Jin Xiyan closed his eyes and sank deeper into the large wooden tub he was in until the water was over his shoulders and up to his chin. Steam billowed up, brushing against his eyelashes. He let out a deep sigh that sent little ripples over the slightly murky, medicinal water. While the herbal bath stung some spots, the penetrating heat from the water was welcome to his suddenly sore muscles.
The bruises on his inner thighs were large, purple blotches. They didn’t compare to the ones on his arm and shoulder where he made impact onto the ground – that was what hurt the most. Experimentally, Jin Xiyan lifted and rotated his right shoulder slowly, only to wince when it came down.
He lifted his hands up to look at them, his small cuts healing and his fingers slightly wrinkled from his soaking. He couldn’t help but think that if he’d been in his original body, something like this wouldn’t normally hurt this badly. He’d been thrown from a horse before, and he’d been barely wounded.
Jin Xiyan turned his hands around to examine them as he thought to himself. Omega bodies…are really quite frail. It was no wonder that Li Changyu was covered in small scars, though others were big. He closed his fists, his eyes were drawn to the particularly nasty looking scar on Li Changyu’s arm. It looked like an animal had taken a bite out of him. All of them showed how badly he must have worked to be a Lieutenant General.
So deep in thought, Jin Xiyan had not heard the call of “his” name.
“Li Changyu?” The gruff voice called out again, a little more urgently, “Li Changyu?!”
That time he heard it. Jin Xiyan startled then flinched in pain. He turned his head to see the tent flap was thankfully still closed. Swallowing down his strain, he bit out, “Yes? Who is calling?”
“May I—”
“Y-you!” Su Ao’s familiar stammer interrupted the would-be caller. “You cannot be here! I-i-it is most improper for an alpha to be sniffing around His Highness!”
The voice of the other person rose an octave, making his already rough voice even scratchier. “I am three times older than you, sonny, and I won’t be sniffin’ around! I am Family, and–”
Jin Xiyan connected the voice now to the person. He called out, “Li Yunxi? Is that you?”
“Changyu,” Li Yunxi harrumphed, “Your Highness – may I come in?”
“Wait a minute!”
Jin Xiyan hurried about, reaching this way and that way to find a towel. Water splashed about in his search until he finally plucked one from a low table that was near the foot of the bath. He stood up and patted his torso dry as he stepped out of the tub. By the time he got a robe on, he’d only dried off half of himself and his still damp hair clung to his back, stuck between the robe and his body.
“Come…” Jin Xiyan tugged at his hair to pull it out from his collar, “Come in!”
Su Ao stepped in first, holding open the flap behind him and Li Yunxi followed. The elder carried a sack, which held a weird, oblong shaped object. The two shot one another a glare, but Su Ao turned away from the alpha. Even dressed, Su Ao’s wobbly knees as he trembled were evident. Jin Xiyan stood in the center of his tent to greet them.
“Cousin,” he said with a nod. “What brings you here?”
“I would like to speak to you,” Li Yunxi explained and cut a glance from the corner of his eye to Su Ao. “Alone.”
“You most certainly will no–”
Jin Xiyan stepped closer, holding his hand out. “Shorty, just leave.”
He’d remembered Li Changyu called Su Ao once or twice that nickname, and it seemed fitting to try and keep up his act as much as possible. If anyone could identify him as Jin Xiyan, it would certainly be Su Ao.
The young eunuch deflated, his shoulders drooped down. Then he was back to prim and proper, standing up straight and bowing to Jin Xiyan.
“Yes, Your Highness. This servant will be right outside.”
Whether that was a threat to Li Yunxi or to him, Jin Xiyan wasn’t sure. Li Yunxi hmphed when Su Ao passed and turned his head to watch the eunuch leave. Jin Xiyan busied himself by getting a table out to set up some tea. When he faced Jin Xiyan again, the old man let out a low whistle.
“These people around here sure are wound tighter than an old hag’s craw, ain’t they?”
