After Xiao Shiyun left, Bai Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Now he could let his guard down without worrying about losing face. He set up an arrow to practice again, but by the time his quiver was empty, not a single arrow had landed on the target.
His forearm was bright red from the friction of the bowstring. For a moment, Bai Yi considered giving up. He was known for his short attention span; he was always eager to try new things but hated the labor required to master them.
However, he had been a physically fit college student. He used to make extra money running campus errands for others. He was strong, had long legs, and possessed incredible strength, having helped his grandfather haul cement since he was a child.
Bai Yi truly felt that keeping him in the Jinggan Palace just to sweep floors was a waste of talent. He should have joined the army. Should he ask Xiao Shiyun again? He was sure Xiao Shiyun would just slap him down.
As expected, Xiao Shiyun did not even lift his eyelids and said, “No.”
“I did not say right now, Your Majesty. Just take your time and consider it. Who knows, maybe the army will have a use for me one day,” Bai Yi said with utmost sincerity.
But this time, Xiao Shiyun’s attitude was firm. Unlike when Bai Yi begged him to teach him calligraphy or archery, Xiao Shiyun’s tone now carried a cold, stern edge.
“The army is not a place for child’s play. In the military, there are no favors, and no one has the time to look after you.”
“I do not need anyone to look after me,” Bai Yi retorted.
“You do not need looking after? Every time I return from court, I find you either cooking up some trouble or acting on some whim. I have to accompany you through it all, just like raising a child.”
After hearing this, Bai Yi was slightly stunned. Raising a child? Xiao Shiyun was the one acting like a kid. He looked serious on the surface, but when Bai Yi suggested they dress up as ghosts to scare people, Xiao Shiyun actually followed along.
“Fine, Xiao Shiyun, I am being serious. I will bother you less from now on, okay? If you feel tired being with me, let us just meet twice a week at fixed times.”
Xiao Shiyun sneered, “Why must I insist on seeing you?”
“Because I still have to pursue you,” Bai Yi said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Xiao Shiyun stepped closer and closer to Bai Yi, forcing him into a corner where there was nowhere left to run. He wrapped his arms around Bai Yi’s waist, their foreheads touching. “If you really want to pursue me, let us do something practical. I am not in the mood to play house with you.”
Bai Yi swallowed hard. “How is that practical?”
Xiao Shiyun lifted Bai Yi’s chin and stared into his eyes. “For example, why do you not start by tasting something sweet and spicy?”
Goosebumps erupted all over Bai Yi. He pushed Xiao Shiyun away. “You pervert!”
Unexpectedly, Xiao Shiyun supported the back of Bai Yi’s head and kissed him.
His small canine teeth bit Bai Yi’s moist lip, and his tongue flicked against Bai Yi’s; he observed Bai Yi’s expression with flickering eyelashes.
“Do not move.” Xiao Shiyun gripped Bai Yi’s softened waist, deepening the kiss and continuously draining the last of Bai Yi’s oxygen.
Bai Yi looked toward the hall door in a panic, praying no one would see them.
Xiao Shiyun bit Bai Yi again. His eyes darkened as he glanced at the door. “So distracted, are you afraid of being seen? Since you are worried, how about I kiss you when there are many people around?”
Bai Yi suddenly sobered up. He did not know where he found the strength, but he pushed Xiao Shiyun away. “What are we doing? I am just a servant who cleans the Jinggan Palace.”
“Then I will take you into my harem. Wait for me in the bedchamber tonight.”
Bai Yi refused without a second thought. How could he obediently stay in Xiao Shiyun’s harem waiting for royal favor? He was here with a mission to get close to Xiao Shiyun; he wanted to take Xiao Shiyun home.
“Impossible. Bring someone else into your harem. I only want to go home.”
Xiao Shiyun’s grip on his waist tightened. “So you cannot keep up the act anymore? You said you liked me; is it true love, or is there an ulterior motive behind it?”
“I… I really do like you.” Bai Yi did not understand what it felt like to truly love someone. He admitted he wanted to go home, but if he asked himself who Xiao Shiyun really was in his heart…
Perhaps it was closer than the relationship between brothers, but it stopped there. How could he truly like a man? Bai Yi was afraid that if he returned, his family and friends would look at him with colored glasses.
After all, his family detested this sort of thing. His eldest brother had come out to the family, resulting in him running away from home for many years. In the end, his brother did not even end up with that person.
“Do you know what happens to those who play with my feelings? Listen carefully, Bai Yi: whether your feelings are real or fake, you are never leaving my side for as long as you live.” Xiao Shiyun could not stand hearing the word “leave.”
