Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 41: Blooming Pansy — IV

Then, with a slight chuckle rolling in his throat, the surgeon ducked his head, closed his eyes and replied.

"My Liege says as if once we get married we shall no longer be friends."

Liu Mingyun’s lips pursed together as he took in Li Xinyuan’s words, something in his crimson eyes rippled as he let out a quiet sigh, striding languidly.

"It is not that we will stop being friends." He surmised in a low voice, just enough for Li Xinyuan to hear him clearly. "But once the knot of matrimony is tied, we shall be bound together, tied by the will of the heavens. And, well, it is only inevitable that something between us changes, if only the nature of our relationship. If you understand what This Prince is saying."

As the Crown Prince’s words sunk in the surgeon’s mind, Li Xinyuan hummed to himself. He wasn’t actually wrong. Not really.

It was inevitable that once they got married something between them would change. Of course, it would. There was a huge difference between being simple friends, being a mere vessel and his Liege and being a pair of husbands.

Power dynamics would perhaps change, the way they treat each other would change. The way they look at each other would change.

It was nothing if not an inevitability. A requirement from fate and well... The ’system’, its partial binding to Li Xinyuan, was anything to go by.

Not to mention the mission of making this story, his life, a freaking Danmei.

It was somewhat funny but at the same time, in the dead of the nights when Li Xinyuan found himself unable to sleep, he would lay awake, wondering what direction his life would take.

Or if he should just go with the flow, let coincidences and fate work their magic or if he should behave like those diligent protagonists who transmigrate into stories and actively try to change either their own fate, or the fate of characters they adore.

Li Xinyuan was not like that, he was far from those protagonists. As a doctor, in his last life, he barely had the time to relax, take a deep breath and retrospect. He rarely had enough time to idle around and read some redundant novels or anything at all, especially considering that more often than not, he was flying all over the world.

So in his case, forget attachment or affection for the characters, Li Xinyuan didn’t even have familiarity with them. Perhaps he would have been content with being an apathetic spectator in this film of fate had he not been reborn as an infant. Had he not been raised in this world, raised by the people whom he called his parents, an auntie who taught him and Hu Lijing.

Had he not served in the war as their frontline doctor seen the people cry, writhe in despair and weep in agony, had he not seen Liu Mingyun confused by himself, befuddled in his own skin, doubting his own sense of being...

Perhaps... Perhaps Li Xinyuan would not have had any empathy for them, perhaps he would have had no compassion for them beyond that of a doctor.

Li Xinyuan raised his head, golden eyes drinking the sight of the protagonist’s strong back, the beautiful locks of silver hair that swayed as he walked, the luxurious robes that clung to his frame and the golden tassel of jade that decorated on the legendary sword hanging on his waist.

He pursed his lips, a small smile making his way to his pink lips as he sped up to walk beside his betrothed, hands falling to his sides under the wide sleeves as they matched his pace.

Had Li Xinyuan not befriended Liu Mingyun, had he not been the one to lead him away from the path of his supposed inhumanity, had he not realised the pitiful world the latter lived in, perhaps Li Xinyuan wouldn’t have been the person he was right now.

Had he not chosen to be the person who led Liu Mingyun away from a destructive path, what would Li Xinyuan have been instead?

He didn’t know. And he didn’t care enough to find out.

As a smile stretched on his face, Li Xinyuan turned to look at Liu Mingyun’s side profile and spoke, lips parted slightly. "My Liege?"

Liu Mingyun’s strides shortened as he matched Li Xinyuan’s pace — who was matching his — and turned to glance at Li Xinyuan from the corner of his eyes, not straying his gaze from the corridor they were walking through.

"Hm?" He let out a low hum, prompting Li Xinyuan to continue.

Li Xinyuan took his sign and nodded, his smile warning up as he looked ahead, having long since left the Imperial Armoury and Smithy.

"Where are we going?" He dared to ask, feeling the paws of curiosity scratch his heart like a small kitten asking to play with.

