Work Text:
Mei Nianqing stood alongside the Crown Prince in front of the great courtyard of the newly built library pavilion. The cool breeze washed away the fatigue caused by the late summer.
“Just as Qing’er had wished,” the Crown Prince said, “We hope all these gifts suit Qing’er's taste. We had specially obtained the Imperial Father's permission to prepare this library pavilion for you.”
Mei Nianqing's eyes fell upon the twenty maid servants who stood in front of the pavilion to greet them. Each of them had some item in their hands which were covered by silk clothes.
“And these are…?” Mei Nianqing asked.
“The small ones contain packs of sweets and the larger ones contain swords. Besides a plenty of trinkets, there are some books that we personally chose for you. Each of these are just as we had promised,” the Crown Prince answered.
“But… I fail to comprehend why Your Highness decides to prepare gifts for this lowly subject so suddenly? What might be the occasion?” Mei Nianqing asked.
“How earnestly, how compassionately you cried that day, begging us not to take in a Noble Consort! Even if Qing'er asked us to bring the moon for him that day, we would have it prepared for you at your feet today. I'm overjoyed to be worthy of your love and envy!” The Crown Prince uttered, “Since Qing’er fails to recall, allow us to freshen his memory.”
-君梅-
It was about three months ago when the sky was overcast, grey clouds rumbling. The storm had set in during the late afternoon. The rain laved the lands of Wu Yong in its purity.
Inside the Study Chamber of the Crown Prince, Mei Nianqing stood at the side table, his eyes focused on the skillful movement of the brush in his hand. Fresh ink stained the new scroll, bathing it in its words of sanctity.
His dark purple robes and the golden accessories gleamed in the candlelight. His hair was kempt properly, with every fine streak from the front tied with a golden pin towards the back.
A sigh came from the next table, the one at the higher podium. The Crown Prince sat there, sighing again. His elbow was on the table, his hand propping his chin. His handsome countenance displayed signs of disappointment but such unease could not smear away the essence of royalty in his conduct. Even the plain white robes he wore seemed particularly beautiful, as if it was an exclusive colour, unworthy of commoners.
The Crown Prince sighed again. It was about the hundrenth time that Mei Nianqing heard him sigh that day.
The brush in Mei Nianqing's hand paused, one cùn away from the paper. It was difficult to guess the expression he had under the muslin cloth that shrouded the lower half of his face. He finally asked, “Is there something that bothers His Highness?”
“What bothers me, you ask? Qing’er, shouldn't you know better?” Jun Wu replied ambiguously and sighed again.
“Is it because Xu Yiran, Lu Qingshi and Chen Yuanbai have gone to deliver His Highness’ message on his behalf?” Mei Nianqing asked, keeping aside the brush. He added, “I understand Your Highness’ concern. The rain might keep them away for longer than necessary.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes fell upon Mei Nianqing. He frowned and looked away.
“I was wrong, Your Highness,” Mei Nianqing remarked immediately.
The Crown Prince sighed again, nonchalantly muttering, “Yes, yes, Qing’er is so understanding and compassionate. He always knows when to inquire about our feelings and when to apologise.”
“May I ask what disappoints His Highness?” Mei Nianqing asked.
“Qing’er always has calculative responses. Only when Qing’er is confined in my arms, his reactions are truthful,” The Crown Prince teased, hiding away his true concerns.
“Your Highness does not need to hide his concerns,” Mei Nianqing said.
“Qing’er even knows how to read my mind but he can not read my heart,” The Crown Prince uttered.
“This subject is incompetent. Please punish this lowly one,” Mei Nianqing said perfunctorily.
The Crown Prince sighed, “That does not take away our concerns.”
Mei Nianqing said, “Your Highness is magnanimous.”
“We are simply a little upset that it is raining. Had it not, we would take Qing’er to the Imperial Garden for a stroll. Yet here we are, practicing calligraphy. We are rather upset that Qing’er was not looking forward to us fulfilling our promise to you,” The Crown Prince said, picking the brush next to him.
“Your Highness was supposed to stroll with the Lady Tianhua at this hour. Had it not been raining, I would have been seeking books at the library,” Mei Nianqing responded.
“Lady Tianhua? We were informed that she was ill and could not arrive in Imperial Palace two days ago, as she was supposed to,” The Crown Prince said, adjusting his sitting posture.
“Oh… This subject misspoke,” Mei Nianqing replied indifferently.
