Jun Huailang stood at the bow of the boat, watching as the distance between himself and Xue Yan grew smaller and smaller.
The large ship was brightly illuminated, and even from far away, the person standing aboard it could be seen clearly.
He should already be seventeen now. He had grown much taller than when they had parted, and looked exceptionally tall and straight. His features had also fully matured, and he already looked almost exactly like the Xue Yan Jun Huailang had seen in his previous life.
Beneath his sharp brows was a pair of deep amber eyes. His foreign bloodline gave his features especially sharp, defined lines, like a blade that had been honed, making it impossible to conceal the intimidating aggression that radiated from his entire being.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his face showing little expression, but Jun Huailang could sense that he was looking at him as well.
…How had Xue Yan come to Jiangnan?
It had happened so suddenly that even after seeing him, Jun Huailang still could not recover his senses, simply staring at him blankly.
Shen Liufeng, however, noticed that he was spacing out and came over to bump him lightly.
“Why are you making that face?” he asked. “Could it be that you offended His Highness?”
Jun Huailang withdrew his gaze at those words and shook his head.
“That would be going too far,” he said. “It’s just that I had some dealings with His Highness in the capital.”
Shen Liufeng said, “Then that’s a good thing!”
Jun Huailang smiled faintly at that.
“…It’s just a little too sudden.”
When Shen Liufeng heard this, he gave an “Ah” and said, “If he wanted to come, he couldn’t exactly send you a letter beforehand to tell you, could he? It’s normal for him to arrive suddenly.”
Jun Huailang thought to himself that in his previous life, this clearly had never happened.
Since it had never happened in his previous life, he had never imagined that he would meet Xue Yan before returning to the capital, much less that Xue Yan himself would come here.
Only he knew what would happen in Jiangnan in the future. Jiangnan was completely peaceful at present, so how could Xue Yan possibly abandon all the affairs in Chang’an and travel thousands of miles to Jiangnan?
It couldn’t possibly be because of him, could it?
Although he knew that his relationship with Xue Yan was quite close, it surely was not close enough for Xue Yan to travel thousands of miles specifically to visit him.
Without realizing it, Jun Huailang fell into his thoughts again.
Just then, the two boats drew close, and their hulls gently bumped against each other.
The faint sound of the collision startled Jun Huailang awake. Only then did he belatedly withdraw his gaze and look up at Xue Yan aboard the ship.
This time, he had to raise his head with some effort before he could see Xue Yan’s face.
Xue Yan stood at the bow of the ship, looking down at him.
Jun Huailang met his gaze.
It was difficult to see clearly in the night, but that gaze was extraordinarily deep. With just one look, Jun Huailang was left somewhat dazed.
He moved his lips, wanting to say something.
Just then, the sound of wind suddenly rose. The young man standing beside him was like a hidden arrow in the darkness, leaping onto the boat in one swift motion and bringing with him a sharp gust of wind.
He silently concealed himself behind Xue Yan.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards around them also boarded the boat one after another. The one who had rescued Shen Liufeng did not forget to grab him and pull him aboard before leaving. In an instant, only Jun Huailang was left on the deck.
Immediately afterward, he withdrew his gaze and awkwardly realized that he had no easy way to get onto the ship.
The deck of the large ship was much higher than that of the pleasure boat. Once the pleasure boat stopped alongside the large ship, even the lowest part of the large ship came up to Jun Huailang’s chest.
Jun Huailang did not know qinggong, so naturally it was difficult for him to leap up.
…Surely he couldn’t climb up?
Just as Jun Huailang was hesitating, a pair of dark-patterned brocade boots appeared on the deck in front of him.
He looked up and saw that it was Xue Yan.
Xue Yan crouched down, one knee touching the ground, his wide robes trailing across the deck, and extended one hand toward Jun Huailang.
“Come up.” His voice had become much deeper.
Now that they were close, Xue Yan’s features were even clearer. There were two parts unfamiliarity within the familiarity, and the sudden pressure he gave off caused Jun Huailang’s breathing to hitch slightly.
