The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits

“I’m not afraid of Your Majesty. Isn’t Your Majesty already clear about that?” Shen Yu asked. As Shang JunLin’s hand rubbed his forehead, the trembling from the dream gradually subsided.

He didn’t know why he suddenly had the dream or if it was some kind of sign. What he did know was that he would never allow the ending of his previous life to happen again.

He’d changed the ending of that book once, and he could change it a second time!

“This emperor knows Ah Yu isn’t afraid. In this world, this emperor fears only one thing, that someday Ah Yu will be afraid of me.” Shang JunLin helped Shen Yu sit up. “What kind of nightmare did Ah Yu have? You were so startled when you saw me.”

“It truly was a nightmare.” In the dream, the King of Yue was dressed in clothes similar to Shang JunLin’s. When Shen Yu woke up and saw Shang JunLin wearing the same clothes, for a moment he couldn’t tell whether he was awake or still dreaming.

Shen Yu looked towards the window. “Is it raining?” 

Clearly it was late afternoon, but the room was gloomy and dark. Outside there was a faint sound of rain. Everything overlapped too closely with the dream, and Shen Yu fell into a daze.

“It began to rain after you fell asleep. This emperor will help you up. Do you want to call for hot water?”

Shen Yu’s forehead was dripping with sweat. Shang JunLin touched him and found that his hair was wet too. Shen Yu had always cherished cleanliness, so he undoubtedly felt uncomfortable.

Shen Yu began to notice how overheated and unkempt he felt. He didn’t know how much he sweated during the dream, but his inner robe was soaked through and clung to his skin. It felt awful.

“Yes, I’d like to wash.” As if exhausted by the struggle in his dream, Shen Yu’s arms and legs were weak. When he tried to get up he stumbled a little.

“Meng Chang, prepare hot water.”

Shang JunLin gave the order, then picked up the fox fur nearby and wrapped Shen Yu in it. “Be careful you don’t catch a chill.”

Shen Yu’s whole body was wrapped in the fluffy fur with only his face exposed. His white cheeks were tinted a light crimson color. By contrast his lips were so pale they were almost colorless.

Shang JunLin held the man in his arms and grasped his cold fingers. “Shall this emperor send for Imperial Physician Gu to examine you?” he asked uneasily.

Shen Yu nodded almost imperceptibly. Despite napping for more than an hour he felt exhausted. Because of the dream, he was more tired than if he hadn’t slept at all.

Shen Yu nestled in Shang JunLin’s arms. His eyelids drooped, and from a distance it looked like he was fast asleep.

Meng Gonggong ordered the palace servants to prepare hot water, then knocked softly at the door. “Your Majesty, the hot water is here.”

It was the first time he’d requested hot water in the middle of the day. Meng Gonggong didn’t know the exact situation in the room and didn’t dare to rush inside.

After hardly a moment, he heard Shang JunLin’s voice: “Come in.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Meng Gonggong turned to admonish the servants who were carrying the hot water. “After you enter, keep your wits about you and your head down. Don’t look at things that shouldn’t be seen. If you step over the line in front of His Majesty, don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

“Yes, sir. Yes, sir,” the palace staff answered.

During their service in Yuzhang Palace they experienced several bloody storms. Later they were instructed by Xiao Meng Gonggong. They didn’t dare to think any untoward thoughts.

After giving these commands, Meng Gonggong gently pushed the door open. He bowed his head and led the servants inside.

There was a screen in the room which meant the specific situation on the bed couldn’t be seen. Meng Gonggong told the servants to set down the bathtub. He was about to excuse himself when Shang JunLin stopped him.

“Meng Chang, go to the imperial hospital and send for Imperial Physician Gu.”

Meng Gonggong was taken aback. What, call the doctor? No matter how many questions were running through his mind, he didn’t ask anything. “This slave will go at once,” he replied.

“Don’t keep anyone to wait on us. Send them out.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Meng Gonggong couldn’t read much from Shang JunLin’s tone. He didn’t dare to be careless and immediately did as he was told.

After dismissing the others, he happened to run into Mu Xi who was bringing over medicine.

When she saw that Meng Gonggong was in a hurry, Mu Xi asked, “Meng Gonggong, what happened?”

