C148 — Kill the Top Scorer（15）

“You’re bleeding?” Shen Jue’s expression suddenly grew serious.

“No, it’s not my blood. Someone else got hurt, and I accidentally got it on me,” Wen Yurong said, hiding his hand behind his back and giving Shen Jue a gentle smile. “But what about Your Majesty—why are you here?”

“I heard there was a landslide on the mountain. I was worried something might’ve happened to you, so I came,” Shen Jue paused, “Didn’t you want to see me?”

“It’s not that,” Wen Yurong replied, “It’s just that Your Majesty is noble and exalted. Coming out of the palace so suddenly… I was worried about you. But having Your Majesty come to see me is the greatest honor of my life.”

Shen Jue seemed to relax upon hearing this. He quietly studied Wen Yurong for a moment, then smiled faintly. “As long as you’re alright. Do you think it’s inconvenient for me to be here? If so, I’ll return to the palace now.”

As he spoke, he let go of Wen Yurong’s arm and adjusted the cloak around his shoulders. Since he had left the palace, he was wearing his casual clothes; there were no dragon patterns, which made him appear less majestic and a bit more approachable.

At least now, he didn’t seem so distant and untouchable.

“Allow me to escort Your Majesty out,” Wen Yurong said, lowering his voice.

“Mm.” Shen Jue walked slightly ahead of Wen Yurong, and as they stepped out of the main hall, they ran into the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister bowed immediately when he saw Shen Jue. After rising, he said: “If Your Majesty doesn’t mind, please stay and have dinner with us. The kitchen has already prepared the meal.”

Having the Emperor dine at one’s residence was a great honor. The late Emperor had often dined at the Prime Minister’s manor. But Shen Jue had been in poor health for years and rarely left the deep confines of the palace—this was his first time visiting the Prime Minister’s home.

Shen Jue didn’t respond right away. He glanced softly at Wen Yurong. Wen Yurong understood his father’s intentions, so he pressed his lips together before smiling slightly: “Yes, if Your Majesty doesn’t mind, please stay. The cook here may not be on par with the royal chefs, but the food is still quite decent.”

And so, Shen Jue stayed.

But an emperor was still an emperor. Even though Shen Jue told the Prime Minister not to be too formal, they still ate at separate tables.

Shen Jue sat alone at the main table. The male members of the Prime Minister’s household were crammed around a smaller table, while the women dined in the inner hall, away from sight.

Even though they were dining outside the palace, Shen Jue’s eunuchs still had to taste every dish for poison before any of it was served to him.

Wen Yurong had a few younger brothers—lively boys at a rowdy age—but that evening, the entire meal passed in dead silence. No one dared make eye contact, and if someone accidentally set their cup down too hard, their heart would leap into their throat.

Once Shen Jue set down his chopsticks, everyone else stopped eating, even if they were still hungry—no one dared take another bite.

After the meal, Shen Jue suggested taking a walk through the Prime Minister’s study. The Prime Minister readily agreed and eagerly led the Emperor there.

As soon as Shen Jue left, his attendants followed him out, and only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief. Wen Yurong’s youngest brother patted his chest and said, “God, that was terrifying. I didn’t even dare speak just now.” He looked at his eldest brother across the table. “Big Brother, it’s amazing that you can serve at His Majesty’s side.”

Shen Jue’s visit had thrown the entire Prime Minister’s estate into chaos. Everyone was on edge, hearts pounding. Even those who didn’t have to face the Emperor directly were nervous. The Prime Minister’s wife, though she didn’t meet the Emperor in person, had dressed extravagantly for the night, bringing out her finest jewelry from storage.

Even Wen Yurong’s youngest brother, usually the most mischievous, had worn new clothes and behaved so obediently, it was like he had turned into a completely different person.

Wen Yurong smiled at his younger brother’s words. “His Majesty is kind. You don’t need to be so nervous.”

No one knew what Shen Jue and the Prime Minister had talked about, but by the time Shen Jue came out, it was already quite dark.

By this hour, the palace gates were locked.

