After grabbing my foot, Lin Chongtan seemed to realize something was wrong. His long lashes fluttered, and as he opened his eyes, he squeezed my foot as if trying to identify what he had caught.
His hand was warm. I could even feel the texture of his fingertips brushing across the sole of my foot. A strange sensation rushed to my heart. Ignoring everything else, I quickly pulled my leg back. Not daring to look at his face, I threw back the covers to get out of bed.
However, Lin Chongtan was sleeping on the outer side. As I tried to step over him, he seemed ready to get up as well, and one of his legs suddenly bent and lifted.
Caught by this sudden obstacle, I lost my balance and tumbled forward. A hand reached out and grabbed my arm, saving me from the embarrassment of falling off the bed. But because of that sudden pull, I ended up collapsing right onto Lin Chongtan’s lap.
As our eyes met, I saw him knit his brows almost imperceptibly. He quickly smoothed his expression, however, and released my arm. “The temperature dropped today. Wait for Baichi to bring your clothes before you get up.”
Because of the morning’s awkwardness, I didn’t quite dare to speak to him. I gave a vague hum of agreement and scrambled off of him. The blanket I had used last night had been kicked to the foot of the bed; I pulled it back and covered myself again.
While I was doing this, Lin Chongtan had already gotten out of bed. A moment later, Baichi’s voice came from beside the bed. “Young Master Chun, I’ve brought your clothes.”
It turned out Baichi had gone to my dormitory before dawn to fetch my clothes. He hadn’t just brought my outfit; he had also brought everything I needed for class today.
After breakfast, halfway to my dormitory, I realized I had forgotten the book I used to ask Lin Chongtan questions during the meal. I needed it for class, so I turned back.
When I arrived, both Qingqiu and Baichi were away. Seeing the door locked, I decided to wait a moment.
After a while, I saw the two of them returning carrying flowers. They didn’t see me and were huddled together talking.
“Will Young Master Chun come again today?” Baichi asked.
“Probably.”
Baichi added, “I think our Young Master works so hard… Young Master Chun!”
The two of them spotted me, and looks of panic flashed across their faces. Even though Qingqiu and Baichi hadn’t really said anything scandalous, my face still felt burning hot. I couldn’t help but stutter as I spoke. “My book, I left it on the dining table. I came to get the book.”
Baichi immediately stuffed the flowers into Qingqiu’s arms and gave me an apologetic smile. “Please wait a moment, Young Master Chun. I’ll open the door and get it for you right now.”
I took the book from Baichi and hurried away.
The painting was finished on the fifth day.
I stood before the desk, staring blankly at the piece. This painting had a completely different atmosphere compared to Night Tour of the Qixi Festival. It showed a vast, boundless world of white snow, with a traveler in rags staggering forward. His footprints were being covered by the snow behind him, leaving only the ones he had just stepped in.
In one corner of the painting were a few farm fields. Farmers were gathered together. Although their faces weren’t clear, their movements showed they were very happy; after all, timely snow foretells a bumper harvest.
I handed the painting to Instructor Ming. He was indeed overjoyed and praised me repeatedly. During class, he often called me clever and obedient, saying I would surely achieve great things in the future.
I had never been praised like this before. Amidst the excitement, I also worried that the truth would be revealed. But whether by luck or something else, no one discovered that those two paintings weren’t mine.
However, a month later, Instructor Ming left the Imperial Academy due to a job transfer. Before leaving, he specifically told me not to give up on my talent and to keep working hard.
At that moment, I desperately wanted to confess to him, but I eventually held back.
Instructor Ming was the only person who felt I wasn’t lacking.
Even if I had obtained this feeling through lies, I still wanted to hold onto it.
After Instructor Ming left, I went back to my old life. No instructor praised me anymore; they always frowned and looked stern when they saw me. I was often scolded and made to stand as punishment.
Every time I was scolded or punished, I couldn’t help but think of Instructor Ming.
Instructor Ming would praise me, kindly call me Chun Di, and give me a very precious seal.
In the blink of an eye, the Mid-Autumn Festival approached. Two days before the festival was the birthday I shared with Lin Chongtan. Back at the Lin house, Father would host a family banquet, hire an opera troupe, and set off fireworks. Beyond that, he would hold a three-day public feast in the city for all the citizens.
Mother would personally cook longevity noodles for both Lin Chongtan and me.
This year, celebrating my birthday in the capital while school was in session meant we could only manage a simple celebration. But when I came out of the classroom that day, I was surprised to see Qingqiu waiting outside.
Seeing me, Qingqiu immediately came forward. “Young Master Chun, the Second Young Master invites you to have dinner together tonight.”
I was silent for a while before saying, “I have a lot of homework today. I probably can’t make it.”
Hearing this, Qingqiu looked troubled, but he still said, “If Young Master Chun finds the time, please do come over.”
“We’ll see,” I said dismissively, turning to leave.
I was very grateful to Lin Chongtan for helping me with the painting, but the words his servant said reminded me that he and I were getting too close.
But after I returned to my room, Qingqiu’s words kept floating through my mind.
Tonight was also Lin Chongtan’s birthday. Since he invited me to dinner, it might be bad if I didn’t go. I hadn’t properly thanked him for helping me with the painting yet; maybe I should go tonight after all?
After debating with myself for a long time, I took the Jade Mountain Autumn Hair brush I had bought in advance and went to Lin Chongtan’s dormitory.
When I arrived, no one was there, and the door was merely pulled shut. After nightfall, the mosquitoes became numerous. I waited in the courtyard for a long time, but no one returned. Unable to stand the bites any longer, I had no choice but to enter the room first.
About fifteen minutes later, there was finally movement outside.
Thinking it was Lin Chongtan and his servants returning, I opened the door to greet them. But the person who came into view was not Lin Chongtan, but the Crown Prince I had seen before at Zuixi Pavilion.
The Crown Prince was striding toward me. He saw me too, his upturned phoenix eyes narrowing slightly. Meeting his gaze, my heart panicked, and I immediately lowered my head to bow.
“This humble one pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness live for a thousand, thousand years.”
Outside, I could call him “Third Master,” but in the Imperial Academy, I couldn’t use such a title and had to perform a full formal greeting.
After a long silence, I caught a glimpse of a pair of brocade boots in my peripheral vision.
The Crown Prince stopped in front of me. For a moment, all I could hear was the sound of a folding fan lightly tapping against his palm.
“Your Highness, Lin Chongtan is not here,” someone said.
The Crown Prince didn’t speak, so no one else in the room dared to speak either. The breath of those following the Crown Prince was exceptionally light.
“Lift your head,” the Crown Prince’s voice suddenly rang out in the quiet room.
I was stunned for a moment before realizing he was speaking to me. I hurried to look up, but the moment I met his eyes, my eyelashes couldn’t stop trembling.
For some reason, I felt a very heavy aura of menace coming from him.
The Crown Prince’s beautiful eyes scanned my face for a moment. His red lips parted, and cruel words spilled out. “I detest those who clumsily mimic others or those who occupy a nest that isn’t theirs. Bind him and find a place to stuff him away so he doesn’t offend my eyes.”
My face turned instantly pale.
As soon as the Crown Prince spoke, several men came to grab me. I didn’t even dare to struggle as his followers locked me inside a chest in the corner. I waited until the noise outside vanished before trying to get out of the chest. But my hands and feet were tied tightly, and the cloth in my mouth was stuffed so deep that I couldn’t push it out with my tongue no matter how hard I tried.
It was very stuffy inside the chest, and since it was summer, I soon broke into a sweat from struggling. Unable to get out on my own, I could only hope that Lin Chongtan, Baichi, or Qingqiu would return soon and find me.
But I waited a long time without hearing anyone return. It grew stuffier and stuffier in the chest, and I felt my strength fading. I didn’t understand why the Crown Prince would treat me this way; I had only met him twice.