“Qing’er. Come here, stand next to us,” The Crown Prince suggested while his brush stroked the paper gently.
“That would not be necessary, Your Highness,” Mei Nianqing remarked. Only after having said that in such a tone, he realised his attempt to remain distant sounded rather rude.
Yet, the Crown Prince asked, “Can Qing’er show us how you write this phrase?”
“Assisting Your Highness is my duty,” Mei Nianqing said. Since he was not held accountable for his unreasonable rudeness, he could not reject the offer again. He went towards the podium wordlessly and stood next to the Crown Prince, looking at the booklet that consisted of the literary phrases.
“All that Qing’er does for us, is it all a duty?” The Crown Prince inquired as he held Mei Nianqing’s hand.
Mei Nianqing remained silent, his eyes not moving from the booklet.
The Crown Prince’s grip tightened as he said, “We greatly anticipated this rendezvous with Qing’er but it seems to us as if we were the only one looking forward to it.”
“How can that be? Your Highness was initially supposed to meet Lady Tianhua at this time juncture,” Mei Nianqing uttered as the Crown Prince released his hand. He picked up one of the brushes and dipped it in the ink slate.
“Lady Tianhua failed to reach here in time. It's only natural that I take Qing’er to visit this season’s bloom,” The Crown Prince commented, “Not everyone is so blessed so as to witness the Imperial Garden’s bloom.”
“Is that why Your Highness wished to take me to the Imperial Garden? Since Lady Tianhua is absent? If so, I'm undeserving, Your Highness. I'm not fond of flowers,” Mei Nianqing said. His brush touched the paper with grace and with each stroke, words flowed with great ease.
“That is not the case. We simply wished to spend some time with Qing'er,” The Crown Prince replied as he put down his brush.
“Refrain yourself from saying such ambiguous words, Your Highness. If this lowly servant misinterprets your words, he might commit sins deserving of death,” Mei Nianqing’s hand skillfully wrote the phrase.
“Oh? Such as?” The Crown Prince asked, standing up and embracing Mei Nianqing from behind.
“Such sins are better unspoken. Yet I have dared convey these feelings towards Your Highness so many times before. Today, I dare not,” Mei Nianqing answered solemnly. He kept the brush on the table and tried to pry away the Crown Prince's hands from his body in a gentle manner.
The Crown Prince embraced his waist firmly, refusing to let go, “What is there to misinterpret? Haven't we returned Qing’er’s feelings with great sincerity? Since Qing’er begs to differ, we shall assure that his thoughts align with ours. Qing'er, tell us, can this prince kiss you?”
“You mustn't, Your Highness. The Esteemed Emperor has asked me to assist Your Highness in recognizing your duty to the nation,” Mei Nianqing said.
“Your instructions puzzle us,” The Crown Prince remarked, barely putting in an ear to the other's words. His nose sank into Mei Nianqing's shoulder blade as his grasp tightened around Mei Nianqing’s waist, pulling him closer until not even a cùn remained between them.
Mei Nianqing said, “Do you really not understand, Your Highness? Since Your Highness is of the suitable age, the Esteemed Emperor has asked me to convince Your Highness to bestow the title of Noble Consort on Lady Tianhua, or any other suitable candidate as her. As for the marriage, it can be decided later through the Imperial Edict.”
There was no response from the Crown Prince. Mei Nianqing could only feel his warm breath brush through his neck, which remained unfaltering even after he heard the news.
“Release me,” Mei Nianqing muttered, trying to escape from the Crown Prince's embrace. But the Crown Prince's hands further secured his embrace, as unmoving as Mount Tai.
“We will ask again. Can this prince kiss Qing'er?” The Crown Prince asked calmly, sounding rather amused.
Mei Nianqing answered, “Since Your Highness is not young anymore, he will have more responsibilities towards his family and his nation. How can Your Highness afford to fool around and joke with this subject anymore?”
“Alright, we will alter the question. Does Qing’er wish to kiss this prince?” With these words from the Crown Prince, Mei Nianqing did not attempt to free himself from his grasp anymore. He paused but he did not say anything.
Thus the Crown Prince took the opportunity, “Oh, it turns out we are the most fortunate to have won Qing’er’s heart. He holds such affection towards me, I am obliged to return these feelings.”
“I dare not, Your Highness. That would be a sin punishable by death,” Mei Nianqing uttered.
