Chapter 37 - "Are You Jealous?"

As soon as the physician saw Fei Hong's face, he squinted and frowns.

"Hey... How are you doing?" Fei Hong asked.

The physician scoffs. "What are you doing here?"

"Running an errand." Fei Hong approached him.

"You got a lot of other pharmacies in the capital, why would you come here?" The beautiful guy said without looking at Fei Hong, continues writing a prescription.

"Come on Yuan. Can't I come and visit an old friend?" Fei Hong puts his chin on his knuckles, staring at the ger in front of him.

Jing Yi watched their interaction from side. They look...a little bit too close. Is he just an army physician? Only a friend to Huang Fei Hong? Or they actually...ex-lovers?

These thoughts wandering in Jing Yi's mind. It pained his heart when he saw Fei Hong acting so friendly towards another person besides him. He stands aside without saying anything. He doesn't want to interrupt their conversation. Subconsciously, he grips his robe.

"-Yi? Jing Yi? Are you okay?" Fei Hong's call jerked him out of the trance.

Fei Hong pulls him closer, "Jing Yi, this is the one I told you before. His name is Yuan Jin." Jing Yi bows.

"Yuan Jin, this is Jing Yi. He's the manservant of noble consort Xiu Ying. He came here to buy some herbs. I bring him here cause I know your pharmacy must have the one he needed."

Yuan Jin sizing Jing Yi up. Then he glances at Fei Hong. "The Great General got so much free time huh? Leisurely accompany a manservant running an errand. Or because this one here is your... lover?"

Jing Yi lowers his head, hiding his blush. Fei Hong wants to say yes to stop Yuan Jin from asking more but it seems inappropriate to do so. "What's wrong with me going out with a manservant? I was ordered by Noble Consort Xiu Ying so I'm just following orders. And since when you care about my love life?"

Yuan Jin smirks. "Why are you so worked up? I'm just asking. If he's not your lover, you can just say so."

Fei Hong rolls his eyes. Then, he turns to his left, "Jing Yi, can you give me the list?"

Jing Yi quickly passes the herbs list to Fei Hong. The latter slams the list on the counter, "We need all these herbs."

Yuan Jin scoffs, "Once a ruffian, always a ruffian." Before Fei Hong could retort, he already walked inside the store to find the herbs.

"Sorry, Jing Yi. He's... a little bit weird but don't worry. I can assure you he's a trusted physician."

Jing Yi smiles faintly. He wanted to ask about their relationship but while hesitating, Yuan Jin walks out of the store. He quickly swallows back the words.

"I only have four out of six. For the other two herbs, you need to wait for maybe another two weeks. It can't be found here so it needs to be imported." Yuan Jin puts down the herbs that have been packed on the counter.

"What does it looks like? I'll try to ask other pharmacies in case they got it." Fei Hong picks up the packed herbs and gives them to Jing Yi.

"If I don't have it, the other also won't have it. The merchant that sells those two herbs came here once every two months. Other pharmacies won't buy those herbs as it was too expensive and not many people know about their uses. So, other than me, most probably only imperial pharmacy has it. But since you came here, meaning they also don't have it."

Fei Hong turns to Jing Yi but Jing Yi just shrugs his shoulders helplessly. Fei Hong pays for the other four. He exchanges a few words before walking out of the pharmacy with Jing Yi.

Since they came out of the pharmacy, Jing Yi remains silent. His mind was filled with various thoughts. He keeps on walking but didn't know where he's heading. Fei Hong noticed it. He halts his steps but Jing Yi continues walking in front of him. He didn't even notice that Fei Hong is already far behind him.

He jolts when his wrist was grabbed. He turns his head to the right side.

"Jing Yi... are you okay?" Fei Hong asked worriedly.

He hesitantly nods. But Fei Hong didn't buy it. He moves his hand to Jing Yi's palm, holding it tight. "Let's go to the restaurant over there. The food there is seriously delicious. Let's go!" He dragged Jing Yi who was still in a daze.

Once they entered, the waiter greets them. "Oh! My Lord! It's been awhile. Come in. Come in." He brings them to the empty table.

"How's business nowadays?" Fei Hong asked.

"Good. Good. It's been so long since my lord came here with His Majesty." The waiter whispers the name. Then he glances at Jing Yi with a curious look.

