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When his men returned with the unconscious body held between them, feet dragging along the wooden flooring, Liu Mu felt something twist uneasily in his chest. 

Perhaps his instincts were wrong. Surely this wasn’t actually Lu Xuechen, no matter how all the evidence so far seemed to point towards him.

As Liu Mu approached the masked figure, the man’s head lolling between his shoulders as his men kept him aloft, he slowly reached out towards the mask, anticipation and fear in every beat of his heart as he steeled himself.

But right as he was about to touch it, the mask, that was just barely holding on, fell off on its own.

His heart immediately sank, breath catching as a familiar face greeted him.

Xuechen.

Before he even realized what he was doing, he had pulled Lu Xuechen into his arms, gritting out: “What happened?”

A simple arrow should not have brought down even a feeble scholar, let alone the Lu Xuechen he knew. He had calculated the exact force he needed for the arrow to simply penetrate deep enough to hit the nerves but not reach any bones or vital organs, even before he recognized him. At most, he should have only fainted from shock or pain—but the way blood seeped down his hand cradling the other’s head suggested otherwise.

Huo Dao hesitated before answering:

“He…he was close to escaping into the river so one of our men threw a rock at him to stop him—”

“Did I not specifically instruct you all not to do anything that would kill him?!” he roared at them, blood rushing to his ears the only thing he could hear. No, no, he had to focus. Xuechen needed medical attention, and fast. He took a deep breath and lifted the body into his hold, carefully supporting the back of his head as he started striding across the hallway with a singular purpose.

“Send for the physician and make no mention of this to anyone else, including Kong-xiansheng,” he intoned, voice lacking the tremble he felt going through his body. He turned thunderous eyes towards his men who continued to stand behind him like fools.

“Now!”

~0~

Lu Xuechen felt…absolutely terrible. Like his head was soaked full with cotton, pain in every joint in his body begging him to continue sleeping.

And he probably would have happily done that, had the memory of last night not slammed into his mind like a sledgehammer.

With a gasp, he opened his eyes to familiar ceilings, his body instinctively settling down before immediately freezing.

No. This isn’t right. He should not have been here tonight, or anywhere around this place.

With a start, he rose to sit up only to immediately groan, his head feeling like someone had cracked it open with a boulder. He lifted his right hand to at least try to alleviate it only to be stopped short. Confused, he glanced down to find that his wrists had been cuffed to the bed, barely allowing his hands any room to maneuver, let alone to touch his own temple.

“You’re finally awake.”

He snapped his head toward the sound only for the pain to assault him again, his eyes watering as he waited for it to pass.

From the curtains of his wet lashes, he could vaguely see a familiar figure sitting just a few feet away from the bed he was on, and he couldn’t help but feel both relief and horror.

Relief because he wouldn’t need to pretend like he hadn’t just been shot in front of him…yet the horror of being found out and forced to spill all the secrets he had been keeping hidden from his enemies, years of collecting evidence against the Northern Army flushed down the drain…

He steeled himself—if Prince Hengyang truly had worked together with the Fan Family, if his former friend decided to torture the intel out of him like he did with Zhao Yuan…

…But looking down at the thick blanket falling around his waist; fresh, new robes around his shoulders; bandages peeking through his open collar as the fresh wound on his back throbbed yet was expertly treated, he wondered if–

His thoughts were immediately derailed when the man spoke up once more, his voice heavy with unspoken fury:

“Lu Xuechen. Explain yourself.”

Now that his head wasn’t one wrong step away from exploding, he slowly lifted his gaze to meet the other’s hard eyes.

“Dianxia,” he nodded politely.

A loud slam shook the entire room.

“Don’t you dare play dumb with me,” the man seethed, taking short, long strides to reach the side of his bed in record time, his body heaving in barely controlled anger.

Yet as Lu Xuechen tilted his head to calmly answer him, he froze.

How could he not recognize the poorly concealed worry and fear lurking underneath all that anger, bloodshot eyes roving all over his body as though he feared he would disappear? 

It was the same expression he saw when he had accidentally sprained his ankle so bad that he fainted while they were playing out in the fields, Liu Mu’s unshed tears causing his eyes to turn red as he shook Xuechen’s body over and over until he came to, his cries for help ringing painfully in his ears as the world spun around him.

