Jun Huailang and Xue Yan entered the carriage together.
The pleasure boat was by Slender West Lake, and there was still quite a distance to travel from here to the official post station. Jun Huailang struggled to help Xue Yan sit properly inside the carriage, then instructed the driver to set off.
Once Xue Yan entered the carriage, he sat ramrod straight, looking even more solemn and proper than usual. His face was expressionless as well, his eyes fixed straight ahead, making him look cold, stern, and imposing.
The driver urged the horses forward.
With the slight rocking of the carriage as it started moving, there was a sudden thump. Xue Yan tipped sideways and knocked his head against the carriage wall.
The noise was loud enough to startle Jun Huailang. He hurriedly leaned over and saw Xue Yan holding onto the carriage in frustration, yet unable to sit back up.
The carriage rocked unsteadily as it moved forward. Xue Yan braced himself against it with one hand, but it did little good. His head kept occasionally knocking against the carriage wall, making him look rather pitiful.
Jun Huailang: “…”
“Lean back a little, Your Highness.” He laughed helplessly and reached out to help Xue Yan upright, intending to let him lean against the back of the seat.
But immediately afterward, the carriage rolled over a small stone. Xue Yan tipped sideways with the force of Jun Huailang’s support and fell straight onto Jun Huailang again.
He was tall, and when he fell this time, his full weight came down heavily on Jun Huailang, pinning him firmly against the carriage wall.
Xue Yan’s head happened to sink into the hollow of Jun Huailang’s shoulder. With every breath, the scent of sandalwood mingled with the rich fragrance of wine, enveloping Jun Huailang.
He seemed to have finally found a more comfortable position. With his head buried against Jun Huailang’s shoulder, he let out a long breath and closed his eyes.
His slightly hot breath, together with his cool strands of hair, fell against the hollow of Jun Huailang’s neck.
Jun Huailang felt half of his shoulder go numb, with a faint itch mixed into the numbness.
His heartbeat inexplicably skipped several beats, making him somewhat flustered. He raised his hand, intending to push Xue Yan upright.
But just then, Xue Yan gave a low hum.
“…My head hurts.” His voice was slightly hoarse, and he murmured quietly to himself.
The hand Jun Huailang had been about to use to push him away inexplicably stopped in place.
After a moment, Jun Huailang sighed. He raised his hand and rested it on Xue Yan’s shoulder, allowing him to remain as he was.
Xue Yan quietly leaned against him. With the jolting of the carriage, his face was almost completely buried in the hollow of Jun Huailang’s shoulder. His breathing was hot, and his nose was high and straight, the tip brushing against Jun Huailang’s neck as his warm breath drifted directly into the collar of his clothes.
Gradually, Jun Huailang felt as though even the temperature inside the carriage was slowly rising. He couldn’t help lifting the carriage curtain, allowing the soft night breeze to blow inside.
But it didn’t seem to help much.
“…You should drink less next time, Your Highness,” Jun Huailang said softly after a moment.
Xue Yan hadn’t fallen asleep yet. Hearing this, he gave a muffled hum.
As he responded, he turned over.
Jun Huailang quickly took advantage of the opportunity to push him up a little, pulling his face out of the hollow of his shoulder and letting him lean against his shoulder instead.
The patch of skin that had already gone numb finally began to regain some feeling.
The night breeze blew in and brushed against their faces. Xue Yan opened his eyes again. But after being rocked by the carriage, with the alcohol surging through his head, he was now hazy and confused, unable to recognize where he was.
Outside the window happened to be a bustling marketplace. Yangzhou had no curfew, and at this hour the shops and street vendors were still brightly lit and lively. The lamplight spilled into the carriage, illuminating Xue Yan’s light-colored eyes until they seemed to sparkle.
Jun Huailang’s heart gave another two inexplicable beats.
“They’re all annoying. They kept trying to make me drink,” Xue Yan said dully as he leaned against him and gazed hazily out the window, his voice carrying a slight nasal slur from the alcohol.
His low, hoarse voice sounded almost as though he were acting spoiled.
Jun Huailang came back to himself, then laughed.
“They’re all annoying?” he asked.