Shen Jue looked at the Prime Minister, then at Wen Yurong. After a moment of hesitation, he said, “Why don’t I just stay the night and not return to the palace? Sorry to trouble you, Prime Minister.”

The Prime Minister immediately replied, “It would be an honor for Your Majesty to stay. Though my residence is humble, I hope you’ll forgive its shortcomings.” As he spoke, he ordered servants to clear out the main courtyard.

“No need for all that trouble,” Shen Jue interrupted. “Yurong and I are very close. I’ll stay in Yurong’s courtyard tonight. We’ll just chat through the night, so there’s no need for such formality.”

The Prime Minister paused in surprise, then nodded. “I’ll have someone make preparations.”

Since he wasn’t returning to the palace, Shen Jue had a eunuch go send word to Tong Meng’er that he wouldn’t be coming back that night.

Although there were vacant rooms in Wen Yurong’s courtyard, many had been unused for years. Even after a quick cleaning, there was still a musty smell. So the Prime Minister asked Wen Yurong to give his own room to Shen Jue.

Before leaving, the Prime Minister gave Wen Yurong a look, silently signaling him to take good care of the Emperor.

Once the Prime Minister left, Shen Jue ordered everyone out of the room. He strolled around Wen Yurong’s room, finally sitting down on the freshly made bed. “Your room isn’t quite what I imagined,” he remarked.

Wen Yurong stepped forward and quietly untied the Emperor’s cloak. “What did Your Majesty imagine it would be like?” he asked softly.

Shen Jue blinked before replying, “I thought your room would be filled with paintings and calligraphy, maybe a chessboard on the couch. But instead, there’s a sword hanging on the wall. Do you know martial arts?”

Wen Yurong shook his head. “No. It was a gift from a friend. I thought it might ward off evil, so I hung it there.”

“Oh.” Shen Jue stood up and allowed Wen Yurong to remove his cloak.

Wen Yurong hung the cloak on the screen and turned to look at Shen Jue. “Would Your Majesty like a bath first? There’s no bathhouse here, only a tub. Is that alright?”

“Come here first,” Shen Jue said instead.

Wen Yurong obeyed. As soon as he reached the bed, his hand was seized.

“While we were dining earlier, your hand kept trembling,” Shen Jue said. “Tell me honestly—did you injure it? Let me see.”

It hadn’t been trembling the whole time—just briefly when serving soup to his younger brother. Wen Yurong hadn’t expected Shen Jue to notice that.

His expression flickered. “It’s nothing, Your Majesty.”

Shen Jue was firm. “No. Show me.”

Unable to refuse, Wen Yurong let Shen Jue roll up the sleeve of his left arm, revealing a large bruise.

Shen Jue looked like he wanted to touch it but hesitated, afraid of hurting him. He extended his hand, then pulled it back; his eyes were fixed on the injury. “It must hurt a lot. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Wen Yurong smiled and gently withdrew his hand. “It’s just a minor injury. Nothing for Your Majesty to worry about. It’ll heal in a few days. But… Your Majesty didn’t take your medicine tonight. Are you feeling alright?”

At that moment, Shen Jue was sitting, and Wen Yurong was standing. Just as he withdrew his hand, he was suddenly pulled down.

He stumbled, trying not to fall directly onto the Emperor, and braced himself with both hands on the bed.

Shen Jue lay beneath him, his phoenix eyes fixed on Wen Yurong’s face. After a moment, his arm wrapped around Wen Yurong’s neck, pulling him closer. “It’s not often I get to visit you. Why are you saying such mood-killing things? I don’t want to take my medicine tonight, Yurong.”

His lips were just a breath away.

“I want to drink you.”

Wen Yurong’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. He stared at the man beneath him, lips pressed tightly together.

Wax dripped quietly onto the table, the sound barely audible.

This was his bed—and the man lying on it was the most exalted in the empire. And at this moment, that man was beneath him.

Wen Yurong seemed to sigh… or maybe he didn’t.

No one knew how much time passed before he finally moved.

He leaned down and kissed those slightly cool lips.