And for the first time since they saw each other again…Lu Xuechen wondered if A-Man was right after all. That the heartbreak he experienced ten years ago had slowly muddled his judgement of the prince.

He opened his mouth, and closed it again.

No. There was still a chance that the prince’s connection to Fan Qingchen played a crucial role in his investigation, so he couldn’t afford to reveal all of his cards at once. But if he wished to leave Zhongshan Manor without the entire Imperial Guard at his back…some things would have to be sacrificed.

“If I say that it’s classified information and that I never meant to harm you…would you be willing to let me go?”

The prince scoffed. “In your dreams. If you don’t explain yourself clearly in the next second, I’ll make sure you regret ever setting foot inside my mansion.” He narrowed his eyes. “And I will hunt down the man you just saved, so that he too will never know peace until I take his life.”

Lu Xuechen snapped his head towards him, eyes wide in alarm. He cusped his hands and bowed low.

“Your Highness, he was simply following my orders. I beg you to please show leniency towards him. If there’s anyone you wish to punish, let it be me-”

“Then you better do well to explain your actions!” The prince snapped. “Any other man who would dare enter my mansion and take away my hostage would have been on the receiving end of my blade, his head held on a pike as a warning for those who would dare trespass. But you…if it weren’t for our past childhood ties, do you think I would have let you waltz in here as you wish every time?”

Lu Xuechen was silent, his mind reeling from all the possibilities this entire conversation could go.

Should he appeal towards the lingering affection Prince Hengyang still has for him to get out of this situation? Or would that simply make matters worse?

Were their ties even strong enough of a bargaining chip to be used here?

“If I may ask…how long do you intend to keep me here? If I fail to make an appearance tomorrow, surely some will ask questions.”

The prince snorted coldly.

“Do you think I’m incapable of making an example out of you? I could have you executed in front of everyone for betraying the royal family, a message to all my enemies of what happens when one keeps testing my patience.”

“But…you wouldn’t.”

“…And what makes you think so?”

“Because Miss Luo had spent so much effort preparing your welcoming banquet,” Lu Xuechen smiled, small and challenging. “Surely you wouldn’t put all that effort to waste over me?”

Yet as Xuechen watched the fire in the other’s eyes immediately dimmed at his answer, he wondered if he had miscalculated yet again. For some reason, his heart squirmed seeing the utter look of dejection on Prince Hengyang’s face, swallowing down his sudden dry throat as he tried again:

“…Dianxia, I—”

The prince held up a hand, turning his back to Xuechen as he did so, as though it pained him to continue seeing him.

When he finally spoke again, his voice had lost any trace of emotion, cool indifference layered on top of its already hollow tone:

“You have until tomorrow morning to decide whether you wish to tell me or not. If you still refuse to explain yourself by then…then you have no one but yourself to blame for what I plan to do. Moreover…I’m sure Qi-di would want to know how you fare, wouldn’t you agree?”

Lu Xuechen felt like a stone had been dropped in his stomach.

“Dianxia!” He cried out, panic leaking into his voice. He winced when his movements inevitably jolted his fresh new wound, but there was no time to dwell on it. “Don’t bring him into this—A-Man had nothing to do with it. Dianxia!”

Without another look, the prince walked out of the door, completely ignoring his pleas as the door shut close before him, the room awashed in shadows once more.

~0~

Once outside, Liu Mu took a deep shuddering breath before steeling himself, addressing Huo Dao waiting obediently beside him.

“Send the physician in to make sure his wound hasn’t been reopened, and bring him a fresh pot of tea alongside his breakfast in the morning. Check up on him every hour to make sure he’s comfortable and breathing. If he dies in your watch…I’ll have your head on the plate instead.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Liu Mu swiftly locked himself in his chambers, not bothering to change into his sleeping clothes before launching himself onto the bed, planting his face against his pillow.

He couldn’t stop seeing Lu Xuechen’s terrified, panicked gaze as his threat towards his subordinate and his own brother dawned on him. He had meant every word he said, but whether he would actually follow through was another matter entirely. A part of him had hoped…had wished, that Lu Xuechen would know that he would never have committed to harming him, as long as he gave him a plausible explanation.

