Chapter Text
It was an exceptionally bright day. The sunlight peeped through the leaves. The Imperial Garden was carefully groomed to be the most appealing with gaudy flowers and tall trees.
At the pavilion, Taizi Dianxia perched on the chair in a composed manner, as though a deity of the nine heavens. He was clad in white robes with golden intricate designs of the dragon, his hair done with great efforts by the palace maids for it to be appropriate for today’s rendezvous. Behind him stood the four vassals who were dressed accordingly as today’s occasion called for.
A foreign prince from the neighbouring kingdom was to be welcomed today. He was expected to arrive earlier than the princes and royal representatives of other kingdoms. In a few days, the gathering would be addressed by His Highness the Emperor himself when everyone would be present. This gathering was dedicated to Wu Yong’s National Festival but only in name, but the true intentions behind which was to form a diplomatic alliance.
Taizi Dianxia had already received the message of the arrival of the Crown Prince of Yu Long early in the morning. He, along with the four other vassals, waited at the Eastern Pavilion for a meeting with the foreign prince.
Taizi Dianxia sighed, “What a pity that we can not afford to play around on such a lovely day. But it is truly important to greet the guests as well.”
Mei Nianqing said, “Your Highness, the guest is to arrive soon. If Your Highness keeps up with his sighs, I’m afraid that Your Highness is trying to entertain the guest through slumber.”
Xu Yiran burst into laughter, prioritising his soul over etiquettes. He said, “Only Qing’er can make such comments directly to Your Highness.”
“Yiran,” Chen Yuanbai said coldly to rebuke him.
“Fine, fine, I’m not laughing anymore,” claimed Xu Yiran as he continued to laugh.
Lu Qingshi only smiled and waved his hand as if to dismiss his words and said nothing.
“It is no harm, Yiran has always been fond of light hearted jokes,” Taizi Dianxia commented, “He can restrain his laugh but not his free spirit.”
“Oh? It seems Your Highness is the most fond of Yiran’s free spirit,” Mei Nianqing remarked sarcastically.
Taizi Dianxia defended himself, with a mischievous smile, “While it is true that we are fond of his gregarious nature, we are rather drawn by Qing’er’s composed disposition.”
Mei Nianqing turned the other way, as if he barely laid any trust in Taizi Dianxia’s words. Lately, there had been a strange atmosphere between the two of them. Or so has Mei Nianqing deduced. But the other vassals seemed to be immune to this shift in the air.
“Heh, the Taizi has taken my side, Chen Yuanbai, you can not rebuke me anymore!” Xu Yiran smirked. He walked and stood in front of Taizi Dianxia and asked, with feigned politeness, “Your Highness, will there be young maidens arriving alongside the Crown Prince of Yu Long?”
“Why do your thoughts only consist of young maidens?” Mei Nianqing sighed, as if to pity him.
“Not everyone is born to be a monk like Lord Mei,” Xu Yiran shrugged, deriding him playfully.
“Qing’er deems the truth though,” Taizi Dianxia said.
“Look, Qing’er, you’re influencing the Taizi’s thoughts with your sutra,” Xu Yiran gasped dramatically.
“I can hardly tell whether—” Lu Qingshi paused before continuing, “Oh, look, I suppose that is the Crown Prince of Yu Long?”
Taizi Dianxia turned to look and realised that it was indeed so. Under the bright rays of the sun, it was clear that this was indeed The Crown Prince of Yu Long. He was approaching the pavilion at a gentle pace with almost ten of his guards following behind him. He was dressed in robes of royal blue with a velvet cape of a darker shade tracing his steps. He wore no extravagant accessories other than the hair pin of pure gold that secured his hair in a bun. His expression was mild and he smiled when he saw Taizi Dianxia. He was tall with a resolute frame, perhaps around the age of eighteen or so.
One glance at the men behind him and even an idiot could tell that they were the special guards of the Crown Prince. They were clad in black robes with a sword at their waists.
Xu Yiran quickly retreated behind the Crown Prince. The vassals stood firmly in their positions. Taizi Dianxia stood up to receive the guest.
As the Crown Prince of Yu Long approached closer and entered the pavilion, Taizi Dianxia greeted, “Greetings, Your Highness. Please come yonder and perch. This Taizi shall accompany you.”
“What a lovely morning,” The Crown Prince of Yu Long said with a smile, “It is a pleasure to meet Your Highness. The Imperial Garden of Wu Yong is indeed worthy of praise.”
When the foreign prince sat, his guards stood behind him at a distance. Taizi Dianxia sat opposite to him. In between them was a table dressed in silk clothes, upon which laid tea pots and cups of fine porcelain. Pastries and sweets were beautifully arranged in plates of exquisite designs.
“It must have been a daunting travel so far.” Taizi Dianxia said with a warm smile. “We hope that Wu Yong’s hospitality has been up to your liking.”
“It has been so, it has been so,” the foreign prince laughed pleasantly. It was a gentle laugh like the song of a bird.
“Then all is good. Please have some of our pleasantries,” Taizi Dianxia said, smiling.
“Wu Yong is quite up to our liking. We even wish we could stay here even longer than we shall,” the foreign prince remarked.
Taizi Dianxia replied, “We are relieved to hear so.”
“Wu Yong had piqued our interest for Wu Yong is a kingdom of the seven great fortresses where beauty is boundless, found almost wherever, be it willows that sway in air or the rivers that sing in unison,” the foreign prince paused before adding in a strange tone, “Or be it the Imperial Pavilion of Wu Yong.”
The last words sounded strange to Mei Nianqing. And judging by the Crown Prince’s face, they seemed to be on the same page.
“Oh, please do elaborate further,” Taizi Dianxia requested with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes.
Taking a piece of white sugar sponge cake in his hand, the foreign prince said, “Our eyes are accustomed to warriors for years. Yet now that we’ve seen the beauty of Wu Yong, our once restless heart has been polished into that of a poet. Back in our lands, we have five brothers and two sisters. All our vassals are honoured; not for the silk and brocade they wear — but for the scars they bear on their skins and bones.”
How barbaric. Did he already set his mind on starting a war of words even before entering the pavilion? This was absolutely absurd!
He continued, “But we must confess it is nice to have a change in air, we suppose. Your Highness’s vassals are elegant like jade, quite the symmetry in Wu Yong’s beauty. We wish so were our vassals, but they are only welded like iron, forged in fire. Aren’t jades so much soothing to the eyes and pleasant to touch?”
“Your Highness is magnanimous with His praise. It is true that Wu Yong cultivates jades which are refined like a gentleman but can not be penetrated by blades of steel or iron. Over time, iron only gathers rust while jades remain unblemished through ages,” Taizi Dianxia replied.
The foreign prince gave a light hearted laugh, “That is indeed why we envy Your Highness. In our lands of Yu Long, jades are only treasures that are saved for ceremonies. But in Wu Yong, Your Highness may even put his jades on display. Are the jades of Wu Yong perhaps polished by the scales of the dragon rather than polishing wheels?”
Mei Nianqing’s fist tightened. His eyebrows puckered. Unable to contain himself any further, he said in a calm voice, “Often, one does not realise when the cold jade pierces through skin, not until his bones are left in frost.”
