“You are best not to forgive us.”

Having just woken up from his sleep, Ji Yue murmured vaguely, “Hurt what…hurt?!”

He snapped his eyes wide open, all traces of sleep were gone. 

Wei Lian sat in front of him, wearing his thin white undershirt that hugged his beautiful figure. His long, dark hair fell down over his shoulder like a waterfall, scattering on the bed. 

Ji Yue sat up, eyes bewildered. 

What hurt?

Hurt what?

Did Wei Lian know that he knew about the truth behind the young man’s injuries? 

Should he confess now?

A tension suddenly burst inside of Ji Yue. 

He was ready to admit his mistake.

Then he could finally settle all the old accounts with Wei Lian. 

As Ji Yue let his imagination run wild, he saw the other man before him lowered his eyes. 

The young man stretched out his slender fingers and gently united the tie on the right side of his robe. 

The thin material slid from his body and piled up by the waist, revealing snow-white skin with well-defined lines. 

Wei Lian has a pair of extremely beautiful shoulder blades on his back, like a pair of butterfly wings. If Ju Yue’s gaze were to travel downward, he could see the two obvious back dimples. 

Heaven must have doted on Wei Lian so much — he was carved so carefully that everything from his head to his toes were exquisite and perfect. 

Wei Lian’s first step was making his message loud and clear. 

Ji Yue should get the message as a man. 

The emotion swirling inside Ji Yue’s eyes became cryptic. 

But the next moment, he put the clothes back on Wei Lian, and even tied a tight knot.

Wei Lian: “...”

Ji Yue said solemnly, “Wei Lian, we need to talk.”

Wei Lian asked, “...Talk about what?”

“About you lying to me.”

Wei Lian’s heart quivered but his face remained calm. “What did I lie to you about?”

Ji Yue was at a loss seeing Wei Lian’s reaction. 

Did he…misunderstand?

Wei Lian did not find out that he already knew, and did not intend to reveal it either. 

Ji Yue instantly wanted to turn tail. 

He lost the resolution to talk. 

What they have right now was good enough. There is no need to seek closure. Ji Yue began to think of an escape plan. 

He feared that once he asked, they would not maintain their current relationship. He was too afraid of losing the little illusion they have. 

Ji Yue remarked, “You have never said you like this kind of play before.”

Wei Lian was even more puzzled. “What kind of play?”

“The…hurting.” Speaking of this, Ji Yue became more troubled. 

He was particularly sensitive to Wei Lian’s injury.

If Wei Lian did not mean that matter, why did he say the ‘hurt’ word?

The more Ji Yue thought about it, the more frightened he became. 

Could it be that Wei Lian is fond of more stimulating activities on the bed?

The Shadow Guard was also responsible for investigating the ministers’ private affairs. There was basically nothing hidden from Ji Yue. Therefore, the Qin Emperor knew that some officials were serious and upstanding in his presence, while going to brothels to visit prostitutes in private, indulging in all manner of play. 

Such as rope binding, whipping, wax dripping…everything one desired existed. Some had gone too far and injuries were inevitable. 

When Ji Yue heard this, he sighed that he could not judge a book by its cover. He was also too lazy to comment on others’ personal hobbies. 

But he never expected to hear these words from Wei Lian one day.

No way. Wei Lian could not get hurt. 

Ji Yue was more angry at the thought of Wei Lian not taking his body seriously.

He scowled and scolded, “Don’t even think about it.”

Wei Lian: “...”

He thought Ji Yue might have misunderstood something. He was not interested in bed play at all, he was only too embarrassed to ask for it directly so he changed his wording. 

Wei Lian wanted to explain, but before he could speak, his words were blocked and pushed back by Ji Yue’s rapid-fire words, “Did you forget that your serious injuries will take a hundred days to heal? Behave yourself and go to sleep, don’t always be so restless. Could you pay the slightest regard to your body? You are simply driving us mad…we do not want to talk to you anymore! We are going to sleep!” 

Ji Yue very angrily covered himself with a quilt. 

Wei Lian, who did not get a chance to speak at all: “...”

Fine, he would accept it if Ji Yue would not give in. 

There was no need for the older man to be fierce about it. 

A thing should not be attempted more than three times, Ji Yue, we have no future!

