Chapter 34: Golden Stage "You, you eat my saliva?"

It was almost evening when Zhao Yan arrived at Fanlou. The waiter led him to a private room and said, "Your Highness, the gentlemen from Mingyi Hall are all inside."

Zhao Yan raised his hand and gestured to Xiao Zhouzi: "Reward."

The waiter took the silver and happily left. Zhao Yan adjusted his veil at the door and looked at Xiao Zhouzi nervously, "So, is this going to expose my identity?"

"Don't worry, Your Highness. No one will be able to recognize you unless someone lifts your veil."

"That's good," Xiao Zhouzi said, pushing open the door of the private room. Then, all the scholars inside stood up and bowed to Zhao Yan. "Your humble servants greet His Highness the Seventh Prince."

Zhao Yan nodded slightly: "You are welcome..."

Zhao Yan quickly scanned the crowd, but couldn't find Yong Shaolan. The young man leading the group had already made room for him in the main seat. "Your Highness, please take a seat."

"Okay." Zhao Yan took his seat and exchanged a few words with the Confucian scholars in Mingyi Hall, then asked them to introduce themselves one by one.

The man in a green robe sitting next to Zhao Yan spoke first, "In reply to your Highness, I am Zhou Changmao, a native of Lincheng. I am thirty-two years old this year. My parents are still alive... and we haven't yet arranged a wedding."

"I am Li Si, a commoner, twenty-five years old, from Fancheng. I have a mother in her eighties, a wife, and a daughter."

"Your Highness, I am from Guanyang. I am forty-three years old this year. Both my parents are gone, and I have not yet arranged a wedding."

Zhao Yan sat upright, his back straight. Luckily, the Confucian robe he wore was loose, otherwise his high-heeled shoes would have been visible. After listening to the self-introductions of several scholars, Zhao Yan called over the Guanyang scholar and asked a few questions, briefly understanding the local situation.

Similar to what he researched, Guanyang is a third or fourth tier city. The local economic development in Dayan is already very good, but even so, educational resources are still very scarce, which is caused by more than ten years of war.

Zhao Yan didn’t think so much at first. He just wanted to build a school in Qingshui Village, but he felt that the number of students taught in a village school was limited, so it would be better to build a few more schools in Guanyang. Now he thinks that if he only built schools in Guanyang, what about the children in other more remote areas?

But his abilities are limited.

Zhao Yan couldn't help but feel a little distressed, so she had to change the subject: "I understand everything. Thank you all very much. The food is getting cold, please eat first."

After taking two bites of the meal, Zhao Yan finally remembered to ask Yong Shaolan, so he turned to the people around him and asked, "Why is Prince Yong absent today?"

The young man replied, "I don't know either. It's just that the guards from the prince's mansion came to the school and invited us to a banquet, but—"

The young man pondered for a moment, his expression evasive, and hesitant: "I think, I think the prince must be busy with court affairs."

Zhao Yan nodded: "I see."

The banquet ended, and the sky had completely darkened. Zhao Yan and the teachers from Mingyi Hall left Fanlou and said goodbye to each other on the streets of Yujing. "Your Highness, we have already submitted our resignations to the academy. As long as Your Highness speaks, we will immediately go to Guanyang."

Zhao Yan nodded: "Thank you all."

After Zhao Yan finished speaking, he asked Xiao Zhouzi to take the teacher's salary from the carriage first, and then delivered a box to each of them: "Sir, my prince said that it is not easy for you to survive in the capital. Before you go to Guanyang, your food and accommodation will be fully covered by his prince."

The students of Mingyi Hall make a living in Yujing solely on the salary paid by the school. Although their salary is higher than that of ordinary vendors, they basically have no money left after a month of food and accommodation in Yujing.

Seeing that His Highness Seventh Prince attached such importance to them, several young teachers respectfully bowed to Zhao Yan and said, "We, the humble people, thank Your Highness for your kindness."

After seeing them off, Zhao Yan and Xiao Zhouzi were strolling down the long street when they came across a few familiar figures. Xiao Zhouzi recognized them first: "Your Highness, isn't that someone from the palace?"

Zhao Yan secretly lifted the veil a little: "Huh? Let me see."

Wenquan, following his prince's orders, had been waiting at the foot of Fan Tower early in the morning. Seeing that the Seventh Prince had sent the teacher from Mingyi Hall off, they came over and said, "Your Highness."

When Zhao Yan saw several people approaching, he straightened up and pretended to be aloof.

Little Zhou Zihou stood in front of Zhao Yan and asked, "Is this young man from the palace?"

