Just now, they were in a hurry to start a fire for warmth, but Ye Yang hadn’t considered this issue.
The imperial party had arrived for the hunt, and the surroundings of the hunting grounds were heavily guarded. It was inconceivable for ordinary individuals to breach these defenses. The Imperial Guards had their own encampment, diligently standing watch day and night. They scarcely had the leisure to venture into the secluded ruins nestled within the hunting grounds, let alone kindle a fire without purpose.
Consequently, it suggested that others infiltrated the confines of the hunting grounds.
To the knowledge of Ye Yang, during the autumn hunt, an assassin stealthily infiltrated the hunting grounds with the intention of assassinating Feng Luan. However, these assassins lacked the necessary professionalism; they were apprehended by the Imperial Guards before even reaching the outer perimeter of Feng Luan’s encampment.
The assassins, fortunately, caused no casualties. In the original text, this incident was rather trivial, merely a passing mention by the author. It served as a catalyst to unveil Chu Lian’s shock and the subsequent revelation of her pregnancy. However, as they approached this location, observing the embers on the ground, Ye Yang couldn’t suppress a sense of unease.
Could they have possibly reached the main hideout of those assassins?!
In the original text, Feng Luan did not venture out for hunting on the first day upon arriving at the hunting grounds. This implies that the accompanying Imperial Guards did not leave the encampment to follow the imperial entourage. Feng Luan did not lose his way, and Shen Shaoheng did not need to mobilize a large contingent of Imperial Guards to search extensively for Feng Luan’s traces within the hunting grounds.
Now, the number of remaining Imperial Guards inside their tents shouldn’t be substantial. The assassins, having infiltrated, found nothing and likely failed to locate Feng Luan. It’s possible they haven’t been apprehended by the Imperial Guards and might be returning empty-handed at this very moment.
As Ye Yang gazed down at the dragon-embroidered robe beneath his feet, a wave of anxiety swept over him. He looked around nervously, unsure of where to discard this robe adorned with the dragon motif.
The assassins were far more acquainted with this dilapidated temple than he was. Everything within the crumbling walls seemed easily visible, and hiding the robe anywhere felt precarious. Tossing it into the fire seemed like it might not be swift enough. If the assassins entered the temple and the clothing had yet to burn completely, there could be peril for all involved.
As imminent danger approached, Ye Yang, overwhelmed with indecision, heard footsteps nearing the door. Desperation spurred quick thinking, and he made a life-or-death decision—stuffing Feng Luan’s robe into his own attire, a desperate gamble in the face of impending peril.
In order to preserve his and the dog emperor’s lives, he had no choice but to temporarily set aside his dignity.
Feng Luan was startled by his actions, unsure of the reason behind his behavior. He quietly inquired, “Yun Yang, what are you……”
Ye Yang urgently pulled at his arm and said hastily, “Trouble is approaching; play along with me for a while.”
Feng Luan, “……play along with you?”
Ye Yang, without time for further explanation, saw someone stepping in from outside.
The individuals were all clad in stealthy black attire, draped in cloaks and straw hats, as if deliberately announcing their nefarious intent. The leader, a burly man brandishing a knife, stormed into the dilapidated temple with a fierce countenance. Having spotted the flickering firelight from outside, they initially believed the Imperial Guards of the dog emperor had discovered their whereabouts. However, as they crossed the threshold, Ye Yang let out a deliberate scream, ducking behind Feng Luan and shouting, “Who goes there! Husband! I’m scared!”
Feng Luan, “……”
The leader of the assassins, “……”
Now, Ye Yang, with disheveled dark hair and a hastily wrapped outer robe over his underclothes, presented a countenance as delicate as a painting. Though his features were not as feminine as a woman’s, his deliberately softened voice momentarily blurred the lines between genders. Not to mention—his lower abdomen swelled, and while dodging, he instinctively protected his belly, revealing a pregnancy of no less than five or six months.
Feng Luan finally regained his composure.
