AYM Chapter 75

When Yan Yihuan woke up again, he found himself surrounded by darkness. His body felt heavy, and he could hardly breathe. After a brief moment of confusion, he remembered the argument with the Emperor and how he had fainted afterward.

 

So now…?

 

Yan Yihuan tried to lift his arm, attempting to shake off the weight pressing on him, but only managed the slightest movement. This movement only caused the weight around him to tighten abruptly.

 

His chest was already tight in the first place. The added pressure forced a soft groan from his lips. In the next instant, the hold loosened, and a quiet voice sounded by his ear.

 

“You’re awake?”

 

Just like before, whenever he woke up in the middle of the night, the person beside him would know immediately.

 

Yan Yihuan wanted to continue pretending to sleep, but after being unconscious for so long without food, he was feeling unwell. There was no need to make things harder for himself.

 

He turned over and lay flat on his back. Just as he was about to speak, a familiar breath pressed down on him, and every word was gently sealed within his mouth.

 

The moment their lips met, Yan Yihuan felt his heart tremble sharply. The sensation was as if someone were holding it in their palm and kneading it. He could not tell whether it was pain or an itch, or perhaps a thread of sweetness tangled within.

 

This kiss was unlike the usual ones that seemed intent on devouring him whole. It was light, as if afraid of breaking him. Yet it left Yan Yihuan even more dazed. Out of habit, he parted his lips and let the other entangle with him. But the instant he did, the mingled breaths seemed to grow hurried, pressing deeper.

 

His chest felt even more stifled.

 

Yan Yihuan, unable to bear it any longer, lifted his palm and pressed it against the chest that was pressing down on him. He used only a little strength, yet the body pressing close to his suddenly tensed. As if reluctant to part, it kissed him deeply twice more before finally letting him go.

 

Their equally rapid breaths tangled in the darkness. Only then did Yan Yihuan slowly come back to his senses. How had he gotten carried away again the moment they started kissing?

 

“I was afraid you’d wake up hungry. There’s porridge simmering on the brazier. Since you’re ill, you can’t eat anything else. Have some first to fill your stomach.”

 

Now Yan Yihuan was fully awake. In the cover of night, he did not even bother to hide the shock on his face.

 

They had quarreled so fiercely during the day. The Emperor had first hinted that the Yan family was plotting rebellion, then exposed his status as a hostage outright. Yan Yihuan had thought they had completely torn off all pretense. He had even guessed he would be thrown into prison.

 

Who would have imagined he would be kissed awake on the dragon bed??

 

Yan Yihuan felt that things had once again developed far beyond his imagination. He could not make sense of it at all.

 

“What are you staring for? Open your mouth.”

 

The warm porridge was just the right temperature to be consumed. Hunger made Yan Yihuan cast all his tangled thoughts aside, and the bowl was empty in no time.

 

Licking his lips, Yan Yihuan felt it was a little undignified, but his gaze still drifted towards the large pot of porridge on the table.

 

“I want more.”

 

Li Jiang, who was attending at the side, immediately took the bowl to refill it. Only after the second bowl was finished did Yan Yihuan let out a satisfied sigh.

 

Tea was brought for him to rinse his mouth. The moisture at the corner of his lips was carefully wiped away. Yan Yihuan was very cooperative. He tilted his head up to be cleaned, then lowered it again, letting his loose hair fall to cover his pale cheeks.

 

Although he knew it was the talk of his status as a hostage that had intimidated him, Li Xuanming was still very satisfied with Yan Yihuan’s current obedient demeanor. The moment Yan Yihuan had collapsed yesterday had truly startled him as well.

 

After a day and a night of reflection, Li Xuanming had finally thought things through. Although Yan Yihuan did not understand the feeling of love, he could not escape it either, so there was no need to rush.

 

At times Li Xuanming also sighed. If one were to call Yan Yihuan clever, even his own father would shake his head. Yet if one were to call him foolish, he was in fact very perceptive, knowing that once he was in the palace, quarreling or making a fuss would be useless. He behaved so obediently that one could hardly bear to reproach him further. 

 

After two bowls of porridge, Yan Yihuan knew he would recover within two days at most. It had always been like this since childhood. When an episode struck, he would be muddled and weak. Once it passed, he would seem as if nothing had happened.

 

Only, with each episode, his body grew a little frailer. Back then, even famed physicians had declared he would not live past ten. It was only after Daoist Yuzhen appeared that this calamity had been resolved.

 

At that thought, Yan Yihuan grew troubled. His small stone had not yet been found before he was brought into the palace. He did not know whether Mingzhang ge had found it for him or not. If it truly could not be found, what then? Would Daoist Zhengyang still have other solutions?

