Jinbao trotted along behind them, holding an oil-paper umbrella in his hand, not daring to say a single word.
Today, he had followed his master to inspect the waterworks on the outskirts of Jinling. It had started raining around noon. Fortunately, there were umbrellas in the carriage they had taken, and the Duke of Yongning was a rather serious and stubborn person when it came to his work. Thus, they braved the rain and only just finished inspecting the fields before heading back toward the city.
As soon as they entered the city, traveling two li east would bring them to Linjiang Academy. There were not many people on the road at this time. Through the carriage window, they could just see a scholar running home through the rain.
The rain had soaked his long robe completely through.
“Stop for a moment.” Xue Yan, who was sitting by the window, suddenly spoke.
Today, they had taken an official carriage. The procession was making quite a grand appearance, and when Xue Yan’s carriage stopped, all the carriages carrying the officials behind him stopped as well.
“Master?” Jinbao hurriedly came forward, waiting for his instructions.
“Go tell Prefect Shen that I have something to attend to. Have them return to the government office first,” Xue Yan said.
Jinbao hurriedly got out of the carriage in the rain and went to find Prefect Shen.
Thus, the carriage at the very front of the procession slowly left the main road and turned toward Linjiang Academy.
“What is Master going to the academy for?” Jinbao asked, puzzled.
Xue Yan rested one hand against the side of his head and closed his eyes, pretending to nap, as though he had not heard the question.
Jinbao sullenly shut his mouth.
He naturally did not know that yesterday, while his master had been drunk and completely muddled, even half-conscious and half-asleep, he had still clearly remembered Jun Huailang saying that he would be coming to Linjiang Academy to study these days—and that he would be studying together with that Shen Liufeng.
Someone who normally did not like sour things could remember them for quite a while after tasting them just once.
Linjiang Academy was built right beside the river. Although it occupied a large area, because of the terrain, the road at the entrance was not very wide. The official roads of Jinling City were wide enough for four carriages to travel side by side, but at the entrance of Linjiang Academy, only two carriages could pass side by side.
It was raining heavily today, and with carriages coming and going and so many people around, water had accumulated on the road. The carriages entering the academy were temporarily jammed at the intersection and had difficulty moving forward.
The carriage stopped at the intersection and could only awkwardly maneuver around the pedestrians, inching its way inside.
Xue Yan frowned.
He had come today without knowing whether Jun Huailang had already left or whether he had brought an umbrella. But the moment he thought that Jun Huailang might have to walk home in the rain, he could not help coming here.
Now, seeing scholars all over the road looking like drowned rats, he became somewhat irritated.
They had been unable to get inside for so long. What if Jun Huailang had already braved the rain and left?
“Stop the carriage.” Thinking of this, Xue Yan raised his voice.
The carriage stopped by the side of the road.
Before Jinbao could react, he saw Xue Yan snatch the umbrella from his hand and bend down to get out of the carriage. Jinbao hurriedly fumbled around, pulled the spare umbrella out from beneath the seat, and jumped out after him.
He saw his master holding the umbrella and stepping across the rain-soaked bluestone pavement, walking straight toward the academy.
Jinbao followed behind, completely bewildered. It was not until he saw that familiar figure dressed in blue beneath the academy’s eaves that he suddenly understood why his master had come.
Jinbao secretly chuckled behind them.
Jun Huailang beneath the eaves was also somewhat surprised.
Following the direction Fuyi was pointing, he saw Xue Yan walking toward them with an umbrella.
The rain was falling heavily, blurring the surrounding scenery and the people coming and going. All he could see was Xue Yan walking toward him beneath his umbrella.
Countless threads of rain poured down from the sky. The scholars sheltering from the rain around them were talking animatedly, and amid all the noise, a warm rush of emotion suddenly welled up in Jun Huailang’s chest.
…It was only a rainstorm. Why had he come?
Xue Yan drew closer.
Clearly, he was around the same age as the people around him, and many of the scholars and students studying here were even much older than him. Yet there was an inexplicable air of steadiness and authority about him. The moment he approached, the surroundings fell silent for a while.
Jun Huailang saw that his boots and the hem of his robes were soaked through.
For a moment, he could not say anything.
He saw Xue Yan stop in front of him.
Jinbao hurriedly ran forward and held his own umbrella over Shen Liufeng’s head in the rain. Then he watched as his master stopped in front of His Highness the Heir.
His Highness the Heir stood on the steps, while he stood below them. The two were just at eye level. Beside them were the academy’s green bamboo plants, rustling softly in the rain.
“You didn’t bring an umbrella?” his master asked.
Jun Huailang was stunned for a moment before saying, “The sky was clear this morning, so I forgot.”
Then he saw Xue Yan turn his gaze to Fuyi beside him and say, “Let this be the last time.”
His aura was cold and imposing, making Fuyi momentarily forget that this was not her own master. She nodded repeatedly and murmured her acknowledgment.
“Let’s go.” As Xue Yan spoke, he tilted the umbrella in his hand over Jun Huailang’s head.
Jun Huailang took a step forward, only to be brought to Xue Yan’s side.
The wind happened to be blowing from the east. With Xue Yan standing beside him, he blocked the wind completely.
And carried along by the wind, the heavy, cold scent emanating from Xue Yan drifted right to the tip of his nose.
Faint, yet deep and melancholy—it was the lingering fragrance of sandalwood.
Jun Huailang looked up and could not help glancing at him.
Cold and hard, quiet and composed, with an authority and ferocity that could not be dispelled from his features.
This scent should normally belong in a Buddhist hall, offered before the Buddha. Yet when Jun Huailang smelled it coming from Xue Yan, it somehow did not seem out of place at all.
Like an angry Vajra in a shrine, or the Victorious Fighting Buddha after receiving enlightenment.