* * *

The next morning, Ji Yue seemed to forget his unhappiness from last night and gave Wei Lian a morning kiss. 

But he was pushed away by Wei Lian. 

Treated him like he was good-tempered?

Ji Yue went for a hug. “Wei Lian.”

Wei Lian ignored him and shrank into the quilt. 

Ji Yue did not give up and called, “Wei Xiao Lian.”

Wei Lian thought coldly. It’s no use even if you call me father. 

The more angry Wei Lian was, the heavier the consequences. 

“Zhi Zhi, don’t pretend to sleep. Pay attention to me.”

“How about we take you to ride horses tomorrow? Go hunting in the woods?”

Ji Yue still remembered the last time he took Wei Lian around the palace’s horse course. The younger man looked very happy. 

How could anyone truly feel the thrill of galloping on the horse course compared to in the real mountain forest?

Wei Lian was tempted as he opened his eyes, turned his head and said, “Deal.”

* * *

The first day of spring hunt belonged to non-combatant ministers, and then the competition between the military generals. Otherwise, let the generals with martial arts compete with normal ministers, wasn't that just bluntly bullying? 

Therefore, the activities on the first day were not too taxing. Most of them were hunting small animals such as rabbits, pheasants, sika deer and so on for warm-up.

The Emperor would not go hunting today. 

In the next few days, the general would go deep into the forest and hunt dangerous predators such as brown bears, wolves, or tigers. Last year, Xie Chen hunted a tiger. The tiger’s skin was made into a blanket, which was the same one Ji Yue used to cover Wei Lian with yesterday. 

Thankfully, Xie Chen was not here this year, to the joy of many young military generals. Or they would be overshadowed by the outstanding general. 

Wei Lian had the easiest task among the group. He was neither a servant nor a minister. He did not need to work or hunt. He could stay with Ji Yue as a quiet flower vase花瓶 Just a pretty face, or an eye candy.
.

With Ji Yue’s protection, even if many people saw him as an eyesore, they would not dare to do anything to him. 

The previously offended Huyan Kemu, who disrespected Wei Lian was still eating prison food right now. 

The ministers rode their horses back from hunting and threw their game to the ground, while the eunuchs recorded the numbers. 

“Administrative Assistant Liu, one white fox and four pheasants.”

“Minister Xue of criminal justice, five rabbits and one red deer.”

“Minster Li of records administration, one rabbit, two pheasants and one grey wolf.”

This immediately drew others’ attention. A court recorder actually hunted a grey wolf, which was an amazing achievement. 

When many colleagues congratulated and praised Minister Li, he cupped his fists and humbly replied, “Thank you.”

When the final results came out, it was Minister Li who took the lead. 

Ji Yue, as one who held the highest position, gave his praise, “Minister Li, we underestimated you in the past.”

Minister Li wanted to say he would never dare, but the feeling of being praised by his Majesty was different from that of being praised by his colleagues. He was so moved that his beard was shaking. 

As a court recorder, Minster Li kept track of any matter, regardless of its importance. He faithfully recorded Ji Yue’s great achievements and trivial matters over these years, and was the Qin Emperor’s number one devotee. He established the Qin Emperor’s national enthusiast association with all the court recorders. 

He was ecstatic from this praise. 

He could finally mention his name in the historical records—the Qin Emperor’s thirteenth year of ruling, the fourth day of the third month, Spring Hunt, Minister Li hunted a hare, two pheasants and a grey wolf, received the Qin Emperor’s praise. 

It should be noted that before this, he had recorded many interactions between the Qin Emperor and Lian Gongzi. From the very beginning. In the winter of the Qin Emperor’s twelfth year of ruling, the Chu Empire offered Lian Gongzi in an agreement, to on a certain day of a certain month in a certain year, the Qin Emperor bestowed the ‘Shijun’ title to Lian Gongzi, visited him on the third day, as well as on a certain day of a certain month in a certain year, the Qin Emperor gifted Lian Gongzi something something treasure, and then on a certain day of a certain month in a certain year, the Qin Emperor declared Lian Gongzi as ‘Guijun’, on a certain day of a certain month in a certain year, the Chen Empire offered a chestnut horse, Lian Gongzi tamed it…

Because of the high recurrence rate of Lian Gongzi’s name, he almost wrote a historical record into a romantic script. 