The three vassals turned towards Mei Nianqing in shock. He was the last person in the world to utter such words so impulsively, regardless of how the situation was! Yet when the Taizi’s crest was brought into the conversation, he was the first to lose cool.
The foreign prince burst into laughter, “It seems as though jades even make ludicrous comments in Wu Yong. Our words do not intend any harm. We only meant to say that a man who is fortunate enough to possess a jade naturally must embrace it.”
He picked the teacup gracefully and sipped at its brim in silence.
Mei Nianqing could not tell what expression Taizi Dianxia had on his face as he stood behind him. But seeing that the Taizi did not rebuke him, Mei Nianqing replied boldly, “Careful, Your Highness, when iron breaks, it is cast away. When jade breaks, it is sharp enough to cut off tongues.”
“Preposterous! We are astounded at the vulgarness of this vassal! Is it natural in the Imperial halls of Wu Yong for the servant to speak without permission, that too with such vengeful words?” The foreign prince remarked with sharp eyes and continued to sip tea, “We must say, we are quite displeased. If it were in our palace, we would definitely reprimand our vassal for the sake of you, Your Highness, or even if it is any other guest.”
Only after having uttered these words did Mei Nianqing realise that it was already too late to restrain his tongue. He could not retract the words that had already been said. His heart began to race. He was supposed to assist the Taizi, and yet he had…!
He was only trying to protect his Taizi but he only complicated the situation! How stupid could he be!
Taizi Dianxia, who was quiet until now, still said nothing. He only took the cup of his tea and drank it elegantly.
The silence was colder than the snow of winter months, like the edge of a rusty sword.
Finally, Taizi Dianxia spoke, his voice deeper than usual, “Allow us to introduce him to Your Highness. This is Lord Mei Nianqing, assigned not only as our vassal but also our confidant and playmate. Given the years we have spent with him, his loyalty surpasses etiquette. His very words are tantamount to that of ours. In this pavilion, the words we share are only spoken in jest, but not limited to these walls. Even poetries must be recited wisely. Lord Mei is exceptionally talented at reading between the lines.”
No! This is not how he should react! If anything, he should have dismissed Mei Nianqing from there at once, if not punish him! But he knew that his Taizi was far too innocent to understand the danger in the situation.
The Crown Prince of Yu Long seemed more and more displeased. If this went on, not only would the alliance fail, but it might be a precursor to war!
The foreign prince kept the teacup on the table with a loud thud.
Mei Nianqing knelt at once and hung his face low. He himself must deal with the damage that he had caused.
He said, “This servant apologises for having spoken out of place.”
“Qing— Lord Mei Nianqing, you needn’t,” Taizi Dianxia frowned.
“You still know how to apologise?” the foreign prince remarked sarcastically. He added, “Alright, alright. Since Lord Mei is His Highness’s companion, we will not embarrass him. You may rise.”
Mei Nianqing only apologised for speaking out of turn, but not for what he spoke, which meant that he still abided by his words. The foreign prince seemed to have noticed this fact but did not pursue it further.
“Thank Your Highness for his generosity,” Mei Nianqing said as he stood up and bowed, cupping his hand.
“No matter, no matter. His Highness’s companion is our companion. How about Lord Mei pours us a drink, and all his offense be washed away alongside it?” the foreign prince suggested good-naturedly.
“How can that be,” Taizi Dianxia interrupted, “As the host, we shall honor Your Highness by our very own hands to prove our reverence.”
Taizi Dianxia touched the wrist of his right hand with his left and politely lifted the porcelain jar and poured the wine in the cup. Clearly, the Taizi did not allow his own vassal to serve some other master. The scent of wine and the sound of its pouring eased the tense atmosphere.
The foreign prince laughed and did not object. Mei Nianqing seized the chance to stand behind Taizi Dianxia again, alongside the other vassals who stared at the princes with forced politeness.
“Then we shall pour some wine for Your Highness in return for such honor,” the foreign prince claimed.
He, too, poured a drink for Taizi Dianxia.
“In the prosperity of our kingdoms,” the foreign prince toasted in the air, the Taizi returned the toast and the both of them drank the wine.
“We have been wondering since long, Your Highness, but now we can no longer contain our curiosity,” the foreign prince said.
Taizi Dianxia smiled, “Ask away.”
“Why does only one of Your Highness’ vassals adorn a silver ornament on his face? Have we been ignorant to some kind of symbolism in Wu Yong? Please enlighten us,” the foreign prince asked.
The thin chain of pure silver that ran across Mei Nianqing’s cheekbones, over the nasal bridge, from one ear to the other, seemed rather heavy to himself on this day. It was sleek enough for his facial features to be distinct under the ornament, lest any offense caused towards the guest.
“It is but a token that we once bestowed on him, on an occasion that few know of and fewer who dare talk about. When we did, he claimed to save it for some special occasion and now we realise he truly meant it,” Taizi Dianxia said in a calm tone, “However, surely, there are more interesting things and beings in Wu Yong than merely my vassals.”
“You jest, it is of course Your Highness’s vassals who are the most interesting,” the foreign prince laughed casually, though seeming very pleased. He said, “In our lands, chains are a symbol of restraint, used only to tame the wildest of beasts.”
“Silver less does discriminate between reflecting the sun and reflecting the blood. In our lands, restraint is chosen by oneself and not thwarted upon,” Taizi Dianxia said.
“Since Your Highness takes such pride in the sharpness of your jades, how about a friendly duel between your silver and my iron?” the foreign prince proposed and drank another gulp of wine.
“It is but a leisurely morning when Your Highness shares wine with us for the first time. It would be negligent on our part to allow Your Highness’s sight to fall on blood or his hearing to catch the clang of swords, ” Taizi Dianxia answered.
“Blood on jade or blood on iron?” asked the foreign prince.
“Your Highness is far too obsessed with jades and iron. We prefer there is no blood drawn for no cause and no sword drawn for no purpose,” Taizi Dianxia replied.
The foreign prince laughed, “Obsession beats talent. Does Your Highness look down on us?”
“What led Your Highness to such an impression? That is certainly not the case at all. Your Highness is older than all present here and far more experienced, whether we duel or not, the results are already stark even before drawing the swords,” Taizi Dianxia beamed.
The foreign prince nodded, “Alright, then that can be postponed to a later date.”
He paused and then added, “Then we shall return to our chambers now. Wu Yong’s liquor is quite heavy, so we have grown weary.”
The Crown Prince of Yu Long stood up gracefully and so did Taizi Dianxia.
Taizi Dianxia said, “It was indeed an engaging conversation, the Crown Prince of Yu Long is quite amusing. Allow my vassal to lead Your Highness to his chambers.”
Taizi Dianxia looked at Lu Qingshi.
“Oh?” The foreign prince seemed to be more amused than being ‘amusing’.
“Your Highness, allow me,” Lu Qingshi cupped his hands.
That was not the plan they had discussed earlier. It was Xu Yiran who was supposed to accompany him. Perhaps Taizi Dianxia had noticed something that caused the initial plan to change.
“We wonder when Your Highness and we shall meet again?” the foreign prince asked, without turning back. He stepped onto the stairs that led towards the garden, as Lu Qingshi led the way. The black robed vassals followed them.
