Chapter 69 "Zhaolin, Xiao Zhaolin."...

Lin Yan tugged at Xiao Che's sleeve and stopped in front of a rather lively teahouse.

Looking up, I saw the words "Qingyin Pavilion" written on the plaque, and I could hear bursts of laughter and the faint sound of chess pieces being placed on the board.

“Young Master Xiao, we’ve been walking for so long, your legs are practically aching. Why don’t you go inside and rest for a bit?” Lin Yan blinked, asking for Xiao Che’s opinion, but had already pulled Xiao Che inside. “I heard that besides tea and snacks, this place also has some things to keep you entertained.”

Xiao Che naturally agreed, nodding and saying, "As you wish."

The two entered the teahouse hand in hand. The interior was warm and cozy, with the aroma of tea mixed with the sweet scent of pastries wafting towards them.

The waiter, with his sharp eyes, noticed the two men's distinguished bearing and quickly led them to a private room on the second floor.

It's quieter here than downstairs. There are screens separating the area, and several tables of guests at the next table are playing chess or backgammon, chatting and laughing in hushed tones.

After ordering a pot of fine cloud and mist tea and a few delicate tea snacks, Lin Yan's gaze drifted to the backgammon board and chopsticks placed in the corner, and his eyes lit up: "Young Master Xiao, sitting and drinking tea is no fun, why not play a game?"

Xiao Che was indifferent to the question.

The chessboard was quickly set up. Lin Yan played white, and Xiao Che played black.

After several rounds of playing, Lin Yan discovered that Xiao Che's playing style was steady, methodical, and well-organized, clearly indicating that he had received strict instruction since childhood.

As for him... in modern society, he surfs the internet and has played all sorts of card and board games haphazardly; he's got a very wild side.

Lin Yan rolled another good number, and it looked like he was about to force one of Xiao Che's pieces back to the starting point. Suddenly, he had a mischievous thought.

She held the white jade chess piece between her fingers but didn't put it down. Instead, she looked at Xiao Che with a smile and said, "Young Master Xiao, just playing chess seems a bit lacking in stakes. How about we add a small wager?"

Xiao Che raised his eyes, his expression unreadable beneath the mask: "Oh? What does Young Master Lin want to bet on?"

Lin Yan leaned forward, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of slyness, "If I win, I'll let you kiss me; if you win, you can kiss me, okay?"

"Pfft—" Li Defu, who was pretending to play with the small vase while secretly observing, almost dropped it. He quickly covered his mouth, his face turning red, his inner voice screaming: Lord Lin! My Lord Lin! You really dare to say that! This, this, this… is this something that can be said in front of His Majesty?!

Xiao Che's fingers, which were holding the chess pieces, clearly paused in mid-air.

Even through the mask, Lin Yan could feel the gaze suddenly deepen. The air in the private room seemed to freeze for a moment, with only the faint sounds of commotion downstairs and the soft clatter of chess pieces hitting the board audible.

Lin Yan was also feeling uneasy. Had he gone too far? Would Xiao Che think he was frivolous?

But the words had already been spoken and could not be taken back. Lin Yan could only grit his teeth, maintain the forced composure on his face, and meet Xiao Che's gaze.

After a while, just when Lin Yan thought Xiao Che was going to refuse, he saw the paused finger slowly fall and move the chess piece to a safe position.

Then, Xiao Che spoke, his voice coming through the mask, lower and hoarser than usual, carrying an indescribable meaning: "As you wish."

Lin Yan: "!!!"

Lin Yan's eyes widened instantly; he almost thought he was hallucinating.

[He agreed? He actually agreed?!]

Is Your Majesty really that naive? Accepting a bet that's clearly an easy win for you?

Wait! Could he really be trying to kiss me?!

Lin Yan was inwardly screaming, but he tried his best to keep a straight face and coughed lightly: "Young Master Xiao is so generous! Then, shall we continue?"

The atmosphere became extremely delicate in the following game.

Lin Yan had only intended to tease the seemingly deep and unfathomable emperor in jest, but to his surprise, the emperor actually took the bait.