Jin Xiyan coughed on his next breath and dropped the table. It rattled and shook, but eventually he got it to settle on the spot he was just about to place it. It became apparent then who severely influenced his dear Wife. He braced himself on the table for a moment before clearing his throat to speak.
“With what just happened, I am not surprised that everyone is on their toes.”
“About that – wait, don’t fuss on my account.” Li Yunxi came forward and shooed Jin Xiyan. He set down his sack and traded it for another towel and chucked it at Jin Xiyan’s head. Unprepared, it landed on top of Jin Xiyan’s head before he could catch it.
“Dry your head, or you’ll catch a cold,” warned Li Yunxi. The man dropped down on the low chair that was off to the side. Jin Xiyan did what he was told, though he was a little resentful at how cocky Li Yunxi sounded.
Indeed, just like my Wife. Jin Xiyan gathered Li Changyu’s long black hair to one side and wrapped the towel around it to press it between the soft cloth. He looked at Li Yunxi expectantly, but the man looked quite content just to sit with his hands folded and resting on his slightly protruding belly. He tilted his head.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Was there something in particular you needed, Cousin?”
“Oh! Right, right. Two things,” Li Yunxi went alert in an instant and rummaged inside his robe to pull out an official memorial. He leaned forward and held it out to him. “This here first. I wanted to have your eyes on this first.”
Does he know that I am the Emperor? Jin Xiyan draped the towel over his shoulders before warily reaching out and taking the memorial. He skimmed over the cover before peeking back at Li Yunxi. Li Changyu said that the less people that knew, the better…
Lest he reveal himself accidentally, he kept his questions to himself and unfolded the memorial. It was a petition of sorts, with a long list of names that he wasn’t familiar with at all. Jin Xiyan went closer to the lantern in the center to better read the near chicken-scratch.
“…wish to address the concerns of the common people to His Majesty,” he mumbled out loud, “It is our belief that moving the fortress closer to the capital would provide the country with the most security. Accompanied are the names of the officials in Jiangshen who urge His Majesty to consider this proposal for the following reasons…”
Jin Xiyan read and re-read the proposal, but it did not make much sense to him. He folded it back together and turned to Li Yunxi, waving the memorial slightly. “What is this all about, and why do you want me to look at it?”
“You are the one that got all that fancy learnin’, didn’tcha?” Li Yunxi stretched forward and reached to tap his finger hard on the cover of the memorial still in his hand. “Explain to me why a bunch of pretty boy alphas got it in their thick skulls to move the military fortress away from the border so I can best tell your little hubby why it’s a bad idea and where to stick this proposal.”
The Li’s really do not hold themselves back, do they? Jin Xiyan took a deep breath and chose to ignore that slight at him. He re-opened the memorial and looked it over for a third time, and shook his head.
“I do not understand why either. Jiangshen is at the frontier, where we need a strong defense.”
“And that’s what I’ve been tellin’ ‘em!” Li Yunxi boomed, startling Jin Xiyan. The old man smacked his palms against his knees and let out a loud huff that shook his mustache. “First they were on my ass about naming a Second-in-Command, but that all went down the drain when I got word your Father was forced to retire!”
Which was my fault…Jin Xiyan winced.
“And then they told us about what happened to you!” Li Yunxi showed even more emotion now. His weathered face crinkled even more with his scowl, his fists clenched in a white-knuckle grip. “We got a letter that you had been killed by the Emperor! The Li Elder was just about ready to convince us all to go to the capital when your Father sent a letter saying you were alive. We–”
“Wait, a letter?” Jin Xiyan set the memorial aside for now. “You received a letter saying he–I–was dead? From who?”
“It didn’t say, but it was on that fancy paper. Three days later we got the second one.”
If they received word in advance that Li Changyu was dead, it had to have been sent before he was even arrested. This was clearly part of the mastermind’s plot, he surmised, though it failed. What was their end game?