“It should be tonight, at the banquet,” Taizi Dianxia replied.
“Ah, tonight,” the foreign prince acknowledged, turning his face back slightly, “Then we surely hope that we will get to see Your Highness’s unruly vassal again.”
Taizi Dianxia smiled and said nothing. It was unusual for him to remain so quiet. In fact, he was always the one to speak till the last minute. Perhaps his mind was too clouded with thoughts.
“Goodbye, Your Highness,” the foreign prince’s voice echoed as he left.
Taizi Dianxia stood where he was without budging. Only the wind swayed his hair and the petals of plum blossoms fell atop the pavilion. Xu Yiran, Chen Yuanbai and Mei Nianqing stood by his side silently, waiting for him to speak.
Taizi Dianxia said, “Xu Yiran, investigate him.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Oh, so that was the case. Whenever Taizi Dianxia required to gather intel as early as possible, Xu Yiran was always dismissed from all his other duties and assigned that mission.
Xu Yiran carefully uttered, “Your Highness, before I leave, I must say. The Crown Prince of Yu Long— he’s! He speaks in poetry but his pine leaves strike as though thorns. If this lowly one may ask, why is it that Your Highness—”
“Investigate him. This instant,” Taizi Dianxia reinforced his words calmly.
Xu Yiran pursed his lips. He would usually refuse his assigned work with a lot of lathergy and Taizi Dianxia would laugh with him and coax him to leave for business, as if Xu Yiran was his very own younger brother. But today, Taizi Dianxia seemed to be distant.
His brief words were enough. Xu Yiran cupped his hand and bowed and left the pavilion in a blink.
“Lu Qingshi was assigned to oversee the banquet preparations on our behalf,” Taizi Dianxia averted his gaze and looked at Chen Yuanbai, “You shall take over.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Chen Yuanbai said, bowing.
He was about to leave but he paused. He paused and turned towards Taizi Dianxia properly. Then he cupped his hands and bowed.
For a moment, he did not say anything.
Then, Taizi Dianxia said, “Rise.”
Chen Yuanbai stood firmly and said, “It is my duty as Your Highness’s vassal to listen and to advise. Thus I must ask Your Highness if it was truly the correct decision to defend Nianqing? If this alliance fails then—”
“Then we shall face the consequences,” Taizi Dianxia stated, each word as clear as the reflection of the plum blossom tree on the pond at the Imperial Garden.
Mei Nianqing did not dare to look at Taizi Dianxia’s face. He had impulsively acted previously. It was wrong. He knew. But if he could turn back time, he would not change a single thing.
“You are allowed to leave,” Taizi Dianxia said to Lu Qingshi. The latter bowed before dismissing himself.
The moment he left, Taizi Dianxia said in a stern voice, “Nianqing was impulsive.”
Mei Nianqing’s heart raced, blood rushing through his veins. Taizi Dianxia always met his eyes when he spoke, but this time he did not.
He must be angry.
“It is this servant’s fault. Punish this lowly one, Your Highness,” Mei Nianqing said as he knelt down.
Taizi Dianxia sighed.
He must be disappointed.
Mei Nianqing did not look up. He dare not look up.
Taizi Dianxia looked backwards at Mei Nianqing and smiled peacefully, “My dear Qing’er, while it is true that you were impulsive, I believe your intentions meant no harm and were only to defend us. If we had been in your place, we would have done the same. Why must Qing’er punish himself when his words were rightfully spoken?”
Mei Nianqing continued to kneel and still did not look up. He pursed his lips.
“Now, now, stand up,” Taizi Dianxia said, holding Mei Nianqing’s hand to suggest his permission.
Mei Nianqing followed and stood up but he still did not know how to face him.
Taizi Dianxia said, “This is truly unfair. We wished to tease Qing’er a little as he failed to suppress his impulsivity but now that he seems so upset, this Taizi does not dare anymore. We are too afraid Qing’er would cry.”
“Cease your jest, Your Highness,” Mei Nianqing replied, his eyebrows furrowing as his eyes sunk into the ground.
“Jest? Certainly not, Qing’er. Believe us, even this Taizi is afraid of something and it just so happens to be Qing’er’s tears,” Taizi Dianxia’s voice softened.
He held Mei Nianqing’s hands. Mei Nianqing retracted them immediately and looked left and right.
There was not anyone else around.
But it was hard to say.
This was the Imperial Palace after all. Eyes and ears were at every door and wall.
“Your Highness is making a joke out of me,” complained Mei Nianqing in a low voice. He raised his eyes to glare at Taizi Dianxia but when he did so, he realised that the Taizi’s eyes were already fixed upon him.
Mei Nianqing looked away instantly.
Who dares meet the eyes of the Taizi of Wu Yong?!
“While we are quite fond of jests, this time our sincerity is truly unparalleled. As Qing’er is afraid of breaking the laws of the land, we are afraid of his tears. Isn’t that right?” Taizi Dianxia chuckled.
“Not right at all,” Mei Nianqing denied, folding his arms, “When have I ever cried in front of Your Highness!?”
Taizi Dianxia replied, “Qing’er has a weak memory. Allow us to remind you. That one time in the archery—”
“No, that was when I was nine or ten, it doesn’t count!” interrupted Mei Nianqing.
Taizi Dianxia “Then the horse—”
“That was even longer back!” exclaimed Mei Nianqing.
Taizi Dianxia shot, “Then, at the banquet which—”
“I was five!” Mei Nianqing retorted.
Taizi Dianxia uttered innocently, “What about the time when—”
Mei Nianqing placed his hand upon the other, tightly securing Taizi Dianxia’s lips, as if to assure himself that the latter spoke no further.
“Please don’t say anything fur—” Mei Nianqing suddenly paused his words.
Their eyes met. And neither faltered.
Mei Nianqing stood silently, unable to comprehend the strange racing of his heart. Even though Mei Nianqing was mostly a composed gentleman who was as difficult to touch as the moonlight, he was still quite affectionate with his companions. This was not the first time that Mei Nianqing felt the Taizi’s lips against his hands.
It was only but a friendly gesture. And there were no strange meanings wrapped around it.
And yet…
This felt strange! Far beyond strange!
Taizi Dianxia gazed at him, as if to relay some silent words to him, words that were far beyond Mei Nianqing’s comprehension. What did he wish to say?
The Taizi’s eyes were soft, his lips softer.
Oh, certainly not. It had already been too long that Mei Nianqing covered the Taizi’s lower face with his hands. And he even stopped speaking mid sentence.
Now he did not know whether he should retract his hands or continue the sentence or do anything at all!
Taizi Dianxia’s beauty surpassed any other comparison, far beyond the radiance of the sun and the midnight glow of the moon! His eyes were passionate, always. Mei Nianqing liked them. Those eyes.
Full of care and gentleness. Full of love for everything he saw and everyone he saw. Innocence. His eyes were containers of holiness. There was bliss. Bliss everywhere deep inside those eyes.
Mei Nianqing could feel the warmth in his cheeks, every vessel in his body rushing with blood.
Out of instinct, he was about to retract his hands but Taizi Dianxia held his wrist and continued to have them pressed on his lips.
“Y-Your Highness?” Mei Nianqing uttered.
Oh no. He has lost all his senses.
