Chapter 12

"Your Highness, are you still not up?" Tengluo asked.

She peered closer and saw the light was on in the room; the young man had gotten up before dawn. She watched from outside the door as he picked up the lantern he'd bought a couple of days ago—a gift from her young master to the Ninth Prince. She'd already seen him pick it up several times.

"Does Your Highness like lanterns so much? If you do, perhaps you can ask the young master for one someday, and he might make one for you by hand," Tengluo said, leaning closer.

Upon hearing this, Murong Yue looked over and asked, "Brother can make lanterns too?"

“Hmm! Young Master made it so exquisitely, you’ve never seen it before… In the past, he would give…” Tengluo was about to say Xue Yi’s name, but then she remembered that she couldn’t pronounce that person’s name now, so she shut her mouth.

“In the past, during festivals, the young master would often make some lanterns by hand, some to burn for the madam and some to give to us. The young master was most skilled at making lotus lanterns, tall red lanterns that looked like they were reflected in front of a Buddhist altar,” Tengluo recalled, gesturing to Murong Yue as she spoke.

“Well… I celebrate the festival in Lidu, where we don’t have this custom. In Lidu, people parade through the streets and burn incense during festivals, and everyone paints sacrificial patterns on their faces and hands to convey blessings,” Murong Yue said, his mind racing as he imagined the young man making lanterns by hand.

“That sounds interesting. How about Your Highness draws one for us next time?” Tengluo said, then, remembering something, quickly turned around. “Your Highness, the porridge is ready. Let’s eat.”

"I heard that His Majesty is going to Zhizhang Hall today... Your Highness must not be late."

Upon hearing this, Murong Yue put down the lantern. Since he enrolled in school, Xue Yi had never visited him once. He wondered what the reason for his sudden visit today was.

He ate porridge and side dishes in the kitchen, and then went to Zhizhang Hall.

As dawn broke, the Zhizhang Hall was brightly lit. Because of Xue Yi's visit, Grand Tutor Zhao arrived an hour earlier than usual, and all the students were already there. He had been there for nearly a month, and after Lu Xuejin's visit, Grand Tutor Zhao stopped making things difficult for him and set up a table and chair for him in the hall.

With the deaths of his three elders and the loss of his uncle's protection, Liu Mingde fell ill after attending the funeral.

The rest of his classmates practically ignored him. Apart from Zhao Taifu sighing from time to time, after learning that Lu Xuejin had taken care of him, he paid more attention to him, often asking him questions in class and even inviting him to poetry gatherings several times.

He never went. From childhood to adulthood, he was not very interested in books and articles, but preferred to practice swordsmanship and halberds in the military camp.

"His Majesty has arrived."

With a loud shout from a palace attendant, Murong Yue caught a glimpse of a black and gold dragon pattern out of the corner of his eye.

Xue Yi emerged from the vermilion corner of the palace wall. His slender eyes were as black as ink, his fair face was handsome and refined, and his crimson lips were slightly upturned, exuding a mysterious yet alluring charm. The night behind him painted him as if the King of Hell from a painting had appeared.

Murong Yue hadn't seen Xue Yi many times recently. Usually, Xue Yi was calm and composed, but today, for some reason, Murong Yue sensed a subtle pleasure in him.

That's good. If this person hadn't paid attention to him, perhaps he would have avoided some humiliation today.

Behind Xue Yi followed Lord Song, who had questioned them about leaving the palace that day. The two walked one after the other, the former like a damp, gloomy cloud, the latter like the moonlight spreading across the sky. One bright, one dark, their shadows cast beneath the palace walls.

“No need for formalities,” Xue Yi said. “Rise, all of you.”

"I happened to be passing by today, so I came in to take a look," Xue Yi said, lowering his eyes and turning them toward him. "Look at my memory, I had forgotten you were here."

Murong Yue knew that Xue Yi was targeting him. All the classmates around him looked at him. He remained calm and immediately knelt down to pay his respects, saying, "Your subject greets Father."

The moment that "Father" was uttered, the air suddenly became quiet, and many eyes turned to him. Even Song Zhao couldn't help but look at him, his gaze indescribable.

He lowered his eyes, quietly looking at the soles of Xue Yi's black boots and at the calluses on the side of his index finger that he had developed in the military camp.

“Song Zhao, look at him, he’s quite sensible.” Xue Yi narrowed his eyes. “Grand Tutor Zhao, how is the Ninth Prince’s studies going? I sent him here hoping you could teach him well. He shouldn’t just focus on how to please people… He was born into the royal family, he should learn other things too.”

"..." Murong Yue noticed that his palms were sweaty. He loosened his grip slightly, then clenched his fists. For a moment, the gazes around him seemed to transform into those of gods and Buddhas judging him. He knelt on the spot, seeing the souls of his father, brothers, and sisters residing within them.

This Zhizhang Hall was built by his father, and now the turtledove that stole the nest has become king, teaching him that he doesn't need to learn to please people. It's truly an extreme irony.

"Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince is well-behaved, intelligent, and sensible. His studies in the Zhizhang Hall are going well, and he has never caused me any worry," Grand Tutor Zhao replied.

The answer was standard and unremarkable. He noticed that when Zhao Taifu looked at him with droopy eyelids, a faint sigh came from the air.

It seems that today's purpose is to humiliate him... He knelt on the ground, coldly looking at the crowd who looked down on him.

