Two days later, the princes would have to resume their studies at Wenhua Hall.
Xue Yunhuan, who had slept in for two days, especially got up early that morning to go to Mingluan Palace and find Jun Huailang. Unexpectedly, when he arrived at Mingluan Palace, he found that Jun Huailang was already waiting in the front courtyard, with someone standing beside him.
It wasn’t Fuyi. Fuyi wasn’t nearly this tall.
Xue Yunhuan thought he had arrived late. After all, on ordinary days, whenever he came here, he happened to arrive just as Jun Huailang had finished changing.
So he quickened his pace. But when he drew closer, he saw that the person standing beside Jun Huailang was clearly Xue Yan.
The two stood side by side. Jun Huailang was breathing warm air into his palms, seemingly talking about something with Xue Yan. Xue Yan stood beside him, his head slightly lowered. His sharp and deep-set brows and eyes were lowered as he tilted his ear toward Jun Huailang, listening to him speak.
Although he said little and his expression was cold and indifferent, he somehow resembled a large wolf that had been tamed.
For a moment, Xue Yunhuan had an unreal feeling.
But immediately afterward, he reacted.
Huailang was so delicate and frail. What if he got cursed to death by this baleful star? Among the children around his age in the palace and among the noble officials, he found everyone boring. Only the young master of the Jun family suited his tastes. If Xue Yan cursed Jun Huailang to death, where would he find another Jun Huailang to replace him?
Xue Yunhuan hurriedly strode forward. But before he could say anything, Jun Huailang spotted him first. He raised his eyes, his brows and eyes carrying a smile.
“Why are you so late? You almost froze me to death.”
Xue Yunhuan said indignantly, “I come at this time every day.”
As he spoke, he looked fiercely at Xue Yan, intending to warn him to stay farther away from his own lofty flower.
However, the moment he met Xue Yan’s eyes, the words at the tip of his tongue became impossible to say.
Those pale amber eyes were indifferent and cold, calm and without the slightest ripple. Yet with merely a light glance, an inexplicable pressure seemed to descend upon him, instantly suppressing his anger.
Xue Yunhuan’s words caught in his throat, and he awkwardly shifted his gaze away.
Forget it. Calling someone a baleful star to his face wasn’t something a gentleman should do. Xue Yunhuan consoled himself angrily.
Beside him, Jun Huailang had not noticed the undercurrent between the two at all. Hearing what Xue Yunhuan said, he could not help laughing softly twice.
“Then Fifth Highness simply leaves too early. I’ve already arranged it with him. From now on, I’ll have him set out later and go to Wenhua Hall with us.”
“Every day together?”
Xue Yunhuan’s eyes widened, and the words escaped his mouth.
“Huailang, don’t you know that he is…”
Jun Huailang looked at him.
“He is what?”
Facing those clean yet cool eyes, Xue Yunhuan immediately found himself unable to say the words “baleful star.”
He stammered for a moment, then timidly lowered his voice and reluctantly said, “…He has to get up early every day to review his books in Wenhua Hall. Don’t waste his time.”
Jun Huailang laughed.
“You don’t arrive early every day yourself, so how do you know he needs to review his books in Wenhua Hall? Don’t say any more. I’ve already discussed it with Fifth Highness. Right, Fifth Highness?”
As he spoke, he looked toward Xue Yan again.
Xue Yunhuan had experienced firsthand just how arrogant Xue Yan was. In the palace, whether they were members of the imperial family or the Emperor’s relatives, who would not give Xue Yunhuan some face? Not to mention all those who fawned over him and tried to curry his favor—Xue Yunhuan had seen far too many of them.
Yet Xue Yan was the only one who, ever since entering the palace, had never even looked him in the eye.
He still remembered the first time he had met Xue Yan. He had called out to him and told him to come forward and answer him, but Xue Yan had merely given him a cold glance before walking away on his own.
At that time, Xue Yan had only just entered the palace, having fled all the way back from Yan Commandery. The frightening wounds on his face had not yet healed. That casual glance, combined with the harsh scars across his face, made him look like a ruthless and vicious fugitive.
It had frightened Xue Yunhuan into shuddering.
From then on, he knew that this baleful star was the number one person in the world when it came to looking down on others.
Yet Xue Yunhuan watched with his own eyes as that cold and arrogant Xue Yan, like a wild horse that had been tamed, gave a slight nod.
Although the movement was slow and casual, it gave Xue Yunhuan an overwhelming sense of obedience.
The adjective disgusted Xue Yunhuan so badly that he shuddered.
With a movement of his body, he squeezed between Jun Huailang and Xue Yan, separating the two.
Even if Jun Huailang had to walk with Xue Yan every day, he still needed to keep his distance from him!
He was the only legitimate son of the current Emperor, protected by imperial dragon qi. He absolutely had to protect his delicate and frail Huailang in front of this baleful star!
This time, Jun Huailang glanced at him but did not stop this childish fool.
Along the way, only the two of them continued talking. Xue Yan walked beside them without saying a word. Only when Jun Huailang called out to him and spoke to him would he give a brief response or two.
The group soon arrived at Wenhua Hall.
Wenhua Hall was extremely spacious, and the chamber where the princes studied was quite large as well. To leave enough room for the princes’ study companions and eunuchs to serve them, there was a considerable amount of space between the desks.
Once they entered the hall, the three separated.
Xue Yan sat down at his own place, and Jinbao skillfully stepped forward to arrange his books, ink, and writing brushes.
Just then, someone walked over to Xue Yan’s desk and gave a soft laugh.
“Fifth Brother, you should be all right by now, shouldn’t you?”
Xue Yan raised his eyes and glanced over, seeing Fourth Prince Xue Yunhong standing beside his desk in a plain white embroidered robe, smiling like a spring breeze.