And his words.
He could feel Taizi Dianxia’s lips curling into a smile.
At this point, Mei Nianqing could feel the thumping of his own heart through every vessel. Was this the first stage of qi deviation?
The Taizi pecked his wrist, though it could hardly be called a peck at all. Perhaps it was only Mei Nianqing and his wishful thinking.
And then Taizi Dianxia released his hands.
Mei Nianqing hugged his own hands at his chest, quickly averting his gaze. He opened his mouth to say something but he closed it right away.
Taizi Dianxia said nothing either.
He was quiet. Refined.
As if nothing ever happened.
Mei Nianqing cupped his hand and said, “Then this servant will excuse himself.”
With that being said, he left the Pavilion and walked away into the distance.
He was not supposed to dismiss himself until Taizi Dianxia permitted it but the latter did not pursue the matter. After all, the condition that he was left in was no better than Mei Nianqing. In fact, it was much worse.
The leaves swayed at a distant hill, the wind fluttered the Taizi’s hair. Taizi Dianxia looked at Mei Nianqing’s back disappearing into the evening mist. His blood rushed, his heart throbbed, his body hardly felt his own. He was unsure of what expression he was making. His head was clouded with the face that he just saw.
Beautiful.
Taizi Dianxia had never seen someone so beautiful.
When the leaves fall into the river, ripples form in the deepest corners of the heart.
-君梅-
Since early in the morning, no one knew where Mei Nianqing was. But Taizi Dianxia did not seem to be concerned at all. He moved about freely with his three vassals as he usually would.
“Your Highness, where is Qing’er?” Lu Qingshi asked.
They strolled in the gardens of the East. It was usually remote compared to the other sides. Across the wall, was a wider garden of tall trees and canopies. Inside the walls were the comparatively eye-pleasing shrubs and bushes. It was a fair morning with birds flying in the wide blue sky.
“He said he would return by noon,” Taizi Dianxia replied, “He’s escorting some noble maidens outside the palace to prepare for tonight’s banquet.”
“Whaaat? Why wasn’t I asked to carry out such a task?” Xu Yiran whined.
“He’s assigned to protect the noble maidens from any possible harm. If it was you, I’m afraid you would be the source of danger,” Chen Yuanbai commented sternly.
“Aiyah! I’m not as bad as you think!” Xu Yiran exclaimed.
“It’s almost noon. I reckon he should be back any moment now. Perhaps he is on his way to here as we speak,” Lu Qingshi said.
“Really? That’s good,” Xu Yiran remarked, “I've been waiting impatiently for him to return.”
Taizi Dianxia’s feet paused. He asked, “Why?”
“It’s quite obvious. Without anything else to do other than to tease Qing’er, I might as well stab myself to death hahaha!” Xu Yiran laughed heartily.
“Why, you’re quite leisurely, aren’t you, Yiran?” Taizi Dianxia asked pleasantly. In fact, his voice was simply too pleasant.
He would not usually call the vassals by their birth name, not unless he was being sarcastic or he was too elated.
For instance, in this case, it could not be the latter.
“No, no, not at all— There’s still so much work left to do for the banquet,” Xu Yiran laughed awkwardly.
He had reported to the Taizi last night that there were no suspicious movements occurring under the orders of Prince of Yu Long, nothing that was tracked at least. It was hard to say. Xu Yiran’s investigation was still ongoing.
Suddenly, all of them paused, alarmed.
Somebody was approaching them.
From the other side of the wall.
Who could it be? An assassin?
Fast tapping of foot approaching fastly towards the wall. Then the sound of rustling clothes.
All the vassals were prepared with their hands on the hilt of their sword. Only Taizi Dianxia stood pleasantly amongst the wary vassals, as though the sun amid stars.
Then it happened!
The sound of feet crushing the grass! A man climbed onto the wall with a single pounce!
Purple robes fluttered in the air, the man was about to touch his feet on the ground when—!
Another figure came flying towards the same direction, not from the other side but from the sky!
Their bodies collided, unable to stop in time and rolled and tumbled with great momentum and in the end, hit on the trunk of a large tree.
“Qing’er!” Taizi Dianxia exclaimed.
Even before the other vassals could see the face of the two men, Taizi Dianxia seemed to have already understood that one of them was Mei Nianqing.
In fact, who else other than Taizi Dianxia’s vassals (besides the imperial guards, naturally) would dare to climb up walls inside the Imperial Palace?
As Mei Nianqing opened his eyes, the strong rays of the sun made everything else almost invisible. He could only feel a great ounce of pain at the back of his head and the bruise in his right elbow, and ah yes, the heavy weight of something, or rather, someone pressed onto him.
He blinked his eyes to adjust to the environment and realised that a man laid upon him. The man remained on his lap, so unmoving that Mei Nianqing thought he was done for. He had killed an innocent.
The man suddenly raised his head.
And Mei Nianqing knew at once who that man was.
The Crown Prince of Yu Long!
“Y-Your Highness!” Mei Nianqing exclaimed. He certainly did not expect his presence here.
The foreign prince who remained mounted over him stared at him blankly without saying a word, as if this fall had made him so ignorant that he could not tell apart night and day. This time, he was truly done for! Mei Nianqing had made the foreign prince as ignorant as a fool! He must have hit his head so hard that he could not even speak! It’s over! If the foreign prince loses his mind then he would be stripped of his title— but before that, the man who caused this accident was to be stripped of his right to live!
“Qing’er, are you alright?” a voice asked.
Mei Nianqing could not sit up yet. His eyes searched for the owner of the voice despite already knowing that it was Taizi Dianxia.
“I'm alright, Your Highness,” Mei Nianqing replied.
He was not alright at all. He could not even sit up due to the burden of a man upon him.
“Good,” Taizi Dianxia sighed.
He approached the two figures with the three vassals following behind him.
Taizi Dianxia’s tone changed, his voice deepened, he asked, “Who are you? How dare you leisurely climb trees, nevertheless even dare to saunter around the Inner Gardens of the East!?”
But the man upon Mei Nianqing had truly hit his head too hard while trying to balance their bodies a while back when they tumbled. He could not comprehend anything, he seemed to be in a lot of pain.
He wanted to say something. His lips opened and closed again. He uttered something in a foreign language that he could not comprehend. But it did not sound like he was cursing him.
His face fell into Mei Nianqing’s chest.
Mei Nianqing’s face grew pale.
Chen Yuanbai picked up the man from Mei Nianqing. The vassals looked at the man’s face carefully. When they did, they gasped simultaneously. Mei Nianqing thought it was a natural reaction.
But Taizi Dianxia did not even glance. He kneeled beside Mei Nianqing and inspected his body. He asked, “Are you truly alright? Was Qing’er hurt?”
“Your Highness mustn’t kneel,” Mei Nianqing said, trying to stand up by himself when he suddenly felt a great throb in his right shoulder.
He gnashed his teeth, his eyebrows furrowed. His left hand held his right shoulder.
“Your Highness, this is the Prince of Yu Long!” Lu Qingshi exclaimed.
“Send the physician to the Eastern Palace at once!” Taizi Dianxia ordered decisively.
Chen Yuanbai said nothing. He bowed and moved quickly, pouncing into the wall at once and running into the distant fog.
