#and sir mu qing what's that little glance??

[izzy-prizzy]

ASDFGHJK

you get it..? NO YOU DON'T!!

[presumenothing]

萧景琰连环懵逼记 // the dumbfounded diaries of xiao jingyan, #3 translated from original post @​ lofter

((obligatory warning: misunderstanding continues. also Lin Chen being an ass.))

[previously: In one day, Sir Su had become his brother, and even shared a bed with him…]

Xiao Jingyan carefully opened his eyes – great! Brother wasn’t here! This was the Eastern Palace! I’m back!

After morning court, Xiao Jingyang summoned the senior minsters from all six divisions. He informed them that scouts at the borders and various countries had sent tipoffs that at the end of the tenth month this year, Da Yu, Northern Yan, Dong Hai, and Ye Qin had plans to invade Liang simultaneously, and tasked them with investigating the truth of this news and preparing beforehand.

Subsequently, Xiao Jingyan continued on to deliberate a plan of response back and forth with the ministers until sundown. On exhaustedly returning to the Eastern Palace, he called Lie Zhanying to a stop just as the latter was about to retreat, and said hesitantly: “Zhanying... you– you go and call Concubine Ning here.”

Lie Zhanying was shocked almost to tears. After all these years, His Highness had finally remembered that he, too, had concubines in his estate? After having made Zhanying constantly worry whether there was something wrong with His Highness’ body...

Brimming with anticipation, Lie Zhanying watched an embarrassed Concubine Ning enter, and excitedly stood guard outside the door. It was good, good that His Highness had finally seen the light. Forget younger children, other estates even already had a fair few grown ones – for a dignified Crown Prince to have not one son or daughter was most improper.

One quarter-hour later, a red-eyed Concubine Ning walked out. Lie Zhanying startled. Was His Highness... this– this fast? He hesitated a moment, and was still hesitating when he moved forward to knock on the door: “Your Highness, do you need me to call someone to bathe you?”

No answer came for ages. Lie Zhanying scratched his head and walked in worriedly. He was surprised to find the Crown Prince with his clothes askew, sitting on the bed with a depressed expression. An intense grief shrouded his very person, as if it couldn’t be dissipated by any means.

Several long moments later, the Crown Prince said, sorrowfully: “Zhanying, perhaps I do need to see a physician.”

On hearing this, Lie Zhanying paled, tumultuous waves of sadness in his heart.

So His Highness... really had something wrong with his body...

After dismissing court the next day, Xiao Jingyan called Meng Zhi to stop. Smiling slightly, he tilted his head and asked: “Meng-qing, you knew about Sir Su’s identity since long ago, did you not?”

Surprised, Meng Zhi hurriedly waved a hand: “Know– know what? Isn’t Sir Su just Sir Su?”

Xiao Jingyan didn’t miss the panic in Meng Zhi’s eyes, and his heart sank – these people really did team up to deceive me.

I... I almost caused Brother’s death...

I can’t blame Brother, that doesn’t mean I can’t blame all of you, does it!

Seeing that Meng Zhi was still looking at him nervously, Xiao Jingya huffed coolly, and said perfunctorily: “It’s nothing, I’m just asking.”

Meng Zhi nodded uneasily, and watched Xiao Jingyan leave with growing alarm. This– this Crown Prince couldn’t have recognised Xiao Shu, right? The more he thought the more afraid he got, and he rushed towards the Su residence.

After meeting Meng Zhi, Mei Changsu quickly had Nie Duo and Xia Dong go hide at the Mu estate, in preparation for Xiao Jingyan to come and confront him. In his heart turned thousands of ideas and an unstoppable fear, as if he was on the guillotine, waiting only for the knife’s swing.

Every last person in the Su residence seemed to have been swept along by this atmosphere, and watched the visiting Xiao Jingyan as if they faced a great enemy. Xiao Jingyan looked at each of their expressions in turn, looked at Mei Changsu sitting across from him, face white as paper, and felt pain in his heart, burning bitterness rushing up to his throat.

This was his brother, was a relative bound to him my blood, was a person who went to such pains to protect him. And since he refused to let Jingyan know, he naturally had his own difficulties – then why should Jingyan expose the truth and sadden him?

“Sir.” Xiao Jingyan clenched his hands into fists, kept a death grip on his urge to acknowledge their relation, and said seriously: “Tipoffs from the borders have reported an urgent military matter, one you would not know of yet. Jingyan came today to discuss this very matter.”

Stunned, Mei Changsu quickly set aside that little bit of personal sentiment in his heart, his expression darkening as he kept asking for more details. Between the two of them, it was late at night before either knew it.