Let everyone's gaze turn to the heroic spirits of the fallen heroes, for no amount of humiliation can extinguish the burning flame of their souls.

“Very good,” Xue Yi said. “The Grand Tutor has praised you so highly, it seems you have done well in your studies. I will test you… Today you will compose a poem for me… and write a wedding poem. If you do well, I will reward you handsomely.”

Murong Yue now knew the reason for the man's joy; he figured it was because he was about to get married and wanted him to compose a wedding poem. He only knew that Xue Yi was going to marry a man. He was pleased to see Xue Yi's self-destructive behavior and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand," he replied, and then recited a poem.

"The snow crane transforms into a flying crane, adorned with jade brocade. In the morning, it floats on the clouds, and in the evening, it becomes a companion to the moon. This night is even more silent, as we whisper to continue our love story. Before we are released from our old age, through a hundred years of withering and flourishing, the sun shines brightly and the floating lamps gather, our two hearts are always inseparable."

This poem was originally written by him after his mother and uncle asked him for it. He spent several days writing it. It was originally intended to be given to the person he would marry in the future, but today he used it to eke out a living, just to win the forgiveness of his enemies. Thinking of this, he inexplicably thought of Lu Xuejin.

"Clap," "Clap," "Clap." Xue Yi clapped slowly.

“Well written, Song Zhao, what do you think?” Xue Yi asked the person beside him.

“…” Song Zhao replied, “It is naturally excellent that His Majesty likes it. It is truly rare for the Ninth Prince to put in such effort.”

Xue Yi: "The jade bracelet that was sent from Lidu a few days ago... I will reward it to the Ninth Prince. I told everyone to get up, but you are still kneeling. Get up."

Murong Yue: "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

He mechanically repeated the sentence, listening to Xue Yi say something to the Grand Tutor, while Song Zhao inquired about the students in the area, asking if anyone had been to the Shangjing Hall.

After Xue Yi and Song Zhao left and the surrounding students dispersed, Zhao Taifu fell silent. He stood up and heard a few soft whispers.

"Really..."

"Pitiful……"

"This...being dependent on others..."

Grand Tutor Zhao sighed again. As he stood up, the Grand Tutor said to him, "If it weren't for Lord Lu, I really wouldn't want to let you into the family. I've never taken on such a spineless student in my life."

"..." Murong Yue remained silent. He looked at the Grand Tutor quietly, his anger turning into scorched earth. He apologized, "Thank you for taking me in, Grand Tutor. If I cause any trouble in the future, I will sever all ties with Zhizhang Palace."

After listening, Grand Tutor Zhao did not respond, but frowned and walked away with a worried expression.

The bracelet Xue Yi had gifted him was from Lidu, a city renowned for its jade and precious stones. The bracelet was a vibrant, clear, and lustrous green. He stared at it for a long time, his mind instinctively turning to Lu Xuejin. Although it was a gift from Xue Yi… it was the only thing he could currently possess that was truly presentable.

He took the bracelet to Fangze Palace.

A beautiful jade is paired with a beautiful woman; that woman's character is as firm yet fragile as the jade.

"Ninth Prince?" Ziyan saw him as soon as he reached the front of the palace and called out to him.

Ziyan: "You've come so early today."

Murong Yue: "It ended early today, brother... is he here?"

Upon hearing this, Ziyan looked troubled and said to him, "Young Master is not feeling well today, so His Highness may not be able to see you today."

"Ninth Prince?" As soon as the words were spoken, a voice came from inside the hall. Lu Xuejin saw the person and said to Ziyan, "Let him in."

“Yes,” Ziyan bowed, “Your Highness, please.”

"Brother Changyou." Murong Yue came to the person with the bracelet in his arms. He could only see the young man's profile. He noticed that the young man's complexion was not good. He did not seem to be sick, but rather he seemed to be worried and troubled.

Thinking this, he noticed the cloak Lu Xuejin was wearing. Usually, there was a stove burning in the hall, and the temperature inside was much higher than outside, so there was no need to wear a cloak. The cloak almost covered the young man's chin, only revealing his eyebrows and eyes, as he quietly looked at him.

"Is Your Highness here to deliver red plum blossoms?" Lu Xuejin's voice softened slightly.

The young man's jet-black hair cascaded down his back, his silver cloak fell away, and his snow-white face carried a gentle affection. His hazel eyes reflected his features, like a moon tinged with frost, making the moonlight appear somewhat dim.

"I didn't deliver the red plum blossoms today because I got up late and didn't go to the plum garden," Murong Yue explained.

Looking at the young man, he felt that the jade bracelet in his palm was somewhat unsatisfactory; the beautiful jade before him was incomparable to any inanimate object.

"Instead of plum blossoms, I'll bring you a bracelet. What's wrong with you today, brother? You don't look well. Did you catch a cold on your way back to the palace?" he asked, his fingertips tracing each other's face for a moment, wanting to touch the young man's face to ease his worries.

"The bracelet?" Lu Xuejin asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice. She replied, "I'm fine, I didn't catch a cold... I just felt the late spring chill made the palace damp, so I wore more clothes these past two days. But Your Highness, were you cold on the way back?"

As he spoke, the young man coughed twice, as if he were indeed disturbed by the cold.

Murong Yue glanced at Lu Xuejin while she looked down, and through the cloak, he saw red marks on the young man's neck, winding like peach blossoms.

The bracelet on his palm suddenly felt cold, and he froze on the spot.

A note from the author: