The east wind blew clouds into mist. In the middle of the night, damp moisture and the soft rustle of fine rain seeped through the heavy curtains and embroidered drapes, briefly waking Yu Gong Zhao Ye.
His senses were sharp. Though still sunk in warm drowsiness, he merely opened one eye to see darkness all around and knew it was still early. He had just closed his eyes again, intending to continue sleeping, when the steady, gentle sound of Wei Fu’s breathing beside him suddenly paused.
People who drank disliked the cold. Wei Fu turned over, eyes still shut, and fumbled for the blanket he had kicked loose in his sleep. Pulling it up, he wrapped both himself and Yu Gong Zhao Ye tightly inside it. Then, extending an arm, he gathered Yu Gong Zhao Ye completely into his embrace like a body pillow. Still half asleep yet deeply satisfied, he nuzzled against him contentedly, thought he felt wonderfully warm, and quickly fell back asleep.
Yu Gong Zhao Ye was not cold. Aside from the time he went blind several years ago, he had not shared a bed with anyone again. Yet the broad stretch of skin pressed against another person carried a strange warmth that soothed away all discomfort. He did not even think “forget it”—every rule of etiquette and propriety simply gave way before the rain-soaked drowsiness.
The next morning, the drizzle had become a soft spring rain. Water dripped rhythmically from the eaves outside. The sky remained gloomy, making the bed curtains even dimmer, like a tightly sealed cocoon wrapping the two of them inside this warm and quiet corner.
Whenever he was not carrying out missions, Yu Gong Zhao Ye’s habits were always steady. Even without morning light outside, he woke naturally at the usual hour.
Wei Fu’s chest rose and fell evenly. His breathing brushed softly across Yu Gong Zhao Ye’s hair. One hand rested behind his back while his shoulders curved inward slightly, forming an extremely protective posture, as though he wished to hide Yu Gong Zhao Ye forever inside his arms.
Wei Fu slept honestly and quietly. As long as he did not have nightmares, he never disturbed anyone. Even with Yu Gong Zhao Ye’s keen hearing and senses, sleeping beside him did not lead to sleeplessness from noise—though this habit of hugging people truly was inappropriate. Close friends could sleep foot-to-foot, but embracing neck to neck was somewhat overly intimate.
To avoid the two of them waking up only to stare awkwardly at each other, Yu Gong Zhao Ye carefully moved Wei Fu’s arm aside and slipped free from his embrace, preparing to escape first. But the moment he sat up, that unruly hand reached over again, wrapped around his waist, and dragged him back beneath the blankets. Wei Fu leaned over lazily, pinning half his body down.
“No running. Sleep with me.”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye: “……”
His words were so soft they resembled murmured whispers, low and hoarse, sounding like lazy mumbling from deep in his throat.
“No more sleeping. You should get up.” Yu Gong Zhao Ye pinched his chin and shook it lightly. “Let go. Stop being clingy.”
“No.” Wei Fu kept his eyes half closed and obediently let himself be toyed with, even rubbing his cheek against Yu Gong Zhao Ye’s hand. “Today’s a rest day. No need to rise early. It’s raining outside too—perfect weather for sleeping. Sleep a little longer, Your Highness.”
“If you’re being lazy, don’t drag me into it.” Yu Gong Zhao Ye tugged one strand of his hair. “When the servants come in and see this, do you still want your spotless reputation?”
That successfully made Wei Fu open his eyes. He looked Yu Gong Zhao Ye up and down in surprise and asked with sincere confusion, “Only my reputation?”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye silently stared at him for a moment. Then he looked away and sighed soundlessly.
Wei Fu laughed quietly. Looking at him with a gaze full of intimacy and tenderness, he declared with exaggerated emphasis:
“Neither of us is innocent anymore, Your Highness.”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye did not know what there was to be so pleased about. Just as he did not understand why, despite having ten thousand ways to break free—even throwing this human rice cake over his shoulder straight off the bed if he wished—he still remained trapped among the soft bedding and pillows, breathing in the ever-present scent of gentian.
