Chapter 43
On the day of his wedding, Yu Zhi opened his eyes before dawn. He parted the lotus curtain and looked outside.
The spring clouds had dispersed, leaving a vast, blue sky dotted with scattered stars stretching for miles. Faint light filtered through the window lattice, revealing the vague outlines of a table and chairs.
Yu Zhi gently moved his hand from around his waist and just as he placed it on the man's arm, a slightly hoarse voice came from above his head: "Xiao Yu is leaving?"
Yu Zhi raised his eyes and saw Luo Tingshi staring at him without blinking. He curled the corners of his lips and said softly, "Sleep a little longer."
Luo Tingshi's eyes were filled with pity as he gently stroked Yu Zhi's hair. "You have to rush back to the palace early this morning, and you've been busy all day. You must be very tired. I should have been the one to find you, but you've let yourself suffer."
Yu Zhi disagreed: "Why should I ask you to do this? As a man and the ruler of a country, it is only natural for me to do something for my beloved. What's more, I sneaked out because I wanted to see you."
Sweetheart.
Luo Tingshi's heart softened, as if it were a pool of melted snow, emitting waves of warmth under the spring sun.
He really liked hearing Yu Zhi express his love for him.
Luo Tingshi lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss between Yu Zhi's eyes.
The eyelids under his lips trembled slightly, and the long and thick eyelashes brushed across the side of his face, bringing a momentary itch.
Luo Tingshi slowly stood up and met a pair of affectionate round eyes. He curved his eyes, and a tiny light leaked out from them.
"I have to go now. See you at the wedding."
Yu Zhi transformed into his original form, looked back at Luo Tingshi, and left in the dim light.
-
The palace was bustling with activity at this moment, and everywhere one looked, there was joy.
Yu Zhi sneaked into the emperor's bedroom, opened the wooden window, and peeked in. The hall was empty, and the palace maids didn't dare to disturb his sweet dreams.
Yu Zhi jumped lightly off the windowsill, ran two steps inside, and his ears suddenly moved.
Oh no, there’s someone here.
...is my father.
Yu Zhi walked into the inner room with his head held high, and as expected, he saw his father.
His father sat on the dragon bed, staring at him with a smile.
"Father..." Yu Zhi called out weakly, ran to Ye Jiang's feet, rubbed his trouser legs and climbed up, took the initiative to get into Ye Jiang's palm and acted coquettishly to him, "Why are you here?"
Ye Jiang: "My son's wedding, I was so excited that I couldn't sleep well, so I came to see you. Who knew I would catch you sneaking out of the palace to see a man? A son is no longer under his father's control."
Yu Zhi rolled over in his arms and stretched out his tone: "Father——"
"Don't be mad at Kitty."
Ye Jiang laughed: "Why should I be angry? Can I stop you from finding your husband?"
Yu Zhi chuckled twice and lay obediently in Ye Jiang's arms.
Ye Jiang stroked the kitten's head and said with a wistful look, "When you were born, you looked like a little mouse, skinny and bony, not even as big as my palm. How come you're getting married in the blink of an eye?"
Yu Zhi gently licked the back of Ye Jiang's hand, silently comforting him.
Ye Jiang put Yu Zhi down and stood up: "Alright, alright, today is your big day, you should pack up quickly, it's time to get up. I'll ask the imperial kitchen to make you some food. Royal etiquette is very complicated, and one can starve to death after a whole day."
"I understand." Yu Zhi nodded obediently.
After watching Ye Jiang leave the palace, Yu Zhi quickly transformed into a human and put on his pajamas. Not long after, Lin Shan's voice came from outside: "Your Majesty, we are here to help you change your clothes."
Yu Zhi said loudly: "Come in."
The palace maids came in one after another and helped the emperor change his clothes and wash.
-
It was noon when Yu Zhi saw Luo Ting again.
Since both of them were emperors, there was no talk of marriage, and simply paying homage to the ancestors of the Yu Kingdom was inappropriate. After discussion among all the officials, it was finally decided that the two emperors would go to the outskirts of the city to worship heaven and earth, and then go to the imperial palace for the wedding ceremony.
The two emperors got on the imperial carriage and slowly drove towards the outskirts of the city.
If nothing unexpected happened, after worshiping heaven and earth, the two returned to the palace at dusk.
Yu Zhi quietly hooked his palm and asked Luo Tingshi, "Have you eaten since you got up? We have to stay in the suburbs for most of the day and won't have dinner until the evening."
Luo Tingshi shook his head.
Yu Zhi glanced around, took out a few cakes wrapped in oil paper from his sleeve and handed them to Luo Ting, saying with a smile, "I thought you might not have eaten, so I brought some cakes for you."
Luo Tingshi smiled softly, pressed down Yu Zhi's hand, put the cake into his arms, and said, "I'm not hungry yet, so put it aside for now."
If the little fish gets hungry later, it can use it to satisfy its hunger.
Luo Tingshi didn't say the second half of the sentence, but just looked at Yu Zhi gently.
"Okay then." Yu Zhi sat up straight and looked straight ahead.
It's a nice day today.
The water is like blue dye, the mountain color is gradually becoming clearer, and the clear mist is warm and green in the sun.
Bathed in the warm sunlight, Yu Zhi gradually felt sleepy and his eyelids twitched.
Luo Tingshi's eyes were always on Yu Zhi. He caught his tiredness and moved closer to him, whispering, "Lean on my shoulder and take a nap. We still have half an hour to go."
Having slept for less than two hours last night, Yu Zhi was now truly sleepy. He gave up trying to hold on. He tilted his head and rested it on Luo Tingshi's shoulder, his voice gradually becoming lower: "Call me when the time comes..."
Accompanied by the clear sound of the imperial bell, Yu Zhi slowly closed his eyes.
