"It's okay, no one dares to say it to my face anyway, and I can't hear what they say behind my back! Besides, it's not true, let them say what they want, I don't care," Ye Jingchen said indifferently.
Compared to Ye Jingchen, the person directly involved, Xie Chang'an was much more agitated, "But I care!"
He didn't want Ye Jingchen to be criticized because of him, nor did he allow himself to become a stain on Ye Jingchen's reputation.
"But you and I both know that this isn't true, so other people's gossip can't hurt me at all, right?" Ye Jingchen asked with a smile, as he grasped Xie Chang'an's hand in return.
Xie Chang'an's emotions were calmed by his action, but other worries remained.
"The imperial physicians aren't so easily fooled! How did you manage to deceive them? It won't have harmed your health, will it?"
"The medicine that Mr. Li prescribed for me is natural and harmless. It has already fooled Imperial Physician Zhang and Chief Physician Li, and it should be able to fool the other imperial physicians as well," Ye Jingchen replied.
Mr. Li?
Upon hearing this, Xie Chang'an knew that Ye Jingchen had planned this all along!
Why didn't you tell me before you did this?
"If I had told you in advance, would you still have asked me to do this?" Ye Jingchen asked with a smile.
Of course not!
Although he always doubted that Ye Jingchen's feelings for him were pure, he didn't want Ye Jingchen to be hurt in any way because of this relationship!
"Although I've managed to fool my father for now, he's just too devastated. Once he recovers, he'll definitely try to test me in various ways. You'd better keep a close eye on everyone in the Eastern Palace," Ye Jingchen said to Xie Chang'an.
Xie Chang'an nodded. Ye Jingchen had already told a colossal lie to the emperor. Unless he replaced the emperor, the lie would only be confirmed by the emperor.
Although Xie Chang'an felt that replacing the emperor was much more worthwhile than confirming the lie, Ye Jingchen was clearly not interested in that position now.
"We shouldn't stay in the study for too long, let's go out." Having finished their private conversation, Ye Jingchen released Xie Chang'an's hand and got up to leave.
"Let me hold you for a while!" Xie Chang'an said to Ye Jingchen, and before he could agree, he directly hugged Ye Jingchen in his arms.
Although he did not agree with Ye Jingchen's actions and did not want Ye Jingchen to make any sacrifices for this relationship, he was secretly pleased when he learned that Ye Jingchen had done so.
Ye Jingchen is also working hard for their future.
Does this mean that this relationship wasn't just one-sided on his part, and that Ye Jingchen also hoped to spend the rest of his life with him?
"Brother Chang'an, don't be too touched. I didn't make this decision entirely for you. It's just that I have a kind of emotional purity complex and I can't spend my life with someone I don't like!" Ye Jingchen hugged Xie Chang'an back and said to him.
Xie Chang'an suddenly tightened his grip on the person.
"How come I never realized you were so cunning before?" he said sullenly.
Ye Jingchen asked with dissatisfaction, "Why do you always say I'm cunning when I'm such a sincere person?"
"You won't let me do anything, yet you're always teasing me. Aren't you cunning?" Xie Chang'an wished he could press the other man into his body, so that their flesh and blood would merge and never be separated.
"When did I flirt with you? I was just telling the truth—"
"Then you'd better not say anything more, or I'm afraid I might not be able to resist doing something to you!" Xie Chang'an interrupted Ye Jingchen.
The two embraced quietly in the corner of the study.
After a while, Ye Jingchen nudged Xie Chang'an, "We should go out now."
Xie Chang'an lowered his head and gently touched Ye Jingchen's lips before reluctantly letting go.
Ye Jingchen felt a slight itch when his lips were lightly touched by a dragonfly, and he subconsciously pursed his lips.
Then he saw Xie Chang'an's eyes gradually deepen because of his action.
He quickly took a few steps back to keep his distance from Xie Chang'an, then touched the spot where Xie Chang'an's hand had pinched him, and complained in a feigned tone, "Could you be a little gentler when you hug me next time? I feel like you're going to crush my bones!"
"No," Xie Chang'an said.
"If it breaks easily when you squeeze it, it just means your bones are too brittle and you need to exercise more."
"Even after you leave the military, don't let your marksmanship go to waste. I'll practice with you in the afternoons and evenings from now on."
Ye Jingchen: ......
He glared at Xie Chang'an, took a few quick steps, and opened the study door. Xie Chang'an then reopened the window in the study that Ye Jingchen had previously closed to make the study more ventilated before leaving the study.
"I often have breakfast at Chengqian Palace after court, so you don't need to accompany me to Taiji Hall for morning court anymore," Ye Jingchen said to Xie Chang'an behind him.
Although Xie Chang'an is currently the Deputy Commander of the Eastern Palace Guard, he is also the young heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Many court officials know him. If others see the young heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion waiting outside the Taiji Hall like a guard after court, it would damage the reputation of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion!
“It’s alright. I just didn’t know how to do it today. If you ever have breakfast at Chengqian Palace in the future, I can wait for you outside.” Xie Chang’an said.
He couldn't possibly let go of any opportunity to spend time with Ye Jingchen.
Ye Jingchen frowned and looked at him, "Then you won't have time for breakfast?"
"We can eat when we get back to the East Palace. We won't go hungry."
Seeing Xie Chang'an's resolute attitude, Ye Jingchen didn't say anything more and changed the subject.
"Today is your first day on duty, so you should report to the commander. I'll take you to find Lin Xun."
Xie Chang'an had studied in the Wenhua Hall for so many years, so he naturally knew Lin Xun, the commander of the Eastern Palace Guard. Logically speaking, today was his first day on duty, and he should have gone to see Lin Xun first after arriving at the Eastern Palace. However, he had not been able to see Ye Jingchen for three days. After entering the Eastern Palace, his feet seemed to obey him, and he involuntarily went to see Ye Jingchen first.
If Ye Jingchen wanted to see Lin Xun, he could simply send someone to summon him. However, Xie Chang'an was currently only the deputy commander of the Eastern Palace Guard, and Lin Xun was his superior, so he naturally had to pay his respects in person.
"Do you plan to live in the East Palace or the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion from now on?" Ye Jingchen asked on the way to see Lin Xun.
"The Eastern Palace," Xie Chang'an answered without hesitation.
He just wanted to stay closer to Ye Jingchen.
As for the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, those two little brats are now the darlings of the elders in the family, while he is nothing but a forgotten flower of yesterday!
"You can stay in the palace when you're on duty, but you should go back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion when you're off duty. The Dowager, the Duke, and the Duchess are all getting old. As a junior, you should spend more time showing them filial piety," Ye Jingchen reminded him.
“There are people in the household who are fulfilling their filial duties,” Xie Chang’an said.
"Who?" Ye Jingchen asked, somewhat puzzled.
"You wouldn't believe how adorable my second and third uncles' two little dumpling babies are! The whole family dotes on them, and I've fallen out of favor!" Xie Chang'an said with a hint of resentment.
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