16 Chapter 16

◎These wrists are naturally suited to being tied up.◎

Xie Yutang lowered her eyes, her gaze slowly shifting from the thin chain on her wrist to the obediently kneeling boy.

He was just my type, both in appearance and personality.

The boy's thin shoulders, taut jaw, and slightly reddened ears were such a beautiful sight when the medicine was applied.

Everything about her is in line with her aesthetic preferences.

Her fingertips brushed against the thin gold chain, then she grabbed the boy's chin, forcing him to raise his head.

"You chose this yourself."

Don't regret it.

Su Lu's long, thick eyelashes trembled. He knew that in this position, no matter how small his expression was, it would not escape the other person's scrutiny, but he still surrendered himself completely without any struggle.

He understood Xie Yutang's meaning—choosing to follow meant willingly being controlled.

He chose it himself.

He has no regrets.

The madam who came in to serve the food was quite perceptive; she put the food down and left without asking a single question or glancing at the food.

There was no one else in the room except Xie Yutang and Su Lu.

Xie Yutang watched as the young man's slender fingers carried the teapot to pour tea for her, and then placed the dishes and desserts in white porcelain plates in front of her. Even the placement of the chopsticks suited her perfectly.

Every detail is meticulously crafted.

They even understand her preferences better than Huaijin and Woyu.

Xie Yutang's gaze was too direct. Su Lu paused in his serving, neatly placed the chopsticks on the porcelain pillow, and slowly raised his eyes.

It was a questioning look that was perfectly appropriate.

"nothing."

Xie Yutang picked up the teacup on the table. "It just suddenly occurred to me that Prince Su is also a prince, he should be used to being served... how come he's so good at serving others?"

These weren't exactly pleasant words; even the most good-tempered person would have shown some slight anger. But Su Lu simply smiled calmly, taking it all in stride: "Just take it as Master praising me."

She's really good at talking.

Xie Yutang drank his tea without changing his expression, his lowered eyes narrowing slightly.

If it were her past self, she would probably have trusted this young man completely. But now, she is no longer the princess in the deep palace who would easily trust and rely on others.

She still doesn't understand where Su Lu's loyalty comes from, or why he is so certain and composed. If it's an act, it's an act he's put on too well. But since he himself handed the chain to her, she doesn't mind having a useful knife, or perhaps, an obedient dog.

When Su Lu served people, he was truly more attentive and considerate than anyone else. The tea in the pot had gone cold, and before Xie Yutang could speak, his beautiful hands had already grasped the handle of the teapot. The owner of the hands stood up gracefully and said, "I'll go warm the tea."

Su Lu's departure took longer than it should have taken to warm a pot of tea.

Xie Yutang wasn't worried that anyone would make things difficult for him because of his looks, or that he was up to something behind her back—although she no longer trusted easily, she wasn't someone who was easily suspicious. She was willing and dared to give her subordinates space before they committed any substantial acts of betrayal.

Xie Yutang patiently admired the moon and poured himself wine.

The best room in Nanfeng Pavilion naturally boasts an exceptional view. A low table is deliberately placed by the window, offering a glimpse of the bustling streets of Gulou and a beautiful night view.

When Su Lu returned, he not only brought warm tea, but also carried a white porcelain bone plate.

Xie Yutang's gaze lingered for a moment on the jade rabbit cakes arranged on the plate.

This seems to explain why he came home late.

Su Lu put down the teapot, removed the plate of dessert in front of her, and replaced it with the jade rabbit cake he had just brought.

Xie Yutang raised an eyebrow.

He took away the dessert that didn't suit her taste.

Xie Yutang has always been a picky eater. She doesn't like flavors that are too strong, too weak, too light, or too heavy. That dessert was too sweet, but she ate it without making a sound—if she wanted to, even Wu Mama, who raised her since she was a child, might not be able to tell.

Xie Yutang tapped the edge of the bone plate with her nail-painted fingertips.

