Chapter 63
When Murong Qiufeng returned to the prince’s residence, the moon was already high in the sky.
He had spent half the day accompanying Yun Feiyang as they wandered around. Later, they returned to the Prime Minister’s manor, had dinner, and chatted for a while before it was nearly midnight. Yun Feiyang had been temporarily arranged to stay at the manor.
Although it was his family home and he should have stayed there too, Murong Qiufeng hesitated. In the end, he chose to return to the prince’s residence. Part of him was worried that Shangguan Ye might still be angry, but another part—though he couldn’t explain why—felt that the prince’s residence, where he had stayed for just over a month, gave him more of a sense of home than the manor did.
Finding an excuse, he left the Prime Minister’s manor. His father, eager to see him get along with Shangguan Ye, was more than happy to send him on his way.
By the time he arrived at the prince’s residence, it was still brightly lit. The guards on duty brightened upon seeing him, their faces lighting up with enthusiasm.
“Young Master, you’ve finally returned! His Highness—”
“Ahem! Uh, Young Master, it’s a cold night. You should hurry back to your room and rest.” One guard interrupted the other mid-sentence, shooting him a look that clearly said, Don’t drag me into your loose talk if you don’t value your head.
Murong Qiufeng sighed inwardly, already guessing the situation. It seemed Shangguan Ye was still angry.
As he walked toward the courtyard, the place was silent.
Murong Qiufeng glanced at Shangguan Ye’s darkened room before turning his eyes to the study, which was still lit. He frowned slightly. Still working? Maybe I should just let it be.
Deciding not to disturb him, Murong Qiufeng turned to head back to his room.
A flicker of movement startled him, and he instinctively became alert. Then a familiar voice whispered close by, “My dear Young Master, you’re finally back.”
“Xiao You?” Murong Qiufeng recognized the voice. Though he had always known Xiao You was not ordinary, this was the first time he had seen her display such skill. Her silent, ghost-like movements had completely escaped his notice.
Xiao You’s face was scrunched in frustration as she quickly pulled him into the room. She began complaining as if spilling her grievances. “I say, did you and His Highness have another argument? You two were laughing and chatting when you left this morning, but now it’s thunder and rain again. Us servants have fragile hearts, you know. We can’t handle this constant back-and-forth.”
Murong Qiufeng pursed his lips and sighed. “Today’s incident was my fault. Did he… do anything?”
“Ay, you two are such a headache. Ever since His Highness came back, he’s been locked in the study working. Aside from Butler Yang occasionally bringing tea, the door hasn’t opened once—not even for dinner. And you? You didn’t come back for so long that we thought you weren’t returning at all.”
Xiao You sighed dramatically, exasperated by the two stubborn men. Both preferred bottling up their feelings and stewing in their own frustrations, which inevitably led to misunderstandings.
“What? He didn’t eat dinner?” Murong Qiufeng froze, his tone rising slightly as worry and guilt flickered across his face.
Xiao You massaged her temples helplessly. “Exactly. Butler Yang tried several times to bring him food, but His Highness either refused it or outright threw it out. Even Butler Yang got scolded. It’s such a cold night—no matter how strong His Highness is, working nonstop on an empty stomach in this chill will wear him down eventually.”
The more Murong Qiufeng listened, the deeper the worry etched itself into his expression. A hint of frustration also crept into his eyes. Without saying another word, he turned and walked out.
Watching him leave, Xiao You’s annoyed demeanor transformed into one of satisfaction, a sly smile tugging at her lips. But when Murong Qiufeng disappeared through the courtyard gates, she froze in panic. Is he leaving home?
If that were true, Xiao You paled at the thought of the consequences. Her well-intentioned meddling might have backfired terribly. If Murong Qiufeng truly left, the prince’s residence would become a living hell.
Frantic, she used her light-footed skills to follow him, only to see him heading for the kitchen, asking for directions along the way.
The meaning behind this was clear. Xiao You exhaled in relief, then chuckled to herself. As she expected, Murong Qiufeng’s temperament wouldn’t allow him to ignore His Highness after her carefully crafted storytelling.
Lord, this subordinate of yours has worked so hard to play matchmaker. I carry the guilt of luring an innocent man, all for your sake. So please, treat me more leniently in the future…
In the study, Shangguan Ye set his brush down, massaging his brow. He reached for his teacup, only to find the tea cold. His brows furrowed as he glanced at the sky outside. The moon was high now. Looking at the stack of documents he had finished, he realized he had completed three days’ worth of work in half a day.
Holding the icy cup, his gaze drifted to the moonlight outside. Unbidden, his thoughts turned to the wall separating his study from Murong Qiufeng’s quarters. Beyond that wall—had he returned?
As the thought crossed his mind, the anger he had suppressed flared up again. Hmph, he still cares to come back? He probably only has his Senior Brother in his heart.
For the first time, Shangguan Ye felt an uncharacteristic lack of confidence, mixed with frustration.
His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door.
Thinking it was Butler Yang bringing more tea, he set down the cup and said coolly, “Come in.” Picking up his brush, he focused on the remaining documents. Only when working could he keep his mind from wandering.
The door creaked open. Murong Qiufeng entered, his eyes scanning the room. Seeing Shangguan Ye engrossed in his work and noticing the small mountain of documents on the desk—with a few scattered on the floor—his brows knit slightly.
He placed a tray of food on the desk and crouched to pick up the fallen documents.
The faint aroma of food caught Shangguan Ye’s attention. Looking up at the dishes on the table, his expression darkened. His voice grew colder. “Did I not say—”
The words died in his throat when he saw Murong Qiufeng standing, holding the scattered documents. For a moment, he was stunned.
Murong Qiufeng, seemingly unfazed by Shangguan Ye’s sharp tone, avoided the topic entirely. “I heard you skipped dinner. It’s late, so heavy food isn’t ideal. I’ve prepared some congee and light dishes. You should eat something.”
With that, he scooped a bowl of white congee from a pot and handed it to Shangguan Ye.
Shangguan Ye’s gaze followed Murong Qiufeng’s movements. Still holding his brush, he stared at the bowl in momentary confusion. Noticing the faint redness on Murong Qiufeng’s fingers, Shangguan Ye quickly set down the brush and took the slightly hot bowl from him.