Just then, Xue Yan raised his hand, placed it on his shoulder, and drew him closer to his side.
The melancholy sandalwood scent enveloped him.
“Be careful. Don’t step outside the umbrella,” Xue Yan said.
Only then did Jun Huailang realize that he had been distracted just now.
Rarely feeling so uncomfortable, he cleared his throat and asked, “Why did you come here today?”
Xue Yan looked at the road ahead without moving his eyes and said calmly, “I happened to be passing by.”
This… Jun Huailang had traveled the road back from the outskirts many times. No matter which route one took, none of them would happen to pass by Linjiang Academy, would they?
He glanced at Xue Yan again, but Xue Yan said nothing more.
Jun Huailang could only withdraw his gaze.
Walking behind them, Jinbao quietly sighed.
“What is it?” Fuyi asked softly beside him.
Jinbao shook his head without saying anything.
His master still thought he had hidden it well, yet he did not know how stiff his back looked from behind.
His shoulders and back were held straight, as though facing a formidable enemy. Especially that hand that had just pulled the other person closer—after letting go, he could not bear to take it back at all. Where the other person could not see, it remained hovering loosely around him the entire time.
As though he were hiding some precious treasure in his arms.
——
Once they got into the carriage, the carriage compartment and curtains shut out the noisy rain outside, and the clamor of the rain beside Jun Huailang’s ears finally became quieter.
He let out a breath and lowered his head to look at the hem of his robes.
Even though he had been as careful as possible on the way, he had still gotten his shoes and socks wet. They were sticking damply to his body now, which was inevitably somewhat uncomfortable.
Just then, the corner of his eye caught sight of Xue Yan’s robe hem.
The fabric was dark-colored Hang silk. Although it was difficult to see clearly, he could still tell that the hem of the other man’s robes was completely soaked.
He raised his head and looked at Xue Yan, only to see him sitting quietly inside the carriage, gazing out the window.
His robe was wet from his shoulder all the way down to his chest. Only the small half pressed against Jun Huailang was dry.
Jun Huailang froze.
He suddenly remembered that despite the heavy rain, not a single drop had gotten onto him.
Xue Yan noticed his gaze and turned his head toward him.
“What is it?” he asked.
As if possessed, Jun Huailang raised his hand and touched Xue Yan’s wet shoulder.
Sure enough, the fabric was cold and damp, clinging tightly to the flesh beneath it. Through the soaked material, he could still feel the hard, solid body underneath, radiating vigorous warmth.
Jun Huailang suddenly felt as though he had been burned and withdrew his hand.
Only then did Xue Yan come back to himself, realizing what Jun Huailang had been looking at.
Even he himself had not noticed it. He had come today precisely because he was afraid Jun Huailang would get caught in the rain. Naturally, when holding the umbrella along the way, he had to shelter him completely.
…Besides, the two of them had been so close just now. Let alone rain—even if blades and swords had been raining down from the sky, he probably would not have felt any pain.
“It’s nothing.” Xue Yan withdrew his gaze, only feeling the pulse beneath the patch of skin that had just been touched by Jun Huailang pounding rapidly. “Who doesn’t get wet when it rains?”
Jun Huailang thought to himself, I didn’t get wet.
But he could not bring himself to say it. After a moment, he gave a soft hum, turned his gaze away, and looked out the window.
The inexplicable warmth that had filled his chest earlier gradually spread through his limbs and every part of his body in the quiet, silent carriage.
He had long been accustomed to protecting the people around him from behind, and he had never felt that he was someone who needed to be protected.
His father had a cold temperament and had also been strict in educating his sons. And Jun Huailang was the eldest son. Whether it was his younger brothers and sisters, or his mother and aunt, they all needed him to protect them.
In his previous life, his parents had died before he had even come of age. He inherited the title, and the entire burden of the Duke of Yongning’s residence fell onto his shoulders.
He had never felt that there was anything wrong with it.
Until this life. Even toward Xue Yan, after accepting him, he had instinctively protected him—and in his eyes, there was nothing wrong with that either. Although Xue Yan was an imperial prince, his circumstances were much worse than his own. Everyone hated him and avoided him, so it was only natural for Jun Huailang to extend a helping hand. It was also within the scope of what he ought to do.
But he had never thought that there would be a time when he would be protected at the other’s side.
Even if it was only a rainstorm that meant nothing to him.
The carriage quietly traveled all the way back to the Governor’s Residence.
By the time their carriage stopped, they no longer needed to hold their own umbrellas. Servants were already waiting at the entrance with umbrellas and opened the carriage curtains for them. The moment Jun Huailang got out, an umbrella was held over his head.
The rain fell softly all around them, splashing into water droplets on the ground.
For no reason, he thought of the umbrella that had been tilted over his head in the academy just now.
He turned around and glanced at Xue Yan.
Xue Yan seemed not to notice his gaze. Jinbao was holding the carriage curtain for him, and he bent slightly before jumping down from the carriage.
Just then, a faint, almost inaudible meow sounded beside Jun Huailang’s ear.
He turned his head and, amid the fine rain, saw a small dark-colored figure curled up in the corner outside the Governor’s Residence’s main gate, moving slightly.
It was precisely in a place the rain could not reach.
The servant holding the umbrella for him did not notice anything and was about to lead him into the residence. But Jun Huailang stopped walking and instructed, “Wait.”
Then he took the umbrella and walked two steps toward that corner.
Under the white wall, a fluffy little stray cat was lying there. Its fur was tabby-colored. When it saw someone approaching, the kitten raised its head and shrank farther into the corner in fright, yet it did not forget to bare its tiny milk teeth and growl at him threateningly, sounding rather like a fierce little tiger.
Those eyes were actually amber-colored.