"With your intelligence, Prince Su should understand that sometimes it might be better to conceal your talents?"

No one in a position of power would feel comfortable keeping a lackey who can see right through them by their side.

These words are both a reminder and a warning.

Su Lu obediently lowered his eyes, but slightly raised his chin, positioning himself at an angle where Xie Yutang could see his facial expression at any time.

—Just as he said, she completely surrendered herself and willingly allowed herself to be controlled.

"We hide our shortcomings before the Lord because we hold back. But when we are killed, we hold nothing back, so we have nothing to fear."

Xie Yutang paused, his fingertips pausing.

What a perfect example of leaving nothing behind.

She smiled, picked up the chopsticks from the porcelain pillow, and took a jade rabbit cake. It was sweet and glutinous but not greasy, just her taste.

"I am very satisfied with the performance you put on at the martial arts test today."

Xie Yutang praised without reservation: "The devout look on your face when you knelt down to pick up the sword almost fooled me."

For a moment, she almost thought he was kneeling before a god.

—To her, the one who humiliated her.

The boy turned his head slightly to the side.

He did act, but he wasn't acting out piety.

Su Lu curled his lips slightly, offering no explanation, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Xie Yutang stared at his face, raised her eyebrows slightly, and was about to ask a question when a sharp, swift sound suddenly rang in her ears. Turning her head, she saw a firework slowly exploding in the boundless night outside the window.

She was taken aback.

More fireworks exploded one after another, blooming brilliantly in the dark night, one after another.

Everyone knew that this was a grand confession.

Xie Yutang was drawn to the dazzling display, and the question that was on the tip of his tongue faded away.

It wasn't anything of great importance; if he didn't want to talk about it, then so be it.

The fireworks in the night sky made Xie Yutang feel dazed for a moment.

She once longed for such a fireworks display.

One year at the lantern festival, she even bought fireworks and made the decorations herself, but Lin Tan had to rush back to the palace because of an urgent official business and didn't have time to see her.

It is a custom in Dayan for a man to light fireworks for the woman he admires during the Lantern Festival. However, fireworks are expensive, and even Xie Yutang in his previous life did not buy many. But tonight's fireworks are so grand and so long, it seems like they will never end.

"I wonder which young master is behind this; such a grand gesture."

The colorful light reflected on Xie Yutang's profile, outlining an extremely beautiful interplay of light and shadow. She suddenly smiled, shook her head, and said, "That young lady will be very happy to see this."

The boy beside him asked softly, "Is Master happy?"

If Xie Yutang were to turn around at this moment, she would find herself being watched by this young man.

His gaze was gentler and calmer than usual, and it held a deep emotion that anyone who looked at him would immediately understand.

But Xie Yutang did not turn back.

Su Lu knew she wouldn't turn back, so for the first time, he was very careful and restrained in letting himself gaze at her like that.

“Of course,” Xie Yutang smiled casually, “I’m happy too.”

She saw the fireworks that were meant for others to see, and not only did she see them, she saw them from the best spot.

She even felt sorry for the young man, that he hadn't booked this room sooner—there would never have been a better spot to watch the fireworks than from her vantage point.

As the last firework faded, Xie Yutang's gaze lingered on the night, lost in thought. Su Lu, slicing fruit, paused slightly, glancing out the window as if sensing something.

His gaze met that of Lin Tan downstairs.

Guo Yan'er wanted to watch the fireworks, so she dragged Lin Tan along. This was the best viewing spot, so it's not surprising that they came here.

As if by unspoken agreement, their eyes met briefly before immediately looking away.

Lin Tan was pulled forward by Guo Yan'er, and Su Lu calmly arranged the sliced ​​melon pieces one by one on a porcelain plate and placed it in front of Xie Yutang.

"Owner."

He suddenly spoke.

Xie Yutang withdrew his gaze from the window and asked with his eyes.

Su Lu raised his hand, and Xie Yutang was taken aback.

This is insubordination, this is audacity.

