Ye Shu stared at the handsome eyes that were so close to him. He was momentarily dazed.

Did his heart ache?

Ye Shu couldn't say for sure.

He clearly hated this person, but why did his heart … feel so uncomfortable when he saw him get hurt because of him?

After calming down, Ye Shu finally understood why Chang Yuan had acted like that.

And he could tell that Jin Wang had already realized what was going on.

The more it was like this, the more uncomfortable he felt.

Was this person an idiot? Why did he take the hit for him?!

"… Idiot," Ye Shu said softly.

Jin Wang didn't hear him clearly. "What did you say?"

"I said, who's feeling sorry for you?"

Ye Shu pushed his hand away and tilted his head to the side. "You fell for such a simple trick. I don't know what you're thinking all day."

Chang Yuan, who was squatting nearby and wiping the blood off the floor, was speechless.

Jin Wang chuckled, and the heavy atmosphere in the hall seemed to dissipate with his laughter.

Jin Wang reached out and pulled him up. "That's right. You fell for such a simple trick and almost cried. What's going on in your head?"

Ye Shu was speechless.

How embarrassing.

Ye Shu emphasized, "I was dizzy because I was scared of blood."

Jin Wang used his finger to wipe away the tears at the corners of Ye Shu's eyes. He nodded cooperatively. "Yes, if you say so. I believe you."

"…"

Ye Shu was so angry that he didn't want to speak.

He got up and was about to leave, but Jin Wang grabbed him.

Jin Wang pushed away the debris on the table and placed Ye Shu on the table. His hands naturally supported himself in front of the table, trapping Ye Shu between his arms.

He gazed at Ye Shu's watery eyes and said softly, "A Shu, I'm very happy."

Ye Shu's eyes flickered.

"Firstly, you didn't conspire with anyone else and didn't continue to plan to escape."

Jin Wang's voice was extremely soft, like a small hammer gently pounding on Ye Shu's heart. "You can't bear to see me get hurt. You don't want to hurt me. This is the second reason."

Jin Wang's hand caressed the back of Ye Shu's hand. He placed his hand on it and gently clasped it. He repeated, "A Shu, I'm very happy."

He said "I".

Ye Shu couldn't stand Jin Wang speaking to him in such a tone.

He lowered his head and looked at their intertwined hands. His heart was sour and soft, and he almost wanted to throw away his armor.

Ye Shu tilted his head, not daring to look at him. He muttered, "You're still happy even though you're injured. Doesn't your wound hurt anymore?"

"It hurts," Jin Wang whispered with a smile in his eyes. "It hurts a lot."

Ye Shu's gaze fell on Jin Wang's forearm.

He indeed didn't bandage it well. The bandage was a mess, and the bleeding hadn't stopped completely. Specks of blood seeped out of the white gauze.

Ye Shu suddenly felt a little dizzy. He hurriedly grabbed Jin Wang's hand. "Let's summon an imperial physician to take a look. You …"

"No need," Jin Wang whispered into Ye Shu's ear. His voice was low and soft. "It won't hurt anymore if you kiss me."

"… …"

"A Shu, I'm injured because of you."

He paused for a moment, then added, "I haven't been injured in many years."

Ye Shu's fingers trembled as he held Jin Wang's hand.

Jin Wang was the ruler of a country. Even if his body was slightly unwell, there would be a group of people rushing to take care of him.

But now, not only was this person injured because of him, he was even concealing the truth for him.

Jin Wang had a tight grip on his Achilles' heel.

Ye Shu's face was inexplicably hot. His voice was a little hoarse. "Then you … close your eyes."

"Okay." Jin Wang closed his eyes.

Ye Shu took a deep breath and raised his head.

He had been kissed by Jin Wang many times, and he had taken the initiative many times as well. But those were all just for show.

It was completely different from what he was feeling right now.

The other party's lips were slightly cold, and as soft as he remembered.

Ye Shu didn't have time to think about where this subtle feeling of loss of control came from when he was interrupted by footsteps behind him.

He subconsciously pushed the person away, but when he turned around, he saw Chang Yuan's panicked expression.

Chang Yuan was standing not far behind them. He had a panicked expression, and his ears were red. "I … I didn't see anything!"

Chang Yuan seemed to feel that his words weren't convincing enough, so he added, "I'll go wipe the floor again!"

Ye Shu: "… …"

Jin Wang: "… …"

Jin Wang rubbed his forehead. "Come back."

A moment later, Jin Wang sat down on the main seat, lifted the teacup in his hand, and took a sip.