 

Li Xuanming had not failed to notice Yan Yihuan’s worry. He reached out and brushed aside the strands of hair covering his face, tucking them behind his ear and leaving Yan Yihuan’s facial expression nowhere to hide.

 

“Do you want to know about your father and brother?”

 

Yan Yihuan’s lashes trembled. He quickly lifted his gaze. “May Your Majesty tell me?”

 

“They are far away in Changyun Prefecture. How would Zhen know of their current state? If they harbor no rebellious intent, Zhen naturally will not act against them. But if they do…”

 

The fingers that had lingered by his ear slowly slid down to his jaw, lifting the chin that had remained lowered, forcing Yan Yihuan to face him completely, “If they have any intention of rebellion, even grinding their bones to dust would not be too harsh a fate.”

 

Yan Yihuan’s pupils shrank slightly. For some reason, the Emperor before him didn’t seem as furious as during their argument yesterday. He was calm. Yet that calmness chilled him to the bone, even his teeth began to tremble.

 

Even so, Yan Yihuan forced a smile.

 

“The Yan family has been loyal for generations. How… how could we possibly have rebellious intentions?”

 

“Good if that’s so.” Li Xuanming lightly brushed his fingers over Yan Yihuan’s cheek, then rose to his feet, “Zhen must attend court. Rest a while longer.”

 

Only after Li Xuanming had straightened his robes and left the bedchamber did Yan Yihuan’s heart continue pounding, unable to calm down.

 

It was clear the Emperor had grasped what he feared most. He even had the unsettling sense that the Emperor already knew his father and brother harbored rebellious intentions, as if a vast net had long been cast, waiting only for the fish to swim into it on their own accord.

 

Big Brother Xu, I’m truly sorry. I won’t be giving up on seeking justice for you, but at present I also cannot stand by and watch the Yan family go down a path of no return.

 

Yan Yihuan murmured inwardly, growing ever more anxious to write a letter to his father and brother, urging them to turn back before it was too late. Yet just as he racked his brains and still found no solution, the Emperor suddenly informed him that his second brother had come to the capital to see him.

 

Although Yan Yihuan resided in the palace, he was still merely an official. Yan Rong, being a commoner, could not freely enter and leave the palace grounds. Seeing that Yan Yihuan had recovered well these past few days, the Emperor permitted him to leave the palace to meet his brother. Fearing that returning to old surroundings might stir up memories of Xu Xinyao, he even arranged a new residence for him. This time, there was no secrecy about it, and Yan Rong was directly settled there as well.

 

Having not seen any family members in such a long time, the moment he caught sight of his second brother, Yan Yihuan threw himself straight into Yan Rong’s arms. The force of it made Yan Rong stagger back half a step before he could steady himself.

 

“I was worried when I heard you had fallen ill on the way here, but seeing you with this much strength, I finally know that you’re alright,” Yan Rong said in the easy tone he always used at home, wrapping an arm around Yan Yihuan’s trembling shoulders and letting him vent his emotions in his arms for a while. 

 

“Second Brother.” Only after his surging emotions gradually settled did Yan Yihuan remember they were still standing in the courtyard. Although the attendants nearby all kept their heads lowered and weren’t looking, he still felt embarrassed, “Let’s talk inside.”

 

Once the tea had been served, Yan Yihuan dismissed everyone, leaving only the two of them in the room. Only then did he ask anxiously, “Second Brother, does the Xu family know?”

 

“They know. But don’t be afraid,” Yan Rong replied gently. “Your second brother will handle this matter.”

 

“I’m not afraid…” Yan Yihuan murmured. “I just feel guilty.”

 

“You were unaware of this matter to begin with. It was our hasty decision that led to this disaster.” Yan Rong sighed. “The fault is not yours. Don’t overthink it.”

 

The entire residence was filled with the Emperor’s people inside and out. Although they appeared to be ordinary attendants, many are skilled fighters. Yan Yihuan had intended to ask Yan Rong to carry a letter to their father and the others, but after hesitating for a long while, he did not dare speak the words.

 

Seeing Yan Yihuan’s downcast expression, Yan Rong deliberately lightened his tone. “On my way to the capital, I made a friend. I had thought you wouldn’t be able to leave today, so I arranged to meet him at Qingyang Tower. Why don’t you come with me?”

 

A friend?

 

Yan Yihuan had never doubted his second brother’s ability to make friends. Having been cooped up for so long, he nodded, “All right, I should drink a few more cups with Second Brother!”