Now he was in a bit of a dilemma, his competitive spirit inexplicably stirred—if he won, he'd get a real kiss? Although it didn't seem like a loss... if he lost, he'd get kissed? It seemed... even less of a loss?

No! That's not the point!

The key point is, how can Lin Yan lose!

So Young Master Lin began to put in his best effort, employing all sorts of fancy tricks he had learned from playing modern online games, such as feinting, sneaking in, and even calculating probabilities, as if he wanted to use all the energy he had when playing Monopoly back in the day.

Xiao Che's chess style remained steady, but it was obvious that he was placing his pieces slower. He would occasionally glance at Lin Yan, who was racking his brains, frowning slightly, and muttering, "Can't this damn die roll a higher number?" The corners of his lips could not be hidden under his mask.

In the end, Lin Yanqi was one step ahead, or rather, his clever maneuver was superior, and with a very risky point, he moved the last piece back to the finish line.

"I won!" Lin Yan slammed his hand on the table, almost knocking over the teacup. A smug smile spread across his face as he looked at Xiao Che. "Young Master Xiao, you're too kind!"

As soon as he said it, he suddenly remembered the bet, and his smile instantly froze on his face.

[Oh...you won, so what?]

[A real kiss? Here? In broad daylight?]

[Li Defu was still watching from the side!]

Lin Yan's face belatedly began to heat up, his eyes darting around, not daring to look at Xiao Che. He picked up his teacup and took a big gulp, trying to cover his embarrassment: "Ahem, well, the bet and all that, it was just a joke, a joke, Young Master Xiao, you don't need to take it seriously..."

Xiao Che slowly put down the chess piece in his hand, leaned back slightly in his chair, and leisurely looked at Lin Yan's reddened ears: "Is Young Master Lin going to renege on his debt?"

"..." Lin Yan choked for a moment and almost choked.

He glanced at Xiao Che and saw that although the other was wearing a mask, his posture clearly said, "I am willing to accept defeat, so you can decide what to do."

The arrow is on the string, and it must be released.

Lin Yan steeled himself and quickly scanned his surroundings.

Very well, the screen is quite effective at blocking the view. Li Defu has already turned his back to the wall, seemingly reflecting on his mistakes.

Lin Yan, as if going to the execution ground, strode forward and, with lightning speed, pecked Xiao Che's cheek, which was not covered by a mask.

Instantly separate.

It was so fast it was almost an illusion.

After doing all this, Lin Yan bounced back to his seat as if he had been burned, his heart pounding wildly, his cheeks flushed red, and he grabbed his teacup and gulped down another cup of tea, not daring to look at Xiao Che's reaction.

Xiao Che seemed to be taken aback for a moment.

He could feel the touch as light as a feather brushing against him. The warm breath that Lin Yan brought as he approached, and his embarrassed yet composed demeanor, were clearly visible to him.

The thrill and warmth, like honey added to hot water, melted away and spread throughout my body.

Xiao Che raised his hand, his fingertips lightly touching the spot on the mask where he had just been kissed, then lowered it. His Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly, and when he spoke again, his voice was a few decibels hoarser than before: "Yes, the bet is settled."

Lin Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but then felt a strange sense of loss. Feeling it wasn't enough, he quickly shook his head to shake off the dangerous thought.

You need to be reserved!

To ease the strange and ambiguous atmosphere, Lin Yan glanced around and suddenly noticed a small arrow trekking platform set up by the window at the other end of the private room, with several decorative soft bows hanging next to it, obviously for guests to play with.

"Young Master Xiao, look, they can even shoot arrows over there!" Lin Yan immediately exclaimed as if he had found a savior. "Why don't we go and have some fun?"

Xiao Che followed his gaze and nodded.

The two walked to the arrow sack.

Lin Yan picked up a bow, which was quite light in his hand. It was a soft bow meant for ordinary guests to play with, and the arrowheads were round-headed so they wouldn't hurt anyone. He pretended to draw the bow a couple of times and then began his performance.

