Ning Xuan had originally thought that living under another person’s roof would be difficult to endure. Yet he did not know whether his vitality was naturally tenacious or his ability to adapt was simply too strong, because he actually managed to live quite comfortably in Prince Yi’s Residence. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he lived within his own little world.
At first, he had indeed been rather dispirited. He circled around Feng Xuanzhe with his so-called purpose in mind, but when the other party was deliberately on guard against him, if he still failed to know his place and threw himself forward, then he truly would not deserve to live. Once he thought things through, he found release. What he sought was nothing more than enduring humiliation for a greater purpose. Nothing more than knowing that Feng Xuanyi had him in his heart. That was his only persistence and belief at this moment.
“Have you grown used to living here at Eldest Brother’s place?”
At this hour, morning court should not yet have ended. Ning Xuan would usually be in the plum grove of the prince’s residence, fiddling with the red plum blossoms. Unexpectedly, someone actually spoke to him.
“Eighth Prince? Why are you here?” After a moment of surprise, he suddenly realized his own discourtesy. “This servant greets Eighth Prince.”
Ning Xuan knelt respectfully and bowed, but Feng Xuanzhen stopped him and helped him up. “There’s no one else here. There’s no need for such formality between you and me.”
Ignoring Feng Xuanzhen’s attempt to stop him, Ning Xuan completed the bow. From beginning to end, he remained respectful and proper. Although the prince himself did not mind and did not care for petty formalities, these days had taught Ning Xuan what a prince’s residence was, and what it meant for too many mouths to spread too many words.
“Thank you for Your Highness’s concern. This servant serves the same wherever he is. It is only a change of place and a change of master. There is nothing to grow used to or not grow used to.” With lowered brows and eyes, Ning Xuan spoke neither servilely nor arrogantly, delivering a perfect official answer.
“You know perfectly well that isn’t what I meant.” Feng Xuanzhen frowned. That day, he had not expected Fifth Brother to lose control like that, and he had never imagined that a lowly servant could be so deeply devoted. As for love, although Feng Xuanzhen had always been strict with himself, he still did not believe that such a thing could exist in this world, especially not within the imperial family.
“What Eighth Prince wants to say is not important.” Ning Xuan bowed. “Since Eighth Prince has already returned from morning court, then His Highness should also be returning to the residence soon. This servant must go attend at the front. Please forgive this servant, Eighth Prince. This servant takes his leave.”
Just as Ning Xuan turned away, Feng Xuanzhen suddenly and hurriedly spoke. “You like red plum blossoms?”
“It doesn’t matter whether I like them or not. I just happened to see them, and I just happened to have nothing to do. Since the time and subject both happened to be right, there was no harm in fiddling with them a little.” After speaking, Ning Xuan bowed and left.
“That was all they said?” In the study, Feng Xuanzhe leaned back in a reclining chair, rocking gently. A thick and precious sable fur blanket covered him. The room was warm as spring, and the jade ruyi in his hand was round, translucent, smooth, and white as congealed fat. Such a priceless object was being toyed with casually in his palm, as though in Feng Xuanzhe’s eyes, even something like this was no more than of that.
“Replying to Master, yes. Only, this servant was standing far away, so whether there was any other conversation or any other action, this servant cannot say for certain.”
“I understand. You may leave.” With a casual wave of his hand, the servant kneeling on the floor immediately withdrew swiftly and respectfully, disappearing without a trace.
One hand propped beneath his chin, Feng Xuanzhe looked as though he was about to fall asleep. His other hand idly played with the jade ruyi as the rocking chair swayed back and forth, as though humming a lullaby. Sure enough, after only a few sways, the study door was pushed open. Ning Xuan entered expressionlessly, carrying tea. Without looking sideways, he chose the route along the farthest corner of the room and walked silently to the desk, replacing the tea with a hot cup and taking away the cold one.
“Did I say anyone was allowed in to serve?” The corner of Feng Xuanzhe’s lips lifted, his expression ambiguous.
As though entirely unsurprised by Feng Xuanzhe’s deliberate provocation, or perhaps already accustomed to it, Ning Xuan knelt respectfully and bowed without a trace of panic. “Replying to Your Highness, you also never said no one was allowed in to serve.”
