Pregnant Salted Fish Chapter 52

TL: Hua

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“Taoist Master,” Xu Yanqing called softly but received no response from within, only vaguely hearing the Taoist Master’s breathing, which was heavier than usual. So, Xu Yanqing took two more steps forward.

Xu Yanqing felt something was amiss. Perhaps due to different breathing habits, the Taoist master’s usual breathing was not only extremely light but also longer than an ordinary person’s. He had never heard it this heavy before.

If it was due to the onset of the love poison, there would be signs to follow, but since his breathing was so heavy, he shouldn’t have been asleep. Yet, when he called him, why didn’t the Taoist Master respond?

The next moment, Xu Yanqing decisively lifted the bed curtains, instantly widening his eyes in astonishment.

The Taoist master on the bed, dressed in sleeping robes, had his limbs bound by ropes. He wasn’t asleep but had his eyes open, staring blankly at the bed canopy. Those eyes, usually cool with a hint of warmth, were now filled with streaks of red blood, looking somewhat terrifying, like an immortal from a storybook who had gone astray and fallen into the demonic path.

“Taoist Master, Taoist Master.” Xu Yanqing quickly sat down by the bed and gently stroked the Taoist Master’s cheek, trying to bring him back to consciousness.

Yin Yanjun slowly blinked his eyes. A while ago, he had felt an unusual restlessness within his body. Because of this, he found it difficult to suppress his strong feelings for the young master, and twice he had taken advantage of the sleeping young master at night.

Yin Yanjun understood that the love poison was about to act up. It was fine when his mind was clear and unburdened.

But now, all his thoughts were of the young master. This love poison was boiling like hot water, impossible to suppress. So he could only use the excuse of being busy with state affairs to avoid the young master, fearing that he might do something irreversible to the young master when the love poison acted up.

He had originally thought of hiding in Lingyun Temple to endure this bout of love poison, but the young master was pregnant and in a delicate state, unable to withstand harm or too much worry. Therefore, he couldn’t abandon the young master and had to stay in the palace.

However, staying in the palace near the young master also had many inconveniences. When the love poison acted up, he was delirious and very likely to stumble into Changxin Palace in that muddled state.

He had initially thought of using medicine to knock himself out, but due to the love poison, Yin Yanjun had previously used many antidotes and had developed resistance to sedatives. So, he could only have the secret guards use the strongest ropes to bind him to the bed every night.

Xu Yanqing specifically checked the ropes binding the Taoist Master. The person who tied the Taoist Master to the dragon bed had a good sense of proportion: first, the ropes were very strong, so no matter how much the Taoist Master struggled, he couldn’t escape; second, the ropes were very rough.

So, that person had placed soft silk around the Taoist Master’s wrists and ankles to prevent him from hurting himself when he struggled.

He called the Taoist Master several times, but the Taoist Master only blinked his eyes without giving any response. Xu Yanqing stood up and looked around, pouring a cup of cold water from the desk and feeding it to the Taoist Master.

The cold water slightly reduced the raging heat in his body. Yin Yanjun’s vision was blurry, and he felt as if he saw the young master again.

“Qingqing, Qingqing…” Yin Yanjun’s bloodshot eyes instantly became incredibly soft: “I dreamt of Qingqing again.”

The Taoist Master’s voice was obviously clear and gentle, yet Xu Yanqing heard a sticky, clingy feeling, as if the Taoist Master was acting spoiled toward him. He was in no hurry to untie the ropes that bound the Taoist Master’s limbs.

After all, if the Taoist Master truly lost control, he wasn’t confident in his current state to make the Taoist Master lucid. It was easier this way.

A mischievous thought arose in the young master’s heart. His fingers gently stroked from the Taoist Master’s cheek down to his Adam’s apple: “Taoist Master usually calls me ‘young master,’ why are you suddenly calling me ‘Qingqing’?”

Yin Yanjun wasn’t truly awake at this moment but was in a dreamlike state. He thought he was dreaming and once again dreamt of the young master, so he spoke without restraint, like a drunk person. But because of his nature, the young master’s question still made Yin Yanjun a little embarrassed and shy. However, urged by the young master, he still replied, “I’ve wanted to call you that for a long time, but I never did.”

