“Whether I am wilted or not, do you not know that best?”
From then on, Sheng Yuli came every night after dark. He kept watch by the bedside while Shi Hanshang slept soundly. Whenever Shi Hanshang woke with a cramp, Sheng Yuli would wake instantly to massage his waist and hand him water.
After Shi Hanshang drifted back to sleep, Sheng Yuli would lean against the bedside to rest with his eyes closed. He would wait for the first light of dawn when the manor was quiet, slipping out through the window before the day fully brightened.
At first, Shi Hanshang felt quite apprehensive.
After all, having a former arch-nemesis by your bedside, watching you while you had discarded all defenses and lay vulnerable without any protection, was a daunting prospect, especially in the dead of night when his mind was most fatigued.
Moreover, his current physical state was far inferior to before. He could become extremely weak at any moment due to sudden cramps or morning sickness. Anyone could take advantage of him; who could sleep under such circumstances?
However, as the days passed, Shi Hanshang gradually realized that Sheng Yuli truly made no other moves. He slowly let down his guard.
Furthermore, in his current state, where he frequently woke up thirsty, having someone by his side to take care of him was indeed much more convenient.
For half a month, Shi Hanshang’s sleep quality improved significantly. Consequently, his energy during the day was exceptionally abundant. As long as the child was not acting up, he was as vigorous and full of vitality as he had been before!
Now, he could not only handle his daily administrative duties but also had the energy to inspect various departments after the morning court session. He felt refreshed, and the gloomy mood he had carried since becoming pregnant improved greatly.
The officials of the Six Ministries, however, suffered. They spent their days in fear; those who were used to fishing in troubled waters no longer dared to be lazy or negligent. They were terrified of being caught by the Chancellor and facing punishment. Every day was a chorus of lamentations and misery.
Sheng Yuli, frequently deprived of sleep, was his exact opposite. No matter how good his stamina, leaning against the bedside every night left him with an aching back and a sore waist. He had to remain alert to Shi Hanshang’s every movement, waking instantly at the slightest sound. Over time, even a man of iron would struggle to hold up!
Thus, when Sheng Yuli appeared in the imperial court with two massive dark circles under his eyes, the entire assembly of officials was startled. Even Li Yi, behind the bead curtain, could not help but express concern for Sheng Yuli’s health.
Sheng Yuli merely claimed it was poor sleep but remained tight-lipped about the reason.
After the morning court session, just as Shi Hanshang stepped out of the palace, someone patted him from behind. Turning around, he saw Jiang Jin smiling brightly at him. “Lan Bie!”
“Huai Zhen?” Shi Hanshang noted the trace of secret delight on the other man’s face and asked with some surprise.
This Jiang Jin was the grandson of Grand Preceptor Jiang, the tutor shared by both Shi Hanshang and Sheng Yuli. He was also a classmate from the Imperial Academy and had always been close to Shi Hanshang. He had been one of the main forces in the past struggles between Shi Hanshang and Sheng Yuli.
Jiang Jin walked side by side with him, chatting about daily matters. As they reached a sparsely populated area, Jiang Jin suddenly stopped and glanced around.
Before Shi Hanshang could ask what was wrong, Jiang Jin snapped his folding fan open. Using the ink-wash fan as a shield, he turned to Shi Hanshang and whispered with a snicker, “Hey, Lan Bie, did you see Sheng Yuli’s appearance today? Dark clouds under his eyes, looking completely listless!”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Looking like that, who even needs to ask for a reason? One look and you can tell it is the result of excessive indulgence and staying up all night!”
Jiang Jin gloated, “Tsk. I originally thought that no matter how arrogant and unrestrained Sheng Yuli was, he would at least be cautious in matters of the flesh!”
“But looking at him now,” Jiang Jin shook his fan with an air of certainty, “I suppose he who touches pitch shall be defiled!”
“Well, being friends with a playboy like Qin Zhen all day, he was bound to fall from grace! It is a pity for his great skills. If his body is hollowed out by wine and women in the future, it would truly be a waste of his rare talent!”
“Sigh, a pity! What a pity!”
Jiang Jin said it was a pity, but there was no trace of regret on his face. He fanned himself faster and faster, looking thoroughly satisfied!
When mentioning matters of the flesh, he did not forget to nudge Shi Hanshang several times with his elbow, winking wickedly. The unsaid implications were enough to make anyone’s imagination run wild.
