TL: Hua
Yu Shaoyun said in surprise, “Your humble servant thought Your Highness wouldn’t admit it.”
The Crown Prince turned and entered the Hall of Longevity. The scroll on the altar was spotless, and the young, beautiful woman with slightly raised phoenix eyes looked at him with a smiling face. He lowered his eyes, lit incense, bowed three times, and went to a small room next to it.
On the small table lay brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone. The Crown Prince sat down and said, “Whether I acknowledge it or not, it holds no meaning. He and I don’t have a predestined connection.”
Yu Shaoyun stepped forward to grind the ink, saying, “If Your Highness had merely nodded that day, wouldn’t a connection have come? Even if you had no such intentions, you could still keep Pei-wenshu by your side as a confidante, which would also fulfill Her Majesty’s wishes.”
The Crown Prince wrote on the paper, “If he is a young man whose heart is stirred and seeks temporary pleasure, I naturally need not play along with him. If he is a deeply devoted person, why should I tie him to my side? It would be better to cut off his hopes early and let him find someone who is truly sincere.”
Yu Shaoyun said, “Your Highness, are you thinking about matters of romance too seriously? Love, for the most part, has no rules. Even if one loves someone to death today, it’s entirely possible to resent them tomorrow. Pei-wenshu likes you today, and you are not indifferent, so why not be together today? If feelings fade tomorrow, then simply part ways.”
The Crown Prince’s brows furrowed slightly. “Come and go as you please, just for temporary pleasure? Do you think this is like going to a brothel?”
“…” Yu Shaoyun stared at the Crown Prince and couldn’t help but let out a hiss, “Your Highness, hypothetically, if one day you were to take a consort, what kind of Crown Princess would you want?”
The Crown Prince dipped his brush in ink and said, “Probably dignified and graceful, intelligent and sensible.”
This was indeed one of the standards for a crown princess. Yu Shaoyun thought for a moment and then said, “If the Crown Princess meets this requirement, she will likely be polite, well-behaved, and aware of her place, not daring to be too close to you.”
The Crown Prince said, “That would be ideal.”
“Then what if one day the Crown Princess no longer wishes to be the Crown Princess?” Yu Shaoyun asked.
“Someone else will naturally take her place.” the Crown Prince raised his eyes to Yu Shaoyun. “What exactly do you want to ask?”
“It’s very strange!” Yu Shaoyun leaned forward slightly, looking at his crown prince. “The Crown Princess, the mistress of the East Palace, the future Empress of the Central Palace—any slight change would affect the court and the harem. You can say ‘replace her’ just like that, so why do you insist that Pei-wenshu, once he comes, must not leave?” The Crown Prince paused, “When have I ever made such a demand?”
“Didn’t your words just now mean exactly that? ‘Not for temporary pleasure,’ doesn’t that imply a lifelong commitment?!” Yu Shaoyun scratched his ears and cheeks. “Your Highness, there’s nothing wrong with thinking that way. If you had agreed that day, wouldn’t it be up to you whether Pei-wenshu stays or leaves in the future?”
The Crown Prince did not refute. He only asked, “If he is determined to leave, how would you force him to stay? Break his legs?”
Yu Shaoyun slapped the table and said, “Lock him up, make him lose his memory, and keep him by your side forever!”
The Crown Prince gave an inexpressible look at this subordinate who had learned such wicked knowledge from who-knew-where. His thin lips parted, “Roll.”
“Alright.” Yu Shaoyun rolled out, then rolled back, sitting at the doorway and whimpering, “You finally had a peach blossom, and you just let it blow away! Your humble servant is absolutely heartbroken!”
The Crown Prince said coldly, “Gouge out your heart and liver; that’ll be the end of it.”
Yu Shaoyun hugged his weak self and said, “Let me tell you, ever since Pei-wenshu entered the Longhe Division, many families have taken a liking to him. What if a marriage is arranged someday? Don’t regret it then.”
The Crown Prince said, “If he can meet a sincere person, it’s a good thing. There’s nothing to regret.”
Yu Shaoyun: “Alas!”
