Chapter 129

Finally, the day of Shengxuan's birthday arrived.

The atmosphere at the mansion seemed to have subtly changed. The tense, hurried atmosphere of the past few days seemed to have been deliberately paused.

The mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers; though not extravagant, it exuded a festive atmosphere. The servants wore relaxed smiles and walked with lighter steps.

General Sheng Chi, unusually, did not go to the military camp early in the morning, but stayed at his residence. He changed out of his usual military uniform and into a dark-colored civilian outfit. Although a trace of weariness and solemnity still lingered between his brows, the sharp edge honed on the battlefield had been somewhat toned down. He even strolled leisurely in the courtyard, occasionally pointing out the lanterns that had been arranged.

Crown Prince Xiao Qiyun also appeared more "leisurely" than usual. Instead of locking himself in his study to handle official business as he typically did, he sat in the warm pavilion of Shuyu Courtyard, a chessboard in front of him, playing against himself. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating his gentle, jade-like profile. His expression was serene, as if the disturbances of the outside world had been temporarily shut out.

However, the occasional pauses of his fingertips on the chess pieces betrayed that he was not entirely at peace.

Su Zhelan also changed into a new outfit, which Xiao Qiyun had specially prepared. The fabric was soft and comfortable, and the color made his face look more vibrant.

He sat opposite Xiao Qiyun, quietly watching the chessboard, his gaze somewhat unfocused, as if deep in thought. Only when he saw the servants bustling about in the courtyard would his eyes briefly focus, revealing a complex and unreadable emotion—guilt towards Sheng Xuan, and trepidation about the upcoming "surprise."

The most active one was Gu Linzhao. He couldn't stay still at all, and he gave orders in a loud voice: "Hey! That lantern is hanging crooked! A little to the left! Yes! Higher!" He even jumped up the ladder himself to adjust it, his movements nimble and neat, with a hearty smile on his face, as if he was really just busy preparing for the birthday of a close younger brother.

The kitchen was bustling with activity. The cooks were using all their skills to prepare a sumptuous feast. The cutting boards were piled high with ingredients, steam rose from the steamers, and the air was filled with enticing aromas. Dishes and desserts were being carefully prepared and would soon be sent to the sweltering courtyard.

Throughout the entire mansion, it seemed that only one person treated this "rest" as a genuine relaxation and celebration—that was today's protagonist, Shengxuan.

Sheng Xuan woke up early in the morning and ran around the courtyard, looking at this and touching that, his face beaming with an undisguised, dazzling smile. He grabbed everyone who passed by and asked, "Are you ready?" The servants all shook their heads with smiles and said, "Don't worry, young master, you'll find out tonight!"

He wasn't annoyed at all, still smiling broadly. He made a point of going to the kitchen for a stroll, and seeing the busy figures and the fragrant dishes made him even happier. He even saw some pine nut candy and dried fruit he had bought last time on the cutting board.

Shengxuan's birthday banquet began in his own courtyard as night fell.

Lanterns hung high, and colorful ribbons fluttered, illuminating the table laden with sumptuous dishes and exquisite pastries. Everyone in the household gathered to celebrate Shengxuan's birthday.

Blessings and congratulations filled the air. Sheng Xuan was undoubtedly the happiest person of the evening. Dressed in his finest new clothes, his face beamed with a dazzling smile as he drank and ate heartily, welcoming everyone. His bright eyes scanned the crowd, especially Su Zhelan, as if anticipating the unveiling of that "surprise."

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, Sheng Xuan's cheeks flushed with the alcohol, but his eyes shone even brighter. He put down his glass and looked intently at Su Zhelan sitting opposite him, his gaze filled with undisguised excitement and anticipation.

As night deepened, the hustle and bustle in the courtyard gradually subsided. Amidst the scattered dishes and cups of the banquet, the atmosphere began to shift towards a relaxed, slightly tipsy state.

General Sheng Chi was the first to stand up. He patted Sheng Xuan on the shoulder, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue: "Happy birthday, Xuan. It's getting late, and there are still matters to attend to in the army, so I'll head back now."

He glanced at Su Zhelan and Xiao Qiyun, nodded slightly, then turned and left, his tall figure quickly disappearing into the night outside the courtyard gate.

