FIMA Ch131: The Sole Outcome

“Hmm?” Gu Siyuan pondered briefly, intending to answer directly.

But as he looked at Xie Chenyun’s handsome profile illuminated by candlelight, memories of their past nights sharing a bed came flooding back.

At least since coming to this era, his only physiological response seemed to be towards men.

He remained calm and said, “That’s not the key issue. As long as I genuinely love, gender doesn’t matter.”

If it had been before, Xie Chenyun would have surely arrogantly interpreted this statement as a declaration of love towards him.

But after the recent events.

Starting from Jiangcheng, the doubts that had taken root in his heart, those unsettling things, seemed to have been forcibly uncovered.

…Could Gu Siyuan, who possessed such cunning and martial arts skills, truly not be the frivolous and lascivious ruler he had once believed him to be?

So from their first encounter, did he really covet his beauty as he had thought?

Such a person, such an emperor, a far-sighted emperor, could he really have fallen in love with him at first sight, even deeply rooted, yearning for him?

He lifted his head and softly asked Gu Siyuan, “Is that so? In that case, Your Majesty, do you actually not know yourself? Your Majesty… have you never encountered someone you genuinely liked?”

After speaking, his voice shook with a tremor that even he found difficult to face.

“Chenyun, what’s wrong with you?”

Gu Siyuan had been staring at Xie Chenyun, but suddenly saw an expression on his face that seemed extremely desolate and fragile, and was somewhat puzzled.

Xie Chenyun looked at him and asked again, “Has Your Majesty ever liked anyone?”

Gu Siyuan raised an eyebrow lightly and casually replied, “Whether liked or not, these emotional mundane matters need not be taken to heart. Chenyun, you haven’t said why you got so angry just now. You dared to strike at me. Do you know what a crime it is to assassinate the emperor, and what fate awaits those who lay hands on me?”

Xie Chenyun glared at him, raised his right arm, and with a hand like a sword, struck directly at Gu Siyuan.

But…

In the next moment, Gu Siyuan easily blocked it and grasped his hand directly.

Gu Siyuan lightly squeezed the slender white fingers in his palm a few times. “Chenyun, you’re quite daring, knowingly defying?”

Xie Chenyun realized that his inner strength had been sealed.

Tsk…

He chuckled softly again.

Even if it hadn’t been sealed, he couldn’t have beaten Gu Siyuan.

In the past, it was just Gu Siyuan hiding things from him and indulging him.

He couldn’t help but bite his lip hard, forcing it, and suddenly oozed a shallow trace of blood.

In an instant, warmth spread across his lips.

Gu Siyuan gently wiped away the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth with his fingers, displeased, “Why are you behaving like a child, biting yourself like this?”

Xie Chenyun was taken aback and whispered, “Is Your Majesty always so gentle and considerate to everyone?”

Hearing this, Gu Siyuan found it somewhat strange.

“Chenyun, you really know how to joke. If my character can also be considered gentle and considerate, wouldn’t that be unfair to those who are truly refined and cultured?”

As he spoke, he became somewhat interested and pressed lightly against those bright red lips, finding them indeed quite soft.

Thus, he couldn’t help but remember the taste he had truly experienced that night in Jiangcheng.

Gu Siyuan suddenly felt a bit dry in the mouth.

He stood up abruptly and swept Xie Chenyun into his arms, walking towards the bed, “Alright, Chenyun, it’s time to rest.”

Xie Chebyub, seeing Gu Siyuan’s natural demeanor, looked up at his extraordinarily handsome face and for a moment didn’t know what to say.

He blinked and softly said, “Your Majesty, I can walk on my own.”

Gu Siyuan adjusted his hold on him and replied, “It’s just a few steps, it’s the same whether I carry you.”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Since he knew it was just a few steps, wouldn’t it be silly to keep carrying him back and forth?

Xie Chenyun suddenly asked again, “Has Your Majesty ever carried others like this?”