"Oh dear, how do you use this bow?" Lin Yan awkwardly assumed a very unorthodox posture, turned to look at Xiao Che, and said with an incredibly sincere and innocent look in his eyes, "Young Master Xiao is clearly an expert in this art, why don't you teach me?"

Xiao Che looked at his obviously "seeking advice" but actually "seeking flirting" appearance, his eyes deepened, and he readily stepped forward: "Okay."

He stood behind Lin Yan, almost touching Lin Yan's back, his right hand went around Lin Yan's side and covered his hand holding the bow, while his left hand gently rested on Lin Yan's left elbow as he drew the string, helping him adjust his posture.

"Keep your hands steady, keep your elbows level, and keep your eyes on the target..." Xiao Che's deep voice rang in Lin Yan's ears, and his warm breath brushed against his earlobe.

Lin Yan froze instantly, his brain buzzing.

So close!

Xiao Che's chest was almost pressed against his back, and even through the thick fabric, he could feel the warm and solid touch.

Holding his hand, I felt dry and strong, his fingertips bearing the thin calluses from years of practicing martial arts and holding a pen. Stroking the back of his hand and fingers brought a slight shiver.

The deep voice seemed to have tiny hooks, drilling straight into his ears, making him flustered and his cheeks flushed again, even more intensely than before.

[Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! My legs are giving way!]

This teaching method is so personalized!

[Your Majesty, did you do this on purpose?]

Did I dig this out of my own hands?!

Lin Yan's heart was pounding like a drum, and her fingers were a little weak. She couldn't concentrate on listening to Xiao Che's explanation of archery techniques. All her senses were focused on feeling the strong embrace behind her and the hot breath in her ear.

Xiao Che seemed oblivious to his distraction, continuing his "teaching" diligently. He exerted a little force in his arm, pulling Lin Yan's hand to draw the bow fully, their bodies pressed even closer together, almost seamlessly. He could clearly feel the stiffness and slight trembling of the body in his arms, as well as the earlobes and neck skin that were almost dripping with blood.

A strong sense of satisfaction and a kind of wicked pleasure welled up in his heart. Xiao Che deliberately lowered his voice, almost touching Lin Yan's earlobe: "Aim at your target, calm your breathing, and then let go."

As the last syllable faded, he abruptly released Lin Yan's hand.

"Whoosh—"

The arrow flew limply, weakly grazing the edge of the arrow stack before falling to the ground.

Lin Yan: "..." I've lost so much face.

Xiao Che chuckled softly, the vibrations from his chest clearly transmitted through the air.

Instead of letting go of Lin Yan, he used the embrace from behind, his chin almost resting on Lin Yan's shoulder, and slowly asked, "It seems that Young Master Lin is indeed quite inexperienced. Would you like to try again?"

The teasing tone and the underlying meaning made Lin Yan's toes curl up.

"No, no need!" Lin Yan, like a startled cat, suddenly broke free from Xiao Che's embrace, took two steps back, her eyes darting around, and stammered, "I suddenly feel a little hot, yes, too hot! I'll be fine after resting for a while!"

Lin Yan hurriedly grabbed the now-cold tea from the table next to him and gulped it down, trying to extinguish the anger on his face and the restlessness in his heart.

Seeing his panicked and disorganized state, Xiao Che's smile deepened. He finally stopped approaching and stood with his hands behind his back, watching him with a leisurely air.

After lingering in the teahouse for a while, drinking some tea and eating some snacks, the heat on Lin Yan's face finally subsided.

Seeing that the city lights were just coming on outside the window, Lin Yan suggested they leave.

Once outside the teahouse, a gentle evening breeze cooled Lin Yan down, and the heat on his face finally dissipated.

He stole a glance at Xiao Che beside him, but the other man remained unmoved, as if he wasn't the same person who had been giving him a close lesson and making sarcastic remarks in the teahouse.

The emperor is truly stable; no one can compare.

Xiao Che seemed to remember something and turned to ask him, "Are you still able to walk?"

Lin Yan then realized that his legs were indeed a little sore and weak, and nodded honestly: "A little tired."

