Chapter 49

The scene in the painting was familiar—it was the Imperial Study as it was now.

The composition of the painting was from atop the ceiling beams, looking down from above. A crossbeam blocked most of the lower half of the space, making the upper half of the image especially prominent.

It showed a cluttered desk piled high with all sorts of books, letters, and many jars and bottles.

Behind the desk sat a young man whose features were still somewhat immature. He had taken off his battle armor and draped himself in winter clothes, applying medicine to his injured arm alone beneath the dim, murky candlelight.

But the Imperial Study back then had not been like it was now. It had been much simpler, and some things had been entirely different.

For instance, a sword gleaming with cold light had hung on the wall behind the desk in the painting, yet it had long since vanished. The room in the painting contained only the young man, while now, that young man had found where he belonged.

The painting immediately stirred Shi Changyuan's memories.

That had been seven or eight years ago, perhaps the most difficult winter he had endured after shedding his status as a hostage prince.

"From that day onward, you stayed on the ceiling beams to keep me company?"

Lin Ling nodded. "Yes."

Shi Changyuan lowered his eyes to the painting and smiled softly. "That was wonderful."

Lin Ling's wooden box held nearly every stage of Little Mushroom's life, from gaining sentience to becoming a spirit and taking human form. And in those experiences, Shi Changyuan's presence could be found, more or less.

This betrothal gift from Little Mushroom laid before him all those years he had not known about, as well as the shared memories he had not known they had.

"That should be about everything now."

Little Mushroom put everything on the table away again. He had just relocked the wooden box when, before he could say anything, Shi Changyuan suddenly pulled him into an embrace from behind and kissed his eyes.

"I love it so much."

"Thank you, Ling Ling."

After the spring rain, the weather gradually warmed. It should have been a fine season for outings, and Lin Ling gazed enviously at the kites flying in the sky.

But this spring, not only Shi Changyuan but everyone throughout the palace was exceptionally busy. They had to prepare for His Majesty's wedding and investiture ceremony.

The preliminary preparations alone were an enormous undertaking. Every few days, Lin Ling had to have his measurements taken.

Every few days, people even brought him two identical-looking pieces of red fabric and asked which one he preferred.

Lin Ling had just emerged from the Imperial Kitchen with a plate of pastries in his hands when a group of embroiderers intercepted him on his way back to the Imperial Study. His pastries were confiscated as well.

Their reason was: if Young Master Lin got fat, all their measurements would have been for nothing, and Young Master Lin himself would have to be tossed about and measured all over again.

This reason successfully convinced Lin Ling.

"But these two reds are the same, aren't they?" Lin Ling looked blankly at the fabrics the embroiderers had brought over.

"How could they be the same?" The embroiderers earnestly explained the differences between the two shades of red to Lin Ling, but he remained confused.

"Then... this one?" Lin Ling casually pointed to the one on his right.

Then the embroiderers brought out another two kinds of fabric, both red as well! They said the fabrics felt different, but Lin Ling touched them again and again without sensing any difference at all.

But Mushroom did not dare say so. He could only cautiously ask everyone else's opinion, then close his eyes and make a decision.

After spending an entire day in the embroidery workshop, Lin Ling was finally fished out by Shi Changyuan: ...He was practically wilting.

When Shi Changyuan led out the listless Little Mushroom, who still maintained his politeness and smile, the embroiderers behind them were all rather reluctant to part with him.

Only after the two returned to the Imperial Study, to Mushroom's safe haven, did Lin Ling dare to fully let loose.

"So annoying, so annoying, so annoying, so annoying—!!!"

Lin Ling rested his head on Shi Changyuan's shoulder and noisily complained into his ear, trying to return half the suffering he had endured to Shi Changyuan in equal measure.

Those embroiderers and palace servants did not dare disturb Shi Changyuan at all. They only seized upon softhearted Mushroom and tormented him, showing him in a single day what vibrant, colorful reds were, along with all manner of differently matched jewelry.

The embroiderers had to compare every single thread with meticulous care, ensuring the most perfect result.

Shi Changyuan smiled and rubbed the head resting on his shoulder. "It was indeed like this when preparing for a major ceremony."

Lin Ling nuzzled Shi Changyuan's hand and suddenly asked, "Was it like this when you held your enthronement ceremony too?"

Shi Changyuan's enthronement ceremony had taken place four years ago. At that time, Lin Ling had not yet taken human form and could only hear others describe how grand the occasion had been.

Moreover, Shi Changyuan had never worn the ceremonial crown robes from his enthronement in the Imperial Study, making it even harder for Lin Ling to imagine what Shi Changyuan had looked like then.

"Yes."

Shi Changyuan recalled, "Because of the circumstances at the time, it was more complicated than this. That ceremony was mainly meant to serve as a warning."

Rather than the enthronement of a new emperor after the realm had been unified, it had been more like Shi Changyuan taking the opportunity to display his formidable troops and strike fear into the old officials who wished to restore the former regime.

While other emperors granted amnesty throughout the realm upon ascending the throne, he had used his enemies' blood and heads to crown himself at his own enthronement.

Thinking of that, Shi Changyuan pressed close to Lin Ling and said, "It was fortunate you could not see back then. Otherwise, I would have scared you away."

"Still, those crown robes are here. Would Ling Ling like to see them?"

Lin Ling nodded without the slightest hesitation and eagerly followed Shi Changyuan back to the bedchamber.

Putting on the crown robes was rather troublesome, so Lin Ling sat by the edge of the bed to wait. When Shi Changyuan emerged, his eyes immediately lit up.

Shi Changyuan was not wearing the complete set of crown robes. He wore only that splendid, imposing outer robe. Carrying an overwhelming air of killing intent, he stood before Lin Ling and looked down at him from above.