Upon hearing the news of Xiao Yi’s assassination attempt, the Grand Princess arrived at the estate for a visit, accompanied by an imperial physician.
By late morning, Xiao Yi had awakened and was lazing on the couch with Shu Fuyan, sharing their innermost thoughts. Hearing that the Grand Princess had come to visit, Xiao Yi furrowed his brows in displeasure. He was enjoying the tranquil time with his beloved and did not wish to be disturbed by others.
Thus, Xiao Yi used the excuse that his injuries were too severe and he had not yet regained consciousness, asking the Grand Princess to leave. The steward, not daring to offend the Grand Princess, could only lower himself to speak kindly to her, exaggerating Xiao Yi’s condition as if he were on the verge of death. It was actually Shu Fuyan who had been injured, but as the news spread, it became Xiao Yi who was severely wounded—who knew who was manipulating all of this behind the scenes, intentionally guiding the narrative?
After the steward had finally succeeded in sending the Grand Princess away, Xiao Yi immediately brought Shu Fuyan out to the front courtyard.
“Has she left?” Xiao Yi looked toward the steward.
The steward nodded. “Just a moment ago.”
The steward thought to himself: Since the Grand Princess has only just left, why isn’t Xiao Yi staying hidden in the room? Why has he brought Scholar Shu out? If the Grand Princess were to return unexpectedly, it would be difficult to explain.
As if reading the steward’s mind, Xiao Yi said, “The Grand Princess is a person of impure motives. From now on, when she visits the estate, I will have to trouble you to handle her for me.”
Xiao Yi usually spent his days in the military camp and returned home late. Now that he was intimate with Shu Fuyan, his time at home had only increased, but it was inevitable that he would clash with the times the Grand Princess visited. As there was no mistress of the house, he could only rely on the steward to look after things.
The steward had followed the old General Xiao for many years and was wholeheartedly devoted to the Xiao family. Even if Xiao Yi hadn’t spoken, he would have fulfilled his duties.
“The General speaks too seriously,” the steward said, picking up the teapot. “I will go brew a pot of tea for Scholar Shu.”
Xiao Yi waved his hand. “Go.”
Shu Fuyan walked closer to Xiao Yi and asked about the Grand Princess. “Since when has the General become so close to the Grand Princess?”
Shu Fuyan did not sound jealous, but Xiao Yi still teased him. “How could she be as close to me as you are?”
Xiao Yi laughed, his breath scorching. “We have had deep exchanges; she is merely an outsider.”
Shu Fuyan curled his lips, and the scar on his pinky finger seemed to become smoother. “In the General’s heart, am I the first priority?”
Xiao Yi’s gaze grew profound, and he wrapped his large palm around Shu Fuyan’s hand, gently stroking it. “You know the answer, yet you ask.”
“I have laid my heart bare before you, with not a shred of concealment, yet you speak to me with such distance.”
Shu Fuyan pouted; his green robes creased as he stood up and took the initiative to sit on Xiao Yi’s lap. “I won’t say it anymore; General, please do not be angry.”
Remembering that Shu Fuyan’s hand was still injured, Xiao Yi did not want to bully him. He firmly held Shu Fuyan’s lower back to prevent him from falling. “You know for certain that I cherish you and cannot bear to speak harshly.” Xiao Yi’s eyes were full of doting affection, and he used his legs to nudge upward, weighing Shu Fuyan’s lightness.
Shu Fuyan pressed his face against his chest, closed his eyes, and whispered softly: “Anything I dare to do recklessly is entirely because of the General’s indulgence. Even if I am in the wrong, the General cannot bear to reproach me.”
Xiao Yi huffed twice. “Glib-tongued.”
First Xiao Yi had called him sweet-talked; now Shu Fuyan had added to his achievements, becoming glib-tongued. As a man of letters, he was naturally born to coax this cold-faced, murderous god that was Xiao Yi.
“General!”
