Chapter Three

The map was ultimately not used; every blade of grass and every tree in the Yanwu Imperial Palace remained in Xingliu's mind. Even though he rarely walked around on foot, memorizing the terrain was no challenge for him.

Moreover, the place where Fei Yu now lives is the lotus pond where they first met.

Xingliu passed through the archway and across the winding bridge, and as he expected, there were people by the pool.

Fei Yu sat in the spot where they first met, but the long couch where Xing Liu had been lying was no longer beside him.

Xingliu walked slowly, not because he wanted to admire the beautiful scenery, but because he hadn't walked in a long time and his feet were sore from walking.

"Next time I must ride in a sedan chair!" Xingliu vowed bitterly in his heart.

As if she hadn't heard his footsteps, Fei Yu didn't move. Xing Liu knew he wasn't oblivious, because even though Fei Yu had her back to him, he still knew that Fei Yu had closed her eyes, listened to his footsteps, and waited for him to leave.

Back in the Zhaoyang Kingdom, he had already learned a lot about Feiyu.

Don't ask him how he could find out about Fei Yu's situation from Zhaoyang Kingdom, which is thousands of miles away. There's a saying in this world: "Money can make the devil turn the millstone."

He heard that ever since the death of the civil official, Fei Yu had lived as if he were dead, sitting by the lotus pond all day without saying a word.

It was Fei Yu's request to stay at Hechi, because he thought it was a remote place suitable for his status as someone under house arrest.

Xingliu understood that Feiyu loved this place because the days spent here were the most peaceful time of Feiyu's life.

"Fei Yu," Xing Liu called softly, but Fei Yu did not respond.

"Alas!" Xingliu sighed inwardly. The hardest person to wake up in the world is one who is pretending to be asleep; the hardest blind person to cure is one who keeps their eyes closed.

Fortunately, he was no ordinary person; he happened to have a solution in mind to solve this problem.

Xingliu slowly walked towards Feiyu, looked behind Feiyu for a while, and made sure that Feiyu was not paying attention to him.

He slowly raised one foot, aiming it at Fei Yu's slender and graceful back, then paused for a moment, afraid that Fei Yu might turn around at the crucial moment.

Seeing that Fei Yu really didn't want to pay attention to him, Xing Liu gave an innocent smile and kicked her hard. With a splash, poor Fei Yu fell into the water.

Xingliu, whose nature was wicked, squatted by the pool with a smile, waiting for Feiyu to get up. Feiyu, whom he liked, knew how to swim, so this little bit of water shouldn't be a problem for him.

Even though Yanwu Kingdom is located in the south, and the lotus pond draws water from the river so that it doesn't freeze, it's still inevitable to catch a cold from falling into the water in the cold winter.

Humans have a survival instinct, and Fei Yu is no exception.

After falling into the water, he swallowed a few mouthfuls of water before calming down and paddling hard a few times to get back to shore.

Fei Yu glanced at the smiling woman squatting on the shore, feeling that she looked somewhat familiar, but ultimately ignored her.

'Luckily I learned to swim when I was a kid, otherwise I would have been killed by this guy long ago. It's the dead of winter now and freezing cold. If I get the chance next time, I'll definitely skin him alive.' Xingliu watched Feiyu's departing figure and mischievously imitated Feiyu's gentle tone, saying the unpleasant things that Feiyu would never say.

Xingliu's words successfully caught Feiyu's attention. Although he only glanced back briefly, it was enough to make Xingliu happy.

Strike while the iron is hot. Now that he has finally caught Fei Yu's attention, Xing Liu should seize the opportunity to make his move.

Thinking of Fei Yu's gentle smile and tender kisses, Xing Liu disregarded the pain in his feet and, with a smile on his face, skipped and hopped towards Fei Yu's place.

That person looks so familiar, like I've seen them somewhere before.

Fei Yu lit a candle, took off his wet clothes, and thought about the person he had just seen.

In truth, the moon was dim and the stars were few tonight, and he couldn't see the person's face clearly at all. But he felt that he recognized the person. It wasn't the little eunuch who usually brought him meals, nor the palace maid who helped him clean the room. His overly bold behavior was unlike that of a newly arrived palace maid or eunuch.

Who on earth could have disturbed his peace of mind... Oh well, what's the point of thinking about this?

Fei Yu smiled wryly and continued changing her clothes. She wouldn't need to wear the outer robe later when it was time to sleep; she only needed to change into her undergarments.

