Yu Yu, who had just been pulled down to sleep by Xie Xin, immediately sat up.
Outside the window, the wind howled and lightning flashed, a bolt of lightning illuminating Yu Yu’s face at an inopportune moment, making him look especially eerie.
“But I’m not a man of good temper.” Yu Yu’s tone was casual, as if he were making small talk with Xie Xin.
“I love nothing more than playing people for fools.” The implication was clear, Xie Xin had better leave, or whatever happened next would be on his own head.
Xie Xin shrugged nonchalantly: “Doesn’t matter. You can’t kill me anyway.”
The room fell into a momentary silence. Yu Yu knew his warning had little effect. After a tense staring match with Xie Xin, he conceded on the surface.
A barefoot man fears no one wearing shoes. Ever since he had been released from the woodshed, he had sworn to himself that he would live by two principles for the rest of his life: first, he would repay every grievance with vengeance; second, he would wear a kind face over a cruel heart.
The rain outside the window came down hard and fast, nearly threatening to tear the roof off. The sound of the cabinet being opened was swallowed by the curtain of rain. A spare bedroll was spread out on the floor, smoothed carefully inch by inch. Yu Yu blew out the candle and lay down on it.
Xie Xin, the cuckoo in the magpie’s nest, lounged on the bed and watched the entire process with leisurely amusement, then let out a laugh: “I thought-”
“You thought I’d be a tough nut to crack?”
Yu Yu tucked in the corner of his blanket, staring at the window where the thunder roared loud but the rain fell light: “I’m just this pathetic. Your Highness can bully me all you want, can climb into my bed whenever you please.”
Xie Xin’s relaxed brow furrowed, his expression turning sour:
“I… I didn’t mean to bully you.”
Xie Xin had been spoiled rotten, still carrying the swagger from the frontier garrison, not yet accustomed to the etiquette-bound life of the capital. Only when Yu Yu said this did he realize how disrespectful he had truly been. Though he had climbed through the window in the dead of night to escape trouble, this was still someone else’s home.
“I suppose I should say it’s no trouble. After all, in the mortal world, a prince like you condescending to share a roof with me is my honor.” Yu Yu turned over flatly, his back to him.
Xie Xin sat up, the words of explanation not yet on his lips, but he reached out first and pulled Yu Yu up.
The apology came out first: “I’m sorry.” Xie Xin stumbled through his apology to Yu Yu, then invited him back onto the bed. Yu Yu didn’t stand on ceremony either, he threw open the covers and lay back down.
“I was just curious, wanted to talk with you more, you know.” Xie Xin pointed at his own eyes, offering himself an excuse: “I can see things others can’t.”
“The rain has stopped, Your Highness.” Yu Yu cut him off, unwilling to engage in further conversation.
Xie Xin had been sitting on the bedroll Yu Yu had laid out. Hearing Yu Yu’s cold tone, his words caught in his throat. The sound of raindrops hitting the window paper spread through the room, and it dawned on him belatedly that Yu Yu was telling him to leave. Seeing that the moment was right, he stood up and took his leave:
“I’ve disturbed you. Tomorrow I’ll go pay my respects to my mother. If you’re willing, come with me.”
Xie Xin stuffed the bedroll Yu Yu had taken out back into the cabinet, mentioned the visit for tomorrow, and prepared to climb back out the window.
“Think it over. I’m off.”
Xie Xin didn’t wait for Yu Yu’s response. He leveraged himself up and jumped out. The ground outside was slick from the heavy rain just passed, and no lanterns were lit beyond the window. Xie Xin didn’t watch his step, missed his footing, and tumbled into the flower bed beside the wall.
He grimaced in pain, too embarrassed to cry out, and hobbled away.
Tomorrow, he would pull out every last blade of grass here!
Yu Yu heard a “thud,” followed by a commotion fading into the distance, and the corner of his mouth curled up slightly. The satisfaction of Xie Xin getting a taste of his own medicine soothed his mood a little. Serves him right, who told this rude prince to barge into his room and spout so much nonsense, even trying to claim his bed?
He turned over, leaning his back against the wall, and closed his eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come.
He and Xie Xin shared the same birthday, born at the same moment, so Xie Xin would also ascend in the future and become a Divine Official.
So why did Xie Xin live so freely and carelessly? Was it because he didn’t care about those people’s lives, thinking that since he’d be a god someday, he felt no pity for mortals?
Only he, like a rat in a gutter, lingered in the mortal world for his father’s dignity, waiting for the day of judgment. Yu Yu had long lost the ability to feel sorry for himself. From the day he understood things, he knew this was the fate he had to endure, his birth mother dying early, his father despising him, and only by rising to the highest rank among ministers could he ascend.
Even knowing all this, he still felt moved by Xie Xin’s fortunate lot. After all, who would willingly suffer by nature? When you see someone else eating candy, who wouldn’t react at all?
Yu Yu tugged at the corner of his mouth. The weather was dry, and a dull pain shot through his lips. He let out a soft “hiss” and touched his lips with the back of his hand.
In the darkness, Yu Yu felt restless all over. Throwing off the covers, he resignedly got up to light a candle.
The flame flared up, illuminating a corner of the room. Yu Yu’s eyes reflected the dancing firelight. He rubbed his eyes to ease the discomfort, then got back into bed, staring at the lit circle of light before closing his eyes. He had thought that a change of environment might ease this condition, but it seemed he’d been overthinking.
He simply couldn’t fall asleep in a place without light.
The next day, Yu Yu appeared in the main hall looking drained, while Xie Xin came out yawning as well. After returning yesterday, he’d applied medicine himself, but the pain had kept him awake half the night, and with his mind on his mother, whom he hadn’t seen in years, he’d risen early.
Seeing Yu Yu’s haggard expression at a glance, he assumed it was because of him, coughed awkwardly, and was about to offer more apologies. Yu Yu, as if reading his thoughts, spoke up first to remind him: “Consort Jiang has already sent someone.”
Only then did Xie Xin notice the elderly matron waiting nearby, so he had to bypass Yu Yu and exchange pleasantries. Once the flattery was done, Xie Xin took Yu Yu along to Zaofu Palace.
At the entrance, Consort Jiang came forward to greet him: “You little brat, if I hadn’t sent someone to fetch you, when were you planning to come?”
“Forgive me, Mother. It’s my fault. I was so happy returning yesterday that I took a fall, which delayed me.”
Xie Xin explained, also using it as an excuse for his awkward gait. Hearing this, Consort Jiang immediately called for a physician and urged Xie Xin to go inside and rest. He pressed her hand and reassured her: “Don’t worry, Mother. After all those years with Uncle at the border, I’m not so delicate.”
Seeing him lively and bouncing, she relaxed and led him into the hall. Once inside, Xie Xin took the initiative to introduce Yu Yu: “This is the study companion Father assigned to me. You know about him, Mother.”
Consort Jiang adeptly took Yu Yu’s hand: “Good child, you’ve grown up in the imperial capital since childhood. Xin’er has just returned, so I’ll trouble you to help him get familiar with his surroundings.”
“Rest assured, Your Highness. Yu Yu will take good care of the prince.” Yu Yu flattered flawlessly.
Consort Jiang nodded repeatedly. As they were leaving, she had servants bring out many trinkets for them to take back, with a large procession of palace attendants following behind them.
The scene of a loving mother and filial son was truly grating to the eyes. Yu Yu’s displeasure surged up again, but he had always been adept at concealing his emotions.