Chapter 61 His Majesty already doted on the Seventeenth Prince

Long Langyue waited a while without anyone responding to him, then turned his head in confusion and met Seventeen's bewildered eyes.

Those clear, doe-like eyes seemed troubled by something, a deep sorrow lingering around their dark pupils.

His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly walked to Seventeen's side. He had just opened his mouth to say something when he saw Seventeen take a small step back.

"Your Majesty, I'm going to the camp to get my identification token."

The identity tag, the thing that always hangs around the necks of the secret guards, was temporarily placed in the secret guard camp for safekeeping because of Seventeen's trip to Jiangnan.

Long Langyue looked at the departing figure and suddenly felt a little lost.

He didn't know what was wrong with Seventeen, but he felt something was drifting away from him.

Seventeen ran to the Dark Guard camp with his head down, and bumped into Instructor Li who was just leaving.

"Seventeen? When did you get back?"

Coach Li was surprised; he had been sick for the past few days and had been resting for a long time, unaware that Seventeen had already returned.

"Instructor."

Seventeen's voice was muffled. Instructor Li paused for a moment: "What's wrong? What happened?"

"It's nothing, I'm here to get my ID card."

Coach Li nodded, took out the leather collar, and watched as Seventeen put it around his neck.

Why do you look so unhappy?

Instructor Li's parents died early, and because he had served in the Northern Army, he had never married. He took care of these children in the Dark Guard Camp with genuine affection.

"Nothing much, I just want to have lunch at the camp."

"That's it?" Instructor Li chuckled. "If you want to come back for a meal, then come back. It's no big deal. Have you spoken to His Majesty about it?"

Seventeen felt a little guilty, then nodded: "I already said so."

Since he had already said that, Instructor Li coughed twice and said, "Alright, go ahead. Thirteen and Fourteen are both in the camp; it's been a long time since we've seen them."

"Is the coach sick?"

"I had a fever a few days ago, but I'm almost recovered."

Seventeen ran into the inner room, where the floor and walls were covered with training equipment.

"Oh, what a rare guest!"

Thirteen hooked his arm around Seventeen's neck and laughed, while Fourteen wiped the sweat from his forehead and came over as well.

"I heard that His Majesty had taken you with him, and that you went to Jiangnan."

Fourteen was more mature than Thirteen. They all grew up together and had a good relationship. Although Seventeen joined later, she was thin and pretty at the time, so everyone naturally had some affection for her.

"Yeah, I just got back."

Seventeen was struggling to walk because Thirteen was holding her neck, so she had to push him a few times to free her neck.

"It's almost noon, shall we go eat?"

Thirteen didn't mind being pushed away and chatted with Seventeen with a smile.

The three teenagers walked and talked, and if you didn't know they were secret guards who had risked their lives, they would look like young masters from a wealthy family out for a stroll.

"Hey, second brother."

Thirteen caught a glimpse of someone in front of him out of the corner of his eye and immediately stood at attention. Fourteen chuckled at him but also stood at attention.

Seventeen obediently followed suit and greeted them.

Zero Two is rarely in the camp; it is said that His Majesty sent him to the northern lands, which can be considered a kind of "informant".

I never expected to see him in the palace today.

He was much stronger than the three men in front of him, and he could lift them up like chicks.

Ling Er looked down at Thirteen, who was pretending to be honest, and said coldly, "You can't be so undisciplined in the palace."

Thirteen pursed his lips, secretly criticizing Zero Two's rigid and serious demeanor.

But when he looked at Seventeen, his gaze softened considerably.

"The brothers are all back. You all need to intensify your training recently."

Zero Two rarely said such things, and Thirteen and Fourteen also noticed it, exchanging a thoughtful glance.

It seems something big is about to happen in the palace, something that requires them all to work together.

Thirteen and fourteen are still unknown, but seventeen is a complete expert.

His Majesty summoned them all back, perhaps for the sake of the Zhou and Xie families.