He recalled the sheer emptiness he felt as Lu Xuechen claimed that the reason he wouldn’t was simply due to Miss Luo, how he bowed before him to ask for his mercy, as though they truly were simply a prince and his subject, traces of their past nowhere to be seen.

What happened? How had things come to this?

Why did it feel like there was a gnawing chasm between them now, a fall so deep, a gap so far, it felt impossible to bridge no matter how much he tries. It hurt more than the thought of Lu Xuechen betraying him, this unfamiliarity borne out of years of no contact, not recognizing who the person before him was any longer.

He thought of letters sent home that never received a single reply, him stopping his pathetic attempts and simply chalking it up to Lu Xuechen being too busy to. But now…he wondered if the man had decided to cut ties with him the moment he left back then.

Did Lu Xuechen truly change so much in the last ten years, now deviously vying for power that he would work together with his seventh brother to take him down?

But the fact that he came all this way just to save his subordinate…surely he was still as loyal and kind as he used to be?

He took a deep breath and willed himself to sleep, if only so he wouldn’t have to see Xuechen’s expression of terror directed at him. He could handle his anger, disappointment, even his hatred—but fear? He had thought naively when he was younger that it would feel incredibly satisfying if he could make Lu Xuechen cower before him like everyone else does, even just once.

But now that he had already experienced it…he was loath to admit that it had brought him no joy whatsoever.

He thought of Kong-xiansheng’s warnings and shook his head.

What had prompted Lu Xuechen to task someone to tail his movements? Or…was he tailing Fan Qingchen instead? He remembered that those two had had a tense conversation the first time he visited Lu Manor, and the man had somehow yet again crossed his way while he was riding towards the manor. Surely, it could not all be a coincidence?

So many possibilities…yet there was only one truth. 

This couldn’t go on. He would force the answer out of that impossible man if he had to. Even if Lu Xuechen refused tomorrow, he would get his answer one way or another. He would make sure of it.

The next morning, he took the tray of porridge from Huo Dao’s hands to the other’s confusion, nodding to his men stationed outside the door:

“You all may leave now.”

Huo Dao shared a worried glance with the rest before bowing curtly before him. 

“Yes, your Highness.”

He waited for Huo Dao to close the door behind him before walking further into the room, stopping only to drag a chair next to the bed. Lu Xuechen was already up and looking much better than he did last night, flipping through a book he somehow got his hands on, looking quite content on ignoring him for now. A quick glance told him it was the book he had accidentally left here when he was checking the state of his mansion after his decade-long absence, the cover worn from how much he had gone through it.

He balanced the tray on the side table before plucking the book right out of Xuechen’s hands, ignoring his indignant yelp.

“I see you’re feeling good enough to read,” he mused, placing the book a good distance away from the other man. “Now go eat. You can feed yourself, can’t you?”

Lu Xuechen gave him a bemused look as he raised his bound wrists, an elegant brow raised in an expected look.

“Ah, right.” He nodded, reaching out his hand towards the handcuffs…only to grab the bowl of porridge instead, enjoying the way the scowl bloomed on the other’s face. “I suppose I’ll have to feed you myself, hm?”

“...Thank you, Dianxia,” Lu Xuechen said through gritted teeth. “But you really, really do not have to. How could a prince–”

Before he could finish the sentence, a spoonful of mushy porridge was shoved into his mouth without warning, him immediately swallowing before it could enter the wrong opening and choke him. A painful cough resounded throughout the room as Lu Xuechen attempted to clear his throat, tearful eyes glaring daggers at Liu Mu.

“D-dianxia, you–!”

Liu Mu simply looked at him calmly. “Hm?”

Lu Xuechen smiled, sharp and dangerous. “...Nothing.”

The rest of the hour was spent with him spoon-feeding a slightly petulant Lu Xuechen, the man taking forever to chew in his sorry attempt to annoy him. But that was fine by him—the more time that passed, the less time he would take to make his case. It was a win-win for him.

As the other man slowly realized that his small act of rebellion was getting him nowhere, finally eating as he normally would, Liu Mu was suddenly reminded of evenings spent taking care of a sick Lu Xuechen, the boy claiming that his hand shook too much to hold the spoon properly, big eyes turned to Liu Mu as he finally relented, slowly feeding him his favorite fish soup his mother had cooked for him. He knew Xuechen liked to play up his injuries just to get more attention, but how could he ever say no to him?