Wen Quan bowed to Zhao Yan and said, "Yes, the prince said that he had some matters to attend to today, so he couldn't attend the banquet. He asked us to apologize to His Highness."

Zhao Yan: “…”

They had clearly agreed to come together, but he ended up being left alone. It was a good thing Yong Shaolan didn't come, as it would save him from exposing his identity.

"It's alright. The Emperor's uncle is busy with court affairs, so it's normal that he can't remember my affairs." Zhao Yan said calmly, "This guard can go back. I'm going back too."

Wenquan: “…Yes.”

After saying goodbye to the guards of Prince Yong's Mansion, Zhao Yan and Xiao Zhouzi got on the carriage and headed towards Taiji Palace.

Wen Quan felt that the Seventh Prince was a little unhappy, so he quickly returned to the palace to report to Yong Shaolan. As soon as he entered the tea room, he saw the man busy with business: "Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince seems a little angry."

Wenquan: "Why are you absent on purpose?"

Yong Shaolan: “…”

"Is he angry?"

"I understand. Prepare the horses and go to the Purple Palace."

Zhao Yan returned to the Purple Palace and rested for a while, preparing to ask Xiao Zhouzi to go to the Imperial Physician's Office to ask for the antidote. However, not long after Xiao Zhouzi left, the Jinling Army arrived outside the gate and reported, "Your Highness, Prince Yong requests an audience outside the palace."

Zhao Yan took off his hat and shoes and asked, "Why is he here now?"

Jinling Army: "I don't know."

Zhao Yan jumped down from the small bed swiftly and went to look for his height-increasing shoes and clothes, but he couldn't find them no matter how hard he tried.

It was Xiao Zhouzi who helped pack his clothes!

Yong Shaolan waited outside the Zichen Palace for a quarter of an hour before Zhao Yan hurried out.

Zhao Yan was in a hurry. His clothes were not properly dressed. The buttons under his collar were buttoned incorrectly. His hair was simply tied in a ponytail. It was obvious that he had just tied his hair in a hurry to go out.

Zhao Yan couldn't find his clothes, so he could only come out to meet people like this. "It's dark now, why are you here?"

Yong Shaolan raised his hand to straighten Zhao Yan's collar. "I was busy with court affairs this afternoon, so I canceled the banquet with His Highness the Seventh Prince. I came here to apologize—what's wrong with your throat?"

Zhao Yan cleared his throat: "Ahem, nothing, just a little cold."

Zhao Yan said guiltily, "Seventh Prince has gone to bed early at this time. You should come back another day... Or you can tell me if you have anything to say. Seventh Prince told me everything that happened in Fanlou today, and he wasn't angry."

Zhao Yan had a hard time pretending, and he had no talent for deception. Whenever he lied, he would look at the ground guiltily.

Yong Shaolan said "hmm" lightly, "Since you are here, you should go in and see His Highness."

Yong Shaolan touched the top of Zhao Yan's head and said, "Brother Shen, please go and inform them."

"No!" Zhao Yan anxiously tugged at the corner of his clothes: "Everyone said that the Seventh Prince is resting... and the Seventh Prince is Qilin'er, it's not appropriate for you two to meet at this time of night!"

"Brother Lan, you should go back quickly. We can talk about it tomorrow if there's anything." Zhao Yan said, and started to push Yong Shaolan: "Let's go. How did you get here? I'll take you there."

Yong Shaolan thought Zhao Yan was very cute, so he held his hand and said seriously, "Nominally, I am the uncle of the Seventh Prince, and we are talking about political affairs, so there is no problem——"

Before Yong Shaolan finished speaking, Zhao Yan stood on tiptoe anxiously, hooked his shoulder and placed a light kiss on his face: "Be obedient, we'll see each other tomorrow. If you make His Highness unhappy, we servants will suffer!"

Zhao Yan tilted his head and acted coquettishly: "Brother Lan, let's go! Let's go!"

"Well," Yong Shaolan pinched Zhao Yan's fingers, "I'll send someone to handle the Guanyang matter. Remember to tell His Highness."

Zhao Yan nodded: "I know, I know. Let's go. I'll take him out."

Zhao Yan, holding a lantern, led Yong Shaolan out along a rarely patrolled path. Yong Shaolan was surprisingly quiet along the way. Zhao Yan felt guilty and explained to himself, "Brother Lan, you haven't walked here before, right? This place is perfect for moon watching at night, and there won't be anyone to disturb you."

"Is the Seventh Prince treating you badly?"

"If he treats you badly, I'll help you."