He had roughly grasped Ye Yang’s intention. Regardless of the identity of the intruders, anyone appearing in the hunting grounds at this moment must have ulterior motives. He couldn’t casually reveal his identity, so hiding the robe became imperative.
While the hiding spot chosen by Ye Yang for the clothing was far from ideal, the urgency of the situation left Feng Luan with no choice but to follow Ye Yang’s lead and continue with the act.
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.
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Ye Yang understood that these people were assassins, the book mentioning that they were originally farmers and hunters driven to their current path due to calamities in their hometown. Considering their likely resentment towards the emperor, Ye Yang realized that crafting a lie would require aligning with their potential grievances. Only by telling them what they wanted to hear could he hope to gain their sympathy and perhaps secure a way out for himself and Feng Luan.
Ye Yang, without hesitation, began to fabricate a tale, “I…… I am originally from the border regions. I entered the capital with my husband and happened to pass through here. We saw the tyrant emperor hunting, but to my surprise, he caught sight of me and, captivated by my beauty, forcibly took me into his tent……”
Finishing his words, he covered his face with one hand and squeezed out a few non-existent tears, saying, “My husband followed me all the way here. Taking advantage of the Imperial Guards accompanying the tyrant emperor for the hunt and receiving help from a compassionate sister inside the tent, we managed to escape from that dreadful place.”
The leader of the assassins slapped his thigh in frustration and angrily exclaimed, “This dog emperor! He spares not even pregnant women!”
Feng Luan, “……”
“My husband and I barely escaped the clutches of that tyrant emperor, only to get lost in this hunting ground,” Ye Yang continued with his fabrication. “As a heavy rain suddenly poured down, we had no choice but to seek shelter here. We…… we implore you, noble heroes, to spare our lives……”
Ye Yang looked pitifully at the assassins, forcing a tearful expression. Who could resist feeling sympathetic seeing such a demeanor? Indeed, the assassins seemed to have bought into his story. They joined in the anger, cursing the tyrant emperor. One of them, the leader, even patted his chest and reassured, “Sister, don’t worry. We’re all from the border regions, one big family. From now on, ye have me looking out for you. If anyone dares harm you, I’ll take care of ‘em!”
Ye Yang, “……”
Great. They don’t suspect a thing.
Feng Luan doesn’t know a word of Northeastern dialect. Won’t he expose himself with just one sentence?
The next moment, the leader of the assassins turned his head to look at Feng Luan and asked, “Why ain’t our little brother talking? Yer all grown up, why so shy?”
Feng Luan, “……”
Ye Yang, “……He……I……Brother! My fate is so unlucky! My man is mute!”
Feng Luan, “……”
……
Ye Yang successfully gained the sympathy of all the assassin leaders, proudly displaying his ‘six-month pregnancy’ belly. He secured the prime spot by the fire, claimed a warm coat, and indulged in the delicious aroma of roasted bing. He enjoyed the overwhelming favor bestowed upon him by the sympathetic assassins.
Feng Luan sat beside Ye Yang, breaking apart the bing for him. As he listened to the assassin leaders behind them and helped pack their belongings, he passionately joined in the verbal assault against the dog emperor, expressing his indignation at the failed assassination attempt.
He was hearing such a variety of colorful insults for the first time, and unfortunately, they were all directed at him. Being mute, he couldn’t retaliate. Even though he seethed with anger, he had to endure it, bottling up all his frustration.
He genuinely had no idea that there was such resentment among the common people. Since ascending to the throne, he had always risen before dawn and attended court just as the first sun rays peeked in the sky. He rarely rested, diligently reading every memorial submitted by officials. He believed he understood the people’s concerns, having implemented numerous policies for their benefit. With the expansion of territory, nations paying tribute, and the scarcity of famine, he never imagined that in the eyes of some commoners, he would be painted as such a heinous and despotic tyrant.
He remembered Ming Yan telling him that there were many who harbored ulterior motives in the court. Back then, he thought it was just the tip of the iceberg, but now he truly believed it. He felt a strange sense of defeat, as if all his years of hard work had turned into illusions. He had aimed for an era of peace and prosperity, but now he was unsure where that prosperity truly lay.
