The kiss was pleasant, Yan Yihuan secretly liked it. But this time, his lips were pressed so hard they started to ache. He couldn’t help but place his hands against the chest bearing down on him, trying to put some space between them.
But the large palm at his waist pressed down, pinning his hands firmly between them, rendering him completely unable to move.
Yan Zheng was the first to return, his attendant riding in behind him with a wild boar slung over the horse, clearly they’d had a successful hunt. As soon as he arrived, he looked around, wanting to find his younger brother to have lunch together, but didn’t see him anywhere. He assumed Yan Yihuan was off wandering nearby and didn’t think much of it.
Not long after, Li Xuanjing also returned. The two of them headed off together to rest, chatting casually along the way.
“Looks like he’s still on your side,” Yan Zheng said with a laugh, shaking his head. “Didn’t even hope his own brother would be the one to bring back a tiger.”
Li Xuanjing offered a few humble words, but inwardly he was proud and smug. He was even more certain that he held a special place in Yan Yihuan’s heart, so much so that even his own brother couldn’t compare.
The dining hall was also located in one of the palace buildings behind the raised platform. As noble sons of the royal family, they dined together in the same hall. After a quick wash and change of clothes, the two came back out and continued looking around.
Most people had returned by now, yet there was still no sign of Yan Yihuan.
Yan Zheng found it odd. He knew his brother’s temperament best. If he’d decided to go hunting on a whim, it would only have been a passing interest. He wouldn’t get so absorbed in something so tiring.
Though they hadn’t discussed it, the two of them began searching the nearby resting chambers at the same time. When their efforts turned up nothing, they looked at each other across the raised platform and shook their heads, then both turned their eyes toward the central palace hall, the one that belonged to the emperor.
Although Li Xuanjing knew Yan Yihuan had been taken away by Han Zhen, he had asked Shen Zhaoquan earlier and was told that His Majesty was resting in the hall. Seeing all the palace attendants waiting outside, he assumed the emperor was sleeping and that Yan Yihuan must still be elsewhere.
But after searching everywhere and still finding nothing, things were starting to feel strange.
Could Yan Yihuan really be inside, alone with the emperor?
A strange and uneasy feeling welled up in him, but Li Xuanjing didn’t dare approach. He could only stand there, lost in his own wild guesses.
“Xuanjing, what are you standing here spacing out for?”
The sound of a voice made Li Xuanjing tense up instantly. He drew in a quiet breath before turning around, his expression calm as he smiled and said,
“Oh, it’s the crown prince of Wei.”
“We’re blood brothers, why so formal?” Li Xuanyu said with a smile as he reached out to pat Li Xuanjing on the shoulder. “Just call me Brother.”
Faced with the very person who had once kidnapped Yan Yihuan and nearly had him killed, Li Xuanjing couldn’t even be bothered to keep up appearances. He took half a step back to dodge Li Xuanyu’s hand.
“If His Highness has nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave.”
Li Xuanyu wasn’t the least bit angry when he saw Li Xuanjing turn away with a dark expression. Instead, he spoke in a pleasant tone,
“Are you looking for Third Young Master Yan?”
Li Xuanjing’s steps slowed. Although he suspected Li Xuanyu was up to no good, he still couldn’t help but turn back,
“You saw him?”
“I did,” Li Xuanyu raised his chin toward the main hall. “I came back early and happened to see His Majesty pulling the Third Young Master inside, but not a single attendant followed them in.”
Li Xuanjing’s heart skipped a beat. A strange unease stirred in him, but he still said in a deep voice, “He’s the Grand Historian, it’s only natural for him to follow His Majesty.”
“But the Third Young Master didn’t seem too willing,” Li Xuanyu continued with a smile, his gaze fixed intently on Li Xuanjing, “And they’ve been in there for quite a while.”
“So what?” Li Xuanjing’s face showed no emotion, “He follows His Majesty every day. There’s nothing unusual about that.”
Li Xuanyu merely nodded with a smile and said he was hungry, then turned to go have his meal, leaving Li Xuanjing standing alone, caught between suspicion and disbelief.