Zhao Yan: “…”

He stopped and turned to look at Yong Shaolan: "Seventh Prince is very good to me, Brother Lan, don't say anything nonsense."

"Then why won't you let me see him?"

"Isn't it because he has a bad temper that you're afraid he'll punish you?"

"If he treats you well, why doesn't he allow you to stay overnight in the palace?"

Zhao Yan: “…”

People, if you tell a lie, you have to cover it up with countless lies!

"Actually, it's not because of Your Highness," Zhao Yan racked his brains, "because I... still can't accept it for the time being. Brother Lan, you have to understand me. I wasn't gay before."

This time Yong Shaolan didn't say anything.

for a long time.

"You always like to tell me lies." Yong Shaolan's tone deepened. He walked to Zhao Yan and pinched his jaw: "I don't like it."

"It hurts, it hurts." Zhao Yan wanted to turn his face away, but Yong Shaolan's grip was very strong: "I know I was wrong...I just don't want to make you sad. I've tried my best to become a homosexual, so just be content!"

Yong Shaolan let go of Zhao Yan and said, "Don't lie to me again."

"I understand..." Zhao Yan stopped struggling and simply looked at Yong Shaolan. He removed the ribbon from his eyes and asked hesitantly, "Do you want to kiss me?"

Yong Shaolan cleared his throat, his eyes fell on Zhao Yan's lips, and he did not comment.

Zhao Yan stood on tiptoe, cupped Yong Shaolan's cheek, and leaned close to his lips: "If you don't say anything, I'll kiss you..."

After saying that, Zhao Yan took the initiative to press his lips against Yong Shaolan's, as if kissing soft jelly. The wonderful feeling made Zhao Yan's whole body tense. He tilted his head and lingered on Yong Shaolan's lips for a while, then gritted his teeth and stuck out his tongue, gently licking the other's lips.

hiss.

Why is it so numb?

The last time they kissed, Zhao Yan hadn't really felt Yong Shaolan's lips, only feeling them soft. Perhaps because he felt guilty, his mind was much vacant this time, and his attention was completely focused on this kiss.

Yong Shaolan's lips were always pressed into a line, but unexpectedly, they felt cool and soft when kissed. Furthermore, he was very passive this time, not sticking out his tongue, just enjoying the kiss as seriously as he did.

After a while, Zhao Yan left Yong Shaolan's lips.

"I apologize to you," Zhao Yan sighed and slowly took a step back, pursing his lips: "If I say big words again in the future, I will apologize to you like this, okay?"

After saying that, Zhao Yan glanced at the satisfied Yong Shaolan.

You little bastard, I'll eat you to death.

Yong Shaolan raised the corner of his lips imperceptibly, his voice still deep: "Okay, then I'll come see His Highness the Seventh Prince again tomorrow."

"I know, I know," Zhao Yan said anxiously, "Let's go, the Xuanwu Gate is just ahead."

Yong Shaolan: “Yeah.”

When they reached the palace gate, Zhao Yan was afraid that the guards would recognize him, so he didn't go forward. "I'll just take you here. Brother Lan, take your time on your way back."

"Well," Yong Shaolan raised his hand and touched Zhao Yan's head: "There may be some disturbances in the palace these days. If you are upset, come to the palace to find me. I will accompany you to relieve your boredom."

Zhao Yan: "Hmm? So, something bad is happening to me?"

Yong Shaolan: "Yes, deposed queen."

Zhao Yan: “…………Ah?”

I am indeed in a bad mood.

Zhao Yan: "I, I understand. See you another day."

"Let's go," Yong Shaolan withdrew his hand, "Let's go back."

…

After Zhao Yan sent Yong Shaolan back to Zichen Palace, Xiao Zhouzi had already called back the imperial physician, who yawned and took Zhao Yan's pulse first.

"Your Highness looks much better."

Zhao Yan knelt and raised her hand to signal Xiao Zhouzi to clear everyone from the Purple Palace. "Physician, please take a seat first. I wanted you here tonight for another matter."

After Xiao Zhouzi left, the old doctor sat down tremblingly, feeling guilty: "Your Highness, is there anything else you want?"

Zhao Yan wondered: "...Have you forgotten?"

He had been waiting for so long, and this guy actually asked him if there was anything else?

Seeing Zhao Yan's bad face, the old doctor stopped pretending and stammered, "No, I didn't forget. How could I dare to forget? It's just that this antidote..."

Qilin children are extremely precious, a rare treasure that only appears once every few hundred years. If he were to do something that would harm a Qilin child, wouldn't that shorten his lifespan?!

