The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits

“What’s the matter?” Sensing the difference in Shang JunLin’s mood, Shen Yu felt puzzled.

After a moment of silence, Shang JunLin asked, “Does the noble monarch know what this medicine is for?” 

“Isn’t it for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis?” Shen Yu was even more bewildered. “It’s not only these. The imperial hospital sent a lot of similar medicines.”

Shen Yu pointed to the small cabinet at the head of the bed. Shang JunLin usually didn’t look in that cabinet when he used medicine. He didn’t know what was stored there.

Shang JunLin took a deep breath. This really was a good medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, but it was used in a different place. He put down the medicine bottle. “This emperor will have a look.”

Shen Yu followed Shang JunLin to the bedside and watched as he opened the small wooden compartment. He took out a bunch of small bottles and jars.

There were long and slender bottles, small rounded bottles, and square angular bottles. Shang JunLin picked up several of the smaller ones at random and opened them one by one.

Only two of the ten small medicine bottles contained normal ointment. The rest were for lubrication.

“Have you ever used these medicines?”

Shen Yu thought about it a moment and shook his head. “I don’t remember ever using them.”

He hadn’t experienced many injuries since entering the palace. A few rare times Shang JunLin had accidentally bruised him, but if Shang JunLin hadn’t insisted, Shen Yu wouldn’t have bothered to use medicine.

Shen Yu didn’t understand why Shang JunLin was reacting so abnormally. “Your Majesty, is there a problem with this medicine?” 

“No problem, but it’s better if the noble monarch doesn’t use them.” Shang JunLin pointed to the medicine bottles sent by Imperial Physician Gu. “Especially these.”

“But Imperial Physician Gu said they’re good for my health.” Shen Yu felt more and more curious. He was certain Imperial Physician Gu wouldn’t lie to him about something like that.

“Does the noble monarch believe this emperor or do you believe Imperial Physician Gu?” Shang JunLin frowned slightly. There was a trace of dissatisfaction in his voice.

“Of course I believe Your Majesty,” Shen Yu said without hesitation.

Shang JunLin’s mood warmed. “Tell Mu Xi to store these medicines somewhere else later.”

Shen Yu drew closer to the man and poked him in the arm. “Your Majesty really won’t tell me what these medicines are for?” 

Shang JunLin gave him a deep look. “Really so curious?” 

Shen Yu nodded.

“It’s for men to use during lovemaking.” Shang JunLin’s voice was calm, but the tips of his ear flushed slightly red.

Shen Yu paused. The medicine bottle in his hand suddenly felt like a hot potato. He could neither hold it nor put it down. When he thought of what he’d just said, he wanted to find something to hide under.

“Ah… I really didn’t know. Imperial Physician Gu didn’t say anything when he gave it to me.” Shen Yu hurriedly put the medicine bottle on the table. “I’ll tell Mu Xi to put them away.”

Taken by surprise, Shen Yu couldn’t help but notice the scarlet at the tip of Shang JunLin’s ear and was distracted from his own embarrassment. How rare, His Majesty was actually flustered too.

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The hand that had put down the medicine bottle changed direction and slowly reached up to Shang JunLin’s face. The young man’s slightly teasing voice said:

“Imperial Physician Gu specially prepared this medicine for me. Throwing it away seems like a waste of his good intentions. Doesn’t Your Majesty think so?”

Shen Yu leaned forward. The distance between him and Shang JunLin grew smaller and smaller. His breath mingled with the other man’s, and a hint of ambiguity suddenly appeared.

“The scent of this medicine is really good. Does Your Majesty like it too?”

Shang JunLin couldn’t help remembering the fragrance he’d just smelled. If that scent merged with Shen Yu’s…

As Shen Yu approached, he stared at Shang JunLin’s ears. As expected, the man’s ears flushed even more red after a few words.

The color of Shang JunLin’s eyes grew darker and deeper. Finally, when Shen Yu was extremely close, he reached out and cupped Shen Yu’s chin, gently caressing his skin.

“The noble monarch seems quite interested in this medicine? If the noble monarch wants, why doesn’t this emperor try it with you tonight, hmm?”

