Mu Yanzhou did not give Song Mingzhi time to answer. The moment his voice fell, he suddenly lowered his head and brought his lips toward the exposed skin of Song Mingzhi’s neck. A strange sensation, a hint of warmth and breath, swept from his neck to behind his ear, bringing with it a sudden tingle.
Song Mingzhi’s eyes widened abruptly. He instinctively wanted to dodge, but he suddenly remembered that from today on, he could no longer feel embarrassed by such things, much less act startled and jumpy in front of the Emperor!
Mu Yanzhou’s lips were only a hair’s breadth away from touching Song Mingzhi’s neck. Yet, up to this moment, Song Mingzhi remained standing in place without any intention of evading him. He even spoke, answering earnestly: “Your Highness, I understand.”
A low chuckle reached Song Mingzhi’s ears. Seeing that he no longer dodged him, Mu Yanzhou finally pulled back and asked: “What does my beloved consort understand?”
The noises in Zhuohua Courtyard were growing louder and louder. Yuan Jiu was instructing the attendants that in half a cup of tea’s time, they should come to knock on the door and wake the two of them, preparing to board the carriage and head to the imperial villa to meet the Emperor. Time could not be wasted.
Song Mingzhi quickly composed himself and said: “I need to leave a few small marks on my neck.”
Song Mingzhi had no particular interest in clothing. The outfits he wore daily were all brought by the original owner from Sulan; they were mostly narrow-sleeved, long gowns that were tighter-fitting compared to the wide-robed, loose-sleeved styles popular in the Central Plains. It was nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of skin from the cuffs or collar.
Yesterday, Mu Yanzhou had gripped Song Mingzhi’s wrist and pulled him into the pool. At this moment, a faint blue bruise remained on his wrist. This saved a lot of trouble.
The moment Song Mingzhi finished speaking, he turned to the bronze mirror in the room and pinched the skin of his own neck. Before Mu Yanzhou could clearly see his actions, a bright red mark had already appeared there, the size and position perfectly placed. Against his pale skin, it appeared exceptionally striking.
Song Mingzhi looked into the bronze mirror, checked it once, and said: “This should be no problem.”
As a secret guard, he was naturally well-versed. While Song Mingzhi did not know much about the foolish Emperor, he knew exactly what marks would remain after completing such things.
Satisfied that there were no issues, Song Mingzhi turned around and humbly sought advice from Mu Yanzhou: “Your Highness, what should be done about the bed?”
His expression was extremely natural.
Mu Yanzhou remained silent. He frowned slightly. Song Mingzhi seemed to be a bit too knowledgeable. Could this also be due to the customs of the Western Regions? Mu Yanzhou felt inexplicably displeased.
Song Mingzhi gently reminded him: “Your Highness?”
“Oh, the bed doesn’t need to be too messy; that would look deliberate,” Mu Yanzhou turned and looked at the daybed, asking, “Do you have any spices here?”
Song Mingzhi murmured: “Spices.” He walked toward the wardrobe. Scents can expose a person’s movements and identity. Therefore, Song Mingzhi had always disliked leaving any scent on his body. However, although Song Mingzhi never used incense, there were still a few common spices in his room brought by the original owner from the Western Regions.
Song Mingzhi walked up and opened the wardrobe. Mu Yanzhou followed him over and said casually: “Use this one, and scatter it all over the bed.” As he spoke, he took a bottle of spice into his hand.
This was storax. Song Mingzhi remembered that Mu Yanzhou usually used this fragrance. It seemed the Prince really liked its scent.
Song Mingzhi closed the wardrobe: “Yes, Your Highness.”
Without a word, he took the porcelain bottle and poured it onto the bed. His movements were exceptionally crisp and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.
Mu Yanzhou paused. He couldn’t resist asking: “Do you know why I want to scatter the spices?”
Could it be that the Prince of Qi is testing me? Doing that kind of thing would not only dishevel the bed but also leave behind scents that could not be fabricated. Since it could not be forged, taking another path by scattering spices on the bed was a way of covering it up to make it more obvious.
In order to leave a reliable impression on Mu Yanzhou, Song Mingzhi answered immediately: “Naturally, I know.”
Mu Yanzhou slowly shifted his gaze away. After a few seconds, he smiled and said: “My beloved consort is truly exceptionally knowledgeable.”
At a quarter past 10 AM, the wind was warm and the sun was bright. The attendants walked into the room quickly, seizing the time to tidy up. Song Mingzhi’s clothes had long since been changed. At this moment, the maids were gathered around, helping him coil his hair and fix his hair crown, while two others were bent over, tidying up the other side of the bed.
Although they were not nearby to serve them last night, they had heard about the farce. Now, seeing the bed that had been tidied but still held a sense of disarray, they knew that the Prince and the Princess Consort had truly bared their hearts and were deeply in love, just as the rumors said.
Although the Prince was usually careless, when it came to matters concerning the Princess Consort, he was exceptionally attentive, taking care of his dignity and feelings in every way. This morning, he had not only tidied the bedding himself but even used spices to cover the scent of last night’s intimacy. And looking at it this way, the set of clothes on the Princess Consort was likely put on for him by the Prince himself.
Truly thoughtful.
The maid’s movements were skilled, and in a short time, the hair was coiled. The Sulan people had a tradition of wearing earrings, but Song Mingzhi was not accustomed to it. Seeing the maid pick up the earrings, he quickly raised his hand and said: “No need.”
“Yes, Princess Consort.”
The maid picked up the vanity tray and stepped back. In the midst of her movements, she couldn’t help but steal a glance at his hands: “Hehe. Truly loving indeed!”
The two were to depart from the main gate of the Prince’s manor in a moment. Before starting the journey, Song Mingzhi first followed Mu Yanzhou to take a look inside Huiming Hall. Looking around, it was a mess.
Last night was a golden opportunity for Mu Sian. After discovering that Mu Yanzhou was not in the manor, he immediately ordered the imperial guards to dig three feet into the ground here, swearing to catch Mu Yanzhou in a mistake and keep a tight grip on it.
Secrets were more or less hidden in the study. If it were an ordinary noble, they would certainly not withstand such a sudden and thorough search. But Mu Yanzhou’s situation was slightly different. From the day he moved out of the palace and established his manor, there had already been spies from the Emperor in Huiming Hall. Several of these spies were even responsible for sweeping and cleaning daily, and they knew every item here by heart. With such a group in Huiming Hall, Mu Yanzhou naturally would not place any classified materials in this place.
Mu Sian’s imperial guards turned Huiming Hall upside down but did not find anything of value.
“Pay respects to the Prince of Qi!”
“Your Highness, last night the Prince of Liang brought men to search this place. The servants in the manor have not tidied it up this morning,” Yuan Jiu said, bowing to Mu Yanzhou, then asked uncertainly, “Should we keep it as it is, or tidy it up first?”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but cast a secret glance at Song Mingzhi. That Song Mingzhi could appear with Mu Yanzhou today proved that he had been temporarily accepted by the other, but not knowing how deeply they had communicated, Yuan Jiu hesitated for a moment before only bowing to Song Mingzhi as usual, without saying too much.
Song Mingzhi only nodded to him. Then, he stood silently to the side and began observing the surroundings. Mu Yanzhou had no intention of stopping Song Mingzhi. He scanned Huiming Hall, and after a few breaths, ordered casually: “Do not tidy it; first go to the imperial court and file a complaint.”
The carriage was already parked outside Huiming Hall. There was nothing special inside Huiming Hall. After clearly seeing what this place looked like, Mu Yanzhou did not stay long. As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and walked out the door: “Alright, let us set off for the imperial villa.”
Yuan Jiu quickly replied: “Yes, Your Highness!”