“Why didn’t you say it?” His father, mother, and elder brother called him ‘Ah Qing.’ Most others called him ‘young master’ or ‘Young Master Xu.’ The Taoist master was the first to call him ‘Qingqing.’

The faint candlelight shone on the Taoist Master’s face, making him appear even more restrained and transparent. A faint blush and an almost imperceptible awkwardness appeared on his jade-like face: “Because I held affection for you, young master, but was ashamed to speak.”

In short, the Taoist master was shy. Xu Yanqing’s clear, sparkling eyes instantly brightened even more. He found the Taoist Master in this state to be incredibly endearing, and his fingers couldn’t help but playfully caress the Taoist Master’s Adam’s apple.

“Then, have you been deliberately avoiding me these past few days?” His fingers gradually moved down, playfully unbuttoning the Taoist Master’s tightly fastened collar.

Yin Yanjun remained silent, only gazing at the young master gently. His gaze was fixed and full of deep affection. After a while, his Adam’s apple slowly moved: “I didn’t deliberately avoid you, young master. That night, I did something indecent to you, so I felt embarrassed and ashamed. I was afraid of hurting you, young master.”

At this moment, the sweet “Qingqing” had completely turned back into “young master.” Xu Yanqing, being magnanimous, didn’t bother with this small issue. His fingers continued downwards, already untying the sash of the Taoist Master’s sleeping robe. Hearing this, he curiously asked, “What exactly did you do to me that made you so embarrassed and ashamed, Taoist Master?”

At the mention of this, the tips of Yin Yanjun’s ears couldn’t help but slowly turn red. His bloodshot eyes fell on the young master’s lips, and his expression gradually deepened: “While Young Master was asleep, I kissed your lips.”

The Taoist master was truly frank at this moment, instantly melting Xu Yanqing’s heart. He had always been particularly slow in matters of love.

Both in his previous life and this one, he had never thought of being with anyone, but the Taoist Master was an exception.

His fingers aimlessly wrapped around the Taoist Master’s sash. Xu Yanqing lowered himself and, under the fervent gaze, slowly placed a kiss on the Taoist Master’s lips: “Is this how you kissed me?”

Yin Yanjun’s breathing grew heavy again, and his eyes shone brightly. He never lied, so he shook his head very frankly: “Not like this; it was more intense.”

Xu Yanqing raised an eyebrow with interest. The Taoist master was naturally reserved. He feared that if the Taoist Master woke up tomorrow and knew he had said such embarrassing things, he would hide in Hanliang Palace and refuse to see anyone.

However, tomorrow’s matters will surely be discussed tomorrow. So, Xu Yanqing’s eyes curved as he stared at the Taoist Master’s lips, kissing him deeply once more: “Is this how it is?”

Yin Yanjun’s breathing was a bit unsteady, and the rise and fall of his chest were significantly larger. He moved his restrained wrists. The bed curtains, which had been slightly pulled open by the young master, fell back down with this movement, completely concealing the two of them within the dragon bed.

With his wrists bound, he couldn’t move. Yin Yanjun slightly raised his head, his eyes showing a hint of longing: “Young master, kiss me again.”

“Just a kiss?” Xu Yanqing’s hand was already resting on the Taoist Master’s chest beneath his clothes, and his other hand idly stroked the Taoist Master’s faint beard. When he found a chance, he would definitely shave off this small beard of the Taoist Master to see what he looked like without it.

At the young master’s question, Yin Yanjun’s heart pounded even harder. He took a deep look at the young master: “Of course not just that. I am not the pure and noble immortal in Young Master’s mind. I have indecent thoughts towards you, longing for intimacy and the joy of being together.”

Intimacy and the joy of being together? So, the Taoist Master was actually so frank and wild inside! Xu Yanqing couldn’t help but hook the Taoist Master’s chin: “Then why did Taoist Master only kiss me when I was asleep, instead of…”

Yin Yanjun instantly understood the young master’s meaning. His bright eyes suddenly turned a little aggrieved: “Young Master’s heart belongs to someone else, not to me.”

