The thought filled Ning Xuan with sorrow. Nothing had even happened yet, and the matter remained distant and uncertain, but inexplicable panic gripped his heart. It was as though he glimpsed a remote, hazy future: a noble figure dressed in bright yellow seated high upon an imperial throne, looking down upon everyone below. The man possessed familiar yet unfamiliar features, now considerably more resolute and mature, but even harder to understand or read.
Damn it! Why do I keep entering maiden mode lately?! Ning Xuan abruptly slapped his forehead.
Knock, knock, knock. Three evenly spaced knocks sounded, followed by a clear, pleasant voice outside the door. “Is Ning Xuan here?”
Listen to that voice—so soft and tender. It must belong to a graceful young beauty, Ning Xuan thought delightedly.
“I’m here. Coming.” He forcefully shook his head and cast aside his chaotic thoughts, then hurried to open the door, eager to admire a classical beauty.
An oval face, fair skin, and a figure that was not tall but exceptionally delicate and lively. Except for that flat chest… Ning Xuan became dizzy. Hadn’t he expected a beautiful young woman? Why was this a genuine beautiful young man?! Had this era already reached the point where every person was so alluring that male and female could no longer be distinguished?
The servant, who stood almost level with Ning Xuan, looked him up and down before strolling directly into the room. “I am Yi Xuan. I have served beside His Highness since childhood, so the steward sent me to explain the rules to you.” Seeing Ning Xuan still frozen beside the doorway, unable to recover, he laughed. “Why are you standing there like that? I’m not going to eat you.”
Ning Xuan spent half the night being overwhelmed with information until his thoughts spun. This was forbidden, that was forbidden; this had to be done one way, and that another. The countless clauses and regulations could practically fill an entire book. After struggling to summarize everything, Ning Xuan reached only one conclusion: That man is damnably difficult to serve!
Yi Xuan also shared several minor incidents and stories, though mainly because of the exquisite pastries available. Those seemingly idle and irrelevant tales, however, held considerable meaning for Ning Xuan. They made him determined to remain as far away as possible from the prince’s methods of punishment. Ning Xuan finally learned through hearsay what it meant to kill without drawing blood and to make a person wish for death. Combined with Yi Xuan’s vivid, unstoppable storytelling, the scenes felt almost as though Ning Xuan had personally witnessed them.
After seeing Yi Xuan off, Ning Xuan’s mind remained heavy and confused. Prince Rong’s words—“Drag him out and feed him to the dogs”—repeated endlessly in his head. A perfectly living person had supposedly been tormented to death just like that. Couldn’t they at least have given him a swift end and spared him some suffering? It would even have saved the dogs some effort and made the meal easier to digest!
Seven personal attendants served beside Prince Rong. Their names were Yi Shu, Yi Xuan, Yi Ji, Yi Quan, Yi Heng, Yi Yang, and Yi Guang. When Ning Xuan first heard them, he could not help rolling his eyes. How literary—an entire set of the Seven Lords of the Northern Dipper!
No matter which master one served, someone had to keep night watch every evening, even when the prince summoned a person to attend his bedchamber. One servant took each night, waiting beneath the corridor outside the bedroom in case the master called for anything. This rule was especially strict in Prince Rong’s courtyard.
The imperial princes and court officials attended morning court during the Hour of the Rabbit. Prince Rong rose during the Hour of the Tiger to wash, dress, and enter the palace. As servants attending him, they had to begin waiting another two hours earlier in case some unexpected incident occurred.
Ning Xuan stood behind the door with the other seven “Northern Dipper stars,” two dark circles hanging beneath his eyes. He yawned incessantly and grumbled inwardly, What unexpected incident could possibly happen? Prince Rong is the greatest authority in this residence. As long as he doesn’t torment anyone, who would dare stir up trouble? Exploiting labor like this is utterly inhuman—he’s Zhou the Skinflint without even paying overtime!
Shortly after the Hour of the Ox began, Mo Yan appeared soundlessly within the courtyard and solemnly counted everyone present. When he reached Ning Xuan, he seemed to circle him an extra two times before leaving. Supposedly, this was an old rule and part of the customary morning inspection, but Ning Xuan had no interest in hearing the explanation.
After briefly assigning several duties, Mo Yan departed, supposedly to prepare other matters within the residence. In Ning Xuan’s opinion, however, the man was simply too sleepy and had left early to find a good place for another nap.
“Hey. Hey!” Yi Xuan scolded softly. Ning Xuan swayed unsteadily, his head repeatedly dipping like a chick pecking grain. Yi Xuan became irritated, shifted two steps to the right, aimed carefully, and kicked him directly in the shin.
“Ah!” Ning Xuan cried out from the sudden pain, but Yi Xuan reacted quickly and clamped a hand over his mouth. The miserable scream was forcibly reduced to several nearly inaudible whimpers.
The unguarded strike had landed without mercy upon a place possessing almost no flesh. Tears circled within Ning Xuan’s eyes from the pain. He turned and saw Yi Xuan looking completely unconcerned, as though his actions were entirely justified. Ning Xuan could only lament his misfortune in friendship—he had barely escaped a wolf’s den before entering a tiger’s lair. Yi Xuan might appear pale, clean, and obedient, but he possessed endless wicked ideas. Although they had known each other only briefly, one night of conversation had already made Ning Xuan suffer considerably. Perhaps fate had drawn them together because both names contained the sound Xuan, though written with different characters. Or perhaps it was because both possessed similarly carefree, unrestrained personalities. Heroes naturally appreciated heroes, and after only a few sentences, they had become partners in mischief.
“What are you doing? Trying to frighten me to death?” Ning Xuan finally freed his mouth but did not dare openly lose his temper. He could only turn pitifully and rebuke Yi Xuan in a lowered voice. His left shin burned with pain. Yet the eight attendants waiting outside the door all stood respectfully on both sides with lowered heads. Although no one appeared to pay attention to him, Ning Xuan did not dare crouch openly and rub the injury. “That really hurt!” he complained resentfully.
“So you still know what pain feels like?” Yi Xuan released a perfectly controlled, completely silent yawn—one that nevertheless poured oil directly upon Ning Xuan’s anger. “Look at you, half-conscious and unable to wake up. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you spent last night enjoying some wonderful affair.”
Listen to him! Were those words appropriate for a child from a respectable family? He was only fifteen, the same age as Ning Xuan. How could he say whatever came to mind without blushing, then behave as though it were perfectly natural?
“Bullshit! We only rested for a few hours. How could that possibly be enough sleep?” Ning Xuan bristled.
“Tsk, tsk. Youth truly is wonderful. I merely said a few words, yet your face has already turned so red. What a lovely sight.” Yi Xuan glanced sideways at Ning Xuan’s instantly crimson profile and teased him soundlessly. “Given the opportunity, you’ll certainly please His Highness very much.”
“You!”
“All right, all right.” Yi Xuan interrupted him, waved one hand, and quietly returned to his position. “I merely said it casually. Look how seriously you took it.” He raised his head and studied the gradually brightening sky. “His Highness should awaken soon. Stay alert. Stop pecking like a chick. If you neglect His Highness, you’ll have plenty of suffering ahead of you.”
Ning Xuan jolted. So Yi Xuan had done all that merely to help him wake up. Warmth immediately filled his heart. Yet before his emotion lasted more than a moment, Yi Xuan’s indifferent voice drifted over from beside him.
“Turn that filthy face of yours away. It’s hideous.”
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