Jun Huailang had only thought that Xue Yan would come to the residence, but he had not expected it to be so soon.
Early the next morning, he informed his father and arranged for people to clean and organize the courtyard opposite his own. He had never been good at these miscellaneous matters and did not know what needed to be done. After walking around the courtyard once and finding himself at a loss as to where to begin, he simply assigned the matter to Fuyi.
With the time he had freed up, he made a trip to Linjiang Academy and walked around in front of the embankment.
Just as Shen Liufeng had said, the embankment had been built quite sturdily, and it followed the direction of the river. There were even outlets for irrigating the fertile fields, allowing the river water to have somewhere to drain during ordinary days. It was clear that Magistrate Shen had put a great deal of thought into it.
Thus, even though there had been abundant rainfall this year, the river remained within a safe range and had not overflowed the embankment.
After walking around once, a few doubts took root in Jun Huailang’s heart. He always felt that there was something suspicious about the breach in this river embankment.
Near noon, Jun Huailang returned to the residence.
He had originally intended to go back and see how Fuyi had arranged the courtyard opposite his own. But as soon as he arrived at the entrance of the Provincial Governor’s Residence, he was startled by the bustling scene before him.
Servants were carrying boxes and chests of all sizes in and out of the residence gate. The one standing at the entrance directing them as they carried things was none other than Jinbao.
Jun Huailang hurried forward.
“Eunuch Jinbao?” he asked in surprise.
Although Jinbao was now the number-one favorite in front of the illustrious Prince Guangling, how could he dare accept Jun Huailang calling him “Eunuch”?
He hurriedly bowed to Jun Huailang, smiling so broadly that his eyes nearly disappeared, his face full of cheerful delight.
“Young Master Jun. His Highness disembarked today. He is currently drinking with the various officials.”
Jun Huailang was rather surprised. “Then, Eunuch, you did not accompany His Highness?”
Jinbao thought to himself: There is Duan Shisi. Whether he is there or not makes no difference. In any case, no one can touch a single hair on his master’s head.
He smiled pleasantly.
“There is no need for this servant to attend His Highness at the banquet, so this servant took the liberty of having His Highness’s luggage moved down ahead of time, so that His Highness can stay at the residence today.”
Naturally, Jinbao would never truly dare to make such a decision on his own. But he could not possibly tell Jun Huailang that his own master was practically rushing to stay at the Young Master’s residence, and would throw a temper tantrum if he had to spend even one more day on the boat, could he?
When that lord lost his temper, it would be a scene of a million corpses lying on the ground and blood floating the oars. Jinbao could not bear that responsibility.
Jun Huailang was puzzled.
“Why are you rushing it so much?”
After all, Jun Huailang had also traveled by boat from Chang’an and knew how troublesome it was to move back and forth. The things used in daily life had to be put in order, and naturally one could not live comfortably during the first couple of days. Back then, they themselves had remained on the boat for two days before everything had finally been moved.
Jinbao had long since prepared his excuse. Hearing this, he put on a pretentious sigh.
“Young Master, you do not know this, but every additional day His Highness stays on the boat means another day of suffering for him,” he said.
Sure enough, Jun Huailang immediately asked, “Why is that?”
Jinbao said, “I don’t know why, but whenever His Highness rides a boat, he gets dizzy. The journey these past two days was rushed as well, so it became even worse. He spent another night on the boat yesterday, and this morning His Highness had such a headache that he could barely eat a few bites of breakfast.”
Naturally, he was exaggerating.
Although Xue Yan did get seasick, firstly, their boat was large, so it was much steadier; secondly, his symptoms were extremely mild. Even if the rushed journey over the previous two days had made him somewhat uncomfortable, after sleeping one night yesterday, he had completely recovered.
After all, with his master’s indestructible body, what could a little seasickness possibly amount to?
But sure enough, Jinbao saw worry appear on the Young Master’s face.
“Is it that serious?” Jun Huailang asked.
He knew that some people became dizzy on boats. When they had traveled south last year, some of the servants accompanying them had suffered from seasickness. The most serious one had a high fever that would not go down, vomiting and diarrhea all the way. By the time they reached Jinling, he had nearly lost half his life.
