Jun Huailang accompanied Xue Yan as he knelt in the Buddhist hall for the entire night.
By the latter half of the night, he had grown somewhat sleepy. In his hazy state, he did not even know when he had fallen asleep.
The next morning, he was awakened by the sunlight shining in from outside. When he opened his eyes, the candles in the Buddhist hall had already gone out. The morning sunlight streamed in from behind him, filling the entire main hall and casting the two of their elongated shadows onto the knees of the golden Buddha.
Within the shadows, he was leaning against Xue Yan’s shoulder.
Jun Huailang came fully awake and hurriedly straightened up. With his movement, an indigo cloak slipped to the ground. It was the very one Consort Shu had asked him to bring the previous evening.
Still bleary-eyed with sleep, Jun Huailang looked at Xue Yan. When he spoke, his voice was somewhat hoarse, with a slight nasal tone from the cold.
“This clothing…?”
He did not realize how soft his voice sounded with that nasal tone. Xue Yan, however, gave him a look that was difficult to interpret.
“I’m not cold.”
He reached out and naturally picked up the cloak that had fallen to the ground, then rose neatly to his feet.
Jun Huailang followed him up. But after kneeling for an entire night, both his legs had gone numb. The moment he exerted force, he staggered and nearly fell to the ground.
Immediately afterward, Xue Yan reached out and caught him.
Holding the clothes in one hand, Xue Yan gripped his arm with the other and pulled upward, allowing Jun Huailang to borrow his strength and rise smoothly to his feet.
But this posture made it look as though he were leaning against Xue Yan.
Only after standing up did Jun Huailang realize that there was someone else in the Buddhist hall. It was the little novice monk from the previous night, who was sweeping the hall.
Feeling his gaze, the young monk raised his head. With a calm and gentle expression, he lowered his eyes and made a Buddhist salute toward him.
Only then did Jun Huailang realize that the way he and Xue Yan had just moved together might appear overly intimate to an onlooker. Thinking that he had actually leaned against Xue Yan and slept the previous night, he wondered whether anyone had seen it.
The tips of Jun Huailang’s ears could not help but grow warm. He hurriedly pushed Xue Yan’s hand away.
Even though they were both men, they had still been a little too close.
Xue Yan, however, acted as though he had not noticed the other person at all. He simply stood there calmly, quietly waiting for Jun Huailang’s legs to recover their feeling. Then Xue Yan cupped his hands and returned the novice monk’s salute.
“The Buddhist hall is quite drafty at night. Thank you for your hard work, benefactor. Be sure to take good care of your health when you return.”
The young monk’s expression remained calm and composed, without the slightest trace of familiarity or teasing as he exchanged pleasantries with him.
Jun Huailang nodded and thanked him.
“Let’s go.”
Seeing that he had mostly recovered, Xue Yan bent down, picked up the food box on the ground, and walked out first.
Jun Huailang followed him.
By the time the two returned to Mingluan Palace, Fuyi had already been waiting at the entrance for some time. Seeing Jun Huailang return, he hurriedly came forward and said, “When Her Highness heard this morning that Young Master hadn’t returned all night, she was terribly worried. She has already ordered the servants to prepare a hotpot and warm the heated floor, telling Young Master to hurry back and warm himself up!”
As he spoke, he looked at Xue Yan and gave a bashful smile.
“Her Highness also specifically instructed me to prepare more food and invite Fifth Highness to join us for breakfast.”
Jun Huailang could not help curling his lips into a slight smile.
He knew it. Although his aunt was domineering and ostentatious, she had a rare, straightforward heart. Though her personality was somewhat awkward, one could still see through her intentions at a glance.
Jun Huailang could not help glancing at Xue Yan, only to find that Xue Yan had met his smiling eyes.
Xue Yan had never known that someone could look so beautiful simply by smiling casually, making one feel comfortable from the bottom of one’s heart, like the clean, clear breeze of early morning.
Originally, Consort Shu’s goodwill was of little use to him and might even bring him some trouble. Yet at this moment, he suddenly felt that taking care of a little more trouble would not matter. It was nothing more than a small effort.
He gave a low “Mm,” and, rare for someone who was usually so taciturn, even said to Fuyi, “Thank you.”
