Where could he have gone so early in the morning?
Jun Huailang looked around, and when he saw that Jinbao was not there either, he began to feel vaguely worried. He even started regretting that yesterday he should have waited outside Changchun Tower for a while, waited until Xue Yan came out, and then returned to the palace together with him.
“Go ask around and see where His Highness the Fifth Prince and Jinbao went first thing this morning,” Jun Huailang instructed Fuyi.
Fuyi immediately acknowledged the order and turned around to find Zheng Guangde.
But just as he turned, he said in delight, “Young Master, His Highness the Fifth Prince is back.”
Jun Huailang followed the direction he pointed and saw Xue Yan walking this way from the courtyard behind the hall.
In the dead of winter, he wore only a thin set of martial attire. His sleeves were tucked into his wrist guards, and his long hair was tied high, making him look neat and sharp, like a fine blade fresh from its sheath, carrying a fearsome edge.
When he came closer, Jun Huailang saw a thin layer of sweat covering Xue Yan’s forehead, and his breathing was somewhat heavy. He had evidently just returned from practicing martial arts in the back. Jinbao trotted along behind him, holding his outer robe in his hands, looking extremely attentive and efficient.
Jun Huailang froze, then immediately began to feel embarrassed.
He had truly just woken up, and even his mind was muddled. Xue Yan practiced martial arts every day, so how could he have forgotten? He had even thought something had happened and hurried over to look for him.
“What is it?” Xue Yan stopped beside him and asked.
Standing so close, Jun Huailang could feel the vigorous heat radiating from Xue Yan’s body. It was clearly the middle of the bitter winter, yet dressed in only a single layer, he was still like a source of warmth.
Jun Huailang shifted somewhat awkwardly to the side.
“It’s nothing. It’s just—”
He was worried that something had happened to Xue Yan last night, so he had come over first thing in the morning to check on him. But Jun Huailang was too embarrassed to say such words aloud.
After a pause, he finally found an excuse.
“It’s just that I happened to go outside earlier and saw a lantern at the entrance, so I wanted to come over and ask whether you knew where it came from.”
But the moment he finished speaking, a faint yet unmistakable rumbling came from his abdomen, falling clearly into both their ears.
…This was rather embarrassing.
Jun Huailang had not eaten much at the banquet last night. He had spent most of the time sitting upright and drinking wine. After sleeping through the night, his stomach had long since been completely empty. But when he had first opened his eyes and was still groggy, he had been worried that something had happened to Xue Yan and had forgotten all about his hunger.
He had never expected it to put him in such an awkward position now.
He had just claimed that he happened to go outside and see the lantern, but who would happen to go outside with an empty stomach? That tiny rumble immediately exposed his disguise.
The always-noble and refined Heir Jun had never experienced such embarrassment. He cleared his throat, pretending he had not heard the sound from his stomach, and planned to take his leave and quickly return to eat breakfast.
“Then I’ll—”
Before he could finish, he heard Xue Yan give a soft laugh.
There was not the slightest hint of mockery in it. It was a casual little sound, carrying a trace of understanding and a faint hint of indulgence.
Jun Huailang looked over and happened to meet a pair of smiling eyes.
Perhaps it was only his imagination, but he always felt that gaze was deep and burning. Though the eyes were smiling, it was almost as if they were going to pin him down and devour him alive, making a faint, tingling sense of timidity rise in his heart.
Jun Huailang decided he was simply overthinking it.
Then he heard Xue Yan say indifferently, “I don’t know. Perhaps Father Emperor saw that you liked it and deliberately bestowed it upon you.”
That gaze seemed to carry a hint of teasing and amusement as well.
Jun Huailang stared at him in disbelief.
“…Really?”
He had merely stopped outside Changchun Tower and looked at it a few times. How could the Emperor have known about it and even deliberately bestowed the lantern upon him?
Xue Yan glanced at his slightly dazed expression, the corner of his lips curving faintly upward.
“Then perhaps that lantern liked you too. The two of you caught each other’s eye, so it came looking for you on its own.”
After saying that, he turned around and pushed open the door, moving aside to let Jun Huailang enter first. It was obvious that he was inviting him to have breakfast together.