"There are boats for rent along the river ahead. Would you like to take a boat trip at night?" Xiao Che suggested casually.

Lin Yan's eyes lit up: "This is great!"

Just before boarding the boat, Lin Yan spotted a small stall by the river selling handheld sparklers. They were long and thin, and when lit, they would hiss and shoot out golden or silver sparks, which were quite beautiful. He immediately ran over and bought a bunch, which he treasured and put in his pocket.

We rented a small awning boat. The boatman was quietly rowing at the stern. The awning was lined with soft cushions, and a small oil lamp was fixed in the middle to keep out the wind, casting a dim and soft light.

The small boat slowly left the shore and glided into the river, its surface shimmering with the lights of the banks.

The gentle murmur of the water and the soft lapping of oars create a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the shore, offering a sense of peace and serenity amidst the chaos.

Lin Yan took out the small firework and handed a few to Xiao Che like a treasure: "Young Master Xiao, have you ever played with these before?"

Xiao Che took the long, thin scroll of paper, looked at it, and shook his head: "My family has strict rules. I may have seen it when I was young, but I've never played with it myself."

He was raised as the heir apparent from a young age, and every word and action of his was governed by rules. These kinds of childish games were far removed from his life.

Lin Yan immediately perked up, a sense of accomplishment welling up within him as if he were “teaching the emperor to play with children’s toys.” He took out a tinderbox and lit the one in his hand first.

With a "whoosh," golden sparks burst forth instantly, like a tiny, shimmering fountain of stars, leaping and flashing merrily in his hand, illuminating his smiling face and bright eyes.

"See, just like this, you can hold it safely, the sparks won't burn your hands." Lin Yan demonstrated, holding the sparkler in front of Xiao Che's eyes and waving it. "Want to try it?"

Xiao Che looked at the golden light that was jumping and flashing so close to him, and then at Lin Yan's excited expression. He imitated him and brought the sparkler in his hand closer to the flame in Lin Yan's hand.

The fuse was lit, and silver sparks shot out, mingling with the golden flames in his hand.

The two sat side by side at the bow of the boat, each holding a burning sparkler. The small flames bloomed quietly in the night, flickering and illuminating the small area, as well as reflecting their close profiles.

The river water gently lapped against the side of the boat, and in the distance, a faint song drifted on the wind.

Xiao Che looked down at the sparkler in his hand, which was constantly flashing silver light and gradually shortening. He felt the faint but real warmth, and a strange yet comforting sense of peace slowly enveloped him.

It was as if the heavy political affairs, the cold power struggles, and the lofty throne were temporarily dispelled by the gentle breeze on the river and the small glimmer of light in his hand.

Looking at Xiao Che's focused profile, Lin Yan suddenly spoke softly, "Young Master Xiao, I suddenly remembered that I still don't know your courtesy name?" He had always addressed him as His Majesty and had never asked about it before.

Xiao Che looked up, and the firework in his hand had just burned out, with a few last silver sparks flying before it went out.

He paused for a moment before saying, "Zhaolin, Xiao Zhaolin."

“Zhaolin.” Lin Yan repeated it softly, immediately recalling its origin. “Mingming Shangtian, Zhaolin Xiatu, is it a line from the Book of Songs? This word is so well chosen, and so weighty.” One could tell from the sound of it that it carried such heavy expectations and strict requirements.

The heavens are all-seeing, discerning even the smallest details, and looking down upon all people; this is truly a portrait of a ruler.

Xiao Che seemed to chuckle lightly, very faintly, with a hint of something indescribable: "It was taken by the Grand Tutor when I was young."

Lin Yan suddenly felt a soft, bittersweet feeling in his heart. He imagined a young Xiao Che, under the watchful eyes of countless people, being required to behave in accordance with the name "Zhao Lin".

He leaned closer to Xiao Che, his voice softening: "My courtesy name is Hanzhang, meaning profound and subtle within, yet manifest on the outside. It was given to me by my father, who hoped that I would have inner beauty and outward elegance."