Ye Yang had already broken off a piece of the bing and, without saying a word, stuffed it into Feng Luan’s mouth. He mumbled, “You need strength to think about other things after eating.”
Feng Luan, “……”
Catching sight of Ye Yang’s smile, Feng Luan felt a sudden lightening of his heart. He couldn’t help but smile and nodded in agreement with Ye Yang.
Unable to speak, Feng Luan gently held Ye Yang’s hand and conveyed his thoughts through written strokes, one by one.
Rest assured.
He wrote slowly.
This prosperous and majestic era, zhen shall witness it alongside you.
Ye Yang, “……”
A slight itch in his palm accompanied each stroke, etching the words deep into his heart. Yet, Ye Yang couldn’t shake off this sense of…… confusion.
Hold on, what did this dog emperor write? It’s too complicated. Can anyone really decipher what someone writes in their palm?
What if he didn’t understand any of the words???
But Feng Luan seemed so happy…… Ye Yang didn’t want to spoil the moment, so he pretended to understand, nodded, and then averted his eyes, continuing to nibble on his bing, feeling a bit uneasy.
The assassins seemed unaware that Feng Luan had gone missing while hunting, and the Imperial Guards were actively searching the hunting grounds for him. The failed assassination attempt went unnoticed, and they believed they could rest for the day and try again tomorrow. However, there was still some skepticism regarding the sudden appearance of Ye Yang and Feng Luan. Consequently, they decided not to let them leave and planned to take them away only after a successful assassination and their departure from the area.
The chances of the Imperial Guards finding them would decrease if they left the hunting grounds. Ye Yang had no intention of leaving the area, but staying too long with the assassins risked exposing their identities. Though nervous, he had to maintain a calm facade. As the night grew deeper, the assassins found spots to sleep inside the dilapidated temple. Ye Yang used the dried clothes as makeshift bedding. After spreading them on the ground in a corner, he hadn’t even let Feng Luan lie down when the nearby assassin leader couldn’t tolerate it any longer. He shouted, “What kind of man are you? This sister is pregnant and still has to make a bed for you. Isn’t that embarrassing?”
Feng Luan, “……”
Ye Yang, “……”
Receiving the clothing from Ye Yang and arranging it on the ground, Feng Luan, in a hushed undertone, hissed, “It seems you’ve encountered a rather ‘virtuous elder brother,’ haven’t you?”
Gritting his teeth, his tone laced with a hint of anger, Feng Luan seemed not upset about being insulted or having to make a bed for Ye Yang. His irritation stemmed from the fact that Ye Yang had addressed the assassin so familiarly, even calling him ‘brother.’ Disgusted, Feng Luan couldn’t help but think, Ye Yang has never called him that!
With the clothes laid out, Ye Yang used the thick coat given by the assassin leader as a blanket, wrapping both of them. For the first time, he willingly nestled into Feng Luan’s arms. In a hushed tone, he urgently whispered into Feng Luan’s ear, “When will Shen Shaoheng arrive?”
Feng Luan shook his head slightly.
Feng Luan had no knowledge of the dilapidated temple within the hunting grounds, nor did he have any idea when Shen Shaoheng would find their location. If the assassins were to search near the imperial tent tomorrow, they would quickly discover that the emperor and one of his attendants had gone missing the previous night. At that point, the revelation of their identities would be imminent.
Anxiety filled Ye Yang’s heart as he pondered how to further delay the assassins. Unexpectedly, in the next moment, Ye Yang began to cough, capturing Feng Luan’s attention. Concerned about Ye Yang’s frail and often unwell constitution, especially after enduring a heavy rain today, Feng Luan quickly reached out to gauge Ye Yang’s temperature. His forehead felt blazing hot, and holding Ye Yang now felt like holding a furnace. It was evident that the fever had taken a toll.