Lu Qingshi held onto the foreign prince carefully.
Xu Yiran laughed, “Don’t worry though, he’s still alive. He’s breathing and not bleeding. He’ll live. What happened to Yu Long’s iron and steel? Hahaha, didn’t it still bend and break to Wu Yong’s jade?”
“We need to get Qing’er checked,” Taizi Dianxia claimed.
“Huh? I thought Your Highness sent for the physician for the Crown Prince of Yu Long?” Lu Qingshi uttered.
Taizi Dianxia said with a pause, “That shall be done too.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” Mei Nianqing apologised with a heavy sense of guilt, still sitting on the ground. His heart still pounded, exceeding normal limits, as if digging deeply into his chest.
“Yes, you lied to us, Qing’er better apologize,” Taizi Dianxia continued to kneel next to him.
“No, I… I didn’t expect someone to… be on the tree? He jumped from there so suddenly— I didn’t mean any harm to him,” Mei Nianqing explained.
“It doesn’t matter. He was not supposed to be here in the first place, and certainly not on the tree. The Crown Prince of Yu Long is quite unrefined, we must say. Qing’er shouldn’t be sad,” Taizi Dianxia consoled him.
“But…” Mei Nianqing uttered, “If the other envoys of Yu Long come to know that their Crown Prince has been hurt…”
“Even if Yu Long declares war, we will not allow them to punish Qing’er,” Taizi Dianxia said, holding Mei Nianqing’s hands. He added, “Now tell us, where does it hurt?”
“My arm,” Mei Nianqing tried to raise his right hand slightly but he immediately regretted the decision to do so. He hissed as it ached him plenty.
“Is it dislocated? Allow me to help,” Xu Yiran insisted.
Taizi Dianxia looked at him, his eyes piercing into him. He said, “Did we permit you?”
“Yes, Taizi Dianxia is right. The last time you tried to fix a dislocated arm, the person ended up with a broken joint and a dislocated arm,” Lu Qingshi muttered.
Xu Yiran winked, “Not unintentionally, he deserved it.”
“Xu Yiran, we allow you to treat the Crown Prince of Yu Long. Remember to fix his arm,” Taizi Dianxia said sternly.
“Don’t be too hasty, Your Highness,” Lu Qingshi said quickly.
“I know. It was simply a joke, isn’t that right, Xu Yiran?” Taizi Dianxia smiled. But this smile did not quite reach his eyes.
“Oh… yes… certainly…” Xu Yiran uttered. He did not expect the Taizi to let this matter slide so easily.
“Lu Qingshi, carry the Crown Prince of Yu Long to the Eastern Palace,” Taizi Dianxia ordered.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Lu Qingshi said as he skillfully carried the foreign prince in his hand and scaled up the wall.
After all, it was the quickest way to reach the Eastern Palace in time.
“So then I guess only I’m left to carry Qing’er now, isn’t it just like our childhood days?” Xu Yiran giggled.
Taizi Dianxia said nothing. He simply slid his hand below Mei Nianqing’s knees and the other coiled around his waist. He picked him up at once without leaving Mei Nianqing any time to process.
“Your Highness!” Mei Nianqing gasped in surprise. In contrast to his voice, his arm (the injured one) draped over Taizi Dianxia’s shoulders.
“Ah, yes, Xu Yiran, investigate the Crown Prince of Yu Long. Again. Do not return until you have found some useful intel,” Taizi Dianxia ordered.
Xu Yiran bowed, “Understood, Your Highness.”
Taizi Dianxia said no more and secured Mei Nianqing in his arms. In the time of two burning incense sticks, they had already reached the Eastern Palace. The Taizi’s feet were light and quick, his body severed through the winds and brought Mei Nianqing safely into the corridors.
With the cold winds against his face, Mei Nianqing seemed to have lost some colors from his face. He clung onto Taizi Dianxia with one hand and the other remained suspended at an awkward angle (it could not truly be broken, could it?). But the pain was excruciating.
“Your Highness… Put me down…” Mei Nianqing suggested. His voice was low and weak.
Taizi Dianxia asked, worried, “Is Qing’er pained by the injury? It is only a brief moment of time, we are almost there. You must stay awake, do you hear us?”
His voice sounded strange and funny in Mei Nianqing’s ears. It was loud but somewhat dull. Perhaps because Mei Nianqing’s ear was on the Taizi’s chest, his voice sounded that way.
Mei Nianqing muttered, “Your Highness…”
He could not understand why it started paining him now, if it did not hurt at that time— that too at such a fast pace. Perhaps to cope, his heart started pounding faster, and for some reason it messed with his head. It was a strange feeling. He could no longer keep his eyes open.
His eyebrows furrowed. His heart thumped heavily. Beads of cold sweat formed upon his forehead.
Taizi Dianxia stopped.
He said something but Mei Nianqing could no longer comprehend.
What was going on?
“Your Highness…” Mei Nianqing whispered.
Are we there?
He wished to ask. But his voice did not come out.
Then he heard it clearly. Someone talked to Taizi Dianxia. It should have been someone that Mei Nianqing was not familiar with.
He tried to open his eyes. But as soon as he did so, the bright light almost blinded him. He only caught a glimpse of two silhouettes standing in front of Taizi Dianxia.
One of them should have been Lu Qingshi.
The other…
Taizi Dianxia started to walk again. His pace was rather fast to be called ‘walking’.
A Crown Prince must always remain composed, regardless of what adversity he might be in.
Mei Nianqing wished to remind him. But he could barely speak. What good was he now? A vassal who sought assistance from his Taizi was a ludicrous concept.
Taizi Dianxia carefully helped him sit on the soft mattress. Mei Nianqing could not figure out whether it was the bed or the luohan. He only knew that the Taizi was sitting next to him, so he clung onto him in search of warmth. If not, Mei Nianqing was afraid he’d fall.
But Taizi Dianxia embraced him just as gently. His arm was draped around Mei Nianqing’s waist. His other hand supported Mei Nianqing’s face which lay on his shoulder.
“Qing’er! Qing’er! Do you hear us!?”
Yes, Your Highness…
But Mei Nianqing could not speak.
He could feel his hand gloves being slipped off. Then a warm, wrinkled hand held his wrist.
“Qing’er?” Taizi Dianxia sounded fretful.
Mei Nianqing wished to assure him that he was alright. But he could not.
“Do not fret, Your Highness.”
It must be the physician.
Mei Nianqing was not certain what the physician had done by simply pressing onto his wrist, but he felt somewhat comforted and could hear people around him properly.
“When-will-Qing’er-wake-up? When-will-he-look-at-us?” Taizi Dianxia asked without pausing for a breath.
Mei Nianqing’s ears buzzed. His head throbbed. His throat went dry.
But he could hear clearly now.
“He’s awake right now, Your Highness. But I’m afraid he has been poisoned,” The physician clarified, “There is no need to fret, though. I believe I carry its antidote. In a sichen or two, he shall be able to answer you, Your Highness.”
“Poison!? Where from!?”
Taizi Dianxia’s voice was loud and firm. He sounded extremely displeased.
Mei Nianqing nuzzled into the crook of the Taizi’s neck. He wished to comfort him but rather, he ended up seeking comfort.