“When has my heart belonged to someone else? Why am I completely unaware of this?” The Taoist master’s words genuinely confused the young master. If it was about Su Hanfeng before, he should have explained it to the Taoist Master. Why was the Taoist Master still dwelling on it now?

With the young master right in front of him, Yin Yanjun couldn’t help but raise his head and heavily kiss the young master’s lips, continuing to say aggrievedly, “First it was Su Hanfeng, then Yuancheng, and now you’re even smiling happily at Yuanshuang, but only towards me…”

Hmm, now even Young Marquis Yin and Princess Jing’an were included? The salted fish himself was about to feel aggrieved, alright. However, considering the Taoist Master was not clear-headed at the moment, Xu Yanqing decided to be magnanimous and temporarily put this issue aside.

“Of course not, I only admire and am devoted to you, Taoist Master!” Under the cover of the curtains, the light also became soft and dim. Xu Yanqing stared at the Taoist Master’s handsome and ethereal but intense face: “In that case, Taoist Master, do you want to do some things you dared not do before?”

Yin Yanjun felt a burning sensation throughout his body, and only the young master could bring him momentary relief. Unfortunately, the ropes binding his limbs were annoying, so he pleaded pitifully, “Young master, would you please untie these ropes for me?”

The ropes, of course, couldn’t be untied. But the Taoist Master looked so pitiful, which made Xu Yanqing want to coax him a little. So he kissed the Taoist Master’s lips a few more times: “Taoist Master, be good and don’t move.”

Yin Yanjun immediately lay back obediently and stopped fidgeting. He could clearly feel the young master’s soft hand slowly reaching and exploring the crucial area.

The Taoist Master’s glittering eyes immediately looked over. The salted fish young master’s face instantly became scorching hot. He raised his other hand to cover the Taoist Master’s eyes: “Taoist Master, be good and close your eyes; don’t look around.” There was a hint of false bravado and shyness in the young master’s tone. Yin Yanjun’s heart was ablaze. His long eyelashes fluttered back and forth under the young master’s palm. He leaned close to the young master’s ear and said with a pleading tone, “Young master, touch me again…”

This scene immediately reminded Xu Yanqing of his own heat cycle. At that time, he also clung to the Taoist Master, asking him to touch the back of his neck.

As if on cue, the air within the curtains filled with a certain scent. Xu Yanqing felt his body gradually heat up uncontrollably, and a faint peach scent slowly spread throughout the dragon bed.

With his belly prominently high, it was inconvenient. Xu Yanqing had unknowingly let go of the hand covering the Taoist Master’s eyes, slightly raised his body, and lowered his head towards the Taoist Master’s lips once more.

Yin Yanjun was already deeply aroused. Due to the young master’s indulgence, he felt a bit more unrestrained, clinging to the young master, their lips and teeth intertwined.

…

After a long while, Yin Yanjun finally gently coaxed the young master into untying all four ropes. Without the restraint of the ropes, his movements became a bit more unrestrained.

Because the young master had helped him earlier, Yin Yanjun’s mind was clear for a brief moment. The tips of his ears were so red they seemed to be dripping blood. After placing the young master on the bed, Yin Yanjun was like a giant beast that had obtained its beloved treasure, hugging and rubbing against the young master, occasionally kissing his lips.

The back of the young master’s neck felt hot and burning, and there was still a slightly sticky feeling on his palm even after being wiped. After the first time, there would be a second time. When the Taoist Master’s uncontrollable emotions surged again, the young master whispered a few words into the Taoist Master’s neck.

As their passion deepened, Yin Yanjun recalled the young master’s whispers in his ear earlier. His eyes grew deeper, and his lips and teeth slowly landed on the back of the young master’s neck. He first tentatively sucked once. That faint peach scent seemed to be a secret medicine specifically for him, making him even more unable to control himself.

The Taoist Master’s teeth bit down. The young master’s cheek rubbed against the Taoist master’s neck. He looked incredibly delicate. After a long while, their panting finally subsided, and they eventually fell asleep, exhausted, in each other’s arms.