Ye Shu and Chang Yuan were in front of him. One of them was standing, while the other was kneeling. They both had their heads lowered.

Jin Wang put down his teacup and said lightly, "So you heard that my beloved concubine was in Chengqian Palace today, so you wanted to use him to help you escape?"

Chang Yuan: "… … Yes."

Chang Yuan had been under house arrest for many days, so he didn't know that Ye Shu had already returned to the palace.

After he found an opportunity to injure the shadow guards and escape, he heard that His Majesty's new beloved concubine, An Bin, was in Chengqian Palace. He wanted to threaten His Majesty to help him escape, but who knew … …

"Ahem … …" Ye Shu coughed softly and said, "It's all my fault."

"It's not your fault, young master."

Chang Yuan hurriedly said, "It's my fault. Your Majesty can punish me, but don't implicate young master."

Ye Shu also said, "Don't. It was my idea to escape. It has nothing to do with him — —"

"Shut up."

Jin Wang glanced at him and said coldly, "You haven't even been punished for escaping. Do you not learn your lesson again?"

Ye Shu: "… …"

"Chang Yuan helped the Imperial Concubine escape, injured my shadow guards, and even stabbed the monarch." Jin Wang said slowly, "Any one of these crimes is enough for him to be sentenced to death."

Ye Shu looked at Jin Wang in silence, his gaze filled with grievance.

Jin Wang looked away and said calmly, "… … You can avoid death, but you can't escape punishment. This person can't stay by your side anymore."

"But … …"

Jin Wang interrupted, "Or do you want him to be a chamberlain?"

"… …"

A chamberlain, isn't that just a eunuch?

Chang Yuan was a one-track minded person. When he heard this, he didn't even think before saying, "If I can stay by young master's side, this subordinate is willing — —"

"You shut up!"

Ye Shu looked at Chang Yuan, who was dressed as a eunuch. When he thought about how this getup might become real one day, he felt his scalp go numb, "No, no matter what you say, this won't do."

"Young master … …"

Ye Shu had a headache.

Of course, he couldn't let little Chang Yuan stay in the palace as a eunuch. That would be too humiliating.

Ye Shu thought for a moment, then asked Jin Wang, "Your Majesty, my family property … … shouldn't you return it to me?"

Jin Wang nodded, "Yes."

Other than the Ye residence, the Ye family still had dozens of shops in the capital.

Ye Shu said, "Chang Yuan, the Ye family property will be handed over to you in the future."

Chang Yuan hesitated, "But this subordinate doesn't know … …"

"If you don't know, then learn!" Ye Shu said, "You're just helping me look after the property outside the palace, or working for me.

In short, you have to take good care of those shops. You're not allowed to squander away all of my family's property, understood? "

Chang Yuan, "… … Yes, this subordinate understands."

Jin Wang quickly summoned Gao Jin and ordered him to take care of this matter.

Chang Yuan was taken away, leaving only Jin Wang and Ye Shu in the palace.

Ye Shu said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your leniency."

Just as Jin Wang had said, every crime that Chang Yuan had committed was enough to take his life.

Ye Shu hadn't expected this kind of treatment.

"Is that all you need to do?" Jin Wang asked with a smile.

Ye Shu asked, "What does Your Majesty want?"

Jin Wang thought for a moment, then looked out the window, "The snow has stopped. Come with me for a walk."

The heavy snow came and went quickly. The dark clouds in the sky dispersed, revealing a sky full of stars and a waning moon.

The snow outside Chengqian Palace was already deep, and several palace servants were sweeping the snow. When they saw the two of them come out, they all bent their knees to greet them.

Jin Wang didn't bring any attendants with him, so he held Ye Shu's hand as they slowly walked through the snow.

The glazed palace lanterns on both sides of the road were bright, and the long palace seemed to have no end.

The red walls and golden tiles were covered with snow, and a red plum tree poked out from the wall. It was covered in snow and ice, and looked like a sparkling and translucent ice flower in full bloom.

Ye Shu's heart itched when he saw this. When Jin Wang wasn't paying attention, he reached out to touch the snow on the plum tree.

"Ye Shu." Jin Wang coldly called out.

"… …" Ye Shu immediately made a decision. He picked up a red plum tree and handed it over, "This is for Your Majesty."

He was wrapped in a snow-white fox fur coat, and the hand holding the flower was slender and fair. His fingertips were slightly red from the cold.

Her eyes were bright and smiling, and the reflection of the beautiful plum blossoms and Jin Wang could be seen in her eyes.