Just then, a faint sound came from behind Jun Huailang.
He turned his head and saw Su Xiaoqian cautiously poking her head out from the boat’s canopy, looking around. It seemed she did not know where she should go.
“Miss Xiaoqian, please come aboard as well,” Jun Huailang said aloud. He was not at ease leaving her alone on the small boat.
Su Xiaoqian answered crisply and walked out from beneath the canopy.
Her goose-yellow dress had been torn in places, leaving it somewhat disheveled and bedraggled. Her hair had also come loose from its arrangement. Combined with her cool, elegant features, she looked rather fragile and breakable, with a kind of pitiful beauty.
Over her dress, she wore a blue summer robe that completely wrapped around her. The summer robe was a size too large, clearly belonging to a man.
Jun Huailang did not notice that behind him, Xue Yan’s gaze immediately darkened several shades.
Suddenly, before he could turn his head back, a powerful and domineering force grabbed him firmly by the arm without giving him any chance to resist.
The next moment, his feet left the ground. When he turned his head, everything spun around him.
That force yanked him onto the ship in one motion. It did not hurt, but he was caught off guard and his footing became unsteady. When he landed on the large ship, he stumbled backward, and immediately afterward, a hand wrapped around his waist, steadying him.
He fell into a hard embrace.
“Duan Shisi.”
A low command, accompanied by warm breath, fell against his brow. The chest so close to him vibrated slightly with the sound, pressed against him and causing the flesh beneath his skin to tingle faintly.
Then the sound of wind rose again.
Duan Shisi flew out from the darkness and landed on the deck of the small boat. With one hand, he grabbed Su Xiaoqian by the arm, showing not the slightest awareness of the need to be gentle with a woman. He carried her aboard as though she were a piece of cargo.
Where Jun Huailang could not see, Xue Yan coldly withdrew the gaze he had been fixing on her.
——
Jun Huailang felt that Xue Yan might not be very happy.
Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that this man had never been one for many words to begin with. After this past year in court, he had become even quieter.
The two of them, together with Su Xiaoqian, sat in the front hall of the large ship. Shen Liufeng had been taken away to change his clothes. Xue Yan simply sat there without starting a conversation. Jinbao brought tea over and served each of them a cup before returning to stand behind Xue Yan.
His gaze secretly fell upon Jun Huailang, and he could not help sighing inwardly at how increasingly handsome the Young Prince had become.
He had already been a famous refined young gentleman in Chang’an. Now that he had grown taller and his features had matured, he was even more like a graceful jade tree. Not only was his appearance outstanding, almost unlike that of an ordinary mortal, but the cool and gentle aura around him had also become even more refined, like a piece of blue-green jade polished until it was perfectly translucent.
A few days ago, Jinbao had been learning to recognize characters and had just learned a phrase called clear breeze and bright moon.
He thought to himself: Wasn’t that phrase describing this living Bodhisattva exactly?
It was just that he did not know what kind of temper His Master was throwing this time, sitting here for so long without paying the other person any attention. Usually in Chang’an, it was one thing for him to wear that stinking face at everyone. After all, he had always been such a domineering person. But in front of the Bodhisattva, why was he still acting so difficult?
Jinbao did not understand, and he did not dare to interrupt.
It was the Bodhisattva who spoke first.
Jun Huailang put down the teacup in his hand and said with a faint smile, “It has been a year since we last met, and the Prince has not changed much. I simply did not know you were coming, so I was unable to give you a proper welcome.”
Xue Yan looked at him but did not respond to that remark.
“What are you doing here today?”
Jun Huailang paused, then answered with a smile, “Ah, it was the Young Master of the Shen family just now. He invited me to come eat boat cuisine with him. As for this young lady, Young Master Shen happened to know her. When he heard her calling for help from a nearby boat, he got into an argument with the people on that boat.”
Xue Yan’s gaze shifted almost imperceptibly.
“…He knows her?”
Jun Huailang did not notice the subtle change in his emotions. He simply nodded and did not forget to smile gently at Su Xiaoqian beside him.
