Between heaven and earth, everything suddenly turned white, as though a bolt of lightning had crashed down from the sky.
Gu Yun opened his mouth, but it felt as if something sticky was blocking his throat, and he could not force out a single sound.
The other man was pressing down on top of him, heavy.
The clothes between them were very thin, only three layers in all. Gu Yun could clearly feel the other’s body temperature and the thudding beat of his heart. He thought that the other man could probably feel his own body heat and heartbeat just as clearly.
He moved his fingers. The soft pads of his well-kept fingertips brushed against something rough, like a mud wall covered in hooks. It was the callus at the joints of the other’s fingers.
Realising what it was, he shrank back slightly.
The movement made the other man laugh. Warm breaths continually washed over his ear, licking at its rim like a small snake and burrowing towards the ear canal. Gu Yun’s body had long since tensed. He straightened himself, and after a long while managed to squeeze out a few words.
“When was ‘a long time ago’ exactly?”
Chao Yan replied, “Before I returned to the Eastern Palace.”
No wonder… he thought. No wonder. Despite all the flaws in his disguise, it had always managed to hold together. Someone had been deliberately covering everything up.
The thought suddenly struck him as amusing. Yet beneath the amusement, gusts of cold seemed to pour into his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Chao Yan shifted slightly, leaving a small distance between them, his head close to Gu Yun’s, and said, “Look at me.”
Gu Yun slowly turned his head and met his face. Above it were those eyes, very dark and very bright, like the eyes of a beast.
The corners of Chao Yan’s eyes drooped slightly as he asked softly, “If I had told you back then, would I have had a place here?”
Gu Yun said, “What place?”
The moment the words left his mouth, Gu Yun noticed Chao Yan’s hand move. His expression immediately cooled. He gripped the other’s hand tightly and asked, “What are you trying to do?”
Chao Yan said, “Can’t I even take it out?”
Gu Yun stared at his face, trying to find some trace of a lie in the smallest expression, but there was nothing. After hesitating for a few breaths, he released him.
As expected, the hand slid out from inside his clothes. It then wrapped around his waist and rolled him over. The two of them lay on their sides facing each other, able to see directly into each other’s eyes.
Gu Yun looked away and lowered his gaze.
A long, powerful finger tapped lightly against his chest, and the young man said slowly, “Would I have had this place?”
Gu Yun followed the gesture and froze.
Chao Yan answered his own question. “No, I wouldn’t.” He smiled as he spoke, flicking the soft inner robe beneath his finger and watching a small crease form in the fabric, wrapping around his fingertip like water. “If I want something, I want the best. What’s the point of having only your body?”
Gu Yun thought: Xu Jingzhou was right. This man really is deeply calculating. Yet he could not deny that, under the other’s deliberate guidance, things were indeed moving in exactly the direction Chao Yan wanted.
Unless he could stop it himself.
But how was that possible?
Gu Yun examined his own feelings. After hearing the other’s answer, his mood was improving bit by bit despite himself. By the time it reached its peak, even his body had begun to grow warm.
The other man seemed to notice the change. He leaned closer, his nose brushing past Gu Yun’s, his lips almost touching his. Softly, he asked, “Can I kiss you now?”
In the quiet, warm room, the young man’s presence seemed infinitely magnified. Gu Yun found it hard to breathe. The other man was like a jar of sweet honey, drawing him closer and tempting him to taste.
“Not even one kiss?” Chao Yan pressed, leaving him no room to retreat.
Gu Yun’s throat was unbearably dry. The lips that had been kissed before tingled faintly with numbness, perhaps scorched by the warm breath that accompanied the other’s words.
He swallowed lightly and parted lips that seemed almost stuck together, intending to say no.
Soft, warm lips pressed against his, rubbing gently.
Gu Yun froze. The words he had wanted to say lodged in his throat. His brown eyes remained fixed on the other man.
The young man’s hands moved behind him. One held the back of his neck and the other his waist, pulling him into his embrace. In an instant, there was no space left between them.
