SGT CH140: Pinned the Shadow Guard Down

◎ Shadow One was stunned, then voluntarily untied his sash. ◎

Returning to the sleeping quarters, the meal had already been laid out in the hall.

Shadow One habitually wanted to kneel by the dining table, by His Majesty’s legs.

But His Majesty had ordered him not to kneel anymore, so he could only step back a few steps, preparing to serve on the side with the palace servants.

Before he could retreat completely, Mousse reached out and pulled him over.

“Where are you going? Eat.”

Saying that, Mousse glanced sideways at Li Defu waiting on the side.

Chief Steward Li immediately understood, hurriedly set another set of bowls and chopsticks, and urged the young eunuch to move a chair over and place it on His Majesty’s left side.

Mousse gently pressed Shadow One’s shoulder, made him sit on the chair, and signaled Li Defu to bring the meat porridge from the opposite side to Shadow One.

“Eat more so you can recover quickly.”

“Your Majesty, this… is not appropriate.”

Shadow One was restless.

Only when they were in the Prince’s palace and there were no trustworthy people serving around the master did he ever overstep like this to eat at the same table with the master.

As the master gradually grew up and established a firm foothold among the princes, and more people sincerely followed him, he never did such presumptuous things again.

Although he was still often fed by the master, and most of the snacks on the master’s table went into his stomach.

But that was considered a reward from the master, different from eating at the same table.

“Nothing inappropriate, didn’t we also…”

At the very beginning, they ate at the same table, eating food made by Shadow One personally.

Later, it gradually changed.

Mousse swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

Knowing Shadow One would be uncomfortable being stared at by others while eating, he waved his hand and dismissed all the serving palace staff.

After everyone left, Mousse picked up his chopsticks, picked up a piece of meat stewed until soft and rotten, put it in Shadow One’s bowl, and said:

“We tell you to eat, so eat. If you disobey…”

He would forcibly feed it into Shadow One’s mouth.

Shadow One was accustomed to obeying Mousse’s orders. Hearing this, he said nothing more and buried his head to drink the porridge.

He drank fast and urgently, only thinking of completing the master’s instructions quickly.

“Slow down, no one is snatching it from you.”

Mousse was afraid he would choke, reached out to stroke his back, helping him breathe.

Shadow One’s body suddenly stiffened, then he tried his best to restrain himself and slow down his eating speed, chewing slowly and swallowing carefully.

Only then did Mousse feel relieved to eat himself.

He had only eaten breakfast and was hungry long ago.

While reviewing memorials in the Imperial Study, Li Defu wanted to come in several times to deliver tea and snacks, but Mousse was afraid of waking up Shadow One sleeping soundly under the desk, so he waved him away.

Unknown if it was because he had been hungry for half a day, or the new dishes developed by the Imperial Kitchen particularly suited his taste, Mousse ate this meal with extra relish.

Glancing at Shadow One sitting beside him from time to time during the meal, he ate with even more satisfaction.

After dinner, Mousse remembered something and ordered Li Defu to tidy up the side hall.

He couldn’t let Shadow One sleep on the footrest anymore.

Bringing Shadow One to the dragon bed was also inappropriate; that might be another form of humiliation for Shadow One.

But if he arranged for Shadow One to live elsewhere, he wouldn’t be at ease, still wanting to keep the other party under his nose.

Temporarily settling Shadow One in the side hall was the best method.

“Just stay and recuperate with peace of mind. When your injuries are healed…”

Mousse paused slightly.

After Shadow One’s injuries are healed, arrange for him to live elsewhere?

But previously he released Shadow One from the palace, and Shadow One turned around and went straight to the mass grave.

Really should tie a rope to Shadow One so he can’t go anywhere.

Rope might not be enough; need an iron chain.

Mousse was startled by his own thought, pursed his lips and didn’t continue, letting Li Defu lead Shadow One to the side hall.

Shadow One’s steps were stiff; he had to try his best to control himself to resist looking back at His Majesty.

Except for that time he was expelled from the palace, he had never been driven out of the sleeping quarters by His Majesty.

Already abandoned.

It’s different after all.

Even if he barely stayed by the master’s side, the master would not accept him again.

Under the night, Shadow One’s hands and feet were cold.

But he could only obey.

He couldn’t disturb the master anymore.

Being able to stay in the palace was already very good. If he made the master angry and was driven out of the palace again…

Shadow One feared such a future.

Without a master, he couldn’t survive.

Like all air being sucked out, like a fish leaving the water it depended on for survival.

Even though leaving the master now was very uncomfortable, as long as he wasn’t driven out of the palace, there was a chance to see the master.

He could breathe one or two mouthfuls of air from the suffocating feeling of impending death.

·

Mousse took a bath in the hot spring. When he came out of the water, he subconsciously looked for Shadow One.

Shadow One was not there.

Usually at this time, Shadow One would have been kneeling on the white jade slab by the shore holding a soft towel long ago.

