Marked by a Tyrant After Transmigrating

Imperial Physician Feng had never seen Ye Shu’s superb acting skills. Without a shadow of doubt, he came forward to check Ye Shu’s pulse right away.

He put his fingers on Ye Shu’s wrist, and after a few moments of silence, his eyes suddenly brightened.

Concubine An’s pulse is clearly……clearly a happy pulse!

Indeed, as expected of His Majesty; not only did Minister Ye get pregnant not long ago, even Concubine An is expecting soon. Chang Lu is blessed by the Heavens! Congratulations!

Physician Feng was about to convey the happy news to the young gentleman on the dragon bed, when his expression suddenly froze.

Hold on… This pulse… How?

The canopy of the bed was hanging low. From the outside, one could vaguely see a figure reclining on the dragon bed. The corners of physician Feng’s mouth twitched, his complexion shifting a few times.

Concubine An had a happy pulse indeed, but his pregnancy… It had been, by any measure, almost two months.

And two months ago, Concubine An had not entered the harem yet.

Physician Feng was shocked to find out that he seemed to have discovered some imperative secret of the imperial family that could only be known to insiders. His complexion immediately turned ghastly pale.

Ye Shu was leaning against the bed, watching physician Feng’s expression through the small gap of the gauze canopy, somewhat impatient.

Why does this old fellow’s expression keep shifting? What is he thinking?

Under no circumstances should his gentle and virtuous persona crumble!

Ye Shu cleared his throat and asked softly, “What has the physician found out?”

Physician Feng shuddered and came back to his senses. As a senior citizen who had survived three dynasties, he had already traveled far and wide and seen a good deal of affairs, but had never been embroiled in such an absurd one. He wouldn’t let slip such a scandal of the imperial family no matter what.

Moreover, it seemed as though Concubine An didn’t know he was pregnant at all.

Things can still develop.

Physician Feng, in the twinkling of an eye, had already thought things through. He let go of Ye Shu’s hand, barely maintaining a steady tone as he said, “Young master lacks qi and blood. It’s advisable to have a good rest for a few days. Tonics are also appropriate…”

A few moments later, physician Feng left the Yangxin Hall, and only then did he find that his back had already broken out into a layer of cold sweat.

Inside the hall, Ye Shu lifted the canopy, the doubts in his heart finally dissipated.

Did that mean, there really was nothing wrong with his body?

—

About one and a half hours passed before Jin Wang came back.

Ever since the imperial physician recommended that the pregnant Kunjun must go for a walk and bathe in the sunlight, Jin Wang would set aside an hour to accompany Ye Shu after the morning court every day, and would only then go to the imperial study to deal with official duties.

Jin Wang untied Ye Shu’s gold chain, took him out of the Yangxin Hall and mounted the imperial palanquin.

To be exact, it was His Majesty the monarch and Concubine An.

Jin Wang could never understand the joy this man got from playing two roles.

“How dull it is to be locked up in the palace ah. There isn’t even a single fun thing to do. Do you want me to die of boredom?” Ye Shu thus said.

Jin Wang was stunned after hearing his remark.

He was reminded that Ye Shu had always been fond of his freedom. Especially since the harem had consistently been desolate, with Ye Shu’s nature, he certainly wouldn’t want to be trapped in this palace.

But he had actually locked up the man…

Ye Shu had no idea of what Jin Wang was thinking. As if the latter was of no consequence at all, he was soon drawn by the sight outside the imperial palanquin.

The imperial palanquin interior had wide seats, but it still couldn’t be regarded as too spacious. The two sat side by side, their bodies so close that they seemed to be snuggling with each other. But Jin Wang had never felt the distance between them to be as great as it was today. 

His Majesty’s heart, wracked with a strong sense of guilt, had completely left behind the reason why he had locked this man up in the first place.

He put his hand on Ye Shu’s shoulder and was about to speak when Ye Shu suddenly exclaimed, “It’s snowing!”

Jin Wang paused.

Ye Shu couldn’t care less about him and immediately called the imperial palanquin to a stop, and jumped straight down, not waiting for the servants to help.

Jin Wang was so scared, the back of his head felt like it was on pins and needles.

“Ye…” Jin Wang stalled as he recalled, “Concubine An! Stop right there!”

Ye Shu stopped and looked back innocently.

