AYM Chapter 53

A curled index finger lightly brushed against his delicate cheek, but Yan Yihuan only frowned and turned his head slightly, eyes still closed.

 

His kind of “initiative” was far from what Li Xuanming wanted. The more he thought about it, the less he could bring himself to let him go whenever Yan Yihuan begged for mercy.

 

“Skipping morning court, turning away ministers, helping you lie, wasting the whole day.”

 

As if mocking himself, Li Xuanming smiled faintly and murmured, then lifted the leg that had been resting on his shoulder into the crook of his arm. Bending down, he gathered the person lying on the desk into his arms.

 

“Looks like I really have spent the day as a foolish king.”

 

Last night had been too intense, and today, when Yan Yihuan had taken the initiative for the first time, he’d completely exhausted himself. Even though he hadn’t fallen fully asleep, he couldn’t be bothered to move another finger.

 

He knew the emperor was helping clean him up, so he simply kept his eyes tightly shut and his limbs slack, at most letting out a few quiet sounds as he was moved.

 

Li Xuanming saw through his little act. Since he couldn’t get the upper hand elsewhere, he always found satisfaction at times like this. Perhaps feeling that he had been the one doing all the work today, he indulged himself even more than usual.

 

Although part of it was deliberate, the exhaustion was real. After bathing, his breathing grew softer, and he soon drifted off to sleep.

 

Li Xuanming hesitated, unsure whether to let him rest or wake him for a meal, when Shen Zhaoquan’s voice came from outside.

 

“Your Majesty, there is a memorial and a letter. Would you like to review them?”

 

He had already said he wouldn’t deal with state affairs today, so if Shen Zhaoquan had come, it must be something important. Li Xuanming lowered the canopy to let Yan Yihuan sleep and stepped into the outer chamber, where Shen Zhaoquan presented the memorial and the letter in a low voice.

 

“It’s from the Residence of King Yan.”

 

Li Xuanming instinctively glanced inside, opening the memorial. It was filled with words, but nothing more than the usual formalities, greetings, apologies on Yan Yihuan’s behalf, and polite requests for His Majesty’s understanding. 

 

He picked up the letter. The seal bore the mark of the Residence of King Yan, and it was addressed to Yan Yihuan, to be opened personally.

 

There was nothing unusual about it. Li Xuanming told Shen Zhaoquan to have dinner prepared quickly, then carried the letter inside. He gave Yan Yihuan’s cheek a light pinch, paused for a breath, but got no reaction.

 

Awake, just pretending.

 

Li Xuanming wasn’t in a hurry. He flicked the envelope lightly between his fingers, his tone carrying an easy, unbothered drawl.

 

“Since you’re asleep, we can read this letter from the Residence of King Yan tomorrow.”

 

But just as he straightened, his sleeve was caught. Yan Yihuan, who had been found out, gave a small ingratiating smile.

 

“I just happened to wake up.”

 

Knowing he missed his family, Li Xuanming stopped teasing and placed the letter in his hand.

 

Yan Yihuan was immediately excited, but when his gaze fell on the seal of the Residence of King Yan, his heart skipped a beat.

 

Please don’t let it be anything that can’t be spoken of.

 

Nervous, he stole a glance at the emperor, his movements as he opened the letter becoming noticeably slower.

 

Normally, anything delivered to the palace couldn’t be hidden from the emperor, but since it was only a family letter, Li Xuanming had no intention of opening it. However, he hadn’t expected to see Yan Yihuan with an obviously guilty expression on his face.

 

Li Xuanming thought that King Yan could not possibly have written anything improper in a letter sent alongside an official memorial, especially one meant for Yan Yihuan.

 

He watched Yan Yihuan without a change in expression and gave a slight nod toward the letter, silently urging him on.

 

Yan Yihuan thought that if he delayed any longer, it would only make the emperor more suspicious. He quietly turned half his body aside, tore open the envelope, and quickly skimmed through the contents.

 

The letter contained nothing more than ordinary greetings and reminders to stay within his bounds. There was none of the secret talk he had imagined. But when he turned to the second page, his eyes widened in surprise, and after a soft sound of astonishment, the corners of his mouth lifted uncontrollably.

 

“What’s making you so happy?”

 

Seeing that there was nothing that needed to be hidden, Yan Yihuan turned around and handed the letter to Li Xuanming, his whole face glowing with joy.

 

“An old friend from my hometown is coming to the capital for some business. Father said since I’m an official in the capital, I should treat him well and lend him a hand if he needs anything.”