After his spirited display, Jiang Jin noticed that Shi Hanshang had no reaction whatsoever. At first, he did not understand why. After a moment of reflection, he suddenly slapped his fan against his palm and said as if enlightened:
“Lan Bie, do not worry! In my heart, even if Sheng Yuli does not degenerate into a life of debauchery, he could never compare to you!”
Shi Hanshang’s expression was somewhat stiff. He struggled to control his twitching lips. After a long while, he managed to say with difficulty, “Oh, thank you.”
He did not know if Sheng Yuli was indulging himself, but he had seen the lack of sleep with his own eyes. Furthermore, it was for him.
If this had happened in the past, even if he did not agree, he would have treated it as noise.
After all, what Sheng Yuli did had nothing to do with him. It would be a waste of time and energy; he would rather spend it proofreading documents or reading books!
But now, he truly could not find any words of mockery.
Seeing Shi Hanshang’s strange expression, Jiang Jin finally could not help but ask, “Hiss, Lan Bie, I feel that your relationship with Sheng Yuli has been quite odd lately?”
“It seems,” Jiang Jin struggled to find the right words, “to have improved a lot?”
Shi Hanshang was startled. “What makes you say that?”
Jiang Jin tapped his head and gestured animatedly. “In the past, you two would rather not see each other at all. Walking past one another, you both moved as if the wind were at your feet; out of sight, out of mind! Your conversations were kept to the absolute minimum; saying one extra word was like pulling teeth!”
“But yesterday after court, I saw you and Sheng Yuli chatting at the palace gate. There was no shouting and no fighting! This is truly abnormal!”
Jiang Jin lunged back in front of Shi Hanshang, his eyes wide. “Lan Bie, you two have not…”
Before the words made peace could leave his mouth, Shi Hanshang immediately interrupted:
“We have not!”
Shi Hanshang felt flustered. He blurted out instinctively, “Sheng Yuli is such an arrogant man; I simply cannot be bothered to lower myself to his level!”
Jiang Jin was so startled by the sudden increase in volume that he nearly dropped his fan. He trembled three times, hurriedly gripped the fan handle, and patted his chest. “If you have not, then you have not. Why shout so loudly, Lan Bie?”
“I…” Just as Shi Hanshang was about to explain, his peripheral vision caught two dark figures, and he stopped abruptly.
Speak of the devil. Sheng Yuli and Qin Zhen were walking and laughing together. They were laughing heartily at something, and the bright smile on Sheng Yuli’s handsome face made his starry eyes shine even more brilliantly. He truly looked captivating.
The two were chatting happily and did not seem to have noticed them yet.
On this side, Jiang Jin assumed Shi Hanshang was annoyed by the mention of Sheng Yuli’s name. He quickly and smoothly changed the subject, his voice inadvertently getting louder. “Fine, fine, let us not talk about that. Lan Bie, tomorrow is the Cold Clothing Festival. Will you be going to Puguang Temple to chant sutras and pray for your parents?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the two men opposite them stopped in their tracks. They seemed to have been startled by Jiang Jin’s voice and turned their heads simultaneously. Unable to avoid it, Shi Hanshang’s eyes met Sheng Yuli’s.
His heart gave a thump. Shi Hanshang quickly moved his gaze back to Jiang Jin. His mind was in disarray, and he was momentarily speechless, forgetting what he was going to say.
“I…”
Before he could speak, he saw the man opposite him striding over. Qin Zhen followed hurriedly behind Sheng Yuli, looking shocked, as if he felt Sheng Yuli’s death-seeking move was far too bold.
Jiang Jin saw Shi Hanshang dazed and looked behind him. He, too, was instantly petrified.
There is nothing in the world more awkward than being caught talking behind someone’s back!
Jiang Jin was sweating profusely, wondering how much Sheng Yuli had heard. In a flash, he frantically calculated whether Shi Hanshang could save him if Sheng Yuli tried to punch him.
To his surprise, the expected fist did not arrive. Sheng Yuli acted as if he did not care at all. He brushed past Jiang Jin and walked straight to Shi Hanshang, his gaze burning. “Are you going to Puguang Temple to pray tomorrow?”
Jiang Jin: “?”
Qin Zhen: “?”
Shi Hanshang had not expected Sheng Yuli to rush over like this. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded.
“How will you go? By horse or by carriage?” Sheng Yuli continued. “Oh, no, no. Given your current condition, how could you ride a horse? It must be a carriage!”
“Condition?” Jiang Jin looked at them in confusion. “Lan Bie, what is wrong with your condition?”
