Sunset City.
The City Lord’s residence.
“Your Highness, I have already arranged everything for you. This is your room.”
Feng Qi led Mu Chengyan to the most luxurious chamber available. After all, this was the person in that man’s heart how could he ever dare to let him stay in ordinary quarters?
The spacious room was brightly lit, adorned with all manner of pearl curtains, while a large folding screen in the center blocked out the view from the outer area.
To be completely honest, the Crown Prince’s palace where Mu Chengyan resided was the most crude of all the imperial dwellings, leaking water every time it rained.
This was the first time he had ever stayed in such a magnificent chamber.
Mu Chengyan replied, “Many thanks, City Lord.”
“Your Highness need not be so courteous. I am merely fulfilling my duties as a host.”
Yueying was exceptionally pleased with the room; only a chamber of this caliber was worthy of their Crown Prince!
Before Mu Chengyan had taken two steps, his hand was caught by Jun Xun.
“Gege…”
The youth looked at him with wide, pleading eyes.
“Ah-Xun, what is the matter?”
Feng Qi nodded with a solemn expression. “He has likely just arrived at a new place and feels somewhat frightened, which is why he wishes to sleep with Your Highness.”
Mu Chengyan’s delicate brows knitted together. “Sleep… together?”
Seeing his reaction, Jun Xun felt a sharp pang in his chest and immediately released Mu Chengyan’s hand.
“If Gege dislikes Ah-Xun, Ah-Xun will go to another room.”
A lonely and desolate retreating figure…
Mu Chengyan hesitated. Ah-Xun was a boy, so sleeping together with him should be of no consequence.
“Of course I don’t dislike you. Ah-Xun can sleep right here, with me.”
“Your Highness, how can a little beggar share your bed? Make him sleep on the floor!”
Jun Xun lowered his head in feigned grievance, casting a sidelong glance at Feng Qi.
Feng Qi’s mouth twitched as he fought to suppress the laughter threatening to spill from his eyes.
“Your Highness, since that is settled, I shall take my leave first.”
“You two, come with me; your rooms are right next door.”
Once he lured these two away, he would be free to do as he pleased. This Crown Prince was gentle, kind-hearted, and entirely devoid of cunning how could he possibly escape from that man’s grasp?
Ah, what a truly pitiful little white rabbit.
“I will not go. I am staying right here to guard His Highness.”
Yueying clutched his sword, standing firm at the doorway. His sister had told him to guard His Highness every single moment without leaving his side.
Mu Chengyan said, “Yueying, the hour is already very late; you should go rest.”
“Guchen, you go rest as well.”
Yueying dared not defy Mu Chengyan’s command. “Yes. But Your Highness, do not let this little beggar sleep on the bed; make him sleep on the floor!”
Before leaving, he glared fiercely at the youth, his gaze carrying a trace of warning.
Jun Xun curved the corners of his lips into a smile, which Yueying caught out of the corner of his eye.
“Your Highness…”
Before Yueying could finish, the door was already shut closed.
“Your Highness, he is no good; he is doing this on purpose. He is deliberately acting pitiful!”
Yueying pounded on the door, shouting aloud.
Jun Xun knitted his brows in a wronged expression. “Gege, Yueying-gege seems to dislike me. Why does he dislike me? Did I do something wrong?”
Mu Chengyan gently stroked the youth’s face, staring into those deep, dark pupils that reflected his own image.
Such a pure youth, completely devoid of impurities in his eyes—why did Yueying insist on suspecting him?
Mu Chengyan considered himself a judge of character, and Ah-Xun was merely an unharmful little boy. On this point, he was certain he hadn’t misjudged him.
“No, Ah-Xun is very good. Pay him no mind; he is simply paranoid. Go to sleep. You sleep on the inside, and I will sleep on the outside.”
Jun Xun removed his shoes, climbed onto the bed, and kept his hands trembling slightly.
Mu Chengyan took off his outer robe, making his already frail frame appear even more slender and fragile.
His slender waist was impossibly delicate, his skin as fair as top-quality silk, and his dark hair cascaded loosely across the mattress in winding trails…
Jun Xun’s gaze darkened as he deliberately averted his eyes…
“Ah-Xun, why are you not undressing? Take off your outer robe, otherwise you will be uncomfortable while sleeping.”
With his face burning red, Jun Xun clutched his blanket and huddled in the corner. “Gege… I… I am used to it.”
Unable to force the matter further, Mu Chengyan could only stroke his head.
“Very well, Ah-Xun, goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Gege.”
Mu Chengyan blew out the candle and lay down on the bed. Before long, the steady sound of even breathing filled the room.
“Gege.”
Jun Xun whispered softly near his ear, receiving no movement in response.
Throwing off the blanket, Jun Xun sat up and gazed down at Mu Chengyan’s face for a long, long time.
Finally, extending a trembling hand, he lightly touched his cheek before jerking his hand back as if burned.
Gege… is so soft…
Jun Xun checked his surroundings; the room was entirely empty save for a stray beam of moonlight casting a faint glow, quiet enough to hear the whistling wind outside.
His crimson lips parted slightly, and he nervously twisted his fingers together.
Lowering his head, the youth brushed his lips gently against Mu Chengyan’s fair, exquisite face, tasting it like a dragonfly skimming the water’s surface, not daring to linger for even a second.
Just then, a dark shadow flashed past the window. Jun Xun quietly unlatched the door and gave chase.
The red-robed figure stopped after running only a short distance, turning around beneath the moonlight with peach-blossom eyes full of amusement.
“So the big secret you spoke of was this refusing to be a proper, grand Prince Regent and instead choosing to play the role of a little beggar.”
The man stood clad in black robes embroidered with golden dragon patterns, wearing a silver mask that obscured his face, his sexy, thin lips pressed into a tight line.
“This is none of your concern.”
His cold, aloof voice was low and melodic, echoing across the open expanse.
“Fine, fine, none of my concern, I won’t pry. But I hear the Emperor is searching for you like a madman do you still not plan on returning? You intend to keep following him?”
Jun Qingyu furrowed his brows slightly. “We are already nearing the imperial capital; I will naturally reveal myself when the time comes.”
Feng Qi stepped a fraction closer, a wicked smile playing on his lips. “Very well. How are things going with your precious Crown Prince?”
“Have you managed to…”
Jun Qingyu shot him an indifferent, detached look. “Get that annoying piece of trash away from this Prince.”
Feng Qi blinked. “Trash? The Third Prince?”
Why couldn’t Song Jinxuan just stay quietly in the imperial capital instead of running out here? To make matters worse, he kept hovering around the Crown Prince, calling him a great beauty!
“Jun Qingyu… are you perhaps jealous?”
Feng Qi covered his mouth in shock, as if he had just discovered a world-shattering secret.
Looking as though his innermost thoughts had been exposed, Jun Qingyu turned on his heel in a panic and vanished instantly into the night sky.
“Such a cold-hearted fellow. He was much cuter when he was little,” Feng Qi muttered to himself with a soft chuckle.
“Ah-Xun.”
Mu Chengyan opened his eyes, only to find the youth beside him gone.
Ah-Xun was so timid; he shouldn’t be wandering around alone in an unfamiliar place in the middle of the night. Could someone have abducted him?
Mu Chengyan immediately threw off the blanket and stepped out of bed, but before he even reached the door, it swung open.
Jun Xun returned holding a bowl of food that looked and smelled exquisite, holding it out to Mu Chengyan like a precious treasure.
As he raised his head and caught sight of Mu Chengyan disheveled, with his garments unfastened and tears shimmering in his eyes his throat tightened instantly…