The man’s breath was close, with a strong sense of aggression. That cold aura swept towards Shen Yu like a physical thing, firmly encircling him.

“No, no.” Shen Yu backed down. “I was wrong.”

Shang JunLin didn’t let go. “Oh? How was the noble monarch wrong?” 

Shen Yu turned his head uneasily. A touch that was both hot and cold brushed his cheek, and his heart rate suddenly accelerated.

“Your Majesty…”

Shen Yu truly repented. If he’d known Shang JunLin would take his teasing so poorly, he wouldn’t have said that just to see Shang JunLin blush.

“This emperor thinks this ointment’s scent is a good match for the noble monarch. This emperor likes it very much.”

The man’s low voice sounded close to his ear, and the hot breath exhaled on the side of his throat. Not just his ears, but Shen Yu’s entire face turned red.

Shang JunLin’s eyes darkened. The tip of his nose touched the warm skin of Shen Yu’s neck.

Shen Yu felt a jolt of stimulation. It was the first time he’d been touched like this, and it was like tiny sparks were ignited by the man’s actions. His will was on fire, and he couldn’t help wanting to pursue the temptation.

Like a moth to a flame, even if he knew the fire would burn him to ash, he couldn’t help wanting to get closer.

Pleased by Shen Yu’s reaction, Shang JunLin stopped teasing the fragile skin of the young man’s neck. He gradually widened the distance between them.

“This emperor likes this ointment very much. The noble monarch should take good care of it. Maybe it will come in handy soon.”

The skin on the side of Shen Yu’s neck felt hot. He couldn’t help reaching out to touch it.

“Your Majesty, Minister Fang requests an audience.”

Meng Gonggong’s voice interrupted the unusual atmosphere lingering in the room. Shang JunLin approached Shen Yu again, touched his face, bent closer to his ear and whispered:

“Noble monarch, this emperor is looking forward to it.”

After Shang JunLin spoke he pulled away. He looked at Shen Yu with a smile in his eyes for a moment, then left.

Not long after, Meng Gonggong came in and began to clean up the scattered bottles and jars on the table.

“Meng Gonggong, what are you doing?” When Shen Yu looked at the medicine bottles and thought of the scene just now, he wanted to close his eyes and pretend he couldn’t see anything.

“His Majesty instructed this slave to put these things away,” Meng Gonggong explained with a smile.

Shen Yu slightly widened his eyes. Shang JunLin wasn’t serious just now, was he?

At the imperial hospital.

Imperial Physician Gu was sorting through medicinal ingredients when several palace servants suddenly came in with gifts. The first one was Meng Gonggong’s godson, Xiao Meng, who also served before the emperor. Although his status wasn’t as high as Meng Gonggong’s, it was much higher than the other palace staff.

Under the curious eyes of many other people in the imperial hospital, Xiao Meng Gonggong walked directly up to Imperial Physician Gu and smiled. “His Majesty said he likes the medicine prepared by Imperial Physician Gu very much. He ordered this slave to send you a reward.”

Xiao Meng Gonggong waved his hand, and the palace servants behind him came forward with the reward.

In addition to the usual gifts, there were some rare medicinal herbs.

“His Majesty said that Imperial Physician Gu is a healer with a benevolent heart. These medicinal materials will go to the best use in Imperial Physician Gu’s hands,” Xiao Meng Gonggong explained. 

Amidst the envious eyes of the crowd, Imperial Physician Gu accepted the reward. He didn’t care about the other gifts, but the rare medicinal plants genuinely impressed him.

After Xiao Meng Gonggong departed with the palace attendants, Imperial Physician Gu returned to his work room, and the others dispersed one by one.

“Imperial Physician Gu is really fortunate.”

“Who said he’s not? Noble Monarch Shen is highly favored right now. As long as the noble monarch is around, Imperial Physician Gu’s life will get better and better.”

“What about that person who always looks down on Imperial Physician Gu? He’s always incredibly arrogant. I haven’t seen him make trouble for Imperial Physician Gu lately.”

“He wouldn’t dare ah. He probably spends every day shivering, afraid Imperial Physician Gu will retaliate.”