Adjusting his position, Chao Yan deftly parted his lips and gently nibbled and sucked at them.
Unlike before, this kiss was exceptionally gentle and tender.
Gu Yun discovered that kissing could actually feel pleasant. Every corner of his mouth seemed filled with the other’s breath. His tongue caught a faint sweetness. It felt as though his heart were soaking in water, bubbling away.
His entire body had gone weak and numb. Unable to help himself, he let out a soft, sticky sound and clenched the other’s clothes tightly.
The other man paused. His breathing grew heavier.
Gu Yun looked at him through hazy eyes. Before he could see clearly, Chao Yan rose up, bracing himself beside him, and kissed him deeply. His movements became much fiercer.
Gu Yun could not cope with it, nor did he like it. He pushed against him, but Chao Yan only became more forceful. He was kissed until he could barely catch his breath, tears falling from his eyes.
“Gu Yun.”
Calling his name, Chao Yan pinned him beneath him and rubbed against his thigh. Gu Yun felt the change in him. Unable to withstand the other’s temptation, his muddled mind finally cleared.
“Get off me,” Gu Yun said through clenched teeth, afraid that he might otherwise gasp aloud.
Chao Yan held him tightly. Most of Gu Yun’s clothes had already been pushed aside. Through the thin, disordered inner robe, the other’s broad, dry hand rested against his back, burning hot. He licked Gu Yun’s lips. His dark eyes were shadowed.
“A-Yun, could you perhaps…”
“No.” Gu Yun’s answer was immediate and firm. He pressed a hand against Chao Yan’s shoulder. “Don’t press that thing against me.”
Chao Yan stared at him fixedly. After a while, he finally got up.
Gu Yun sat up as well. He reached for his clothes and dressed himself properly. When he looked up again, Chao Yan was still staring at him.
He stood beside the bed without moving. His clothes were still intact, though somewhat rumpled. Since he was not wearing much, the evidence of his arousal was still plainly visible.
Turning his face away, Gu Yun said, “Can’t Your Highness deal with it yourself?”
Chao Yan stepped closer.
Still unsettled, Gu Yun braced himself against the bed and retreated. However, Chao Yan did nothing. He simply took a folded piece of paper from his sleeve.
Gu Yun looked at him in confusion.
Smiling, Chao Yan said, “Chou Er told me that when Xu Jingzhou said goodbye to you, he wished you a happy birthday and gave you a gift. I guessed that day was your birthday. I don’t pay much attention to birthdays myself, so it never occurred to me before. Consider this making up for it.”
Gu Yun unfolded the paper.
It was a deed of gift for farmland.
The deed listed the location and details of the land. Gu Yun noticed that Chao Yan’s name was written as the grantor, while his own name appeared as the recipient.
Chao Yan said, “These several dozen mu* of fertile land were originally bought by me, but now I’m giving them to you. They’re yours. You can do whatever you like with them.”
(*TN: A mu (亩) is a traditional Chinese unit of land area equal to about 666.67 square meters (about 0.165 acres or 7,176 square feet)).
Gu Yun pressed his lips together. “Thank you. But that day wasn’t my birthday. Today is.”
Chao Yan looked surprised, then laughed. “Then my timing couldn’t have been better. Do you like farmland? If not, I’ll give you something else.”
“I like it,” Gu Yun said.
“Good.” Chao Yan smiled. Then he asked, “Do you know that I’ve recovered my memories?”
Of course Gu Yun knew.
The moment Chao Yan began talking about his background, he had known his memories had returned. At the time, however, Gu Yun felt he had support behind him and no longer needed to fear him, so he pretended not to know and continued their silent game of mutual pretence.
Looking at Chao Yan, Gu Yun gave a slight nod.
Chao Yan put on his cloak and left the warm pavilion.
Gu Yun placed the deed carefully inside the box beside his bed. After several months, he now owned land again, and not just any land, but several dozen mu of fertile fields. The more he thought about it, the more unbelievable it seemed.