Liu Mingyun’s impassive expression melted into a soft smile as he turned his neck to look at Li Xinyuan, with mischief in his crimson eyes, the Crown Prince nodded to himself as if approving of his own idea before leaning towards the surgeon and cupping his hand over his ear.

Curiously, Li Xinyuan leaned towards him. A few seconds later, the Crown Prince’s warm breath caressed his ear shell as his voice dropped into a whisper, words falling off his lips in a smooth flow akin to that of a spoon of warm honey.

"Just..." he trailed off, increasing Li Xinyuan’s desire to know with each moment he left in silence. "... Follow after This Prince. He’s been meaning to show Xin’er a beautiful place for a while."

His secretive manners were just a part of his acting, a feint meant to lure Li Xinyuan into the snare of his supposed eloquence. With a gaping gasp, Li Xinyuan replied.

"Then show it to this lowly servant, My Liege. That is, if he deserves to have the pleasure of seeing them."

Hearing his words, a slight frown danced upon Liu Mingyun’s handsome features. In a faint voice, he replied. "If not Xin’er then who else is worthy?" He glanced at Li Xinyuan, musing dryly.

Li Xinyuan let out a cough, feeling slightly embarrassed, he nodded slowly. "This lowly one thanks Your Highness for his generous words."

Liu Mingyun let out a huff, amusement dancing in his crimson eyes as he started walking faster. "Come along, let us go."

Where did Liu Mingyun lead him? The surgeon wasn’t quite sure. The Forbidden City was enormous, palaces upon palaces enclosed within the walls, ministerial palaces, departments, back palace buildings, and many, many more things Li Xinyuan — with his wonderfully weak hand in history — couldn’t hope to name.

Through the maze of opulence, Liu Mingyun led the surgeon with deft steps, slowing to a stop only once they made it to their destination.

"Ah, Your Highness... This is your palace." Li Xinyuan said the obvious, very lamely.

Liu Mingyun glanced at him, amused. "Indeed, it is."

"Why... Has Your Highness brought this lowly one here?" Was it even allowed?

"Why not? This Prince’s residence is here. This Prince has quite a few things to show to Xin’er."

Li Xinyuan glanced at him as they entered the Crown Prince’s palace in the eastern side of the Forbidden City. Apprehensive as he was about walking into the Eastern Palaces, he couldn’t help but find amusement in the way Liu Mingyun seemed to delight at the prospect of bringing Li Xinyuan into his world.

A world he had yet to share with anyone else. Something about this made Li Xinyuan’s heart throb, with happiness, sweetness or with something else, not that he knew.

Noticing the surgeon’s apprehension, the Crown Prince twisted his body to look at him, eyes squinted in an attempt to reassure, he leaned closer to the former and whispered into his ear.

"Fret not, Xin’er. This Prince will not take you to his quarters, but the quarters that will be yours when you marry This Prince."

Li Xinyuan couldn’t help but turn to him slightly, with his cheeks tinged in a hue of rosy blush, he nodded. "Your Highness didn’t have to..."

Liu Mingyun simply shook his head as he took Li Xinyuan’s hand into his own and led him inside. "This Prince wanted to. Xin’er is to marry This Prince, it would be a shame for you to come in blind, not knowing which way to go. While it would be amusing to watch your struggle—" Li Xinyuan threw him a glare "—This Prince doesn’t have the heart to see you suffer. Hence, he shall give you a brief tour of soon-to-be your quarters, the Crown Princess’ residence—

"The Palace of Moonlit Reflection."

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Author’s mini theatre!

[Enter Crown Prince—a prime bachelor set to marry by his father, the Emperor of the country]

Liu Mingyun (unhappy): I will marry none but the person of my choosing Imperial Father!

The Emperor (busy simping for his Consort): With this treasure I summon, Doctor Li.

Li Xinyuan (busy cutting open people in modern China): Ayo, what the f--

Liu Mingyun (immediately): (⁠๑⁠♡⁠⌓⁠♡⁠๑⁠) Marry, marry, must marry!