The Crown Prince was about to tell him to get lost when a hidden guard appeared outside the small room and said, “Your Highness, regarding Little King and Pei-wenshu, I wonder if I should report to you.”
The Crown Prince didn’t even lift his head. “Speak.”
“Pei-wenshu, Little King, and Young Marquis Mei got into a fight. Pei-wenshu ordered Little King to eat Young Marquis Mei, and Little King obeyed and charged out. Pei-wenshu also charged out and wrestled with Young Marquis Mei, but accidentally got knocked down a small hill by Little King and fell.” The hidden guard calmly and quickly reported the battle situation on the back mountain.
“Snap.” The Crown Prince put down his brush, got up, and walked out.
Pei Xiting had been in a bad mood these past few days, feeling heavy in both body and mind. After running around with the little beast, he felt somewhat relieved, but then some scoundrel just had to show up.
Pei Xiting was playing hide-and-seek with Little King, and from a distance, he heard someone spew arrogant remarks, saying that once Prince Ning got tired of Qing Lingling, he would properly mess with that little b*tch. The words were inevitably vulgar.
Pei Xiting stood behind a tree, watching that flower butterfly[mfn]A metaphor for someone dressing flamboyantly or colorfully[/mfn], and said, “Hey.”
Mei Xiu turned his head, starkly meeting a pair of clear, cold eyes. His eyes lit up, he licked his lips, and smiled, thinking himself graceful: “Beautiful one, what can I do for you?”
Pei Xiting also smiled, a wicked, cold, and alluring smile. Mei Xiu’s head buzzed. Before he could speak, Pei Xiting said, “F*ck you.”
Mei Xiu and his attendant were stunned, then burst into loud laughter. But they hadn’t laughed for long before they were startled by Little King, who had darted out from the woods. But thinking again, it’s just a small beast; what’s there to fear?
The two rolled up their sleeves, intending to skin and disembowel the little beast. Little King stomped its foot and charged out to bite.
Pei Xiting stood behind, arms crossed, ordering Little King to eat them, and said lazily, “Come here, drop your pants and lie down, and I’ll spare you.”
Mei Xiu was chased and scurried about, cursing, “Shameless bastard, do you know who I am!”
“I know, you’re a good-for-nothing who can’t sell his own ass and spends all day coveting other people’s asses,” Pei Xiting’s tone was sarcastic, but his face smiled brightly as he watched the two scurrying away in disarray. “When you two are almost dead, I’ll string up both your asses and put them at the city gate for everyone to rate the price. How about that?”
Mei Xiu finally understood, “Who the hell are you to that little bitch Qing Lingling! Damn it, pleasing the prince alone isn’t enough; he dares to have a thing with others. One person is ridden by thousands—”
Pei Xiting stopped smiling and walked up to give Mie Xiu a kick. Mei Xiu was good at riding horses, so he was naturally not a weak dandy. He staggered two steps, then charged up and kicked Pei Xiting, tripping him. Pei Xiting grabbed his collar, and the two of them fell down together, tearing and beating each other with their hands and feet.
Little King, seeing the situation, lunged backward and charged fiercely at Mei Xiu, who was on top of Pei Xiting. Mei Xiu, quick-eyed and quick-handed, rolled over to dodge but was still knocked a zhang[mfn]about 3 meters[/mfn] away by Little King. He covered his face and let out a painful cry, but when he saw that Pei Xiting, who didn’t manage to dodge, was accidentally knocked down, rolling down the small hill, he couldn’t help but burst out laughing and say, “Have a good time! You deserve it… Ouch!”
Little King glared angrily. Mei Xiu shivered and quickly shouted at his attendant to seize the opportunity to escape.
Little King ran down the hill, nudged Pei Xiting, who was lying motionless on the ground, with its head, and whined pitifully twice. Pei Xiting stroked its fur and said with a smile, “It’s alright; it’s not your fault.”
Most of the pent-up frustration and irritability from these past few days had finally been released. Pei Xiting and Little King put their heads together, and he said, “My little darling, why are you so mighty?”
