The sweltering summer heat had become almost unbearable.
“Your Highness, Prince Regent, don’t you think this oppressive heat has become almost impossible to endure lately?”
Lu Xiao set aside the documents in his hands and looked at Qian Jinye. Though the man addressed him with perfect respect, he had already climbed onto the edge of his desk as though it belonged to him.
Who knew what kind of trick his beloved was planning this time? Still, Lu Xiao was more than willing to indulge him.
“Indeed. Everyone in the imperial capital has been listless these past few days. Does Lord Qian happen to have any good suggestions?”
A faint smile curved Qian Jinye’s lips. The sly gleam in his fox-like eyes stirred something deep within Lu Xiao’s heart.
Lu Xiao instinctively reached out, intending to pull him into his embrace, only for Qian Jinye to deftly evade him.
Although slightly displeased, Lu Xiao didn’t show it. Qian Jinye was thoroughly immersed in his little role-playing game, and there was no way Lu Xiao would ruin his fun.
“My suggestion would be to escape the heat by travelling to the southwest. The only question is whether Your Highness, the Prince Regent, has enough free time to accompany this humble official?”
Lu Xiao raised an eyebrow.
So, this was really about going on a trip.
The affairs of the imperial capital weren’t particularly demanding at the moment. As for the Emperor… perhaps he could manage government matters on his own for a while.
And even if he couldn’t, there was still the Empress Dowager, along with Li Xianguan. Between the three of them, perhaps Lu Xiao and Qian Jinye really could slip away for a short holiday.
At the very least, they could avoid the hottest stretch of the summer.
Truthfully, Lu Xiao also found the heat unbearable. Jiangnan was suffocatingly hot at this time of year, and unlike the modern world, this era had no air conditioning.
“The southwest is indeed an excellent place to escape the summer heat. I’m only afraid I won’t be able to get away. His Majesty may not approve of me leaving the capital incognito.”
“Your Highness, you’ve done your fair share of acting first and reporting later.”
Qian Jinye pivoted gracefully where he sat on the desk, turning until he was facing Lu Xiao directly.
Lu Xiao caught hold of his slender calf, slowly stroking it with gentle fingers, though he made no move to go any further.
Act first and report later…
That was certainly true.
For the sake of sneaking off on little trips together, Lu Xiao and Qian Jinye had more than once slipped away from the capital behind the Emperor’s back under the lofty excuse of travelling incognito to inspect the realm.
It sounded respectable.
In reality, they were simply going travelling.
Every single time, the Emperor would end up so frustrated he was practically on the verge of tears, only to seek out Qian Mingzhu and complain to her for quite some time.
The little girl would feel guilty every time, after all, Lu Xiao and the others always remembered to bring back amusing little trinkets for her from wherever they’d gone.
“Ah, Lord Qian’s proposal… I imagine my beloved consort would be rather fond of it.”
Since they were already playing their parts, they might as well see it through to the end.
Qian Jinye couldn’t help laughing at Lu Xiao’s choice of words. His toes lightly traced lazy circles over Lu Xiao’s chest.
“Your Highness, sitting together with me like this… wouldn’t the Princess Consort be displeased?”
The teasing finally got to Lu Xiao.
Without another word, he pulled Qian Jinye straight into his arms, tilting his head back to seek out his lips.
This time, Qian Jinye didn’t put on any airs. He answered Lu Xiao’s kiss with equal passion.
It wasn’t as though they had never done such things in the study before. It was simply that Lu Xiao was usually far too busy, leaving them with very few opportunities to indulge in this sort of intimacy.
“Alright, that’s enough. We haven’t finished talking yet.”
Qian Jinye pressed a hand against Lu Xiao’s lips, stopping the kiss before it could deepen.
Lu Xiao looked at him with unmistakable resentment, but Qian Jinye pretended not to notice.
By now, they had already decided to sneak away to the southwest without informing His Majesty.
Whether they would be dragged back afterwards was another matter entirely.
They needed to come up with a plan that would make it impossible for anyone to find them.