Meeting Xue Yan’s gaze, Xue Yunhong remained perfectly composed and smiled as he said, “That day, during Father’s birthday banquet, I happened to be in the side hall sobering up. I only heard that you and Second Imperial Brother were both punished. I was truly worried.”
Xue Yan calmly looked at him once, then turned his gaze away as though he had not heard him.
Others might not notice, but those little tricks of the Fourth Prince could not escape his eyes.
Normally, the one who caused trouble was that idiot Second Prince. But every time someone fanned the flames and watched coldly from the sidelines, it was always this seemingly respectable Fourth Prince.
Using someone else’s knife to kill was far too crude a tactic in Xue Yan’s eyes.
But this time, this man had actually worked up the courage to come and test him?
Xue Yan had no interest in exchanging blows with him.
Whatever other abilities this sort of person possessed, the first thing one could say about him was that he was timid. He would take three steps of consideration for every one step he took, constantly looking over his shoulder and hesitating. He was painfully slow.
Xue Yan opened the book in front of him, acting as though he could not see the man at all. He did not even bother to spare him a glance.
Xue Yunhong, however, was not embarrassed in the slightest. He continued smiling, even sighing and shaking his head.
“Fifth Brother, you really should change this solitary personality of yours. That way, you might also win more of Father’s favor and avoid…”
“Fourth Brother, why bother talking to him?”
Just then, a voice came from the doorway.
It was Xue Yunshu.
He stood at the entrance of Wenhua Hall, with a whole procession of newly replaced eunuchs and palace maids behind him. The entourage was quite imposing.
He raised his chin and smiled smugly, looking down arrogantly at the people in the classroom.
Hearing the voice at the doorway, Jun Huailang also raised his head and looked over.
Wasn’t the Second Prince supposed to be confined for a month? How had he already been released today, and even come to Wenhua Hall to study?
He glanced at Xue Yunhuan and saw the same puzzled expression on his face.
Then he watched as Xue Yunshu swaggered into the hall.
“Second Imperial Brother?”
Xue Yunhong appropriately displayed a look of surprise as he looked at Xue Yunshu.
The expressions of everyone present greatly satisfied Xue Yunshu’s pride.
He raised his voice. Although he was speaking to Xue Yunhong, he deliberately made sure that everyone in the hall could hear him.
“Father said one month, but could he really lock me up for an entire month?”
He spoke smugly.
“My mother consort merely went over and cried a little, and I took the opportunity to plead with Father. Father agreed to let me come back and study every day. He even promised me that it was only meant to teach Enze a lesson, and that he could be allowed to return before long.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Yunhong understood.
Sure enough, the Second Prince and his mother were both fools.
Being confined for a month was not particularly frightening. He could even use the opportunity to play the victim and leave an impression on Father.
What was frightening was that, like the mother and son, they could not endure even the slightest loss.
They were clearly the ones in the wrong, yet they still made a fuss with Father over it.
Relations within the imperial family had always been thin. Once they lost Father’s goodwill, it would be extremely difficult to win it back.
As for saying that Jun Enze would be taught a lesson and then allowed to return, that was merely Father’s excuse. In reality, he had probably long since grown tired of the mother and son.
Usually, when there were people like this to serve as a contrast, Father would realize just how much easier it was to deal with sons who were gentle, peaceful, and did not fight for anything.
Having achieved his purpose, Xue Yunhong showed nothing on his face. He calmly smiled.
“Father has always doted on you. In that case, it couldn’t be better.”
Xue Yunshu smugly snorted and glanced at Xue Yan.
“However, there are some grudges I remember very clearly.”
He deliberately raised his voice.
“I hope he remembers to keep his tail between his legs from now on, so he doesn’t incur my displeasure.”
Xue Yunhong pretended not to understand, his face still wearing a carefree smile.
Jun Huailang raised his eyes and glanced at Xue Yunshu. Though he said nothing, his brows knitted together.
Xue Yunhuan noticed it immediately.
Although he kept his distance from Xue Yan and wanted nothing to do with him, Jun Huailang was kind-hearted and always liked meddling in Xue Yan’s affairs.
If he did not intervene, Xue Yunshu would turn around and bully Jun Huailang again.
Moreover, the fool who had nearly caused Linghuan to go missing was this very idiot. That could also be considered a grudge against Jun Huailang.
And anyone who had a grudge against Jun Huailang had a grudge against him, Xue Yunhuan.
For the first time, Xue Yunhuan experienced the strange feeling of being a worried old father.
Before Jun Huailang could say anything, he lazily slapped the tabletop once and said,
“Who’s making all that noise so early in the morning? This prince rarely feels like studying today. Which one of you insists on ruining my mood?”
The Second Prince’s arrogance immediately diminished by more than half.
He glared viciously at Xue Yan, then put on a smile and nodded ingratiatingly at Xue Yunhuan, saying that he had overstepped.
He then slunk back to his own seat.
Only then did Xue Yunhuan withdraw his hostile gaze and look toward Xue Yan and Jun Huailang.
At this moment, the person who should clearly have been at the center of the storm, Xue Yan, was instead sitting as though he were completely uninvolved. He calmly and silently looked at the book in his hands.
Only Jinbao, who was serving beside him, was sitting there in fear and trepidation, not daring to move.
Meanwhile, Jun Huailang looked at Xue Yunhuan approvingly and smiled at him.
For a moment, Xue Yunhuan once again had an unreal feeling.
What was going on?
Although everyone looked down on that baleful fiend Xue Yan, his silent and fierce demeanor meant that no one dared provoke him easily.
That idiot Second Prince had merely been showing off with his words. If he were really made to confront Xue Yan, he would definitely run faster than anyone else.
So how had he somehow ended up standing up for Xue Yan himself?