Chapter 24
"The king said he would give you an explanation."
Yun He simply delivered the message, not understanding its meaning. As a secret guard, she simply followed orders, regardless of the reasons. Yun He carefully observed Ling Huanchen's reaction, seeing him regain some of his composure after his trance. She felt that this reassurance should be a reassurance.
Ling Huanchen knew what he was referring to without much thought. He waved his hand to let Yun He leave and took a piece of dessert instead.
We have to wait until the show is over before we say anything.
To his surprise, once news of his fall from favor spread, he became the undisputed victim. Not only did Xiao Qi constantly surround him, cracking jokes in an attempt to cheer him up, but even Yu Zhao made a special trip to the palace to comfort him, leaving Ling Huanchen unsure how to react.
Yu Zhao was very good at observing people's expressions. He avoided the topic and talked about interesting things outside the palace. When no one laughed, he became even more anxious and couldn't help but blame his brother.
"Don't be discouraged, Sister Wang. I bet Brother Wang won't be able to hold on for two days and will come looking for you. After all, we are brothers. I know Brother Wang well. Sister Wang is definitely very important to him."
Ling Huanchen knew that Yu Zhao had good intentions, but it was fake after all, and it caused so many people to worry, so he inexplicably felt a little guilty.
"I know, Zhao'er, don't worry. I trust the king."
Yu Zhao heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this. "That's good, that's good. I'll accompany Wang's wife to the Imperial Garden for a walk to change our mood."
Ling Huanchen wanted to refuse, but Yu Zhao begged him repeatedly, so in order to reassure him, Ling Huanchen agreed.
But after he agreed, Yu Zhao smiled mysteriously, "Don't worry, Madam Wang, I'll take care of everything."
At first, Ling Huanchen didn't understand what he meant. It wasn't until he arrived at the Imperial Garden that he realized Yu Zhao had not only invited him over, but also Yu Xi. However, Yu Zhao hadn't considered Ling Zhao, and when he saw the little tail behind Yu Xi, his face turned pale.
"Greetings, Your Highness, the Young Prince." Ling Xu bowed perfunctorily and quickly moved behind Yu Xi, as if Ling Huanchen would attack him and hide behind him for protection.
Yu Xi had a blank expression on her face. When she looked up at Ling Huanchen, there was no warmth in her eyes as usual. To outsiders, they seemed almost cold, as if she was displeased.
"You asked someone to bring me here?"
The questioning tone made Yu Zhao's neck shrink. "No, my brother, I was the one who asked someone to find you. The Imperial Garden is so beautiful. Wouldn't it be a pleasure for our family to enjoy it together?"
Yu Xi snorted coldly, "Leshi, Ling Huanchen, you even instigated my brother to help you."
Ling Huanchen replied calmly, "I don't have any."
"Yes, brother Wang, I acted on my own initiative, you can't blame me..." Yu Zhao was interrupted by Yu Xi's terrifying gaze when he was halfway through his words, and he had to hold them back.
At this moment, Ling Xi suddenly laughed out loud, "Your Highness is very popular in the palace. Even though you are from the mermaid tribe, the young prince seems to be closer to you than to the king."
"Shut up! Stop trying to sow discord here!" Yu Zhao didn't dare to say a word to Yu Xi, but he had never lost to others in terms of momentum.
Yu Xi walked towards Ling Huanchen and without saying anything, lifted him onto his shoulders. "Don't you want to see me? I will grant your wish."
"Brother Wang!"
"You are not allowed to follow."
Those few words were so powerful that they froze Yu Zhao and Ling Xu in their places. One was anxious, while the other wanted to watch the show but couldn't.
Ling Huanchen was carried all the way back to Yuluan Palace. The door of the bedroom was locked and the palace servants knelt outside the palace. They heard the sound of things being thrown and smashed coming from inside, and the palace servants trembled with fear.
Xiao Qi was so anxious that she burst into tears, "Master, will something happen to the Master..."
Yun He held his shoulders, his expression solemn, "Don't panic."
In the bedroom, jade ruyi and glass cups were smashed to pieces, leaving no room for anyone to stand. Yu Xi raised her hand, and a celadon vase also died heroically.
"Cover your ears." Yu Xi whispered to the person on the bed.
As the protagonist being scolded, Ling Huanchen was leaning against the headboard at the moment, holding a history book in his hand. Occasionally, when he heard a different sound, he looked up at Yu Xi with disapproval and said silently, "I like that bottle very much."
Yu Xi had just picked up another bottle, but she put it down and turned to pick up another one. "It's okay, I'll find you a better one."
Ling Huanchen put down the book and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "The king said he would give me an explanation."
Yu Xi suddenly stopped and said, "I mean what I say." He leaned over and lightly brushed Ling Huanchen's lips, and looked at the red ears of the person in front of him with satisfaction.
"Your Majesty, is your head still hurting?"
"It's much better, and it hasn't happened again." This shows that it was indeed the mermaid prince who was responsible.
Ling Huanchen tried his best to ignore the entangled auras between the two and brought up the business, "Any news about the secret guards we sent out?"
"There's been no unusual activity. Ling Xi hasn't been to any suspicious places, nor has he met anyone. I'm afraid we'll have to use some drastic measures."
Ling Huanchen tapped the back of his hand, "Why don't you start?"
Yu Xi restrained her tenderness and said loudly, "You still don't admit your mistake?"