“Sharp-tongued and eloquent. Fifth Brother must have spent no small amount of effort cultivating someone like you.” Feng Xuanzhe lifted aside the sable fur blanket covering him and casually tossed the jade ruyi onto it, then leisurely paced step by step toward Ning Xuan.
“Your Highness flatters me. Ning Xuan has neither talent nor virtue, and his life is lowly and humble. Being able to remain at Your Highness’s side to serve is already this servant’s good fortune.”
“Oh? Is that so? I couldn’t tell you had such lofty aspirations.” Feng Xuanzhe gave a soft, ambiguous snort. Without warning, he reached out and pulled Ning Xuan, who was kneeling on the floor, into his arms. One arm locked firmly around Ning Xuan’s waist, while the other gripped his chin and forced his face up, allowing him no choice but to meet Feng Xuanzhe’s gaze. “Then tell me, among princes, whose master would you rather be serving?”
“A servant is a servant, and a master is a master. Only masters choose servants. Servants have no right to choose their masters. This servant understands this principle deeply and does not dare act presumptuously.” Ning Xuan did not struggle, panic, or show the slightest change in expression. It was as though Feng Xuanzhe’s embrace was no different from the floorboards. He met Feng Xuanzhe’s eyes with respectful propriety, but it only made anger rise in Feng Xuanzhe’s heart.
“Not daring does not mean you don’t have the thought. Or perhaps I can understand it as you waiting for the right opportunity?” Feng Xuanzhe narrowed his eyes, dangerous yet still alluring. The fingertips gripping Ning Xuan’s chin were thinly calloused, rubbing against his face, which was smooth as congealed fat. Feng Xuanzhe lifted a brow and smiled with three parts recklessness and seven parts mockery. “Tsk, then tell me. Between Fifth Brother, Eighth Brother, and me, which one do you truly favor?”
“I am Your Highness’s servant.” He answered without truly answering, yet seemed to brush against the edge of the question all the same.
Unable to obtain the answer he wanted, Feng Xuanzhe abruptly tightened his grip, only stopping when Ning Xuan finally frowned slightly in discomfort. “Now you are a servant of my residence. What you think, what you see, what you hear, and what you do can only be for me. Don’t even think about anything else!”
Ning Xuan said nothing, still frowning.
“Tell me. What exactly did you and Eighth Brother say in the plum grove just now?”
So living under another’s roof truly meant having no freedom. Ning Xuan sneered inwardly, yet his expression remained unchanged. His phoenix eyes lifted slightly. “Since you already sent someone to follow, listen, and watch, do you still need me to repeat it again?”
A fierce glint appeared in Feng Xuanzhe’s eyes. “I hate it when you speak to me in that tone.”
“This servant deserves death. Please forgive me, Your Highness.” Ning Xuan answered indifferently, as though certain Feng Xuanzhe would not truly do anything to him, or perhaps as though he did not care what kind of end he would meet at all.
A kiss suddenly descended without the slightest warning. Before Ning Xuan even had time to be shocked, he instinctively opened his mouth to bite back. But Feng Xuanzhe seemed to have seen through this move long ago and seized the opportunity to clamp down hard on Ning Xuan’s jaw. Powerless to resist, Ning Xuan could not close his teeth in time. With the city gates thrown wide open, he could only allow Feng Xuanzhe to storm through with brutal force, plundering, stirring, licking, and kissing.
Silver threads slid from the corners of their lips. Red tongues chased and tangled. The forceful and domineering kiss was enough to suffocate a person, yet unexpectedly, this deep kiss, which would have made countless people sink helplessly into it, only made Ning Xuan’s dark eyes grow even colder and calmer.
When the kiss ended, the flush staining Ning Xuan’s face from lack of air made him strangely beautiful. Only those eyes were far too calm and cold.
“So this is what you wanted?” Ning Xuan smiled without quite smiling. “If Your Highness has something to say, you may as well say it directly. Although this servant is humble, he at least knows how to understand a situation. Other things may be beyond this servant, but at the very least, I can avoid being caught unprepared and ruining Your Highness’s enjoyment.”
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