“Punishable by death? They say this land belongs solely and absolutely to us and everything and everyone upon this land is all ours. Is there one in this whole nation who dares to declare death upon my beloved Qing’er?” The Crown Prince said, placing a peck on Mei Nianqing's neck, refusing to pull apart from this embrace.
When the candlelight flickered for a moment, Mei Nianqing's breath faltered.
“One who is immoral is always punished by the heavens, reckoned or unreckoned by the Crown Prince,” Mei Nianqing muttered.
“Does Qing'er think I don't dare go against the heavens for him?” The Crown Prince asked as he lifted his head and kissed Mei Nianqing's cheek.
Mei Nianqing closed his eyes as he bit his lower lips. His eyebrows furrowed when his breath hitched.
Mei Nianqing could not see the countenance of the Crown Prince as he was clasped between the latter's arms from behind. But he could not help but feel this was unfair to him. How little choices he had.
How many people had the Crown Prince said this to? And how many more people would the Crown Prince say this to?
Thus, Mei Nianqing remained silent.
What was the point of attempting to make the Crown Prince understand anyway? Truth be told, he himself was not aware why he was acting that way. It was so unreasonable for him.
He was trying to maintain a certain distance from the Crown Prince ever since he was informed of the matter of his marriage. Yet, wasn't he in his arms right now? How shameful. He did not even try to prevent it.
He was so drawn by the radiance of the Crown Prince that he seemed to have almost forgotten that the Crown Prince was like the unattainable sun. In this vast universe, wasn't Mei Nianqing only a small, barren rock? Far before he could reach the sun, wouldn't he turn into ashes?
Perhaps because he was so ignorant or perhaps because he chose to remain ignorant, he did not realise that the sun provides light to everyone unexceptionally. To the sun, the ones who hold virtues and the ones who commit sins are all the same, deserving of light.
The clouds rumbled outside and the rain intensified. For a very small moment, the sky turned white due to the lightning which was soon followed by a great roar of thunder!
Perhaps because Mei Nianqing was always quiet when the Crown Prince would convey such affectionate feelings towards him, the latter failed to deduce any discrepancy in the prior’s behaviour.
The Crown Prince pushed Mei Nianqing on the table, anchoring him atop the newly stained calligraphy paper. The Crown Prince shielded Mei Nianqing’s chin from hitting the table. Mei Nianqing's hands rested on the table.
Mei Nianqing could feel the warmth of the Crown Prince’s chest against his back. The Crown Prince's heartbeat was so lively and erratic that his skin tingled. When his own chest pressed against the papers on the desk, he could no longer differentiate whether it was the Crown Prince's heartbeat or his own.
Yet he could not concentrate upon the present as his mind was muddled with the thoughts of his beloved being an unreachable peak of mountain, so far that he did not even dare climb. And even if he did, this mission was fated to fail as it was all none but a mirage. Not simply beyond his reach but also an illusion he himself created.
The Crown Prince gently removed the hair from Mei Nianqing's neck. He placed a peck on the back of his neck and said, “Qing’er, I like you. I am joyous to be worthy of your jealousy. But I am even more joyous to be worthy of your smiles.”
The string that tied the muslin veil loosened as the Crown Prince slowly pulled onto the string.
Mei Nianqing wished to protest as he did not want to show his unseemly face to the Crown Prince. But he could not risk his voice breaking in front of the Crown Prince.
Was the Crown Prince so skilled at changing the way he referred to himself in front of the officials and in front of his lovers? Mei Nianqing wondered if the Crown Prince always changed the way he addressed himself just to put himself in an equal position with his lovers.
All his life, Mei Nianqing had been a reasonable man. But all those reasons failed him today.
He tried to convince himself that the cause of his abnormally racing heart were only the loud noises of the successive thunders. However, if that was the case, then why was this pain in his chest so persistent, so unbearable that he could not help but furrow eyebrows and gnash his teeth? His eyes felt warm, unusually warm.
The Crown Prince's hand covered his mouth playfully yet gently. The muslin veil had finally come off.
The Crown Prince took it and kept it aside.
“Qing’er, tell me, wouldn't you? Could I be a joyous man so as to receive the blessing of witnessing your face?” The Crown Prince asked.
Mei Nianqing remained silent.
“Are you still upset about the matter? If you're upset, you can tell me,” the Crown Prince remarked but did not meet any response from Mei Nianqing.