 

At first, it sounded harmless enough, but Li Xuanming’s suspicion stirred. King Yan would not be unaware that this letter would be reviewed. For him to mention a merchant’s visit to the capital in a message formally presented to the palace, rather than being meant for Yan Yihuan, it seemed more like something intended for his own eyes.

 

But he did not read the letter. Instead, he pulled Yan Yihuan up.

 

“Since you’re awake, let’s have dinner.”

 

A wave of soreness hit, and Yan Yihuan frowned, clutching his waist, his tone carrying faint complaint.

 

“Your Majesty, next time can we not do it in the imperial study? The desk is so hard, it hurts when I lean against it, and it also hurts when I lie on it.”

 

Li Xuanming couldn’t help laughing. He lifted Yan Yihuan’s waist and began to knead it lightly.

 

“Then tomorrow I’ll have Zhaoquan place a soft couch inside.”

 

Yan Yihuan was clearly in a very good mood. During the meal, he wouldn’t let Shen Zhaoquan serve and instead helped Li Xuanming himself, picking dishes and pouring wine. After a few cups, his cheeks had turned rosy.

 

“Go on,” Li Xuanming said, seeing the ingratiating look on his face and the way he seemed to be holding something back. He cooperated and drank the wine Yan Yihuan had just offered him, “What is it you want?”

 

Yan Yihuan gave a sheepish laugh and scooted his stool a little closer to Li Xuanming. “Father wrote that Big Brother Xu will be arriving in the capital in about five days. I was hoping to take a few days off then.”

 

“Big Brother Xu?” Li Xuanming picked up some food and asked casually, “Who exactly is he?”

 

“His name is Xu Xinyao. He’s the son of a wealthy merchant from Linjing, the same age as my eldest brother. They studied together at the same academy, so I know him as well.” Afraid that Li Xuanming might misunderstand their closeness with merchants, Yan Yihuan hurried to explain, “The Xu family’s ancestor once served as Grand Chancellor. Your Majesty must have heard of that famous Elder Xu. After the whole family returned to Linjing, they stopped serving in office. Though they now run businesses, they’re still a scholarly and respected family, one of the most prominent in our region.”

 

“You’re already calling him Big Brother Xu. Sounds like he’s more than just an acquaintance.”

 

Hearing that, Yan Yihuan’s eyes brightened a little. “We’ve known each other since childhood, so yes, we’re very close. Oh right, Big Brother Xu has beautiful handwriting.”

 

Shen Zhaoquan tightened his grip on the horsetail whisk in his hand. He didn’t dare look at the emperor. Instead, he glanced at the animated Yan Yihuan, hesitated for a moment, and gave a quiet cough.

 

An instant later, a wave of pressure filled the air. Shen Zhaoquan froze, bowed his head slightly to Li Xuanming, and took half a step back.

 

“I’ve never been fond of studying, but my teacher always praised my calligraphy. That was thanks to Big Brother Xu, who insisted I practice properly. He even taught me hand in hand so I could improve.”

 

“Oh?” Li Xuanming set down his chopsticks. “And how exactly did he teach you hand in hand?”

 

“Well, like this, holding my hand,” Yan Yihuan said with unthinking pride. “Didn’t Your Majesty also praise my handwriting?”

 

“Your handwriting is indeed quite good.” Li Xuanming smiled, the expression seemingly full of approval. “Since this person is so important to you, you should give him a proper welcome when he arrives in the capital.”

 

“So Your Majesty agrees!”

 

It wasn’t just that someone from home was coming, the real joy was that the emperor had agreed to give him a few days off. Yan Yihuan was overjoyed, poured two cups of wine, and downed the first one in a single gulp.

 

Seeing how happy he was, Li Xuanming leaned back slightly and turned to Shen Zhaoquan, who had been waiting nearby. 

 

If the emperor’s expression that Yan Yihuan had seen earlier was like a gentle spring breeze in April, what Shen Zhaoquan saw now was a blade of ice cutting through the depths of winter.

 

Of course it was Shen Zhaoquan. With just a glance from the emperor, he understood at once, gave a slight nod to show he had gotten the message, and quietly withdrew.

 

Only then Li Xuanming picked up the cup of wine Yan Yihuan had offered and drank it in one go, his gaze lingering on the already slightly tipsy figure before him.

 

Since he was going to rest well in a few days, it seemed there would be no need for any rest before then.