Xue Yan paused but said nothing.
His expression remained composed and cold. Even though he was currently leaning against Jun Huailang, when Jun Huailang lowered his head, he could still see that Xue Yan’s features were sharp and severe as blades and swords.
But his gaze remained fixed on a certain point as he seriously thought about Jun Huailang’s question.
Outside, the streets were filled with noise and activity. The cries of vendors and the sounds of people talking and laughing could faintly be heard inside the carriage. Perhaps the atmosphere of everyday life outside was simply too strong at this moment. Perhaps the person beside him was simply too quiet and well-behaved.
Jun Huailang’s heart inexplicably relaxed and softened.
It was a state of mind he had rarely experienced during this year and more of being constantly tense and on guard.
He was even affected enough to become somewhat drunk himself.
Just then, Xue Yan spoke again.
“Not all of them,” he said.
Jun Huailang came back to himself. “Hm?”
Xue Yan’s expression was serious.
“Jun Huailang isn’t.”
This was the first time Jun Huailang had ever heard Xue Yan call him by his full name.
“He’s very likable.”
Then Jun Huailang heard Xue Yan say this.
Although those amber-colored eyes weren’t looking at him, the gaze within them was filled with certainty and seriousness, as well as a deep affection so intense that it was difficult to withstand.
——
Perhaps the aftereffects of the Nü’erhong really were too strong, causing even Jun Huailang’s head to feel somewhat heated.
Throughout his entire life, across both his past and present lives, he had heard countless words of praise. From being praised for his intelligence and natural talent as a child, to being praised for his outstanding appearance and exceptional talents after growing up. Even during the final years of his previous life, there had been no shortage of young ladies in Chang’an who admired him, some of whom had even dared to confess their feelings to his face.
He had long since grown accustomed to praise. He had heard every kind of flattering compliment there was, and after so many years, all he would do was smile, respond, and modestly decline the praise. It no longer stirred any waves in his heart.
But that one lighthearted sentence from Xue Yan made his heartbeat inexplicably disorderly, and it remained so for the entire journey.
His very first thought was even: What kind of liking was he talking about?
Only after this thought surfaced did Jun Huailang realize how absurd it was.
Xue Yan had merely drunk too much and casually complimented him. Given their relationship now, there was nothing strange about casually praising him…
Although, Xue Yan’s expression at the time really had made him think too much for a moment.
This sort of situation had never happened to him before.
Jun Huailang hurriedly raised his head and stared steadily out the window, not saying another word.
His expression remained calm and cool, but inside, his thoughts were a complete mess. His mind felt somewhat muddled until the carriage finally arrived at the official post station.
Only after the carriage stopped did he belatedly think that he must have drunk too much as well.
The aged Nü’erhong today had simply been too intoxicating.
When Jinbao opened the carriage curtain, he was startled by the sight before him.
The Heir Apparent was sitting against the edge of the carriage, his expression cool and composed, while his master had already fallen asleep, leaning against him.
Seeing Jinbao, Jun Huailang came back to himself and asked, “We’ve arrived?”
Jinbao hurriedly replied, “We’ve arrived at the post station! Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness the Heir Apparent. His Highness really did drink quite a bit today…”
As he spoke, Jinbao bent forward and stepped up to help Jun Huailang get Xue Yan down from the carriage.
Just then, Xue Yan, who had been awakened by the noise, slowly opened his eyes and sat up slightly.
He had slept for a little while, and the effects of the alcohol had finally faded somewhat. He had regained a little awareness. He raised his hand and sluggishly rubbed his temple before turning his eyes toward Jun Huailang beside him.
When their gazes met, Jun Huailang unexpectedly looked away in a hurry and didn’t speak to him either.
Xue Yan paused for a moment before belatedly wondering what he had done just now to anger Jun Huailang.
But he had blacked out on the way and couldn’t remember anything that had happened.
Seeing that he was awake, Jinbao quickly stopped where he was and waited for his master’s instructions.
“Get out,” Xue Yan ordered hoarsely, raising his hand.
Jinbao hurriedly and efficiently helped him out of the carriage.
