Jin Wang's eyes were blazing, and the corners of his lips curved up at just the right angle.

Even at a time like this, he still had the calmness and boldness of being in control of the entire situation. This was an innate temperament that could only be formed after years of being in a high position.

Ye Shu seemed to have been robbed of his ability to speak. His lips trembled slightly, and he couldn't say a single word.

He didn't know how to answer.

Faced with Jin Wang's questioning, he couldn't deny it. He didn't even have the courage to lie.

Ye Shu would probably never be in a more difficult situation than he was today. Perhaps it was because he was too slow on certain matters, or perhaps it was because he never dared or was willing to think about these things.

He didn't belong to this world, and he even used feelings that didn't belong to him to use this person in front of him.

He was the least qualified person to think about these things.

Ye Shu always had an almost escapist mentality towards this world.

As long as he didn't miss anyone or anything in this world, and only treated this world as a book world, he could do anything to survive.

He could use countless lies to deceive others, and he could also withdraw at any time.

But once he started to indulge in this world, everything would change.

So he kept telling himself in his heart to not care, to not take it seriously, and that everything that happened here was fake.

Until today, when Jin Wang exposed all the thoughts that he didn't want to and didn't dare to think about in front of him.

"If you hadn't told me everything tonight, I would have waited a little longer."

Jin Wang pinched Ye Shu's cheek and chuckled. "I've never seen someone like you. I'm a dignified emperor, but what do you think I am?

To ease your worries? "

"Of, of course not!" Ye Shu pursed his lips. "I..."

His voice was dry, and he wanted to say something, but stopped.

Jin Wang didn't force him. He straightened up slightly and waited quietly.

Ye Shu took a deep breath and slowly said, "I think... I want to think about it for a few more days."

Jin Wang's eyes flickered. Ye Shu hurriedly said, "A few more days will be enough. I'll give you an answer.

There were too many things happening tonight. I... I'm in a mess right now. I don't know... "

"It's alright."

Jin Wang stroked Ye Shu's hair comfortingly. "If you can't figure it out, you can think about it tomorrow. You can have as much time as you want.

A Shu, it's okay, don't force yourself. "

Ye Shu's eyes were a little hot. He lowered his head and buried it in Jin Wang's arms. "… Why are you suddenly so nice to me?"

Jin Wang was stunned.

Ye Shu's voice was muffled. "Isn't it good for you to be like before? Now that you're like this, I …"

Ye Shu clutched his sleeve, his voice slightly choked.

"If I don't treat you better, you'll scold me again."

Jin Wang gently stroked his hair. "Besides, what if you run away again if I don't do this?"

Jin Wang pulled the quilt and wrapped it tightly around the person in his arms. He whispered in his ear, "I was lying to you earlier. In fact, I was very worried tonight."

"The Lord Protector's fief is thousands of li away from the capital. Not to mention the bumpy journey, your body might not be able to take it.

If you really go there, how will I be able to see you again? "

Jin Wang sighed. "My little imperial concubine thinks about running away every day. Can't I behave better and spend more effort to make you stay?"

"… Dog Emperor." Ye Shu whispered. "I knew you didn't have good intentions."

Jin Wang laughed.

"Alright, it's time to rest."

As he spoke, he moved his hand down and touched his slightly bulging belly. "Even if you're not tired, the child should be tired."

Ye Shu blinked.

That's right. The imperial physician had specially instructed him that this was the time when the child was growing the fastest. He had to sleep early to recover his energy.

… He had almost forgotten about this little brat.

Ye Shu obediently lay down and closed his eyes. His breathing quickly calmed down.

The moon was cold and the hall was so quiet that only the steady breathing of the two people could be heard. After a long time, Ye Shu quietly opened his eyes.

… He couldn't fall asleep.

With so many things happening, it would be strange if he could fall asleep.

Ye Shu looked up. The person beside him had his eyes closed and his breathing was calm and steady.

Under the moonlight, Ye Shu could clearly see the other person's long and slender eyelashes. They were like small fans that cast a small shadow on his face.

Whether it was in real life or in the book, Jin Wang was the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

But this person was still so good to him.

This was too unfair.

Ye Shu lowered his eyes and whispered: "If you continue to be like this, even if I'm not the original owner, I will — —"

"Hiss …" Ye Shu suddenly sucked in a breath of cold air.

The little brat kicked him in the stomach.

After being quarreled with for an entire night, the little dog finally couldn't take it anymore and began to throw a tantrum.

Ye Shu frowned and held his stomach. He endured the discomfort and angrily said: "Little bastard, do you believe that I won't want you anymore?"

"… …"

Perhaps it was because he had been disturbed from his sleep, but Jin Wang pulled Ye Shu into his embrace. One of his hands landed on his lower abdomen and gently stroked it.

After being comforted by his father, the little dog gradually calmed down and stopped making a fuss.

"Go to sleep." Jin Wang didn't open his eyes and said very softly, "Stop making a fuss."

It wasn't clear whether these words of comfort were meant for Ye Shu or the little dog, but Ye Shu enjoyed it very much.