He should not and has no right to fall in love with anyone else. His father and mother have both passed away. The boy who always looked at him with starry eyes was rejected by him, and the person he loved resisted his feelings by committing suicide.

Ultimately, he was someone she shouldn't have loved... Thinking of this, Fei Yu suddenly felt a chill run through her body.

He heard the splashing sound of water; a basin of water, not exactly ice-cold but very cold, was poured over his head, soaking his newly put-on undergarments. His hands were still at his waist, ready to tie a knot, and his wet hair, dripping with water, clung to his face, which was almost turning blue from the cold.

"What exactly do you want to do?" After a defeated sigh, Fei Yu turned to look at the person who splashed the water, her tone still gentle.

No matter what others do, he can never get angry, because no matter what they do or say, he is still himself and will not change.

As for the person who kicked him into the water and then splashed him with water, the reason they couldn't be angry was probably because they admired the person for doing so much to get him to talk.

"If I said I just wanted to catch up with you, would you believe me?" Xingliu smiled sweetly, but her eyes were very serious.

Fei Yu didn't answer, only sighed repeatedly; he both believed and didn't believe.

He felt the person looked familiar, but the moonlight was dim and the candlelight was insufficient, so he couldn't make out the person's features at all, let alone determine if the person was an old acquaintance. 'It's been so long since I've seen you, and you won't talk to me, so I had no choice but to resort to this tactic.' Xingliu pouted, looking innocent.

'To be honest, I don't remember who you are.' Fei Yu forced a smile while trembling.

Even though he was freezing cold, he wasn't thick-skinned enough to change his clothes in front of others.

"You're too honest," Xingliu muttered.

Everyone wants to hear sweet words at times like this, even if it's a lie. Even if it's something vague like someone looks familiar and is someone you hold dear in your heart, it's still better than not remembering them at all.

He picked up the oil lamp with his slender fingers and brought it close to his face, walking step by step towards Fei Yu as if facing an abyss.

'Star Stream...'

Fei Yu exclaimed in surprise, uttering a name that shouldn't have come from his mouth.

Xingliu was startled; the oil lamp slipped from between his fingers, plunging the room back into complete darkness.

In the end, Fei Yu learned his name.

That makes sense. At that time, Fei Yu already knew that he was a male concubine raised by the late emperor, so he should have been able to easily know that his name was Xing Liu. After all, he was the most beautiful among the male concubines and the only one who was ordered not to leave his bed.

'I didn't want you to know.' Xingliu laughed sadly.

Xingliu's voice had a slight sob in it; he was actually someone who cried very easily.

"I've been calling this name in my dreams," Fei Yu said.

Xingliu could sense the deep tenderness and laughter in the words of the person he loved.

Suddenly, Xingliu realized that he had never loved someone so much as he did now.

"Me too." Xingliu cried even harder, her words muffled, but Feiyu could still hear her clearly.

Fei Yu took a step forward, wanting to embrace Xing Liu, but stopped in an instant. He didn't know if he was qualified to embrace Xing Liu. He had abandoned this person before, so cowardly that he only dared to call his name in his dreams. Could he embrace him?

Fei Yu's hands, which were about to embrace Xing Liu, moved slowly and tremblingly. In the end, she hugged Xing Liu, holding the person she loved with infinite heartache.

Xingliu buried her head in Feiyu's arms, wiping her tears on Feiyu's clothes, but a sly smile appeared on her face.

He was a master at faking tears; otherwise, how could he survive in the palace, teeming with wolves, and deal with those lecherous fiends in Panying Tower? He relied on more than just his beauty and smile; when necessary, tears were more effective than anything else.

However, he did not expect the crying move to be so powerful that even Fei Yu could not resist it.

Crying loudly is indeed a sure-fire way to get what you want without making the other person feel like they've been taken advantage of.

'So, now all that's left is to leave the palace.'

After a long hug, Xingliu wiped away his tears and, in his uniquely sweet and soft tone, nestled in Feiyu's arms and said...

Unbeknownst to Fei Yu, Xing Liu was plotting how to get Qin Lei to agree to let Fei Yu leave. He had a method, albeit a wicked one that Fei Yu couldn't know about, but something was better than nothing.

Fei Yu didn't say anything. He held the person in his arms tightly, trying his best not to let Xing Liu notice his unease. Unfortunately, Xing Liu, who was as sensitive as he was, already knew.

"Once you can leave the palace, we'll move to Xia Yu Kingdom. I want to buy a very, very big house, with a pond in the front yard to plant lotus flowers, a plum grove in the back yard, and two long rows of osmanthus trees in front of the door," Xing Liu said dreamily.

