Prince Yue rose and gave a respectful bow. “Imperial Sister-in-law.”
From the moment Prince Yue entered the Crown Prince’s Estate, someone had already hurried to the Qinfang Garden to spread the news. Residing in Qinfang Garden was a pair of siblings—a brother and sister—sent by Prince Yue. According to the original story, the sister, Xie Li’er, was no simple character; Ning Huan estimated she would arrive within fifteen minutes.
Ning Huan offered a slight smile. “The Crown Prince has injuries that have not yet healed; it is truly unsuitable for him to drink too much. Prince Yue, allow me to drink in his stead.”
Prince Yue froze for a moment. He had intended to say something like, “What are you women doing meddling in men’s business?” but Ning Huan’s appearance and aura were impossible to ignore, and his words carried a weight that could not be dismissed.
Prince Yue laughed heartily. “It was I who forgot Imperial Brother is unwell. We are one family; if you cannot drink, so be it. Why should Imperial Sister-in-law be so formal?”
Ning Huan handed his cloak to Ah Xi and stepped forward to take a seat.
Prince Yue had originally been captivated by Ning Huan’s beauty, but seeing how steady and cold he was in speech and manner—completely different from the flirtatious behavior of the past—he didn’t dare act flippantly.
He had originally wanted to provoke the madman Mu Jinyu by saying unpleasant things to him, but with Ning Huan present, the words died in his throat. He took a cloth to wipe the spilled wine from the table, poured himself a cup, and downed it in one go.
As expected, someone from Qinfang Garden arrived. Ever since Xie Li’er had been sent to the Crown Prince’s Estate by Prince Yue, she had tried many ways to get close to the Prince, but none had succeeded. The Crown Prince was elusive and never spared them a single glance. If it weren’t for the rumors that he slept at the Crown Princess’s quarters every night, Xie Li’er would have begun to suspect he was impotent.
Now that Prince Yue was here, she intended to call him “Cousin” and join the gathering, hoping for a chance to seduce the Crown Prince. Xie Li’er was never one to be underestimated; Prince Yue had sent her precisely because he knew her methods.
A servant came in to announce the visitor: “Your Highness, Lady Xie from Qinfang Garden has arrived.”
Mu Jinyu thought for a moment and said to Ning Huan, “She is Prince Yue’s cousin, sent over a while ago. I have never visited her.”
Ning Huan replied with a half-smile, “If Your Highness does not go, are you not disrespecting Prince Yue?”
As Ning Huan’s gaze swept over him, a cold sweat broke out on Prince Yue’s back. Seeing how harmoniously Ning Huan and Mu Jinyu were getting along, he realized they were nothing like the rumors of mutual hatred. Ning Huan’s status as Crown Princess Consort held significant weight; offending him for no reason would not be beneficial.
His actions hadn’t been honorable to begin with—sending those siblings just days before the wedding seemed like a deliberate attempt to spite Ning Huan.
Prince Yue said, “My cousin cannot compare to Imperial Sister-in-law. She isn’t even fit to carry your shoes. It’s only natural that Imperial Brother doesn’t wish to visit her.”
“Then wouldn’t that be a waste of a young woman’s prime?” Ning Huan said indifferently. “Prince Yue, why don’t you take her back? Find a good family for her to marry into; that would be better than her spending her lonely days here in the Crown Prince’s Estate.”
Prince Yue was certainly unwilling. Xie Li’er was a distant cousin from a fallen branch of his family; though the blood relation was thin, she was still his cousin, not some low-status dancer or maid. Because of this, Mu Jinyu couldn’t just kill her on a whim. If she stayed here, perhaps she could discover something important and report back to him.
Prince Yue said dryly, “That wouldn’t be appropriate, would it? Since she has entered the Estate, she is Imperial Brother’s woman—”
“I do not consider her my woman,” Mu Jinyu cut in, seeing that Ning Huan intended to make an issue of this. “Only the Crown Princess is my person.”
Prince Yue tried again: “If my cousin knew Imperial Sister-in-law was driving her away, she would surely be so shamed and indignant that she would take her own life. Reputation is everything to them.”
Ning Huan poured himself a cup of wine. “Is that so? I am doing this for her own good—returning her freedom so she doesn’t waste her time alone here. If she cannot see reason and refuses to be grateful, then there is nothing I can do. Besides, as her cousin, wouldn’t Prince Yue advise her?”
Having said this, he naturally prepared to drink the wine, but his wrist was caught. Mu Jinyu said, “Don’t drink any more.”
When Prince Yue arrived, he was alone and in high spirits, his mind full of words meant to disgust Mu Jinyu. When he left, there were three of them; the “cheap” cousin siblings followed behind him. He was now so full of rage he didn’t know where to vent it. The plants he had planted were being uprooted, and he didn’t know if he’d ever have another chance.