“His Majesty is older now. He’s not nearly as easy to fool as he used to be. Gege, what do you have in mind?”
After that lingering kiss, Lu Xiao had already slipped back into himself, abandoning the playful role he’d been acting.
Qian Jinye no longer felt like continuing the game either. If they kept fooling around, they would never get to discussing the important matters first. They would inevitably end up spending quite some time wrapped up in each other’s embrace before anything else.
“We’ll go to your world.”
Understanding dawned immediately in Lu Xiao’s eyes.
His world was a mirror world, one that resembled the modern era. The scenery was nearly identical in every respect.
Qian Jinye’s meaning was obvious.
If they went there, no one would be able to find them.
The mountains were high, and the Emperor was far away.
Who could possibly stop a newly married couple from enjoying their holiday?
“Alright. I’ll listen to Gege.”
Even as he spoke, his hands were anything but honest.
Now that the serious discussion had come to an end, it was finally time to occupy themselves with something decidedly less serious.
“So impatient.”
Although he said so, Qian Jinye still cooperated readily with every one of Lu Xiao’s movements.
Within the study, where ink and the fragrance of books lingered in the air, spring’s tender warmth quietly blossomed, filling every corner.
“Is this the place, Lu Xiao?”
Although Lu Xiao and Qian Jinye had returned to this world before, this was the first time Qian Jinye had ever ridden one of these flying contraptions that travelled through the sky.
Watching Lu Xiao efficiently check in their luggage before expertly making his way towards the departure gate, Qian Jinye followed close behind.
“It’s over here, Gege. In a moment, you’ll go through first while I watch you. When they touch you, it’s just the security check. Don’t be nervous.”
Lu Xiao was already dressed entirely like a modern man.
His neatly styled short hair curled ever so slightly at the ends, giving him a clean and effortlessly handsome appearance. His jet-black eyes were bright and crystal clear, so clear that one could almost see straight through them.
No matter how one looked at him, he was a completely different kind of handsome compared to his usual self.
Qian Jinye swallowed quietly.
Of the ten sentences Lu Xiao had just spoken, he had probably only heard two.
The rest of his attention had been completely occupied by admiring his lover’s face.
He still wasn’t entirely accustomed to having short hair himself. Dressed in the same style of short-sleeved T-shirt as Lu Xiao, only in a different colour, he had tied his long hair neatly behind him.
From the perspective of everyone around them, the two exceptionally attractive young men were standing shoulder to shoulder, leaning close together as though sharing some private secret.
“Gege? Were you even listening to what I was saying?”
Lu Xiao waved a hand in front of Qian Jinye’s face, finally pulling him back to reality.
“Ah! I was. I got it.”
Holding tightly to the identity card and plane ticket Lu Xiao had handed him, Qian Jinye walked towards the checkpoint.
Returning to this world certainly had its conveniences.
For example…
Things like legal identities.
Originally, they had considered travelling directly to the modern world. However, in that world, Lu Xiao had technically already died, while Qian Jinye didn’t even possess a legal identity.
In the end, deciding it would simply be too troublesome, they chose to come to Lu Xiao’s mirror world instead.
After all, the differences were negligible.
As a holiday destination, it was practically perfect.
Qian Jinye stiffly presented his boarding pass.
Stiffly went through security.
Stiffly collected his carry-on luggage once everything was finished.
Watching from the side, Lu Xiao found the entire sight rather amusing. At the same time, he couldn’t help letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
The old-fashioned man really did learn surprisingly quickly.
“What do we do now?”
“We’ll wait a little longer. Once it’s time, we’ll just board the plane.”
Lu Xiao could clearly sense how tense he was.
It reminded him of the first time he’d ever ridden a horse.
The feeling was almost identical.
Whenever someone encountered an unfamiliar means of transportation for the first time, instinctive apprehension was only natural.
This time, however, Lu Xiao had prepared a surprise for Qian Jinye.
He had deliberately reserved seats beside the window.
Better yet, they were travelling on a daytime flight.
The experience of soaring above the clouds was something almost no human being could resist.
It was a feast for both the eyes and the senses.