When their eyes met across the bowl, he knew for a fact that Xuechen too was thinking of those simpler, happier days. There was a certain hesitant look in his discerning gaze, doubt and hope a strange mix as they continued to stare at one another for a moment too long. He finally broke their impromptu staring contest first, ignoring how his heart skipped a beat.

After making sure Lu Xuechen ate till the last bite, he helped the man drink the medicine the physician had instructed him to take before carefully putting all the utensils away.

Well…it was now or never.

“So,” he started, resting his hands on his knees. “Have you considered my proposal last night?”

“...”

“Xuechen.”

Lu Xuechen finally opened his eyes, his brows furrowed deeply.

“Dianxia…before I answer you, please indulge in this humble servant’s question first.”

“...Speak.”

Lu Xuechen looked deep into his eyes.

“What is your connection with Fan Qingchen?”

Liu Mu felt his own brows deepening in thought. So it really was connected to Fan Qingchen.

“If I told you that I’ve never seen that man before I met him on Lu Manor that day, would you believe me?”

“...”

He huffed, bitterness clogging his throat. Of course not. Because ten years of no contact was apparently enough for seeds of doubt to take hold.

“What about you?” He raised an eyebrow, eyes narrowed. “Aren’t you going to admit that you and Qi-di conspired together to ambush me? Do you really think I’m that naive?”

That seemed to finally crack the facade of calm indifference Lu Xuechen had perfected since they reunited, his lips twisting in a scowl.

“I never thought Prince Hengyang would believe in baseless rumors so easily,” he replied coldly.

“Baseless? Ha! What is this then?” He spread his arms wide incredulously. “Why else would you be caged in my mansion after breaking in and sending someone to spy over me?”

“It wasn’t meant for you, dammit!” snapped Xuechen, before freezing. He looked around the room in a quiet frenzy, eyes darting at every crevice and corner as though expecting someone to be eavesdropping on them. He narrowed his eyes as another one of his suspicions was confirmed.

Pulling his chair closer to the bed, Liu Mu lowered his voice before saying: “I’ve sent them all away. We can speak freely now.”

Xuechen looked at him with a hint of suspicion.

“Now tell me,” he continued, his mouth pressed together. “Why were you tailing Fan Qingchen, and what does it have to do with me?”

“...I’ll tell you if you let me go,” Lu Xuechen lifted the chains tied to his wrists, raising his brows in a clear challenge. “How do I know this isn’t part of a ploy to keep my guard down just for me to spill my secrets?”

Anger boiled inside of him—what the hell does he take him for?! Torturing an unidentified spy is one thing, but psychological manipulation was something he was never much of a fan of—and Xuechen knew that. That was more of his thing, one of the reasons the two of them were such a formidable duo back then.

But in light of recent events…he supposed it was an acceptable request. Lu Xuechen was still injured as well, though he knew better than to underestimate him even when handicapped.

Leaning closer to better glare at him, he smirked when he saw in detail how Xuechen’s dark eyes widened in surprise when he unlocked the cuffs on both hands as well as the cuffs on his ankles, quietly noting the faint red marks they left.

“There. Are you satisfied now?”

Lu Xuechen was quiet as he slowly swung his legs off of the bed, lightly coughing as he pushed himself to sit upright. He was startled when Liu Mu thrust a fresh glass of water in his face, mumbling a quiet thank you before accepting it and taking a long sip.

Liu Mu bit back his impulse to shake the other man to demand him to answer, crossing his arms to physically hold himself back.

Most people around him would complain and whisper behind his back on how impatient and impulsive he was to deal with, but recent events made him realize that he seemed to have…infinite patience when it came to Lu Xuechen—something that was both a blessing for the other man and a terrible curse for him.

What a joke I am, he scoffed to himself. But well—there was nothing to be done about it.

Finally, Lu Xuechen opened his mouth:

“...Prince Changyi and I have been tracking down on a saltpeter smuggling case, and our investigations led us to the Fan Family.”

He snapped his head towards him, face filled with alarm. “What?”

Lu Xuechen studied his face carefully for several long seconds before his entire demeanor seemed to thaw like snow in spring, shoulders slumping down as an invisible weight was lifted off of his shoulders.