Just waiting for him to walk up, then quickly and meticulously wipe the water off his body.

If Shadow One didn’t wipe well, he would force Shadow One to lick it clean.

Even if Shadow One did very well, he could find other faults, and Shadow One could only bow his head and be bullied by him.

Until those eyes as black as the night were steamed red by the water vapor of the hot spring.

Mousse patted his forehead, forcing himself to withdraw his thoughts.

He wanted to forget those contents of humiliating Shadow One completely.

But sometimes, forgetting is also a kind of hurt.

Mousse didn’t know exactly what to do either.

He put on his inner garments and went back to the dragon bed to lie down.

Kept his eyes open until midnight.

Couldn’t sleep at all.

It was like this every time.

He had developed the habit of only being able to fall asleep with Shadow One guarding by his side.

As long as Shadow One lay beside him, held by him, he could sleep very soundly.

If Shadow One lay on the footrest by the bed guarding him, he could also barely fall asleep.

But Shadow One was not in the hall.

He couldn’t feel Shadow One’s presence.

Mousse lay for a while, completely sleepless.

He sat up, put on his shoes, and walked out of the sleeping hall.

“Does Your Majesty have any orders?”

The young eunuch guarding aside stepped forward with a lantern.

Mousse looked in the direction of the side hall; the candles over there were all extinguished, nothing could be seen.

Mousse took the lantern from the young eunuch’s hand, whispered “no need to follow,” and walked towards the side hall.

After lingering outside the hall for a while, Mousse still chose to slowly push open the door.

We are just going to see if Shadow One’s injuries are better.

And confirm again if Shadow One has quietly sought death.

If something happens to Shadow One, his rehabilitation task won’t be completed.

Mousse found reasons in his heart and successfully convinced himself.

Carrying the lantern, he walked in lightly.

Passing through the outer room and entering the inner room, Mousse lightened his steps even more, covering the lantern’s light with his sleeve, slowly bypassing the screen.

And then… met eyes with Shadow One sitting by the bed.

Discovered?

Mousse froze for a moment, wanted to turn and leave right then.

But that would be too shameful.

Mousse was in a dilemma, not knowing whether to leave or not.

Shadow One sitting by the bed just looked at him in a trance, saying nothing, asking nothing, nor getting up to salute.

Mousse sensed something slightly wrong, walked over carrying the lantern.

Shadow One looked up at him, the lantern’s light reflected in his eyes, appearing hazy and entranced.

Is this… fallen into a nightmare again?

Mousse wasn’t sure, reached out to touch his face.

Shadow One tilted his head slightly, leaned in, rubbed gently against his palm, and murmured “Master.”

The voice was extremely light, as if afraid of disturbing something.

If Mousse wasn’t extremely familiar with this address, he probably wouldn’t have heard what he was calling.

Shadow One hadn’t called him that for a long time.

Sure enough, Shadow One wasn’t normal right now.

Mousse gazed at the person rubbing gently against his palm with both restraint and attachment, guessing his dream.

Shadow One seemed to dream of him.

Or maybe not him.

Mousse’s hand on Shadow One’s face became slightly heavy, clamping his jaw, forcing him to look up at him.

Shadow One gazed at him quietly, without any struggle.

In a pair of deep black eyes, bewildered and hollow, yet revealing a bit of obedience.

As if he could do anything to him.

“Who do you see?” Mousse questioned in a low voice.

“Master…”

Shadow One called softly, murmuring with a bit of sadness:

“You haven’t come to my dreams for a long time.”

Mousse was still suspicious.

For the past year, Shadow One had called him “Your Majesty.”

Since he removed the Second Prince and the old Emperor together, he ascended the throne without obstacles, and Shadow One… asked to resign on the day of his ascension… and was forcibly kept by him.

Since then, Shadow One never called him “Master” again.

Mousse’s hand gradually exerted force, as if to crush Shadow One’s jaw.

But Shadow One just watched him quietly and obediently, without any struggle, not even frowning.

Mousse suddenly let go, seeing the red mark pinched by him on Shadow One’s face, he paused, turned and left.

“Master!”

Shadow One called out anxiously, his body suddenly leaning forward, reaching out to grab the Emperor’s robe, but grasped empty air.

Shadow One stared blankly at his empty hand.

It’s always like this.

Whether it’s a dream or an illusion when dying, it can never be grasped.

Mousse placed the lantern on a rack nearby, turned and returned.

Came to the bedside, reached out to pin Shadow One down, yanked open his lapel, revealing the chest wrapped in bandages.

“Mas… ter?”

Shadow One was stunned, then voluntarily untied his sash.

Halfway through untying, he remembered something, stopped stiffly, lowered his head and whispered:

“Very, very ugly.”

“Ugly? I think you simply…”

Mousse gritted his teeth and said: “Whether it’s ugly or not, after We see it, We will decide!”

Support me on Ko-fi