Looking at the smile playing on Lu Xiao’s lips, Qian Jinye couldn’t shake the strange feeling creeping over him.
It felt as though Lu Xiao were quietly waiting for him to experience something.
They hadn’t arrived especially early.
Quite a few passengers were already waiting nearby.
Among them were others who, like Qian Jinye, were flying for the very first time, though most of the excited first-time passengers were energetic little children.
Qian Jinye was unbearably curious.
Even so, he refused to show too much excitement.
After all…
How could the dignified Master Qian become overly thrilled over nothing more than a mode of transportation?
“Alright, Gege. The plane’s here. Hurry on.”
Lu Xiao gave Qian Jinye a gentle shove from behind.
The unexpected push startled him so badly that he jumped before hurriedly making his way towards the boarding gate.
Lu Xiao smiled helplessly and followed after him, afraid the easily flustered man might accidentally lose his way.
Back then, the burdens resting upon Qian Jinye’s shoulders had been so heavy that he always seemed somewhat gloomy.
Over the past two years, although he had grown older, he had somehow become increasingly childish instead, perfectly capable of exchanging playful banter with Lu Xiao without ever losing.
Back at home, the two heads of the household had become so mischievous that even the family dog could hardly stand them.
When Qian Mingzhu heard that the two of them were leaving for a holiday, she had been overjoyed.
With the entire household left under her sole management, life couldn’t possibly become any more comfortable.
She didn’t feel even the slightest reluctance to see them leave.
As for their two old friends, they had recently welcomed their second daughter and were far too occupied to concern themselves with those two overgrown children.
There was no need to mention the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
At this very moment, they were undoubtedly cursing the Prince Regent for abandoning his duties without permission.
Once they settled into their assigned seats, Qian Jinye immediately frowned in dissatisfaction at the size of the window, feeling it simply wasn’t large enough.
Lu Xiao said nothing.
He knew perfectly well that, before long, Qian Jinye would be plastered against the window, completely captivated by the scenery outside.
After the safety briefing concluded, the aircraft slowly began taxiing along the runway.
At first, Qian Jinye didn’t notice anything particularly unusual.
He had ridden in automobiles before.
It all seemed rather similar.
Then the aircraft began accelerating for takeoff.
“L-Lu Xiao… Why is it making so much noise?”
Suppressing his laughter with considerable effort, Lu Xiao gently pressed him back into his seat.
After all, he couldn’t have everyone else thinking there was something wrong with the incredibly handsome man sitting beside him.
With the wealth the two of them possessed, flying first class would have been effortless.
Yet Lu Xiao deliberately chose not to.
He was simply being a little mischievous.
The more people there were around Qian Jinye, the more nervous he became…
And the greater the amazement waiting for him would be.
That was exactly the reaction Lu Xiao had been hoping for.
The sight of Qian Jinye growing so excited that he couldn’t even find the words to express himself was enough to make Lu Xiao smile.
“It’s alright, Gege. The really interesting part is still coming.”
Although Lu Xiao had indeed intended to choose window seats, he had completely forgotten about selecting them in advance.
By the time he remembered, only the very last row of seats remained available.
And everyone knew…
Those seats were the least stable on the entire aircraft.
Even so, Lu Xiao had chosen them without the slightest hesitation.
So the moment the aircraft began its takeoff, Lu Xiao immediately covered Qian Jinye’s mouth with his hand.
“Mmph… Mm… Mmm…”
“Yes, yes. That’s the feeling of weightlessness. Mm-hmm, we’re flying now. Gege, look outside, the houses are getting smaller.”
Qian Jinye slapped Lu Xiao’s hand away.
At that moment, he had absolutely no interest in paying any attention to Lu Xiao.
Every bit of his concentration had been captured by the breathtaking scenery beyond the window, to the point that he failed to hear a single word the man beside him was saying.
It was simply too incredible.
Lu Xiao let out a quiet sigh.
Just as expected…
Qian Jinye’s attention had been completely stolen.
Their own world was wonderful in countless ways, but transportation could never compare to the convenience of the modern age.
Lu Xiao yawned softly.