Taizi Dianxia embraced him. He gently slid a strand of Mei Nianqing’s hair behind his ear, exposing his face. Taizi Dianxia cast aside the veil which covered his face so far.
“Replying to Taizi Dianxia, I believe it should have been from Wu Yong itself. Local weeds turned into poison, ingested through needles, though I assume the same could be ingested through food.”
Droplets of cold water were splashed carefully on Mei Nianqing’s face, which relieved him of the excess warmth that guided his body. Mei Nianqing tried to open his eyes. But the light was still too bright.
A wet cloth touched Mei Nianqing’s face. A hand lifted up his face. His body was completely propped up by Taizi Dianxia.
Truth be told, Mei Nianqing knew that what the Taizi was doing right now was inappropriate. How could the pillar of the nation, Taizi Dianxia, take care of his vassal with his own two hands?!
Something like that could be merely handled by some maids or even by the other vassals. But the Taizi chose to care. By himself.
A cold porcelain bowl touched Mei Nianqing’s lower lip. A warm liquid was fed to Mei Nianqing. It tasted strange, bitter and nauseating. But when Mei Nianqing realised that it was the Taizi, himself, who held the bowl to his lips, Mei Nianqing could drink it.
“Your Highness, after administering the antidote, this physician must perform acupuncture to follow through,” The physician informed, “I require Lord Mei’s upper body bare to execute my task.”
“Allow this servant, Your Highness.”
It was a familiar voice. Oh, Lu Qingshi was in the chamber as well.
“No, you shall gather all those who served Nianqing breakfast and investigate,” Taizi Dianxia said.
“That would not be required, Your Highness,” the physician said.
“Pardon…?” Taizi Dianxia uttered.
Having drunk the medicine, though the bitter taste lingered in his throat, his body felt a little better. It was growing warm within him.
The physician’s hand pressed onto Mei Nianqing’s wrist. It was a sudden strike of pain over such a small area and yet it felt as though ants were biting through skin.
Mei Nianqing squirmed, retracting his hand from the physician and clutching onto Taizi Dianxia’s robes out of reflex.
“It was indeed ingested through a needle, at the wrist. The needle must have either been pierced by a beginner or was done unintentionally,” the physician declared.
Taizi Dianxia paused for a moment. Then he embraced Mei Nianqing closer and said in a deep voice, “Lu Qingshi, stay. Everyone else may leave. The physician shall perform acupuncture.”
The door slid open and then the door closed as well.
“Lu Qingshi, return to the site where Qing’er crashed with him. Search for the needle, though I presume it has already been retrieved, it is worthy to seek,” Taizi Dianxia said.
The air was getting chillier. Mei Nianqing buried his face into Taizi Dianxia’s chest. The beating of the Taizi’s heart was loud, but Mei Nianqing could not tell if it was out of rage or of frustration.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Lu Qingshi said, “Please take care of Mei Nianqing.”
Mei Nianqing did not hear the sliding of the doors. It should have been the window through which Lu Qingshi had exited the room.
Clothes rustled. Mei Nianqing realised it was his own. The grasp on his waist was still firm but the other hand of Taizi trembled as it tried to undo the knot of Mei Nianqing’s outer robe.
“Oh, and his arm shall be fine. It is slightly bruised but Lord Mei is a cultivator so it shall return to the usual before evening,” the physician explained.
A very low noise of needles clinking reached Mei Nianqing’s ears. The physician must be preparing them.
Two large hands grabbed Mei Nianqing’s waist and settled him on Taizi Dianxia lap.
The warm layers of clothing were slowly cast aside by the Taizi till only the inner robe remained. But even the inner robe slid down his shoulder as a cold needle was inserted at the shoulder, a thumb pressing near the acupoint.
Mei Nianqing could feel his hair flowing through his back, till his waist. Since he usually wore so many layers, the texture felt foreign. But when the Taizi’s hand held him so carefully, it felt even stranger. Their skins were only separated by a thin robe.
Mei Nianqing quivered but Taizi Dianxia propped him gently and pulled him closer into his chest. He could feel his own warm breaths lingering at the Taizi’s chest. Another needle pierced through his skin and then another, Mei Nianqing’s hands were curled, pressing between the two bodies.
Mei Nianqing had undergone acupuncture treatment before. But it usually felt like a slight prick or almost as though nothing at all. But today, it felt as though needles were falling onto him like pellets and raindrops.
Whenever Mei Nianqing squirmed, Taizi Dianxia embraced him even more gently and soothed him in warm words. Gradually, Mei Nianqing felt his meridians clear.
He tried to open his eyes this time. He could vaguely make out some silhouettes. But it all went dark again and faded into nothingness…
It was warm…
It was warm in Taizi Dianxia’s cradle…
So warm…
So warm that Mei Nianqing could only close his eyes…
And fall into a deep slumber…
Oh, how nice it would have been. To remain like this forever.
-君梅-
Mei Nianqing opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the wooden ceiling. He knew at once that he was still at the Eastern Palace. He could recall that this was the Taizi’s residence in the Eastern Palace to which Taizi Dianxia did not pay much heed to. It was there for days when Taizi Dianxia would be rendered tired after strolling in the Gardens of Eastern Wing (but in reality, it was only used when the vassals insisted it was getting too monotonous at the Imperial Palace).
He sprang up instantly and realised that he sat on the bed.
The bed was guarded by yellow silk curtains running across the thin pillars on the corners of the bed, slightly translucent as the afternoon rays crept in stealthily.
“Your Highness…?” Mei Nianqing muttered. His voice sounded hoarse.
When he looked down, he realised his robes had been changed, though it felt light as there were only two layers. His ornaments and tassels were not there and his hair was tied loosely with a thread.
It felt different.
His hand parted the bed curtains and peeked.
At the side of the bed, a wooden chair remained where the Taizi Dianxia sat. His left elbow was at the armrest while his left wrist propped his face. His eyes were closed, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. His chest slowly heaved up and heaved down in rhythm.
Mei Nianqing touched Taizi Dianxia’s cheek. He seemed to be sound asleep. Just as he grew unsuspecting, Taizi Dianxia suddenly grasped his wrist and pushed him onto the bed. Thankfully, it was the other shoulder he grabbed.
Taizi Dianxia glared at him, as though it was the wrath of heavens itself, it pierced through him like a thousand arrows.
But Mei Nianqing was not scared. He knew Taizi Dianxia would never harm him.
“Your Highness…?” Mei Nianqing muttered.
Taizi Dianxia stood up properly and said, “Oh, Qing’er caught us off guard. Forgive us for hurting you. Are you alright?”
He carefully checked on Mei Nianqing, making sure he was completely alright from head to toe.
Mei Nianqing chuckled, “As good as new, Your Highness.”
“Thank goodness,” Taizi Dianxia said as he placed his knee on the bed and slumped to embrace Mei Nianqing.
Mei Nianqing reluctantly wrapped his hands around Taizi Dianxia’s torso and returned the embrace.
He had never felt so secure as he did now. Perhaps the poison in his body was not completely eradicated. Otherwise, how could he still be so hot as if flames burnt within his heart?