“Ah, Lady Mu Xi. Are you here to deliver medicine to the noble monarch?” Meng Gonggong stopped, thought about the possible situation in the room, and advised her, “Don’t go in yet. Wait for His Majesty to summon you.” 

Mu Xi suddenly became nervous. “Did something happen?” 

“Don’t be nervous, girl. His Majesty just ordered some hot water. I’m afraid it’s better if you don’t intrude at the moment.”

“At noon, why…” As Mu Xi suddenly realized something her face began to burn. “This slave understands. Thanking Meng Gonggong for the advice.”

Meng Gonggong saw that she got the message and hurried away to do what Shang JunLin ordered.

Shang JunLin carried Shen Yu to the side of the bathtub and tested the water with his hand. “The temperature is good. This emperor will lower you in.”

Shen Yu, who was snuggled into Shang JunLin’s arms, gave a very small nod.

Shang JunLin peeled him out of the fox fur, and then he gently lowered the young man into the water.

Shen Yu reclined against the side of the tub. Soothed by the hot water he began to relax little by little.

There was more blood in his lips, and his skin became pale pink in the steam. Shang JunLin took a handkerchief and carefully wiped Shen Yu down.

His skin was extremely pale, the exact shade of the finest quality translucent jade. It was also extremely tender. Even the slightest touch left a mark.

Shang JunLin had once pressed plum blossoms into that skin. Now the flowers had disappeared, but his fingers could feel the warmth of Shen Yu’s skin through the thin veil of the handkerchief.

After recovering a little, Shen Yu folded his arms on the edge of the tub. He rested his cheek against his hand and said, “I’m afraid I’m the only person in the world who can make Your Majesty personally wait on me in the bath.”

Shang JunLin felt Shen Yu’s forehead with the back of his hand. His temperature was normal. “The water’s getting cold. Does Ah Yu want more hot water or do you want to come out?” 

After enjoying the steam for a while, Shen Yu felt dizzy again. “I’m done soaking.” 

Shang JunLin took him out of the tub, dried him, dressed him in a clean inner garment, then wrapped him up in the fox fur again.

Shen Yu stopped Shang JunLin when he tried to put him back in bed. “I don’t want to lie in bed anymore. Your Majesty, please help me find an outer robe. I want to go out for a walk.”

Shang JunLin paused slightly. “Very well.”

After taking a bath and changing into clean clothes, Shen Yu felt much more at ease.

Shang JunLin told the palace servants to remove the hot water. Mu Xi came in with hot medicine, and Shen Yu drank it down.

Shang JunLin fed him a piece of candied fruit.

Shen Yu evaluated himself carefully and didn’t detect any signs of illness. “I don’t think anything’s wrong with me. There’s no need to make Imperial Physician Gu take a special trip.” 

Shang JunLin wasn’t as relaxed. “It’s better to let Imperial Physician Gu take a look.”

“Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Gu has arrived.” The voice of Meng Gong sounded outside the room.

Since the man was already here, Shen Yu wouldn’t refuse.

On the way over, Imperial Physician Gu heard a vague mention from Meng Gonggong, but when he entered the room and saw Shen Yu, he knew it was something else. After carefully taking Shen Yu’s pulse, the physician began to frown.

Shen Yu thought that he simply had a nightmare, nothing more. When he saw Imperial Physician Gu’s expression, he realized that wasn’t the case.

Shang JunLin’s heart sank. “What’s wrong with the noble monarch’s health?” he asked directly

“There’s something wrong with his pulse.” Imperial Physician Gu pondered his words for a moment. “Has the noble monarch experienced any physical abnormality lately?”

Shen Yu thought about it carefully and replied, “I just had a nightmare, nothing else.”

“The condition of the noble monarch’s pulse has changed a little from before. This official will need to consider the details. For the time being, there’s no problem. This official will prescribe a medicine to calm the noble monarch’s nerves. You need to ensure you rest well. If you continue to be troubled by nightmares, it’s not beneficial for your health.”

Imperial Physician Gu wrote a prescription and gave it to the palace servants. “This official will need to study the noble monarch’s condition more. For the next while, I’ll come to check your pulse once a day. I hope this will be convenient for the noble monarch?”