He couldn’t help it.
For some reason, every time he boarded an aeroplane, sleepiness inevitably overtook him.
Reaching into the bag he had brought along, he took out some pastries and tucked one into Qian Jinye’s hand.
Keeping his jaw moving while chewing would help ease the uncomfortable pressure building inside his ears.
Qian Jinye ate absent-mindedly.
His attention was elsewhere entirely.
They had reached the clouds.
No…
They were actually flying straight through them.
Immediately pulling out the mobile phone Lu Xiao had given him, he enthusiastically began taking photograph after photograph without pause.
By now, Lu Xiao’s eyelids had already grown heavy.
The cabin’s air conditioning was surprisingly cold.
In a little while, he would have to trouble one of the flight attendants to bring them a pair of blankets.
When he woke again, the aircraft had already begun its descent.
The announcement reminding passengers to return their seats to the upright position echoed through the cabin.
Lu Xiao glanced sideways at Qian Jinye, who had unknowingly fallen asleep against his shoulder.
A gentle smile softened his expression as he leaned over and pressed a tender kiss against his forehead.
“Gege, wake up. We’re almost at our destination.”
Qian Jinye rubbed at his eyes.
It took him a long moment before he finally remembered where they were.
The instant he did, all traces of drowsiness vanished, replaced by renewed excitement.
He had travelled to the southwest before.
However, because transportation had once been so inconvenient, many of the remote places had been practically impossible to reach.
This time, Lu Xiao had deliberately chosen a destination regarded by the local people as a sacred land.
A place high above sea level.
Rolling grasslands stretching beneath snow-capped mountains.
The beautiful homeland of the region’s ethnic minority communities.
They had joined a small tour group.
Besides themselves, there was one family of three and another family of four.
There were quite a few children in the group, so things were bound to become a little noisy.
Fortunately, although Lu Xiao and Qian Jinye had no children of their own, they had looked after plenty over the years.
They had long since developed the remarkable ability to sleep soundly, even amidst the endless racket made by children.
They had arrived on the earliest flight of the day.
Their driver, who also served as the local tour guide, had already been waiting for them long before their plane landed.
Once again, Lu Xiao found himself admiring the warmth and hospitality of the local ethnic community.
The guide cheerfully helped them carry their luggage while chatting with them as though they were old acquaintances.
Afraid they might feel uneasy placing their trust in a stranger, he even voluntarily produced all of his identification documents for them to inspect.
Lu Xiao didn’t particularly mind either way.
Qian Jinye, however, examined every document quite carefully.
Though, more than suspicion…
It was simply curiosity.
“The others will be here soon as well. Don’t worry, I promise I’ll make sure all of you have a wonderful holiday.”
Seeing the guide speak with such confidence, Lu Xiao quietly relaxed.
He had originally considered renting a car and driving the route himself.
However, after taking one look at the mountain roads, he had immediately decided they were far too dangerous.
It was better to leave everything in the hands of someone local.
Besides…
He hadn’t driven a car in quite some time.
As for Qian Jinye…
He didn’t even have a driving licence.
“Sorry to trouble you, sir. It’s our first time going there as well. We’d really like to see the Golden Mountain at Sunrise.”
“Ah, that’s easiest to see in winter. But if you’re lucky, you might still catch a glimpse of it! You’ve got to believe in your luck, right?”
While Lu Xiao chatted animatedly with the driver, the remaining two families also arrived one after another.
They had all travelled from different corners of the country.
Qian Jinye politely greeted each of them in turn and even helped carry some of their luggage.
He really was someone who became familiar with others remarkably quickly.
Leaning comfortably against Qian Jinye’s shoulder, Lu Xiao gestured discreetly towards the little girl from one of the families.
“My, my… Lord Qian really is a heart-stealer.”
Qian Jinye shoved Lu Xiao’s head away with a look of disdain.
“Then if His Highness the Prince Regent catches me… may he punish me however he sees fit?”
Lu Xiao chuckled mischievously.
Tonight, everyone would be staying at a hotel near the airport.
The driver would take the entire group there first.
