Chapter 34 The mission involves hugging your best friend.
However, Lu Wensheng will have to endure this for a while, and the announcement can only be made to the public once the situation stabilizes.
He also had to carefully weigh the pros and cons, giving him a taste of sweetness without going too far, and absolutely not letting Lu Wensheng get close enough to discover his impotence.
Shen Hegui was deeply troubled by the momentous decision he was about to make.
With the mission on his mind, Lu Wensheng's joy came and went quickly, and he paid no attention to Shen Hegui's behavior and expression.
She released Shen Hegui and went to pick up the soap from the ground: "Then let's start the mission now. I'll go fetch water and help Your Highness wash your hands." Shen Hegui should use the soap; it's only safe if he recognizes it as his master.
Shen Hegui naturally grabbed her wrist to stop her, and said gently, "Let the servants go. I'll take you to the next room for a meal first. It won't make a difference if we wait a little longer."
Lu Wensheng touched the back of his neck sheepishly and replied with a smile, "Okay."
What's wrong with me today? I've been eating Shen Hegui's food three times a day, and the first two meals were quite delicious, so what good stuff will dinner be? I'm kind of looking forward to it.
And the way Shen Hegui pulled her just now was so gentle. It seems he successfully recruited her, and Shen Hegui is very happy.
From this moment on, Prince Su is a thing of the past, Shen Hegui is the present, and from now on she will be the male lead's lackey!
Forget about sixth sense! A person must focus on the present! The future is unseen and intangible; wasting too much time and energy worrying about the future is not worthwhile. She must work hard and strive to become Shen Hegui's number one lackey!
Lu Wensheng was full of confidence, and he discreetly rubbed his wrist, which had been pulled by Shen Hegui.
Taking in Lu Wensheng's expression and actions, Shen Hegui's heart stirred. Just by pulling his wrist, Lu Wensheng was so happy. It seemed he could do it more often in the future.
With their own thoughts, the two stepped out of the palace gate one after the other and headed towards the side hall.
When the master returned home, all the candles around the Thousand Feather Palace were lit, illuminating the night as if it were daytime.
Although it is a side hall, its interior furnishings are in no way inferior to those of the main hall.
Stepping onto the finely paved bricks, Lu Wensheng stared blankly at the roasted rabbit on the plate for a moment.
When she went to pick up the soap just now, she didn't seem to see the rabbit, so is this her rabbit prince?
Lu Wensheng raised his eyes and stammered, "Your Highness, this rabbit..."
Shen Hegui, who was eager to give Lu Wensheng a treat, thoughtfully took out a knife and began to butcher the roasted rabbit.
Shen Hegui's expression was gentle: "Eat the fake crown prince, and this matter will be over. Get a good night's sleep tonight. Tomorrow morning, Feng Gou will take you to the animal park to learn how to distinguish between male and female animals. He'll also show you some of the ones that have been slapped."
The evenly sliced rabbit meat is laid flat on a white jade plate, its color enticing; even ignoring the aroma, it's enough to make one's mouth water.
Lu Wensheng was indeed hungry, and without any pretense, she picked up her chopsticks and began to eat heartily, her cheeks bulging from the roasted rabbit meat. She took a moment to remark, "Your Highness will definitely be a loving father in the future!"
She never expected Shen Hegui to be so perceptive, able to see through the root of the problem and understand how to prevent the person who made the mistake from repeating it. If her father were like Shen Hegui, she wouldn't have such mixed feelings of love and hate for him.
Since Shen Hegui has been so good to her, why not use this opportunity to repay him?
Lu Wensheng picked up the serving chopsticks, took a slice of rabbit meat, and fed it to Shen Hegui: "It tastes pretty good, Your Highness, please try some too."
Shen Hegui curled his fingertips slightly and leaned over to eat the rabbit meat.
Lu Wensheng's eyes shone with anticipation after sharing: "How was it? Wasn't it delicious!"
"Hmm!" The rabbit he roasted himself actually suited Lu Wensheng's taste so well.
A faint sense of satisfaction gradually welled up in Shen Hegui's heart.
There will definitely be a memorial impeaching Lu Wensheng at tomorrow's morning court session, so it wouldn't hurt for him to help Lu Wensheng suppress it.