He sat in the room for a while before going to bathe. After washing thoroughly from head to toe, he leaned closer and smelled his skin. Beneath the rich scent of roses, there seemed to linger the steady fragrance of the incense Chao Yan wore.
Pressing his lips together, he returned to his room and curled up on the bed with a book.
Time passed. Eventually Chao Yan returned. Whatever had troubled him earlier had subsided. Warm steam still clung to him from his bath. His long black hair was slightly damp, droplets of water falling from it.
He took a towel from the rack and dried it until it was only half damp, then set the towel aside and walked to the bed.
Was he planning to sleep there tonight?
Gu Yun looked up at him, his heart pounding. He did not particularly want to share a bed with him. He was not yet ready to be together with him. It was simply that he could not help liking him.
Chao Yan took the book from his hand and set it aside. He extinguished all the lanterns except those in the corners, then lay down on the couch and said, “Sleep. You said earlier that you were tired.”
So he had been overthinking. Gu Yun felt conflicted. He could not tell whether he was relieved or disappointed. Softly, he replied, “All right.”
He slipped beneath the covers and found a comfortable position, curling up and closing his eyes. After only a short while, he opened them again and looked towards the couch.
By the dim light, he could make out Chao Yan’s figure.
Chao Yan lay flat on his back with his hands resting on his abdomen and the blanket pulled up to his shoulders.
Gu Yun watched him for a while. Just as he was about to change position and continue looking at him, Chao Yan’s voice sounded through the room.
“Can’t sleep?” he asked.
Startled, Gu Yun froze.
Chao Yan sat up and looked over. Gu Yun immediately shut his eyes and said, “No.”
Chao Yan did not reply. After a while, Gu Yun heard faint footsteps. Opening his eyes, he saw that Chao Yan had already reached the bedside.
“Your Highness…”
“Move over a little,” Chao Yan said.
Before his mind could react, Gu Yun’s body had already obeyed.
…
Chao Yan lifted the blanket and climbed into bed. After feeling around beneath the covers for a few moments, he accurately found Gu Yun’s hand. Just as Gu Yun was about to pull away, Chao Yan’s fingers slid down into his palm, parted his fingers, and intertwined their hands.
“I can’t sleep,” Chao Yan said. “There’s a great deal to do tomorrow.”
“So?” Gu Yun asked.
“Just let me hold your hand. I’ll fall asleep quickly that way.”
Gu Yun: “…”
Closing his eyes, he let Chao Yan hold his hand and said, “Go to sleep.”
Chao Yan laughed. “All right.”
The reply sounded remarkably cheerful.
Gu Yun thought: What’s the difference between the Crown Prince of Great Xuan and a dog? They’re both equally clingy.
Curling his fingers, he slowly returned the grip, his pale fingertips resting against the back of Chao Yan’s hand, where the veins stood out clearly.
At that moment, in the Eastern Garden…
The snow that had been swept away during the day had, after only two or three hours, accumulated once more into a fresh layer.
Footsteps crunched across it with a series of creaking sounds.
A group of palace attendants carrying lanterns and food boxes proceeded in orderly fashion towards a pavilion bearing the three characters Feilai Xia*.
(*TN: “wafting dusk” or “floating clouds”)
Inside the pavilion there was neither music nor dancing. Several tables had been arranged facing one another, and a handful of men sat cross-legged drinking wine. They were the Emperor’s other sons. Chao Yao was among them, reclining against his chair and draining one cup after another.
The Third Prince, Chao Qing, approached with a wine cup in hand. Draping an arm over Chao Yao’s shoulder, he said leisurely, “You’ve been unusually quiet tonight.”
Lowering his voice, he added, “Sixth Brother is dead. Shouldn’t you be pleased? He was always at odds with you.”
Already irritated, Chao Yao shoved him away.
“I didn’t like him,” he snapped, “but that doesn’t mean I wanted him dead.”