Early the following morning…
Their real journey would finally begin.
The mountain roads in this region were treacherous, and every scenic destination was separated by a considerable distance. Lu Xiao had deliberately chosen a tour with a more relaxed itinerary so the two of them could enjoy everything at an unhurried pace.
After all, they had come here for a holiday, not to relocate their work to another place.
A leisurely trip was exactly what a proper vacation should be.
“So, what are we having for dinner?”
After putting away his luggage, Qian Jinye lay comfortably across the hotel bed and turned to ask Lu Xiao.
Resting a hand against his chin, Lu Xiao thought for a moment.
There happened to be an ancient town nearby.
The tour had intentionally dropped everyone off here so they could conveniently solve the matter of dinner on their own.
“Shall we go wander around the old town? I heard the wild mushrooms in the southwest are especially delicious.”
The moment Qian Jinye heard the word mushrooms, his eyes lit up instantly.
Both he and Lu Jing could be considered southerners, yet their tastes in food were completely different.
Lu Xiao had an undeniable sweet tooth.
Qian Jinye, on the other hand, had never been particularly fond of sweets.
He preferred flavours that were light, savoury, and naturally fresh.
The pastries Lu Xiao adored were precisely the sort of thing Qian Jinye rarely touched.
As for wild mushrooms…
They happened to be one of the rare foods that both of them genuinely loved.
Without wasting any time, they hailed a taxi straight to the ancient town. After wandering for a while, they chose a restaurant that simply felt right to them.
The first thing they ordered was a clay pot of wild mushroom soup, followed by several stir-fried dishes.
“The texture of this dish is really strange… but it’s surprisingly delicious. Lu Xiao, try some.”
“Uh… Gege, you know I don’t like dishes with this kind of slippery texture, yet you’re still making me eat it.”
Lu Xiao swallowed the bite with obvious difficulty.
Unable to hold it in any longer, Qian Jinye finally burst into open laughter.
Feeling just a little guilty after teasing him, he hurriedly ladled a bowl of mushroom soup for Lu Xiao as compensation.
“Alright, have some soup instead. Once the rice noodles arrive, I doubt you’ll want to eat anything else.”
The soup was wonderfully rich and naturally sweet.
The mushrooms themselves were incredibly delicious.
Both of them were thoroughly satisfied.
At the very least, their first meal of the journey had been an immensely enjoyable one.
Having spent so long in Jiangnan, their palates had almost grown numb from eating the same flavours day after day.
At last, they were finally able to savour the unique cuisine of another region.
“I’m full. Completely full. So… how does it feel now that we’ve finally come out here?”
Lu Xiao reached over and intertwined his fingers with Qian Jinye’s.
Here, there was nothing that needed to be hidden.
Back in the imperial court, there had once been plenty of loose-tongued officials who dared gossip about the Prince Regent’s private affairs.
Lu Xiao had personally scolded every last one of them until they finally learned to keep their mouths shut.
And now…
In this world.
In the peaceful haven unconsciously woven together by Lu Xiao’s own heart.
There was even less reason to care about the opinions of strangers.
“It’s fun. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s journey.”
Qian Jinye tightened his grip around Lu Xiao’s hand in return and smiled softly at him.
Compared to the fast-paced rhythm of their everyday lives, this place resembled a secluded paradise hidden away from the rest of the world.
Beautiful.
Peaceful.
Unhurried.
That night, Lu Xiao slept exceptionally well.
The burdens, worries, and anxieties carried over from both his so-called previous life and his present one quietly drifted away, leaving behind nothing except the person beside him…
…and the scenery before his eyes.
“Is everyone awake? Did you all sleep well last night?”
Their tour guide had already begun chatting cheerfully with the children, keeping them entertained first thing in the morning.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiao and Qian Jinye were still yawning one after another.
There was a long journey ahead of them today.
The two of them had gotten up especially early.
Unfortunately, neither of them was accustomed to sleeping in hotel beds.
Both had tossed and turned for most of the night, barely managing any rest at all.
Now they packed their luggage with matching dark circles beneath their eyes.