...
Because he had a mission to complete, Lu Wensheng naturally ended up on Qianyu Palace's bed.
She slept inside, while Shen Hegui slept outside.
The crescent moon outside the window resembled a beautiful eyebrow. Lu Wensheng rested her chin on her hand, watching over Shen Hegui, whose eyes were even wider than her own.
Lu Wensheng couldn't help but yawn loudly: "Your Highness, you have so many things to do and are so busy all day long. It's almost midnight, how come you're not sleepy at all?"
She thought it would be easy to wait for a corporate boss to go to sleep, but she didn't expect Shen Hegui to be even more able to endure it than her.
Lu Wensheng yawned twice more, then blinked his sore eyes.
She was starting to feel overwhelmed. The floor heating in the Thousand Feather Palace was so comfortable, and the mattress was so soft, and the blankets were as light as clouds. Why hadn't she become the Shen Hegui she was now?
Wearing this at the wrong time of day!
Shen Hegui gently wiped away Lu Wensheng's tears, which welled up with exhaustion, and said in a deep, languid voice, "In spring, I always find it hard to fall asleep. Tonight, I will allow you to stay in the East Palace. Tomorrow morning, you can take soap to see your friends, and that will be considered as completing your mission. There's no need to be so honest. Go to sleep."
Lu Wensheng squinted, deftly dodging Shen Hegui's arm as it reached for her, and retorted in a low voice, "That won't do. One must keep one's word. 'Do not do evil even if it is small.' Besides, when playing games, if you can afford to play, you must be able to afford to lose!"
She wanted to be dishonest, but she couldn't fool that little bastard, so she had to pretend.
But who knows where that little turtle has disappeared to!
With his arm suddenly empty, Shen Hegui simply sat up, leaned against the soft pillow, and said in a low voice, "Then you'll have to put in some effort to coax me to sleep."
Shen Hegui's hair was not only black and shiny, but also particularly long and stiff. When it brushed against Lu Wensheng's arm, it caused a ticklish sensation.
She raised her hand and scratched it twice, causing the scales on her wrist to sway.
Shen Hegui glanced at his own scales without revealing his expression, then turned his gaze to Lu Wensheng's fair and slender forearm.
Lu Wensheng racked her brains and came up with a solution: "Then... should I hold His Highness to sleep?" She had no experience in coaxing anyone to sleep.
Seeing that Shen Hegui didn't agree, Lu Wensheng tried to persuade her: "When I was little, I didn't want to sleep, and my mother would hold me and lull me to sleep." She couldn't exactly call her mother to help her with the mission, could she?
Putting everything else aside, the way her mother held Shen Hegui felt was just incongruous.
Hmm—actually, it seems a bit strange that she's holding Shen Hegui.
Never mind, I'll just treat this like a hug with a best friend, the kind where we can hold hands and go to the bathroom together.
Lu Wensheng opened his arms wide, quite boldly: "Your Highness, I'm ready, shall we begin?"
Shen Hegui lifted his eyelashes, considering. Lu Wensheng was more slender, fair-skinned, and soft-bodied than the average man. Moreover, he had a natural fragrance, unlike most human men who were unhygienic and smelled of sweat, so it didn't seem unacceptable.
He lifted the silk quilt, shifted his body, and made room for you: "It's more appropriate for you to come over. If Gu Zhen falls asleep and takes your spot, you'll have to sleep sitting up tonight."
Lu Wensheng glanced at the not-so-spacious bed and, without hesitation, slipped into Shen Hegui's quilt. From now on, they would be close sisters in the court, so sleeping together wouldn't be a problem, especially since they had slept together last night.
"Before tonight, I had no idea that Your Highness, as the Crown Prince, would have such a small bed in your palace." She reached out to hug Shen Hegui, and said sweetly, "Your Highness helped me complete my mission tonight. How about I find some fine pear wood or sandalwood to make a new bed for Your Highness another day?"
Lu Wensheng lowered his raised arm.
Why is Shen Hegui so stiff? Didn't we agree to help her with the task? Is she going to back out?