“Thank goodness for Your Highness’ scouts, or I fear that the country of Liang would be at risk of destruction.” Even though they’d worked out a plan of response, Mei Changsu stil felt the lingering trepidation, and couldn’t help the heartfelt words.

Xiao Jingyan nodded with warmth in his gaze. On discussing military matters, it was as if Brother cast off that body frail from illness – it was dazzling. He thought of that ‘future’ Brother, that General of the silver robes and long spear, gentle as jade, and couldn’t help feeling shaken.

Outside, the sky was dark. Xiao Jingyan took a good look at Mei Changsu, saw how he leaned tiredly towards the brazier, coughing unstoppably, and it was as if someone had sliced a chunk right off his beating heart.

I’ll protect him. Xiao Jingyan closed his eyes briefly. I’ll definitely find a way to treat him, I’ll definitely be able to protect him.

Mei Changsu rested for a long while, then suddenly laughed and said: “Your Highness is getting married in a few days. Allow me to congratulate you in advance here, Li Gang will send a present on my behalf when the time comes.”

Xiao Jingyan: “......”

Mei Changsu doubtfully looked at a suddenly-awkward Xiao Jingyan.

“Um... about that.” Xiao Jingyan scratched his head and prevaricated: “I– I might not be getting married...”

“Eh?” Mei Changsu sat up, surprised: “Why is that?”

Xiao Jingyan dropped his gaze, and silently bolstered his strength.

It’s fine, Xiao Jingyan, this is your brother... he’ll know sooner or later... there’s nothing to be embarrassed about...

Mei Changsu watched, completely mystified, as Xiao Jingyan’s face went from green to white, and slowly turned red, as he turned his head to look at the sky and earth but never at himself: “I...... that is, there’s an issue with my body...”

“What does that have to do with the wedding–” Mei Changsu stopped and widened his eyes abruptly: “Your Highness, you’re saying that–––”

“Yes......” Xiao Jingyan nodded in deep grief.

Mei Changsu: “......”

Good heavens! So Xiao Jingyan was actually... actually impotent, was he! No wonder! No wonder he’d never had any children, all these years! I’ve been such an idiot, I didn’t even think of this... Jingyan only found out now, don’t tell me all these years he’s been...

At the thought that Xiao Jingyan could be like him, still a virgin, Mei Changsu couldn’t help a small leap of happiness, and quickly stopped those dangerous thoughts of his in their tracks.

Jingyan is your best friend, how can you be like this! Mei Changsu scolded himself angrily – it must’ve been difficult for Jingyan, all these years...

Xiao Jingyan saw Mei Changsu look at him with a strange sort of tenderness, and suddenly understood that his brother was still unaware that he, too, was impotent as well.

Better not to tell him first, Xiao Jingyan thought worriedly. Brother’s health was so poor... there was no way he could withstand the hit of an ending family line... better to wait for a suitable opportunity and tell him later.

The two were silent for a while, each making their own plans.

“Ahem...” Mei Changsu started hesitantly, carefully considering how to say this so it wouldn’t harm Jingyan’s dignity: “For such a matter, finding a physician might– might not be too suitable... um... I have this quack doctor with me, his medical expertise is not too bad, how about... how about asking him to take a look at you?”

Xiao Jingyan’s face was red as a pig’s liver – he stared steadily at the brazier, as if there was something extremely interesting there, and only made a soft ‘hm’ of agreement.

Mei Changsu personally called Lin Chen over, firmly closed the room’s door, and told him everything with a stern expression – and stomped viciously and accurately on his foot, right when Lin Chen was about to start snickering.

Lin Chen looked at Mei Changsu frantically giving him warning glances, and his expression settled into solemnity for a second before starting to snicker again.

Mei Changsu and Xiao Jingyan both gave him the stink-eye immediately, and Lin Chen carelessly raised his hands in surrender. Looping one arm around Mei Changsu’s shoulders, he looked challegingly at Xiao Jingyan: “Let me introduce myself. I’m Lin Chen, Changsu’s... childhood friend, here to treat your sterility.”

“Ow––– you stepped on me again, Changsu!”

Brother’s childhood friend? Changsu? Xiao Jingyan raised an eyebrow, watched his brother struggle free with a face full of dislike, and laughed lightly – sparkling gaze flickering with a determination that he hadn’t even noticed himself: “Of course you already know who I am, so I won’t introduce myself. But, I’ll be... Ah Su’s best brother.”

So he really did know. Mei Changsu’s heart sank.

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