Lin Yan suddenly turned her head and looked at Xiao Che's eyes, which appeared particularly deep in the dim light. A sly yet gentle smile curved her lips: "Look, 'Zhao Lin Tian Xia, Han Zhang Ni Mei' (meaning 'illuminating the world, containing beauty and elegance'), don't our characters match quite well?"

These words, though bold and audacious, carried a direct and sincere sense of closeness.

Xiao Che's heart felt as if it had been struck by something, both soft and swollen.

The wind on the river seemed to stand still for a moment, with only the sound of the water gently rippling.

He looked into Lin Yan's bright, expectant eyes, which clearly reflected his own image.

A powerful impulse seized him.

Xiao Che reached out, not to grasp, but to pass directly through Lin Yan's arm, and with a force that was both irresistible and extremely gentle, gently pulled him into his embrace.

Caught off guard, Lin Yan gasped as he bumped into a warm, broad chest, his nose instantly filled with the familiar, comforting scent of agarwood. He nearly dropped the sparkler in his hand, instinctively gripping it tighter.

"Why……"

"Don't move." Xiao Che gently rested his chin on the top of Lin Yan's head, wrapped his arms around Lin Yan's waist, and held him firmly in his arms. His voice was low and almost a sigh as it fell into Lin Yan's ear, "...We are a good match."

A river breeze swept by, bringing with it a distant, hazy clamor, yet it seemed as if separated by an invisible barrier.

The small boat swayed gently to the rhythmic rowing of the boatman, like a tender cradle. The glow of the small oil lamp inside the awning cast the silhouettes of the two embracing figures onto the awning, blurring and blending them together.

Lin Yan was a little stiff at first, but he quickly relaxed in the warm embrace and gentle rocking. He even quietly adjusted his position to make himself more comfortable, his cheek pressed against Xiao Che's clothes, and he could feel the steady heartbeat under the fabric.

He didn't speak again, nor did Xiao Che.

The two of them nestled quietly together on a small boat drifting in the middle of the river, listening to the sound of the water and feeling each other's warmth and heartbeat.

The fireworks in their hands had long since gone out, but something brighter and warmer seemed to be quietly growing and spreading between their pressed chests.

After an unknown amount of time, the boat gently approached the shore, and the boatman whispered, "Gentlemen, we have arrived."

Xiao Che then slowly released his arm.

Lin Yan lifted her head from his embrace, her cheeks still slightly flushed, her eyes blushing, yet also showing a hint of lingering desire.

The two disembarked one after the other and stood on the shore, looking back at the small boat that was gradually sailing away and the river surface reflecting the lights of thousands of homes. They both felt as if they had been transported to another world.

"Let's go." Xiao Che's voice regained its usual calmness, but was gentler than before. "I'll take you back."

"Okay." Lin Yan nodded and obediently followed.

On the return journey, the two sat side by side in the carriage, but the atmosphere was completely different from when they arrived. Occasionally their eyes would meet, but they would quickly look away, only to meet again involuntarily, their lips curving into similar smiles.

The carriage stopped at the side gate of the Lin residence.

Lin Yan jumped out of the car, turned around and waved to Xiao Che inside: "Young Master Xiao, shall I head back now?"

"Mm." Xiao Che nodded, his gaze falling on him. "Get some rest."

Watching Lin Yan's figure disappear inside the door, Xiao Che slowly lowered the carriage curtain, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing together, as if he could still feel the warmth and weight of her embrace.

"Return to the palace," he commanded, his voice filled with a joy and satisfaction he himself was unaware of.

Li Defu quickly responded and started the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Xiao Che leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and his mind kept replaying the image of Lin Yan leaning against him on the river, looking up and saying, "Don't our characters match quite well?"

He raised his hand and gently pressed it against his chest.

There, the jumping was still a bit too fast.

After a long while, he chuckled very softly and silently.

Containing chapters.

Zhao Lin.

Very suitable.

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Author's Note: [Lop-eared rabbit head][Lop-eared rabbit head][Lop-eared rabbit head]

Bonus chapter for 4000 nutrient solutions! Remember to scroll down! [heart emoji]