Jun Huailang followed him down. Only after standing up did he belatedly realize that half of his shoulder had gone completely numb from being pressed on.
Fortunately, although Xue Yan had a poor tolerance for alcohol, he also recovered quickly. At this point, with one hand supported by Jinbao, he was able to walk upstairs by himself. Jun Huailang followed behind and escorted him all the way to his room.
When they reached the door, Xue Yan braced himself against the doorframe and stood still. He turned his head and hesitated, wanting to say something to Jun Huailang.
…Mainly, he wanted to ask whether he had said anything he shouldn’t have.
Xue Yan felt guilty. After all, he knew exactly what sort of feelings he had for Jun Huailang. At the same time, he also clearly understood that it was he who was being overly ambitious and indulging in wishful thinking, while the other person had never had such intentions.
He had been restraining himself, as though he had forcibly locked a wild beast inside a cage, not daring to let even the slightest trace of it show.
But what happened after he blacked out from drinking… was impossible to say.
Drunk, Xue Yan felt somewhat guilty.
Just as he didn’t know how to begin, Jun Huailang spoke.
“Your Highness, get some rest early tonight. You still have to go to the government office tomorrow, don’t you?” he said.
Xue Yan rubbed his forehead and gave a hum.
“Are you going tomorrow?” he asked.
Hearing this, Jun Huailang did not conceal anything and answered candidly, “I won’t be going tomorrow. Young Master Shen invited me to go into the mountains some time ago. We’re leaving tomorrow, and I’ll be accompanying him.”
Xue Yan’s gaze immediately sharpened.
He remembered how intimate Shen Liufeng had been with Jun Huailang before the banquet today. Then he remembered the way the two of them had been chatting so happily at the drinking table.
It made his mouth turn sour, and he began to dislike that man as well.
They were going out alone together tomorrow?
“Is it safe to go into the mountains?” Xue Yan asked.
This question caught Jun Huailang off guard.
Shen Liufeng had only told him that he had already found a route, but as for what route it was, Jun Huailang didn’t know either.
“It should be safe…” He hesitated for a moment before answering.
Even after drinking so much, Xue Yan was still sharp enough to detect the uncertainty in his tone.
“Tomorrow, I’ll go with you.”
Jinbao, standing beside them, was stunned.
This… how could that possibly work?
Not to mention that the matters at the government office tomorrow were rather important, tomorrow was also the day the Eastern Depot would be sending news to Jiangnan. How could his master simply leave whenever he wanted?
“This…” Jinbao couldn’t help speaking.
Then he immediately received a dangerous look from his master.
He wisely shut his mouth.
Fine, fine. Even the biggest matter in the world wasn’t as important as the living Bodhisattva standing right in front of him.
Jun Huailang was stunned when he heard this. But seeing Jinbao’s expression, he also understood that there were important matters waiting for Xue Yan in Yangzhou tomorrow.
He simply assumed that Xue Yan was drunk and talking nonsense, so he didn’t argue with him and agreed.
He himself would have to set out early tomorrow, much earlier than the time they usually left for the government office.
Xue Yan had gotten drunk tonight. It would already be difficult enough for him to wake early tomorrow, let alone leave with Jun Huailang at daybreak.
Therefore, although Jun Huailang agreed, he did not tell Xue Yan the time. He merely nodded toward Jinbao, then bid farewell and returned to his own room.
But Jun Huailang had forgotten that Xue Yan was a person who had never been someone one could judge by ordinary standards.
Thus, early the next morning, when even he was still sleepy and had to yawn as he finished getting ready and left the post station, he unexpectedly saw two people.
One was Shen Liufeng, riding a jujube-red horse. He was sitting ramrod straight on its back, looking cautious, his eyes constantly sneaking glances toward Jun Huailang.
Jun Huailang understood the meaning in his eyes:
…Why is this one here?
Jun Huailang followed the direction of his gesture and looked over.
He saw Xue Yan sitting quietly atop a tall, pure-black horse.
The sky had not yet brightened. The faintly whitening horizon behind him cast a weak glow around his figure.
Those amber-colored eyes quietly met Jun Huailang’s gaze.