Only then did Jun Huailang belatedly realize that this man was clearly teasing him. What Emperor-bestowed gift? What lantern flying over on its own? He was treating him like a child and deliberately playing with him.
Jun Huailang looked at him and saw that the smile and amusement on Xue Yan’s face were completely undisguised.
Xue Yan normally had very little expression. Even now, the smile he revealed was faint and light, carrying a trace of laziness. He looked rather wicked and mischievous.
Jun Huailang had never seen him behave in such a childish and mean-spirited manner before.
But immediately, a firm thought emerged in his mind.
That lantern must have been given to him by Xue Yan.
——
The family banquet on Little New Year’s Eve was, in the palace, merely the beginning of the New Year celebrations.
From this day onward, the palace became livelier with each passing day, and the princes no longer needed to attend lessons. Jun Huailang stayed in Mingluan Palace every day, giving him plenty of time to accompany Consort Shu and Jun Linghuan in preparing all sorts of little odds and ends for the New Year.
At the same time, he had other things to prepare.
Ever since Jun Linghuan had gotten a residence of her own, every New Year’s Eve, Jun Huailang would prepare a red envelope for her and place it beneath her pillow. Besides New Year’s money, he would also put some unique little gifts inside and tuck them beneath her pillow together.
This year was naturally no exception.
In previous years, he had lived at home and could freely enter and leave the Duke of State’s residence, so he would personally go out to find gifts for his younger sister. But this year, he lived in the palace and had nowhere to go, so he could only choose something for Jun Linghuan from the storehouse Consort Shu had prepared for him.
However, after giving Jun Linghuan gifts for so many years, he had long since figured out what she liked. Consort Shu had given him a great many miscellaneous things, and Jun Huailang rummaged through them until he found an exquisite and delicate pearl hairpin that happened to fit inside the red envelope.
But just as he was about to leave the storehouse, he suddenly remembered something else.
“Young Master?”
Seeing him stop and ponder, Fuyi called out from behind him.
After thinking for a moment, Jun Huailang said, “Should I prepare one for His Highness the Fifth Prince too?”
After all, this year, Mingluan Palace no longer had only Jun Linghuan as a child.
Fuyi immediately burst out laughing.
“Young Master, by the strictest count, you’re only one year older than His Highness the Fifth Prince. You can’t exactly be considered his elder.”
Jun Huailang paused, then chuckled softly.
Who said that? Counting his previous life, he was at least ten years older than him.
Although he had long since become accustomed to being sixteen again, the several additional years of experience from his previous life were still there. If one counted age by one’s mental maturity, he could indeed barely be considered Xue Yan’s elder.
But this had nothing to do with seniority.
From the beginning, he had placed a red envelope beneath Jun Linghuan’s pillow so that on the first morning of every year, when she woke up, she would be able to feel around beneath her pillow and find an unknown little surprise.
Now that his aunt’s palace had gained another Xue Yan, it would only take a little more effort to share this tradition with him, allowing him, in his first year at Mingluan Palace, to find a surprise beneath his pillow on New Year’s morning as well.
Thinking of this, the corners of Jun Huailang’s lips unconsciously lifted slightly.
“Go bring over the boxes that the family brought in when I entered the palace,” Jun Huailang said.
When he entered the palace, the Duke of State’s residence had prepared quite a few clothes and accessories for him to use in the palace. Xue Yan would be living in the deep palace year-round from now on, so giving him something from the palace itself would feel rather thoughtless.
The things Jun Huailang had brought from the residence, on the other hand, were much more exquisite and distinctive. Some of them had even been personally purchased by Jun Huailang himself.
Fuyi did as instructed and directed the palace attendants to bring the boxes from the residence before Jun Huailang.
Jun Huailang rummaged through them and selected a piece of celadon jade.
“What do you think of this?” He held it out to Fuyi.
He remembered that he had found this jade pendant himself in an antique shop. He had bought it purely because of its interesting design, one that immediately caught the eye.
Ordinary jade jue were usually simple round rings with a gap, with decorative patterns carved upon them. This particular piece of jade, however, had been carved from a single piece of celadon jade into a koi fish, so lifelike that it seemed almost alive.
