CHAPTER 463: CHAPTER 463 : XIE JIANYU’S DARK PAST (8)

As soon as his heat ended, before the first rays of morning sun even seeped into the palace grounds, Xie Jianyu extricated himself from sleeping Zhang Fengxi’s embrace and returned to Fuxi Palace.

Almost immediately after his return, he contracted a fever. One that refused to ebb away no matter how many cold baths and bowls of fever concoctions he downed day after day.

Until eventually, his absence at the palace started drawing attention. Naturally, Xie Jianshen was the first one to arrive at Fuxi Palace to inquire about his younger brother’s condition.

"Little Yu?"

With a gentle pull, Xie Jianshen opened the bed curtain, prompting Xie Jianyu to crack open his eyelids.

"Big Brother... Cough... Cough..."

Xie Jianshen helped Xie Jianyu into a sitting position and patted the latter’s back until his cough subsided.

"What happened? Did you catch some cold after Winter Solstice?"

"... Yes."

Xie Jianyu clenched into the quilt with both hands. He did not feel good lying about the incident several nights ago, but he also could not speak of it.

Let it be the one secret that he carried to his grave. No one must find out about his one night of indiscretion.

Xie Jianshen pressed his cool palm against Xie Jianyu’s forehead.

"It has been a while. Why are you still burning up? Did you not take any medicine?"

"I did," Xie Jianyu said. "Maybe I just need to rest a few more days."

Xie Jianshen narrowed his eyes at him, his gaze somewhat apprehensive.

"Did you hear about what happened in the Golden Dragon Palace during the Winter Solstice celebration?"

Xie Jianyu flinched, the question a rusty nail twisting in his heart. Beneath the Crown Prince’s carefully constructed neutral expression, a storm of nerves and crippling anxiety raged.

"No, Big Brother, what happened?"

Xie Jianshen retrieved a small tub of balm from his sleeve, opening it with a practiced flick of his wrist.

A fragrant scent, like the earth after a summer rain, wafted upwards, calming Xie Jianyu’s wracked nerves.

With gentle hands, Xie Jianshen applied the balm around his brother’s wrist, massaging it in with a soothing rhythm.

"They said that an omega in heat ran loose in the palace. The guards searched every corner of the palace for the unknown omega, but they were unable to find it."

"Ah."

Xie Jianshen continued massaging Xie Jianyu’s wrist, until a small, red bruise bloomed on it, only to fade away inexplicably. His gaze, sharp and intense, remained fixed on his younger brother’s wrist before slowly traveling upwards to meet his eyes.

"Little Yu, you have lost your virginity. Who did you lose it to?"

Xie Jianyu’s lips trembled violently.

A cold dread settled in his stomach. He had not expected his elder brother to find him out so quickly.

"Don’t be afraid, I am on your side," Xie Jianshen said, his tone devoid of prejudice. "Now tell me who the alpha was. It was an alpha, wasn’t it?"

Xie Jianyu slowly nodded.

"It was... Supreme General Zhang Fengxi."

Xie Jianshen’s gaze hardened when he heard the name.

"He is betrothed to Liu Yichen’s son," he said, as if Xie Jianyu didn’t know about it. "The wedding is supposed to take place early next year."

"... Yes."

Taking a deep breath, Xie Jianshen squared his shoulders and folded his arms.

"Well, it’s not like we need to force him to marry you. It is not what you want, is it?"

"No, of course not," Xie Jianyu replied.

Even if Zhang Fengxi was unclaimed, Xie Jianyu knew very well that he could not marry Zhang Fengxi. For as long as he lived, he had to wear the mask of an alpha Crown Prince.

Xie Jianshen, his expression etched with understanding, offered a slow, knowing nod.

"That’s good," he said. "I don’t want you to start getting ideas into your head."

"No, Big Brother, of course not."

Xie Jianshen gently took Xie Jianyu into his arms.

"It was an unfortunate accident, but you must forget about it and move ahead with your life. I will take care of Zhang Fengxi."

Xie Jianyu widened his eyes in alarm.

"Wait, Big Brother, what are you going to do to him?"

"I will of course make sure that he never breathes a word of it to anyone," Xie Jianshen arched a quizzical brow at his younger brother.

"There is no need for that," Xie Jianyu said. "He didn’t know who I was."

"... How can he not know?"

"It was dark. I did not use Winter Frost when we fought. When we did it... not once did he call my name," Xie Jianyu argued.

"..."

"Big Brother, if you want, you can find out whether he knew about me or not. Zhang Fengxi is not a crooked person. He is righteous by nature, so he will not lie about not recognizing the person he slept with."

Xie Jianshen closed his eyes and rubbed the worry away from his brows.

Sighing, he said, "Sure. Let me find out. If he is truly the honorable alpha he was, I am sure that he will confess to cheating on Liu Wenyuan. Digging out a name won’t be difficult then."

The siblings’ prediction did not stray too far from the truth.

Burdened by a guilty conscience, Zhang Fengxi marched to Wuyang Palace first thing in the morning to confess his betrayal. He begged both his betrothed and his future father-in-law for forgiveness, citing that his love for Liu Wenyuan remained as strong as ever. He vowed, with a desperation that mirrored his guilt, that such a mistake would never taint his life again.

Upon hearing that Zhang Fengxi cheated on him, blood drained from Liu Wenyuan’s face and he fainted on the spot. Panicked, Liu Yichen sent for a physician in an instant.

After the physician examined Liu Wenyuan thoroughly, he emerged from the prince’s bed chamber with a blooming smile across his face.

"This servant offers his most heartfelt congratulations to both Wuyang Palace Master and Supreme General Zhang! Prince Liu Wenyuan is currently seven weeks along with his pregnancy."