Apart from Eunuch Yuanfu, who is in Emperor Jing's palace, no one else knows the truth. It is said that some palace servants are secretly discussing whether to change their master.

Long Langyue didn't care at all, casually putting the brush aside and admiring his painting.

Yuanfu approached with a smile and said, "Your Majesty, would you like this old servant to put the painting away safely?"

His gaze immediately fell on the newly completed painting. His deep-set eyes widened slightly, and his heart pounded, but he quickly suppressed it.

The painting clearly depicts seventeen.

As a veteran of the palace for so many years, Yuanfu naturally understood what His Majesty was thinking.

"Let it dry and then put it away."

Long Langyue didn't care how much of an impact she had on the old man next to her. For him, after more than twenty years of being widowed, if he were to suddenly bloom, he should definitely offer the best to that person.

It's a pity that Seventeen doesn't know anything yet.

"yes."

Yuanfu carefully placed the painting on the drying rack to the side, then turned around and reported with humble eyes, "Your Majesty, those two families are probably impatient and are already asking around about the situation inside the palace."

As for Yuanfu, the most favored eunuch by Emperor Jing's side, he was naturally the first person to be inquired about.

Having received His Majesty's instructions, his expression when questioned was one of utter worry and anxiety, which was bound to convince those people that it was true.

"Hmm, do you think they'll directly force a resignation?"

Eunuch Yuanfu broke out in a cold sweat. The emperor of a country was so casually talking about forcing the emperor to abdicate. Even he didn't know how to respond tactfully.

Long Langyue didn't expect him to answer; she was just asking casually.

"Go down."

"yes."

Grandpa Yuanfu bowed and stepped back, then went outside to wipe his cold sweat and silently mourn for the two families.

"Zero One".

"Your subordinate is here."

Dressed in black night clothes, Lingyi knelt in front of Long Langyue. Her drooping eyebrows revealed the scar that ran through half of Long Langyue's face.

"What did you hear?"

"Most of the discussions are about His Majesty's terminal illness and the imminent change of the throne. A small number of opportunists claim that His Majesty's ascension to the throne was illegitimate and that this serious illness is a punishment from Heaven."

"Hmph." Long Langyue snorted coldly. The rumors had already spread, so it seemed more likely that it was a coup attempt.

Zero One knelt on the ground without saying a word; he was like an emotionless puppet, only obeying commands.

＊

Seventeen picked up the note on the table and glanced at it. Just as His Majesty had predicted, that group of people had come looking for him.

Thinking of the little eunuch he had just seen, Seventeen seemed to be deep in thought.

After putting away the note, Seventeen wandered around for a while before going to His Majesty's place.

Long Langyue had just woken up when she heard a voice outside: "His Majesty is not awake yet, the Seventeenth Guard will have to wait a while."

"Let him in."

A lazy, slightly hoarse voice came from inside. Yuanfu paused, put on a smile, and stepped aside to let Seventeen in.

After Seventeen went inside, he found the room dimly lit, perhaps because the curtains were drawn so he could take a nap.

After walking a few steps inside, I saw a person leaning against the dragon bed.

The man's descent was like a waterfall, mingling with the golden silk, creating a dazzling spectacle.

Seventeen held her breath. Should she not have come in? But His Majesty had already let her in...

"What are you staring at? Come here."

The man's voice was still lazy, but it carried an irresistible authority. Seventeen moved slowly and shuffled to the side of the other man's bed.

Long Langyue turned her head to look at him, casually tied her long hair up, and asked, "What is it?"

Because of his movement, the thin shirt that was originally held up came undone, revealing the well-built muscles underneath, which were both beautiful and powerful.

Seventeen almost stared wide-eyed, then turned around in a flustered manner and stammered, "Your Majesty, please get up."

Long Langyue lifted the curtain to the side, her clothes hanging loosely on her body, a truly...springtime scene.

