Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 38: Blooming Pansy — I

"Ack— This lowly servant begs for Your Highness’ forgiveness!" An old voice squeaked, uncharacteristic to the old age of the speaker, embarrassment coloured the elderly blacksmith’s face as he nearly jumped out of his skin, scrambling on his feet to turn around, wishing that he was blind.

He did not know that the Crown Prince and Specter of the Blood Moon had such a good relationship without even getting married yet!

The sudden call snapped the Crown Prince and his soon-to-be wedded out whatever moment they’d been sharing, making them jolt and pull apart from the near-hug, near-kiss position at a neck breaking speed.

"Ah," Liu Mingyun turned towards the speaker, lips covered by his fist as he faked a cough, a deep blush decorating his ears. Beside him, Li Xinyuan looked anywhere, face flushed red and ears burning, but at the Head blacksmith of the Imperial Armoury.

Discreetly, he took a step to the side, creating some semblance of distance between himself and the Crown Prince as he dropped his hands on the sides, fist clenched tightly under the wide sleeves.

Fuck. Internally, he couldn’t help but groan, cursing himself for getting carried away. He was the adult between them, for goodness sake!

Fuck. It felt quite nice and warm with his face cupped in Liu Mingyun’s hands though... Why was Liu Mingyun so warm? Was it because his Qi was akin to the spring’s son?

Weren’t protagonists supposed to be cold, edgy, high and mighty? Even the original novel’s Liu Mingyun was of the aforementioned category.

So why was the Liu Mingyun he had come to know, come to be friends with, and was to be wedded to an entirely different man? Why did he seem to be a completely character archetype? If that was the correct term to begin with.

Li Xinyuan felt utterly confused, mind muddled from embarrassment of being caught in the act which wasn’t even an act. The blush covering his face, the heat running amok in his veins didn’t abate for a long time.

Had Li Xinyuan somehow managed to change Liu Mingyun’s character setting? Why was he breaking his character setting?!

Li Xinyuan wanted nothing more than to clutch his head in his hands and squat down, and maybe even scream.

If only he wasn’t not alone.

"Ah, you arrived just in time, Master Zuo." Said the Crown Prince, the furious blush of his ears abating as he glanced at Li Xinyuan but looked away just as quickly.

Li Xinyuan kept his eyes trained on the hem of his sleeve as he fussed with it. When he heard Liu Mingyun words, very unhelpfully, his mind supplied, uncalled for.

’I beg to differ.’ But as soon as the thought fell, Li Xinyuan’s mind said yet again, adopting a different tone that sounded suspiciously like Hu Lijing’s.

’Then beg.’

Silently letting out a snort, the surgeon looked up from his sleeve and answered mentally. ’No, fuck you.’

The voice fell silent. Was Li Xinyuan schizophrenic? No, not really. At least he’d never been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

But who knew if it was still the case?

With a slight shrug of his shoulder, Li Xinyuan looked up, face impassive as he met Liu Mingyun’s gaze before the Crown Prince turned to look at Master Zuo.

"Master," the protagonist began, voice even and deep as he spoke. "This Prince cannot help but feel curious about something."

The elderly blacksmith stood up and canted his head to the side as he asked, tentatively. "What is it, Your Highness?"

Liu Mingyun glanced at Li Xinyuan from the corner of his eyes, crimson gaze flickering downwards to spare a look at his — now healed — hand.

"When This Prince touched the weapons in this armoury, why was he not injured by their rejection?"

Master Zuo blinked, caught by surprise at the sudden and strange question. He carefully raised his head to look at Liu Mingyun and then his eyes flitted towards the Specter of Blood Moon.

Ah. He came to a realisation.

"Your Highness," he spoke in a cautious manner. "The truth is... Even if Your Highness touches every single weapon in this armoury, not a single one will hurt you."

"And why... Is that?"

"Partially because of Your Imperial high level of cultivation—" was this a backhanded way of calling Li Xinyuan weak? "—and partially because Your Highness is a member of the royal family."

When he heard that, a look of realisation dawned upon the Crown Prince’s face, he briefly turned his head towards Li Xinyuan, looking apologetic as he replied to Master Zuo.

"So that is the case." He drawled and turned his attention back to Li Xinyuan as he leaned closer and whispered to him. "This Prince apologises, Xin’er, This Prince did not know about this."