She should have yelled or slapped his hand away, but she did nothing, watching his hand slowly approach until it was almost touching her cheek.

But it's only almost.

The boy's fingers stopped moving with great restraint.

She could even smell the scent of snow from the mountain peaks emanating from his fingertips, a crisp chill infused with the sweetness of melon.

A petal fell into your hair.

He merely pointed with his fingertip, without even touching a corner of the petal.

Xie Yutang blinked, slowly raised her hand, and plucked the flower petal from her hair.

Gulou Street was bustling with activity, and it was early summer. Fallen petals were blown by the wind and landed on her head.

Xie Yutang stretched out her palm towards the window, and pale pink petals swirled and drifted down.

Why are your hands shaking?

Su Lu was slightly taken aback.

"Why were your hands shaking just now?"

Xie Yutang suddenly felt playful. Why could he always be so calm and composed? She imitated him from before, raising her hand to touch his cheek, then stopping just before she could touch his skin.

Su Lu couldn't quite describe his feelings at that moment. He had clearly intended to distract Xie Yutang, but now it seemed he had succeeded a little too much...

His fingers, adorned with melancholy nails, were more formidable than the sharpest sword. The young Prince Muqing, who had fought his way in and out of the border battlefield seven times, was now on high alert, his body visibly tense.

He instinctively tried to move back, but Xie Yutang's words, "Don't move," froze him in place.

"You are my bodyguard. How can you wield a sword and protect me if your hands tremble so easily?"

...

"You need to practice more, understand?"

...

With each word Xie Yutang spoke, his fingertips would subtly move, tracing a line from his cheek to his brow, just barely brushing his eyelashes.

"You can't even handle a hand waving in front of you? Is that all the self-control you have?"

The exceptionally talented Prince Muqing could never have imagined that one day he would be criticized for lacking willpower because of his eyelashes.

He took a breath, trying to ignore the hand waving around near his eyelids: "...Master is right."

Xie Yutang laughed so hard that the silver hairpin in her hair trembled.

This adorable boy, on the surface, is a stray dog ​​who has been rejected by her, forced to rely on Wei Xianxi, and publicly humiliated by her, his former master, in the martial arts competition. Yet, in secret, he indulges her in this playful behavior.

It's really exciting... like having an affair.

Xie Yutang teased him for a while longer, and then somehow remembered Wo Yu's words—"How about we lock Prince Su on the bed and do whatever we want with him?"

Locked.

On the bed.

Xie Yutang's gaze unconsciously drifted to Su Lu's wrist.

These wrists are naturally suited to being tied up.

She thought of the red ribbons fluttering in the lights of Gulou Street, and how they would look if tied to this porcelain-white wrist...

Xie Yutang abruptly withdrew her hand, coughed, and said nonchalantly, "...I should probably head back now."

"It's not appropriate for outsiders to see us meet today, especially Lin Tan... Otherwise, given his petty nature, he might resort to some underhanded tactics against you."

After Xie Yutang gave him some instructions, Su Lu would have immediately stood up to reply under normal circumstances. However, he seemed particularly out of sorts tonight. His eyelashes, glistening with moisture, blinked repeatedly without any focus. After a moment of confusion, he slowly came to his senses and said, "I understand... Master, please be careful on your journey."

The usually strict and meticulous young man, who always upheld the proper etiquette between master and servant, had a rare moment of slackness. Xie Yutang was sure to seize the opportunity to tease him, but she had been too carefree just now, and accidentally... she seemed to have touched his lips...

The warm, soft touch on my fingertips is still there.

Feeling guilty, Xie Yutang only wanted to pretend that nothing had happened.

It was not appropriate for others to see the two of them meet today. Xie Yutang said that for the sake of Prince Su, he should not stay too long. He put on the veil that was placed on the low table and opened the door.

Suddenly, I felt a subtle sense of guilt, as if I had taken advantage of an innocent girl but didn't want to take responsibility.

Huaijin had been waiting quietly outside the door for a long time.