Neither Jin Wang waited for the servants’ help, jumped off and strode towards Ye Shu. “Did you forget what Gu told you?”

“Didn’t forget…” Ye Shu said in a tiny voice. “No running, no jumping, no walking on pebbled paths and no going near the lake shore.… Say, are you raising me like I’m a three-year-old?”

Jin Wang said coldly, “You’re much naughtier than a three-year-old.”

Ye Shu, “Hmp.”

Jin Wang instructed one of the servants to fetch the snow-white fox fur, draped it over Ye Shu’s shoulders, and held his hand. “Look at you getting so happy at the sight of the snow that you forgot everything. Hold on to Gu. Walk slowly.”

This place was not far from the imperial garden. Jin Wang dismissed the servants and led Ye Shu slowly to walk.

This was the first snow in the capital since the beginning of winter. One could call it snowing, but in fact, it was only a few thinly scattered flakes falling to the ground, instantly disappearing without a trace.

But for Ye Shu, a southern child who hadn’t experienced seeing snowfall year in and year out, it was already enough to be excited about.

“Still so fond of snow…” Jin Wang tilted his head to look at him and couldn’t help but smile.

Strange to say, Ye Shu was born in the capital where there was never a shortage of the scenery of snow. But this man acted as if he had never seen it before. He would be very excited for most of the day every time he saw the snow.

It had been this way since their childhood. 

Ye Shu wore a hood on his head, with most of his face hidden in the snow-white fox fur, it’s lining that face even fairer and more petite. He looked up at the wafting snowflakes, with slightly bright eyes that reflected the snowscape in the sky which had already lost its color.

Jin Wang got lost in thought for a moment there.

As the snow gradually grew heavier, the two had to find a wayside pavilion to keep away from the snowfall.

Beside the pavilion was a man-made lake on which snowflakes were fluttering about; too beautiful to be fully appreciated all at once.

Jin Wang wrapped his arms around Ye Shu and sat down in the pavilion, holding the other’s hands into his palm. “Is it cold?”

“Not really.” Ye Shu looked at the lake in the distance and muttered to himself, “It’s snowing too little to have a snowball fight.”

“……” Jin Wang seriously said, “Even if the snow piles high, you’re not allowed to have a snowball fight.”

Pregnant and still wanting to play with snow; can this man ever spend a day without courting disaster.

Ye Shu, displeased, “Why do you even care about that?”

Jin Wang, “Because Gu just does.”

“But…”

Jin Wang insipidly said, “Gold chain.” 

“……” Ye Shu then turned amiable, “You’re right, I will do as you say.”

The snow grew ever heavier, a mantle of snow gradually accumulating on top of the branches.

However, it didn’t feel cold at all.

Ye Shu was wrapped in thick fox fur, his hands were held in Jin Wang’s hands, and he was safely placed in his arms. Ye Shu looked down, feeling the warmth from the other party’s palm seemingly seep into his hands, warming his four limbs and hundreds of bones, going straight to his heart.

Even the deepest part of his heart seemed to melt from this warmth.

“What are you looking at Gu for?” Jin Wang asked.

“Nothing,” Ye Shu averted his gaze and said softly, “this is my first time seeing the first snow. I didn’t expect it to be with Your Majesty.”

Jin Wang detected the intention of his words, yet didn’t quite understand. “The first snow refers to the first snow in early winter, right? What do you mean?”

Ye Shu just smiled.

Seeing that the snow was already beyond control, the servants soon came with the imperial palanquin.

Ye Shu was pregnant and couldn’t stay long outside in the midst of snow.

Outside the pavilion was a path which the imperial palanquin couldn’t enter and from which it could only park ten steps away.

Ye Shu rolled his eyes and started to act again. “This subject doesn’t wish to walk anymore. Your Majesty, please carry me over.”

“……”

If it were in the past, the servants would never have thought that anyone would dare to command the monarch like this. However, the several servants who had come out today were all from the Yangxin Hall and had long been accustomed to this man’s daily demands from His Majesty; they closed their eyes and pretended to be blind.

Not surprisingly, Jin Wang wasn’t enraged at all. He walked up to Ye Shu and bent down. “Come on ba.”

A servant came forward to hold the umbrella as Jin Wang carried Ye Shu and walked into the snow.

Ye Shu put his face on Jin Wang’s shoulder, tilting his head to see the other party’s handsome countenance. “Your Majesty, I think you are not quite the same as before.”