Absolutely not!

Absolutely not!

Zhao Yan: "Just say it, man, why are you hesitating?"

The last time Zhao Yan asked him for the antidote, this guy obviously knew some ways, but just like today, he hesitated and refused to tell the truth. He hadn't asked about this matter in the past few days, and judging from this guy's performance, it was obvious that there was some difficulty that he didn't tell him last time.

Seeing the young man's seriousness, the old doctor sighed and knelt respectfully at Zhao Yan's knees: "Your Highness, you are a Qilin child that only appears once every few hundred years. If you want to refine the antidote, you must use Qilin blood as a medicine. I dare not do that!"

"Your Highness, please seek help from someone else!"

Zhao Yan: "...wouldn't it be over if you just said it earlier?"

Zhao Yan lifted his sleeves and said, "How much do you want? Just come and get it. I need this antidote in a short time."

"This..." The old doctor hadn't expected the Seventh Prince to be so deeply in love: "Your Highness, your body and hair were given to you by your parents. If you want to harm yourself, you will surely be punished by heaven!"

Zhao Yan: “…”

"You curse me?"

"But I only believe in science. Hurry up! If you can't develop an antidote, I'll spank you."

The old doctor trembled with fear, but he didn't delay any longer. He took out a silver needle and pricked Zhao Yan's wrist, then used a thumb-sized medicine jar to draw his blood: "God bless you, the Seventh Prince is kind-hearted and only harmed himself when absolutely necessary. Queen Mother, Taishang Laojun--"

Zhao Yan looked at the small amount of blood, which was not as much as what he drew during a physical examination. However, he could understand the old doctor. The author of this crappy book had to come up with the "Qilin child" setting, and the ancient people believed in prophecies about monsters and demons.

Zhao Yan closed his eyes and made the sign of the cross on his chest, "Amen, may the Lord forgive your sins."

After saying that, Zhao Yan nodded to the old doctor and pretended to faint: "Ah, what happened? Are you done?"

The old doctor looked at everything that was happening in front of him and knelt on the ground: "May the Jade Emperor bless you, may the Queen Mother bless you!"

The old doctor said: "Your Highness, the immortal just possessed us and said he would forgive us."

Zhao Yan coughed and said, "Well, then go make the antidote quickly. Remember to keep it secret. I will definitely reward you after you succeed."

After sending the old doctor away, Zhao Yan washed up and went to bed. The next morning, Xiao Zhouzi took Zhao Yan's high-heeled shoes and clothes and woke him up: "Your Highness, didn't you say you wanted to see Prince Yong at noon? Hurry up and wash up."

Zhao Yan climbed up from the bed and rubbed his eyes. "Please prepare a simpler set of clothes for me. After meeting Prince Yong, I will cut a small size and have dinner with Brother Lan."

Xiao Zhouzi: "Yes."

Zhao Yan got up, washed, and sat behind the screen in the outer hall to write his work plan. Yong Shaolan didn't come over until before noon, so he must have just finished court.

Xiao Zhouzi sat beside Zhao Yan. When he saw Prince Yong come in, he looked at the words Zhao Yan had written for you and read: "Your Highness, my Highness knows everything about yesterday. Your Highness is very busy with government affairs, so he doesn't mind."

Yong Shaolan looked through the ribbon on his eyes at the slender figure behind the screen, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Xiao Zhouzi: "His Highness has not been feeling well these past few days, so his affairs have been handed over to Master Shen. If the prince has anything to discuss directly with Master Shen, that's fine."

Xiao Zhouzi: "Your Highness, please have a cup of tea in the side hall first. Your Highness will go to rest. I will ask Master Shen to come to the side hall to find you later."

Yong Shaolan: “…”

Yong Shaolan got up and went to the side hall of the Purple Palace. An incense stick later, Zhao Yan came over in a changed suit. "Brother Lan, the Seventh Prince said you were here. I just woke up. Did I wait long?"

Yong Shaolan: "...No, let's go, I made soup for you."

Zhao Yan put on his veil and said, "Okay, okay, but I haven't eaten rice noodles for a long time. Brother Lan, can you make me some noodles tonight?"

"Um."

…

Zhao Yan returned to Prince Yong's mansion, ate until he was full, and then asked Yong Shaolan to carry him to take a nap. The entire bedroom was filled with ice cubes, cool and quiet!

Zhao Yan was lying on the bed, Yong Shaolan was sitting at the head of the bed, fanning him and talking about the deposed queen.