Next came Su Yan and Gu Linzhao. Su Yan calmly put down his wine glass and said to Sheng Xuan, "Happy birthday, get some rest." His gaze lingered on Su Zhelan for a moment, a silent reminder, before he also got up and left. Gu Linzhao yawned widely, patted Sheng Xuan on the back, and said in a loud voice, "You brat! You had a good drink tonight! I'll find you another time! Let's go!" He staggered after Su Yan and disappeared into the night.

The bustling courtyard instantly quieted down, leaving only Sheng Xuan, Xiao Qiyun, and Su Zhelan, along with servants tidying up the remaining food in the distance.

Sheng Xuan's cheeks were flushed from the wine. He picked up the wine pot and poured himself, Su Zhelan, and Xiao Qiyun each a cup. He said enthusiastically, "Your Highness, Su Zhelan, let's have some more! We're happy today!"

Xiao Qiyun picked up his wine glass, his posture still elegant and composed. He took a small sip, his gaze shifting between Su Zhelan and Sheng Xuan with a hint of deeper meaning. Su Zhelan also picked up her wine glass, but only touched it to her lips, her eyes somewhat unfocused, as if waiting for something.

The three chatted casually for a few more minutes. The atmosphere seemed relaxed, but there was an invisible tension between them.

Finally, Xiao Qiyun put down his wine cup and said gently, "It is indeed getting late. Su Zhelan, it's not good to stay up late. Let me take you back to Shuyu Courtyard to rest." With that, he got up.

However, the moment Xiao Qiyun finished speaking, Sheng Xuan suddenly reached out and grabbed Su Zhelan's wrist! His movements were quick and precise, with considerable force, and carried an unyielding stubbornness.

"No!" Sheng Xuan's voice was firm and resolute, her eyes fixed intently on Su Zhelan, the excitement and anticipation in her eyes almost overflowing. "Your Highness, please go back and rest! Su Zhelan can't leave yet! He hasn't given me the 'surprise' he promised!"

Su Zhelan's wrist tightened under his grip, and his heart skipped a beat. He looked up at Sheng Xuan, meeting his strikingly bright eyes, which held an undisguised, childlike persistence and longing. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then fell silent.

Xiao Qiyun paused. He stood by the table, looking down at Sheng Xuan tightly gripping Su Zhelan's hand, then at Su Zhelan's face, which held a hint of panic and helplessness. His eyes were deep and unfathomable, like a still well, revealing no emotion. Silence spread among the three, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze.

A moment later, Xiao Qiyun's gaze fell on Su Zhelan, with a hint of inquiry.

Su Zhelan took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He knew there was no escaping it. He looked at Xiao Qiyun, trying to make his voice sound calm: "Your Highness...you should go back first. I...I'll stay and keep Sheng Xuan company for a while."

Xiao Qiyun stared at Su Zhelan for a few seconds, his gaze seemingly piercing through her soul. Finally, he nodded slightly, his voice still calm, yet carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible meaning: "Alright. I'll head back now."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Sheng Xuan's hand holding Su Zhelan's, and added, his tone carrying a subtle reminder, "Zhelan, you should also get some rest, don't... overwork yourself."

After saying that, Xiao Qiyun didn't linger and turned to leave. His figure appeared tall and lonely in the dim light of the lanterns, and he soon disappeared outside the courtyard gate.

Only Su Zhelan and Sheng Xuan remained in the courtyard.

A cool evening breeze blew by. The soft sounds of servants clearing away dishes seemed to have faded into the distance. The large courtyard now appeared exceptionally empty and quiet.

Sheng Xuan still held Su Zhelan's wrist tightly, as if afraid he would run away. His smile widened, filled with a triumphant smugness and impatient excitement. He leaned closer to Su Zhelan, his eyes sparkling, his voice carrying a hint of coquettish urging:

"Alright! Xiao Qiyun is gone! Now... Zhelan! You promised me! Any wish!"

Looking at Sheng Xuan's obviously overly excited appearance and smelling the strong smell of alcohol on him, Su Zhelan sighed helplessly.

