Commander Liu was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to respond, and left in a thoroughly embarrassed state.
Gu Yun had truly misunderstood him. He had not come to lecture him; he had come here to befriend him and obtain some useful information. Yet once again, his attempt to gain an advantage had only ended up costing him.
Gu Yun folded his arms and watched his retreating figure.
Gu Yun thought that, after this, Commander Liu would no longer come to bother him. However, when evening arrived, Commander Liu returned, this time bringing several precious gifts.
He hoped Gu Yun would understand his difficulties and keep what had just happened buried between them. After all, if this matter were spread, there was a very real chance he would lose his head.
Unfortunately, he happened to run into Chao Yan, who had just returned after finishing his duties.
Chao Yan had not yet changed out of his court robes. He stopped where he was and looked Commander Liu over, saying, “What is this?” Although he was asking Commander Liu, his gaze was directed towards Gu Yun.
Commander Liu bowed, and his gaze naturally followed towards Gu Yun.
Gu Yun smiled and said, “There was a small disagreement between us, but it was quickly resolved. However, Commander Liu still feels guilty about it and insists on offering an apology.”
Chao Yan’s expression turned cold. He said to Gu Yun, “Do not try to fool me.” With that, he gestured for Gu Yun to leave.
Gu Yun looked at him, his smile fading. He lowered his head and replied that he understood.
Chao Yan turned to Commander Liu and said, “Take the gifts back. Commander Liu, one must take responsibility for one’s own actions. If others were to find out, they would think that my people were arrogant beyond measure, extorting gifts from my father’s people.”
Commander Liu thought to himself: He is not helping him after all.
Commander Liu was so furious that his stomach churned, yet he still had to maintain a smile on his face. He said, “Your Highness is absolutely right.”
Chao Yan said, “Return.”
Commander Liu left with the gifts, carrying a heart full of anger.
Gu Yun watched him leave the side hall before returning to Chao Yan’s side. He looked up at Chao Yan, hesitated for a moment, and then told him what had happened with Commander Liu.
Chao Yan said, “It is of no consequence. This is exactly the result I wanted. If Commander Liu were to feel grateful towards us instead, that would actually be undesirable.”
After Gu Yun had said those words earlier, Chao Yan had already guessed why Commander Liu had come bearing gifts. Commander Liu had made a serious mistake in front of Gu Yun.
Gu Yun looked at him, confused.
Chao Yan tapped his own cheek.
Gu Yun: “……”
Gu Yun understood what he was hinting at. He smiled at him, then turned around and left.
Chao Yan grabbed his arm and said, “In all my life, this is the first time I have met someone so stingy. You truly refuse to let me take even the slightest advantage.”
Gu Yun looked at him. “Then are you going to tell me or not?”
Chao Yan pinched his cheek. The soft flesh was pulled into an uneven shape. It did not hurt, but it was exceedingly irritating. He pulled Chao Yan’s hand away and reached both hands towards Chao Yan’s face.
Chao Yan quickly caught his hands.
Gu Yun used his head to bump against Chao Yan’s chin.
Chao Yan tilted his head back, freed one hand, and pressed it against Gu Yun’s head, preventing him from lifting it. He turned back, amusement appearing in his eyes, and said, “Your methods are clumsy, but your courage is commendable.”
Gu Yun spoke quietly. “In my hometown, they say that a face without flesh is a monster. As expected.”
Chao Yan carefully examined Gu Yun. His smile faded, and after a moment, he lowered his head, bit Gu Yun’s finger, and licked it.
Gu Yun’s pupils suddenly widened. He instinctively tried to pull his hand back, but his fingertip touched the other person’s teeth, damp and warm.
He flushed from head to toe, his entire body like a kettle that had been boiling for far too long, swelling and hissing all at once.
The surrounding palace maids, seeing this scene, all lowered their gazes.
Yet Gu Yun still felt several eyes gathered upon him. He was about to explode. With a sudden burst of strength, he finally pulled his hand free and gritted his teeth, cursing in a low voice, “Are you a pervert?”
He had even abandoned the honorific.
Chao Yan laughed. “Since you are neither human, why not eat humans?”
He actually said it with complete conviction. Gu Yun glared at him viciously.
Chao Yan suggested, “Why not bite me back? An eye for an eye.”
Gu Yun found a place to sit and turned his back towards Chao Yan.
Chao Yan walked over, sat beside him, leaned closer, and lowered his voice.
“Firstly, Commander Liu is His Majesty’s man. If he feels gratitude towards the people of the Eastern Palace, that is a betrayal of His Majesty.