He suddenly remembered another important fact, “You are the Unit Commander, correct?”
Li Yunxi snorted, “If the sun still rises from the east, I’m sure as shit still the Unit Commander in that province.”
He recalled that the biggest reason they wanted the Li’s wasn’t just for Li Changyu’s probability for an alpha heir, but that the Li’s had considerable backing in the military. That much power consolidated to one Family, as he was warned by Ministers and his Mother alike, was dangerous. Jin Xiyan crossed his arms and pressed the nail of his thumb against his teeth as he tried to sort all this out.
Li Yunxi’s dark, hooded eyes looked him up and down. “Why? What’s got your brain all in a twist?”
“If you could tell me honestly…” Jin Xiyan had to choose his words very carefully, because what he was about to ask was sensitive. Even he didn’t want to imagine the ‘what if’ scenarios that involved Li Changyu being hurt. “If I had been killed, what would you have done?”
Li Yunxi slammed a fist on the armrest of the chair, “Seek justice, that’s what!”
The man was up on his feet now, again the sudden move startled Jin Xiyan. It was still disconcerting how tall everyone was now, and even when Shen Pei would stand his heart would leap a little in alarm.
“We Li’s been loyal to the Empire since it began!” Li Yunxi’s meaty paws clapped Jin Xiyan on the shoulders and squeezed them. He looked at him dead in the eye, his scowl back. “That letter said you’d been framed by the Emperor so he could get rid of you!”
Jin Xiyan’s heart sank to the pit of his stomach at that. Unconsciously, he rushed to defend himself.
“No, not ever! I would never–” Jin Xiyan cut himself off and bit his lip. He took a slow, steadying breath before continuing. “That letter was a lie. His Majesty never had plans like that. We think that someone is trying to frame us both…”
Li Yunxi’s face relaxed into a small frown. “What good would that’a do?”
The truth made itself clear. “Because if you came down like you planned, they would have an excuse to execute you. Bringing soldiers into the Capital like that…” Jin Xiyan shook his head, “You would be charged with treason.”
That, coupled with the fake suicide note that claimed Li Changyu had been the one to kill him, would be a crime strong enough to wipe out nine generations. The Li’s would be gone, making the military ripe for the taking. In one fell swoop, the throne and an army would be available to whoever was the mastermind.
Jin Xiyan’s thoughts circled back around to the memorial. Still in hand, he looked down at it and spoke his thoughts. “This…this feels like an alternative plan.” Lifting his head, he continued. “They could not wipe you out now, but they could try to take military control away from you.”
“But that’s the stupidest plan yet, because without the fortress–”
“–enemy forces could break through.”
Li Yunxi sucked in a breath and stepped back. He wiped a hand over his face where it then sat and rubbed his chin. “If they broke through, and we didn’t get killed, then…”
Jin Xiyan finished Li Yunxi’s thought once more, “Then you could be blamed for losing the border, and all of you–us–would be disgraced.”
It was clear now that the mastermind behind all this was scrambling for a way to implicate the Li’s into something else. They likely assumed Jin Xiyan was in fact the Emperor at this moment, and if Li Yunxi came barging in like he had now…
…I probably would not listen to him. Jin Xiyan was a little embarrassed of himself and he held the memorial to his chest and hung his head. He would like to think that he wouldn’t have agreed to such a ridiculous proposal, but if enough Ministers raised support for it, and Li Yunxi called out for his behavior, it was a high possibility that he would have.
But things are different now. Jin Xiyan lifted his head and patted Li Yunxi on the shoulder.
“I will talk to His Majesty about this as soon as I can. Keep a hold of this memor–”
“Gimme that! Don’t go crawling to that man.” Li Yunxi snatched the memorial from his hands and grumbled. “Your Mother told me plenty about him! He won’t listen to the likes of you. You best leave this to the grown men.”
Anger flared, both for his sake and for Li Changyu’s. “Grown men? You mean grown alphas, do you not?”
