Fu Hua Temple prided itself on simplicity and returning to the natural way. The guest rooms were bare, built low and plain. With the emperor standing inside, the space felt cramped, heavy, and stifling. Qin Neijian stepped over and pushed a window open slightly to let in some air—only to catch sight of the Prince standing quietly in the courtyard.
Moonlight poured down, bathing Fu Ye in silver glow. His lotus ceremonial robes, adorned with eight treasures and dangling jade pendants, shimmered with solemn splendor. Like the others of the Fu clan, he bore the auspicious red mark left by the high monk at the ceremony. But on him, that small red print between his brows only set off his already stunning, almost too-beautiful features.
Three days apart, and somehow, he looked even more breathtaking than before—so much so that even the bright moon above seemed pale in comparison.
For a moment, Fu Huang could only stare, utterly spellbound.
Qin Neijian quietly reminded him, “Your Majesty, the Prince is still waiting outside.”
A rush of tangled feelings surged through Fu Huang’s heart. But he only said, voice low and cool, “Tell him to go back. Say I’ve already retired for the night.”
Qin Neijian thought to himself: Is this him sulking over jealousy now, so much so that he won’t even try to hide it?
Wouldn’t the Prince be pleased to know his brother was jealous?
Ah, the emperor—so willful, so unruly. The Prince had always had a fondness for handsome men; it was no secret. And yet now, just because His Majesty disliked it, the Prince was supposed to keep his distance from beautiful courtiers? The Prince was young, spirited, born to be surrounded by all the most striking men in the empire. How unfair to deny him that. Truly unreasonable, this emperor-brother of his.
But… who could reason with an emperor?
Ah, he sighed inwardly.
Above them, the sky was still filled with drifting lotus lanterns. The temple grounds teemed with nobles and monks, while outside the gates, crowds of commoners jostled to watch the lanterns light up the night. And yet, because of the emperor’s presence, despite the throngs, there was no sound but the clatter of carriage wheels and the restless snorts of horses.
Many couldn’t wait to flee into the night.
The sound of a child crying suddenly rang out, followed by someone’s panicked voice: “Quick, cover his mouth! The Emperor is here!”
It was as if the old tale of the Emperor’s presence quieting crying infants had come alive right before their eyes.
Fu Ye thought grimly that his brother’s fearsome reputation really did need reshaping—and that it would take a long, sustained effort to do it.
As he was lost in thought, he saw Qin Neijian emerge.
Fu Ye looked at him expectantly. Qin Neijian lowered his voice and said, “Your Highness, His Majesty has already turned in for the night.”
Fu Ye felt a bit awkward. “Really gone to bed?”
Throwing a tantrum, more like!
Qin Neijian said gently, “If I may, Your Highness… you were a little careless tonight.”
Fu Ye sighed in frustration. “How was I supposed to know my brother would show up tonight? I thought we weren’t seeing him until tomorrow at the hunting grounds.”
Qin Neijian said, “Ah, but Your Highness, that’s not the way to look at it. You shouldn’t be thinking about whether His Majesty is around or not—you should keep a proper distance from handsome young men at all times!”
Even as he spoke, Qin Neijian felt too guilty to meet Fu Ye’s gaze.
Fu Ye said, distressed, “There’s really nothing between me and Xie Liangbi! We barely interact at all!”
Qin Neijian nodded quickly. “Of course, of course, I believe you, Your Highness. Truly, this is His Majesty’s own problem. His Majesty treasures Your Highness so deeply, he’s afraid that if you fall for someone else, you won’t stay in the palace anymore. That’s why he can’t bear for you to get too close to any attractive courtiers. He just wants to keep you all to himself. Honestly, I feel sorry for Your Highness. His Majesty’s heart is bitter—he’s been so lonely all these years. Now that you’re here with him, he can’t stand to let you out of his sight.”
But unexpectedly, Fu Ye said softly, “I understand how my brother feels. I never had any intention of leaving the palace anyway.”
