"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My body is fine. Although I still need medicine, I am much better than before."
"I told you before, I wanted you to tell me where the person who treated you was. If we could find that person, you wouldn't have to suffer like this."
"It's not that Fu An didn't say, it's that Fu An doesn't know where that person is. He lives without a fixed abode. It was just by chance that he was able to treat me. He has long since traveled to unknown places. My father has also been searching for him, but we haven't found him yet."
Zhao Hao knew why his father was looking for the person who cured him. Of course, he couldn't let the emperor know who cured him.
"But I am the ruler of a nation. If I issue an order, I can surely find that person quickly." If that person isn't found, things will remain uncertain, and he wouldn't allow such uncertainties to exist.
"If Your Majesty truly issues an order, it would be even harder to find that person. He is a free spirit who dislikes being bound. My father even offered him many rewards back then, but he refused them all."
Zhao Hao began to describe to the emperor the person's disdain for fame and fortune, as well as portraying him as a hidden sage who was indifferent to worldly gains.
"However, Your Majesty could also search privately. Your niece also wishes to find him." Of course, a fictional person couldn't be found, but it wouldn't hurt to distract His Majesty. He was being watched too closely, making it impossible for him and Lin Yan to communicate frequently. Furthermore, he had to be careful not to reveal his true gender.
"I will have someone find him for you as soon as possible. But Fu An, you are getting older. Your father is not here, and I am your elder. Tell me, what kind of husband are you looking for?"
Husband? Zhao Hao's pupils constricted. He felt immense humiliation. How could he, a dignified man, marry someone else!
"What's wrong? Still shy? Our royal daughters don't need to be like this. Think it over carefully, and I will surely find someone to your liking."
"Your niece thanks Your Majesty." He forced a smile, trying to appear as happy as possible.
After this conversation, Zhao Hao fell ill again upon returning. Initially, they did not call for the imperial physicians. But by the third day, as his condition did not improve, they finally sent for them.
"Is he truly ill?" the emperor asked doubtfully.
"Yes, Princess Fu An is gravely ill. When I went to see her, she couldn't even get out of bed," the eunuch replied earnestly to the emperor's question.
A smile flickered across the emperor's lips, but he quickly suppressed it. "Tell the Chief Imperial Physician to pay close attention."
"Yes."
Upon learning that Princess Fu An had fallen ill again, Lin Yan rushed to Prince Yingchuan's mansion that evening. He hurried to Zhao Hao's bedchamber and saw him lying pale on the bed. Lin Yan immediately went to take his pulse.
"Yan Ge, I'm fine," Zhao Hao smiled at Lin Yan. "I'm just faking it for His Majesty."
However, seeing how worried Lin Yan was made him very happy. He didn't know why he felt differently about Lin Yan. Although Lin Yan was perhaps the only outsider, besides his parents, who knew his true gender, and his only friend, he still felt Lin Yan was special. He had no other friends. In the past two years, while living in the capital, some young ladies from the city had sought his acquaintance. However, knowing he was male, he used his frailty as an excuse to avoid extensive interaction with them.
"What did he do to upset you again?" After taking his pulse and confirming his words were true, Lin Yan sat down beside him and spoke to him.
"Nothing, nothing." The thought of being told to find a husband made him too embarrassed to tell Yan Ge. However, what His Majesty said was also true; he was approaching the age of coming-of-age, and they needed to find an excuse to put this matter to rest, otherwise, His Majesty might actually arrange for someone to be his husband. If he really had to find a husband, Yan Ge would be a good candidate. He couldn't bear to have a stranger enter his world, not even a woman. But Yan Ge was different; he truly enjoyed being with Yan Ge. And if Yan Ge could truly be his husband, then they could be together openly. Of course, this was just a thought. He and Yan Ge were both men, so how could they marry?
"Well, since it's nothing, don't be so upset. You still need to recuperate properly, as your constitution is too weak."
"Today, His Majesty also asked who cured me, likely wanting to control that person. I casually made up someone to tell him."
"He must be anxious, especially since the person in the palace is dying." How could she allow the person who harmed Zhao Hao to have a good end? Now, she must be incapacitated. She would watch her bodily functions regress, her body grow weaker, and then slowly die in immense pain.
"That makes sense." Zhao Hao understood his urgency. "Let's not talk about him. It's so late, Yan Ge, why don't you stay tonight? We can sleep together." Zhao Hao shifted to the inner side of the bed, making space for Lin Yan.
"I have to go to the yamen tomorrow. It would be inconvenient to leave from your place then," Lin Yan refused subtly.
"You can leave through the back door tomorrow. It's not far from your home. Yan Ge, please stay and spend the night with me. I promise I'm a good sleeper." Zhao Hao tugged at Lin Yan's sleeve.
"I..."
"Yan Ge, Yan Ge, please agree to it!" Zhao Hao's voice was filled with entreaty.
"Alright then." Lin Yan, unable to resist his pleading, said to the attendant, "Bring me another quilt."
Zhao Hao happily moved his quilt further inside, leaving enough space for Lin Yan to sleep. Someone brought hot water for washing. Lin Yan went to the side room to wash up. Zhao Hao's attendants knew Lin Yan disliked being served and waited outside the door.
After Lin Yan lay down on the bed, still carrying the scent of steam, Zhao Hao snuggled beside him. "Yan Ge, you smell so good. Did you use some perfume? This scent is wonderful!"
"I'm using what Xiao Tao and the others brought. I haven't used any perfume. Are you going to sleep or not? If not, I'll go to the guest room," Lin Yan gently threatened.
"I'll sleep. I'll sleep right now." Zhao Hao lay down, sleeping beside Lin Yan. Even though Lin Yan said that, he still found Lin Yan to be very fragrant, a pleasant scent. It had been there before, but it was very faint. Now, after Lin Yan washed, the fragrance became stronger, making him like it even more. He wondered what kind of perfume Yan Ge used and decided he would ask for some tomorrow.