He suddenly remembered Xue Yan’s unpleasant expression last night.
So it wasn’t that he was in a bad mood. His body was simply uncomfortable…
He knew that Xue Yan was accustomed to enduring things. It had been the same back in the palace. No matter how great the hardship or pain, even when he had just been punished, he could still silently go fetch water by himself.
Naturally, he would never let his discomfort show.
Jinbao carefully observed him from the side. Sure enough, several traces of worry appeared on the Young Master’s face, and the space between his brows furrowed as well. With that clear and extraordinarily handsome appearance of his, once such sorrow appeared on his face, he looked like a jade mountain about to collapse, making even those around him feel heartache from the bottom of their hearts.
No wonder that King of Hell had developed such a mess of thoughts about him…
Jinbao silently grumbled to himself.
After a moment, Jun Huailang said, “I understand. Is there anything else you are still missing here? Fuyi is more familiar with Jinling City. If there is anything important you lack, just send him to buy it.”
Jinbao hurriedly agreed.
Jun Huailang nodded at him and entered through the residence gate first.
Jinbao looked at his retreating back and could not help sighing.
Master, this servant can only help you this far.
——
Although Xue Yan had long since stopped getting seasick, his tolerance for alcohol was extremely poor.
Even in the capital, very few people knew about this. After all, he was an imperial prince greatly favored by the Emperor, as well as a cold-faced King of Hell. Normally, when it came to social occasions, the fact that he was willing to attend was already giving them face. Who would dare persuade him to drink?
But Jiangnan was different.
Magistrate Shen was famous for being highly skilled at socializing. Not only was he capable at handling actual affairs, he was also extremely well-liked among his fellow officials. If not for that, he would never have been able to hold his position so steadily in such a good place as Jinling.
Jiangnan was not only a place where the people were prosperous and talented scholars could be found everywhere; it was also a wonderful place for amusement and sightseeing.
Whenever officials from the capital came south on inspection, aside from completing the proper official business, they would always have to leave some time to travel and play for a few days, so as not to have come all the way south for nothing. Receiving officials was a natural form of social exchange in officialdom, so naturally the local officials had to play host.
Magistrate Shen had become experienced at this. Every time, he could use the smallest possible expense to let the officials from the capital properly appreciate the beautiful scenery of Jiangnan. Without spending much money, he could make both host and guests thoroughly enjoy themselves and become reluctant to leave.
Naturally, Prince Guangling was no exception.
Thus, a welcoming banquet held aboard a stone pleasure boat by the lakeside went on all the way from noon until evening. The food and wine at the banquet, as well as the singing and dancing for entertainment, were all Jiangnan specialties, instantly taking everyone who had come from Chang’an from the majestic and solemn capital to the Jiangnan water towns of small bridges and flowing streams.
But Xue Yan had not the slightest interest in these flashy things.
Under ordinary circumstances, if he was unwilling, he would simply fling his sleeves and leave, regardless of whether the person sitting opposite him was a high-ranking official or a venerable old minister of several dynasties.
But this time, he could not.
Because Jun Huailang’s father was at the banquet.
Normally speaking, with the Duke of Yongning’s cold and indifferent temperament, he would not have attended such a banquet. But this time, it was a welcome banquet for Xue Yan, and it had also been arranged by his good friend, Magistrate Shen. Thus, he had never left his seat.
Xue Yan therefore had no way to leave.
Throughout the entire afternoon, the wine at the banquet never stopped. He had no interest in watching the singing and dancing, and as it happened, Duke Yongning did not like them either. Sitting beside Xue Yan, before long the two of them actually began discussing matters at court.
With only a few words, Duke Yongning came to appreciate him greatly. Before long, he became more talkative and also began frequently to raise his cup and toast Xue Yan.
Even though the wine served at the banquet was Jiangnan peach-blossom brew, it was still intoxicating.
By the time the sun was sinking in the west and the banquet dispersed, Xue Yan’s feet were already somewhat unsteady. His entire body was also burning hot, making him terribly irritable.