He bowed to him and followed closely. The spring breeze blew through the hall, stirring the bells in front of the door, emitting a crisp jingling sound. Just at the moment he turned around, Song Mingzhi suddenly noticed that Mu Yanzhou’s eyebrows furrowed slightly with his movements. His walking speed seemed slightly slower than usual.
Although this change was minute, it still fell clearly into Song Mingzhi’s eyes. He realized that the injury Mu Yanzhou’s leg suffered yesterday seemed even more serious than he had imagined. Upon discovering this, Song Mingzhi immediately walked forward. He spoke in a voice that only the two of them could hear near Mu Yanzhou’s ear: “Your Highness, the wound on your leg perhaps needs treatment.”
The Prince of Qi was very good at hiding wounds. But the place he and he were going today was the imperial villa. Since he could see he was injured, other secret guards around the Emperor perhaps could too.
Mu Yanzhou’s footsteps could not help but pause. Song Mingzhi’s observational skills seemed exceptionally strong.
“Good, I understand.”
Although Song Mingzhi had not spoken plainly, Mu Yanzhou understood the meaning in an instant. He smiled lightly, nodded to Song Mingzhi, and said openly: “Thank you for the reminder, my beloved consort.”
Yuan Jiu, who was following the two, was confused. Wait, what exactly did the Princess Consort just say to the Prince? Having stayed at the Liu family manor since childhood and having come to the Prince of Qi’s manor from the day Mu Yanzhou established it to assist him with private and crucial matters, this was the first time Yuan Jiu felt a sense of being excluded by his master.
How strange! It had only been a short night. How did the Prince and the Princess Consort suddenly become so tacitly understanding? What exactly happened last night?
The Longevity Festival had not yet arrived. Mu Yanzhou would have to stay at the imperial villa for at least four or five days before returning to the manor, so some things had to be understood clearly before he left the manor.
Feng Ronggui was currently imprisoned in a civilian residence in Pingxi Square. Mu Yanzhou had just reached the entrance of Huiming Hall when another attendant walked up quickly, lowered his voice, and said to him: “Your Highness, regarding last evening’s matter.”
Yesterday’s meddling was just an accident. Song Mingzhi believed Mu Yanzhou would certainly be able to handle this matter well! As a former secret guard, he knew even better: what he could listen to, and what he would be better off not listening to.
Before Mu Yanzhou could speak, upon hearing the words “yesterday evening,” Song Mingzhi immediately walked a few steps faster and waited at the door, distancing himself to show he had no interest in this. Mu Yanzhou raised his eyebrows slightly. He whispered to the attendant: “Continue.” At the same time, he could not help but cast his gaze on Song Mingzhi. Although he came from a noble family, Song Mingzhi seemed exceptionally adept at reading the situation and knowing when to advance or retreat. He clearly knew that last night’s homicide was his own doing, yet from last night to today, he could endure it and never ask a single question. It seemed he was completely incurious about why he did this or what plans he had for the next step.
Mu Yanzhou rubbed the flower branch of the rose in front of the door. He could not help but raise the corners of his lips: compliant, yet incurious about his private affairs. He even always remembered to maintain a certain distance from himself. Such a feeling made Mu Yanzhou feel exceptionally comfortable. Mu Yanzhou withdrew his gaze. He put down the flower branch and listened carefully to the attendant’s words. At the same time, he silently said to himself: Song Mingzhi had best always be this way, never crossing the line, and keeping his distance from him.
The current Emperor was named Mu Ningxing. As an infamous, foolish Emperor, besides indulging in wine and lust and neglecting state affairs, he was also obsessed with Taoism and alchemy. In short, all the things that foolish emperors throughout history liked to do, he would try to his heart’s content. The place Song Mingzhi was going today was called “Lianyun Palace,” located at the foot of the mountain on the outskirts of the capital; it was a palace complex built by Mu Ningxing specifically for his pursuit of becoming an immortal.