On childish impulse, Jin Xiyan grabbed the memorial that he intended to give back to Li Yunxi and yanked it back. Li Yunxi blew out a breath and grabbed it again, holding it between them.
“Of course not!” Li Yunxi sighed this time, but tugged the memorial closer. “But you are an omega and the Empress, so it ain’t proper for you to stick your nose in the Imperial Court. You did it once already, and look where it got you!”
Jin Xiyan hesitated, which allowed Li Yunxi to give a firm tug and yank the memorial out from Jin Xiyan’s grasp. Jin Xiyan let it go and Li Yunxi tucked it away into his robe.
“That reminds me of the other thing I gotta talk to you about,” Li Yunxi turned away and took hold of the sack. He lifted it enough to undo the cinched rope around the edge and pulled out a sword encased in an elegant, finely detailed sheath that had lettering on it. The handle was bronze with thick leather wrapped around the grip. A rounded piece of ivory was at the pommel with a carnelian embedded in it that glittered from the lantern light.
Li Yunxi let go of the sack and dropped down to both knees in front of Jin Xiyan. He held up the sword across both palms and presented it to him.
Unsure whether he could touch it, Jin Xiyan stayed his hand and instead asked, “What is this?”
“This is the Li Family’s treasure,” Li Yunxi’s tone was firm and serious, a stark contrast to his usual rasp. He bowed his head. “It is the sword bestowed to us by the First Emperor!”
Jin Xiyan’s brows flew upward and his eyes fell onto the worn seal and lettering along the sheath. At the very center was a gold medallion that did indeed have the First Emperor’s seal on it. Having something like this was the same as the Emperor himself being present, as a gift with his seal was an extension of the Emperor’s will. Since Li Yunxi didn’t seem suspicious about him not knowing what this was, it was likely Li Changyu never knew about this sword either.
Jin Xiyan was unsure whether to bow or not. Blinking, it took a second to find his voice. “What are you even doing with this here?”
“The Elder allowed me to take this to give to you.” Li Yunxi raised his head, his pursed lips hidden behind his bristly facial hair. He pushed the sword towards Jin Xiyan, urging him to take it. “Use it in an emergency, to exempt your death.”
“Uh!” Jin Xiyan staggered backward a step, but caught himself. He held out his hands, shoving the sword back to Li Yunxi. “N-no! There is no need for this!”
Li Yunxi pushed it again towards Jin Xiyan. Jin Xiyan resisted, and back and forth the two went handing off the sword like a hot potato. After about the fourth round of it, Li Yunxi growled. He grabbed Jin Xiyan’s hand and forcibly opened it to set the sword in it, and did the same with Jin Xiyan’s other hand. Jin Xiyan made a noise in protest.
“I really do not need something like this.” He looked back down at the sword in his hands, the weight of it a bit overbearing. Holding it like this aggravated his shoulder, so he set it down on the small table nearby.
Li Yunxi stood up, his knees cracking as he did. He grunted when Jin Xiyan went to his side and furiously waved his hand to dismiss him. Li Yunxi adjusted his belt when he spoke, “If something like that happens to you again, that sword is your only defense against the Emperor.”
Only defense against… Jin Xiyan looked at the sword, then back at Li Yunxi. “Why would you say that? I do not need protection–”
Li Yunxi grabbed his arm, cutting him off. The older man lowered his voice.
“Being with the Emperor is like being in a tiger den,” warned Li Yunxi. “He forgave you one day, but what about the next? Or the day after, huh?”
Jin Xiyan’s mouth fell open, intending to defend himself. “I would never–”
He stopped himself though, but not because it would reveal that something was amiss. Jin Xiyan couldn’t actually bring himself to try and dismiss Li Yunxi’s words.