“Hn.”

“...So that’s why you suspected me. Because of the Fan Family’s close connection with the Northern Army.”

“They’ve donated so much money to the army over the years,” Xuechen scoffed. “How do I know you haven’t been secretly covering for them?” 

He slammed his fist down with a bang. “Lu Xuechen…what kind of person do you take me for?” He gritted his teeth.

The man quietly glared at him before looking away. “Someone who’s easily deceived, apparently.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

“You clearly had no issue believing that my father was a traitor,” muttered the other man under his breath, but Liu Mu had heard every single word.

“…What?”

Lu Xuechen continued to look away, lips pressed together in a deep frown as Liu Mu gaped where he sat. This- was this why…?

“Xuechen. Look at me.”

“…”

Liu Mu swallowed the frustrated groan bubbling inside of him and leaned closer. If Xuechen won’t look at him, then he would simply say his piece.

“All these years, I’ve tried to look into the matter myself, because the circumstances surrounding General Lu’s disappearance were much too convenient, and I know he would never have done something like that.”

Xuechen’s fingers twitched on his lap. Slowly, the man turned to him with his eyes wide open in pure disbelief.

“…Then why did you say ‘Although your father colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, I’ll never be a scoundrel like him’?!” he cried out, face aggrieved.

There was no mistaking the quiet, unspoken hurt in his voice, pain he had hidden and stewed over for years as time flew by, unforgiving and relentless. Liu Mu felt a massive pang in his own heart as ten whole years later—ten years too late…he finally understood.

He opened his mouth, hesitated and said:

“I was young, and foolish. Father forbade us to discuss it in detail as well. I spent so long trying to find a way to comfort you and…that was the only thing I could think of.”

He would sooner die than be caught pleading for himself, but there was truly no other way to call it. His explanation tethered on the edge of a plea—a plea for forgiveness, for Xuechen to understand that he had never meant to hurt him so much that he would abruptly cut ties with him without a single word, the last time they saw each other a blurry image of forced indifference and confusion.

“But you—!”

Lu Xuechen stopped and turned away again, his long, loose hair slipping off his thin shoulders with the abrupt movement.

He’s much too thin, thought Liu Mu absently. He remembered just how light he felt when he carried him last night, how bones jutted out of his skin like a skeleton barely wrapped in flesh.

Just how much had he been shouldering all by himself these last ten years? Was his brother’s company alone not enough for him to share his burden? Or…was he simply too scared to open his heart and be shunned yet again?

Liu Mu felt something clog his throat, struggling to swallow it down.

“…It was my fault. I-”

“It’s been ten years,” Xuechen murmured all of a sudden, clearing his throat, looking anywhere but at him. “Let’s not talk about it.”

He pressed his lips stubbornly. That won’t do. Lu Xuechen deserved far more than this quiet acceptance and apology.

Rising to his feet, he cusped his hands and bowed low before his dearest friend.

“What happened back then was my fault,” his voice was steady and deep. “And for that, I will investigate this matter thoroughly with you and clear General Lu’s name. That I promise.”

He saw Lu Xuechen slowly rise in his peripheral vision, taking a moment before saying solemnly:

“…Thank you.”

They both bowed towards each other, and when he raised his eyes, part of him so worried to meet Xuechen‘s, he was more than relieved to find a small, almost imperceptible smile on the other’s face, his heart so light it felt like he could take on anything.

But then Xuechen winced, no doubt having pulled his wound by accident, and Liu Mu moved before he could think, “Be careful,” slipping out of his mouth as he gently grabbed the other’s elbows.

“It’s nothing, I—”

Liu Mu cursed as he accidentally pushed the other man back with his own momentum, the back of Xuechen’s knees hitting the edge of the bed, giving him no other choice but to lean back with a quiet gasp. Liu Mu’s instincts kicked in and his hands protectively wrapped around the back of his head and shoulder as they both fell on top of the bed with an oomf, hoping it was enough to cushion Xuechen’s wounds. 

He looked down to ask how he was and froze.

Xuechen quietly stared back at him, soft lips slightly agape as black hair fanned out around him like ink painting.