She changed into men's clothing, exactly the same as the one Su Lu wore on the street, the one that had gotten wet.

This was planned in advance. On the way back, Xie Yutang had her personal maid pretend to be Su Lu. Even if someone investigated later, she could say that she had just had tea with her maid at Nanfeng Pavilion for one night.

Huaijin, who was capable of playing storybooks on a carriage, was naturally no better than Woyu. They both hoped that Su Lu could serve as a good pastime so that the young lady would not have time to focus on Lin Tan.

The door was tightly closed, so she couldn't hear anything. Now, she naturally wanted to find some clues.

The young lady naturally couldn't investigate, so Huaijin looked at Su Lu, and upon seeing him, she couldn't help but blurt out, "Why are Young Master Su's ears so red?"

Xie Yutang: "..."

Su Lu: "..."

At this moment, Su Lu naturally didn't expect Xie Yutang to kindly help him out of the predicament. He smiled calmly and said, "I was exposed to a bit of wind just now, so I might have caught a chill."

...

In early summer, Huai Jin, who was about to take out a fan to fan her young lady, looked at Su Lu, then at Xie Yutang, and uncertainly put her hand down.

Su Lu handed over the mask that was facing down on the table: "Thank you for your trouble, Miss Huaijin."

Even Huaijin sincerely admired this.

Despite being the heir of the Muqing Prince's Mansion, Prince Su never put on airs even when dealing with his maids and nannies, acting as if he were just an ordinary guard of Xie Yutang.

Huaijin chose to remain silent about the issue of hot and cold, politely returned the greeting, and put the mask on his face.

Her outfit made her almost indistinguishable from Su Lu's, ignoring the height difference between them.

Su Lu recovered so quickly that Xie Yutang couldn't help but tease him again before leaving. He looked the young man up and down, his figure outlined by the male prostitute's clothes: "Young Master, you should change into the clothes that were originally prepared for you. This outfit... is just for me to see."

*

When the madam entered, the young lady was gone, leaving only the young man. He wore an ordinary blue robe, yet he exuded an air of refined elegance, as aloof and pure as snow on a mountain peak.

The madam was stunned for a moment before she came to her senses and recognized him as the masked boy from earlier.

Although she had long suspected that the face behind the mask was no ordinary woman, even the madam, who was used to seeing all kinds of beauties, had never so clearly experienced what a "rare beauty" and "stunning beauty" were.

Is there really such a beautiful person in this world?

Even just one glance at it is breathtaking.

Startled, the young man glanced at her, and the madam felt as if she had been doused with snow. The chill that hit her face instantly brought her to her senses. She quickly averted her gaze, bowed, and smiled obsequiously: "Young master, you instructed us to light a total of nine hundred and ninety-nine fireworks, and we've set them all off for you. Are you satisfied?"

The young master must have been very satisfied; the powder behind his ears hadn't completely faded, and he had changed his clothes again and again. It must have been quite intense in this room just now.

Tsk, I wonder who that girl is, to have such a male favorite.

wrong.

This young man bought so many fireworks, he was extremely generous. And looking at his demeanor and appearance, he's hardly the kind of... male concubine who needs to set off fireworks to please his master.

Thinking of this, the madam beamed with joy and subconsciously began to flatter: "Young master and young lady are truly a perfect match, a match made in heaven. I wonder which young lady is so fortunate to have won the heart of the young master..."

The rest of her words stuck in her throat, a short knife held to the madam's neck.

The boy said coldly, "Don't say things like that again."

...

"tonight--"

"Nothing happened!"

The madam trembled like a leaf, no longer daring to speculate. "I just had a sudden whim and wanted to set off fireworks. This room has been empty all night; no one has come here."

The chill on my neck finally subsided.

The madam swallowed hard, and before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, something else was thrown at her head. Startled, she retreated several steps. Upon closer inspection, she saw a small bag of silver lying on the carpet in front of her.

The boy was nowhere to be seen inside the house.