For him, moments of idleness where he thought of nothing and rested peacefully were exceedingly rare. It resembled those years stranded deep in the mountains, when even the greatest matters in the world had to wait, leaving only the sound of wind and birdsong to pass the long days.
But back then it had been forced helplessness. Now he came and went freely. The only thing capable of keeping him bound in place was his own heart.
Yu Gong Zhao Ye would never indulge himself, yet he had always indulged Wei Fu. And now Wei Fu had pulled up this blanket named “indulgence,” wrapping the two of them inside it without leaving the slightest gap.
“How long do you plan on lazing around?”
At such close distance, even without direct contact, their gazes landed upon one another’s brows and eyes like kisses.
Yu Gong Zhao Ye lowered his eyes deliberately, avoiding direct eye contact, while Wei Fu gazed at him openly and without restraint.
This was a sharpened deadly weapon. Precisely because it was incomparably sharp, it possessed a beauty difficult to describe. When it sheathed its edge and lay quietly within one’s embrace, it inspired a secret delight at monopolizing a rare treasure.
Wei Fu’s fingers twitched faintly with itchiness. He did not know whether it was caused by scattered strands of hair brushing against the back of his hand, or because the lean, flexible waist beneath his palm tempted him into wanting to stroke it.
Before reuniting, he longed merely to meet again. After meeting, he wanted companionship. Once accompanied, he desired permanence. People should not be greedy—but if the object of greed was Yu Gong Zhao Ye, then somehow it felt entirely reasonable. Wasn’t Yu Gong Zhao Ye’s indulgence itself a silent encouragement? If a beast refused to bite someone, wasn’t that practically the same thing as affection?
Using flawless logic, Wei Fu successfully convinced himself. Righteously, he declared:
“Until you promise to come keep me company every day next month.”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye raised a brow, the outer corner of his eye tilting upward. Normally that expression would signal murderous intent, but on a bed it felt more like a harmless slap. “Based on what?”
“Because you didn’t come this month,” Wei Fu said. “Shouldn’t you compensate me?”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye: “Who decided I was supposed to accompany you this month?”
Wei Fu spoke confidently. “Originally it depended on self-awareness. But Your Highness lacks self-awareness, so naturally I have to supervise you myself.”
Utter nonsense.
Yu Gong Zhao Ye could not even be bothered arguing. Because if he continued asking “why should I accompany you,” Wei Fu would inevitably start whining things like “Does Your Highness not like me anymore?” or “After tricking me into your hands, now you cast me aside like worn-out shoes,” then eventually “Beauty fades before favor ends—perhaps I should just jump into the sea,” escalating into crying, making scenes, and threatening suicide until all of Bihan City flooded beneath the rising sea level caused solely by him.
Yet Yu Gong Zhao Ye had absolutely no way of dealing with this peerless crybaby. In the end, he could only poke him sternly despite lacking real confidence. “One day you’ll end up thrown in prison for extortion.”
Wei Fu immediately continued extorting him. “Then when the time comes, Your Highness will definitely break me out of prison, right?”
His Highness gave up discussing whether it “should” happen. After accepting reality, he began trying to salvage dignity from obscure corners. “Today’s the thirtieth. Judging from how stubbornly you’re staying in bed, I’d say we don’t need to start counting from next month. You already owe me one day’s wages starting today.”
Wei Fu mischievously began playing with his hair behind his back. “Fine. I’ll provide room and board. What does Your Highness want for breakfast?”
The moment he raised his hand, Yu Gong Zhao Ye—whose nose had only just adapted to the scent inside the bed curtains—caught another waft of gentian fragrance drifting from somewhere, perhaps his sleeves.
“I’m fine with anything. Do you eat gentian every day or something? Has no one ever told you you’ve practically been marinated in the scent?”
“It’s not that bad.” Lowering his head, Wei Fu leaned close to sniff at his neck. “Your Highness doesn’t really seem to smell like anything special.”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye did not burn incense. He often had to infiltrate places secretly, and carrying any obvious scent on his body would practically turn him into a living target. But those were trivial matters. The real deadly issue was that no normal man could withstand this sort of behavior first thing in the morning. The sudden warmth of Wei Fu’s breath startled him, tingling numbness spreading from his collarbone all the way down his back. He hurriedly pushed against Wei Fu’s chest.