“Dianxia! Dianxia, I apologize for barging in, but the banquet is starting soon and—”

Huo Dao took one long look at them before swiftly turning his back to them.

They both turned to look at him with a start, snapped out of the strange spell. 

“I- I’ll be outside, Dianxia. Um- I- yes.” He said, stiffly walking back out where he came home.

“Wait!” Liu Mu snapped. 

Huo Dao stopped.

“Bring me the green jar in my nightstand. And do not speak a word of this to anyone.”

“Of course not, Dianxia! You can always trust me!”

And with that, the youngster practically flew out the door like a passing tornado, leaving the two of them by their lonesome yet again.

Liu Mu quickly pulled away from the frozen man below him and went to sit on the edge of the bed, finding the floor pattern incredibly interesting as he felt Xuechen too slowly rise to sit beside him.

He cleared his throat.

“We should think of a way to set a trap for the perpetrators hiding within the army.”

“…Yes. Yes, you’re right.” Xuechen shook his head like a dog shaking its fur, eyes finally retaining their focus as he turned to look at him. “What if we pretend like we still had a falling out? To let them believe that we still suspect each other?”

He nodded. “That was exactly what I was thinking as well.”

“I will need to make an appearance at the banquet today…” Xuechen murmured to himself before asking him: “Who knew that I was captured by you last night?”

“Most of my men, I’m afraid. Your mask wasn’t as reliable as you thought.”

“Tsk. That rules out the possibility of me sneaking back to my guest room. Does anyone else know?”

“I…my advisor, Kong Lingfeng.”

“Oh?” Xuechen clearly noticed the weird lilt to his voice as he spoke his mentor’s name, yet all he could think of was how he was the one who kept suggesting that his seventh brother and Lu Yun had colluded to ambush him for the throne.

But now that the actual truth is out in the open, a part of him dared to wonder…

“Dianxia…?”

Lu Xuechen’s soft call broke him out of his stupor, and an unexplainable anger suddenly surged inside of him.

“Why do you keep insisting on calling me ‘Dianxia’?” He muttered, memories of Xuechen casually calling his brother ‘A-Man’ adding more fuel to his growing ire.

“Eh?”

He glared at him before huffing, indignant in the face of the other’s open confusion. 

“Being all familiar with Qi-di, calling him ‘A-Man, A-Man’ all the time…what about the bond we share, hm? Is it just nonexistent now?”

“You…are you upset that I don’t call you by your childhood nickname too?”

“…Hmph.”

Xuechen had the gall to look bewildered, laughing in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

“Why?” He sniffed. “Is that so wrong?”

Xuechen blinked some more before a smile so fond bloomed on his face, eyes creasing in a gentle curve. He leaned in close before softly calling out:

“A-Jiao.”

Liu Mu literally felt his heart jump, goosebumps spreading across his limbs as he coughed, trying to hide the way his ears turned as warm as stone under the sun.

“…Mm.”

He was saved from saying anything more when Huo Dao returned in a flash, a familiar green jar carefully held out in his hands.

“Is this the right one, Dianxia?”

He nodded tersely, having regained his composure. 

“Let the others know I will soon prepare for the banquet.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh, and Huo Dao?”

“Hm? Yes, Dianxia?”

Liu Mu gestured towards Xuechen who was now just leisurely watching them from the side with a small smile.

“Whatever happens next, Lu-San Lang is an ally. But you mustn’t tell anyone about this.”

“Huh?”

Liu Mu clasped his shoulders and squeezed. “You’ll understand. Now go.”

With a last confused look, Huo Dao glanced between the two of them before bowing low towards him, and left them again.

Xuechen tilted his head. “Do you trust him that much?”

“Just as much as you trust your little servant.”

“Ha…Fair enough.”

He suddenly stood up and paced. 

“Kong-xiansheng…he…he practically raised me. I can’t- I don’t want to suspect him. I…”

“Calm down, Dia- A-Jiao ah.” Xuechen caught himself, rising to stand beside him. He gently pulled on his arm and brought them both to sit back down. 

“One step at a time,” he calmly continued. “We don’t know what his exact connection is and whether he has someone else helping him, so we must thread carefully.

“Our closest connection so far is Fan Qingchen, so my plan is to set a trap just for him.”

“Oh? What do you suggest?”