He rested his forehead on Jin Wang's chest and his restless heart suddenly calmed down.

Ye Shu closed his eyes and allowed his consciousness to fall into a deep sleep.

.

For the next few days, the two of them had a tacit understanding and didn't mention this matter again.

After New Year's Eve, there were three days of rest.

On the last day of the break, Ye Shu mentioned that he wanted to leave the palace.

"Return to the Ye residence?" When this matter was brought up, the two of them were eating lunch.

Jin Wang's eyes flickered, "Why do you want to go there?"

Ye Shu said, "I, I just want to … I want to see where I used to live. Maybe I can find some clues."

Jin Wang wasn't surprised.

It should be said that ever since Ye Shu had been honest with him, he had already expected that this person would have such thoughts.

Ye Shu didn't have that memory in his mind, so it was very difficult for him to convince himself to accept the relationship with the original owner.

He wanted to use this opportunity to revisit the place and find some evidence.

Jin Wang pondered for a moment and hesitated.

Ye Shu was nervous, "Can't I?"

"It's not that you can't, it's just that …" Jin Wang sighed and shook his head, "Forget it. If you want to go, I'll go with you."

The two of them changed into civilian clothes and left the imperial city in a carriage. They quickly arrived at the back door of the Ye residence.

Jin Wang casually tore open the seal on the door and pushed it hard. The wooden door, which hadn't been opened for a long time, creaked open and raised a cloud of dust.

When the dust settled, Ye Shu could clearly see the scene inside.

The last time they were here, they only went to the narrow alley outside the back door and didn't enter the residence.

Ye Shu didn't know what the current situation in the residence was like.

Until today.

The Ye residence no longer had its former glory. In the courtyard, the fields that used to be planted with flowers and plants had been completely overturned. Even the lotus pond had dried up. Snow that hadn't completely melted was scattered all over the place. It looked rather bleak.

The doors of every room in the residence were wide open. At a glance, it was completely empty. There was nothing inside.

Ye Shu, "…"

Jin Wang coughed lightly and said, "This place has been raided by the Imperial Army three times. There shouldn't be … anything left."

"I … I can see that." Ye Shu's voice was hoarse.

Jin Wang's Imperial Army … was quite good at their job.

In this shabby place, they probably wouldn't be able to find a single copper coin.

Jin Wang said, "The things that were raided are still in the Supreme Court. If you want to take a look, I can take you there."

Ye Shu shook his head, "There's no need."

Those things must have been searched by Jin Wang many times. If there were any clues, Jin Wang would have found them long ago.

Ye Shu said, "Let's just walk around casually."

The Ye residence wasn't very big. In addition, it had been raided and emptied. Ye Shu and Jin Wang quickly went through the entire Ye residence.

… They didn't find anything.

Two hours later, Ye Shu sat by the dried-up lotus pond and looked at the bleak courtyard in the distance.

Actually, finding clues here was secondary. He just felt that if he had some kind of connection with the original owner, he should have found something when he came here again.

Even if it was just a sense of déjà vu.

That was how it was written in novels.

But the truth was, there was nothing.

… He had been deceived.

Ye Shu leaned against the railing of the lotus pond and sighed heavily.

"If you can't remember, take your time. Don't worry."

Jin Wang came up from behind him and hugged him, "I'll order someone to send your things back to Yangxin Palace Hall. Take your time to search. We'll find some clues."

Ye Shu turned his head and happened to see the other's handsome side profile.

The afternoon sun came out for the first time. The sunlight was warm and genial, warming people from their limbs to their hearts.

Ye Shu was a bit absent-minded. He looked away, "Why do you trust me so much? Aren't you afraid that I'm just acting with you to get back the things that you raided?

There are a lot of letters and secrets in there. "

"If you want them, you can just find me. There's no need to go through so much trouble."

Jin Wang said, "I said I would trust you. If you can't be at ease, how can you be at ease staying by my side?"

Ye Shu was speechless.

The clear weather after the snow always calmed people's hearts. A gentle breeze blew through the desolate courtyard, blowing through the weeds and snow. The two's hair tangled in the wind.

Ye Shu looked at Jin Wang's side profile. After a while, he closed his eyes and sighed, "You can't be like this … …"

Jin Wang, "What's wrong?"

"You'll make me … …"

It would make him not want to think about the original owner's matters. It would make him want to do it privately for once.

Ye Shu shook his head and broke free from Jin Wang's embrace, "It's fine. Let's go. There's nothing to see here."

Jin Wang asked, "Aren't you going to search?"

"No need. Let's go back and look at the things we found."

He gathered his clothes and walked forward, "I don't know what the original owner was thinking. For better or worse, he lived here for three years. It was clean and there was no evidence of him colluding with the enemy."

When he said this, his voice suddenly stopped.

That's not right.

This courtyard was built by Jin Wang after the original owner became the Prime Minister and was given to him.

The original owner had only lived here for three years.

And in these three years, the original owner's actions had become strange.

If it was really as Jin Wang guessed, the original owner's consciousness was not under his control for three years. Then the person who lived here was not the original owner.

The place he should be looking for was not here.