“He was born innocent and naive, and he does not know how to conceal himself. His Majesty has seen through this. He will inevitably deal with him and send someone else.
“No matter what, the new eunuch commander stationed in the Eastern Palace will not be any better than him.
“Secondly, having an innocent and naive person on the opposing side makes it easier for me to do certain things. If he were grateful towards me, he would instead hinder my plans.”
Gu Yun had not thought that far ahead. He had only considered that Commander Liu was someone the Emperor had placed in the Eastern Palace, and completely offending him would not be wise. Since his anger had already been vented, he might as well stop while he was ahead.
That way, he could give the other party a favour and make things easier in the future.
Hearing this, Gu Yun only felt a headache coming on. He disliked all these complicated schemes.
He let out a “hm”, pressed his fingers against his temples and rubbed them, then looked at the distance between himself and Chao Yan. He moved slightly away and said coolly, “I understand. If you are talking, then talk. Why are you sitting so close?”
Chao Yan moved his left foot over, lightly pressing it against Gu Yun’s right foot, and said, “Are you truly angry?”
Gu Yun smiled without warmth. “How could someone as petty as me not become angry because of your words and actions? Without a year or two, I will not be able to calm down.”
“The side hall of Chunhe Palace is a good place. If your anger burns for a year or two, this place will be ruined.”
“Your Highness is not someone disabled or incapable. You can simply take action now and throw me out.”
“That is not a bad suggestion.” Chao Yan smiled, stood up, and walked away. “Wait here for a moment. I shall go and handle it.”
Gu Yun remained seated without reaction. After Chao Yan left, he kicked at the empty air and stood up.
Zhang Zhangshe, startled, cautiously raised her head. Then she watched as Gu Yun’s expression disappeared, slowly swelling into the shape of a pufferfish.
Zhang Zhangshe: “……”
She did not dare approach, afraid of being pricked by the pufferfish’s spines. Carefully, she said, “His Highness only spoke without thinking. Please do not take it to heart…”
Gu Yun looked at her darkly. “When have I ever taken it to heart?”
Zhang Zhangshe: “……”
Zhang Zhangshe said, “I must have been mistaken.”
“I have never cared about him at all.”
Gu Yun sat back down, mentally turning Chao Yan into a hedgehog. He secretly thought: I will ignore you for a month! You bastard!!!
While he was still angry, the corner of his eye caught sight of an ornate pendant swaying.
Following it upwards, he saw a folding fan with white jade ribs. The person holding it was none other than Chao Yan.
At some point, Chao Yan had returned. He had changed into casual clothes, wearing a black robe decorated with elaborate embroidered patterns. It was not overly complicated, yet it carried an extraordinary sense of nobility. His hair was loosely half tied, a folding fan in hand, with a brocade cloak draped over his arm.
Gu Yun lifted his eyelids and glanced at him before lowering his gaze again.
Chao Yan asked, “Does it look good?”
Gu Yun: “???”
Gu Yun impatiently said, “If you are going to throw me out, hurry up.”
Before he could finish speaking, Chao Yan covered his mouth, still asking, “Does it look good?”
Are you insane???
Gu Yun could not help rolling his eyes. Seeing that Chao Yan clearly would not give up until he received an answer, he nodded perfunctorily.
Chao Yan released him and smiled. “My efforts were not wasted.”
Gu Yun’s heart stirred slightly. He looked towards him and almost met his eyes, but immediately turned away.
Chao Yan’s smile deepened. He pulled Gu Yun up and walked towards the palace entrance.
“There is still a long time before curfew. Come out of the palace with me and take a walk. I have been busy these past few days and am truly feeling restless.”
Gu Yun said, “I am not going. I have proper matters to attend to.”
Chao Yan said, “So I am not important?”
Gu Yun was still angry. He wanted to throw the words “not important” directly at the Crown Prince’s face. However, the Crown Prince held his hand, and his calm, dark eyes looked over.
Gu Yun felt like a kitten whose fate had been seized by the scruff of its neck. He curled up his claws and followed along obediently.
By the time he came back to his senses, they had already left the Eastern Palace.
Gu Yun looked at his own female attire, then at the person beside him resting against him, and fell silent.
As revenge, he curled his finger and lightly scratched Chao Yan’s palm. Chao Yan did not open his eyes or speak, but he tightened his grip on Gu Yun’s hand.
“Let go,” Gu Yun said.
He had thought the other person was asleep, but judging from this reaction, he clearly was not.
Chao Yan remained motionless.
Gu Yun looked at his face. The sharp bridge of his nose was particularly striking. He leaned forward, intending to bite it, but at that moment, the carriage suddenly accelerated.