Chao Qing smiled. “Is that so?”
With a loud clang, Chao Yao slammed the wine flask onto the table.
“The way you put it, Third Brother, it sounds as though you’re the one who wanted Sixth Brother dead. Why not tell the truth? Was it you?”
Chao Qing merely laughed. “You argued with Sixth Brother before his accident. The two of you nearly came to blows.”
“So what?” Chao Yao retorted. “You think I held a grudge because of that argument and killed him while he wasn’t expecting it? That’s ridiculous. What, if you and I quarrel today and something happens to you tomorrow, does that automatically make me responsible?”
“Eighth Brother, you’re far too agitated,” Chao Qing said. “Calm down.”
“You deliberately provoked me, and now you’re acting as though I’m the unreasonable one. Old fox.”
With that, he flung his sleeve aside and strode out.
As he left, he collided with a palace attendant carrying a food box. The attendant stumbled backwards and fell. The box hit the ground, spilling the hangover soup inside. Some of it splashed onto the top of Chao Yao’s boot.
His expression darkened, but he had no interest in pursuing the attendant’s mistake. Turning on his heel, he walked away.
Chao Qing moved into the seat he had vacated.
Taking a sip of wine, he watched Chao Yao’s figure disappear into the night before turning to the others.
“Well?” he asked. “Doesn’t it look as though he did it?”
One of them laughed.
“Whether he did or didn’t is beside the point. It has nothing to do with us. Better to sit back and watch. If we’re lucky, we might even gain something from all this.”
…
By the time Chao Yao returned to his residence, the cold wind had left him shivering.
He brushed aside the maids who came forward to greet him.
Ordering his personal eunuch to fetch a set of ordinary clothes, he changed quickly, took a box containing a glossy, high-quality lingzhi mushroom, and quietly slipped out of the Eastern Garden without attracting attention.
His destination was Prince Yan’s residence.
Without waiting for a servant to announce him, he entered directly.
Prince Yan had already retired for the night. Disturbed from his sleep, he had no choice but to rise.
Throwing on an outer robe, he accepted a cup of tea from one of his concubines and drank it to clear his head before going to meet Chao Yao.
“What’s the matter?” Prince Yan asked, pressing his fingers to his brow and making an effort to remain patient.
“I heard Aunt is gravely ill,” Chao Yao replied. “I came to pay my respects.”
As he spoke, he signalled for the gift box to be presented. Prince Yan instructed a servant to accept it.
“She’s already asleep,” he said. “You’ve come at an unfortunate time.”
He looked at Chao Yao steadily. “Now tell me. What is it you actually want?”
At this hour of the night, he did not believe for a moment that Chao Yao had come merely to visit the Princess Consort. His confinement had already been lifted. Had he genuinely wished to pay a visit, he could have done so during the day.
Chao Yao dismissed everyone else from the room.
After taking a drink of tea, he licked his lips. His tongue brushed a cracked patch of skin, and he immediately stopped, his expression changing slightly.
Looking at Prince Yan, he said, “Uncle, there’s something I’d like to ask your advice about. I…”
Prince Yan’s eyes were sharp and dark as an eagle’s. Fixing Chao Yao with an unwavering stare, he cut him off. “Did you kill Chao Song?”
Chao Yao exploded. “I didn’t kill him!”
His voice rose dramatically.
“Then tell me what you came here to ask,” Prince Yan said.
The hand gripping the armrest relaxed. The hostility that had filled him moments earlier receded, and he leaned back in his chair.
At once, Chao Yao’s confidence seemed to deflate. The instant Prince Yan noticed it, his heart sank.
Then Chao Yao added, “I didn’t mean to kill him. I only wanted to teach him a lesson. Who knew he’d fall from his horse and get himself killed?”
For a moment, darkness swam before Prince Yan’s eyes.
He raised a trembling finger and pointed at Chao Yao. His lips quivered for a long time, yet not a single word emerged.
