flustered from moving hastily, Su Zheng's cheeks were slightly flushed, his lips parted slightly, breathing lightly, and a strand of hair stuck to the corner of his mouth.

His clothes were a bit loose from the hurried dressing, the collar slightly open, revealing his pale, clear chest without obstruction.

Faintly visible were the marks that belonged to him—left from his forceful sucking.

The gloom and unease in Luo Yunchen's heart were beyond his control, replaced by a bit of joy when he saw Su Zheng like this.

His brother really knew how to torment him.

Luo Yunchen moved swiftly and reached the bedside in an instant.

Su Zheng looked up and saw the faint, ambiguous smile tugging at the corner of Luo Yunchen's lips.

Luo Yunchen reached out, slowly tracing the back of his fingers over Su Zheng's cheek, gently tucking the strand of hair behind his ear, and sighed softly: "Really can't let my brother be idle. When he has energy, he starts to stir up trouble. Rather than letting him mess around, I'd rather mess him up properly myself..."

"Wait..."

Before Su Zheng could finish, Luo Yunchen pushed him down on the bed. The mattress was soft and plush, so the fall didn't hurt, but it left him dazed for a moment. Before he could steady himself, Luo Yunchen forced a leg between his.

"I don't think brother can wait..."

"Wait, wait..." Su Zheng took a breath and quickly cupped Luo Yunchen's cheeks, pressing them together as he leaned close, and said urgently, "You're bullying me. I want to plead injustice!"

Luo Yunchen chuckled but actually stopped moving. He tilted his head slightly and landed a hot kiss on Su Zheng's palm. Restraining his desire, he asked, "What injustice does my brother have?"

"I only went out to sunbathe! How is that causing trouble? Do you know that if you don't get sunlight for a long time, your body becomes deficient in calcium, immunity, and happy hormones? Your figure will turn ugly, and you'll easily feel depressed and unhappy!"

Luo Yunchen didn't understand what Su Zheng was talking about earlier. He only caught that Su Zheng said he wasn't happy.

The smile on Luo Yunchen's lips faded. The look of disappointment in his eyes was undeniable as it spilled onto Su Zheng: "Does staying by my side make my brother so unwilling?"

Su Zheng shook his head vigorously and sighed, "As smart as you are, why can't you grasp the key point!"

Feeling dizzy from the shaking, Luo Yunchen's eyes grew somewhat confused as he looked at Su Zheng, seemingly puzzled.

Su Zheng raised his head and gently kissed the corner of Luo Yunchen's lips, saying warmly, "You keep thinking wildly. Why can't it occur to you that even if I go out, I'm just sunbathing in the courtyard? I never intended to leave."