Thus, when Jun Huailang came to Xue Yan’s courtyard that night, this was the scene he saw.
Xue Yan was slouched on the couch by the window. He had not taken off his shoes, one foot planted on the couch, one hand supporting his forehead and the other resting on his knee. He looked broad and imposing, almost like the bandit chief of some mountain stronghold.
His brows were tightly knitted, his eyes closed as he feigned sleep. Anyone could tell that he was rather uncomfortable.
The servants in the room were still bustling about, arranging things, people coming and going. However, even though the courtyard was chaotic at this moment, the area within three feet around him was the only place kept orderly. It was obvious that the servants around him were taking excellent care of him.
Beside his hand was a hangover remedy, and there were some small snacks prepared on the table. Jinbao was still beside him, fanning him.
Jun Huailang stood at the doorway, hesitating for a moment.
He smiled. He simply felt that his old habits were hard to change. He had forgotten that Xue Yan was already no longer what he once was, and was no longer that down-and-out prince whom no one cared about and whom only he remembered.
He had only been thinking about Xue Yan’s seasickness and worrying somewhat about him, yet had forgotten that the servants nowadays, even if Prince Guangling was still the same taciturn person who endured his suffering without saying anything, would never dare fail to read his expression or take poor care of him.
Instead, he was the one being somewhat superfluous.
Just as Jun Huailang stopped at the doorway, Jinbao spotted him with sharp eyes.
Sure enough! He knew that this soft-hearted Young Master would definitely take the initiative to come find His Highness today!
Jinbao could not help applauding and weeping bitter tears in his heart over his own good deed from earlier that day.
The King of Hell at this moment was a King of Hell who had been drinking. That was like pouring hot oil over a firecracker—it could ignite even without being lit. They were currently serving him with extreme caution, afraid of touching even a single hair on the tiger’s head, and then the Young Master had arrived.
This was truly his good fortune!
Jinbao hurriedly called out, “Young Master Jun, you’re here!”
Sure enough, the fierce tiger lying on his side on the couch suddenly opened his light-colored eyes and looked toward the doorway.
Hearing this, Jun Huailang revealed a gentle smile and led Fuyi inside.
Jinbao saw that the slightly tipsy King of Hell on the couch quietly lowered the foot he had been resting on the couch.
“His Highness only moved in today, and it was somewhat rushed, so I thought I would come and see whether anything was still missing.”
As he spoke, he walked up in front of Xue Yan and raised a hand, signaling Fuyi behind him to put down the things he was carrying on the table.
“I also heard that His Highness was somewhat seasick, so I brought some loquats, some early-ripening sour apricots, and some cooled mung bean water for His Highness,” Jun Huailang continued. “When I came to Jiangnan last year, one of my attendants also became seasick. Seeing a doctor was not very useful, but after eating these things, he got better.”
Fuyi placed the tray he was carrying on the table. On it was a plate of washed fruit, still covered in sparkling water droplets, along with a bowl of mung bean water, its clear, refreshing color rippling gently.
Xue Yan raised his eyes to look at him. Because of the alcohol, his gaze was somewhat sluggish. He stared at him for a moment without moving his eyes away.
Jinbao almost wished he could cough his throat raw, reminding this ancestor to come back to his senses.
Jun Huailang froze for a moment, then asked, “His Highness has been drinking?”
Xue Yan gave a hoarse hum and raised his hand to point to the place beside him.
“Sit.”
Jun Huailang walked over and sat down.
Xue Yan rubbed his forehead, then reached into the plate and picked out something, tossing it into his mouth.
It was a green apricot.
Jinbao’s heart rose straight into his throat.
Others did not know, but as the servant who waited on him every day, it was impossible for Jinbao not to know. His master was not particularly picky about food normally, but there was one thing he disliked above all else: sour foods.
But immediately afterward, he saw his master chew the green apricot without changing his expression and swallow it.
“Are you feeling any better?”
Jun Huailang looked at him, his eyes filled with expectation and concern.
And then he saw his master look at the other man and nod quite obediently.
“Much better,” he said.