Luo Tingshi looked at the person beside him lovingly, raised his sleeve to block the slanting sunlight, and said silently: "Have a good sleep."
-
Suburban altar.
The Royal Guards surrounded the place in three layers, and the sunlight shining on the iron armor gave off a cold light.
Flags fluttered and officials waited in solemn silence.
Yu Zhi and Luo Tingshi smiled at each other, and then they went up the stairs hand in hand.
Halfway through the journey under the gentle spring sun, Luo Tingshi's expression suddenly changed. He immediately protected Yu Zhi behind him, looked around vigilantly, and shouted angrily, "Who is here?"
The moment the words fell, more than a dozen men in black flew up to the stairs, their voices as cold as iron: "Kill!"
A cold light flashed, and a knife came towards him.
Luo Tingshi tightly grasped Yu Zhi, then swerved forward, pressing against the hilt of his sword, his five fingers forming claws as he gripped the man's wrist. With a single click, the man's wrist bone shattered, and the sword in his hand suddenly fell.
Luo Tingshi hooked the hilt of the knife and easily took the weapon.
Everything happened in an instant. Before the others could react, Luo Tingshi had already approached them and swung his long sword.
"Protect the emperor, protect the emperor!" The guards below hurriedly ran up the stairs to meet the enemy.
Those men in black were no match for Luo Tingshi. He moved into the empty space as if he were alone, and on the way he did not forget to comfort Yu Zhi behind him: "Close your eyes and don't look. It will be fine soon."
The sound of weapons clashing echoed all around. Yu Zhi obediently closed his eyes. He was held tightly in a broad and big hand, and warmth lingered between their clasped hands.
With Luo Tingshi around, he seemed to have nothing to fear.
Yu Zhianxin followed Luo Tingshi's steps forward. Amidst the sounds of killing, he suddenly heard a familiar cat's meow.
His face changed drastically. He opened his eyes and happened to see a man in black pinching the little white cat's neck and grinning: "Little Emperor, look at this?"
Yu Zhi's eyes were bloodshot: "Tuantuan!"
He was about to rush forward regardless, but the person next to him suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him back, shouting, "I'll do it!"
The kitten's tiny neck was pinched so hard that it had no strength to struggle, and its tail hung straight down.
Yu Zhi burst into tears: "Tuantuan..."
"Looking for death!" Luo Tingshi's voice was as cold as ice. He picked up a green leaf and threw it straight at the man's neck.
The man in black sneered and raised his hand to remove the leaf stuck to his neck, but instead he touched something sticky and wet. He looked down and saw his hands were covered in blood.
"Ah..." He couldn't even utter the word "blood". He lost all his strength and fell to the ground with a bang.
Luo Tingshi flew forward and caught the falling kitten.
The kitten was terrified, its cries hoarse and shrill. Yu Zhi felt heartbroken when he heard it. He hurried to Luo Tingshi's side, took the kitten and hugged him tightly, his voice trembling: "Don't be afraid, I'm here, it's okay."
"Meow..." The kitten was still in shock and clung tightly to Yu Zhi's arms, meowing again and again.
Luo Tingshi put his arm around Yu Zhi's waist and took him to sit in the shade. He stretched out his arms to hold the father and son in his arms, and comforted them with a gentle voice.
"Luo Tingshi, Tuan Tuan is here, and where's Yuan Yuan..." Yu Zhi realized something terrible. A huge panic gripped his heart. His whole body stiffened, and he looked at Luo Tingshi for help. "She'll be fine, right?"
Luo Tingshi had a bad feeling in his heart: "Let's go back to the palace now."
Most of the men in black had been subdued by Luo Tingshi, and the few who remained were also killed by the guards. At this time, a eunuch hurried up the stone steps and ran to Yu Zhi, his face pale. "Your Majesty, are you okay? You scared me to death."
Yu Zhi recognized him; he was Lin Shan's apprentice. He shook his head and said, "I'm fine."
The eunuch saw the kitten clinging tightly to Yu Zhi's shoulder and stretched out his hand, saying, "Your Majesty, please give the cat to me. Don't delay your auspicious time with the Emperor Sheng."
Yu Zhi was in a hurry to return to the palace, and said in a slightly cold voice: "No need."
He walked down the stairs and passed by the eunuch when he heard Luo Tingshi scream in fear: "Be careful!"
A silver light flashed before his eyes, and Yu Zhi saw a dagger coming straight towards his chest.
Too close.
There was no time to dodge, Yu Zhi subconsciously closed his eyes, and heard the sound of a sharp blade piercing through flesh. For some reason, Yu Zhi did not feel the slightest pain.
He opened his eyes and saw a mountain-like figure swaying in the spring light.
"Luo Tingshi!"
Yu Zhi's heart and gallbladder were broken. He held Luo Tingshi's back and squeezed out a few words from his throat: "How are you..."
Luo Tingshi's face was stern. He used his last bit of strength to kick the eunuch in the chest. The man was kicked several feet away and rolled to the bottom of the stairs, spitting out a large pool of blood.
The sun is warm and the sunlight shining on Yu Zhi is warm and pleasant.
Yu Zhi sat on the stone steps holding Luo Tingshi in his arms, his eyes fixed on the dagger stuck in Luo Tingshi's chest. An endless chill surged from his body, as if it was the coldest time of winter, with a big hole in his heart and cold wind rushing in.
The man in his arms raised the corners of his lips and spoke with difficulty:
"Fortunately... the imperial robe is black, otherwise... it would have scared... my little cat."
After saying that, he tilted his head, closed his eyes, and dropped his hands heavily.
Yu Zhi suddenly came to his senses, raised his head and roared: "Imperial Physician! Quickly call the Imperial Physician!"
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