Chapter 12

Shi Changyuan was extremely satisfied as well. After giving a slight nod, he deliberately added, "The courtyard of this side hall belongs to you too. You can plant whatever you want."

With matters having come to this point, Lin Ling no longer resisted at all.

He looked around the courtyard, and the image of it filled with mushrooms instantly flashed through his mind. He immediately grew excited. "Okay!"

Having obtained his own room, the first thing Lin Ling did was take off the "low-key" outer robe he was wearing.

Although he still had a softer inner garment underneath, the fabric was truly too scratchy and uncomfortable for Mushroom.

Lin Ling hurriedly removed his outer robe. Seeing Mushroom completely unguarded, Shi Changyuan's brow twitched, and he quickly pulled open the folding screen for him.

However, before he could retreat, he turned around and saw a large bruise on Lin Ling's lower back.

Shi Changyuan frowned tightly, lifted Lin Ling's hem, and pointed at the bruise as he accused, "You were clearly injured."

Lin Ling turned his head and, in a difficult yet remarkably flexible high-difficulty pose, looked at his own lower back. Sure enough, there was a dark patch of bruising.

Mushroom froze for a moment and asked in confusion, "But I really didn't feel any pain."

Hearing those words again, Shi Changyuan immediately gave a cold snort and ordered someone to fetch an ointment.

Lin Ling had wanted to say that such a minor injury would heal on its own shortly and did not need medicine, but when he saw Shi Changyuan's icy expression, he silently swallowed the words.

"If I'm applying medicine, I should do it myself."

Lin Ling wanted to reach out for the ointment, but Shi Changyuan merely asked blandly, "The bruise is on your lower back. Are you sure you can do it yourself?"

Lin Ling could only draw back his hand again.

Shunde had thought this would be his task, but he never imagined that His Majesty intended to do it himself.

"Lift your hem and lie face down on the bed."

As soon as the Emperor spoke, Shunde silently withdrew and stood guard outside.

Lin Ling lay face down on the bed and casually lifted his hem, nearly pulling it up to his chest. Shi Changyuan lowered his eyes, reached out to tug the fabric back down, then applied the ointment and gently rubbed it in.

From beginning to end, his palm never went beyond the bruised area.

The moment the ointment was rubbed in, Lin Ling yelped, nearly jumping off the bed. Shi Changyuan effortlessly pressed him back down with one hand.

Perhaps Shi Changyuan's massage was too comfortable; Mushroom narrowed his eyes and began to doze off.

Perhaps the room was too quiet. Shi Changyuan suddenly spoke, testing the waters as he asked, "There are many mountains around the imperial city. Which deep mountain forest were you... planning to go to?"

Lin Ling gave a soft hum, answering with his eyes closed, "Not a mountain near the imperial city. Kunlun Mountain."

"Everyone says Kunlun Mountain is sparsely populated and the best place for spirits and monsters to cultivate, so I decided to go there long ago."

Kunlun Mountain...

Even by carriage, the journey from the capital would take nearly half a year, almost as far as the route to exile in Lingnan.

What was more, Mushroom had no carriage and could only travel on foot.

A round trip would take a whole year, and the road was long, with unknown dangers along the way.

Shi Changyuan's hand paused.

After a moment of silence, he changed the subject. "You still owe me compensation for one thing. Do you remember?"

Lin Ling nodded and looked at Shi Changyuan.

"Then stay a little longer."

Shi Changyuan straightened Lin Ling's hem, rose to his feet, and said slowly, "It is autumn already. Before long, the weather will turn bitterly cold, and the roads will be difficult to travel."

The Emperor before him spoke very, very softly, almost coaxingly, as if afraid of frightening the person in front of him away.

"Set off next spring instead, all right?"

Chapter 12

"Okay."

Lin Ling agreed with almost no hesitation.

For him, going to Kunlun Mountain was already a long journey, part of his lengthy cultivation. Leaving a few months earlier or later made almost no difference.

Watching Lin Ling nod without hesitation, the taut string in Shi Changyuan's heart finally loosened. He told Lin Ling to rest well, then left.

The moment he stepped out of Lin Ling's side hall, Shunde, who approached with a lantern, tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, will you be moving back to Li'an Hall?"

Perhaps Shi Changyuan had been too easygoing lately. Seeing that he remained silent, Shunde began sighing to himself and flattering him.

"Li'an Hall was originally Your Majesty's sleeping quarters. Previously, Your Majesty was busy with state affairs and stayed in the Imperial Study for the convenience of discussing matters. Truly, the common people are fortunate..."

Seeing that Shunde had no intention of stopping, Shi Changyuan rubbed his brow and said, "Enough."

Shunde immediately fell silent in terror.

"Move back tomorrow."

Shunde instantly beamed. "As you command—"

Once Shi Changyuan had completely left and not even a trace of sound could be heard, Lin Ling rolled around on the bed, spreading himself evenly across the large mattress as he tried to fall asleep again.

Strangely enough, though he had clearly expended too much energy today, he could not fall asleep at all.

Oh no, Mushroom had insomnia!

Lin Ling clutched the blanket in fright and abruptly sat up. The palace attendants waiting outside the folding screen heard the movement and lit a lamp for him.

The flickering candlelight reflected only Lin Ling's shadow, making the room seem somewhat desolate.

"Young Master Lin, why aren't you sleeping?"

The speaker was the young eunuch who had attended Lin Ling before. After the Imperial Kitchen incident, he had gradually become familiar with Lin Ling.

Lin Ling sat cross-legged on the bed, propping up his head as he looked at him with a face full of confusion. "I think it's strange too. I actually can't sleep."

"This has never happened before."

The young eunuch also scrunched up his face, helping Lin Ling think of the cause. After hesitating, he guessed, "Could it be... that Young Master Lin is unused to the bed?"

"Unused to the bed?" Lin Ling looked at the soft bed beneath him and thought about it. He had always slept only on roof beams before; roof beams and beds were indeed very different.