The lieutenant’s voice drifted in from outside. Only a few hours had passed, and the lieutenant had arrived quite quickly.
Shu Fuyan felt suspicious; he did not know if Xizhe had obtained the item or not.
Xiao Yi continued to hold Shu Fuyan, unwilling to let go. With an outsider present, Shu Fuyan was thin-skinned and did not wish to appear like a woman seeking favor by nestling in Xiao Yi’s arms in front of others.
“Let me go,” Shu Fuyan urged Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi looked at him playfully. “So now you know shame!”
Xiao Yi refused to let go. The hand clutching his slim waist did not loosen; in fact, it tightened.
“You!” Shu Fuyan was humiliated and angry.
The sound of the lieutenant’s footsteps drew near. There were no servants to announce him, and the lieutenant was about to step into the hall. Shu Fuyan knew that Xiao Yi was teasing him on purpose, so he decided not to haggle over it.
He turned his face to the side and buried his head in the crook of Xiao Yi’s arm, revealing only the back of his creased green robes.
When the lieutenant entered, he saw Xiao Yi holding someone while sitting on the main seat. The posture looked abnormal it looked like… during moments of pleasure…
The lieutenant caught his breath and lowered his head, not daring to look.
“General, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion has been searched thoroughly, inside and out, but no clues were found.”
The lieutenant had turned the Drunken Immortal Pavilion upside down according to Xiao Yi’s instructions. The thing in Cai Yan’s hands was nowhere to be found. The lieutenant suspected whether Cai Yan had deliberately lied to them before he died.
“It is of no consequence.”
Xiao Yi stroked Shu Fuyan’s back in a rhythmic motion. As for the thing hidden in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, he didn’t seem to care about it at all. The thing in Cai Yan’s hands was nothing more than the crown prince’s unspeakable secrets. Finding no leverage against the crown prince had no effect on Xiao Yi whatsoever. But the person affected, upon learning that the item was lost, was likely more panicked and anxious, unable to sleep for worry.
“Oh, right, General. My subordinates discovered that the phoenix mark originated from the Chenxian Pavilion. I hear the Pavilion Master, Wuma Fengyao, is a person from the Miao region who is well-versed in the arts of ghosts and gods.”
At the mention of the arts of ghosts and gods, Xiao Yi’s eyes sharpened.
“A person from the Miao region.” Xiao Yi pondered under his breath.
Shu Fuyan had held one position for too long, and his legs had gone numb. Regardless of shame, he leaned his weight down, leaning his entire body against Xiao Yi.
The sound of clothing rubbing together was not insignificant; the lieutenant could imagine the scene just by keeping his head down.
Seeing him fidget, Xiao Yi opened his arms, allowing Shu Fuyan to change positions.
“You go and investigate Wuma Fengyao; report to me immediately if there is anything.” Xiao Yi’s voice had deepened; the lieutenant was no fool and could naturally hear the hint of agitation within it.
After the lieutenant left, Shu Fuyan lifted his face from Xiao Yi’s arms. His cheeks were flushed red, and his long eyelashes fluttered like a butterfly. Xiao Yi covered his chin with his hand and stroked it; he was hopelessly addicted to this fairy-like face.
“My wife is like a fairy, with a beauty that is peerless. You must wear a veil when you go out so that no one else may covet you.”
Xiao Yi spoke with possessiveness, and the agitation in his eyes did not seem like a lie.
If anyone else heard such restrictive rhetoric, who wouldn’t be angry? But Shu Fuyan had never tasted the sensation of being cherished. Regarding the love he had obtained through charity, he wanted to grasp it tightly even if it were only a tiny bit.
One was willing to beat, and the other was willing to suffer.
“If the General insists that I wear a veil to go out, the young ladies will surely mock me behind my back. What will the General say then?” Shu Fuyan pressed aggressively, wishing to win a title for himself.