"So, His Majesty will announce this matter by the end of August at the latest." Zhao Yan thought for a moment, "Does that mean the Seventh Prince will be crowned king after that?"

Before leaving Jinling, Zhao Yan asked his mother about this matter. His mother then said that everything would be settled once he returned to Yujing.

In ancient times, favored princes would usually be granted fiefdoms in prosperous big cities. Since his father liked him so much and he was a child of the powerful Qilin family, he would definitely be granted fiefdoms in wealthy areas.

"Maybe," Yong Shaolan asked, "Where do you want to go?"

Zhao Yan thought for a moment and said, "Preferably, it would be around Jinling... But that depends on the Seventh Prince. Wherever the Seventh Prince goes, I'll go."

Yong Shaolan: “…”

"What about you, Brother Lan? Do you want to come with me?" Zhao Yan turned over and looked up at Yong Shaolan. "Then we'll get a big house and have a grand wedding. If we get bored, we can stay in Qingshui Village and play with Xiao Niu."

"We'll take it one step at a time." Yong Shaolan said, "If we plan too much, something unexpected might happen."

"That's right," Zhao Yan said, "Stop fanning me. Go get some sleep. I have to go back after dinner."

"Let's do something else before we go to sleep." Yong Shaolan put down the feather fan and raised his hand to pinch Zhao Yan's chin: "Do you want to kiss?"

"Hmm..." Zhao Yan held Yong Shaolan's hand, gently held his fingertips in his mouth, and licked them with his tongue: "Do you like this?"

Zhao Yan draws BL comics, and every time he draws this kind of plot, readers scream in the comment section!

Yong Shaolan: “…”

After clearing his throat, he inserted his fingertips into Zhao Yan's lips again, hooking his tongue and teasing it a few times.

"Ahem..." Zhao Yan turned over and spat, "Pah, why did you put it in so much?"

"Wipe it for me."

"Hmm." Yong Shaolan pinched Zhao Yan's chin through the handkerchief, gently leaned over and pressed on him, pried open Zhao Yan's lips and teeth with his tongue, and exchanged the saliva in his mouth.

“Hmm…”

Zhao Yan was breathless from being kissed, and he struggled in Yong Shaolan's arms. By the time Yong Shaolan finished kissing him, his face had flushed red from holding back his anger, and he was breathing with his tongue hanging out like a puppy: "Pervert, so perverted, why are you eating my saliva for no reason?!"

"It's delicious." After saying that, Yong Shaolan lifted the quilt and asked, "Do you want to sleep?"

Zhao Yan licked the tip of his tongue, which had been sucked until it was numb, and turned over, not looking at Yong Shaolan: "Go to sleep, I'm so sleepy."

…

After Zhao Yan fell asleep, Yong Shaolan left the bedroom and went to the tea room. Xuanji, who had rushed back from Jinling early in the morning, knelt before Yong Shaolan and said, "Your Majesty, the Shen family of Jinling..."

Yong Shaolan: "I know everything about the Shen family. Let's talk about the assassin."

Xuanji: “Ah?”

Wen Quan poured Xuan Ji a cup of tea: "Ah, what? Just say it if the prince tells you to."

"Oh," Xuanji stood up from the ground. "The assassin who was hunting down the Seventh Prince was a bandit from Guanyang. I found out with a little inquiry, but the bandit also gave someone away. Your Highness, would you like to guess who it was?"

Yong Shaolan: “…”

Chuxiu Palace.

Yong Shaolan pondered for a moment, then said to Xuanji, "Pack up and return to Liaodong."

Xuanji: "Your Highness, Xuanji just came back, why are you leaving now?"

Then he was given a sidelong look, "I obey your command!"

Zhao Yan slept for two hours and woke up naturally, but he had a problem that if his nap was too short, he would get up immediately, but if he slept too long, he would not want to get up. So he was "up" for more than half an hour. When Yong Shaolan came in from outside, Zhao Yan jumped up and said, "Great, I had a great sleep."

Yong Shaolan walked in and glanced at Zhao Yan, who had a chicken-coop haircut. He said, "Get out of bed and eat noodles."

"Hehehe," Zhao Yan put on his shoes and socks, ran to the outer hall, and looked at the small bowl of rice noodles that Yong Shaolan had cooked for him. "Brother Lan, you are so kind."

Yong Shaolan watched Zhao Yan eat noodles and told him the news Xuan Ji had just found out: "The assassins who hunted down the Seventh Prince in Guanyang were ordered by Zhao Cheng and his mother."

"Do you know?"

Zhao Yan chewed a mouthful of powder: "...Hmm?"

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