The fish curved around with its tail in its mouth, naturally forming the arc of the jade jue. It looked both exquisite and lively.
Fuyi hurriedly said, “Young Master, this jade pendant is one of the things you especially like. When you bought it, you fell in love with it at first sight and couldn’t bear to put it down! You should choose another one. Keep this one for yourself.”
Jun Huailang smiled.
“This one.”
He had long since become different from the boy he had been in his early teens in his previous life, and had come to regard material possessions rather lightly. Besides, Xue Yan had given him a glass lantern a few days ago, and he had no idea how the man had obtained it. Returning the favor with a jade pendant was only natural.
“Go see whether the red paper can fit around it,” Jun Huailang instructed Fuyi.
Fuyi had no choice but to find some red paper and bring it over to test. The jade jue was exquisite and delicate, just the right size to fit inside the red envelope Jun Huailang had prepared.
“Then that’s perfect.”
Jun Huailang smiled at Fuyi’s regretful expression and reached out to tap him on the forehead.
“It fits perfectly inside, which means this item was meant to be given to His Highness the Fifth Prince.”
Fuyi muttered, “Young Master, you’re far too generous.”
Holding the red envelope containing the jade jue, Jun Huailang shook his head with a smile.
If Fuyi had also experienced his previous life, he would naturally understand where his generosity came from.
No matter how exquisite, distinctive, or rare a material possession was, none of it was worth caring about. Compared with such things, what mattered far more was that the people he cared about could all live safe and peaceful lives for the rest of their days, without suffering hardship.
And under that premise, doing everything he could to give a little more kindness to others was only natural.
“Later, go take a look. If Jinbao is free, then have him come here,” Jun Huailang instructed again.
——
The night before New Year’s Eve, red silk hung high throughout Mingluan Palace, and red lanterns were hung everywhere, all waiting for the New Year to arrive the following day.
Late into the night, Jinbao tiptoed open the door to the West Side Hall, cursing inwardly.
The benevolent Bodhisattva that was the Heir Jun was good in every way, but he simply loved ordering Jinbao around, sending him off to perform all sorts of dangerous and thankless tasks.
And every time he gave such an order, he did so casually, as though it were the easiest thing in the world.
Like this time.
Through the paper-covered window, the light from the red lanterns outside faintly seeped in, casting the entire West Side Hall in a hazy red glow and giving it an almost terrifying atmosphere.
Jinbao proceeded cautiously, gripping the red envelope Jun Huailang had given him in one hand, carefully approaching Xue Yan.
He had served at Xue Yan’s side all day. Either Xue Yan had been alone in his room, or Jinbao had simply had no opportunity to slip the red envelope beneath Xue Yan’s pillow.
He had no choice but to wait until deep into the night, sneak into Xue Yan’s room, and take advantage of the opportunity to tuck the red envelope beneath his pillow.
…Just look at what kind of thankless task His Highness the Heir had assigned him!
Put a red envelope beneath Xue Yan’s pillow?
Did he think it was as easy as placing something beneath a child’s pillow?
Jinbao complained inwardly, but did not dare disobey. He kept his nerves taut as he cautiously crossed the main room, went around the screen, and approached Xue Yan’s bed.
Fortunately, that living Yama was breathing steadily at the moment. He should have been sound asleep.
Jinbao proceeded cautiously until he reached the bedside.
Xue Yan did not move at all. Jinbao finally relaxed a little, gripping the red envelope as he carefully approached the head of the bed…
Suddenly, white light flashed.
A silver-bright dagger slashed out in a cold streak of light, pressed tightly against the side of Jinbao’s neck. With only the slightest pull, his blood would have splattered across the floor, leaving him with no chance of survival.
The icy blade rested against his artery. Jinbao did not dare move a muscle. His legs had gone rigid and completely numb. His eyes were wide open, while his scream was trapped in his throat, unable to escape.
Xue Yan had already abruptly sat up.
That excessively refined face was half-hidden in darkness, while the other half was illuminated by the red light from outside. His expression was cold and murderous.
Meeting those deep, cold, silent amber eyes, Jinbao felt as though he had just come face-to-face with the King of Hell.
