TERTSGTGBFC Chapter 32

Pei Lanqing’s heart leaped at these words. Ignoring his weakened body, he had Tian Rui help him into the imperial carriage and rushed toward the front hall where the morning audience was held.

 

But as he stepped into the hall, he immediately sensed an unusual stillness—almost a deathly silence. The ministers all cast furtive glances at him.

 

And the Xiao Linye who Tian Rui had said had fainted was now sitting upright on the dragon throne, appearing perfectly fine. Only his gaze was icy cold.

 

Standing on the imperial steps beside him was Prince Li, who usually remained silent and inconspicuous.

 

Pei Lanqing knew something was wrong. He moved cautiously, but before he could even take his place in the hall, Prince Li suddenly roared, “Bold demon! You’ve possessed the Grand Tutor for years! Now that Your Majesty has awakened, why haven’t you confessed and surrendered to your execution?”

 

Pei Lanqing’s heart pounded in his chest. He instinctively looked up at Xiao Linye, but Xiao Linye’s gaze remained icy—or rather, there was an indescribable stiffness and woodenness in his expression.

 

After hearing Prince Li’s words, Xiao Linye merely lowered his gaze to examine himself. But in the instant their eyes met, a flicker of struggle flashed across Xiao Linye’s face, quickly erased: “Is this the Demon my Imperial Younger Brother spoke of?”

 

“Indeed! Consider, Your Majesty, how could the Grand Tutor, a man, possibly conceive and give birth?”

 

“It is this Demon who bewitched Your Majesty, siring three illegitimate children in an attempt to disrupt the Great Qi dynasty!”

 

Prince Li, who had been lurking in the shadows for years, finally bared his claws, pressing Pei Lanqing: “Demon! Why haven’t you knelt yet?”

 

Pei Lanqing felt a sharp pain in his abdomen and instinctively clutched his stomach. He continued to meet Xiao Linye’s gaze.

 

But this action allowed him to keenly observe that Xiao Linye’s struggle intensified when he grimaced in pain. So, Pei Lanqing, bracing himself with difficulty, knelt on the ground and called out, “Ye’er—”

 

Xiao Linye immediately rose from his dragon throne, startling Prince Li, who had been so confident of victory that he stumbled back several steps: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you mustn’t be deceived by this Demon any longer!”

 

Xiao Linye, however, ignored the protests. Though his eyes still held a dull, stiff gaze, he descended the imperial steps and stood before Pei Lanqing. Without a word, he swept Pei Lanqing into his arms.

 

“My Imperial Younger Brother is right,” he said. “But I must personally investigate the true nature of this demon.”

 

With that, he carried Pei Lanqing out of the hall in full view of the court, then boarded the imperial carriage and departed.

 

Prince Li stood in the hall, his expression uncertain. He couldn’t fathom where his years of meticulous planning had gone wrong.

 

He had tested the bewitching secret artifact on countless people, driving loved ones to betray each other and kin to turn against kin. Those ensnared by it became his puppets, and he had never failed before!

 

Why, then, had it failed on Xiao Linye of all people?!

 

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Inside the imperial carriage, Pei Lanqing nervously watched Xiao Linye’s face. His thoughts were in turmoil, and he couldn’t understand how Prince Li had transformed Xiao Linye. He had no idea what Xiao Linye was thinking or feeling, so he cautiously called out, “Ye’er?”

 

To describe Xiao Linye’s current state, even he couldn’t say for sure. Ever since he regained consciousness on the imperial court, all his memories had remained fragmented and hazy.

 

It was as if he were being controlled, blindly trusting Prince Li, who claimed to be his Imperial Younger Brother.

 

Prince Li claimed Xiao Linye had been bewitched by a demon for years and that he intended to capture the Grand Tutor, who was supposedly possessed by the demon.

 

Yet when the so-called demon, looking anxious and unsteady, stumbled before him, Xiao Linye’s heart clenched tightly. He still couldn’t recall his past memories, but his instincts compelled him to protect the figure before him.

 

This emotion intensified when he saw the supposed demon, Pei Lanqing, struggling to kneel before him, clutching his stomach. Xiao Linye could no longer remain seated. His body reacted before his deliberately blurred memories could register, and he scooped Pei Lanqing into his arms.

 

It was in that moment, as he held Pei Lanqing close, that the void left by his lost memories seemed to finally fill.

 

“Ye’er?” On the imperial carriage, Xiao Linye raised an eyebrow at Pei Lanqing in his arms. “Is that how you usually address me?”

 

Pei Lanqing looked up at him. “Yes. For many years, that’s how I’ve always called you.”

 

At such close proximity, being gazed at so intently by the person in his arms, Xiao Linye’s heart began to pound uncontrollably. He felt his ears grow warm, and he abruptly averted his gaze. “You… what kind of demon are you?!”

 

Pei Lanqing sighed softly, reaching out to stroke Xiao Linye’s face. He patiently explained, “Ye’er, I am not a demon.”