Without waiting for Shen Yu to answer, Shang JunLin said, “We’ll do as Imperial Physician Gu says.” 

Shen Yu wanted to say they didn’t need to go through any trouble, but when he saw the worry in Shang JunLin’s eyes, he swallowed his words.

Although it was raining outside, Shen Yu still wanted to go for a walk. Shang JunLin strolled beside him through the rain, holding an umbrella in one hand and leading Shen Yu with the other.

A soft breeze was blowing, bringing gentle gusts of coolness with it.

This was the real world, and it lacked the dull sensation of the dream. Even as they walked in the rain there was a different feeling.

The sudden spring rain caught many people off guard.

After all, no one expected a storm given how sunny and clear it was in the morning. Why did it suddenly rain so heavily?

Jiang HuaiQing looked through the window at the ceaseless rain. He pulled Hè ChengYu’s sleeve and said, “ChengYu Xiong, our books won’t get soaked, will they?”

He’d decided to bathe his books in the sun this morning because of the good weather. He never thought it would begin to rain just as they arrived at the newly opened four treasures of the study shop.

When he saw the rain, Jiang HuaiQing immediately wanted to go back.

It was Hè ChengYu who stopped him, saying that the people at home would bring the books inside. Even if they went back immediately, there was nothing they could do. Only when he said this did Jiang HuaiQing change his mind.

“Nothing will happen,” Hè ChengYu replied in a good temper despite how many times this question had been asked. “I know they’re your precious books. I told the servants to watch over them.”

In fact, a servant could have sunned the books from the start, but Jiang HuaiQing insisted on doing it himself. Hè ChengYu couldn’t persuade him, so he had to let Jiang HuaiQing do it.

“I’m almost done choosing. What about you, ChengYu Xiong?” He had to admit the shop recommended by Hè ChengYu was really good. The quality of pens, ink, paper, and inkstones was excellent, and the price was reasonable. Jiang HuaiQing bought more than he planned.

“Let’s wait for the rain to lighten up before heading back.”

Jiang HuaiQing looked at the rain outside and nodded.

The shop had a specially arranged resting place inside. The two sat for a while and left when the rain started to subside.

Since they hadn’t brought an umbrella, they borrowed one from the shopkeeper. Fortunately it was big enough to shelter both of them.

Hè ChengYu held the umbrella in one hand and carried his purchases in the other. Seeing that Jiang HuaiQing was some distance away, he said, “HuaiQing, stay closer to me or you’ll get wet.”

Jiang HuaiQing looked up and saw the umbrella above his head was slanted towards him. Hè ChengYu, who was holding the umbrella, was soaked through on the other shoulder. Jiang HuaiQing quickly ducked closer. “Why didn’t you say so sooner, ChengYu Xiong? Look, your shoulder’s already wet.”

Hè ChengYu chuckled. “It’s fine. You didn’t get soaked, did you?” 

“You’re actually laughing? Forget it, I’ll lean closer to you. Don’t hold the umbrella over my head again.”

Hè ChengYu looked at the young man whose body was half-leaning against him. “It’s OK,” he said quietly.

The sound of their conversation gradually faded in the rain.

After the heavy rain fell, the world looked new and everything seemed to be washed clean. Shen Yu and Shang JunLin strolled through the garden and saw that the rain was diminishing.

Shen Yu’s mood gradually began to recover from the nightmare. Thinking of the man who was silently accompanying him, he paused his steps.

Shang JunLin stopped too. “What is it?” 

Shen Yu looked up at Shang JunLin. This man had the same facial features as the King of Yue in his dream, and he was also dressed in imperial robes, but the feeling he gave Shen Yu was completely different.

Under the hazy rain and fog, Shang JunLin heard the clear voice of the young man:

“Your Majesty, would you like a kiss?”

TL Notes:

four treasures – 四宝 – The “four treasures” of the study refer to tools for painting and calligraphy, namely brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. The specific type of brush, ink, paper, etc. that was most highly valued varied in each dynasty

[ Project Page | Ko-Fi ✿ | Other translations by Confectioner ]