“I wanted to borrow some military manuals from Imperial Brother’s residence. I was planning to come and go quickly so I wouldn’t keep him waiting, but I was moving too fast. When I reached the lakeside, this person just happened to be there. He froze for a moment, and I didn’t have time to stop, so I knocked him straight into the lake.” As he spoke, Feng Xuanzhen pointed toward the person shivering uncontrollably on the couch.
Having finally regained his senses in the warm room, Ning Xuan was stunned to hear such an explanation.
So after all that, I was the wooden post blocking your way?! Damn it! Do you know I almost ended up having tea with the King of Hell just because you “didn’t have time to stop”?!
“You—achoo!”
Ning Xuan glared back furiously through his shivering. Wrapped tightly in blankets, he was unable to express his anger physically, and even his glare and words lost much of their force thanks to his trembling and the ill-timed sneeze.
Feng Xuanyi remained silent. With a stern expression, he calmly studied both Feng Xuanzhen and Ning Xuan, his gaze moving back and forth between them without revealing a single emotion.
Seeing that Feng Xuanyi said nothing and wore an unreadable expression, Feng Xuanzhen hurriedly added, “Fifth Brother, don’t take offense, and don’t blame him. I was partly at fault too. Let’s just forget about it. Weren’t we supposed to have a banquet? I’ve been craving the fermented rice dumplings from your residence for ages.”
Feng Xuanzhen deliberately changed the subject, intending to help Ning Xuan avoid being blamed by Feng Xuanyi. Instead, his words only made Ning Xuan even angrier.
I’m the one who got knocked into the water for no reason. I’m the one who nearly drowned. I’m the one who was frozen half to death all the way back here. So how did this somehow become entirely my fault? I’m not some signpost standing around all day waiting for you to crash into me! Clearly it’s because your skills are lacking and you can’t control yourself properly. Don’t throw your weight around just because you’re a prince! Damn it, I’ve seen more things than you can imagine. A few hundred years from now, I might be the one admiring your mummified corpse in a museum!
His lips were frozen pale blue, but his mind remained as sharp as ever. Just as he was about to force his stiff lips into delivering a sarcastic retort, Qing Zhu and Mo Qi came rushing into the main hall, panting heavily after sprinting all the way back. Seeing Ning Xuan wrapped up like a rice dumpling on the couch and the two princes standing nearby staring at each other, they immediately dropped to their knees in greeting.
“Go check on him. Take him inside and get those wet clothes changed. Bring in two hand warmers to help him warm up.”
Looking at Ning Xuan, who resembled an angry fighting rooster ready to explode at any moment, Feng Xuanyi suppressed a smile and hurriedly sent him away before he could erupt.
Receiving their orders, Mo Qi and Qing Zhu quickly helped the stiff, frozen Ning Xuan into the inner chamber.
The sight left the Eighth Prince, Feng Xuanzhen, thoroughly confused.
Has Fifth Brother suddenly changed his temperament? Since when did he become so attentive and considerate toward a mere servant?
Although Feng Xuanyi’s expression had remained stern, to Feng Xuanzhen—who had grown up alongside him—it looked unmistakably like heartfelt amusement, with even a trace of unprecedented tenderness mixed in.
“Fifth Brother?”
Feng Xuanzhen called uncertainly.
Only then did Feng Xuanyi realize he had inadvertently revealed too much. Without showing any sign of it, he responded with a simple hum and gestured for Feng Xuanzhen to sit. He then instructed Yi Quan, who was waiting outside, to bring tea.
“I know you don’t like tea with strong flavors. This jasmine tea was specially prepared for you some time ago. Try it. If you like it, I’ll have some packed for you to take back.”
Holding the teacup, Feng Xuanzhen used the lid to idly stir the flower petals floating on the surface. He glanced at Feng Xuanyi, then casually swept his gaze toward the tightly closed doors of the inner chamber. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“Sounds good. Anything Fifth Brother gives me would be a waste not to accept. But it seems you’ve been quite busy while I was away. It hasn’t been long, yet that new favorite of yours has already become an old one. And now you’ve added another beauty?”
Though phrased as a question, it sounded very much like a statement.
Feng Xuanyi paid it no mind. Resting his chin on one hand and lightly swirling his teacup with the other, he gazed out the window with distant eyes, as though looking at nothing at all. His voice was low, almost too soft to hear, yet tinged with amusement.
“Which one are you talking about?”
Feng Xuanzhen shrugged indifferently.
After all, Fifth Brother’s romantic exploits were famous throughout Hua Dynasty. One more companion or one less made little difference. It was like eating three meals a day—an extra meal wouldn’t kill you, and missing one wouldn’t starve you. No one bothered discussing Feng Xuanyi’s favored companions anymore because everyone had grown accustomed to the endless stream of men and women appearing and disappearing around him. Besides, he was royalty. Having multiple wives and concubines was entirely ordinary.
“You were rather reckless in court today,” Feng Xuanyi remarked. “Father wanted you to stay for lunch, yet you insisted on coming here for fermented rice dumplings. If Eldest Brother and Second Brother hear about it, who knows what conclusions they’ll draw.”
Though he spoke those words, he appeared completely unconcerned. He lifted his teacup, blew lightly across the surface, and took a small sip.
“Everyone already knows I’m close to you. If I suddenly started avoiding you, that would only make people more suspicious. I’d rather come here openly and enjoy myself in peace.” Feng Xuanzhen sounded equally unconcerned and even a little smug. “See? Father told me to come and eat properly. He even instructed you to have people prepare a good meal for me and let me eat my fill.”
Feng Xuanyi raised an eyebrow.
“This campaign has made your name. Three months of northwestern winds apparently weren’t enough to make you any wiser. Your little clever tricks remain unchanged. Fortunately, you returned with accomplishments. Otherwise, where would you have hidden your face?”
“Oh, come on.” Feng Xuanzhen chuckled. “If Father was willing to send me into battle, he must have known victory was assured. Otherwise, wouldn’t the person working so hard to protect me lose face as well?”
“Tsk, tsk. It seems people really should be judged anew after only a few days apart. Three months of frontier winds and frost have sharpened your mind considerably.” Feng Xuanyi smiled teasingly. “I thought you were about to start boasting about your grand ambitions and heroic achievements. I even had my speech prepared to knock you down a peg. Then you go and say something like that, leaving me completely unprepared.”
“Fifth Brother, stop making fun of me.”
Although Feng Xuanzhen was now a celebrated young general whose reputation spread far and wide, he had only recently come of age. Beneath the mature façade he tried to project, he was still very much a young man. A little teasing was enough to expose his true nature.
“Did Marquis Dingbei give you any trouble during this campaign?” Feng Xuanyi asked quietly.
“Of course not. After all, I was personally appointed by Father, and he specifically instructed Marquis Dingbei to guide me. Besides, I was only the deputy general. He was the commander-in-chief responsible for the entire campaign.” Feng Xuanzhen’s expression grew serious. “But honestly, Fifth Brother, Marquis Dingbei is truly remarkable. Military strategy, battlefield tactics, psychological warfare, cavalry command—he excels at everything. There were several times I thought his methods were practically miraculous. It’s a pity he can’t be brought over to our side.”
“Whether he can be brought over depends on which way the winds of power ultimately blow.” Feng Xuanyi set down his teacup and spoke calmly. “He can support the Crown Prince, and he can support us. Besides, he remains neutral for now. In fact, as long as he doesn’t openly help the Crown Prince gather influence and power, he’s already showing us considerable restraint.”
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