Lu Wensheng urged, "Your Highness, it's not easy for me to hug you when you're sitting so upright on the couch!"
Shen Hegui explained, "I've never been held by a man before, this is my first time, so please prepare me mentally." Under the quilt, Shen Hegui's five fingers were deeply embedded in the mattress, and his knuckles were white from excessive force.
As expected, things are different in reality. But Lu Wensheng is a once-in-a-century talent, even more difficult to find. In order to secure the throne and for the sake of the people, sacrificing someone who was already impotent is a very worthwhile deal.
Moreover, Lu Wensheng said that he would cherish his beloved for a lifetime, and as long as he becomes that person, Lu Wensheng will wholeheartedly help him!
As long as he takes that first step now and is held in Lu Wensheng's arms and coaxed to sleep, he'll be fine! He's already endured the torture of having his scales and bones removed, so what's a hug from Lu Wensheng, who's also a man?
Shen Hegui took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and slowly leaned against her.
Lu Wensheng must be very happy to finally be able to get close to him!
Lu Wensheng was completely unaware of Shen Hegui's inner turmoil. With the eagerness to complete her mission, she hugged Shen Hegui tightly as he leaned closer, and secretly inhaled a couple of breaths of his fragrance.
Wow! It smells so good. I wish I could put my everyday clothes in Shen Hegui's bed to smell them.
"Your Highness, you can adjust the position yourself if it's uncomfortable." Shen Hegui's waist is so slender! This is quite a perk, there are hardly any young people in the court, everyone is an uncle or old man when they go out, and they are still uncles or old men when they come in.
"...This is fine." Just holding her like this doesn't seem so hard to accept.
Lu Wensheng's heartbeat reached Shen Hegui's ears through his clothes, and he pressed himself closer to him.
After a while.
Lu Wensheng asked tentatively in a low voice, "Your Highness, are you asleep?"
Shen Hegui counted Lu Wensheng's heartbeats to pass the time, and replied in a low voice, "No."
Lu Wensheng opened his eyelids and encouraged himself: Just bear with it a little longer, wait a little longer, victory is just ahead!
She casually tidied Shen Hegui's stray hairs and, mimicking Song Zhiyun's movements, patted Shen Hegui's back rhythmically.
How about a lullaby?
No, she's tone-deaf, unlike her mother; I can only coax her.
Shen Hegui looks so cute! His eyelashes are so long, his nose is so straight, and his lips are so shaped. He makes you want to kiss him. If praying to Buddha and burning incense works, she really wants a son who looks exactly like Shen Hegui, and then watch him have a sweet romance.
She's so sleepy! She needs to find something to do.
Lu Wensheng suppressed the rising urge to pat his chest, mechanically patted the ground, and then began counting sheep.
One sheep cannot sleep, two sheep cannot sleep, three sheep cannot sleep... the three hundred and fiftieth sheep cannot sleep...
Tears welled up from exhaustion, filling his eyes. Lu Wensheng had already cried earlier, and now he looked almost like a red-eyed rabbit.
"The 351st sheep, no... I can't sleep!" Lu Wensheng was so sleepy that his brain shut down, and he accidentally counted the sheep.
Shen Hegui shifted his position, opened his sleepless eyes, and suggested, "How about we try a different position? I'll hold you." He could accept being held, but being held by someone of the same sex and having to fall asleep was really too much for him.
Meeting the gaze of Shen Hegui, whose eyes were clear and lucid, Lu Wensheng tilted his head back and exhaled a breath of immortal air, dejectedly saying, "I can't do it anymore!"
The moment he finished speaking, Lu Wensheng sprawled out on the bed.
Shen Hegui pulled the completely defeated Lu Wensheng into his arms and shook her violently twice, trying to wake her up: "A man can't say no. You just said, 'Don't do evil even if it's small.' You must keep your word and be able to afford to lose."
Lu Wensheng leaned into Shen Hegui's arms, clinging to the last shred of clarity, and murmured with her eyes closed, "Your Highness, just pretend it was nothing, I really can't go on." Sleeping now and waking up to call Shen Hegui sooner would be the same.
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The author's note: Do not do evil even if it is insignificant. —The Analects [dog head holding a rose]
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