He smiled but remained silent, though it was not raining.

He could only laugh. He was lucky that he, the former emperor under house arrest, hadn't been killed. Talking about wanting to leave the palace was just wishful thinking.

"In summer, when hibiscus blooms everywhere, we can drink lotus seed soup and paint; in autumn, visiting guests can smell the fragrance of osmanthus, brew a cup of osmanthus tea and make a jar of osmanthus wine, making everyone envious of our affection; in winter, when plum blossoms bloom, the fragrance of a whole forest is enough for us to enjoy throughout the entire winter..."

'And what about spring?' Fei Yu couldn't help but ask.

Why is it that summer is associated with lotus, autumn with osmanthus, and winter with plum blossoms? It should be springtime, a time when all flowers are in bloom, yet Xingliu makes no mention of it.

"After the Spring Festival, we admire the lanterns, pay respects to our ancestors, and enjoy the continuous spring rain. We pick plums to make candied fruit and plum wine..." Xingliu kept the last sentence in his mouth, hesitating to say it.

"And then?" Fei Yu asked, unable to hide her curiosity.

Everything Xingliu described was so wonderful that he couldn't help but want to know what Xingliu meant by the story. Did they go on an outing to enjoy the scenery? Visit a friend's house or go for a river cruise? Were there temple fairs or markets in the spring?

If one day they settle in Xia Yu Kingdom, he will help Xing Liu choose the best materials in the best shops, discuss with top craftsmen the most suitable style for Xing Liu, and dress up his beloved person to be extremely beautiful.

"Then, of course, I have to work and earn money! Otherwise, I'll starve to death," Xingliu said matter-of-factly.

Fei Yu was stunned on the spot.

Yes, that's right, but when the atmosphere is so nice, talking about work is just too much of a mood killer.

"Working for just a few months allows you to enjoy a whole year – isn't that amazing?" Xingliu said proudly.

He spoke as if he were already in Xia Yu Kingdom, by the lotus pond, lying in Fei Yu's arms, with two rows of osmanthus trees in front of the door and a whole grove of plum trees behind the house... But rent is mostly collected in the autumn... What kind of job can you enjoy after working for a few months and do it in the spring? Even though his intuition told Fei Yu that it was better not to ask, he still asked anyway.

"I don't know," Xingliu answered unusually directly.

He was so lazy that it was frightening. To put it nicely, he was easygoing; to put it bluntly, he was indifferent. He was already grateful that he had to work, and he shouldn't expect anything from anyone else.

"Then let's plant apricot and plum trees in front of our house. When spring comes, the trees will be covered in fallen petals... and we can collect rent in the fall," he tried to persuade Xingliu.

Although Fei Yu is ignorant of worldly affairs, she still has basic common sense. Apricots and plums not only have beautiful flowers and delicious fruit, but can also be used to make plum syrup, etc.

"No! I want osmanthus."

Xingliu flatly refused, then paused before adding, "There will always be work in the spring, so why worry?"

You can't blame Fei Yu for being cold; when he answered, his mind was full of Qin Lei and Mo Yan. Whether he and Fei Yu had any hope depended on whether the two of them sparked a romance; if they did, using Mo Yan as leverage would be enough.

Fei Yu gently patted Xing Liu's head and smiled as she lightly kissed Xing Liu's soft hair.

It seems he will have to shoulder more responsibility in the future. No matter how precocious Xingliu is, he is still younger than him, and he should not rely on Xingliu.

'By the way, did I tell you that I'm not a free person? My indenture is in Qin Lei's hands.'

Xingliu suddenly looked up and spoke to Feiyu in a sweet voice.

"Yes." Fei Yu nodded firmly, but her expression was desolate. "You said it now."

At this moment, a saying came to Fei Yu's mind: "Mountains may crumble, people may grow old, but relying on yourself is the best."

If he had even the slightest idea of ​​relying on Xingliu, he should have woken up by now.

'I'll talk to Qin Lei about it. He's actually a pretty good person.' Fei Yu gently kissed Xing Liu's crown of hair, saying things that would make Xing Liu faint.

At this moment, Xingliu felt deeply that relying on herself was the best option, no matter what. "Sigh... Xingliu, do you think we have any hope of being together forever?" Feiyu asked hesitantly.

'I don't know either. '

Xingliu responded with a sigh, expressing his deep admiration for Feiyu's naiveté; he was practically prostrating himself in worship.