Sheng Yuli acted as if he had heard nothing, still looking at Shi Hanshang. “Are you taking South Street or North Street?”
Shi Hanshang hesitated.
Sheng Yuli continued, “South Street is a shorter route to Puguang Temple, but it is crowded. There are all sorts of people there, and it might be dangerous. North Street is farther, but it is mostly frequented by the wealthy, with fewer ruffians or hawkers!”
Hearing this, Qin Zhen wiped away sweat and said nervously, “Zhige, my subordinates are patrolling the capital these days. You, you must not act rashly!”
He was terrified that Sheng Yuli was planning an ambush on the way to Puguang Temple.
Shi Hanshang: “!”
Sheng Yuli seemed completely oblivious, immersed in his own world. He rubbed his chin and worried, “However, North Street was just torn up for reconstruction recently. It is full of potholes right now. The road might be bumpy, which would be bad for you and the…”
Before he could finish, Shi Hanshang suddenly gave Sheng Yuli a secret pinch on the waist. He forcibly stifled the word child in Sheng Yuli’s throat, leaving only an indistinct, muffled sound.
Qin Zhen, however, caught that ambiguous tone. He asked in surprise, “Child? What child?”
Shi Hanshang: “!”
Sheng Yuli: “!”
Big mouth!
Shi Hanshang cursed Sheng Yuli ten thousand times in his heart. Rage surged from his soul; he wanted to rip Sheng Yuli’s loose mouth apart on the spot!
He thought that if his reputation were ruined here today, he would take Sheng Yuli with him on the road to the Yellow Springs tomorrow!
Sheng Yuli turned his head stiffly. Realizing what he had just blurted out, he gave Qin Zhen a forced smile. “Since when has your hearing been so good?”
The big mouth Qin Zhen was unaware of the approaching danger. He tossed his hair proudly, his flamboyant features on full display. He boasted, “This is a talent I was born with!”
“So you have heard all the private things I have said to others?” Sheng Yuli asked through gritted teeth.
“More than that!” Qin Zhen said excitedly. “I also know about the time at the Imperial Academy when you told Huo Xing that Shi Hanshang’s face was like stagnant water and his complexion as white as paper. You said looking at him makes one wilt and kills any desire instantly. You said his future wife would be truly pitiful, having to live with that dead man’s face for a lifetime!”
Shi Hanshang: “!”
Sheng Yuli: “?”
Sheng Yuli frantically tried to cover Qin Zhen’s talkative mouth, but it was already too late.
Before he could explain, Shi Hanshang’s expression turned cold instantly. His frost-like glass eyes swept over him. He grabbed Jiang Jin and turned to leave. “Let us go!”
Sheng Yuli thought with despair: It is over. I am dead meat.
Sure enough, that night, Sheng Yuli was locked out by the tightly closed window.
Sheng Yuli huddled in the cold wind, crouching outside the window. He kept an eye out to prevent any servants from the Shi Manor from appearing while saying every good and bad word he could think of. He spent half the night at it, but he failed to move the person inside.
Just as Sheng Yuli thought Shi Hanshang had fallen asleep, the window was suddenly opened from the inside!
The candlelight from within illuminated Sheng Yuli’s face and cleared his blurred vision.
He looked up in surprise, meeting Shi Hanshang’s still indifferent and heartless face.
After opening the window, Shi Hanshang walked away without a word. The latter, however, was overjoyed. He hopped into the room with great delight. Just as he was about to habitually reach for Shi Hanshang’s belly, his hand was forcefully slapped away.
Shi Hanshang glanced at him coldly and mocked, “Face like stagnant water, makes one wilt?”
Sheng Yuli broke into a cold sweat instantly.
After cursing Qin Zhen once more in his heart, Sheng Yuli gave a fawning smile. “Nonsense! Your face is like spring water; once seen, it is never forgotten!”
“Besides,” seeing that the frost on Shi Hanshang’s face had melted slightly, Sheng Yuli carefully reached out again. He slowly approached Shi Hanshang’s slightly protruding abdomen and whispered softly, word for word, “Whether I am wilted or not, do you not know that best?”
“Tsk.” Shi Hanshang had never seen such a brazen person. He let out a cold snort but ultimately did not push him away. However, because Sheng Yuli was too close, his hot breath tickling Shi Hanshang’s neck made it unbearable. He pushed Sheng Yuli’s head a bit farther away.
Then he rolled his eyes and said, “Artful words and affectations.”