Thus, early that morning, Jun Huailang’s room became exceptionally lively.
The hotpot on the table was filled with rich mutton soup, made by simmering sheep bones over low heat for a full six hours. By now, it had long since come to a boil, bubbling and steaming as its fragrant aroma and white vapor filled the entire room.
The palace maids and eunuchs around the table were arranging the dishes, with both meat and vegetables, filling the entire table.
Jinbao was there as well. After serving at Xue Yan’s side for some time, he had practically been frightened into growing bolder. At this moment, he was helping the palace maids, quick-witted and efficient, with a sweet mouth to boot. He had the palace maids in Jun Huailang’s room laughing repeatedly, poking him on the forehead with their fingers and jokingly scolding him for being such a smooth talker.
When Jun Huailang walked in, surrounded by the steaming hotpot and the warmth of the heated floor, he finally realized that his entire body had already gone stiff with cold.
A palace maid came over and stuffed a hand warmer into each of their hands, then ushered them into taking off their outer garments and sitting down at the dining table. Only then did he gradually warm up.
“Has Linghuan woken up?”
Jun Huailang accepted the hot tea and asked, “If she’s awake, have her come eat with us.”
He remembered that Jun Linghuan particularly loved this steaming hotpot. He was also thinking about the misunderstanding between her and Xue Yan yesterday and wanted to resolve it as soon as possible, removing the grievance between them.
Before long, a palace maid led Jun Linghuan inside.
“Brother, why are we having hotpot so early in the morning!”
Jun Linghuan bounced into the room, while the palace maid behind her hurriedly helped her remove her outer garment.
Jun Linghuan bowed to Jun Huailang, then saw Xue Yan sitting beside him. Without even waiting for Jun Huailang to say anything, she immediately became embarrassed. Her little face flushed slightly as she bowed toward Xue Yan.
“I’m sorry, Fifth Imperial Brother,” she said softly. “I was wrong yesterday. I’m apologizing to you!”
Jun Huailang felt relieved and could not help glancing at Xue Yan, only to discover that Xue Yan was looking at him too.
…My little sister is apologizing to you. Why are you looking at me?
However, in the next moment, Xue Yan turned his gaze away and looked toward Jun Linghuan.
“It’s fine. I didn’t take it to heart in the first place.”
“Really?”
Jun Linghuan happily smiled and spoke with great solemnity.
“Fifth Imperial Brother, you’re really a good person! You truly have the chest of a hero, big enough to contain the whole cavalry!”
Jun Huailang could not help giving the palace maid behind her a reproachful look.
“Don’t indulge her. Stop letting her read those popular stories from the streets and alleys, and making her learn all those vulgar expressions full of martial-world flavor.”
The palace maid hurriedly acknowledged the order.
Jun Huailang then raised his hand and beckoned Jun Linghuan to come sit down, not forgetting to admonish her.
“You’ve learned your lesson this time, so remember it well. With people you aren’t familiar with, no matter who they are, you must never follow them off somewhere alone.”
Jun Linghuan obediently agreed.
Jun Huailang continued, “And don’t blindly believe those who speak ill of others behind their backs. People like that call others tigers, wolves, and monsters, but in truth, they are the ones with the hearts of jackals and wolves.”
Jun Linghuan gave an understanding little “Oh” and committed his words to memory as best she could.
Jinbao, who was sitting nearby, could not help letting out a snicker.
The heir apparent looked so cool and aloof, so lofty and untouchable, and was also the person most knowledgeable about etiquette. Who would have thought that for the sake of his own master, he would be beating around the bush and calling the Second Prince a wolf-hearted beast?
However, before he could finish laughing, a cold gaze shot over like a blade.
His smile froze. He hurriedly composed his expression and stood properly.
The room of the heir apparent was filled with lively palace maids and eunuchs, everyone getting along harmoniously. The cheerful atmosphere had made him relax his guard, almost causing him to forget that his own master was an unpredictable, cold-hearted Yama.
Jinbao stood there like a frightened quail for a while before cautiously looking toward his master, wanting to see whether he had calmed down.
Yet he saw that his master was sitting opposite the heir apparent and had long since stopped looking at him. Instead, his gaze would occasionally sweep over the heir apparent, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally.