“Qing'er, Nianqing, I'm quite upset too, you see. I'm upset that you did not remember about our plans to rendezvous today. I shall hold you accountable,” the Crown Prince joked to ease the air around them.
The Crown Prince's hand curled around Mei Nianqing’s torso gently. If Mei Nianqing wished, he could push him away at once. He knew the Crown Prince had intentionally held him so lovingly. The Crown Prince was simply trying to make him realise that their relationship was a choice that was made by the both of them. And neither of them wished to bring an end to it.
Only if he had held no affection towards the Crown Prince, he could push him off and walk away.
But he couldn't.
Gaining no response again, the Crown Prince probably thought that Mei Nianqing wasn't convinced. His face sunk at the latter's neck again.
Mei Nianqing flinched at the sudden cool sensation.
The Crown Prince said, “Fine, fine, I'm not upset anymore. If Nianqing is upset, he can scold me. I won't dare look at anyone else. I never dared. My eyes have always found my haven within you, only you.”
One of his hands slid across Mei Nianqing's torso, the other covered the lower half of Mei Nianqing's face in a tender manner.
Everytime the Crown Prince spoke to him so lovingly and acted as though he were that centre of his world, Mei Nianqing could not feel but remain in disbelief. He was not the only person to hear those words.
He exclaimed, “I would happily spend all my wealth and land for one word from your mouth. How happily I would trade all my virtues and contentment for one look on your face!”
This time, there was finally a response. But Mei Nianqing's lips did not move to utter a single word.
Mei Nianqing did not dare open his eyes. He felt a warm sensation of tears running down his cheeks.
Damn it.
He had tried to hold back those tears. But perhaps because he was in the presence of the Crown Prince, his body was naturally at such ease that he would not mind crying.
The Crown Prince released him instantly and stood up with a start.
“Nianqing, Qing’er, are you crying?” The Crown Prince asked.
“Ugh…” Mei Nianqing whimpered. How could he be so unseemly in front of the Crown Prince?
Why was he being so stupid anyway?
He had always known that his relationship with the Crown Prince could only be kept only if he could accept his beloved’s position in the empire. It was natural for the Crown Prince to have a harem of women at his service, or at least a noble consort who would later be crowned as the Empress.
Was it foolish of him to think that he could be his beloved’s first and last?
The Crown Prince quickly said, “Qing'er, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Don't cry. I really don't intend to marry someone else. I don't wish to bestow the title of Noble Consort upon anybody else, let alone Lady Tianhua. Don't cry anymore, Qing’er. It aches me to even hear you cry.”
The Crown Prince held him by his shoulder blade and turned him over. Mei Nianqing tried to look the other way. His face was reddish under the candlelight, tears streaming down his eyes. He bit his lower lip, trying to contain the deliberate gasps of his trembling heart.
The Crown Prince asked, “Tell me Qing’er how may I cease your worries and woes? What might I do to see you smile? Whatever you say, I shall have it done unquestionably.”
He held Mei Nianqing to assist him stand, despite the latter's protest. He held Mei Nianqing's hands cautiously and rubbed his knuckles with his fingers.
He said lovingly, “Since you take fondness in books greatly, shall I have the people build a private library for you? I shall have them gather all the books, known and unknown, from everywhere around the world. Oh, Qing’er likes sweets too, right? Should I have them bring some for you? And I know Qing’er does not highly take interest in martial arts but I can have them craft the most suitable sword for you. Would you like that? Wouldn’t you tell me, Qing’er? Oh, tell me, wouldn't you?”
Mei Nianqing opened his lips to speak but he did not say anything. He felt so incredibly foolish at the moment that he could not speak. Why did he have to cry?
And yet after these thoughts, his tears wouldn't stop, much like his unceasing emotions, beyond his control.
The Crown Prince released Mei Nianqing’s hands and rubbed the tears off his cheeks instead.
The Crown Prince uttered, “If Nianqing refuses to say, how would I understand? Are you remaining quiet on purpose? Then I'll let Qing’er know. My words are exclusively for you, all reserved for you. I'll have them relay to you as many times as you want. My affection towards Qing'er is the utmost sincerest. He is who I wish to love and protect. If Qing’er stops crying, I will order the troops to prepare to head out at once and bring back Xu Yiran, Lu Qingshi and Chen Yuanbai. Their quest can be delayed, but Qing’er's smile can not be delayed.”