He assumed Sheng Xuan was just drunk and acting out. The most important thing right now was to get him back inside to rest, lest he really start causing trouble while drunk.

"Okay, okay, what a surprise, what a surprise..." Su Zhelan followed his words, her voice carrying a reassuring tone, trying to pull her hand away, "But you have to go back to your room and rest first. Look at you, you can't even stand up straight." He deliberately described Sheng Xuan's state as "drunk".

Sheng Xuan's eyes darted around, and he immediately understood. He deliberately swayed his body, staggering, and leaned most of his weight on Su Zhelan, mumbling indistinctly, "Ugh... I'm a little dizzy... Zhelan... help me... help me inside..."

Su Zhelan stumbled under his weight, quickly regaining her balance, and became even more certain that Sheng Xuan was drunk. He replied helplessly, "Okay, I'll help you inside. Take it easy."

Sheng Xuan was practically draped over Su Zhelan, his steps unsteady, groaning and moaning, clearly quite drunk. Su Zhelan half-supported, half-carried him, and with some effort managed to get him into the house and settle him down on the edge of the bed.

"You...you sit still, I'll go make you a bowl of hangover soup." Su Zhelan breathed a sigh of relief, straightened up, and rubbed her slightly sore arms.

"Wake up...sobering soup?" Sheng Xuan squinted, tilted his head to look at Su Zhelan, and suddenly grinned, with a drunken foolishness, like a spoiled child, "I...I don't have the strength in my hands...I can't lift the bowl...you feed me...otherwise I won't drink it...I'd rather die of discomfort..." As he spoke, he deliberately shook his head, looking like he was very dizzy.

Su Zhelan looked at his shameless behavior and felt both annoyed and amused. He wanted to refuse, but seeing Sheng Xuan's "drunken eyes," flushed cheeks, and somewhat aggrieved expression, and considering that today was his birthday after all... well, why bother arguing with a "drunkard"? Just consider it taking care of a patient.

“…Fine then.” Su Zhelan reluctantly conceded, “You sit still and don’t move, I’ll go make some soup.”

Sheng Xuan immediately flashed a triumphant, silly smile and nodded vigorously: "Yes! I... won't move... I'll wait for Zhe Lan..."

Su Zhelan turned and went to the small kitchen. There was hot water and ingredients for hangover soup readily available in the kitchen, a customary preparation after banquets in the manor.

He quickly started a fire, boiled water, and added the medicinal herbs. Soon, a steaming bowl of hangover soup, exuding a faint herbal fragrance, was ready.

Su Zhelan carried the bowl back into the room and saw that Sheng Xuan was indeed still sitting "obediently" on the edge of the bed, but his head was nodding little by little, as if he was about to fall asleep at any moment.

"The soup is ready." Su Zhelan walked to the bedside and stirred the soup in the bowl with a spoon, trying to cool it down faster.

Sheng Xuan immediately raised her head, "struggling" to open her eyes a crack, looking at the bowl in Su Zhelan's hand, then at Su Zhelan, and then opened her mouth: "Ah—"

The meaning couldn't be clearer. Su Zhelan looked at him and felt both annoyed and amused. He sighed resignedly, sat down on the edge of the bed, scooped up a small spoonful of soup, carefully blew on it, and then brought it to Sheng Xuan's lips.

"Open your mouth, be careful it's hot."

Sheng Xuan immediately opened her mouth obediently, put the spoon in her mouth, and drank the soup. The warm soup, with a hint of sweetness, slid down her throat, which was indeed very comfortable. She squinted her eyes, looking like she was enjoying it.

"Mmm...delicious..." Sheng Xuan praised vaguely, licking his lips, but his eyes secretly glanced at Su Zhelan's profile as she focused on blowing on the soup.

Su Zhelan didn't notice his little movements, focusing intently on repeating the actions of scooping soup, blowing on it to cool it, and feeding him. In the dim candlelight, Su Zhelan's profile was soft, her expression focused and earnest, carrying an unconscious tenderness.

Sheng Xuan enjoyed Su Zhelan's care and the tranquility of this moment when it was just the two of them. He thought his idea of ​​"pretending to be drunk" was brilliant!

The bowl of soup was quickly emptied.