 

“I am your Grand Tutor, your Imperial Consort, and your lover.”

 

Xiao Linye felt Pei Lanqing’s cool fingertips brush across his cheek, while a faint fragrance of orchids wafted from his sleeves. All of this stirred his senses, making him want to hold the man even tighter, to… to kiss the lips of the person in his arms.

 

But he fought against the urge, tilting his head back to create distance between them. “If you weren’t so alluring, you wouldn’t be saying you’re not a demon!”

 

Pei Lanqing was truly at a loss for words this time. He could only shake his head and say, “If Ye’er truly believes I am a demon, then hand me over to Prince Li for disposal.”

 

“No!” Xiao Linye blurted out instinctively, tightening his grip on Pei Lanqing. In the end, he couldn’t bear to let go. Gritting his teeth, he declared, “I will keep you under constant watch! I’ll see what kind of demon magic you’re hiding!”

 

In the days that followed, just as Xiao Linye had said, Pei Lanqing was kept by his side at all times, forbidden from going anywhere.

 

Prince Li, citing the emperor’s incomplete recovery from being bewitched by a demon, personally delivered memorials to the Hall of Heavenly Succession, offering his assistance in reviewing them.

 

Pei Lanqing watched with growing anxiety. Whenever Xiao Linye was alone with him, though his memories remained jumbled, he could still maintain his clarity.

 

But the moment Prince Li arrived, Xiao Linye would become confused and listless, almost completely under the prince’s control.

 

In just a few days, Prince Li’s influence had already extended to the imperial city’s defenses. At this rate, even the military commanders might be replaced.

 

Pei Lanqing could no longer bear it. One day, after Prince Li had left, he cautiously tried to persuade Xiao Linye: “Ye’er, the Imperial Guard is the most crucial element in the palace’s defenses. Father and Son Song have been your loyal confidants for years. You shouldn’t move them lightly.”

 

Xiao Linye’s eyes were still clouded with confusion. Pei Lanqing’s words seemed to have a slight effect, but just then, Prince Li, who had already left, suddenly returned to the hall: “Are Father and Son Song loyal to my imperial brother, or to you, demon?”

 

“As far as I know, you’ve already had your little demon child bewitch Song Pingming’s son. Now, both inside and outside the imperial city are under your control!”

 

Pei Lanqing could tolerate being slandered as a demon himself, but hearing Prince Li speak so disparagingly of Quan’er ignited a mixture of anxiety and fury within him. Before he could retort, however, a furious shout cut through the air: “Silence!”

 

Startled, Pei Lanqing turned to see Xiao Linye, who had been sitting at the table, his mind still not fully recovered. His face was grim as he said, “I will decide this matter myself. Prince Li, you may withdraw.”

 

Prince Li’s expression shifted between suspicion and uncertainty, but he dared not say another word and silently retreated from the hall.

 

Pei Lanqing carefully observed Xiao Linye’s condition, intending to probe further. However, the recent emotional turmoil and the strain of the past few days had taken their toll, and he nearly fainted.

 

Xiao Linye had rebuked Prince Li, but his own head was throbbing violently. Seeing Pei Lanqing’s state, he immediately disregarded his own pain and gathered him into his arms, his instinctive concern overwhelming him. “What’s wrong with you?”

 

Pei Lanqing’s vision swam black. Leaning against Xiao Linye’s chest, he took a moment to recover before saying, “I… I’m fine…”

 

“Are you sure?” Xiao Linye frowned, unconvinced by Pei Lanqing’s pale complexion.

 

How could Pei Lanqing be fine? He was in the most crucial stage of his pregnancy, having spent days consumed by worry and lacking proper nourishment. Now, held in Xiao Linye’s arms, his body had become so soft and pliant that he felt a stirring of desire.

 

“Truly… truly fine. Ye’er, please let me go first.”

 

Though Xiao Linye didn’t remember the Medicinal Gu, he couldn’t ignore Pei Lanqing’s reaction. “What is this—?”

 

Pei Lanqing tried to push him away again, but then he remembered that Xiao Linye’s brief moments of breaking free from Prince Li’s control had all been connected to him.

 

A sudden thought struck him, and though he was deeply conflicted, he decided to take a gamble.

 

“I… I, this demon, need… need to be nourished with vital essence!”

 

Xiao Linye froze. Seeing him remain motionless, Pei Lanqing set aside all his scholarly training and moral principles, forcing himself to speak the words he would never normally utter. After several attempts, his hand finally landed on Xiao Linye’s collar. “Your Majesty, will you?”

 

Xiao Linye remained stiff and unmoving. Just as Pei Lanqing was about to give up, feeling he could no longer maintain the act and considering a different approach, he suddenly felt Xiao Linye’s arms tighten around him. The next moment, he was swept into the inner chamber of the imperial sleeping quarters and pressed into the warm bed beneath the silken curtains.

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