Prince Yue had heard of Ning Huan’s “methods” before; his younger brother, Prince Rui, was one of Ning Huan’s admirers. Now, even Mu Jinyu was revolving around him. Prince Yue felt stifled.
He couldn’t help but curse Xie Li’er: “Utterly useless! You couldn’t even seduce the Crown Prince. What are you even good for?”
After Prince Yue left, Mu Jinyu took hold of Ning Huan’s feverish fingertips. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”
Ning Huan leaned on Mu Jinyu’s arm to stand up. “There are still many spies within the Crown Prince’s Estate. Does Your Highness not wish to remove them one by one? If you are careless in the small things, you will often fail at the threshold of success.”
Mu Jinyu’s pupils contracted.
Ning Huan gave a light laugh. “Forget it. I can’t explain it clearly to you anyway.”
The world of this story was inherently strange, and Mu Jinyu was hardly a “normal” person.
Mu Jinyu looked down at his face. Ning Huan’s presence brought a sense of peace, yet also a sense of unease. If he were ever betrayed by Ning Huan, it would likely be a profoundly painful experience.
He snatched the second cup of wine from Ning Huan’s hand, drained it, and then picked him up. “You are sick; don’t worry about too much. Go back to sleep.”
Ah Xi was still standing nearby. Mu Jinyu glared at him. “Why haven’t you brought the Crown Princess’s cloak yet?”
The Crown Prince, who usually enjoyed neglecting his own health, actually remembered to dress the Crown Princess. Ah Xi felt as if the sun had risen from the west. To them, it was a miracle that a man who didn’t even care for himself would care for someone else.
Ah Xi hurried over with the cloak. Mu Jinyu wrapped Ning Huan tightly in it. “Let’s go.”
He carried Ning Huan toward Lixue Hall. On the way, Mu Jinyu couldn’t help but ask, “What medicine do you need for your cold?”
“I don’t need to drink anything. It will be better in a few days,” Ning Huan said, seemingly serious.
Mu Jinyu didn’t believe him. “Then I will have Zhao Yi come and check on you.”
Seeing that he wouldn’t let the matter drop, Ning Huan sighed. “There are medicinal herbs at home. I’ll have them brew a dose later.”
Once the medicine was ready, Ning Huan was already asleep. Mu Jinyu woke him up. “Come, take your medicine. Do you want some preserved fruit?”
Ning Huan shook his head. With Mu Jinyu staring at him, he couldn’t very well pour the medicine out, so he picked up the bowl and finished it.
Because he drank too quickly, a drop of the dark medicinal liquid trickled down the corner of his mouth, landing on his collarbone before seeping into his clothes. Knowing Ning Huan loved cleanliness, Mu Jinyu quickly reached out to wipe it away.
Ning Huan’s body temperature was high, and his collarbone felt warm to the touch. It was only after touching it that Mu Jinyu realized how fine the skin felt there. As his rough fingertip rubbed over the collarbone beneath the thin, delicate skin, a tender and tingling sensation made his heart skip a beat.
“Skin like ice and bones like jade” was a phrase usually used to describe women, but Mu Jinyu felt it fit Ning Huan perfectly.
Ning Huan’s dark hair was loose, and his black eyelashes cast shadows upon his pale face.
Mu Jinyu’s voice turned slightly hoarse. “If I cannot return alive—”
Before he could finish, Ning Huan’s fingertips pressed against his lips.
Ning Huan leaned weakly against a soft pillow, his collar slightly open. In this state, he looked like a pear blossom on the verge of withering—lacking vitality, yet possessing a breathtaking beauty. “Rest assured, Your Highness. Even if I die, it is impossible for you to die.”
“I will handle the aftermath of the affairs in the capital. Do not make me wait long, Your Highness.”
Though he was not “familiar” with this world, Ning Huan knew that once Mu Jinyu became Emperor, he would regain his freedom. He could travel, see the sights, and continue living his life in leisure.
Mu Jinyu’s eyes were filled with complex emotions. The Emperor and the others likely never hoped for him to survive; only Ning Huan would think this way. Does Ning Huan truly mean it?
After saying this, Ning Huan began to doze off again. He leaned back against the pillow, his eyes gently closed, his body carrying the bitter scent of medicine.
In the quiet night, Mu Jinyu could only hear the thumping of his own heart. On one hand, there was a sliver of rare, clear reason; on the other, there were morbid and gloomy thoughts.
Mu Jinyu slid under the covers and pulled Ning Huan into his arms once more. After hesitating for a long time, he finally decided to place a feather-light kiss on Ning Huan’s earlobe.