“What are you doing? Don’t you even watch where you’re going?!” Yi Xuan, cheerfully chewing on a blade of grass, collided head-on with a hurried servant, landing flat on the ground and plopping down right at Ning Xuan’s feet. Ning Xuan, however, showed no intention of helping him up—instead, he threw him a big eye-roll.
“So heartless! Ungrateful brat!” Thinking about how his earlier teasing must have annoyed Ning Xuan, Yi Xuan still found no reason to forgive being ignored like this.
Rubbing his sore backside, which felt like it had split into four pieces, Yi Xuan kept grumbling indignantly.
As for the one who had bumped into him—clearly Yi Xuan’s own fault for not watching the road—the other party didn’t get angry at all, as if already used to such situations.
“Forget it. Instead of standing here complaining, you’d better hurry up and get back to serving up front.”
Only then did Yi Xuan look up and realize—it was none other than Yi Quan, who was supposed to be attending the master. But it was almost lunchtime—what was he doing here?
“The Prince suddenly ordered Young Master Liu Yin to dine with him. It’s already mealtime, yet he suddenly made this arrangement and even requested several of Liu Yin’s favorite dishes. The key point is—it’s at Tingfeng Pavilion. Yi Guang has gone to the kitchen to relay orders and prepare the dishes. Yi Shu, Yi Ji, Yi Heng, and Yi Yang are busy arranging Tingfeng Pavilion. I have to go inform Young Master Liu Yin. But with all that, there’s no one left attending the Prince—what are we supposed to do?” Yi Quan spoke anxiously. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you two, but couldn’t even find a shadow…”
Before Yi Quan could finish speaking, Yi Xuan had already dashed off like a gust of wind, heading straight for the study. If there were no guests in the residence, and the Prince wasn’t visiting any courtyard or summoning a consort, then even when resting with eyes closed, he would usually be in the study.
Ning Xuan, not quite understanding what was going on, could only follow closely behind, helplessly acting out a race against life and death.
By the time Ning Xuan and Yi Xuan arrived, only Feng Xuanyi remained in the study. Yet he seemed completely unconcerned that not a single attendant was by his side. He continued flipping through books and sipping tea as if nothing were wrong. Still, Yi Xuan immediately lowered his gaze, becoming extremely cautious, not even daring to breathe loudly. Though he had run all the way back and was panting heavily, he forced himself to hold it in, his face flushing and even his lips turning slightly purple. Ning Xuan didn’t fully understand the reason, but he knew that as a servant, they had been negligent—so he could only imitate Yi Xuan.
The two of them held their breath and carefully steadied themselves for a long while. Feng Xuanyi, however, never once lifted his gaze. Not only did he offer no reprimand, he didn’t even glance at them. Suddenly, he stood and walked out. Ning Xuan and Yi Xuan could only lower their heads and follow behind respectfully.
In less than the time it takes for half a stick of incense to burn, Tingfeng Pavilion had already been completely transformed. What had once been just a simple pavilion for resting now looked like an elegant scenic retreat straight out of a painting. The jade-carved stone stools glowed with a soft luster, their gold-inlaid hollow patterns depicting soaring dragons in exquisite detail. The matching white jade table was plain and refined, without a single decorative flourish. Even its broad surface was flawless—smooth, polished, and gleaming with a gentle sheen. Materials that ordinary households could never even dream of seeing were used here casually as tables and chairs in Prince Rong’s residence.
Young Master Liu Yin and his attendants had already arrived and were seated quietly on one side, waiting. There was none of the gaudy, overly adorned beauty—only a pale yellow robe layered with a translucent white outer garment. Though his status allowed for lavish jewels and gold ornaments, he wore only a simple embroidered belt at his waist and carried an understated sachet. His long hair, reaching his waist, was left loose and unbound, gathered only lightly at the center with a red ribbon. The look was effortless and elegant, with an added touch of purity and grace, gentle and approachable, making one instinctively want to draw closer.
As for his face, it was unforgettable. Taken apart, each feature might only be considered delicate rather than striking—but together, they formed a harmonious whole. While not breathtakingly beautiful, he possessed a unique charm all his own.
Feng Xuanyi walked forward in silence. Liu Yin spotted him from afar and quickly rose to greet him with a bow.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
He bowed respectfully, and though his posture was humble, it did not make him seem lowly or cheap. A few strands of dark hair slid across the side of his fair face with the motion, the contrast of pale skin and jet black hair creating a striking, delicate beauty that stirred pity and admiration.
Feng Xuanyi did not respond. He merely extended a hand toward Liu Yin, the familiar half-smiling, half-not-smiling expression lingering at the corners of his lips.
Liu Yin lifted his head and returned a gentle smile. He reached out and clasped Feng Xuanyi’s hand, and with a slight pull, Feng Xuanyi drew him fully into his embrace.
Watching the two of them sit down together in such intimate harmony, leaning against one another like lovers deeply in sync, Ning Xuan felt as though something heavy had lodged itself in his chest—pressing down, suffocating, making it hard to breathe.
Liu Yin smiled softly, gazing back at Feng Xuanyi with eyes full of affection and infatuation. His fair cheeks were tinted with a faint blush from their close proximity and their openly intimate behavior in front of others.
Yi Guang led the kitchen servants as dishes were served in a seamless, flowing manner. Every dish was exquisitely prepared, each one something Ning Xuan couldn’t even name. For some reason, his thoughts drifted back to the time in the library pavilion, that early morning when the sun had not yet fully risen. Back then, he hadn’t known Feng Xuanyi was the Prince. Seeing the delicate pastries he brought, Ning Xuan had complained pettily on the surface, yet deep down he had been happy. In that unfamiliar place where he had no family and no one to rely on, at least there had been someone willing to care about him—even if that person had left a rather shocking first impression.
But now, it all seemed nothing more than a passing whim on the other man’s part. Just a few leftover pastries had been enough to move him back then. Why should he waste his thoughts on it? And more importantly—why did he even want Feng Xuanyi to spare him any thought at all?
Lowering his head, Ning Xuan fixed his gaze on his nose, then his mouth, then his heart, maintaining a state of complete detachment from the world—unaware that those around him had already grown cautious because of his distraction.
“Ning Xuan! …Ning Xuan!” Yi Xuan called in a low voice, but still couldn’t pull Ning Xuan’s wandering mind back. Finally losing patience, he kicked him without restraint, sending the distracted Ning Xuan stumbling forward.
Unable to steady himself immediately, Ning Xuan staggered two steps before stopping. With a twisted expression, he turned his head and glared resentfully at Yi Xuan. Just as he was about to escalate his gritted-teeth frustration into actual retaliation, a voice sounded above him, carrying a faintly amused tone.
“Look at the attendants by my side—each and every one of them seems to have quite the temper. Either they slack off right in front of me, or they disappear so completely that not even a shadow can be found.”
Only then did Ning Xuan realize that while he had been lost in his own thoughts, he had also blocked out Feng Xuanyi’s words entirely. Completely confused, he instinctively turned to Yi Xuan for help. But instead of guidance, he saw that Yi Xuan’s expression was even worse than his own—pale as a sheet. Ning Xuan couldn’t make sense of it. Clearly, the one in trouble should be himself—so why did Yi Xuan look even more nervous than he was?
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