The Crown Prince cupped Mei Nianqing's face and tilted his head to kiss his cheek. Mei Nianqing, finally having stopped crying, looked downwards in great awkwardness.
He sniffed and cleared his throat before saying, “If they have to return in such haste, wouldn't they catch a cold in the rain?”
He only joked to divert the Crown Prince's mind so that he would not be subjected to embarrassment.
The Crown Prince responded, “Alright, since Qing'er doesn't want to, I won't. I'll only do what Qing’er asks me to.”
“Mm,” Mei Nianqing uttered, not daring to look at the Crown Prince's face. He was still rather embarrassed.
“Okay, since Qing’er agrees then it is time to proceed to the next question. Would Qing’er let me take a look at his face?” The Crown Prince asked as he held Mei Nianqing's chin.
Mei Nianqing turned his head away. How could he face him at the moment?
“Okay, okay. Then would Qing’er like to kiss me?” The Crown Prince said, leaning in.
Well, in Mei Nianqing's defense, the Crown Prince had already initiated the kiss by leaning in. How could Mei Nianqing resist a kiss from his beloved?
Mei Nianqing leaned in as well, his hands rested upon the Crown Prince's either shoulders. His feet raised slightly as he placed a peck upon the Crown Prince's lips.
The Crown Prince's hands slithered around Mei Nianqing's waist as he tilted his head. Mei Nianqing pulled him closer by the collar of his robes as he deepened the kiss.
The Crown Prince shoved him onto the table, atop the disheveled calligraphy papers. His hand supported the back of Mei Nianqing's head.
As Mei Nianqing's hands rested on the table, the Crown Prince held his wrists and pinned him onto the table before intertwining their fingers. He could feel the Crown Prince's warm chest against his, their uncontrollable heartbeats raced in unintended synchronisation.
When Mei Nianqing’s mind finally started muddling and he almost ran out of breath, his elbow jerked, knocking the ink grate off. Ink splattered on the fine works of calligraphy and flowed as if unceasing.
He grabbed onto one of the papers on the table to stabilize himself but his grasp soon loosened as he melted under the Crown Prince’s passion. His fingers, that were now stained by the black ink, ran through the white paper. The ink-stained paper crumpled under his fierce grip as Mei Nianqing found himself lost to these persistent desires.
But even after all this, at this point, Mei Nianqing did not wish to stop. He was drawn to the person he loved the most.
The Crown Prince pulled apart by a cùn and gazed at his face.
The Crown Prince panted softly. His expression was not as reserved and graceful as he had always displayed to the world. His skin was somewhat reddish, but Mei Nianqing could not tell if it was just a deception of the candlelight. But he knew the countenance of the Crown Prince was true.
In the depths of his eyes, Mei Nianqing could find an aggregate of unidentified emotions competing for its own recognition. Among them, Mei Nianqing knew of love and desire. He knew of yearning and adoration. As for the other emotions, they had converged into such an amalgamation that Mei Nianqing could not differentiate anymore.
As if there were invisible strings pulling him towards the Crown Prince, Mei Nianqing hugged the Crown Prince's neck and pulled him closer. Their lips touched, bridging the distance of endless yearning, invading the space Mei Nianqing had guarded for so long.
The back of the collar of the Crown Prince's robes crumpled as Mei Nianqing's hands clung onto them. The Crown Prince grasped one of Mei Nianqing's hands from his neck and pinned it on the table, before releasing it to hold his waist.
When Mei Nianqing’s thoughts deluded due to lack of breath, he still did not wish to stop. His chest felt warm, so warm he could no longer stop. He could not keep his eyes open.
The Crown Prince's face sunk into his own, again and again, till they pulled apart to catch their breaths, panting heavily.
“Qing'er… Is this prince qualified to witness the beauty of your face now?” The Crown Prince asked in a playful manner.
Mei Nianqing's eyes opened slowly. If it was the great Crown Prince in front of his eyes who seemed so improper at this moment, how crude his own decorum must seem! Despite the fact that he no longer cared about looking unseemly in front of the Crown Prince, he could not completely throw his face away.
He hadn't caught his breath yet. His reply turned into whispers, “No…”
“But wasn't Qing'er angry at us for looking at someone else?” The Crown Prince asked, remaining in his embrace.
“No…” Mei Nianqing's gaze averted towards the other side.
What title did he hold to get jealous of the Crown Prince's Consort? He was simply the Crown Prince's vassal.