Qin Neijian felt like slapping himself right then and there.
Look at him—so beautiful, so kindhearted!
As one of the emperor’s loyal dogs, Qin felt deeply ashamed.
And he thought: With His Majesty so tyrannical and possessive, only someone as pure and generous as the Prince could possibly put up with him. If this isn’t a match made by heaven, what is?
So he hurried to comfort him, his eyes brimming with emotion. “Your Highness’s sincerity—how could His Majesty not see it? Rest assured, no one could ever take your place in His Majesty’s heart. You should rest now, tomorrow’s hunt will be a big day.”
With no other choice, Fu Ye returned to his own quarters.
But as soon as he stepped inside, he saw Xie Liangbi, dressed in a plain green robe.
Where he once reminded people of a slender bamboo, now he had the quiet strength of a pine that had weathered many storms.
Startled, Fu Ye turned sharply, glanced back instinctively, and hurried over. “Didn’t you leave with the old madam?”
Xie Liangbi said, “His Majesty commanded me to join the hunt at the imperial grounds tomorrow.”
Fu Ye froze, alarmed.
What is my brother planning? He couldn’t quite read Fu Huang’s intentions.
Xie Liangbi studied him carefully. “Your Highness… are you all right?”
Fu Ye snapped out of it and nodded. “Did my brother say anything else besides summoning you for the hunt?”
Xie Liangbi shook his head.
Fu Ye said, “I understand. It’s late—you should head back and get some rest.”
He took a few steps, then paused. Looking back, he saw that Xie Liangbi was still standing there.
After a moment’s thought, Fu Ye said, “Tomorrow, don’t speak to me. And don’t come near me.”
Xie Liangbi blinked. “…Why?”
Fu Ye replied, “No need to ask.”
What was he supposed to say? Because the Emperor gets jealous?
Xie Liangbi would definitely overthink it!
Honestly, if I didn’t know Fu Huang so well, even I would be overthinking it by now!
“I’m not afraid,” Xie Liangbi said suddenly.
He stood tall, eyes bright and unwavering, looking at Fu Ye with quiet fervor. Ever since he’d left the palace, he’d longed day and night for a chance to see him again. He knew Fu Ye was like the moon in the heavens—far beyond his reach—but just being able to see him, to stand near him, was enough. Though his father always cautioned him to be prudent, Xie Liangbi wasn’t afraid.
Fu Ye froze for a beat, a little stunned by the intensity in his eyes.
There it was—that steely will beneath the polished exterior. Someday, this man would indeed be a pillar of the empire.
But…
You’re not afraid—but I am!
Smiling, Fu Ye decided to invoke that old fox, Chancellor Xie. “I heard you left the Golden Guard because the Chancellor forbade you from getting too close to me?”
Xie Liangbi flushed slightly. “My father…”
“Your father has served three emperors. His wisdom is unmatched. You’re right to listen to him. You’re destined to be one of the empire’s great men. Don’t let me drag you down.”
He added softly, “When that day comes, my brother and I will both depend on you.”
With that, he turned and went inside. Qingxi shut the door behind him, standing cold-eyed on guard outside.
Xie Liangbi stood there, heart pounding, lingering a while longer before finally leaving.
Someday…
His heart was a tangle of disappointment and longing, but also pride at Fu Ye’s praise. He left the courtyard in a daze, only to spot the royal carriages lined up outside as the princes and nobles prepared to depart.
Among them was Prince Ankang, Fu Xian. Dressed in a light brown robe woven with geometric patterns, he was refined and striking.
The Fu clan was large and prosperous, but among Emperor Mingzong’s direct line, only the Emperor and Fu Ye remained. Fu Xian’s branch descended from Emperor Ningzong. When Ningzong passed the throne to Emperor Shizong, Shizong died childless, and Mingzong took the throne. From there, the line passed through Emperor Renzong, Emperor Wuzong, and now to the current Emperor.