And in those eyes, there was even a trace of an undisguised smile.
Jinbao secretly curled his lips.
You’re happy yourself, so why are you glaring at me?
——
The meal in Jun Huailang’s room was lively and cheerful.
Afterward, the palace maids brought water for them to rinse their mouths and wash their hands, then served them tea.
After the Thousand Autumns Banquet, according to custom, the princes could rest for two days. Thus, there was no need to hurry to Wenhua Hall for their lessons in the morning.
Just then, Diancui arrived.
“Oh, His Highness the Heir Apparent has only just finished his meal?”
She smiled brightly and bowed to the two of them.
“Then this servant has come at just the right time.”
Jun Huailang raised his hand and indicated that she could rise.
“What is it, Auntie Diancui?”
Diancui smiled and said, “This servant has come today to look for Fifth Highness. Last night, Her Highness instructed me that she had heard Fifth Highness gets up early every day to practice martial arts in the rear courtyard, so she sent this servant to find some commonly used weapons for him. This servant had a weapons rack prepared and has just finished setting it up. I was about to invite Fifth Highness to take a look and see if there is anything else he needs.”
Jun Huailang was somewhat puzzled upon hearing this.
In Consort Shu’s palace, everyone avoided the Fifth Prince like the plague. Even before last night, Consort Shu had still disliked him. Who would have gone out of their way to mention Xue Yan’s little affairs to Consort Shu?
Still, Jun Huailang asked, “Oh? Where was it placed?”
Diancui smiled.
“It’s in the front courtyard. It’s close to Fifth Highness’s room, so His Highness won’t have to go around to the rear courtyard every day.”
Jun Huailang frowned and glanced out the window.
Consort Shu’s Mingluan Palace was particularly exquisite and elegant. The front courtyard, which served as the palace’s main facade, had an especially delicate garden, complete with a specially dug pond of running water.
Normally, people were constantly coming and going through this area. When the consorts gathered for small get-togethers, they would also admire the scenery of the front courtyard from the covered corridor.
Suddenly placing a large, bulky weapons rack among the pearls, jade, flowers, and trees would look especially out of place.
Anyone who entered would be able to see it.
It was almost as though it had deliberately been placed there for everyone to see, announcing to outsiders how much Consort Shu doted on the Fifth Prince.
The other consorts could be set aside for the moment, but the Emperor came here every few days. Putting Xue Yan’s belongings right under his nose was practically asking for trouble.
Besides, from here to the spacious rear courtyard, one only had to go around a single main hall. It was not far at all and would hardly be any trouble.
Jun Huailang discreetly sized up Diancui.
Ever since he had moved into the palace, he had felt that there was something off about Diancui. Now, the more he looked, the more suspicious details he noticed.
On the surface, she seemed accustomed to acting on her own authority and happened to dislike Xue Yan. But in reality, although everything she did was supposedly detrimental to Xue Yan, the person ultimately bearing the brunt of it was always Consort Shu.
Jun Huailang concealed his thoughts, putting on an expression of curiosity as he examined the weapons rack. In his mind, however, he was thinking of what excuse he could find to have Diancui move it to the rear courtyard without alerting her.
Just then, he heard Xue Yan speak.
“Move it to the rear courtyard.”
He said, “I’m used to practicing there. It’s more spacious.”
Jun Huailang looked at Xue Yan in surprise, only to see Xue Yan’s gaze sweep faintly over him.
There was clearly no emotion in those eyes, yet Jun Huailang could not shake the feeling that Xue Yan had already seen through his thoughts.
Jun Huailang decided that he was probably overthinking it.
Seeing Diancui hesitate, looking reluctant and somewhat unwilling to give in, he could not help smiling slightly and casually adding his support.
“That’s true, Auntie Diancui. Although the weapons look impressive in the front courtyard, if Fifth Highness accidentally damages any of Aunt’s flowers and plants, won’t that only make Aunt unhappy again?”
As he spoke, he took a sip of tea and looked at the speechless Diancui, secretly taking considerable pleasure in admiring her expression.
Little did he know that this very appearance of his, reflected in those amber-colored eyes, made him look like a little fox that had gotten exactly what it wanted, yet was too proud and reserved to let its happiness show.