“You may not know this, but that gentleman has listened to your storytelling performances for several years. In private, he is always full of praise for you.”
Although his bearing was cool and reserved, when he smiled, there was a warmth in his brows and eyes.
Xue Yan’s hand slowly curled around the armrest, his index finger tapping against it, one slow tap after another.
Jinbao knew that this meant his master had once again been irritated by something.
Su Xiaoqian stood up and bowed to the two of them with lowered eyes.
“Thank you, Young Masters, for saving me just now. This little woman is deeply grateful.”
Jun Huailang’s attention turned toward her. As though remembering something, he asked, “I heard Young Master Shen mention earlier that you still have a grandmother at home?”
Su Xiaoqian said, “Yes. There are only my grandmother and me in our household.”
Jun Huailang pondered for a moment before saying, “That person today seems to have considerable power and influence, although we do not yet know whose family he belongs to. Since he was able to abduct you today, I am afraid he will not simply let the matter go.”
Su Xiaoqian remained silent.
Naturally, she knew this as well, but there was nothing she could do. She had neither power nor influence. There were no men in her family, and she and her grandmother depended on each other to survive. Today, that man’s servants had stormed into her home and abducted her. If they could do it once today, they could just as easily do it a second time tomorrow.
After pondering for a moment, Jun Huailang said, “If you do not mind, Miss, you may bring your grandmother to my residence and find some work there. There is no need to sign a contract of servitude. Consider it simply a place to avoid trouble for a while…”
Just then, his words were interrupted.
“Duan Shisi,” Xue Yan suddenly commanded from his seat.
Immediately, Duan Shisi emerged from his concealed position and flew forward, kneeling on one knee before Xue Yan and quietly awaiting his orders.
“The people aboard that ship that caused trouble just now—find out who they are,” Xue Yan said.
With a clear clang, Duan Shisi held his saber in one hand and saluted with his fist.
He accepted the order and withdrew.
Jun Huailang looked toward Xue Yan, only to find that Xue Yan was also looking at him with lowered eyes. Beneath the flickering lamplight, Jun Huailang felt that those amber eyes seemed to contain some surging displeasure.
“I came south in a hurry this time and did not bring any maidservants with me,” he said lightly as he looked at Jun Huailang.
…What did that mean?
Jun Huailang did not understand at first. He was stunned for a moment before belatedly realizing that Xue Yan meant to leave Su Xiaoqian with him?
That naturally could not be better. With Xue Yan as her backing, who would dare act recklessly again?
It was just that he did not know why Xue Yan, who had never been the type to meddle in other people’s affairs, had suddenly…taken an interest in this matter.
He could not help looking at Su Xiaoqian.
Women from Jiangnan really were delicate and lovely, as clear and graceful as water. Could it be that Xue Yan had…developed that kind of interest?
Jun Huailang’s gaze unconsciously drifted back and forth between the two of them, discreetly.
But even so, Xue Yan noticed his gaze.
Jinbao saw that the index finger Xue Yan had been tapping against the armrest was now moving even more frequently.
Under normal circumstances, this was a sign that someone was about to suffer.
Jinbao’s gaze could not help falling onto Jun Huailang.
Jun Huailang withdrew his gaze and looked toward Su Xiaoqian.
“Miss, would you be willing to stay by this Prince’s side and work as a maidservant?”
Su Xiaoqian knelt down and said, “To have somewhere to take shelter, this little woman is already immensely grateful.”
As she spoke, she was about to kowtow.
Jun Huailang hurriedly stopped her, then turned back to ask Xue Yan, “I simply do not know where the Prince is staying now that he has come to Jinling. She also has an elderly person at home, so I imagine that might make things somewhat inconvenient.”
Xue Yan’s gaze fell onto the hand with which Jun Huailang was holding the woman’s arm.
“I do not have a place to stay yet,” he said slowly, one word at a time. “I wonder, does the Governor’s residence still have any vacant rooms?”
Beside them, Jinbao’s jaw nearly dropped.
What do you mean you have no place to stay? You just had this servant purchase a garden residence in Jinling City. Could it have been stolen by thieves?