It was not rare for Taizi Dianxia to be so close to him. But every time he did, Mei Nianqing could not help but feel that his erratic heart would render his mind thoughtless. It could even be said that it was foreign and frightening.
But in the stillness of the afternoon, Mei Nianqing wished the time would pause for a while so that they could remain in this embrace for a little longer.
-君梅-
It was late in the evening when Mei Nianqing was jumping from one roof to another. He must reach the banquet hall on time. He was determined.
He was in such a haste that he did not realise that there had already been someone standing on one of the roofs that he had already jumped onto. Just as their figures were about to collide, Mei Nianqing swiftly changed his feet movements to avoid him but so did the other person. And yet their movements were not complementary to save the both from a fall and so, the other person stood on the tiles firmly while Mei Nianqing almost slipped!
It was good enough that this person was responsible and held Mei Nianqing by the waist to prevent him from falling.
Mei Nianqing sighed. It would not have been a problem even if he slipped, it was just the second storey. He could still land on his feet even if he fell. But tonight, there was no time to delay.
“Thank y—” Mei Nianqing paused his breath.
The hands on his waist pulled him closer to the man’s torso. It was none other than the Taizi Dianxia of Yu Long!
“Your Highness, it is you! Greetings,” Mei Nianqing uttered. He inclined his head slightly to bow but he could hardly do so in the other man’s embrace.
“Thank you for Your Highness’ grace. Your Highness can release me now,” Mei Nianqing said, standing properly.
But the foreign prince did not let go.
“Your Highness?” Mei Nianqing inquired.
“We should be the one thanking you. In the afternoon, we apologise for having shown you such a distasteful sight of us. It is because of us that you collided. We truly regret it. If it was not for Lord Mei who sacrificed himself to shield us, we would be far more than simply rendered unconscious.”
“So is the duty of a vassal, Your Highness. I apologise but I am in a hurry to reach the banquet hall, allow me to leave first,” Mei Nianqing proposed.
The foreign prince chuckled, “I’m afraid you’ll fall if we release you.”
Mei Nianqing furrowed his eyebrows in displeasure.
The foreign prince said, “Alright, don’t be upset. We’ll not hold you captive for long. But first, you shall give us something in return.”
“Give…what?” asked Mei Nianqing.
“Let us see… Lord Mei is adorned with so many tassels at his lapel, surely it wouldn’t hurt him to give us one?” the foreign prince replied.
“This…” Mei Nianqing said thoughtfully, “I can not, Your Highness.”
“What a pity, why not? Is Lord Mei quite the miser?” joked the foreign prince.
“Her Highness the Esteemed Empress bestowed these robes and accessories to me personally. She wished to encourage me to perform in the banquet tonight. I can not afford to caste away her good will,” Mei Nianqing answered in an ever-so-serious tone.
“Oh…aren’t you quite close with the Empress?” The foreign prince remarked.
“So is the duty of a vassal,” Mei Nianqing reinforced.
It was true that Her Highness the Empress was quite fond of Mei Nianqing. She had taken particular fancy towards his poetry and urged him to participate in recitations almost every now and then. It was as though she was encouraging her very own son. Perhaps Taizi Dianxia’s enthusiasm was actually a characteristic inherited from her.
“Since your tassels hold such significance, we won’t press you any longer. How about you give us something else?” The foreign prince proposed.
“Anything is fine, I shall give it later. Time is running short, I shall leave first,” Mei Nianqing said.
The foreign prince smirked without saying anything. A shiver ran down Mei Nianqing’s spine. Their bodies were too close. It was too warm.
Mei Nianqing tried to push away the man by a cun but he would not even budge.
He requested, “Your Highness… this is uncomfortable. I am not fond of touching others, if not for practicing martial arts. Please release me.”
“Oh? Apologies, I thought Lord Mei liked to embrace,” the foreign prince commented sarcastically. His hand touched the back of Mei Nianqing’s head and pulled him closer to the crook of his neck.
Mei Nianqing uttered, “Then cease assuming such baseless hypotheses.”
“Hmm, baseless, you say? But just this afternoon, you were quite cozy in his arms,” the foreign prince laughed, “Why? Is it because I’m not him?”
Mei Nianqing paused.
Oh.
So the man who stood next to Lu Qingshi when he was being carried by Taizi Dianxia into the Eastern Palace… in those corridors…
It was—
It was Taizi Dianxia of Yu Long!
Mei Nianqing felt blood rushing up to his cheeks. Was it out of anger that Taizi Dianxia had been disrespected? Or was it out of embarrassment that his dignity was now a thin paper?
No, it was not either of those.
It was out of frustration. It was out of denial. It was out of rage. Not towards the foreign prince, but towards himself.
It was for his unspoken desires towards Taizi Dianxia. It was for his unconditional yearning masked under endless devotion.
He raised his arm to attack the foreign prince and the latter tried to defend himself by going arm against arm. But Mei Nianqing did not truly attack him or try to break his defense. He only took the opportunity to free himself from his grasp and left instantly, hopping onto the next roof.
He could have done this earlier but he was afraid that the foreign prince would take offense and could not even push him away. But at this moment, his mind was not clear. He only knew he had to escape at once. And so he did.
As so was the duty of a vassal.
-君梅-
“Qing’er reached last, hahaha, now he must pay the penalty hahaha,” Xu Yiran laughed.
It was in the gardens of the banquet hall that all the distinguished guests were gathered. They were slowly entering the hall through a process handled by the guards of The Esteemed Emperor himself. Thus, Taizi Dianxia and his four vassals were free.
“Oh, Qing’er, whatever delayed you for so long?” Taizi Dianxia asked.
His voice was gentle, far more gentle than it usually was.
“Ji Hua took too long trying to put strange paints on my face. After long hours, she realised only half of it would be covered by the veil,” Mei Nianqing said.
He decided not to reveal the small encounter he had with the foreign prince. But he was unsure if the foreign prince thought the same.
“My, you’re sweating. Are you sure you’re alright, Nianqing?” Lu Qingshi inquired.
“Oh, yes, why, certainly,” Mei Nianqing replied.
The three vassals and the Taizi looked at him carefully, inspecting him head to toe with their eyes.
“Where is your earring?” Chen Yuanbai asked.
Panicking, Mei Nianqing touched his right ear with his hand. Something bestowed by Her Highness the Empress could not be lost! She was the Queen Mother of Taizi Dianxia!
But then he was met with relief. He could still feel the metal carving dangling at his ear.
“Huh? Why, here it is?” Mei Nianqing remarked.
“The other one…” Lu Qingshi said.
Mei Nianqing touched the other ear.
He was doomed!
Where was it? When did he lose it?!
Taizi Dianxia coaxed, “There is no need to fret, Qing’er, we know that it was Her Highness who bestowed it to you. We shall just ask Her for another one someday. It’s alright if you lost it. We’ll buy a few more earrings for Qing’er to choose.”
But Mei Nianqing did not feel soothed at all. Instead, he was more tense. His eyes sunk into his feet. He sighed.
“We can have the blacksmith prepare the same pair again, don’t be disheartened. Or if you wish to seek that earring in particular, we can have some men search for it,” Taizi Dianxia was still not over all the tactics he could use to soothe Mei Nianqing.
But all that he earned was another sigh from Mei Nianqing.