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Outside Hanliang Palace, Wen Jing alternately leaned against the door, listening for movement inside, and then sat on the steps, reflecting on himself. After doing this dozens of times, the hidden guard on the roof finally couldn’t stand it anymore. He raised his hand, took out a slip of paper, put it into a bamboo tube, and threw it in front of Wen Jing.

Wen Jing was startled, looking around. He squatted down and picked up the bamboo tube. A simple sentence was written on it: The Emperor and Young Master have fallen asleep; all is well.

Receiving the message from the hidden guard, Wen Jing instantly relaxed. He slowly straightened up, only then realizing his legs were numb from sitting. He could only hobble towards his room.

The next morning, a faint light was already visible outside, but inside Hanliang Palace, the heavy curtains made the light on the dragon bed dim.

Yin Yanjun woke up, his clear eyes filled with a cool, detached look. But the next moment, his hand touched a warm, smooth patch of skin. He turned his head to see the young master slightly curled up, his head resting in his neck, sleeping soundly.

Feeling the movement that disturbed his good sleep, the young master mumbled, utterly exhausted. Yin Yanjun instantly dared not move again, raising a hand to gently pat the young master’s back reassuringly.

The young master snuggled into Yin Yanjun’s neck and slept even more soundly.

Lying flat on the bed, all the minute details of last night resurfaced in Yin Yanjun’s mind. The tips of his ears were as red as rubies. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he felt a warm contentment in his heart.

Although his young master was exceptionally slow in matters of love, now that he had opened up, he was… so incredibly delightful.

After lying in bed with the young master for more than an hour, it was already bright outside. Luckily, there was no early court today. Yin Yanjun turned to look at the young master’s delicate face, a slight curve forming on his lips.

There was a red tooth mark on the back of the young master’s neck, a trace he had left last night. Yin Yanjun gently got up from the bed and carefully sprinkled medicinal powder on the red mark.

The dragon bed was a mess from their antics last night, and the faint, sweet scent of peach still lingered. Yin Yanjun changed his clothes and sat by the bed, his gaze fixed on the young master.

Wen Jing had only slept lightly and was still a bit worried, so he stood guard outside the hall while it was still dark. During that time, he vaguely heard some movement, but when he pressed his ear to the door again, it became quiet once more.

It wasn’t until midday that the young master, who had been “exhausted all night” yesterday, finally opened his eyes and woke up. He was always one to hold a grudge when he felt wronged.

So, seeing the Taoist Master’s slightly reddened face, he became the “victim” standing on the shoulders of a giant.

Holding out a hand to the Taoist Master, the young master whined pitifully, “Taoist Master, my hand hurts so much.”

Yin Yanjun knew best why it hurt. He lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes trembling: “Then I’ll rub it for you.”

“Good!” Why not have someone serve him? The young master brazenly ordered the Taoist Master to massage his palm, and while the Taoist Master wasn’t paying attention, he lightly hooked the other’s chin with his other hand.

Seeing the Taoist Master’s handsome, ethereal face about to turn red again, the young master’s mind was bubbling with mischievous ideas. Once his hand felt less sore from the massage, the young master stuffed a piece of rope into the Taoist Master’s arms and teased, “I didn’t know you were so uninhibited when you’re alone, Taoist Master!”

Knowing that the young master was teasing him, Yin Yanjun still felt a little embarrassed. He raised his hand and pulled the young master into his embrace: “Young master, please be kind and spare me!”

Alright, he shouldn’t bully him too much. After all, he was a newly acquired boyfriend. The young master’s fingers rubbed against the Taoist master’s chest. As if suddenly remembering something, he laughed and said, “Yesterday, Wen Jing was tortured by me before he was willing to let me in. Taoist Master, you can’t settle scores with him afterward, or I’ll lose all my face in front of him.”

“Alright.” Yin Yanjun readily agreed. He gently patted the young master’s back with one hand, his expression soft and warm. After much deliberation, he finally kissed the young master’s lips.

The young master was like a cat stirring one’s heart. He lazily snuggled into the Taoist Master’s arms, then curved his eyes and returned the kiss to the Taoist Master.