He wanted to inquire with the assassins if they had any medicine for treating colds, but Ye Yang, being mute, couldn’t ask, and he himself had no intention of doing so. Frustration gripped him as he wished Shen Shaoheng would find them soon.
Under the grip of a high fever, Ye Yang could no longer resist the weariness. Unmindful of his surroundings, he drifted into a deep sleep, leaning against Feng Luan’s chest. Feng Luan spent a restless night, barely sleeping. Almost with the break of dawn, after countless thoughts about possible solutions, he remained trapped in the current predicament. As the night rain subsided and the sky gradually lightened, the assassins were sprawled in every direction, sound asleep. Feng Luan, however, heard faint footsteps outside the room.
He opened his eyes and looked towards the entrance of the dilapidated temple.
There were people outside speaking in hushed tones.
“It’s His Majesty and Yun shijun’s horses,” said one person. “Be careful; it seems there are others here.”
Before the words could fully register, a muffled thud followed. It seemed one of the assassins outside had been taken down without uttering a cry. The other assassins remained in deep slumber, oblivious to the commotion. Worried that if the Imperial Guards entered, there might be a skirmish endangering Ye Yang, Feng Luan cautiously lifted the unconscious Ye Yang and took a few steps towards the entrance, nearly reaching the doorway—
Behind him, the assassin leader woke up from his slumber, staring at Feng Luan in bewilderment. He asked, “Big brother, what are you doing?”
Feng Luan could already hear the Imperial Guards nearing the door.
He turned and, with a calm demeanor, said, “Taking my wife home.”
The assassin leader exclaimed, “……what in the world? The mute is talking.”
In the ensuing moments, the Imperial Guards burst in through the door. Shen Shaoheng, having heard Feng Luan’s voice from outside, had quickly positioned himself in front of Feng Luan, shielding him. The awakened assassins were swiftly subdued. Shen Shaoheng knelt down in a hurry, apologizing, “This humble servant apologizes for the delayed arrival, Your Majesty. This one humbly extends his sincerest apologies.”
“Yer that damned dog emperor! Is the sister in it too?!” The assassin leader was dumbfounded. “You… you pair of treacherous dogs!”
“Escort them back, refrain from employing any form of torture. There are inquiries zhen wishes to make,” Feng Luan stated with a furrowed brow. “Shaoheng, make preparations for our return to camp and summon an imperial physician.”
“An imperial physician?” Shen Shaoheng’s face filled with concern. “Is Your Majesty injured?”
“I am unharmed; it is Yun shijun who is indisposed,” Feng Luan hurriedly explained. “No need for further words. Prepare the horses at once.”
Shen Shaoheng hastily ordered someone to prepare the horses. Previously, he had been preoccupied with worrying about Feng Luan’s well-being, and only now did he realize that the surroundings seemed unusually quiet, lacking the distinctive accent of Yun shijun, a presence that he had grown accustomed to.
Seeing Feng Luan cradling the unconscious Ye Yang, Shen Shaoheng couldn’t help but feel some concern. While waiting for the Imperial Guards to prepare the horses, he stepped forward, casting a glance and inquiring, “Your Majesty, what happened to Yun shijun?”
Before Feng Luan could respond, Shen Shaoheng’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Wait a moment, did he see correctly?
In the course of one night, how did Yun shijun’s belly……
“Your…… Your Majesty, forgive this humble servant’s impertinence,” Shen Shaoheng stammered in profound shock. “Is Yun shijun…… expecting a child?”
Feng Luan, “……”
T/N
hi everyone!!! it’s been a long, difficult january but im back!! >.<
XD
Say yes. I want to see his reaction.
For sure he is! (ಡ艸ಡ) That was a great play of our boi >w<
Thank You for the new chapter (灬♥ω♥灬) Welcome back! (⋈◍＞◡＜◍)。✧♡
and ty for reading!! ♡
He will be for real.. Soon 😏
If Ye Yang’s fever is high enough he might believe he’s carrying Feng Luan’s love child 😂