Jin Xiyan remembered what his own Father was like, and even some of his own behavior confused him. He knew that there was a confusing, blurry line between annoyance and amusement when it came to Li Changyu. But he did like him – he wanted to protect him! There were times when he was mad at Li Changyu, but he never wanted to intentionally hurt him. But…Jin Xiyan looked down at his hand, which wasn’t his own, but it highlighted how much smaller it was compared to his own. My hand did strike him…
He curled his fingers into a fist and shook his head. “I do not need this. I–His Majesty–likes me.”
“But Changyu–”
“I am honest!” he insisted. “He has feelings for me. He…he…”
He took a hold of one of the bottom ends of his sleeves and started to pick at it while pacing away from Li Yunxi. The man let him go, his arm dropping back to his side. Jin Xiyan swallowed down the lump in his throat that tried to prevent him from speaking his next words.
“He likes my smile, and that I am honest. Even when it annoys m–him…” Jin Xiyan’s eyes drifted to the sword, his fingers still nervously busying themselves with now fraying fabric. “He thinks I am strong, and he loves my Family.” Jin Xiyan turned his attention back to Li Yunxi, ignoring the sad look in his eyes. “He said…he said that he would protect me from now on.”
“Did he really?”
No. “Yes.” Not yet.
“Besides…” he began again, though it was a little mumbled. “He needs someone smart enough to keep him honest…”
There was a quiet pause that broke when he could hear Li Yunxi’s heavy boots come closer. Jin Xiyan tilted his head back to look up at him, and he had a lopsided grin. Li Yunxi cupped his cheeks, and though his hold was a little too hard, Jin Xiyan didn’t dare to protest.
“We always knew you would have to pick your Husband because you are different,” Li Yunxi said. “I will only ask this once, so tell me honestly…do you choose him?”
Li Changyu’s threat of divorce flashed across Jin Xiyan’s thoughts, making him blurt out, “Yes!”
Li Yunxi stared at him for what felt like much too long, his critical gaze making him feel a little small. Just when Jin Xiyan worried that maybe Li Yunxi caught onto them, the man blew out his next breath hard enough that his lips shook.
“Aiya, I’ll trust what you say, but keep the sword anyway.” Li Yunxi looked reluctant to do so, but he didn’t hassle Jin Xiyan further. His grin was fuller now once he stepped away. “You picked a tricky Husband, but I shouldn’t expect anything less after you rejected Li Yunmeng.”
Before Jin Xiyan could breathe a sigh of relief, a bit of vinegar coated his heart and his mood changed.
“Li…Yunmeng?”
“Your Cousin, Yunmeng.” Li Yunxi, oblivious to the Emperor’s growing ire, carried on. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already? You haven’t been away from the fortress for that long.”
Jin Xiyan squared his shoulders and tried to put on his best not-really-caring attitude on. “I was recently injured and have forgotten a few things…I apologize.”
“Oh, oh…” Li Yunxi frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, that was my big mouth for ya.”
“Could you help…remind me of Li Yunmeng?”
Jin Xiyan was not fishing for information, not one bit.
“Well, before you went to fight campaigns, we wanted you to intermarry with your distant Cousin Yunmeng.” Li Yunxi raised an accusatory finger, jabbing the air in Jin Xiyan’s direction. “Now don’t you get mad like before, sayin’ we were trying to get you out of the military. We weren’t gonna do that. We just wanted you to have the protection of an alpha that would respect you. Your Father was on board with it—”
“Li–My Father approved of it?!”
“Well…yeah.” Li Yunxi scrunched his nose, “We wouldn’t have brought it up to you if he wasn’t okay with it first. But, just like before, you’re up in arms about it.”
Li Changyu rejected him…Jin Xiyan nodded to himself. Good, good.
“Hey, you haven’t seen him in a few years, why don’t you catch up with him? He should be outside somewhere helpin’ Julong’s Cousins with them horses.”
Excuse me? “Excuse me?”
Though Li Changyu rejected Li Yunmeng before, given the current circumstances, what would prevent Li Changyu from divorcing him and running off with this…this…
Jin Xiyan growled.