Although their relationship was deepening and they were intimate, Xiao Yi had never once brought up the matter of marriage. This forced Shu Fuyan to reflect deeply on exactly what was causing Xiao Yi to have such reservations.
“Whatever you want, I can give it to you, but this matter…”
Before the words could leave his mouth, the steward’s voice cut in.
“General, the Grand Princess is here again!”
Interrupted for the second time, Shu Fuyan lost his composure; hatred began to spread little by little. Why must someone always come to disturb us? If all those people were dead, no one would be able to stop us.
Shu Fuyan’s illness was becoming increasingly serious. He lowered his eyes and, with cunning, prevented Xiao Yi from seeing the expression on his face through the strands of hair. He remained quietly silent, getting off Xiao Yi’s lap of his own accord.
The steward had not arrived in time; the emotions of both parties were poor. The steward pursed his lips and stood guard on the side, waiting for Xiao Yi to speak. It wasn’t that he wanted to come, but the Grand Princess had arrived in a menacing manner.
Shu Fuyan sat to the lower left of Xiao Yi, staring vacantly at the door outside.
Xiao Yi had just wanted to ask about the Grand Princess’s situation when the latter walked in with great fanfare, followed by a crowd of people.
“General Xiao, I heard that you are quite ill. Why are you not resting properly on your couch?”
The Grand Princess’s voice traveled from afar, drawing near, and along with her came the heavy scent of cosmetics.
“I am merely a man of war; my body can bear it. Rather, for your Highness the Princess to come uninvited, I am truly terrified.”
Xiao Yi spoke calmly. As for being “terrified,” he didn’t even tell her to sit down.
The Grand Princess had come prepared for this, so naturally, she wouldn’t mind Xiao Yi’s cold attitude. She swished her sleeves and sat in the seat to Xiao Yi’s lower right, face-to-face with Shu Fuyan.
She looked at Shu Fuyan, seeing that the other party had an astonishing appearance and a refined, aloof temperament. She had heard that for the past few days, Xiao Yi had been closing his doors to guests and seeing no one. But since this gentleman had managed to enter the Marquis of Zhenbei’s estate, the Grand Princess instantly understood.
Xiao Yi likes men.
The person before her was definitely Xiao Yi’s lover.
“I wonder how to address this gentleman?” The Grand Princess turned to ask Shu Fuyan.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes. “Princess, this person is a musician in my estate; he is of no importance.”
When Shu Fuyan heard this, he knew it was said for the Grand Princess’s benefit, but he couldn’t control himself; his heart ached as if it were bleeding.
“General Xiao, why be so tense? I wouldn’t go as far as to bullying your people in broad daylight.” The Grand Princess laughed heartily, yet not a single person present was in a good mood.
“The Princess is joking; there is no such thing as bullying. Everything the Princess says is a grace.” Shu Fuyan said: “I am Shu Fuyan; I have met the Grand Princess.”
Shu Fuyan stood up and bowed to the Grand Princess with his injured arm. Since the wound had not healed, bending his arm back and forth would inevitably cause pain to Shu Fuyan. Xiao Yi watched, unable to stop the aching of his own heart.
The Grand Princess realized something and took a sip of tea. “Your name is quite well chosen.”
Shu Fuyan responded with a hum. After sitting back down, he acted like a piece of wood, listening to the Grand Princess and Xiao Yi talk back and forth.
The news of Xiao Yi’s injury had reached the palace. The Emperor was enraged and ordered a thorough investigation to capture the remaining remnants. The crown prince’s side continued to act according to the rules, with no further extraordinary events appearing. Looking at Prince Ji’s estate, it was quiet and still.
Both sides were keeping a low profile, and the Grand Princess could not sit still. She had heard rumors of the Cai Yan affair; the crown prince ought to have been anxious, yet he had not moved to the next step. The Grand Princess could not figure out who had eventually profited from it.
“General Xiao, the medicine bestowed by the Emperor is of the highest quality; I won’t humiliate myself by offering more.” She smiled and teased: “I have sent you ten bosom friends.”