When this Emperor took power, Fu Xian was still a child. His father, Prince Ying, had died young, and that alone saved him from the bloodbath of the Qing Tai coup. Before Fu Ye’s return, Fu Xian had been the heir presumptive as the highest-ranking prince.
Perhaps that was why he’d always kept a low profile—never mingling with officials, rarely stepping out in public. The day Fu Ye came back, people said he’d wept tears of joy.
He was a shrewd man.
Fu Xian’s mother and Xie Liangbi’s mother were both from the Cui clan, so they’d been close since childhood. When he spotted Xie Liangbi, he hurried over.
“I just heard His Majesty summoned you to join tomorrow’s hunt?”
Xie Liangbi nodded.
Fu Xian frowned. “I did some digging when the messenger mounted his horse—not just you. A few others too. Xiao Yichen. Liu Zihui. Didn’t you all just leave the Golden Guard?”
Xie Liangbi’s face tightened in surprise.
Fu Xian, pale and serious, said quietly, “Serving the Emperor is like walking on thin ice. His moods are unpredictable. You’d better be very cautious tomorrow.”
As he climbed into his carriage, he lowered his voice further: “I can see His Highness the Prince has the Emperor’s favor. If you find yourself in real danger… perhaps you could turn to him.”
Xie Liangbi forced a bitter smile.
The Prince just told me to stay away from him.
But he said nothing of that, only nodded and helped Fu Xian into his carriage. The Prince loved fragrances—his carriage was fragrant even from several paces away. As the curtains lifted, Fu Xian gave one last reminder: “Be careful.”
Xie Liangbi didn’t sleep a wink that night.
The Prince is so favored—everyone knows it. Riding in imperial carriages, showered with honors—it all breaks with custom. Could this favor really be false?
He truly didn’t see where the danger lay.
But if Father’s right—if the higher you rise, the harder you fall—then I should be the one to protect His Highness. If he falls… I’ll catch him.
The thought filled him with determination. At dawn, hearing the neighing of horses and the clatter of carriages, he rose to find Liu Zihui and the others already outside, leading their horses, exchanging uneasy glances.
Especially Wei Sime—eyes red, legs trembling.
And there was the Emperor, astride his steed, clad in black robes embroidered with golden dragons, each scale outlined in fine gold thread. In the morning light, he shone with a blinding splendor. Qin Neijian personally held the reins.
Rarely had the Emperor looked so fearsome, so magnificent.
The Prince rose late and came rushing out. His personal attendant had already brought his horse. Just as he was about to mount, he heard the Emperor say, “The mountain paths are treacherous, and your riding isn’t the best. Ride with me.”
Xie Liangbi felt a flicker of emotion—was that… jealousy? Seeing His Majesty so awe-inspiring, the very image of a mighty ruler, and yet he felt jealous. He was ashamed of himself for it.
Fu Ye let out a sigh and obediently walked over to Fu Huang’s side.
His brother’s possessiveness really knew no bounds.
What could he do? He’d just have to take whatever came—thunder or rain, it was all the Emperor’s favor.
Thank goodness they were brothers. Otherwise, people would really start getting the wrong idea with this kind of pampering.
Before he could figure out how he was supposed to climb onto Fu Huang’s horse—towering and powerful as it was—Fu Huang dismounted, and with one hand, lifted him onto the saddle.
All the guards in the courtyard exchanged glances but didn’t dare say a word.
Without so much as a glance at Xie Liangbi or the others, Fu Huang swung himself up behind him. Grasping the reins with both hands, he all but encircled Fu Ye in his arms. A subtle squeeze of his legs, and the horse carried them out of the courtyard.
Xie Liangbi and the rest followed on horseback. Behind them came the Black-Armored Guard, the Golden-Armored Guard, and officials and soldiers—over a hundred men riding out together from Fuhua Temple. The monks stood in neat rows outside the gates, palms pressed together in farewell.