Of course, he understood the implication in Li Xuanyu’s words. But he also knew Li Xuanyu might just be stirring up trouble on purpose. After all, no matter how he thought about it, he still couldn’t believe there could be anything between the emperor and Yihuan.
The commotion outside the hall could naturally be heard loud and clear inside. Yan Yihuan, knowing everyone had returned, panted softly,
“Your Majesty, there are a lot of people outside.”
“Then forget it.” The man buried against his neck suddenly lifted his head and straightened the clothes of the person sitting on his lap. His tone was remarkably calm, paying no attention to the startled look in his eyes or the lips still parted in shock.
Again!
The sudden withdrawal of those fingers left Yan Yihuan with an overwhelming sense of emptiness. Tears spilled from his eyes before he could stop them, looking extremely pitiful.
He was furious with himself for shedding tears just because of unfulfilled desire. Although part of it was an uncontrollable reflex, and part of it the pent-up frustration from the emperor’s deliberate teasing over the past few days, he was still deeply upset.
But as the voices outside the hall grew louder, Yan Yihuan gradually calmed down and forced himself to suppress the burning desire in his chest. Without a word, he slid off Li Xuanming’s lap. His legs were a little weak, but he gritted his teeth and moved away from him, then turned his back to him to straighten his clothes.
Even though all he could see was that figure’s back, Li Xuanming could tell that Yan Yihuan was truly angry, and was only holding back because of Li Xuanming’s status.
Seeing him like this, Li Xuanming actually found himself missing the old Yan Yihuan, the one who used to bare his fangs and claws yet still couldn’t do a thing against him.
“Do you want it?”
Yan Yihuan felt the warmth of the body pressing up behind him and the breath brushing against his ear. His heart gave a sudden tremble, nearly letting the truth slip.
He couldn’t let himself be led by the nose any longer.
Yan Yihuan kept his head down as he adjusted his clothes, not turning around, not saying a word, only the tips of his ears were secretly flushed red.
“Let’s eat first. After that, how about we go hunt some small game together?”
The voice still lingered close to his ear, each word carried in along with a warm breath. Yan Yihuan recalled the moment the sharp arrow had left the bowstring, so swift and exhilarating. A spark lit up in his eyes as he turned back and asked,
“What kind of game?”
“Something better than rabbits.”
That made Yan Yihuan brighten with joy. He was never good at holding grudges. Once something more interesting came along, he would forget whatever had upset him before. Seeing Li Xuanming helping straighten his clothes, he even raised his arm and lifted his chin slightly.
Even when teasing him, the emperor would always tidy his clothes with his own hands. At first, he had been nervous about it, but by now he had gotten used to it, even feeling a bit smug about it.
After all, who else got to have the emperor dress them personally every day?
Especially when that emperor happened to be the most stunning man, unparalleled throughout the land.
Yan Yihuan was well-versed in the art of basking in favor. Seeing the mood ease, he seized the chance to suggest going next door for a meal. The hands fastening his belt paused slightly, and a voice asked, seemingly offhand,
“Who are you looking for?”
“My brother.”
“Which brother?”
Yan Yihuan, however, was a bit puzzled. He looked up at Li Xuanming and said, “There’s only one ah? Didn’t my second brother not come?”
Yan Yihuan watched as the tight line of Li Xuanming’s mouth gradually eased. The emperor said plainly,
“Go ahead.”
Having received permission, Yan Yihuan quickly made his way to the door, but hesitated just before stepping out. Under Li Xuanming’s surprised gaze, he ran back. A flush slowly spread across his cheeks as he seemed to struggle with something hard to say. But finally, he lifted his head,
“Your Majesty, I’ll come right back after I finish eating.”
Those glistening, peach blossom eyes shimmered with a kind of anticipation only he could understand. That anticipation was like a needle, slender yet unmistakably sharp, piercing straight through without resistance, striking right at the heart.
Li Xuanming looked at him, an unconscious smile tugging at the corner of his lips,
“Alright. I’ll be waiting.”
Author’s Note:
Li Xuanming: So who’s the one who couldn’t hold back after all?[mfn]t/n: Li Xuanming is referring to himself here. Even though he was the one teasing Yan Yihuan, in the end, he’s the one trying to hold back.[/mfn]