Compared to the children, who had stayed awake out of sheer excitement, they somehow looked even more exhausted.
At least the children still possessed endless energy.
Youth really was a remarkable thing.
As for Lu Xiao and Qian Jinye…
They no longer had that kind of vitality.
Lu Xiao handed an eye mask to Qian Jinye.
His sleep had never been particularly good, and he was extremely sensitive to light.
Wearing it would hopefully help him sleep a little better during the drive.
“Thank you… yawn… I really do need to catch up on some sleep.”
The beds here were completely different from the ones they were used to.
Spring mattresses were simply far too soft.
For two people who had spent years sleeping on firm wooden beds, they truly weren’t something either of them could adapt to overnight.
The other two families appeared to be well-educated professionals, all remarkably considerate.
Seeing that Qian Jinye intended to rest, they repeatedly reminded their own children not to make too much noise.
Those children turned out to be surprisingly easy to communicate with.
In fact, they were far more cooperative than the younger generation back at Lu Xiao’s own home.
The children in their family behaved more like little ancestors.
Each one was incredibly difficult to please.
Even so…
Qian Jinye still couldn’t fall asleep.
Because the scenery outside was simply too beautiful.
“Lu Xiao, the clouds are so close to us.”
Qian Jinye raised his hand as though he could simply reach out from inside the vehicle and touch the drifting clouds.
Lu Xiao wrapped an arm around Qian Jinye’s shoulders.
This trip was still a little too rushed. He couldn’t give Qian Jinye the complete honeymoon that belonged to just the two of them.
Then again…
Judging by the expression on his face, he probably didn’t care about that at all.
“Yeah. You’d never see clouds this huge back in Jiangnan. Sitting by the window like that, aren’t you getting too much sun? Do you want to put on some sunscreen?”
Qian Jinye shook his head immediately.
He had absolutely no intention of wrapping himself up like Lu Xiao did, looking like a tightly bundled rice dumpling.
Lu Xiao could only smile helplessly.
His skin had always been like this.
The moment it was exposed to sunlight, it burned.
“Our next stop is the largest temple in the area. The altitude is fairly high, so just take your time climbing. There’s no need to rush.”
After spending quite a while introducing various local sights, their guide finally began explaining the destination they were about to visit.
Lu Xiao had never liked temples.
Every monk he encountered seemed to instinctively regard him with hostility.
Whether it was because whatever existed beyond their world made them see him as something unnatural or impure, he had no idea.
Whatever the reason…
He simply didn’t like temples.
Qian Jinye, however, did.
Lu Xiao had actually considered removing this stop from their itinerary.
But then he remembered that after Qian Shengke had passed away, the Qian family had gradually lost the faith they had once held so dearly.
Whenever Qian Jinye had free time, he often sought out respected monks simply to sit with them over tea and quiet conversation.
Even if Lu Xiao couldn’t understand it…
He couldn’t deny Qian Jinye the opportunity to come.
As for just how devout Qian Jinye truly was…
Lu Xiao honestly didn’t know.
As long as Qian Jinye was happy, that was enough.
Of course…
The moment they arrived, Lu Xiao immediately regretted the decision.
Qian Jinye developed altitude sickness.
Standing at the foot of the mountain, he spent quite some time breathing from a portable oxygen canister.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiao hurried around searching for somewhere that sold health supplies.
He had never imagined Qian Jinye would react so severely.
At first, when Qian Jinye said he felt nauseated, Lu Xiao assumed it was merely motion sickness.
Then he complained of a headache.
Seeing that several other people travelling with them were experiencing similar symptoms to varying degrees, His Highness the Prince Regent, the demigod himself, finally realised what the real problem was.
Without hesitation, he immediately had Qian Jinye take another breath of oxygen.
Originally, Lu Xiao had intended to tell him they simply wouldn’t continue climbing.
But Qian Jinye stubbornly refused to give up.
And so…
The current scene unfolded.
Qian Jinye would climb two or three steps…
Only to stop again, breathing heavily.
“Gege… if it really becomes too much, shall we just forget about it? I could carry you up if I have to.”