The temple bell rang out through the morning air. The grass along the forest paths was fresh and green, brushing against the horses’ hooves. From a small, hidden dwelling in the mountains, a group of nuns descended lightly, carrying wooden buckets to fetch water from the mountain stream. They wore plain robes—the nuns temporarily residing here from Chonghua Temple. Fu Ye glanced at them and thought of Lady Chu. Instinctively, he leaned back a little, nestling closer into Fu Huang’s arms.
Fu Huang was slender but tall and imposing. Fu Ye had never thought of himself as short, just a little slender and delicate—but in Fu Huang’s embrace, he felt like a helpless rabbit caught beneath a wolf’s paws. Strangely uneasy, he shifted forward a bit.
But Fu Huang’s arm tightened, drawing him back, wrapping his cloak around him.
Fu Ye said with a touch of teasing, “I thought you didn’t want to pay me any attention.”
Of course, he knew Fu Huang wasn’t ignoring him.
Sure enough, Fu Huang didn’t respond—just bundled him up tighter in the heavy cloak. Fu Ye tugged at it a little. “Brother, I want to see the scenery, you know.”
Fu Huang said nothing, but slowed the horse’s pace. The mountain path jolted beneath them, the saddle rocking gently. His lips brushed Fu Ye’s hair, catching the faint scent of something unfamiliar.
“What did you wash your hair with?” he asked.
Fu Ye said, “Water boiled with mulberry leaves, with a bit of mint added.”
He complained, “It’s really a hassle washing my hair out here.”
Of course he’d fuss over such things.
Fu Huang thought, Fu Ye is so delicate and particular—how could an ordinary person ever keep up with him? Only I can let him do as he pleases and enjoy all the riches of the world. The more he thought about it, the more tender his feelings grew.
What does he have to pity in life? Second only to me, above all others… yet I still feel he’s pitiful, and I don’t even know how to cherish him enough. His lips brushed Fu Ye’s hair, and it felt like a kiss. The rocking of the horse made the strands of hair wrap around his neck, inescapable, nowhere to hide.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yichen quietly urged his horse forward to catch up with Xie Liangbi. “Do you know why His Majesty called us along today?”
Xie Liangbi replied, “Naturally, to join the hunt.”
“I’m asking why us? His Majesty just drove us out of the palace not long ago.”
In just a few days, Xiao Yichen’s once-handsome face had become gaunt, his eyes sunken, clearly living in constant fear these days.
His Majesty’s terrifying nature was becoming clearer by the day.
Xie Liangbi said calmly, “I wasn’t driven out of the palace.”
Xiao Yichen: “…”
He clenched his jaw, furious but helpless. “Let’s just hope we make it out alive today.”
No sooner had he spoken than someone nearby began sobbing. He turned on them fiercely. “Shut up!”
Wei Sime bit down hard on his lip, stifling the sound.
Beside them, Liu Zihui, already on edge, spurred his horse forward, riding ahead. His gaze fell on the Emperor holding the Prince as they shared a mount—so close, so intimate.
A dreadful thought crept into his mind, leaving him rattled.
The Emperor has been on the throne for years with no empress, no consorts. Could it be… he doesn’t fancy women at all?
Liu Zihui had been a frequent guest of the pleasure quarters since his teens. He knew all the sordid gossip of the capital: which families had father and son sharing a favorite courtesan, which houses were tangled in scandal. The more you heard, the more you believed anything was possible.
The Emperor, so cold and fierce, with those powerful shoulders… and the Prince, so breathtakingly beautiful…
They’re… oddly well-matched.
The thought horrified him. If this were true, the whole realm would be shocked to its core!
He dared not think further. Remembering the foolish things he’d once said, he felt certain he wouldn’t leave the hunting grounds alive.
His nerves gave out—he lost control of his horse and fell hard to the ground.
The sudden fall startled everyone nearby. The commander ordered the main force to keep moving, while he and his deputy dismounted to check on Liu Zihui, who lay groaning on the ground.
Xiao Yichen and the others rode past without stopping, sparing him only a glance before the path’s roughness jolted them onward.