When the Crown Prince arrived, Pei Xiting was lying on Little King’s head, muttering to himself, one person and one tiger intimately close.
“Where did you fall?”
A familiar voice sounded above him. Pei Xiting suddenly looked up and said in surprise, “Your… why are you here?”
The Crown Prince looked at him and repeated, “Where did you fall?”
Despite still having that cool and indifferent demeanor, Pei Xiting inexplicably felt a chilling aura. He was somewhat intimidated and said, “My ankle seems to be sprained. I’ll just go down the mountain later and apply a plaster.”
Yu Shaoyun, hearing this, was about to lean down to examine Pei Xiting, but the Crown Prince had already half-knelt, reaching out to gently press Pei Xiting’s right ankle, asking, “Here?”
Even through his shoes and socks, Pei Xiting shivered. The Crown Prince thought he was resisting, so he withdrew his hand.
Pei Xiting said, “It’s here, but it shouldn’t be a big problem; it doesn’t hurt much.”
The Crown Prince said coolly, “Then what are you doing here?”
Pei Xiting: “…Sunbathing.”
The Crown Prince glanced at Little King. The big cat dared not meet his gaze, whimpered, then cautiously got up from beside Pei Xiting and hid behind Yu Shaoyun.
Yu Shaoyun hadn’t expected Pei Xiting to win Little King’s heart so quickly. Shielding the timid big cat with his body, he looked at Pei Xiting’s foot and said, “It wouldn’t be good if a bone was injured. Your Highness, why don’t we take Pei-wenshu back first and have a doctor from the front mountain examine him?”
The Crown Prince said, “Doesn’t he know how to treat illnesses himself? Where would a doctor be needed?”
The Crown Prince sometimes enjoyed being sarcastic. Pei Xiting cleared his throat and said pitifully, “I’m being stubborn, but it actually hurts a lot. I feel like I’m going to be lame, Your Highness; please find a doctor to save me quickly!”
With that flattery, the Crown Prince glanced at him indifferently, got up, and walked away. Yu Shaoyun, seeing this, reached out and helped him up. Pei Xiting whispered his thanks, supporting himself on Commander Yu’s arm, and limped to the front.
In the Hall of Longevity, Pei Xiting glanced at the name of the Buddhist hall and was helped into the small room by Yu Shaoyun. A bamboo mat was spread on the wooden couch. He plopped down, and Yu Shaoyun released his hand and stood to the side.
Little King peeked in from the doorway, not daring to enter, which made Pei Xiting’s heart swell. He couldn’t help but wink at it.
“Do your eyes hurt too?”
The Crown Prince cast an indifferent glance. Pei Xiting cleared his throat, lowered his head very obediently, and said, “Replying to Your Highness, no, it doesn’t hurt.”
Little King quickly shrank its head away.
The doctor soon arrived to examine Pei Xiting’s ankle, saying it was fortunate no bones were injured, but it would require daily topical application of medicine, oral medication, and a period of rest.
As the doctor applied the medicine, Pei Xiting gasped. The Crown Prince stopped writing, looked up, and saw the slender, beautiful ankle was red and swollen.
The doctor left the ointment and a prescription, then quietly withdrew.
Pei Xiting sat like a mermaid, glanced at his bandaged right ankle, carefully extended his leg, and leaned down to put on his shoe.
His boot wouldn’t go on; it hurt with just a touch. Pei Xiting asked Commander Yu for help, and with one cut, the boot lost its shaft and became a single shoe.
Pei Xiting slipped his foot in and looked up to see the Crown Prince writing something, page after page.
No one spoke in the room. Pei Xiting, who had been directing Little King to fight with people, now restrained his temper and felt a bit guilty, not daring to speak first. The Crown Prince hadn’t punished him, and he felt so guilty that he became sleepy, until someone outside said that Young Marquis Mei had been brought back by Marquis Mei and was kneeling outside.
The Crown Prince didn’t even lift his head. “Let him kneel.”
Pei Xiting’s yawn was cut short. He thought to himself, “Is this going to be a case of punishing both equally?”
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