“Stop fooling around! Were you a dog in your previous life? Why are you sniffing people?”
His casual shove happened to catch Wei Fu’s collar, tugging the loosely fastened neckline open and exposing a long scar on his neck.
The scar had already faded considerably, clearly an old wound. Normally no one would notice it unless examining him from such close range. But its location was dangerously placed directly over the artery at the side of his neck.
Yu Gong Zhao Ye immediately withdrew the force of his push and reached up to pull the collar farther aside.
The lazy softness born from warm blankets and comfortable embraces vanished completely. The beast opened its eyes.
“How did this happen?”
Wei Fu glanced down carelessly and replied without concern, “This? Just an old scar I accidentally got before.”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye: “Did you trip onto a dagger?”
Wei Fu laughed at that. Tilting back his head, he openly exposed the most vulnerable point of his body—his once-injured throat—before Yu Gong Zhao Ye’s eyes, even pulling his hand over as though inviting him to touch freely. “It was only a cut. It healed ages ago.”
If it had only been a minor wound, how could it have caused ten years of muteness?
There was nothing wrong with Wei Fu’s voice now. His muteness most likely came from severe childhood trauma and fear. Yu Gong Zhao Ye was not arrogant enough to think Wei Fu had to reveal every hidden truth to him, but considering Wei Fu’s personality—someone who could create waves even without wind—if there were no special circumstances behind this matter, he absolutely would never have passed up such a perfect opportunity to act pitiful and seek comfort.
Yu Gong Zhao Ye did not continue questioning him. Instead, he casually straightened his collar again while silently thinking:
Once Kui Yue returns, let’s see how you keep pretending to be such a composed big-tailed wolf.
“Your Highness!”
Ying Yue hurried over from the front hall holding a letter, rare panic visible on his face. “This morning the attendants found this in the courtyard while cleaning. Someone pinned it to the osmanthus tree with a dart. It bears A’Jue’s seal and token.”
The token of Yeguang matched its name exactly—a pearl the size of a fingertip engraved with the moon phase corresponding to each Moon Envoy’s codename. Yu Gong Zhao Ye took it and glanced at the pink paper. Only a few lines were written:
“The person is in my hands. The life is in yours. At You Hour, meet at Yue Tower, Invitation Moon Pavilion. Peace.”
The signature at the end was a wildly elegant single character:
“Xie.”
“…Caught red-handed.” Yu Gong Zhao Ye frowned slightly, puzzled. “How did this end up alarming him?”
The moment Ying Yue saw the surname “Xie,” he guessed the kidnapper’s identity. Recalling Beizhu Palace and Xie You Lan’s reputation, his heart pounded in alarm as he unconsciously lowered his voice. “Your Highness, this subordinate…”
“I’ll go meet him.” Yu Gong Zhao Ye folded the letter and tucked it into his sleeve, speaking calmly. “You’ll come with me. Don’t worry. Since he’s willing to negotiate, Kui Yue’s life is certainly safe. We’ll simply hear what conditions he wants.”
Ying Yue froze. “Your Highness intends to go personally?” Seeing Yu Gong Zhao Ye raise a brow toward him, he hesitated before continuing. “Xie You Lan has set a Hongmen Banquet. If anything happens to Your Highness, or if he uses you as leverage, then even if A’Jue and I died ten thousand times it wouldn’t redeem us. Please remain seated here in the hall for now. Allow this subordinate to meet him first and test his intentions.”
“And then what? Sit here waiting for news that you both died together?” Yu Gong Zhao Ye waved a hand, cutting off the idea immediately. “The people I sent out, the private work she carried out for me—if something went wrong, then naturally I’m the one who cleans it up. Besides, Xie You Lan is at least the master of an entire sect. If I merely send a subordinate to deal with him, do you think he’d be pleased?”