It took more than an hour to travel from the Qi Prince’s manor to Lianyun Palace. Mu Yanzhou had already made arrangements: this period was to be used for getting used to it. The carriage drove out of the Qi Prince’s manor under the guard of attendants. Outside the carriage, the ceremonial music was busy. And the two people inside the carriage were not idle either.
Mu Yanzhou, amidst the sound of hoofbeats, turned to look at Song Mingzhi and analyzed: “After arriving at Lianyun Palace, whether attending the palace banquet or enjoying music and plays, you and I will sit together. At that time, under the Emperor’s nose, we must not be too restrained.”
Song Mingzhi nodded solemnly: “Good.”
Mu Ningxing came here for banquets and pleasures to celebrate his birthday, so the atmosphere at the banquet would certainly be very relaxed. Under such an atmosphere, no one would always sit bolt upright. But Song Mingzhi was not very good at this. Thinking of this, he humbly asked for advice: “Your Highness, how should we sit?”
The warm spring sunshine passed through the carriage curtain, spilling into the depths of his eyes. Song Mingzhi’s expression was incomparably focused. Mu Yanzhou smiled lightly. Then, he drew out his tone: “First, you must lean in.”
Before Mu Yanzhou had finished speaking, Song Mingzhi’s body suddenly trembled violently: “!”
Mu Yanzhou’s hand had rested on Song Mingzhi’s waist at some point. As he spoke, he raised his hand and, while Song Mingzhi was completely unprepared, drew him to his side. Finally, he laughed softly: “Just like this.”
Song Mingzhi said with difficulty: “Yes.”
He had only discovered in these last two days that he seemed exceptionally ticklish. As long as Mu Yanzhou’s hand touched his body lightly, he would reflexively tremble. This point was truly a bit hard to overcome.
Mu Yanzhou saw the strangeness on Song Mingzhi’s face. Pretending not to know, he said sternly: “My beloved consort’s posture cannot be so stiff anymore.” At this moment, although the two were pressed tightly together, Song Mingzhi’s waist and back were still as straight as ever. Song Mingzhi gritted his teeth and nodded.
Although Mu Yanzhou was a Prince, he had never liked putting on airs. After the carriage drove out of the manor, the ceremonial music outside gradually stopped. The carriage became exceptionally quiet. Mu Yanzhou lowered his voice and said in his slightly hoarse voice into Song Mingzhi’s ear: “Ah Zhi, relax a little. Lean in. Gently rest on my shoulder. Is that alright?”
Since he was seven years old, Song Mingzhi had been learning how to remain tense and vigilant, always prepared for enemies, never daring to relax his nerves. But now, he knew he absolutely could not maintain such a state in front of others.
Song Mingzhi let out a muffled “Mm.” He took a deep breath, for the first time in many years, attempting to relax his body.
Mu Yanzhou whispered: “Don’t be nervous.”
Song Mingzhi gradually melted like ice. Just as he rested his chin on Mu Yanzhou’s shoulder, the other lowered his head and, just like yesterday, planted a light kiss on the top of his hair. At the same time, he whispered into his ear: “Right, just like that. Ah Zhi is very smart.”
Song Mingzhi’s body trembled violently again: “…”
The carriage creaked through the busy market. Song Mingzhi could not help but be thankful: Fortunately, the Prince helped me adjust to this in advance, otherwise, I would certainly have slipped up at the banquet.
Mu Yanzhou held Song Mingzhi in his arms with the utmost naturalness, gently stroking his long, pale golden hair while whispering to him: “In front of the Emperor, I will call you Ah Zhi or Princess Consort, just like now. But Ah Zhi, you can occasionally change your form of address. You don’t have to keep calling me Prince of Qi; that is too distant.”
This question was perhaps even harder than leaning on Mu Yanzhou’s shoulder. Song Mingzhi hesitated: “Then what should I call you?”