Gu Siyuan laid him down on the bed, then positioned himself on the outer side before answering, “Certainly not. Why would I carry others? They have legs, after all.”

He naturally stretched out his arms.

After a moment, he looked at Xie Chenyun and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Xie Chenyun snapped out of his thoughts, “Hmm?”

Gu Siyuan said, “Why aren’t you sleeping in my arms anymore? Weren’t you fond of it before?”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Xie Chenyun looked at Gu Siyuan’s calm expression and indifferent gaze, feeling like he was going crazy.

His mind buzzing, he asked, “Your Majesty, don’t you think it’s inappropriate? If someday Your Majesty likes another man, and he finds out that today you were so intimately sharing a bed with another man, wouldn’t he be upset?”

Gu Siyuan fell silent for a moment, raising his eyebrows, “That does make sense.”

He had never considered emotional matters before, so he thought two men sharing a bed like this might not matter, but upon reflection, it didn’t seem quite appropriate.

Leaving aside his own behavior, it wouldn’t be fair to his future beloved.

Thinking of others as himself, if he had a beloved similar to Xie Chenyun, he would naturally be extremely unwilling for him to have ever laid so obediently and beautifully in another’s arms.

Xie Chenyun felt increasingly bitter as he saw him hesitate.

Indeed, the person he loved was not himself.

He let out a soft laugh, a mix of resignation and resentment, and asked, “Your Majesty, how can you be so affectionate and yet so heartless? Have you ever considered what you would do if, one day, you found yourself yearning for something unattainable, unable to sleep at night?”

“…” Gu Siyuan looked at him, puzzled.

What was this about again?

Xie Chenyun clearly saw the confusion in his eyes.

Just like before, when he didn’t understand why he had been so furious by the bath?

Suddenly, the smile on his face became even more sorrowful.

Gu Siyuan felt that something was not right.

He silently observed Xie Chenyun for a moment and said calmly, “If Chenyun is worried about me suffering from unrequited love, there’s no need. If I like someone, I can simply ask for it and get it; there’s no need for such roundabout efforts, it’s just a waste of time.”

The smile on Xie Chenyun’s face deepened, and he sighed softly, “Yes, Your Majesty, such a heroic figure, just a word from you and people would flock to you eagerly. Who in this world wouldn’t be moved?”

Listening to this laughter, Gu Siyuan sensed a hint of resignation and bitterness.

The cool strands of hair brushed against his arm; it was Xie Chenyun’s hair, which he was very familiar with.

He couldn’t help but think back to the unfinished thoughts about loyalty earlier, recalling every morning when Xie Chenyun woke up in his arms, looking beautiful, obedient, and cute like a little animal.

He turned his head and looked at him.

The faint yellow light of the palace lanterns illuminated his jade-white cheeks, and in his eyes, like spring water, lay the most beautiful scenery in the world.

Thinking of their previous conversations and that recent laugh, Gu Siyuan’s mind suddenly moved. He reached out, gathered the black hair of the person beside him, and naturally asked, “And what about you? Has your heart been moved?”

Xie Chenyun’s expression changed.

He suddenly thought that this person had seen through his thoughts.

Gu Siyuan’s hand moved from the hair to the cheek, then firmly gripped his chin, and asked again, “I’m asking you.”

Xie Chenyun licked his lips, “Your Majesty… are you joking with me?”

Gu Siyuan’s expression remained cold, “I’m not. I want to hear your honest answer.”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Why is he always so righteous, even when it’s something completely unreasonable?

Gu Siyuan bent down and lightly touched his face and lips.

Xie Chenyun was a bit confused and mumbled, “Your Majesty, what do you want me to say?”

Gu Siyuan gently stroked Xie Chenyun’s cheek, speaking earnestly, “I’ve never considered matters of affection before, but since you brought it up, I thought it through. I’ve decided that I want you to be the person I love. I want to sleep with you, hold you, and kiss you whenever I please.”