However, he didn't feel that falling in love with Fei Yu was a misfortune. Xing Liu understood that he meant he loved Fei Yu. He didn't understand many things, but he was tolerant of them. Fei Yu's gentleness was the only place of rest for him, a wandering person.

Then he will protect Fei Yu, and protect the innocence and tenderness of his love.

When they returned to the Third Prince's residence, the sky was still overcast. Since the West Courtyard was rarely inhabited, there were not many servants. In front of the last room in the West Courtyard, Qin Lei's personal eunuch, Fu He, was sleeping soundly. Passing by him was not difficult.

The only obstacle for Xingliu to get back to his room was his aching feet; he hadn't walked such a long distance in years.

When he fled Yanwu Kingdom, Mo Yan carried him on his back. When he left Panying Tower, he was always carried in a sedan chair. This time when he returned, he was also in a carriage. When did he ever let him walk on the road?

"It hurts so much! Next time I must take a sedan chair." Xingliu carefully took off her shoes and socks, and said again resentfully.

Seeing the exhausted Mo Yan who had been deceived, Xing Liu felt a pang of guilt that hadn't been felt in a long time.

So he gave half of the long couch to Moyan to lie on, and smiled and asked about her well-being; but in his heart he never really regretted it. His only unease was that he didn't know if Qin Lei would take the bait.

Okay, he admits that when he saw Mo Yan looking so disheveled, he did have the thought of giving up.

'Don't you expect him to do anything?'

After a moment of silence, she smiled brightly and said, "A little..."

Hearing Mo Yan's words, Xing Liu was once again certain that he had done a good thing, helping Mo Yan find a good home and 'incidentally' getting his Fei Yu.

What happened next was quite interesting. Qin Lei suddenly had a stroke of genius and actually issued an edict to exonerate Mo Yan's father, who had been wrongfully killed. Xing Liu always felt that the one who had a stroke of genius was not Qin Lei, but rather the eunuch Fu He beside him who had spoken up.

In short, Mo Yan, whose honesty was extraordinary, insisted on going to the palace to thank Qin Lei in person.

Mo Yan entered the palace alone in the middle of the night, clearly intending to break in. Xing Liu, partly to watch the show and partly because he had the gold token, summoned a four-person sedan chair, ordered several layers of cotton quilts to be laid inside, and then stuffed himself into the quilts, drowsily going to find Mo Yan.

Naturally, afterwards he had the sedan chair bearers carry him to the vicinity of the lotus pond and asked them to wait there, so that his affair with Fei Yu would not be discovered and his legs could get a good rest.

Things went very smoothly after that; he used Moyan's preferences to exchange for Feiyu's freedom.

To be precise, Fei Yu was demoted to a commoner and expelled from the palace.

Chinley's hesitation when he presented the conditions surprised him somewhat.

Unexpectedly, when all the officials were shouting for his life, Qin Lei spared Fei Yu's life, not for the sake of a good reputation, but because he truly had feelings for his cousin Fei Yu.

However, this doesn't stop Xingliu from giving Qinlei a little stunt.

There was nothing he could do; after all, he had feelings for Moyan. Although he was the one who started it all, it was normal for him to feel a little unhappy about pushing Moyan into Qin Lei's wolf's mouth.

Because of this slight discomfort, he timed it perfectly so that Mo Yan would take him up the mountain to worship Buddha.

Although the temple they went to was very effective in praying for lasting marriages, everyone who knew Xingliu knew that asking him to go up the mountain was practically a death sentence for him.

But that night, in Fei Yu's arms, he tied the red thread he had begged for to the foot of the doll with their two names written on it... Fei Yu's smile was sweeter than honey, making him feel that everything was worthwhile, and that doing anything was worthwhile.

Xingliu's schemes didn't stop there. He tricked Qin Lei into giving him his indenture, burned it, and then told Qin Lei that there was no such indenture at all, and that he had burned it long ago when they were fleeing. Qin Lei was so angry that he wanted to strangle him.

Qin Lei was no pushover. Although he seemed like a troublemaker, he was not. On the eve of Fei Yu's departure from the palace, he issued an order forbidding Fei Yu from leaving.

Hearing that there were too many people outside the palace who wanted to kill Fei Yu, and that he should stay in the palace temporarily for protection, Xing Liu was so angry that he almost vomited blood. Qin Lei was simply taking revenge on him!

He even sent Moyan to Qinlei's side, yet Qinlei did something like this, completely trampling the word "trust" on the ground.

Although he was the same in some ways, how could Chinlei do the same thing as him? It was just too much!

Let's see how he gets his revenge!