Li Yunxi gave an exasperated sigh. “What is that face for? You liked Li Yunmeng just fine, and I am just sayin’ it might help jog your memory. No funny business! You can trade battle stories like the good ol’ days. We can all meet at the campfire later.”
By now Jin Xiyan could taste the bitterness from his heart. Li Changyu could very well have found Li Yunmeng already while Jin Xiyan had been recuperating here in the tent. What would Li Changyu think? Or worse, what would Li Changyu do? His Wife was flirtatious and had a history with this man – this alpha. If Li Changyu thought, even for a second, that he could get away from Jin Xiyan…
He’s mine.
Jin Xiyan plastered on a smile to hide his murderous intent and beamed at Li Yunxi.
“Let me get ready, and we can pay this dear sweet Cousin of mine a visit…”
Just a tiny bit possessive lolololol
Thank you for chapter
You are welcome! I hope you enjoyed the vinegar.
Where would we be without the salty outspoken elders setting the record straight – and handing out priceless treasure swords?? I feel like we (the royal We) have been underutilizing Li Beidou’s connection to the Li Elder’s branch. Can’t wait to see what this cousin is like, if Li Changyu said no after his father said yes. Will he be the type to offer assistance with those inner thigh bruises?
People early on were confused as to what it meant for the Li’s to hold military power – behold!
Hahaha the suits him right.. So JX do u feel the pain now?
JXY: in so much pain 😭
I love to see him in pain
Wow. Someone really has it out for the Li’s. So many plans to sabotage them! I’m loving jealous JXY. I almost feel bad for this Li Yunmeng fellow. Lol. Thank you for the update!
Everyone pray for Li Yunmeng 🙏
Hahaha .. he’s being possessive now…..
Thanks for the chapter 🥰🥰 love it
He licked it, it’s his now.
Hehe😏😊.. the next chapter is gonna be fun ❤️
This worries me
thank you for the chapter love this😁
You are very welcome!
Thanks for update! I love JZY vinegar!🥰😄
You are welcome! I am very happy you enjoyed this chapter <3
Yunxi and I are one in the same.
you 🤝 Yunxi
Honestly I feel like me and the Lis in general are pretty much on the same level. But Yunxi has spoken to me with his uncouth cursing, and his blatant dislike of JXY. Truly, we are bruhs.
I hope Yunxi didn’t put his foot in his mouth tho. I’m sure Yunmeng can still be an ally, JXY! Don’t be resort to your usual foolishness. 😓
Thanks for the chapter ♥️♥️
You are welcome!
The fact that he forget he’s in changyu’s body- XD how can changyu be flirting with his cousin if he’s the emperor right now 😂
when has logic worked for this Emperor?🤷
🤣🤣🤣
Imagine him saying ‘mine’ to changyu’s face 😂
Thanks for the chapter!
JXY: He’s mine.
meanwhile, somewhere else
LCY: suddenly sneezes who is talking about me?!
Pls update… more of JXY s realization is needed😄
I promise soon! I am recovering from a back injury and this winter has been very bitter cold.
Thanks Dom….pls do take care of urself .
thank you! <3
The plot thickens.. and i admit the mastermind is clever. If JXY and LCY didnt get reborn, they would succeed with their plan.
I enjoy tormenting JXY he deserves it..
Im so excited for the next chapter!
Thank you so much
I am so happy you enjoyed! <3
The angst, the possesiveness in this is just- chef kiss😙👌
So not only is JXY a terrible husband, he’s also a possesive one 🙄
Reader, dear reader! Please believe me! He will redeem himself!
No matter what he does, even if he gives LCY the whole empire, i’ll still hold some hatred for him. How much depends on the redeeming and on you the most 😅
😂😂😂 vinegar eating sour JXY is just so cute… Yes Babe that’s how you do it.
Author nim Great work!!! Keep going.
😍