The carriage became quiet again. After a long while, he laughed lazily: “Hengyu.”
Song Mingzhi wondered: “Why Hengyu?”
Mu Yanzhou said casually: “It is my courtesy name, given by my grandfather in my early years, so I have never used it much.” Then, he laughed: “Did you remember it?”
Mu Yanzhou’s courtesy name had never appeared in historical records. There were even people who once said he had never taken one. Song Mingzhi never thought that one day, he would be able to solve this mystery.
He immediately said earnestly: “Remembered it.”
“Good.” Mu Yanzhou lowered his eyes and looked at him: “Call it out, let me hear.” As he spoke, he even winked at him.
Song Mingzhi understood: the Prince was checking his tone. He immediately cleared his throat. Finally, trying his best to lighten his tone, he whispered into Mu Yanzhou’s ear: “Heng… yu…”
Song Mingzhi’s tone was extremely earnest. Yet the intonation was gentler than ever. Combined with that faint Sulan accent, it was as if a hand had lifted up without warning, ruffling the long hair at his temple. Mu Yanzhou looked out the window involuntarily. After a few seconds, he cleared his throat and continued: “One more thing, do you have any understanding of me?”
Compared to his previous composure, a hint of faint difficulty appeared in his tone.
Song Mingzhi came to his senses: “Your Highness is referring to?”
As a visitor from the later era, he naturally knew the future Emperor who reorganized the rivers and mountains and achieved a glorious era, but he did not know Mu Yanzhou, the Prince of Qi, at this time.
The carriage continued to clatter forward. Mu Yanzhou produced two sheets of paper from nowhere: “I have already let Yuan Jiu prepare several items in advance.” As he spoke, he gently handed one of them to Song Mingzhi.
Song Mingzhi saw that the paper in front of him was filled with the Prince’s daily preferences, even his eating tastes and the colors of his clothing.
“I understand,” Song Mingzhi subconsciously sat up straight, “I will hurry and remember them.”
Mu Yanzhou pulled him back: “No rush.” He took the other sheet of paper filled with writing.
Song Mingzhi’s body trembled again: “!”
Mu Yanzhou smiled and said softly: “I must first understand my beloved consort.” He turned his gaze to the paper and read them out one by one: “Do you have any food you particularly like or avoid, and what flavors do you prefer when drinking?”
Everyone in Chongjing knew that the Prince of Qi had fallen in love with the Princess Consort at first sight. It stood to reason that he would certainly try his best to care for and look after Song Mingzhi’s preferences at the banquet, or at any time. Just moments ago, when Mu Yanzhou was discussing Feng Ronggui with his attendants, Yuan Jiu and several subordinates had written down everything they could think of that Mu Yanzhou ought to know, to prevent him from accidentally revealing the truth.
Song Mingzhi had never thought about these questions before. At this moment, he was trying his best to think of answers following Mu Yanzhou’s voice:
“Nothing particularly liked; I usually do not drink.”
However, before Song Mingzhi could answer all the questions clearly, he saw from the corner of his eye that a trace of surprise flashed in Mu Yanzhou’s eyes, as if he had never expected why such questions would be listed on the paper by his own attendants. Following that, he raised his eyebrows slightly. He looked at the paper in his hand with great interest: “Oh, there is another one…”
Song Mingzhi said immediately: “Your Highness, please speak.”
Mu Yanzhou put down the paper in his hand. He looked at Song Mingzhi’s lips, paused for a moment, and then slowly said: “There is one more, just in case. If Ah Zhi does not like it, you do not have to answer.”
Song Mingzhi would naturally not refuse: “Your Highness, just speak freely.”
Mu Yanzhou’s fingers slid gently through Song Mingzhi’s long hair. He leaned toward Song Mingzhi’s ear and whispered: “Does Ah Zhi have any birthmarks on your body?”
“Or a small mole?”