Jin Wang, “How is it not the same?”

“You weren’t this nice to me before. Before, I wanted you to help me tie my hair, you refused to do it,” Ye Shu paused and added in a low voice, “and even punished me.”

This was about that time in imperial study, of course.

Jin Wang paused slightly in his steps and said, “Behave yourself, and you will not be punished again.”

“That depends on your performance,” Ye Shu gave a low hum. “On whether you stop being so hard on me and stop trying to test me.”

Jin Wang returned the words to him as they were, “That depends on your performance.”

Ye Shu, “…Hmp.”

The two soon returned to the Yangxin Hall, and Jin Wang told Ye Shu to bathe first.

There was only one bath in the side chamber of the  Yangxin Hall. At some point of time, Jin Wang began insisting that he would no longer share a bath with Ye Shu.

It wasn’t that the old dog was trying to be restrained, but upon Ye Shu’s pregnancy, his faith incense tended to overflow from time to time and was poorly hidden. It was still tolerable inside the bedchamber but it spread through the bath with the steam and the effect was even more intense. Jin Wang suffered greatly several times and hence learnt not to bring trouble upon himself since then.

Ye Shu finished bathing and changed his clothes. When he returned to the hall, he happened to meet the imperial physician Feng who had just entered. When he caught sight of Ye Shu, his eyes reflected a complex emotion.

Ye Shu, “?”

Jin Wang instructed, “Gu will go take a bath. Physician Feng may take the noble consort’s pulse, so he may not catch a cold.” 

Physician Feng, “…Yes.”

Ye Shu, held by Jin Wang, walked over and sat on the small couch.

But that was about it.

Jin Wang didn’t proceed to put the gold chain on him.

Ye Shu blankly looked at him.

Jin Wang didn’t mention anything either. He stroked Ye Shu’s hair and said softly, “Drink some ginger tea to warm your stomach. Gu will be back soon.”

Ye Shu obediently responded with a “hmn.”

Jin Wang soon left. Ye Shu then sat up straight and let physician Feng check his pulse.

Physician Feng seemed somewhat preoccupied today. His expression would blossom with a sudden desire to speak, but not do so on second thought, as if it would entail a long explanation. His expressions varied in a sort of colorful splendour. 

Ye Shu was afraid that if he continued like this, that face would cramp sooner or later, and he considerately said, “If the physician has something to say, just say it ba.”

Physician Feng swept his eyes to the bedchamber and asked in a low voice, “Dare I ask the young master, is Concubine An in the hall?”

“……” Ye Shu adopted a stern countenance. “No, of course not.”

“That’s good then…” The physician took a deep breath, his voice extremely lowered as he mysteriously said, “This subject has a shocking secret to inform the young master.”

Of His Majesty’s two concubines, imperial physician Feng was more partial to the former minister, Ye Shu.

Physician Feng had watched Ye Shu and Jin Wang grow up. Ten years ago, Jin Wang had caught the common cold and had a high fever for several days. At that time, physician Feng happened to be out of the capital and the imperial hospital looked down on Jin Wang, the unfavored prince. Ye Shu came to seek help but was only excused.

When physician Feng returned to the palace, Ye Shu was kneeling at the entrance of the imperial hospital. On a snowy night in midwinter, with his body fully laden with snow.

The deep affection between these two young men; Physician Feng had long seen and taken it all in with his eyes.

From not being able to remove the man after he conspired against the state, to allowing him to conceive his own child. In physician Feng’s opinion, Ye Shu and Jin Wang’s feelings had actually already overcome all tribulations.

As luck would have it, a Concubine An just appeared this time.

On one hand, physician Feng sighed at the audacity of that Concubine An, and on the other, he sympathized with Ye Shu who was still being kept in the dark.

Thus, he thought about it after he went back earlier that day and finally made up his mind. It would be more beneficial to tell Ye Shu in advance than to directly inform His Majesty of the matter. May as well be prepared ahead of time. This was something he learned from the harem when he was serving the previous monarch.

Physician Feng was deeply concerned about the hardships of the harem. He moved close to Ye Shu’s ear and said solemnly, “Concubine An is pregnant.”

He paused, then added even more solemnly, “It’s not His Majesty’s.”

Ye Shu sipped on his ginger tea and said, “That’s it? I thought it was someth—”

Eh???

Pregnant? What the fuck??