“That won’t be necessary, Your Highness, I’m alright,” Mei Nianqing said.
“Oh, certainly you aren’t. Come, let us enter the hall at once. Qing’er will forget all his worries after having the delicacies of the banquet,” Taizi Dianxia said.
“There are still other guests that Your Highness needs to greet,” Mei Nianqing said.
“Well, we suppose that is true. But how can it be an important part when we have got something much more serious in our hands? How can we happily greet others when our vassal is discontent?” Taizi Dianxia said.
“Wow, I’m fairly touched, I must say, Your Highness,” Xu Yiran giggled, touching his own cheeks with his hands, pretending to be a lovesick shy maiden.
“He does not refer to you,” Chen Yuanbai remarked.
“Tsk~ How cold!” Xu Yiran crossed his hands and looked away.
Lu Qingshi simply grinned. Mei Nianqing also smiled.
Suddenly, Taizi Dianxia held Mei Nianqing’s hand and pulled him by his side.
“Your Highness?” Mei Nianqing said, looking up at the distinct structure of the Taizi’s face.
When Taizi Dianxia’s eyes fell upon him, Mei Nianqing looked away. He felt his cheeks warming up. His hand was then released.
“Good evening, Your Highness,” said a voice.
Mei Nianqing had already become familiar with this voice. It was none other than Taizi Dianxia of Yu Long. He was adorned in the very robes that Mei Nianqing had seen him in back on the rooftop. But his outer robes were different and it was not crinkled at all.
“Good evening,” Taizi Dianxia greeted with a smile. The three vassals stood behind Taizi Dianxia and bowed to the foreign prince. The people behind the foreign prince did the same.
“And who do we have here? What an elegant appearance you have tonight, Xiao Yu,” the foreign prince looked at Mei Nianqing.
Taizi Dianxia stepped forward, his large frame covering Mei Nianqing’s body.
Mei Nianqing said, “Thank you, Your Highness, but I believe we are not in the terms to address each other in such a manner.”
“Not yet, perhaps,” The foreign prince remarked, “What’s in a name? If Lord Mei bestows any friendly name upon us, we shall gladly accept it.”
“I’d rather not, lest there be any misunderstandings. Your Highness and I are not as familiar, we have barely spoken,” Mei Nianqing reprimanded.
“Despite having seen so many gems, all turn into dust the moment the jade strokes our eyes,” The foreign prince commented.
“Even jade turns into dust when grinded,” Mei Nianqing stated.
“Then the owner must be ignorant of how to protect the jade in silk and wonders,” The foreign prince replied.
“Even dust can be cherished,” Taizi Dianxia suddenly spoke, his voice resolute.
“Why, certainly, Your Highness,” the foreign prince chuckled, “But why does Xiao Yu seem gloomy?”
The foreign prince continued, “Perhaps, it is because he is looking for a lost item?”
Mei Nianqing’s eyes slightly widened.
Could it be that Your Highness had the earring…?
It must have fallen when they collided earlier at the rooftop! He should have been more careful!
A man behind the foreign prince came forth and removed the silk cloth that was draped over a wooden tray. Mei Nianqing’s heart began racing. He was unsure why this anxious feeling would not subside.
“Perhaps… this?” the foreign prince said.
On the tray, it was a necklace embedded with precious gems such as nephrites and rubies.
“...Not that, Your Highness,” Mei Nianqing said.
In his heart, he felt relieved. For some reason, he did not wish to let Taizi Dianxia know that he had accidentally encountered the foreign prince a while back. He walked a step forward so that the Taizi would not block him anymore.
“Oh? Then, perhaps, this?” The foreign prince said again.
Mei Nianqing flinched, unnoticed by everyone else. He did not expect the foreign prince to be so leisurely that he had the time to play around like this.
Another man from behind the foreign prince came forward and revealed what lay in a jade tray in his hand by removing the silk cloth upon it. It was truly an earring!
A single piece, a tassal!
“No, Your Highness, it was metal,” said Mei Nianqing.
Only after having said it did he realise that he was presently adorning a single piece of earring itself. The foreign prince must have known all along for what he was searching and how it exactly looked.
The foreign prince clicked his tongue and nodded his head from left to right. Then, he said, “What a pity. Perhaps this is what Xiao Yu seeks?”
The others only watched the exchange with curiosity and surprise in their eyes.
He approached Mei Nianqing and tugged a strand of Mei Nianqing’s hair behind his ear. It happened so soon that Mei Nianqing had no time to react.
When the foreign prince retrieved his hand, he lay open his palm in front of Mei Nianqing. In his large palm, there was a piece of well-carved metal forged through pure gold… a single piece of earring!
It was indeed the other piece!
He asked in a deep voice, “This?”
It was not there just a moment ago! Mei Nianqing was certain he would have seen it if it truly was in his hand all along! He was so close too!
“Your Highness… is magnanimous…” Mei Nianqing uttered.
The air was strange. A piercing gaze dug into Mei Nianqing from behind, the owner of which (he was sure) was Taizi Dianxia.
“Where?” Taizi Dianxia asked, “Where did you find it?”
His tone was ambiguous. It was hard to say if it was curiosity or warning.
“Why, isn’t Taizi Dianxia curious where I found this treasure,” The foreign prince chuckled, “Your Highness is so scholarly, he must have heard that a fond heart is led towards its destination by simply love alone. Half a piece finds the other, meeting is fate.”
Mei Nianqing was about to take the earring from the foreign prince but the latter suddenly closed his palm in a fist, hiding away the earring within.
Mei Nianqing looked up. His eyebrows furrowed.
“Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu, don’t be angry. We shall return your accessory on a simple condition,” The foreign prince said. He added, “After the banquet ends, come, visit us at the Eastern Quarters without delay.”
“Understood,” Mei Nianqing said at once.
But the foreign prince did not undo his fist. He only smiled.
Mei Nianqing glared at him.
“Why does Xiao Yu stare at us so openly? It is jade which is coveted and not jade which covets. Here, don’t be so mad at us anymore,” The foreign prince laughed.
He opened his palm and the earring was gone!
Mei Nianqing gasped in surprise.
“My, my, perhaps the little treasure does not wish to return to its owner,” The foreign prince joked.
He suddenly approached Mei Nianqing again. Mei Nianqing instinctively took a step back.
The foreign prince gave a rather evil smile. Then he touched his own earlobe twice, the same side.
Mei Nianqing touched his own earlobe, the one which was empty till now. It was now slightly heavy.
The metal earring was truly dangling at his ear again! By the texture, he was certain it was the same one!
“As for these treasures… they were supposed to be a gift for Her Highness the Empress but now that these have already been revealed to Xiao Yu’s eyes. It would be inappropriate to do so. Then let it be a gift to Xiao Yu,” the foreign prince commented and turned away.
The two men holding the jade tray and the wooden tray came forward and bowed.
“I couldn’t possibly—” Mei Nianqing uttered.
The foreign prince looked back at him and tilted his head with a grin. He said, “Have it or throw it away as you please. But remember, Xiao Yu must meet us after the banquet.”
Then he turned away again and waved his hand. The other men who stood behind him followed him. Only the two men who held the tray remained… and Taizi Dianxia along with his four vassals.
-君梅-