Even if they were to die, they would die together. Although he did not love Bai Yi to the point of desperation yet, he had already invested his feelings. Since he had wasted time on him, he might as well waste it until the end and see what the outcome would be.
“Are you trying to put me under house arrest? You said that as long as I made you like me, you would go back with me. The rules of the game were set by you; how can you renege on your word?”
Bai Yi was anxious. He did not want to stay here and watch Xiao Shiyun marry a wife and have children. Why did he have to stay here and not be allowed to leave?
Xiao Shiyun bit Bai Yi’s neck, leaving a string of red marks. “House arrest is a good idea. As long as you stay by my side obediently, I will give you space to move around. You would not want to be handcuffed to a bed for the rest of your life, would you?”
“Go to hell with your obedience. I am a person, not a pet for you to toy with. The premise of liking someone is mutual respect. No ghost would like a person with a personality as vicious as yours!” Bai Yi said, covering his neck.
Xiao Shiyun straightened his collar. “That is right. I am a rotten bastard. It is normal that no one likes me. Since you want to pretend to be pure-hearted, do a better job of it and do not let me see through you.”
He firmly held Bai Yi’s hand and interlaced his fingers with his. “The situation is currently unstable. Once the Northwest is pacified, I will consider going back with you to take a look.”
“You said the situation is unstable, and I do not want to die young. What if I get shot through the heart by an arrow in the chaos? Why not just go back with me now?”
Bai Yi did not understand why Xiao Shiyun would not go back with him; it was clearly something that could be resolved with a single nod.
“As long as you nod and come with me to see someone, we can go back. My side is very peaceful; there is no war, no need to worry about life or death. We can be very happy every day; we can play basketball, order takeout, and go to the gym.” Bai Yi pleaded earnestly, his mouth feeling dry.
“That sounds good indeed. But do you know how many people under heaven rely on me to maintain peace? Let us not discuss this today. Tomorrow, you will accompany me on a private visit. You will understand what I mean once you see it with your own eyes.”
Xiao Shiyun did not expect Bai Yi to understand. Some things could only be understood by witnessing them, and only by sitting in his position could one truly comprehend it.
He could not go back to the modern world Bai Yi spoke of, but he had not grown tired of this game yet.
He wanted Bai Yi’s unconditional, total devotion. Born into the royal family, he had yet to experience the taste of being truly liked.
Xiao Shiyun continued to coax him. “The rules of the game are still in effect, and what I said before still stands. Returning with you is not impossible.”
Even though Bai Yi knew this was a sugar-coated trap, he could not help but jump into it. “Then let us set a time. Which day are we going back?”
“One year from now. Of course, it is also possible we will not go back; it depends on your performance. You must let everyone know that you like me.”
Xiao Shiyun’s compensatory psychology was subtle. Not only was he greedy for Bai Yi’s affection, but he also wanted everyone to know that Bai Yi was his, and that Bai Yi belonged to him.
“How am I supposed to let everyone know?” Bai Yi felt that Xiao Shiyun might truly have some psychological issues. Was being liked by him something worth showing off? He was a bit pitiable for an emperor who had stooped to this level.
If he were in Xiao Shiyun’s position, he would just wave his hand and countless men and women would be kneeling at his feet, begging for the Emperor’s favor.
“That is your business, but the opportunity for your performance has arrived,” Xiao Shiyun said.
Officials arrived at the study to report on military intelligence. The people around them withdrew, leaving only those involved in confidential matters.
Bai Yi stood next to Xiao Shiyun, pretending to be busy.
An official looked at Bai Yi. Bai Yi looked to Xiao Shiyun for help. Xiao Shiyun said nothing, so Bai Yi had to find a way out for himself.
“I am the Emperor’s personal servant. You lords may proceed with your discussion.”
Personal servant? How personal? The two officials had never heard of such a position before, and they could not help but speculate about the relationship between Bai Yi and the Emperor.
This former Inspector of Jingzhou had been demoted to a minor official grinding ink for civil servants, and now he had climbed back to serve by the Emperor’s side. His methods were clearly extraordinary.
Bai Yi confirmed their suspicions. “Your Majesty, it is not appropriate for me to stay here. I will go wait for you on the bed.”
Xiao Shiyun choked on the tea he had just sipped and began to cough. He said stiffly, “No need, stay here.”
Is this the dramatic effect you wanted? Bai Yi was mentally collapsing. O Heavens, please distinguish the loyal from the treacherous!
The two officials felt as if they had been hit by a carriage the moment they stepped out today. Why were they hearing things? It was not until they saw the red marks on Bai Yi’s neck that they relaxed; it seemed it was not an auditory hallucination.
So, is this that pair?
Official’s thoughts: So, am I part of your play, too?