Lu Xiao asked cautiously.
Sure enough…
Qian Jinye shot him a fierce glare.
Lu Xiao instantly shut his mouth, not daring to say another word.
All he could do was carefully support Qian Jinye as they continued walking.
In truth, Lu Xiao already knew perfectly well why Qian Jinye had insisted on coming.
In the past, he had never shown such enthusiasm for temples.
What he truly enjoyed was simply sharing tea and heartfelt conversations with the monks.
This visit, however…
He wanted to offer prayers to the God of Wealth.
After all, he was a merchant.
What he wished for was nothing more than prosperous business…
…and fortune flowing in from every direction.
“Gege, I’ll pray to the God of Wealth on your behalf. There’s really no need. If your body’s struggling, then don’t force yourself to climb.”
Watching him struggle step after exhausting step, Lu Xiao’s heart ached.
There was clearly a much easier way to reach the summit.
Everyone else travelling with them had chosen to take the shuttle vehicle up the mountain.
He couldn’t understand why Qian Jinye insisted on climbing on foot.
“Who told you I’m only praying to the God of Wealth?”
Qian Jinye sounded slightly annoyed.
Though in truth…
He lacked the strength to be properly angry.
Raising a hand, he lightly tapped Lu Xiao against the chest.
A faint flush coloured his cheeks.
Almost immediately…
Lu Xiao understood what he meant.
His own expression became slightly awkward as well.
So…
It wasn’t only prosperity that Qian Jinye wished to pray for.
He also prayed for peace within their home.
For stability throughout the nation.
For flourishing mountains and rivers, and a kingdom that would continue to prosper unchanged.
And…
For lovers to ultimately become lifelong companions.
“Alright. Then… at least let me support you. That’s acceptable, isn’t it?”
Lu Xiao extended his hand towards Qian Jinye.
From the moment they had first fallen in love until now…
Ten full years had already passed.
They could almost be considered an old married couple.
Yet somehow…
The sweetness between them remained exactly as it had been in the very beginning.
Looking at the hand Lu Xiao offered him, Qian Jinye no longer refused.
Without the slightest hesitation, he reached out and took hold of it.
Over the years…
It wasn’t only the Prince Regent who had grown more mature.
Lord Qian had changed as well.
The awkward shyness that had once lingered between them had gradually transformed into playful flirtation.
Those hesitant emotions no longer appeared in their everyday interactions.
“I’ve taken your hand… so you have to lead me all the way to the very top.”
“Of course.”
“So? Is it fun?”
“It’s fun. There are just so many people, and the Buddhas here are quite different from the ones I saw in the south before.”
The other families chatted animatedly with the driver, carrying on lively conversations back and forth, while Qian Jinye leaned against Lu Xiao’s shoulder, quietly taking slow breaths from his portable oxygen canister.
Wrapped around his wrist was a string of Buddhist prayer beads.
He had obtained them earlier after making an offering at the temple.
Lord Qian had, as always, been exceptionally generous.
Choosing to remain anonymous, he quietly donated dozens of the largest butter lamps available.
The sight drew countless visitors to stop and look.
As for whether such acts accumulated merit or not…
Qian Jinye simply didn’t concern himself with such things.
In his mind, making the offering was enough.
There was no need to leave his name behind.
The moment His Highness the Prince Regent saw the size of those butter lamps, he couldn’t help drawing in a sharp breath.
Before anyone else had time to react, he hurriedly pulled Lord Qian away.
Unfortunately…
One of the little girls travelling with them happened to witness the entire scene.
She treated it as an amusing story and spent nearly the whole ride teasing them about it.
Even the tour guide expressed genuine admiration for Qian Jinye’s actions.
After all…
People in this region truly believed in such things.
Qian Jinye, however, paid no attention whatsoever.
At the moment…
He was far more concerned with the fact that he could barely catch his breath.
Their next destination was the place where they would be spending the night.
It sat at an even higher elevation than the temple itself.
Lu Xiao remained deeply worried about Qian Jinye.
Before they even arrived, he had already insisted that Qian Jinye take preventive medicine.
