Chapter 58 Slightly Sweet (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)

Zhou Xiaoyan opened his mouth, and after a long while finally said, "I won't be angry about such a small matter."

Fu Mingzi looked up at him and saw that his expression was calm, as if he was really not angry. Fu Mingzi felt a little awkward.

"You, you're really not angry?" The question came out somewhat hesitantly.

Zhou Xiaoyan pursed his lips, his heart racing for a moment.

"..."

"I'm not angry." He remained silent for a while, then lowered his head and said.

Fu Mingzi looked at the top of his head, unsure of what to say for a moment, and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. However, considering his personality, she sighed and prepared to tell a joke to change the subject.

Just then, he suddenly noticed that Zhou Xiaoyan's clenched fists, half-hidden in his sleeves, were trembling slightly.

For some reason, Fu Mingzi's initial disappointment vanished instantly.

A gentle light appeared in his eyes. He smiled and pulled Zhou Xiaoyan into his arms, whispering in his ear, "That won't do. I'll only be happy if you get angry next time."

Zhou Xiaoyan froze, his face turning bright red. He was so nervous he didn't dare move, only muttering softly, "You...you..."

Fu Mingzi couldn't help but laugh out loud, but her voice became even gentler: "What's wrong with me?"

Zhou Xiaoyan bit his lower lip: "Don't be like this."

Looking into his eyes, which were filled with shame and indignation, Fu Mingzi knew that he must be shy, so she stopped teasing him and let go of his waist.

"Why is Your Highness so shy, like a little girl?" Fu Mingzi said frivolously, not a single word of hers was serious.

The blush on Zhou Xiaoyan's face faded slightly, and she glared at Fu Mingzi with a hint of reproach in her eyes: "You shouldn't do this in public."

Although she tried to act angry, Fu Mingzi thought she was just being coquettish, which made her heart skip a beat.

Fu Mingzi suppressed the urge to pull him into her arms again and said gently, "I won't do that next time."

Zhou Xiaoyan was about to speak when his face suddenly turned pale, and he looked at a spot behind Fu Mingzi: "Who's there!"

Fu Mingzi's expression changed, and he hurriedly turned around. Just then, he saw a corner of a garment peeking out from behind a willow tree not far behind them, clearly visible in the moonlight.

"Your Highness," Wei Baocheng's trembling voice came from behind the tree, "It is this servant."

Zhou Xiaoyan frowned as he looked at Wei Baocheng, who emerged from behind the tree with a look of panic. Wei Baocheng looked rather disheveled, with a bruise on his face and his clothes in disarray.

"What's wrong with you? Didn't I tell you to stand guard outside the palace? What are you doing here?" Zhou Xiaoyan's tone was very unfriendly, and his cold eyes scrutinized Wei Baocheng, as if he was trying to figure out whether he had seen what happened between him and Fu Mingzi.

Wei Baocheng was already terrified and didn't dare to raise his head. He hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, I was originally guarding outside the palace, but not long after you left, Xiao Li, who serves the Fourth Prince, rushed out of the palace. I asked him what he was going to do, and he said he was going to the toilet. But the direction he went was clearly the same direction you and Young Master Fu left in. I was really worried, so I hurriedly followed him."

At this point, Wei Baocheng cautiously glanced at Zhou Xiaoyan's face. Seeing that he was not angry, he felt relieved. "Later, as expected, Little Li followed you here. I didn't dare let him get close and disturb you, so I captured him, tied him up, and threw him in an empty hall to await your judgment. I was worried that this matter might involve something else, so I hurriedly came to inform you."

Wei Baocheng's subsequent words were written in a very subtle and understated manner, glossing over the fact that he would never dare to say aloud that he had come over and seen Young Master Fu and His Highness embracing each other.

At the same time, he couldn't help but feel bitter inside. He never expected that His Highness was so good to Young Master Fu because of this.

This explains all of His Highness's previous unusual behavior.

"I understand." Zhou Xiaoyan's tone was icy, his indifferent eyes fixed on Wei Baocheng. "I will handle this matter myself. As for the rest..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I think you're a smart person, and you should know what's going on."

"This servant understands, Your Highness, please rest assured," Wei Baocheng hurriedly pledged his loyalty.

Standing behind Zhou Xiaoyan and watching this scene, Fu Mingzi suddenly felt a bit absurd. She had clearly intended to protect him, but in the end, he was the one protecting her.

Fu Mingzi subconsciously touched her nose; the feeling wasn't bad at all.

"Alright, you can step back now. I need to say a few words to Young Master Fu, then I'll go check on that Little Li." Zhou Xiaoyan waved his hand.

Wei Baocheng agreed cautiously and ran away in a flash, turning his back to the source of the danger as if afraid of seeing something he shouldn't.

After watching Wei Baocheng leave, Zhou Xiaoyan turned to Fu Mingzi with a troubled expression: "Wei Baocheng is very tight-lipped. Even if he saw something, he won't say anything. Don't worry."

Upon hearing this, Fu Mingzi couldn't help but laugh: "What do I have to worry about? Even if he tells everyone, I should thank him."

Zhou Xiaoyan froze, staring blankly at Fu Mingzi: "You, how could you..."

Zhou Xiaoyan always felt that if these words got out, they would ruin Fu Mingzi's reputation and make her look like a sycophant, just like in his previous life. But now, listening to Fu Mingzi's words, he realized that he had never cared about his reputation in his previous life.