“Ah…” Xie Chenyun was utterly shocked.

At that moment, he didn’t know whether to feel happy or annoyed.

Is he too normal, or is this person too abnormal?

Isn’t liking someone something that happens naturally?

Can it be predetermined?

Xie Chenyun looked up at Gu Siyuan, his long eyelashes casting a cute shadow under his thin eyelids, “Your Majesty, are you sober right now?”

Gu Siyuan nodded, his expression calm and his voice cold, “When have I ever been not sober? I’m asking you this because I’m very clear-headed.”

“Upon thinking, I realized that due to various reasons, our relationship is indeed too close. If this continues, it might hinder our future, so if we are truly together, it would be the best outcome. However, before that, I want to know, have you fallen for me?”

Xie Chenyun was silent for a moment before speaking slowly, “Your Majesty has already decided, haven’t you?”

Gu Siyuan shook his head, “Although I believe everyone in the world is easily attainable, the result is the result, but the process should also be respected. This concerns our harmonious relationship in the future and should at least have your consent.”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Before I agree, can you take back those two kisses you just gave?

He lifted his chin, looking at Gu Siyuan, and asked, “What if I say I haven’t fallen for you? What would you do then?”

Hearing this, Gu Siyuan was stunned for a moment.

He was clearly surprised and puzzled by this answer.

Xie Chenyun stared straight at him.

However, Gu Siyuan was certainly no ordinary person.

Even if he was rejected by the one he liked, he remained very calm and composed.

He touched Xie Chenyun’s cheek and sighed, “Though it is quite a pity that Chenyun and I can’t enjoy mutual affection and bliss right away, I am not one to resort to force. I will pursue you and make you fall into my arms as soon as possible.”

Looking at his cold face and calm eyes, Xie Chenyun gently asked, “Your Majesty, how can you always remain so clear-headed?”

Never losing composure or hesitation, even when rejected.

Calculating everything so clearly, even love.

Gu Siyuan looked at Xie Chenyun, confusion gathering in his brows.

He really didn’t understand.

Earlier, this person seemed to think he wasn’t clear-headed, and now he seemed to think he was too clear-headed.

This thinking was truly contradictory.

But with a beauty in his arms, such small matters didn’t need much consideration.

Gu Siyuan moved his arm, pulling both the person and the blanket into his embrace, gently patting him, “Chenyun, you probably don’t feel well today, rest early!”

Sigh, even his brain doesn’t seem to be working well.

Wrapped up like a furry animal, only his head exposed, Xie Chenyun lightly nuzzled Gu Siyuan’s chest, annoyed, “Your Majesty, I haven’t fallen for you yet, isn’t this inappropriate? Shouldn’t we respect each other first?”

Gu Siyuan rubbed his head and said calmly, “Hmm, I respect your usual habits, isn’t that good?”

Xie Chenyun was unwilling to always be controlled by this man and tried to argue logically, “Now, as Your Majesty is pursuing me, I think it’s best to maintain a certain distance, otherwise it might affect my final judgment. Your Majesty, why not release my acupoints?”

Gu Siyuan glanced at him, pinching his soft cheek, “Don’t worry, Chenyun, it won’t affect your judgment. Because regardless of what happens, the process may differ, but the outcome will remain the same.”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Frustrated, Xie Chenyun opened his mouth and bit his thumb, muttering, “Who says? Maybe I’ll never be able to like Your Majesty. Or perhaps, I’ll fall for someone else tomorrow.”

Gu Siyuan’s eyes turned cold, and he glanced at him indifferently, “Then your acupoints will remain sealed.”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Gu Siyuan then called out towards the hall, “From today onwards, Lady Xie is not allowed to leave the secluded residence. If anything goes wrong, you will answer with your heads.”

“Yes.”

The sound of a unified and solemn response came from outside.

“…” Xie Chenyun.

What happened to respect?

What happened to not resorting to force?

So, this is the only reason for the outcome…