"You always came with either His Majesty or your men. But this lad right here didn't fit both. So, who is he? Your wife?" The waiter's question makes both of them blushed.

"Wh- what are you saying..."

The waiter laughs, "Well My Lord, you're not the type that hangs out with any woman or ger unless... that person is someone special to you, right?"

Before Fei Hong could say anything, the waiter already went to Jing Yi's side. "Young man, you're lucky to have general as your husband. He never plays around and went to a brothel just like other imperial armies. He is quite serious but pretty loyal. So make sure you hold on to him tight cause many women have set their eyes on him." The waiter whispers.

Fei Hong fakes a cough. He said out loud the menu he wants to order and send the waiter away. But then, he can't even look at Jing Yi. Too embarrassed.

"Jing Yi, no need to listen to him. He's just talking nonsense. No girls ever set their eyes on me."

"But it seemed like he's not wrong. When we walked in the market, I noticed that many women are looking at you." Jing Yi said and huffs.

Fei Hong raises his head with a smug face, "Well, of course, they will look at a guy as handsome as me, right?"

Jing Yi is looking down so he didn't see the big smile on Fei Hong's face. He mumbles, "Then, what about Yuan Jin?" As they're sitting side by side, Fei Hong managed to hear it.

"Yuan Jin? What's wrong with him? He's just an old acquaintance. Nothing else."

Looking at the little pout, Fei Hong leans forward and smiles, "Are you jealous?"

Jing Yi's face flushed.

"If you're jealous, then do as the waiter told you. Hold on to me tightly. So, I won't go anywhere."

Jing Yi shut his mouth tightly. His face is reddened.

Fei Hong tilts his head and frowns, "You really... jealous of Yuan Jin?"

Jing Yi looks away. He didn't know what to answer. He just feels uncomfortable when he saw Fei Hong getting chummy with a ger. If it's a guy, he doesn't really mind how he treated the emperor and also his army men. But when it comes to Yuan Jin, it looked like they used to share a special relationship in the past. It pained his heart.

"Jing Yi..." The great general gently calls. He holds Jing Yi's hand. "Listen up. Yuan Jin and I have nothing to do with each other. Well, actually my aunt and uncle used to arrange a marriage for me with him but both of us rejected the idea. I'm not interested in him while he already in love with someone else at that time. So, we're merely acquaintances. Please, believe me."

Slowly, Jing Yi turns to look at him. He glances timidly, "Re- Really?" Fei Hong nods firmly.

"But why you're not interested in him? He's so beautiful and he's a great guy... unlike me."

Fei Hong sighs with Jing Yi's habit, always discredit himself. "But I think you're more beautiful than him. Plus, my heart didn't beat for him. It beats for you." He raises his hand to caress Jing Yi's cheek. Jing Yi lowers his head again. He is always weak against those clear eyes that full of love when looked at him.

After a minute, Fei Hong brace himself to ask, "Is this mean, you feel the same way I feel for you?"

"......"

"Can I take that as an answer?"

"......"

"Does this mean, from now on we're together and I can claim you as mine?" His smiles getting wider with every word he spits out.

"......" Jing Yi slowly nods.

Too bad they're in the restaurant right now. If they're alone, Fei Hong already hugs him tightly and carries him around in his arms. As for now, he can only bring Jing Yi's hand to his lips, planted a light peck on it. He mutters thank you.

They walk out of the restaurant side by side. Jing Yi feels shy but he didn't walk apart and let Fei Hong intertwined their fingers. They get on the carriage and ride back to the palace.

Inside the carriage, Fei Hong makes Jing Yi leans on his shoulder and he never lets go of Jing Yi's hand, caressing with his thumb.

"Are you having fun today?"

Jing Yi nods.

"Do you feel tired?"

Jing Yi slowly nods.

"Next time, can we go out together again?"

He nods again.

"Can I kiss you?"

"........"

When Jing Yi nods to every question, Fei Hong just wants to try his luck. But who knows, Jing Yi didn't enter his trap.

"So, I can't kiss you?"

"........"

"But I want to kiss you. Can't I?"

"........" Jing Yi hesitantly nods and Fei Hong didn't expect that.