She clapped her hands, and ten handsome men of varying styles stepped into the inner hall.
Shu Fuyan looked at the man in green robes who had entered carrying a pipa, and his face immediately darkened.
Xiao Yi did not pay attention to the outsiders at first, but instead stared at his lover. Realizing that Shu Fuyan’s expression was wrong, Xiao Yi’s face darkened.
“Does the Princess wish to repeat the past?”
Xiao Yi was referring to the Luo Die Yi affair during the Spring Banquet. He thought he had been clear enough, but the Grand Princess was stubborn, challenging his patience time and time again.
How could the Grand Princess not know that Xiao Yi was displeased? She raised her hand and said to the handsome men: “Spin around and let General Xiao see.”
With the Grand Princess’s word, the handsome men dared not disobey. They spun around in place, one by one; the shimmering robes flew about, the floating black hair obscured their peerless faces, and bursts of fragrance invaded the space. The scene was, for a moment, lecherous and excessive.
Shu Fuyan lowered the corners of his mouth; he disdained this “beauty trap.” The handsome men sent over were all of the highest quality; some were delicate and fragile, rousing pity. Others were gentle in appearance and full of charm. More impressively, some had a proud and graceful bearing, aloof and unyielding. It was not hard to see that the Grand Princess had put a great deal of effort into this for Xiao Yi.
As long as Xiao Yi wanted it, these people would all be his. Thinking of this, the bridge of Shu Fuyan’s nose ached significantly. He had nothing; he only had Xiao Yi.
If one day Xiao Yi doesn’t want me, where should I go?
The answer was unknown.
Xiao Yi kept a constant watch on Shu Fuyan’s every move; the Grand Princess’s intrusive behavior not only aroused his disgust but also hurt his beloved. Xiao Yi absolutely could not indulge her any further.
“As for what the Princess seeks, I will state it clearly here.”
“I will not support anyone, including you, Yu Yeling.”
This was the first time someone had spoken the Grand Princess’s name to her face. Yu Yeling felt humiliated, and hatred gathered in her eyes; she tightened her fingertips, though she remained outwardly gentle.
“General Xiao, it is too early to say such things. I do not mind; these people are all slaves I have bought. If the General does not accept them, then just kill them.”
When the handsome men heard this, they trembled with fear: “Princess, please spare our lives!”
The Grand Princess watched them with cold eyes and huffed: “Useless people what use is there in keeping you? If you cannot please General Xiao, you would be better off committing suicide to pay for your sins; that would save me the trouble.”
Xiao Yi knit his brows tightly. The Grand Princess was vicious and cruel, even reaching this level of brutality; she wouldn’t even pretend anymore.
Shu Fuyan had never expected that the Grand Princess, who was rumored to be gentle and kind, would regard human life as if it were grass. Even though he knew the Grand Princess was not as pure as she appeared on the surface, he hadn’t expected her to be so rampant before outsiders, simply because she was royalty blessed by heaven, born to be noble, and worshiped by ten thousand.
“Enough.” Xiao Yi could not bear it any longer.
“I am unwell; I will not see the Princess out. Steward.” Xiao Yi beckoned and called the steward to send the guest away.
The Grand Princess hadn’t counted on Xiao Yi agreeing anyway; she had only wanted to come and probe the reality of the situation. Seeing that Xiao Yi was not deeply injured and that his attitude toward her remained the same, it meant the matter hadn’t been exposed.
Since that was the case, she had no need to continue staying at the Marquis of Zhenbei’s estate.
The Grand Princess smiled without warmth, instructed Xiao Yi to rest and recover, and turned to leave.
Yu Yeling had left, but the handsome men remained.
Shu Fuyan was incensed; he left without speaking a word to Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi knew he had angered his beloved, so he hurriedly stepped forward to pursue his wife.
The remaining group of handsome men were left with nothing to do. They looked at each other. None of them knew if they should stay or leave.