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Imperial Physician Han and Qi Chen went to Changxin Palace for their usual daily pulse check but didn’t find anyone. Qi Chen leaned close to Mu Yu and asked curiously, “Good Mu Yu, quickly tell me where your young master went?”

Mu Yu, of course, honestly replied, “Last night, Young Master followed the chief eunuch to Hanliang Palace and hasn’t returned yet.”

“Oh…” Qi Chen elongated his tone strangely, then stood behind Imperial Physician Han again: “Imperial Physician Han, I’m afraid we’ll have to make a trip to Hanliang Palace.”

What for? To watch the show, of course. The gossip-loving Assistant Imperial Physician Qi would never miss an opportunity to eavesdrop.

So, Qi Chen joined those sitting on the steps outside Hanliang Palace. Imperial Physician Han felt it was undignified to sit on the ground, so he directly handed over the daily pulse-checking task to Qi Chen and casually strolled back to the Imperial Hospital.

Finally, there was some movement from inside the sleeping quarters. Wen Jing patted his clothes and quickly stood up. After being summoned, he neatly pushed the door open to attend.

After a night, the scent in the hall had largely dissipated. The windows had been opened, further dispersing the lingering scent in the dragon bed. Wen Jing slightly raised his eyes and saw the young master, whose eyes were a little red at the corners.

Yin Yanjun personally helped the young master change his clothes. A batch of the young master’s autumn clothes had been sent by the weaving department recently and placed directly in Hanliang Palace, not yet delivered to Changxin Palace. This was one of the pieces Yin Yanjun was putting on the young master now.

After washing up, Yin Yanjun first summoned Qi Chen to take the young master’s pulse. The young master was now in the late stages of pregnancy, but last night he had helped him several times despite his big belly. Later, even his heat cycle was induced, and both of them lost some control. Thinking back today, Yin Yanjun felt a bit of lingering fear, worried that he might have harmed the young master’s body.

Qi Chen meticulously took the young master’s pulse and finally confirmed that the young master’s body was very healthy, repeatedly assuring the Emperor that yesterday’s events had no ill effect on the young master whatsoever.

No, that’s not right; there was an effect: his heat cycle was induced, chuckling Qi Chen to himself. His storybook now had more material to fabricate.

Hanliang Palace needed a thorough cleaning by the eunuchs. Yin Yanjun accompanied the young master for breakfast, then simply went to Changxin Palace to handle state affairs.

The weather was getting colder by the day now, so the reclining chair in the back courtyard pavilion was moved to the front courtyard. With the Taoist master’s handkerchief covering his face, the young master, basking in the gentle sunlight, drowsily fell asleep again.

Yin Yanjun put down his vermillion brush and looked through the window at the young master, who had already fallen asleep, a faint arc curving on his lips. He quietly rose and walked from the side hall into the courtyard.

He removed the soft handkerchief, revealing the young master’s delicate face. His fair, jade-like skin appeared even more translucent under the sunlight. Yin Yanjun raised his hand and gently rubbed the young master’s chubby cheek. His touch was soft and smooth, just as his heart felt soft.

“Aw!” The young master bit the Taoist master’s finger, then groggily opened his eyes and looked reproachfully at the Taoist master, whose eyes were deep and gentle. “Tell me quickly, why did you disturb my peaceful sleep, Taoist Master?”

Yin Yanjun’s long eyelashes fluttered. “When I saw you, young master, my heart filled with longing, hoping to be close to you, and thus I disturbed your sweet dreams.”

At the mention of this, the young master glared at the Taoist master, saying haughtily, “I was so busy in my dream that my hands never stopped; it wasn’t a sweet dream at all.”

Yin Yanjun immediately understood the young master’s teasing. The tips of his ears instantly flushed with a heat he couldn’t suppress. He opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a single word.

Seeing this, the salted fish slightly raised himself from the reclining chair, and his mischievous paw was already touching the Taoist Master’s flushed earlobe. “Taoist Master, why are you so shy?”

What could Yin Yanjun do when his young master was so mischievous? He could only continue to pamper him. Raising his hand, Yin Yanjun clasped the young master’s playfully disturbing paw in his palm and softly pleaded, “It’s been my nature since childhood, young master; please don’t tease me.”

