Chapter 36 Longing is never one-way.

The day after the Ministry of Rites official left, the chief secretary of the Prince of Shang's residence arrived with generous gifts under the pretext of "inquiring about the prince's condition."

When Ye Xunyang met him in the flower hall, the other man kept glancing towards the inner courtyard, and his words were full of inquiries about Lou Jin's recent situation.

"Your Highness, my lord has heard that His Highness Prince Jin's old illness has relapsed, and he is very concerned about him. He has specially prepared some nourishing medicinal herbs, and hopes that Your Highness will pass them on to him."

As the chief secretary spoke, he gestured for his attendant to present an exquisite wooden box.

"I wonder if I could catch a glimpse of His Highness Prince Jin from afar? That would put my lord's mind at ease."

Ye Xunyang sneered inwardly. This wasn't a visit; it was clearly a probe to see what was going on. This Lou Shang was still restless even though he was under house arrest.

His expression remained calm as he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. However, Your Highness is currently recuperating, and the doctor's orders state that absolute quiet is required, so it is inconvenient for you to receive guests."

"I will convey the Chief Secretary's message, and I have accepted the medicine. As for seeing the Prince, let's wait until he is better."

The chief clerk, unwilling to let the matter rest, continued, "Your Highness, it's not that I'm being nosy. It's just that there have been many rumors circulating in the capital lately, saying... saying that His Highness Prince Jin's condition is critical, and some even say..."

He paused deliberately, observing Ye Xunyang's reaction.

"They say the prince is no longer able to manage affairs. My prince is worried that these rumors will affect the reputation of the prince's mansion, and he is also afraid that someone will take the opportunity to cause trouble, so he sent me to come and see."

"How dare you!" Ye Xunyang slammed down his teacup, the porcelain cup making a crisp sound that instantly silenced the hall.

The gentleness in his eyes vanished completely: "You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want!"

"The prince simply needs to recuperate. When did it become anyone's place to gossip about his life or death? As for the affairs of the Prince's residence, it's none of the Prince's residence's business to interfere!"

"If I hear another word that slanders the Prince, don't blame me for being impolite!"

The chief clerk was intimidated by his imposing manner, his face turning pale and then red, and he opened his mouth but could not utter a rebuttal.

After a long while, he awkwardly cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, please calm down. I was just relaying rumors and had no intention of offending you. Since Your Highness is well, I will not disturb you any longer. Farewell."

After saying this, without waiting for Ye Xunyang's response, he hurriedly left with his entourage, forgetting even to give a few more words of advice regarding the generous gifts he had brought.

Watching the disheveled figure of the Chief Secretary disappear through the door, Ye Xunyang's tense shoulders slowly relaxed. He raised his hand to wipe his forehead and found a thin layer of sweat on his face.

He wasn't a person who easily lost his temper, but only by doing what he did just now could he force these people to leave. Otherwise, if he pretended to be polite, the person would probably notice something was wrong.

He walked to the window and looked at the snowflakes falling in the courtyard, which brought a chill to his bones.

If Lou Jin were here, why would he need to go to such lengths to deal with these open and covert attacks?

In the past, whether facing Lou Shang's provocations or the probing of court officials, Lou Jin could always defuse the crisis with a few words.

But now that the prince is gone, he realizes that he has long been accustomed to that protection, accustomed to having that person behind him.

Longing is like a wildly growing vine.

He recalled many things that had happened in the past few months, and Lou Jin was involved in every single one of them, which always stirred up his emotions.

It turns out that those things that were hard to explain were not illusions.

His feelings for Lou Jin were no longer just concern or care, nor were they a matter of marital responsibility; it was genuine affection.

This affection was hidden in their daily interactions, and it only became clear to him after the prince left, making it impossible for him to ignore.

In the past few days, people have been coming to inquire about information.

The Imperial Household Department came to inspect the expenses of the Prince's residence, and the Imperial Clan Court came to inquire about matters related to sacrifices.

Several members of the royal family who had previously clashed with Lou Jin even came to his door under the guise of visiting, their words full of provocation.

Ye Xunyang dealt with each situation one by one. From initial panic and helplessness to later composure, he gradually learned to analyze the situation calmly like Lou Jin.

But with each obstacle he overcame, his longing for Lou Jin deepened.

He began to frequently visit the main study, browsing through the books Lou Jin often read and sitting in the spot where Lou Jin usually sat, as if this would allow him to get closer to him.

On the eighteenth day after Lou Jin left, Ye Xunyang finished dealing with the affairs of the mansion and returned to his empty bedroom.

He habitually looked at the spot by the bed, where Lou Jin, who should have been lying there reading a book, was now only covered by cold bedding.

He picked up the letter Lou Jin had left behind and repeatedly stroked the handwriting on it.

"Your Highness, when will you be back? I think... I miss you more and more."

Just then, a slight noise came from outside the window.

Ye Xunyang immediately became alert, gripped the short blade under his pillow, walked to the window, and carefully opened a crack, seeing a familiar dark figure flash by.

It's Fog Hill!

Ye Xunyang was overjoyed and quickly opened the window.

Wushan knelt on one knee and presented a new letter with both hands: "Your Highness, the Prince has sent a reply. He is doing well in the Southern Frontier and will be returning soon."

Ye Xunyang took the letter and eagerly opened it.

The handwriting on the letter was still strong and vigorous, and every word conveyed his concern for him.

"Xunyang, thank you for your hard work. The situation in the capital is complicated, so please be careful. When I return, I will tell you about the situation in the southern border region. I also look forward to seeing you as soon as possible."

These seven simple words, like a warm current, instantly melted away all the unease in Ye Xunyang's heart.

His longing was never one-sided; the prince was also thinking of him.

At this moment, Ye Xunyang was completely certain of his feelings.

For Lou Jin, it was love, a desire to spend a lifetime together.