“What are you doing?” he heard Xue Yan ask coldly.
How could Jinbao possibly make a sound?
He used the last bit of strength he had left to raise the red envelope in his hand and let Xue Yan see it.
“It is… His Highness the Heir.”
Feeling the dagger against his neck loosen slightly, Jinbao swallowed before finally managing to speak.
“He ordered this servant to put it here for Your Highness.”
A flash of white.
The dagger against Jinbao’s neck withdrew, like a venomous snake that had been ready to strike, retreating back beneath Xue Yan’s pillow.
Sitting on the bed with one leg raised and one hand resting on his knee, Xue Yan lazily yawned. His expression had returned to normal.
“Give it to me.”
He raised one hand and gave the order indifferently.
Jinbao’s legs went weak, and he staggered, nearly dropping to his knees. But he did not dare delay for even a moment. He held the red envelope up to Xue Yan with both hands.
Xue Yan took it, a hint of confusion appearing on his face. He turned the red envelope upside down, and several small gold ingots along with a piece of jade tumbled noisily onto the bed.
“What is this?”
Xue Yan picked up the piece of jade, frowning in confusion.
The red envelope was right here. What did he mean by asking what it was?
“…It is the New Year’s money His Highness the Heir gave you,” Jinbao said.
Xue Yan rubbed the jade pendant between his fingers.
Under the dim light, the celadon jade radiated a warm, lustrous glow. The carved koi fish had smooth, gentle lines, and the silk tassel hanging beneath it rested softly against his hand.
“…What is it for?”
Xue Yan paused, then frowned and continued asking.
It was true that he had never received New Year’s money. Since childhood, he had never had peers to play with, and he had no idea what the concept meant.
To him, the New Year had simply meant eating a steaming bowl of stewed mutton in the army, then watching those old soldiers drink and play finger-guessing games until the sky began to brighten.
This time, it was Jinbao’s turn to be astonished. He even forgot his fear.
This… his own family had been poor, and when he was little, his elders had at least placed one or two copper coins beneath his pillow during the New Year. How could his master, a member of the imperial clan, not even know this?
Jinbao could only cautiously explain, “To answer Your Highness, New Year’s money is money wrapped in red paper and placed beneath a child’s pillow on New Year’s Eve. It can ward off evil spirits and protect them so that they remain safe and peaceful throughout the year.”
Xue Yan paused and looked at the several small gold ingots scattered across the bed.
This was meant to ward off evil spirits and keep him safe?
After a moment, Jinbao saw Xue Yan stare blankly at the little gold ingots for a while before revealing an extremely faint smile.
“I understand.”
As he put the little ingots back into the red envelope, Xue Yan said indifferently, “You’ve worked hard. You may leave.”
This was the first time Jinbao had ever heard Xue Yan tell him, “You’ve worked hard.”
One had to know that Jinbao had risked life and limb for Xue Yan and had even watched death soldiers sneak into the Eastern Depot to steal things, yet he had never once received a “You’ve worked hard” from Xue Yan.
But then again, it made sense.
He had almost been killed by this ancestor just now!
Jinbao muttered inwardly as he withdrew.
Preoccupied with his own complaints, he naturally failed to notice the light and emotions flickering in Xue Yan’s lowered eyes as he slowly put away the things in the red envelope.
From childhood until now, the only things he had ever placed beneath his pillow were weapons, so that he could save his own life even in his dreams.
This was what the Prince of Yan had taught him.
The Prince of Yan had said that there were countless evil spirits in this world. Only by keeping a blade beside himself and remaining constantly vigilant could he strike them down at any moment and preserve his own life.
This was the first time someone had carefully prepared a heavy red envelope and placed it beneath his pillow, intending to drive away evil spirits and keep him safe.
Xue Yan slowly lay back down, resting his head on the pillow beneath which the red envelope was pressed.
Outside the window, the entire palace was brightly decorated, already filled with the atmosphere of the New Year.
For the first time, Xue Yan clearly felt that this liveliness had something to do with him.
And, strangely enough, after living alone for so many years, he had slowly begun to form a connection with this world that had originally belonged to other people.
All because of one person.