"Why is Your Highness so foolish?" Fu Mingzi smiled and leaned closer. "If I weren't worried about making things difficult for Your Highness, I would want the whole world to know that I admire Your Highness and that Your Highness admires me too, so that no one can compete with me for Your Highness."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Zhou Xiaoyan said urgently, his expression flustered and his face flushed red. "Who, who is in love with..." He spoke without confidence, and in the end, he couldn't even say the word "you".

Fu Mingzi chuckled softly, "Alright, alright." He said gently, as if coaxing a child, "Your Highness doesn't have feelings for me. It's me who has feelings for Your Highness, but I can't have you. Is that alright?"

Unexpectedly, Zhou Xiaoyan's face turned pale upon hearing this, and he grabbed Fu Mingzi's hand, saying, "Don't talk nonsense!"

Fu Mingzi was taken aback and looked at Zhou Xiaoyan, only to see that his eyes were so firm and urgent, as if they were filled with some deep sorrow.

Fu Mingzi chuckled softly, as if remembering something. "Your Highness's behavior makes me think that you also have feelings for me." He suddenly leaned down and whispered in Zhou Xiaoyan's ear, "Is that so, my Your Highness?"

Zhou Xiaoyan pursed his thin lips, a blush rising on his pale face. He seemed frozen, and after a long while, he finally nodded slowly: "Yes." He heard himself give a clear answer.

In his previous life, Fu Mingzi died before his eyes. At that time, he was filled with despair, feeling that everything in the world had abandoned him—family, friendship, and even love.

It was at that time that he realized that he did not dislike Fu Mingzi as much as he had imagined, and even had some affection for her.

When he was imprisoned, he wasn't actually that afraid. He heard the minor official guarding him tell him about the current political situation, about how Fu Mingzi and Zhao Chengdong had fallen out because of him, how Zhao Chengdong had angrily denounced Fu Mingzi as a wolf with ambitions, and how from then on, he could fill a cart with memorials impeaching Fu Mingzi. He heard that Fu Mingzi was trying to maneuver for him all over the capital, but was ridiculed and despised by those powerful families and officials. He heard that he had wiped out the Xia family without making a sound.

Until the very end, he heard that he had personally received the imperial edict ordering his own death, and came to see him off on his final journey.

At that time, he was calm. He even felt that it was not so bad that he would die at Fu Mingzi's hands in the end.

It's a pity about Fu Mingzi. He should have been a prime minister, but because of himself, he fell out with Zhao Chengdong, who had always admired him, and lost the support of the literati. It will probably be difficult for him to stay in the cabinet in the future.

In fact, Zhou Xiaoyan understood Zhao Chengdong's meaning. Now that the status of the emperor had been determined, he, the rebellious son who had long been condemned by the late emperor for the crime of treason, had countless forces surging behind him. If he could not deal with the situation in time, the political situation might change, and then the world would be in chaos.

Zhao Chengdong had also petitioned the emperor for leniency, but Zhou Xiaoheng would not let him off the hook. Zhou Xiaoyan knew this perfectly well, and besides, Fu Mingzi wanted to overturn his case, which was absolutely impossible.

He had thought that since the man was about to die, he should give him some advice before he died, telling him not to go against Zhao Chengdong, because he would surely have a bright future.

But to his surprise, he didn't even have to speak before covering his mouth and drinking the poisoned wine.

At that moment, a sharp pain suddenly welled up in his heart, which had been as dry as a well.

He suddenly remembered a snowy night when his father summoned him to the palace to reprimand him. When he came out, his legs were no longer his own, and he fell in the snow after taking two steps. Later, he vaguely saw someone coming over, silently carrying him on their back and putting him in a carriage.

He later wanted to ask Wei Baocheng who that person was, but for some reason, he never said a word.

Now he suddenly remembered that the person had the same scent as Fu Mingzi, a light minty fragrance that made him feel at ease.

It's a pity that he only admitted this after this person died. He not only didn't hate Fu Mingzi, but he also depended on him, envied him, and admired him.

Watching him ride his tall horse with such spirit, seeing his clever mind and abundant talent, seeing his carefree and untroubled nature.

His gaze was always on this person, even though he told himself that this person was annoying, that this person was only attracted to his appearance, and that this person was frivolous and shallow.

But when this person died in front of him, he finally realized that he was really wrong.

But by then it was too late.

Zhou Xiaoyan felt a stinging sensation in his eyes. He blinked hard to pull the emotion away from his body.

He can no longer dwell on his past life. Now he has the opportunity to rise up. He and this person are no longer at odds as they were in his past life. More importantly, he now has the courage to speak out.

Zhou Xiaoyan felt a sudden tightening around his waist as Fu Mingzi held him tightly in her arms.

"Your Highness, Your Highness." Fu Mingzi's hands trembled as she held him. "Your Highness, I am so happy." Her usually eloquent mouth could only utter the simplest words at this moment.

Fu Mingzi hugged Zhou Xiaoyan tightly, feeling her whole world become fuller. From initially being frivolous and attracted to his appearance, to now genuinely loving him, Fu Mingzi never expected that she would be so easily captured.

At this moment, the person he loved also sincerely expressed his feelings for him. Fu Mingzi had long lost the ability to think about anything else. He was like a firework that had exploded, with only joy in his heart.

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Author's note: I don't know if this counts as sweet, but never mind, I'll just write it first.