As a court recorder, Minister Li followed Ji Yue closely in the daytime to record his Majesty’s words and actions. He was called ‘Twin Li’ together with Li Fuquan. As to bedroom matters, it was shifted to the tong shi lady official.

However, the tong shi lady official had long been ordered by Ji Yue not to work. Other than providing some folk stories and picture albums, the lady official lived a very leisurely life. While he was assiduous in his work, without fame and zero sense of existence. 

Now that he could finally leave his name in history. Why would he not be crying tears of joy?

Ji Yue could not comprehend the joy bubbling inside of Minister Li’s heart.

What was on his mind was that there were enough pheasants and rabbits for Wei Lian to eat his fill. 

His hunting party was on the road most of the day yesterday and ate dry rations to keep hunger away, but today was different. At night, a bonfire would be lit. People would sit around it, eating roasted meat and drinking strong alcohol. A very joyful time between the Emperor and his ministers. 

Minus the alcoholic drink, since Wei Lian could not touch it. 

Ji Yue shook his head as he crossed out that idea. 

* * *

Once it was dark, the attendant started a fire, strung today’s kills on branches and roasted them using the fire. They rotated the meat until golden grease oozed out, charred on the outside, tender on the inside, as the strong fragrance assaulted everyone’s sense of smell. 

During this hunt, the individual has to cook their own food from the mountain in order to enhance the flavour. Otherwise, it was no different than food being brought by the servant back at the palace, taking the fun out of this trip. 

Ji Yue roasted two strings of chickens by himself, continuously rotating the meat. Wei Lian sat by the fire and watched the older man cook. The flickering fire shone on Ji Yue’s face, clearly illuminating his facial features. 

Such a good-looking young man. 

Such a good-looking man is the Emperor of the people, and a husband only for Wei Lian. 

Ji Yue turned his head after roasting, and saw Wei Lian staring at him quietly with two hands supporting his cheeks. Feeling self-conscious and not knowing how long he had been watching, Ji Yue’s face turned red. Fortunately, it was not visible against the bright flame. 

He handed Wei Lian the roasted chicken. “Here you go.”

Wei Lian glanced at the charred branch. Not wanting to get his hand dirty, he raised his chin slightly and opened his mouth, “Ah—”

“You are acting so spoiled.” Ji Yue smiled and moved the roast chicken to the other’s mouth. Wei Lian tore off a piece of meat. 

Ji Yue took back his hand and continued to eat the spot with the missing meat. He no longer felt disgust by Wei Lian’s saliva. 

The two traded a bite back and forth, and soon, they finished the roasted chicken. Ji Yue tossed the remaining bones into the fire and it was swallowed by the flame in the blink of an eye. 

On one side, Minister Li immediately took out a small book and wrote: On a certain day of a certain month in a certain year, the Emperor and Lian Gongzi shared the same roasted chicken very intimately. 

Both of them were not big eaters. After one roasted chicken, they were already half full. A’Meng had been watching from the side, wagging its tail. It circled in place but also did not dare to come forward directly to eat the food. It ate a mouthful of his owner’s dog food and lay wilting on the side. 

Ji Yue patted its head and gave it the remaining roasted chicken. A’Meng gave a happy bark and quickly wolfed down the food without chewing the bones. 

Wei Lian commented, “It is very fierce.”

Ji Yue said, “The mastiff is fierce by nature, one can’t just constrain their nature.”

Wei Lian added, “You are also fierce.”

You were so fierce to me last night, just like this dog. 

Ji Yue: “...”

He said with amusement in his eyes, “Wei Xiao Lian, you are so quick to hold a grudge.”

Wei Lian glanced at him. “Wei Xiao Lian has been sullen all day and needs to be coaxed.”

“Did we not agree to take you riding tomorrow?”

“Not enough.”

Ji Yue joked, “Then what do we need to do for you to forgive us?”

Wei Lian smiled, suddenly took out a piece of roasted meat that was burnt to a crisp on the outside and said, “Venison that I just roasted.”

“I will forgive you if you eat it.”

Ji Yue was at a loss.

When did Wei Lian roast this thing?

The lasting shadow of the roasted blackened fish came to his mind again. 

Ji Yue pondered before saying, “How about, you are best not to forgive us.”