Zhu Hui opened his eyes and saw that same spoiled Prince, now the Emperor, in his arms. He didn't wear any clothes, showing off ivory skin littered with love bites and bruises. As he slept, Zhu Hui noticed that his eyes were reddened with tears gathering at the corners as if he was feeling aggrieved.
Zhu Hui gave a faint smile as he tenderly wiped away the tears. Yuan Ling mumbled unintelligibly and snuggled closer in his arms.
Zhu Hui's heart warmed up at the sight and stroked his hair to soothe him. His usual cold countenance and uninviting glare were now replaced by a loving and doting smile. If Yuan Ling could see the look Zhu Hui was giving him at the moment, he would understand that Zhu Hui has only ever had him in his eyes.
Unfortunately, Yuan Ling had fainted from exhaustion from the night before.
Yuan Ling was born with a weak constitution. It came from an illness he had throughout childhood. Whenever the weather was cold, even if it was only slightly, he would catch a fever and be bedridden for months. In winter, there would always be a warm fire lit specifically for him. He would cuddle up beside it, bundled up under many layers of clothes.
Seeing Yuan Ling cuddling up to him as he slept made Zhu Hui remember another memory from when the two were young teenagers. It was the time before Yuan Ling's father died, leaving Yuan Ling in line for the throne that he didn't want.
The winter was the only time Yuan Ling had never dared to be a nudist. Coincidentally it was the only time that Zhu Hui could also relax. However, the young Yuan Ling would still find ways to tease Zhu Hui.
There was once a time when Yuan Ling was sick and demanded that he would only take his medicine if Zhu Hui fed him it personally. His parents tried to convince him to take the medicine, but he was a stubborn boy and they were far too doting. No one could force him to take it.
The Eunuchs and doctors were at a loss as to what to do. So, they could only beg Zhu Hui to personally feed the medicine to Yuan Ling. Zhu Hui was always an obedient child and could never refuse.
Naturally, he agreed even though he knew Yuan Ling had concocted another way to torment him.
Zhu Hui entered the room with an apathetic expression, carrying a bowl of medicine. He sat down next to Yuan Ling's bed and held out the spoon to his lips. Yuan Ling glanced at him mischievously before turning his head away stubbornly. Zhu Hui felt his eyebrows twitch.
Yuan Ling spoke in a childish voice, "I won't take it."
"...Take it." Zhu Hui could only muster up a few words in rebuttal. He was never very good with his words and usually struggled just to say simple things.
"I won't." Yuan Ling shook his head. Then, he added with a kittenish grin, "I will only take it if you come to cuddle with me under the blankets."
Zhu Hui froze. He knew Yuan Ling was only teasing him, but his suggestive words caused his chest to feel as if it was on fire. As Zhu Hui's sharp eyes moved to Yuan Ling's delicate pink lips, the burning heat traveled to his lower abdomen.
He forced himself to look away from Yuan Ling, "...Take it."
Yuan Ling giggled, "Does that mean Hui-Gege will cuddle with me?"
"..."
Yuan Ling decided to change tactics seeing Zhu Hui turning into stone before his eyes. He shivered dramatically while he looked at Zhu Hui with a pitiful expression, "Hui-Gege… I'm so cold…"
Zhu Hui was speechless as he felt his control waver. He could never say no to Yuan Ling whenever he acted so pitifully. His attempts at staying strong were slowly being destroyed effortlessly by the spoiled child with a weak constitution.
Yuan Ling noticed his hesitation and whined pathetically, "You are always so warm… Won't you cuddle with me? I'm so cold… So cold I would rather die..."
Zhu Hui heard this and snapped in a low voice, "Fine… Now take it."
After hearing Zhu Hui agree, Yuan Ling's face lit up. He sat up with a nod, "Alright. I will take it. I will take it. Ahh~"
Zhu Hui's hand froze when he noticed Yuan Ling's mouth wide open. He didn't allow his mind to ponder his strange feelings further and cleared his throat to dispel them. He put a spoonful into Yuan Ling's mouth.
Yuan Ling gagged, "Bah! Why is it so bitter?!"
"...Take it."
Yuan Ling forced himself to open his mouth again to receive the next spoonful. Even though his eyes watered from the bitterness of the medicine, he was determined to get his reward from Zhu Hui. It was already hard for the two to be alone together. Now that he had the chance, he refused to let bitter medicine ruin the sweet moment.
Once he finished, Yuan Ling felt like crying. Zhu Hui took his hand and placed something in it. Yuan Ling looked at it in surprise, "What's this?"