“He seems fixated on Miss Luo…so why not ask for her assistance as well? When we finally catch him in the act, she will have even more reason to get rid of him.”

Liu Mu furrowed his brows. “But will Miss Luo agree? And would we not be putting her in danger?” He protested. He didn’t like that she was openly trying to get close to Lu Xuechen, but who was he to tell her who she should pursue? Besides, it wasn’t like…Xuechen was his or anything…

“We’ll have to talk with her first, but I think she will. She would do anything to get Fan Qingchen out of her life.”

“…Alright, if you say so.” Liu Mu took a deep breath, and steeled himself. “I’ll make sure to keep Kong-xiansheng from suspecting anything. But we might have to put on a little act to really sell it.”

Xuechen smirked. “A little play, you say?”

Liu Mu grinned. “Just like old times.”

“Just like old times.”

~0~

The loud clatter of furniture being smashed rang through the entire mansion. His men clamoured to the source of the commotion to find their prince locked in a sword fight with the third young master of the Lu Manor.

“I don’t believe a single word you say, you damn hypocrite,” Lu Xuechen hissed before jumping out of the hole in the room, expertly evading the swords thrust in his direction and using his qinggong to quickly escape.

Liu Mu clutched at the bloody wound to his shoulder as he watched him flee, his men flocking to his side as they urged him to be looked at.

The rest of his men went to chase after him only to freeze as he barked: “Stop!”

“D-dianxia?”

“Let him go. The banquet is to start soon and if he does not make an appearance…I fear that would only raise questions.”

“But with all due respect, Dianxia,” a familiar voice rang behind him, and Liu Mu mourned how the comfort it used to bring was now partly replaced by a chilling sense of unease. “The man snuck into your mansion in the middle of the night to rescue his underling. Is that not grounds for execution?”

He shivered. Never.

“I understand where you’re coming from, xiansheng, and while I do agree…I do not wish to publicly make an enemy of my seventh brother just yet. Those two are clearly in cahoots, and I only recently returned from the borders, and Father is still watching my actions closely…if I were to openly go against my royal brother, would it not send a message that I want to usurp the throne?”

“But Dianxia—!”

“Enough.”

Liu Mu turned to Huo Dao, clasping his shoulders tight.

“Watch him closely. Do not miss a single detail and report back to me,” he squeezed him harder when the young man just stared at him in confusion before it finally clicked. He nodded vigorously as he bowed.

“Yes, your Highness!”

He turned back to the rest of them, his gaze briefly passing over Kong Lingfeng’s narrowed eyes.

“You may all leave now. I have a banquet to attend and would need to dress my wounds. Kong-xiansheng, if you would…?”

“Oh! Yes, of course, Dianxia. As always,” the man’s smile gentled as he ushered him to seat while he grabbed the first aid kit, and Liu Mu allowed himself a small moment to grieve at the inevitable separation they would face in the future.

Bonus

“Here.”

“Hm?”

Liu Mu held the mysterious green jar towards Lu Xuechen, his eyes darting to the side.

“Apply them on your wrist and ankles, and the bruises should fade quicker.”

Lu Xuechen plucked the jar out of his hands with a faint smile.

“Alright. Thanks.”

“And…” he started only to stop, lips pursed.

“Hm? What is it, A-Jiao?”

“If you…if you apply it on the wound on your back too, it should make the scar less noticeable overtime,” he murmured, a flush creeping up his neck.

That seemed to amuse Xuechen greatly. “What am I,” he snorted, “a fair maiden who’s never been in a battle before?”

“No, you know that’s not what I meant.” Liu Mu held back from rolling his eyes because that was what his brother did, not him. “It’s just…last night, I-”

“Alright, alright,” Xuechen chuckled, finally granting him mercy. Trust him to always love to mess with him. “Our A-Jiao doesn’t want to see me with scars caused by him, isn’t that right?”

“…”

His sharp grin gentled into an indulgent smile, coming in close to smooth out the fabric on his shoulder, his hand lingering as their bodies nearly plastered against each other.

“How about…I give you a matching one right here?” His eyes glinted dangerously, and Liu Mu was reminded not for the first time how devious this man could be if he wanted to be. “Now that would be fair, no?”

The corner of his lips twitched upwards.

“Xuechen truly understands me well.”