Hearing this, Ying Yue immediately relaxed and at the same time felt deeply ashamed. Letting out a quiet breath, he said solemnly:
“Many thanks, Your Highness.”
By dusk, taverns throughout the streets had gradually lit their lanterns, while carriages from across the city converged upon the bustling Kaiyang Avenue. Yu Gong Zhao Ye and Ying Yue arrived at Yue Tower on time, riding in an ordinary carriage without insignias or decorations. To show sincerity, they brought no guards, arranging only a few hidden observers nearby in case of danger.
An attendant guided the distinguished guests upstairs, leading them along a long corridor carpeted with Xueluo felt rugs toward the south-facing private rooms.
Upon arriving before the elegant room bearing the plaque “Invitation Moon Pavilion,” the attendant knocked twice and announced loudly:
“The honored guests have arrived!”
With a swish, he slid open the paper door.
At the exact same moment, another swish sounded behind Yu Gong Zhao Ye. Across the corridor, guests from the neighboring room “Plucking Stars Pavilion” stepped outside. The attendant immediately greeted them:
“Honored guests, take care on your way!”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye first saw Xie You Lan holding a teacup and staring toward the corridor in obvious surprise. Only afterward did he slowly turn around and find himself facing Wei Fu, who had just stepped out the doorway with stunned disbelief on his face. Behind him stood Yuan Tian Jing, his round belly protruding, cheeks flushed from heavy drinking.
Their eyes met.
Everyone stared at each other.
Utter silence.
The attendant asked hesitantly, “Do the honored guests know one another?”
Yuan Tian Jing, drunk and bleary-eyed, failed to recognize Yu Gong Zhao Ye. Chuckling, he said, “Chancellor Wei, met an acquaintance?”
Wei Fu ignored him completely and frowned toward Xie You Lan seated calmly inside Invitation Moon Pavilion. “Why are you here?”
Xie You Lan raised his cup toward Yu Gong Zhao Ye in greeting and replied coolly, “Several years since we last met, Your Highness. I trust you’ve been well?”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then turned to Ying Yue. “Escort Chancellor Wei and… this gentleman outside first.”
Completely bewildered after suddenly being dragged into this bizarre chain reaction, Ying Yue looked at Yuan Tian Jing. “Th-then, please?”
Everyone: “……”
Wei Fu looked as though he were about to choke to death. Staring at Yu Gong Zhao Ye, he still tried one final desperate struggle. Yu Gong Zhao Ye defeated him with a single strike:
“Didn’t you promise me this month you’d only drink tea and not alcohol?”
Wei Fu: “……”
Inside the room, Xie You Lan—whose hearing was extremely sharp—let out a mocking laugh. “Pathetic.”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye immediately shut the door with lightning speed, locking Wei Fu outside before he could lunge over and bite someone.
Leaving the most troublesome problem to his subordinate, Yu Gong Zhao Ye listened as the chaotic footsteps outside gradually retreated. Sitting down opposite Xie You Lan, he spoke bluntly:
“Thank you for the invitation. What conditions do you want? Name your price.”
Crash—
Wei Fu yanked the door back open and stuck his head inside.
“What price? Have you really sunk to the level of extortion now?”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye suddenly felt certain today’s matter would not end peacefully. His temples throbbed painfully as he thought that in terms of extortion, who in the world could compare to Wei Fu? Yet Xie You Lan did not even twitch a brow. Calmly counterattacking, he replied:
“Likewise. You’ve become quite skilled yourself—officials colluding with merchants now comes naturally to you.”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye sighed.
Wei Fu narrowed suspicious eyes at the two of them, glancing back and forth like a wary animal. “What brings the Young Palace Master of Beizhu Palace to Bihan City? What do you want with His Highness?”
Xie You Lan glanced sideways at him and said with composed indifference, “You’ve spent these years never leaving your home and remaining ignorant of current affairs. I’m the Palace Master now.”
Wei Fu immediately revealed a perfectly convincing smile of delight. “Congratulations. When and where did your honored father ascend the throne?”
Xie You Lan: “……”
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