Ling Huanchen also deliberately said loudly, "I am not wrong." After that, he snatched the porcelain bowl from Yu Xi's hand and threw it to the ground, then he retired as if he had accomplished his mission and continued to read.
"This king does not want to see you again."
The palace door suddenly flew open, and the King of Youcheng left in a flash. Xiaoqi and Yunhe immediately rushed into the inner hall, only to find the floor in disarray. Ling Huanchen was kneeling alone beside the bed, his face expressionless, as if he had lost all hope.
"Master!" Xiao Qi didn't care about being pricked and rushed over. "Master, please get up quickly. Are you hurt?"
Ling Huanchen was helped to the bed. Without saying a word, he turned around and lay down, refusing to contact anyone.
This made Xiao Qi very anxious. Just as he was about to step forward, Yun He grabbed the back of his collar and pulled him back, "Don't bother the master. Clean up the things on the floor."
Yu Xi's second outburst further solidified the rumors that Ling Huanchen had fallen from favor. Various factions were ready to make a move, but due to Yu Xi's previous disparity with Ling Huanchen, they held back. After all, no matter how their king reacted, Ling Huanchen still lived in Yuluan Palace, with no orders to relocate.
Ling Huanchen stayed quietly in Yuluan Palace, never leaving the main gate or the secondary gate, oblivious to the world outside. To outsiders, he seemed to have given up on himself. During this time, when Yu Zhao wanted to come over to inquire about his situation, he sent someone to politely refuse, leaving those outside even more confused.
He and Yu Xi were not in the same bedroom these days. At night, Ling Huanchen was actually a little uncomfortable with the fact that half of his bed was empty.
After turning off the candles, Ling Huanchen lay on the bed, completely unable to sleep. Suddenly, he heard a movement in the room, a very small sound, like a slight gust of wind.
Then, a dark figure appeared beside the bed. Ling Huanchen asked alertly, "Who?"
"Don't be afraid, it's me."
"Your Majesty?"
Yu Xi skillfully turned over and lay down, holding the person in his arms, and the whole set of movements were as smooth as flowing water.
"I'll give you an explanation."
Ling Huanchen blinked in the darkness, "Didn't the king say to wait until everything is over?"
"I can't wait any longer." Yu Xi pressed herself very close, her breath on the back of his neck, "I miss you so much."
He hadn't slept well at night these past few days. His headaches and nightmares had gone away, but he was suffering from lovesickness.
Feeling the strong heartbeat of the man behind him, Ling Huanchen asked softly, "What does the king want to explain?"
"Huanchen should have guessed it. I am the person you once rescued, and I picked up the red bead on the coast." Yu Xi suddenly grabbed his wrist and put something on him.
Ling Huanchen touched it and found a round bead on the rope loop.
“Now it’s returned to its original owner.”
Ling Huanchen let Yu Xi hold him, thinking that if he hadn't had a chance to do it all over again, he would never have known that the bond between them had been formed since childhood. No wonder Yu Xi was so moved after hearing about that childhood experience in both lives.
"Speaking of which, Huanchen is still my benefactor."
Ling Huanchen chuckled and said, "Then shouldn't the king repay the favor?"
"Of course." Yu Xi tilted her head and whispered in his ear, "I'll give you my whole life as compensation. As long as I'm around, I'll keep you safe."
Ling Huanchen pursed his lips. Although he was touched, he refused to admit it. "How can this be considered repaying a favor?"
"Then let me think about it. But before I repay you, shouldn't Huanchen fulfill your promise to me?"
Ling Huanchen was confused, "Me? What promise?"
"Someone loves to lie, and when the truth is revealed, he promised to do something for me."
Still remember this...
"Your Majesty, please speak."
"Don't call me King." Yu Xi lowered his voice, otherwise no one would hear it even if it was right next to his ear.
After hearing this, Ling Huanchen's body temperature began to rise.
"No……"
Before he could finish his refusal, Yu Xi continued, "You can change your request, but are you sure you want to change it?"
Ling Huanchen gritted his teeth and didn't respond. He knew that he couldn't agree to it easily. Judging from Yu Xi's current situation, it was definitely not a serious request.
Yu Xi was not in a hurry. He held the soft and fragrant jade in his arms and waited quietly. After a long while, he heard a sound as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"What did Huanchen say?"
Ling Huanchen pursed his lips. This man definitely did it on purpose. Death is death, whether early or late. He made up his mind, "Little brother."
This sound actually made Yu Xi stunned. Ling Huanchen thought he was teasing her, so she turned to look at him, but was suddenly surrounded by a familiar scent.
Yu Xi let go of the man reluctantly, feeling that he was only digging his own grave.
Ling Huanchen felt the change in Yu Xi and dared not move, "Your Majesty, do you want to..." go back to Ziyi Palace to sleep?
Now is not the time to do anything.
"Don't chase me away. I'll just hold you for a while and I won't do anything else."
Yu Xi stayed with him until daybreak, then jumped out the window and left. As soon as he left, Ling Huanchen woke up and glanced towards the window. Fortunately, Yu Xi reached out his hand, otherwise he might have been caught as an assassin by the patrolling guards.
The acting had paid off, and they were gradually closing in, waiting to lure the snake out of its hole. Originally, the two should have kept their distance before the snake appeared, but Ling Huanchen discovered that Yu Xi seemed to be addicted to late-night private meetings.
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