The Taoist master was naturally this shy and shouldn’t be teased too much. The young master mercifully let him off this time, tugged at his sleeve, and continued to nestle in the reclining chair, basking in the sun.

From that day on, Yin Yanjun moved back into the young master’s side hall. Perhaps because they had slept too late last night, the young master, who should have been exercising after dinner, started to whine and refuse to walk another step.

Yin Yanjun’s heart melted into a puddle as he looked at the young master’s pitiful eyes. It took a lot of coaxing to get the young master to walk two more laps before he finally gave up.

After bathing, the salted fish flopped onto the bed. Before he could even say a few words to the Taoist Master, he fell into a hazy sleep. He had stayed up too late and was too tired last night, so he needed to go to bed early today to replenish his energy.

Unlike the loosely dressed young master, Yin Yanjun’s sleeping clothes were meticulously neat after his bath. He lovingly raised a hand to caress the young master’s round cheek, then stood up and took out ointment from a drawer to carefully apply it to the young master’s prominently rising abdomen.

The baby was almost nine months old, only one month away from being born. His bony fingers gently traced the young master’s bulging abdomen, where the soon-to-be-born little bean and his imperial father were playing this rather uninteresting game with endless delight.

Fearing that the little bean would disturb the young master’s good sleep, Yin Yanjun didn’t tease him for too long. He then helped the young master massage his swollen legs before returning to the side hall.

“Tomorrow, have Yan Wen come over.” Yin Yanjun sat as straight as a pine tree. As he was writing scriptures with his brush, he seemed to suddenly remember something and looked up, his clear, cold gaze falling on Wen Jing.

Wen Jing bowed and accepted the order, then, under the emperor’s stern gaze, very shrewdly knelt down and begged for mercy.

Yin Yanjun, however, sighed. “Since the young master said not to pursue your responsibility, I will not punish you. Next time you encounter such a situation, do not act on your own initiative again.” Wen Jing’s heart was pounding. Hearing the emperor’s distant and dignified tone, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your grace and thanks the young master for pleading on my behalf.”

“Let others guard; you go and rest first!” After all, Wen Jing had served by his side for many years, so Yin Yanjun wouldn’t really do anything to him. However, warnings still needed to be given.

With a sigh of relief, Wen Jing relaxed completely. He had been on tenterhooks all night yesterday and hadn’t slept well. Perhaps His Majesty had also discovered the reason, which was why he was told to rest first.

Wen Jing happily withdrew. Now that the young master seemed to be “coming to his senses,” good things were probably coming for His Majesty. He needed to rest up, waiting to serve the little master born to the young master!

Yin Yanjun finished the scriptures he was writing and walked straight to the window. The late autumn moonlight, like water, spilled into the courtyard, bringing with it a chilling frost.

A flicker of gloom crossed his eyes, and his clear, cold gaze was slightly dazed, not focusing on anything in particular.

He stood by the window for a long time, as if covered in the cold frost from outside. Finally, he sighed, recalling the young master’s lively and bright eyes, and that biting chill seemed to instantly dissipate completely.

The night watch eunuch had intended to persuade His Majesty to rest but then saw His Majesty close the window and walk towards the bed. He couldn’t help but think to himself that His Majesty tonight looked more frightening than usual.

The young master knew nothing of this. After a good sleep, he only felt refreshed, though his nape still had that familiar tingling and soreness.

It was the third day of the heat cycle, and the young master planned to continue lounging in the courtyard, basking in the sun all day.

For breakfast today, Aunt Zhao made new-style pastries, which the young master ate very happily. However, in consideration of the little bean in his belly, Aunt Zhao specifically controlled the portion size of each dish.

Although the table was full, the portion of each dish was pitifully small. Someone who doesn’t cook has no right to be picky, so the young master happily continued to munch on buns, barely feeling satisfied after the meal.

Wiping away the oil stains from the young master’s cheek where he’d gotten them while eating, Yin Yanjun gently said, “Did Young master invite any friends over today?”

