Chapter 131 Just Get Closer, And It’ll Be Fine

Morning light filtered through the cracks in the window frame, falling onto the bed and the outlines of the two curled up together.

Xiao Yan woke early.

He looked down at the person in his arms. Liu Qingci was still asleep, breathing lightly and softly.

He watched for a while, then pulled his arm out from under him, got up, and threw on a robe.

The door to the next room was ajar.

Xiao Yan pushed it open and entered. Imperial Physician Sun was dozing by the bedside. Startled by the sound, he jerked awake and scrambled to kneel.

Xiao Yan waved him off, his eyes landing on the bed.

The old emperor’s complexion looked slightly better than the day before—a hint of color had crept into the sallow complexion, and his breathing was steadier.

Several empty bowls sat on the small table by the bed, medicinal residue still visible in the bottom of each bowl.

“He was fed the medicine twice last night,” Imperial Physician Sun said in a low voice, a hint of barely contained excitement in his tone. “Your Highness’s prescription is truly miraculous—His Majesty’s pulse has stabilized. In my decades of practicing medicine, I have never seen a formula take effect so quickly…”

His voice trailed off as those strange thoughts crept back into his mind.

From this miraculous prescription to his sudden appearance here yesterday—everything was too bizarre.

At first, Imperial Physician Sun thought Prince Yu had some scheme, letting him smuggle both His Majesty and himself out of the secret chamber in the imperial palace.

But yesterday, he realized belatedly that from the time he passed out until he woke up in this traveling palace, less than an hour had passed!

How was that possible?!

He’d been an imperial physician for decades and knew exactly where this traveling palace was located outside the capital and roughly how far it was from the royal palace in the capital city.

Even at a full gallop, it would take half a day easy.

So how had he gotten from the palace to here?

Those questions gnawed at him like ants.

He even started wondering if Prince Yu had really turned into a vengeful ghost, with methods so unfathomable.

Sun’s hands shook, and he couldn’t help glancing at Xiao Yan.

The prince was standing by the bed, looking down at the sleeping emperor with a calm expression, as if this were all perfectly normal.

Sun swallowed his words.

He dared not ask.

Some things were better left unknown.

He’d lasted decades in the Imperial Hospital by keeping his trap shut.

Besides, as long as the emperor truly woke up, it didn’t matter if Prince Yu was man or ghost—his career was set.

Xiao Yan looked away, then gave him a brief glance that made Sun’s spine stiffen.

“Imperial Physician Sun,” Xiao Yan said.

The physician quickly lowered his head. “I am here.”

Xiao Yan looked at him, then said:

“During the days Father Emperor is recuperating, I ask you to take good care of him.”

Sun’s heart relaxed, and he nodded repeatedly. “You’re too kind, Your Highness. This is my duty.”

“I’m heading back to the capital today. This palace now has extra guards. If you need anything, talk to them.”

Hearing this, Sun looked toward the door. Sure enough, a few guards in combat gear stood in the hallway.

They stood at attention, swords at their hips, staring straight ahead.

There weren’t any yesterday. No clue where Prince Yu had gotten them.

Still, Sun didn’t ask. He just looked away and agreed at once. “I understand.”

Xiao Yan walked out, scanning the guards.

Little K said in his head, slowly, “Host, don’t worry—these are all people Prince Yu’s uncle placed here at the palace before. They’re completely loyal to you, trustworthy!”

Xiao Yan didn’t reply and went back to the next room.

Little K could filter out everything in this world that suited him and his plans, making things way easier.

Xiao Jing had been hunting him in the capital the last few days. Now it was time to head back and deal with that.

In the room, Liu Qingci was already awake.

Xiao Yan told him he was going back to the capital, then asked, “The capital’s a mess. You want to stay here or come with me?”

Liu Qingci didn’t hesitate. “I’ll go back with you.”

Xiao Yan wasn’t surprised. “Okay. There’s a carriage ready here. Let’s gather our things and go.”

Liu Qingci blinked. “We’re taking a carriage back?”

Xiao Yan paused. “Of course.”

“Oh.” Liu Qingci looked a bit lost. He murmured, “I thought we could just teleport back like before…”

Xiao Yan: “…”

Little K: “…”

Little K muttered, “Hmm… I don’t have that feature available right now.”

When Liu Qingci mentioned teleportation, his eyes lit up with curiosity.

They’d talked a lot last night, but Xiao Yan hadn’t mentioned Little K yet.

Xiao Yan chuckled. “This help of mine isn’t all-powerful.”

Liu Qingci asked, “So who, exactly, is he?”

Xiao Yan said, “He’s in my head. A system named Little K.”

Liu Qingci frowned a little.

He clearly didn't understand what "system" meant.

Xiao Yan thought for a moment, then rephrased it: "Just think of it as... a very powerful little thing. You can't see it or touch it, but it can help me with a lot of things."

Liu Qingci pondered for a moment, said thoughtfully, "Could it be what the operas call an 'inhabiting spirit'?"

Xiao Yan let out a light chuckle: "Close enough, you can think of it that way."

Liu Qingci suddenly thought of something and his expression changed: "Then he can hear everything we say and see everything we do at any time, right?"

Thinking about what had happened between him and Xiao Yan the past two days... Liu Qingci's ears instantly turned bright red.

Now, as Xiao Yan spoke, he was still holding Liu Qingci's hand.

Liu Qingci reacted quickly, breaking free in an instant, stepping back several paces to put distance between them.

Although that little whatever-it-is spirit wasn't human, it still wasn't good to have it watching...

Xiao Yan's hand was suddenly empty, the smooth touch vanished in an instant, and he was startled for a moment.

Liu Qingci had already retreated three steps away, looking warily at Xiao Yan—no, at the air around him.

His lustrous amber eyes were filled with caution, and the tips of his ears were so red they could bleed.

Xiao Yan saw him like that, stunned for a moment, then couldn't help laughing out loud.

"Don't worry, it's got a privacy mode."

Liu Qingci was taken aback: "Privacy mode?"

Xiao Yan nodded: "When we're being intimate, it automatically shuts down—it can't see or hear anything."

Liu Qingci's eyes widened in amazement, as if amazed that something so miraculous could exist.

"So... if you don't want it to watch, we just need to get intimate."

Xiao Yan leaned in, taking that hand back into his palm, and gave it a light peck.

"Like this, it gets shut down."

Liu Qingci felt the gentle peck on the back of his hand—soft, ticklish.

Xiao Yan's eyes were smiling, looking a bit mischievous.

"You..." Liu Qingci opened his mouth to say something but realized he had been outmaneuvered.

Xiao Yan looked at him like that, his smile widening.

He held Liu Qingci's hand and pecked the back of it again.

"See," he said, "shut down again."