Seventeen was relieved that the room was dimly lit, so even if half of her body was red, no one would notice.

"explain."

"His Majesty guessed correctly. They bribed a eunuch to pass me a note."

Seventeen reached into his robes and was about to hand the note to His Majesty when he suddenly bumped into a chest with its clothes wide open.

It wasn't very obvious when I was facing him sideways, but now it is...

"Your Majesty!"

Long Langyue raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled, straightened her clothes, put on her outer robe, and asked, "Why are you making so much noise?"

He then reached out and took the note from Seventeen, his slender fingertips touching the back of Seventeen's hand, which felt slightly cool.

"Your Majesty, please wear more clothes, lest you catch a cold..."

Seventeen felt the icy touch that seemed to snap at the slightest touch, and without knowing what was going through his mind, this sentence suddenly popped into his head.

Long Langyue: ?

He stretched out his long arm, revealing the intense sunlight outside, and silently looked at Seventeen.

Seventeen instantly realized what she had said. How could she possibly catch a cold in this weather? Even if she ran around outside shirtless, she wouldn't catch a cold!

Seeing the person in front of him blush from his earlobes to his neck, Long Langyue smiled slightly and stopped teasing him.

Unfolding the note, Long Langyue's eyes instantly hardened, and she said coldly, "Go see them."

Seventeen nodded, then looked up and asked, "What does Your Majesty think they would say to me?"

The blush on the young man's face had not yet faded, but he was already discussing official business with a serious and earnest look in his eyes. Long Langyue felt an itch in her heart and a slight itch in her hands.

"It's nothing more than first probing to find out if I'm really terminally ill, and then letting you wait until the day of the coup to coordinate an attack from within."

A coup. Seventeen's eyelashes trembled, a hint of nervousness in her eyes.

Long Langyue keenly sensed the barely perceptible tension in Seventeen, raised his hand and placed it on her shoulder to comfort her, saying, "Don't worry, I've arranged everything."

These words, spoken as if to coax a child... reminded Seventeen of Mingyue, who also liked to coax him in the same way...

Seventeen's eyelashes obscured his dark eyes, which were filled with thoughts, and he thought of the Moon-Covering Mystic Sword again.

No matter how chaotic the rumors of war were circulating outside, they had no effect on the palace, especially on Long Langyue's bedroom.

The Dark Guard Battalion had also reunited after a long absence. Instructor Li rubbed his hands together and approached Long Langyue with a smile, "Your Majesty, where is Seventeen?"

Long Langyue put down the map in her hand, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Aren't all the brothers in the camp back? I was thinking of calling Seventeen back for a meal."

"I will tell him when he returns."

Coach Li nodded repeatedly, then turned and took his leave without disturbing him any longer.

The sun was shining brightly outside, but Instructor Li's steps slowed down. Just now, he felt that His Majesty and the Seventeenth Prince did not seem to be in the same relationship as ruler and subject.

Perhaps I'm overthinking it. His Majesty dotes on the Seventeenth Prince, so it's normal for him to show him extra care.

Coach Li returned to the camp with a smile and helped everyone, who had finally gathered together, wash their hands and cook.

By the time Seventeen rushed over, the kitchen was almost finished.

Upon seeing Seventeen return, Thirteen immediately rushed forward to put his arm around his shoulder, but Zero Two glanced at him and then reluctantly removed his arm.

Seventeen was also a little excited. His eldest and second eldest brothers had returned, and he had also met his third and fourth brothers, whom he had never had the chance to see before. As for his fifth brother, he had met him in Jiangnan before.

The small kitchen couldn't accommodate so many people, so everyone except for a few who knew how to cook was kicked out.

Seventeen sat obediently on the bench outside, taking bites of the food they handed her and bites of the meat they stuffed into her mouth.

Thirteen looked at Seventeen eating obediently, stroked his chin thoughtfully, and said, "Has little Seventeen gained a little weight? Her appetite seems to have improved too."