“No, why?” The young master looked bewildered. Recently, Qi Chen must have been busy with a group of seniors from the Imperial Hospital researching the little bean’s birth, coming only to check his pulse and then leaving. Young Marquis Yin, of course, had to accompany his fiancée. As for Princess Jing’an, she was currently busy playing with her soft and sweet sisters!

Yin Yanjun gently pinched the young master’s smooth earlobe. “Then shall I take you to see someone today, young master?”

Of course, it was fine. The young master blinked his clear, watery eyes, feeling that the Taoist Master was a bit strange today, a feeling he couldn’t quite describe—he didn’t look particularly happy.

So he naughtily raised his hand and hooked the Taoist Master’s chin. “If you want me to go out and play with you, you have to give me a smile first.”

Yin Yanjun couldn’t help but laugh, a faint smile appearing in his clear eyes. “Young master, don’t be mischievous.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll let Taoist Master off the hook for now.” The salted fish leaned lazily against the Taoist Master, claiming it was for digestion.

Yin Yanjun kneaded the young master’s soft palm and chuckled, “Since you want to digest, how about I accompany you for a walk in the courtyard?”

“Taoist Master, you’ve gone bad!” The salted fish weakly protested and accused the Taoist Master, then continued to slump against him, firmly opposing the suggestion of “going for a walk.”

Yin Yanjun laughed helplessly and spent some time with the young master in the hall. They only got up after the young master had “finished digesting.”

“Who are we going to see?” Upon learning that the person they were going to see lived in the palace, the salted fish was full of confusion and deliberately said to Yin Yanjun, “Could it be that you’ve kept a beautiful concubine in the palace and are only telling me now?”

“You’ll know soon.” Yin Yanjun wasn’t annoyed by the teasing. He simply raised a hand and ruffled the young master’s hair.

The “retaliated” young master could only burrow into the Taoist Master’s embrace to escape the large hand on his head. As a result, he foolishly threw himself into the tiger’s den, and after some tussling, his neatly tied hair became even more disheveled.

The young master looked over angrily. Yin Yanjun took the young master’s hand and stood in front of him. He untied the red hairband and ran his five fingers through the young master’s black hair.

Yin Yanjun’s gaze was tender and lingering, a tenderness the young master couldn’t see. After retying the young master’s disheveled hair, the two continued forward.

Although they lived in the palace, the imperial palace was simply too vast. At first, the young master refused to take a sedan chair, but now he was so tired he could barely lift his feet. He expressionlessly rejected the Taoist Master’s suggestion to carry him; the determined young master insisted on walking to their destination himself.

Finally, to the young master’s eager anticipation, they arrived in front of a palace with the words “Yunhe Palace” written on it. The name of the palace was too ordinary for Xu Yanqing to discern any special meaning.

Yin Yanjun raised his hand and knocked on the door. A palace maid with a round face scurried over and opened the palace gate.

The palace maid was startled to see who was knocking and quickly knelt down in greeting. “Your humble servant greets Your Majesty.”

“Rise,” Yin Yanjun said indifferently, supporting the young master. “How has the Empress Dowager been recently?”

Empress Dowager? The salted fish young master blinked his large eyes in confusion. He went through everything in his mind but still didn’t have much of an impression of the Empress Dowager. She was the birth mother of the Taoist Master and the Grand Princess. In the capital, he was somewhat of a little tyrant, so why did he have no impression of the Empress Dowager?

Before the young master could ponder further, the round-faced palace maid honestly replied, “Her Majesty is planting vegetables in the courtyard.”

Yin Yanjun helped the young master into Yunhe Palace and saw that the courtyard had been cleared into neat, well-divided plots. The Empress Dowager, dressed in simple cloth clothes, raised a bucket of water and poured it into a furrow, then pressed the prepared vegetable seedlings into the tilled soil.

“His Majesty is here!” Hearing the movement, the Empress Dowager didn’t even lift her head, speaking directly, “Quickly, help me water the ground. Those vegetables over there are almost wilting.”

“Greetings to Imperial Mother.” Yin Yanjun helped the young master sit on a nearby chair, then ordered the round-faced palace maid to fetch hot water for the young master before dutifully picking up a water bucket to water the vegetables.

 

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