The hunting camp was now in sight: banners snapping in the wind, grand pavilions stretching one after another, the path widening, carts and horses forming lines.
Armored soldiers stood guard around the camp. A rider galloped ahead, announcing, “His Majesty and the Prince have arrived!”
At once, the horns sounded. A hawk soared overhead, bells on its talons chiming as it cut across the sky. Fu Huang, still holding Fu Ye close, led their horse through the ranks of thousands of soldiers.
Once they reached the golden pavilion, they dismounted for a short rest. Their hunting clothes had been prepared.
The eunuchs had been waiting. Qin Neijian and Shuangfu entered, ready to assist with dressing.
But the Emperor waved them aside and personally dressed the Prince.
Fu Ye’s hunting attire wasn’t so different from his usual clothes—just more fitted. The crimson robe, embroidered with birds in peacock thread, fastened with a horn belt inlaid with gold and silver, paired with soft deerskin boots—he looked so dazzling it hardly seemed real.
“Is this really practical for hunting?” Fu Ye asked.
Fu Huang lowered his head, fastening the belt snug around Fu Ye’s waist, his hands nearly encircling him entirely. He said, “Your riding skills aren’t great. Later, I’ll have them drive the prey into an enclosure for you to shoot—no need for you to enter the woods. Aren’t you fond of looking good? I had this outfit made especially for you.”
Once Fu Ye was dressed, he thought, Since His Majesty helped me dress, as a dutiful brother, I should of course help him change too. So he took the Emperor’s hunting clothes from Qin Neijian’s hands.
Suddenly, Fu Huang glanced at Qin Neijian and said, “All of you—out.”
Qin Neijian froze for a beat but then looked at Qingxi and the others and gave a small wave. Qingxi hesitated, but Shuangfu was the first to drop his hands and scurry out.
Everyone followed Qin Neijian and exited the golden pavilion.
Fu Huang’s hunting garb was far more formidable—black cross-collared armor, a belt forged of dark iron, inlaid with several deep-hued obsidian stones.
As Fu Ye helped him change, he realized just how much more complicated Fu Huang’s attire was—after all, he’d be doing serious hunting. Just his lower half required layered undertrousers and leather gaiters.
When the Emperor stripped down to only his brocade undergarment, Fu Ye saw him bare-chested for the first time.
His frame was lean yet powerfully built—muscles well-defined, his abdomen furrowed like fortified walls. Scars crisscrossed his body, coiling like a red dragon upon a pale jade mountain ridge, a striking and almost fierce sight. His undergarment was snow-white, soft and light, with silver-threaded kui dragon patterns raised upon it. Through the thin fabric, a faint shadow of darkness showed beneath. The sunlight streamed into the golden pavilion, bathing everything in dazzling yellow light, making it stiflingly warm.
Fu Huang said nothing. Fu Ye remained silent as well. Maybe it was the golden glow making him dizzy, but his face felt hot. As he crouched down to fasten Fu Huang’s trouser legs, a thought flashed through his mind—Fu Huang grew up served by palace attendants, and Qin Neijian has been his loyal servant for years. He’s never cared about being seen half-dressed… so why send everyone out just now?
Fu Huang looked down at him from above.
“You’re blushing,” Fu Huang said softly.
“It’s too hot,” Fu Ye replied, standing up.
Suddenly, Fu Huang drew him in, his hand resting at Fu Ye’s back. He lowered his head and said quietly, “Thank you, Sixth Brother.”
Fu Ye left the pavilion, and the breeze cooled the sweat at the nape of his neck.
When the sunlight hit him, the embroidered tails of a hundred birds on his robe shimmered as if alive. Qin Neijian saw him bathed in light, beautiful like a deity. He thought back to the Emperor dismissing them all and found it baffling. Seeing the Prince emerge with his cheeks flushed, it almost seemed as if—
He’d just received favor.
The thought made him uneasy. Then the Emperor emerged—a vision of strength and resolve in his hunting attire, the darkness of the previous day swept clean. In fact—
He looked entirely radiant.