He pulls up Jing Yi's chin so now they're eye to eye. Slowly he leans forward and captures the pink lips. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. His hand rested below Jing Yi's ear, his thumb caressing his cheek as their breaths mingled.

Jing Yi rested his hands on Fei Hong's chest. He can even feel the beating of his heart against his palms.

Fei Hong's hand drifted to his hips. It settled there and pulling him closer. Jing Yi gasped and it gives Fei Hong a chance to invade the tiny mouth with his tongue. Jing Yi opens his mouth with a low moan.

Jing Yi could barely hold his voice when Fei Hong deepened the kiss. He grips on the robe tightly. Their breath quickened and sounds of heavy breathing filled the carriage. But luckily the sounds of the horses pulling the carriage cover it, so the coachman can't hear what were they doing inside.

Fei Hong breaks the kiss when the carriage has started to move slowly, indicates that they're reaching the palace gate. They pressed their foreheads against each other. Trying to steady their heavy breath.

Fei Hong plants a light peck on Jing Yi's temple before pulling him into his arms. The latter nuzzles his head on the broad and sturdy chest.

Fei Hong sends Jing Yi off until Zhongcui Palace. They are hand-in-hand, fingers interlocked tightly, feeling reluctant to be apart from each other.

Fei Hong looks around. When he is sure that no one else is around, he leans closer and gives a soft nibble on Jing Yi's swollen lips. "Can I come and meet you again tomorrow?" He said after the short kiss.

Jing Yi nods.

Giving the last goodnight kiss on the temple, "I'm going. Sleep tight. Good night." He leaves Zhongcui Palace with a heavy heart.

.......

The news about the new couple had been told by Fei Hong to the emperor. Xiu Ying and Zhang Wei feel happy for them. However, Zhang Wei has been wondering about a certain matter.

"Fei Hong, I wanna ask. Are you ready for what might happen in the future? You do realize that you're the only heir of the Huang family. So, if you marry Jing Yi, what would your uncle and aunty talk about you?"

Fei Hong huffs. "Why would I care about what would they say? They never care about me before this. For sure if I marry Jing Yi they'll be happier to know that I won't have any child."

Zhang Wei squinted and asks, "Are you sure you don't want any child? Or you think of adopting?"

"I don't mind either way. If Jing Yi wants to adopt, then we will adopt. If not, I don't really mind living with just the two of us."

Xiu Ying looks between the emperor and the great general. His eyebrows knitted deeply, "What are you guys talking about? Why would they adopt a child?" Xiu Ying asked.

"Love, if they want a child, of course, they have to adopt. If not, where would the child come from?" Zhang Wei gently caresses Xiu Ying's cheeks. His confused lover looks so cute in his eyes.

"....from Jing Yi..? He's a ger. So he can give birth, right?"

Zhang Wei and Fei Hong look at each other. Their eyes widen.

"GER?!" Both of them shouted at the same time.

"B- But... Wh- Why he doesn't look like a typical ger. You know...like how My Lady is. Looking feminine. Even though he's beautiful but his body is more like small and skinny." Fei Hong stutters. He can't believe all this time that he's actually worried about the child for nothing.

Xiu Ying sighs. "I mentioned before that I saved Jing Yi right?" Zhang Wei nods.

"He was sold to a brothel by his stepfather to be a male prostitute. But I managed to save him. Since then, he doesn't want to live his life like a ger. He feels traumatized. Unless the ger was born from a noble family, like me, normal ger from a poor family usually will be sold to a rich family as a mistress, concubine or the worst as a male prostitute. That's why he's trying so hard not to make himself look like a ger." Xiu Ying explained.

The two guys were in a daze. They feel like a fool.

"Jing Yi actually has a slender body like any other ger but...he wears a few layers of thick clothes to hide his figure. If he wears a simple robe, he's more or less looks like me."

Fei Hong frowns. 'No wonder when I hugged him during the kiss, his body feel hard, like a trained man. Contradictory to his face, hands and lips that feels so soft and smooth.'

Zhang Wei suddenly laughs. "Well then, I guess everything is settled. Huang's family line can be continued."

Fei Hong smirks, "Before you worry about my family, shouldn't worry about the heir of the throne? Future crown prince?"

Zhang Wei immediately turns to Xiu Ying but the latter looking somewhere else doesn't want to meet those perverted and lusty eyes.