“Clumsily mimicking others” and “occupying a nest that isn’t theirs”—was he referring to me imitating Lin Chongtan and taking his place?
As time ticked by, something even more shameful happened. I had drunk a cup of fruit tea before coming, and as time passed, I needed to relieve myself.
Why hadn’t anyone come back yet?
I tried my best to curl my body and hold it in. My clothes were completely soaked with sweat. Every time I blinked, I felt sweat dripping down.
Just when I thought I would die in that chest, there seemed to be a sound outside. Using all my strength, I slammed my head hard against one side of the chest.
Finally, the chest was opened. Dizzily, I lifted my eyes and saw Lin Chongtan’s face. Surprise was clear in his eyes when he saw me, and he immediately ordered Baichi and Qingqiu behind him, “Baichi, bring scissors. Qingqiu, go prepare water.”
Once freed, my first instinct was to go to the washroom, but my legs had been tied for so long that they were completely numb. I couldn’t even crawl out of the chest.
After struggling a few times without success, Lin Chongtan came to pick me up. I weakly grabbed his sleeve.
“I need to go…” Because of the shame, my voice was barely squeezed through my teeth.
Lin Chongtan gave a hum of acknowledgment and carried me toward the washroom.
While relieving myself, I tried to do it on my own, but my hands had no strength. My fingers fumbled uselessly with my belt a few times. Finally, I had no choice but to beg him for help. “Help… help me take them… off… ugh…”
I was currently leaning against the front of Lin Chongtan’s body. Because my legs were weak, he had to hold me up. He seemed to pause for a moment upon hearing my words before reaching around from behind to help me.
When the sound of water splashing rang out, I no longer dared to open my eyes.
After a moment, I heard Lin Chongtan’s voice. “Do you want to bathe first or eat something first?”
I bit my lip hard, not wanting the sound of sobbing to escape, but as soon as I opened my mouth, I couldn’t control it. “I… ugh… I want to bathe.”
Lin Chongtan wanted to have Qingqiu and Baichi come in to serve me while I bathed. Hearing him call their names, I almost immediately shook my head and cried out, “Not them, I don’t want them. I can bathe by myself.”
I was already embarrassed enough; did I have to let Qingqiu and Baichi see me in this pathetic state too?
Lin Chongtan looked at me and said disapprovingly, “You can’t bathe by yourself right now. You can’t even stand steadily.”
I still stubbornly shook my head. “I don’t want… don’t let them in… ugh…”
Hearing this, Lin Chongtan was silent for a moment. Finally, he said he would help me bathe. I wanted to refuse, but as soon as he let go, my body began to fall. Just as I was about to hit the floor, he caught me again.
“You can’t bathe on your own,” he stated the truth.
I closed my eyes and could only silently allow him to help me.
I thought him helping me in the washroom was the most embarrassing moment I’d ever have in front of him, but it wasn’t. When the wet cloth moved downward, I wanted to say I could do that part myself, but before I could open my mouth, Lin Chongtan had already used his hand to move my knees apart.
My body stiffened, and a moment later, I finally couldn’t control myself and broke down in loud sobs.
Why am I always so embarrassing?
And why does it always have to be in front of Lin Chongtan every time I lose face?
Because it was our birthday, Lin Chongtan, who usually wore light colors, had exceptionally worn a deep purple outfit today. Paired with the white jade hair pin, the youth looked elegant, noble, and handsome. He must have attended a banquet; he smelled of alcohol and an incense I had never smelled before.
And then there was me, sharing the same birthday, locked in a chest for hours, now unclothed and in a state of utter misery.
After crying until my heart physically ached, my loud sobs turned into quiet whimpering.
Suddenly, my face was lifted.
Lin Chongtan’s gaze met mine. Whether it was because his back was to the candlelight or something else, his eyes looked incredibly deep and dark at this moment. His slightly cool fingers wiped the tears from my face one by one. I hadn’t yet recovered from the previous blow and stared blankly at him through teary eyes, until his kiss fell upon my lips.