Su Zhelan put down her bowl, and seeing that Sheng Xuan seemed to have "woke up" a bit, she said, "Alright, you've finished the soup. Now you can rest properly, right?"

Upon hearing "rest," Sheng Xuan immediately protested. He leaned against Su Zhelan's shoulder, whimpering, "No... tomorrow... you'll definitely renege on your promise tomorrow."

Su Zhelan stiffened as he rubbed against her, and helplessly pushed him away: "Stop fooling around. How can I surprise you like this?"

"I don't care!" Sheng Xuan clung to Su Zhelan's arm playfully, burying her face in his arm, her voice muffled and filled with grievance, "You broke your promise... I'm angry... I feel terrible..."

Su Zhelan was at her wit's end with his persistence. Looking at his "drunk" and aggrieved appearance, she couldn't bring herself to push him away. She could only sigh helplessly and compromise, "...Okay, okay, I won't make a fuss anymore. Lie down and close your eyes."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Xuan immediately looked up, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Su Zhelan: "Really?"

"Mmm," Su Zhelan mumbled in response, wanting only to get him to sleep as soon as possible.

Sheng Xuan immediately let go of her hand, obediently lay down on the bed, pulled the blanket over herself, and then closed her eyes tightly, muttering, "I'm ready! I'm closing my eyes!"

Su Zhelan looked at Sheng Xuan, who lay on the bed with his eyes closed and an expectant expression, and felt a headache coming on. A surprise? Where was he going to conjure up a surprise now? What he did just now was merely a temporary measure…

The candlelight flickered, illuminating Su Zhelan's somewhat bewildered face. Looking at the "drunkard" on the bed, he felt for the first time that this promise seemed to... have dug himself a huge hole.

He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm: "The surprise... the surprise is... a good night's sleep. Tomorrow..."

However, before he could finish speaking—Sheng Xuan, who had been obediently keeping his eyes closed on the bed, suddenly opened them! His eyes were surprisingly bright, clear and sharp, showing no trace of drunkenness!

Sheng Xuan sat up with astonishing speed! The silly, drunken expression on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a cunning, smug, and... a hint of annoyance at being treated perfunctorily.

"Su Zhelan!" Sheng Xuan's voice was clear and bright, tinged with accusation. "You lied to me! What kind of surprise is this?! You're just fooling me!"

Su Zhelan was startled by his sudden movement and completely sober eyes, and subconsciously took a step back: "You...you're not drunk?!"

"Hmph!" Sheng Xuan snorted, jumped off the bed, and took a few steps closer to Su Zhelan, staring intently at him. "How could that little bit of wine possibly get me drunk? I just wanted to see what surprise you had in store for me! And what did you get? You think you can fool me with a bowl of soup? Make me go to sleep?!"

Su Zhelan was forced back by Sheng Xuan, his back hitting the edge of the table. Looking at the clear-eyed, aggressive Sheng Xuan before him, the guilt and helplessness he felt were instantly replaced by a furious sense of being toyed with: "You...you were faking it?!"

"Yes! I was just pretending to be drunk!" Sheng Xuan admitted matter-of-factly, hands on his hips, looking down at Su Zhelan. "Who told you to keep avoiding me? I don't care! You have to give me a surprise today! Otherwise..." His eyes darted around, a mischievous smile spreading across his face, "Otherwise, I won't let you leave!"

Su Zhelan was amused by his shameless behavior: "Sheng Xuan! Stop fooling around! It's late, you should rest!"

"No!" Sheng Xuan retorted, refusing to budge an inch. "You promised me! You'd let me have my way!"

"I..." Su Zhelan was speechless, looking at Sheng Xuan's determined expression, feeling utterly powerless. He rubbed his temples in frustration, "Sheng Xuan, stop it, okay? I... I really can't do anything right now..."

"Why is there no way?!" Sheng Xuan's voice suddenly rose, tinged with grievance and confusion. "Su Zhelan! What are you hiding from me? Why can't you tell me? Why can't you let me help you share the burden? Do you know... do you know what I..."

He trailed off, a complex emotion flashing across his face before settling into a deeper stubbornness. "I don't care! You have to give me an explanation today! Otherwise... otherwise I'll..."