“Qing'er, my dear Qing’er, aren't you aware of the consequences one may face due to perjury towards the Crown Prince?” The Crown Prince teased.
Unable to catch the playful undertone behind the Crown Prince's question, Mei Nianqing could not think much. He could not think much as he was still under the influence of the Crown Prince's charm.
Mei Nianqing replied automatically as if he was conditioned, “At worst, he may be punishable by death.”
The Crown Prince chuckled, “Oh? But is Qing’er aware that the minimum sentence is that the Crown Prince may order to take his tongue?”
Mei Nianqing's eyes widened at the comment. His cheeks reddened severely under the candlelight’s glow.
But he was a dignified man too. With a cough he cleared his throat to collect himself and asked, “Could the Crown Prince bear to watch my tongue be severed?”
“Qing’er is well aware of this Prince’s weaknesses,” the Crown Prince remarked as he let out a short laughter. He added, “Then allow us to carry out this order personally.”
Mei Nianqing smiled and laughed along with him before his body smeared against the other, pulling into an affectionate kiss.
-君梅-
“Does Qing'er recall now?” The Crown Prince asked with a grin.
The maid servants were sent outside the courtyard of the library pavilion. The gifts had been sent inside to keep away from the sun.
The Crown Prince strolled in the courtyard along with Mei Nianqing, having narrated the whole story of that day, omitting the parts where they indulged too passionately, not because he was adamant on the appropriateness of a gentleman but because there were things that could not be said aloud in the premises of the Imperial Palace.
“Now that the Crown Prince says it, I can vaguely recall…” Mei Nianqing uttered.
Of course he remembered! In fact, he remembered it as clear as crystal stones. He remembered it even before the Crown Prince tried to remind him of this previous event.
How could he forget something such as that so easily? It was only a matter of three months ago. He had cried so miserably and looked so unseemly in front of the Crown Prince! He had acted out of himself and even dared to express his jealousy towards the Crown Prince's Noble Consort despite the fact that no Consort was chosen as of yet! How could he forget the day when he acted so stupidly that he almost started doubting if he was even himself that day!?
He only pretended not to remember. How could he admit to remembering something so shameful? Had he no dignity?
Let alone himself, how could the Crown Prince narrate this whole matter to him so frivolously?
“It’s good that Qing’er still remembers… or we would be very crestfallen,” The Crown Prince remarked dramatically with a sigh.
“No harm may befall upon the Crown Prince. His mind and body has been blessed by the Purple Star,” Mei Nianqing.
The Crown Prince joked, “Qing'er is still so young. Why does he insist on terming things in the manners of those calculative old ministers?”
“Your Highness, you shouldn't-”
As Mei Nianqing was about to scold him, the Crown Prince interrupted, “What has been said has been already said. Do not pay it heed anymore.”
Mei Nianqing sighed. What more could he say?
“Oh, and we have talked to the Imperial Father. He won't force the matters of the Noble Consort anymore. Qing'er can be rest assured,” the Crown Prince informed.
“Oh…” Mei Nianqing smiled.
“Is Qing'er happy?” the Crown Prince asked.
Mei Nianqing nodded.
“Did Qing’er like the gifts?” the Crown Prince asked again.
“Whatever the Crown Prince gives me, I shall always take fondness towards it,” Mei Nianqing responded.
“There you go again, talking like those— ahem, ministers,” the Crown Prince corrected himself mid sentence, lest he be scolded again. He quickly changed the topic of discussion, “Does Qing’er like the gifts more or this Prince more?”
The Crown Prince's feet paused. His face beamed a smile.
Mei Nianqing did not pause by his side but continued walking towards the front doors of the library pavilion. He said nonchalantly, pretending as though his words were not meant to tease him, “I think… I like the Crown Prince more.”
The Crown Prince still stood at the place where his feet paused. His eyes widened a little before he broke into a soft laughter.
“Truly, Qing’er never fails to delight me,” the Crown Prince uttered, running towards Mei Nianqing to follow him.
“Your Highness, you shouldn't run in—” Before Mei Nianqing could utter any other word, the Crown Prince dived into his embrace. Mei Nianqing returned the affectionate hug.
The Crown Prince's laughter echoed through the pavilion, as if lotuses bloomed under the leisurely summer rain. Even Mei Nianqing, the most indifferent vassal as the rumors claimed, could not help but give in to the morning sun, and smiled and laughed alongside the prince.
-君梅-
—Fin.