Li Lan’s voice came from outside the carriage door. “Someone is following us.”
After two shocks in succession, Gu Yun froze. He looked towards the carriage curtain. All his emotions settled like dust falling to the ground.
Calmly, he said, “You never intended to leave the palace just to clear your mind.”
At those words, Chao Yan moved. He opened his eyes and smiled. “Very clever.”
He reached out and pressed the back of Gu Yun’s head, pulling him towards himself. Their noses touched, an uncomfortable sensation.
Gu Yun moved backwards, wanting to return to his original position.
Chao Yan’s dark eyes, black as if coated in lacquer, stared fixedly at him. His fingers tightened, preventing him from moving. Then he turned his head slightly, their noses brushing past each other, and pressed his lips against Gu Yun’s cheek.
Their lips met, warm and gentle. Yet this only lasted for a single breath.
The young man opened his mouth, bit Gu Yun’s lips, sucking and grinding against them. His tongue tapped against Gu Yun’s teeth, prying open the gap that was not tightly guarded, and slipped inside.
The sound of swallowing and indistinct wet noises echoed within the cramped space.
The tips of Gu Yun’s ears turned completely red. The young man’s fingers reached them, moving inch by inch from bottom to top, arriving at the folded upper part of his ear. With a deft motion, he explored the entirety of it.
Both of Gu Yun’s ears had been rubbed until they were hot and soft.
He pushed Chao Yan away, pursed his damp, reddened lips, swallowed his breath, and slowly calmed his racing heartbeat.
Chao Yan leaned against the carriage wall and looked at him, making no attempt to hide his reaction, whether his breathing or anything else.
Gu Yun thought of Li Lan driving outside and reached out to cover Chao Yan’s mouth.
Chao Yan laughed, but at least did not object.
After both of them had calmed down, Gu Yun finally released him. He asked whether the person following them in secret was Commander Liu.
Chao Yan hummed in response, pulled him into his arms, kissed his cheek, and said, “When we arrive, you and Li Lan can go out for a while, or do something else if you wish. I will come find you once I am finished.”
Gu Yun agreed.
At this moment, the kiss reminded him that he was still angry with Chao Yan. He wanted to mock him, but his anger had already completely disappeared, and not a single sarcastic remark could come out.
He allowed the other person to kiss him, yet his mind was occupied with what Chao Yan intended to accomplish through Commander Liu. This warm kiss made every cell in his body seem unable to stop leaping.
Then, he suddenly sensed something was wrong.
He lowered his head and heard Chao Yan apologise. “The wine was too potent. It makes the body easily excited.”
Gu Yun: “……”
Gu Yun expressed his understanding. Supporting himself on Chao Yan’s shoulders, he tried to get down from his lap.
Chao Yan kissed the corner of his mouth and said, “Do not pay attention to it.”
Gu Yun thought: I do not want to pay attention to it either, but its presence is far too strong. It is genuinely uncomfortable.
Gu Yun insisted on putting distance between them. Chao Yan had no choice but to release him. He stood up, poured himself tea, and steadied himself.
Gu Yun secretly looked at him several times. Finally, he understood why people said that falling in love affected one’s studies.
His mind was now filled entirely with Chao Yan. His thoughts had even wandered astray, considering who would be on top in the future.
Although he had never read those sorts of things, he had heard classmates who read novels casually discussing such topics, so he considered himself fairly knowledgeable.
In any case, whoever was stronger should be the one on top.
Gu Yun did not think he was inferior to Chao Yan. Since he was just as capable as Chao Yan, he should be the one above, because being above was more tiring. Chao Yan had already been so exhausted, so he should rest.
Gu Yun thought this in a completely natural and considerate manner.
However, how exactly was this done…? Where could he learn about it? He could not simply cram at the last moment.
He was already an adult. He needed to prepare in advance.
“What are you thinking about?”
Chao Yan had spent some effort calming himself down. When he turned around, he saw that Gu Yun’s entire face had turned red, even redder than when they had kissed. He looked like a fully ripened snake-berry.
Sensing something unusual, Chao Yan asked suspiciously.
Gu Yun immediately returned to his senses, like a poor student suddenly called upon to answer a question in class. Somewhat flustered, he said, “I was not thinking about anything.”
He tried his best to hide his guilty conscience. After all, what he had been thinking about was truly unspeakable.
Chao Yan narrowed his eyes and looked at him for a while, but ultimately did not press further.
Soon, the carriage stopped.
Gu Yun lifted the curtain and looked outside. They had arrived before an imposing mansion.
Looking again at the plaque, he realised that they had arrived at the residence of Chancellor Meng.