Jin Wang looked away with difficulty and took the plum tree. His mouth was dry as he said, "How many times have I told you that you're not allowed to play with snow when you're enjoying the snow?"

Kun Jun's body was very weak during her pregnancy, and she would easily catch a cold if she touched snow.

Ye Shu didn't know why Jin Wang was always controlling him, but now he understood.

Ye Shu snorted. It was rare that he didn't argue with him. He subconsciously wrapped the fox fur coat tighter around him.

"In ten days, the Yan Kingdom's envoy will arrive in Changlu. You will attend the state banquet in the name of the Empress," Jin Wang said.

Ye Shu's face was mostly hidden in the snow-white fox fur coat. He tilted his head and looked at him, "Your Majesty, are you talking about the Imperial Concubine or An Bin?"

Jin Wang looked back at him and said seriously, "I'm talking about you."

As long as it was him, it didn't matter what identity he had.

Ye Shu looked at him for a moment, then looked away, "I understand."

The palace servants sweeping the snow in the distance had already disappeared. Ye Shu looked at the snow on the side of the road and suddenly called out, "Jin Wang."

"Do you want to make a snowman?"

"… …" Jin Wang said, "You're not allowed to … …"

"You're not allowed to play with snow."

Ye Shu imitated Jin Wang's tone and snatched the plum branch from his hand, "So you make it, I'll watch."

Jin Wang said, "But I've never made a snowman before."

"No problem, I'll teach you," Ye Shu said sincerely, "Good luck."

However, the king's skill in making a snowman was just as terrible as his cooking skills.

After the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Ye Shu looked at the strange white object in front of him. Its eyes and nose were twisted in a strange way, and the corner of his mouth twitched, "It's … quite good?"

Jin Wang patted the snow off his body and said unhappily, "Your tone sounds very forced."

Ye Shu said honestly, "But it looks very forced."

In fact, it wasn't just forced. It was polluting his eyes.

And it was polluting such a beautiful snowy scene for no reason.

Jin Wang snorted, "This is my first time. It's already very good that it can show its shape. It's definitely better than your first time."

Ye Shu spread his hands innocently, "I've never made a snowman before."

"… …" Jin Wang gritted his teeth, "You're not going to teach me anything again?"

"I've seen other people make snowmen like this!"

"Ye Qianan!"

"I'm not lying to you. Other people make snowmen like this. Who knew that yours would be so ugly!"

Ye Shu wanted to run after saying this, but Jin Wang grabbed him.

Before he could get angry, Ye Shu suddenly crouched down and clutched his stomach.

Jin Wang's expression changed, "What's wrong?"

Ye Shu lowered his head and said in a weak voice, "It hurts a little … …"

Jin Wang immediately lost all interest in playing around and bent down to pick him up.

In the next moment, his face was smashed with snow.

It was rare for the king to be in such a sorry state. His hair and collar were covered in snow, and his expression was somewhat dazed. He looked especially cute.

Ye Shu laughed so hard that he fell to the ground. His snow-white body almost blended in with the snowy scenery.

"Ye Qianan!" Jin Wang brushed the snow off his face and rushed forward to pounce on him.

Ye Shu was pushed against the palace wall by Jin Wang.

Jin Wang's eyebrows were still covered in snow, which made his facial features look even more handsome.

He rubbed the cold tip of his nose against Ye Shu's cheek and said coldly, "You're so bold now that you dare to go against your superiors?"

Ye Shu was shocked by his coldness and hurriedly begged for mercy, "Your Majesty, I was wrong … …"

Jin Wang didn't fall for his tricks.

He lifted his hand to remove Ye Shu's human skin mask and looked down at him condescendingly, "Since you dared to go against your superiors, you should be prepared to pay the price. I'm going to punish you — —"

Ye Shu suddenly raised his head and kissed the corner of Jin Wang's cold lips.

Jin Wang's expression froze.

The two of them had been playing in the snow for too long, so their bodies were cold.

Only their breaths were exceptionally hot, so hot that it was almost scalding.

After a while, Ye Shu let go of him and smiled slyly, "Your Majesty, do you think this apology is enough?"

Jin Wang had long forgotten what he was about to say. He barely maintained his consciousness, "Don't think … …"

Ye Shu kissed him again.

This time, it took longer than before.

The moonlight was cold, shining on the red walls and white snow, reflecting the two kissing figures at the bottom of the wall.

It was still so easy to deal with.

Ye Shu secretly looked up at Jin Wang and silently thought to himself.

However, it did feel different from the past when they were acting.

He didn't hate it.

He even … … liked it a little.

Just a little.