Chapter 25
“Young master, you’re awake. Your clothes and toiletries are ready. I’ll assist you with dressing.”
As Murong Qiufeng opened his eyes and rubbed his forehead to sit up, he heard a slightly surprised and shy voice. Turning his head, he saw a boy about eleven or twelve years old holding a set of grooming supplies, nervously looking at him with a flushed face and restless eyes, seemingly very anxious.
Murong Qiufeng frowned, his mind clearing a bit. He glanced around at the unfamiliar surroundings, which made him purse his lips. He noticed an odd discomfort in his lips and instinctively touched them, asking淡淡ly, “Where is this place?” This wasn’t his room, and the attendant was not one of his own servants. He only remembered drinking the night before, leaving the banquet, and then it seemed he fell asleep. After that, like with any previous drinking episode, he couldn’t recall anything.
“Master, this is the Prince’s residence, the Duke of Ye’s residence,” the boy said timidly.
The Duke’s residence?
Murong Qiufeng frowned. It seemed the prince had taken him away last night and didn’t return to the Xiang residence but brought him to the Duke’s residence. He wondered if he had made a fool of himself last night due to the alcohol.
Feeling a bit of a headache, he rubbed his forehead, got out of bed, and walked over to the boy.
The boy quickly lowered his head, not daring to look at Murong Qiufeng, and handed him a cup of mouthwash, attending to him.
As Murong Qiufeng tried to recall the events of last night, he noticed the boy’s hesitance and asked, “What’s wrong? Just say whatever is on your mind.”
Murong Qiufeng was usually very gentle with his servants, and his soft and clear voice made the boy, who was used to the prince’s stern demeanor, feel more at ease and less nervous. The boy said, “Master, it seems like you had an allergic reaction. There are some red patches. Should I call a doctor?”
Murong Qiufeng paused, then touched his neck. It was likely an allergic reaction from drinking. He often developed red patches after drinking, which his senior brother said was due to his constitution and would subside in a day. It wasn’t a disease and wasn’t a concern.
He smiled and shook his head. “It’s nothing serious.”
“Oh,” the boy responded quickly, then changed the topic, “The prince asked me to watch over you. When you wake up, he would like you to join him for breakfast.”
Lord Shangguan Ye had long understood Murong Qiufeng’s routine and knew he would be up at this time. So he came early to wait and ordered the breakfast in advance. However, he was torn between revealing the truth and making an excuse. Although he hadn’t gone all the way last night, the marks on Murong Qiufeng were hard to ignore. He wondered how Murong Qiufeng would react upon discovering them.
As he pondered, a white figure appeared, graceful and elegant, moving like a swan. Despite the situation, Shangguan Ye didn’t show any anger or confusion, only a hint of puzzlement.
Shangguan Ye observed Murong Qiufeng approaching, his heart pounding with an unfamiliar nervousness. It was a new experience for him to feel anxious.
Murong Qiufeng, seeing Shangguan Ye staring at him, felt uneasy, especially recalling how he might have embarrassed himself in front of the prince last night.
Noticing Murong Qiufeng’s awkward expression, Shangguan Ye was slightly surprised. Was he feeling embarrassed? Did he remember last night’s events?
Murong Qiufeng awkwardly entered the hall and politely cupped his hands in greeting. “Your Highness, I’m sorry for causing trouble last night.”
It was a significant trouble, and Shangguan Ye felt a bit aggrieved, having almost spent the night in cold water. Hearing Murong Qiufeng’s apology seemed somewhat odd to him. He raised an eyebrow and said, “Oh, don’t be polite, Qiufeng. I actually hoped you’d be more troublesome. But you were so quiet that I missed a good opportunity to blackmail you.” He said, testing the waters.
Murong Qiufeng was taken aback, frowning again. After a moment of hesitation, he awkwardly asked, “Your Highness, did I act out of line last night?” This was what he was most concerned about, as he placed great importance on his image and manners.
So he doesn’t remember.
Shangguan Ye, feeling both relieved and slightly disappointed, shook his head. “No, you were very quiet even after drinking. I’ve never seen someone so calm when drunk. Were you trying to fool me? Please, have a seat.”
Quiet?
Murong Qiufeng was puzzled but, thinking that Shangguan Ye probably wouldn’t lie to him, he also relaxed, thinking that maybe he didn’t act out because he wasn’t very familiar with Shangguan Ye. “That’s good then. I didn’t mean to trouble you. Since I’ve been up all night, I wonder if the Xiang residence knows where I am?”
“I had someone inform the Xiang residence last night. The Prime Minister said to let you rest here and not rush back,” Shangguan Ye said, unable to hide his amusement.
Murong Qiufeng felt a pang of disappointment. His father was eager for him to make connections with the prince and originally wanted him to befriend Shangguan Ye. Now with these ulterior motives added, he didn’t want to deal with the misunderstandings. “It’s inappropriate to keep troubling you. I’m fine now, so I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait, are you really going to leave like this?” Shangguan Ye, feeling displeased, focused his gaze on the marks on Murong Qiufeng’s neck from last night. Was he ignoring them or genuinely unaware? Shangguan Ye felt a bit annoyed. He had prepared excuses for being questioned, but Murong Qiufeng seemed entirely unconcerned.
Seeing Shangguan Ye staring at his neck, Murong Qiufeng explained, “Oh, it’s just an allergic reaction from drinking. It’s nothing serious and will go away with time.”
Allergic reaction?
Shangguan Ye was momentarily stunned, then couldn’t help but laugh. Was he really this innocent, or was it deliberate? However, he was inclined to believe the latter. The little guy was quite endearing. Now, he didn’t need to come up with excuses; Murong Qiufeng had provided one for him.
Feeling uncomfortable under Shangguan Ye’s odd gaze, Murong Qiufeng unconsciously touched his neck and added, “These symptoms appear every time I drink due to my constitution. It’s not contagious, so you don’t need to worry, Your Highness.”
Shangguan Ye, originally amused and teasing, suddenly became serious. He stood up, his voice tinged with a chilling edge, “Every time you drink? Do you drink often?”
If his mood was changeable before, now it was like a thunderstorm. Those marks were not just an allergy, and if he drank often, it meant…