“I’ve always liked Imperial Physician Gu more than him. Imperial Physician Gu doesn’t put on airs. If you ask Imperial Physician Gu for advice when you’re confused about a medical issue, he’ll teach you patiently. But if you ask Imperial Physician Sun, he’s afraid of how much you’ll learn from him.”

“I couldn’t agree more. The last time I asked Imperial Physician Sun about something, not only was he rude, he actually advised me to do a bunch of incorrect things. In the end it was Imperial Physician Gu who answered my questions.”

Imperial Physician Sun, who was standing around the corner, had an uglier and uglier expression on his face. Didn’t he just gain the favor of someone who relied on hooking men with his looks? Don’t think it’s that easy!

Before he was discovered, Imperial Physician Sun quickly left.

Imperial Physician Gu returned home with a pile of rewards. He picked out some things Gu Huai could use and gave them to him.

“Why was Gege suddenly rewarded?” Gu Huai asked in a casual tone as he toyed with an emerald.

His people had discovered that another group was checking into “Fei Meng” recently. They didn’t know exactly who those people were, their purpose, or why “Fei Meng” had attracted attention after so many years, but Gu Huai couldn’t tolerate the fact that someone wanted to involve Imperial Physician Gu in something like that!

“His Majesty liked the medicine I sent to the palace.” Imperial Physician Gu sorted out the medicinal materials from the rest of the gifts. Some of the plants were still alive. He could attempt to grow them and see if they survived.

“Medicine? What kind of medicine?”

“It’s for the noble monarch. Children shouldn’t ask too much.” Imperial Physician Gu felt helpless. He really couldn’t tell Gu Huai what the medicine was for.

“As for the rewards, I can probably guess what His Majesty is thinking. It’s like an alternate way of declaring sovereignty.”

Imperial Physician Gu was aware of His Majesty’s occasional hostility towards him, but he didn’t think His Majesty would use such a method to tell him the noble monarch could only belong to His Majesty.

“Gege, what kind of person do you think His Majesty is?”

“He’s a good emperor and a good lover.”

He was a good emperor for the country and a good lover to Noble Monarch Shen. In the past, Imperial Physician Gu never would have believed His Majesty had such a soft side.

Gu Huai lowered his eyes. According to the information he’d collected, Shang JunLin was indeed a good emperor. Some people called him a tyrant, but they were deliberately distorting the facts to discredit him. Moreover, Shang JunLin had deep feelings for the army. He’d served among the soldiers for a long time in his early years. He absolutely wasn’t the kind of person who’d kill hundreds of thousands of soldiers because of his own selfish ambition.

He had to find a way to meet Shang JunLin.

Noble Monarch Shen might be the key.

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Shen Yu didn’t know that someone wanted to use him to reach the emperor. As the sky grew darker, he got more and more restless.

It was because of what Shang JunLin said earlier. Shen Yu thought about it all day and still wasn’t sure whether Shang JunLin was serious.

Shang JunLin came in with a chill on his body. “The noble monarch is waiting for this emperor?” 

Shen Yu put down his book and stood up. “Your Majesty.” 

After warming up a bit, Shang JunLin walked over to Shen Yu. “What is the noble monarch reading?”

“Your Majesty sent someone to bring me some books from outside the palace.” Shen Yu was thinking of other things and hadn’t read it at all. “Why did Your Majesty ask Meng Gonggong to put away that ointment?”

“If the noble monarch hadn’t reminded this emperor, I would have forgotten. Why, does the noble monarch want to give it a try?” Shang JunLin made a gesture to call Meng Gonggong in.

“No.” Shen Yu stopped him with a sincere look in his eyes. “That’s not it. Your Majesty, don’t misunderstand me.”

“This emperor remembers how the noble monarch told the King of Yue that this emperor is more powerful than him in every way.” Shang JunLin wrapped his arms around Shen Yu’s waist and pressed him close. “Why doesn’t the noble monarch try it for yourself?”

TL Notes:

godson – 干儿子 – adopted son (traditional adoption, i.e. without legal ramifications)

always incredibly arrogant – from 眼睛都快长天上去了 – “his eyes were about to grow into the sky” – looking down on people from a high position, etc.

Transliterated names, places, and titles—new in this chapter:

Imperial Physician Sun – 孙太医