Li Xinyuan simply shook his head, giving him a silent look as he smiled slightly and walked away to look around the armoury in an attempt to get away from him if only to deal with the turmoil in his heart.

In front of the Crown Prince — whose complete attention was fixed on the surgeon — stood master Zuo, not knowing what to do with his hands and feet.

After a long while of contemplation, the old man cleared his throat, bowed his head and dared to ask, garnering the attention of both the youths.

"Why did the Crown Prince call for this lowly servant?" He bowed deeply as he spoke. "Is there something this lowly servant can help Your Imperial Highness with?"

Liu Mingyun calmly tore his eyes away from Li Xinyuan’s back as he turned his head to give the blacksmith a cursory look before nodding. "Indeed, This Prince summoned Master Zuo with the intention of either finding or forging a weapon suitable for Specter of Blood Moon."

Hearing his name, the surgeon who’d been checking out the spears turned his head to look over his shoulder and offered the blacksmith a smile before turning back without a word.

Master Zuo blinked and opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something. After repeating the action several times, he closed his mouth, not knowing what to say.

His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince wanted to find a suitable weapon not for himself but his betrothed? The same youth who was hailed as one of the best doctors of Jianghu? Who’s bloody title was famous throughout??

Why??

Then again, Master Zuo didn’t really have any business knowing all that. So he just swallowed the questions and nodded respectfully.

Liu Mingyun looked down at him, feelings concealed as he twisted his body and turned to look at Li Xinyuan’s back, seeing the younger male hunched over a bunch of spears, a flash of something mirthful, something fond flashed in his crimson gaze as he opened his mouth, hand moving to beckon the surgeon towards himself.

"Specter of Blood Moon, please come back here." Li Xinyuan flinched slightly as he straightened up and spun on his heels.

With a soft, "Yes, Your Highness" falling off his lips, he strode over to the silver haired man.

"It’s time This Prince makes good on his promise to you, Doctor Li."

...

"Ah, this is fate isn’t it?" Liu Mingyun murmured to Li Xinyuan, his tone meaningful as he looked at the surgeon with mirthful fondness pooled in his eyes.

Li Xinyuan coughed, feeling flustered and awkward at the same time as he held the halberd in his hands. Looking at the axe-spear hybrid, he had conflicted feelings.

He liked this halberd. In fact it felt perfect in his hands, as Liu Mingyun had said, it seemed to resonate with his soul. The fact that it didn’t hurt him as the sword had was a bonus.

Li Xinyuan had been trying out almost every weapon in the armoury as Liu Mingyun watched from the sidelines, smiling crookedly.

The surgeon found no suitable weapon even after looking for hours, that is until Master Zuo handed him a beautifully crafted halberd that was taller than Li Xinyuan himself. Neither of them had much expectations as Li Xinyuan reached to take it.

But the moment his fingers touched the weapon, something in his very soul sung in complete harmony with the halberd. It was a feeling pleasant enough to make Li Xinyuan flinch in surprise.

That was also what led to his current predicament.

The halberd was beautiful, more crystal in appearance than its being, silver as the reflected light of distant moon, sleek and deadly. It was perfect for Li Xinyuan. It was breathtaking.

" This lowly one cannot take this, Your Highness." Li Xinyuan shook his head, despite his words, his grip on the halberd only tightened. "This is something made from the efforts of Your Highness and Master Zuo combined, how can I?"

Master Zuo pursed his lips, he didn’t mind Li Xinyuan possessing this particular halberd that had no master worthy of it up till this moment. He was even happy.

"Specter of Blood Moon has been deemed worthy by it, there is no way you cannot have it." He replied, shaking his head at the hesitation.

Liu Mingyun walked to him, looking at the beautiful halberd in the surgeon’s hands, he smiled, canting his head slightly as he spoke.

"This Prince had slain Duoji a few years ago. He had been immensely disheartened when the weapon made from its core and teeth found no master." Li Xinyuan stiffened. "But now that it has found a master, This Prince would be delighted if you accept this." He reached out and put his hand on Li Xinyuan’s, squeezing it gently.

How could Li Xinyuan even hope you refuse when the Crown Prince was requesting(?) like.

He let out a sigh. "This lowly one is grateful of Your Highness’ generosity."