“I’m not some delicate flower. You really don’t have to take care of me to this extent.”
That was what he said.
Yet he didn’t resist a single one of Lu Xiao’s actions.
Instead, he obediently allowed himself to be fussed over.
Nor did Lu Xiao have the slightest intention of leaving him alone.
After confirming that Qian Jinye was feeling alright, he gently covered his eyes, making sure he could rest properly.
“Hehe, I bet none of you know what the flags hanging on top of our houses mean, do you?”
“We don’t! Tell us about them, Master.”
“One flag means it’s an ordinary household. Three flags mean someone in the family is a Living Buddha. As for two flags… that means someone married a pair of brothers or sisters from the same family.”
Lu Xiao listened with complete fascination.
Although he now lived in ancient times, his way of thinking still remained thoroughly modern.
He found the customs and traditions of these ethnic communities genuinely interesting.
Besides…
That young Emperor seemed to have plans to eventually place him in charge of governing the minority regions.
Learning more while he had the chance certainly wouldn’t hurt.
“Lu Xiao… are you really going to drink that?”
Qian Jinye looked suspiciously at the bowl of highland barley wine Lu Xiao had just picked up.
After getting some sleep, he was feeling much better.
The dizziness had disappeared completely, and now he was simply hungry.
Lu Xiao, on the other hand, seeing that he himself was perfectly fine, had started thinking about having a drink.
To be honest…
Even Lu Xiao wasn’t entirely certain it was a good idea.
Everyone knew exactly what his alcohol tolerance was like.
He could drink.
But only a little.
Earlier, while Qian Jinye had been feeling unwell, Lu Xiao had even helped block a few drinks for him.
The end result…
Once they got home, he somehow managed to make Qian Jinye feel even worse.
“I… we’ve already come all this way. Let me try a little, Gege.”
As he spoke, he poured a cup for Qian Jinye as well.
His thinking was perfectly straightforward.
If Qian Jinye drank too…
Then he wouldn’t be able to lecture him afterwards.
Qian Jinye looked at Lu Xiao helplessly.
Just moments ago, he had been fussing over someone else’s health with endless seriousness.
Now…
He looked exactly like a mischievous child.
It wasn’t that Qian Jinye intended to forbid him from drinking.
There were simply plenty of activities scheduled for tomorrow.
He couldn’t allow Lu Xiao to overdo it.
“Then drink a little less. If you can’t finish it, I’ll drink it for you. That big brother from the north looks like he’s eager to challenge someone. When the time comes, don’t say anything. I’ll drink for you.”
One of the families travelling with them had come from Northeast China.
That elder brother certainly looked like someone who could hold his liquor.
Qian Jinye silently prepared himself.
When it came to drinking…
He didn’t believe he would lose.
Sure enough…
Amidst the singing and dancing of the Tashi Dolma performers, that man finally raised his cup.
“Meeting each other and travelling together is fate! Little brothers, let your big brother offer you a toast!”
Before Lu Xiao could even react, Qian Jinye had already raised his cup and clinked it against the man’s.
Lu Xiao obediently followed Qian Jinye’s instructions.
He merely took the tiniest sip, barely letting the wine touch his lips, never actually swallowing it.
“Big Brother’s spirit is admirable. I’ll accompany you with a drink.”
After several rounds back and forth…
The northeastern man was already becoming visibly drunk.
His daughter immediately began lecturing her father.
Blushing with embarrassment, she apologised repeatedly to Qian Jinye and Lu Xiao before hurriedly placing more food into her father’s bowl.
“So he wasn’t actually that good at drinking after all. My Gege is still more impressive.”
Leaning close, Lu Xiao whispered those words directly beside Qian Jinye’s ear.
His warm breath brushed softly against it, leaving the tip of Qian Jinye’s ear glowing bright red.
“Shut up. I’ll deal with you when we get back. You’re the one who insisted on drinking in the first place.”
After dinner came the bonfire celebration.
Unfortunately…
Neither Lu Xiao nor Qian Jinye possessed the same natural talent for singing and dancing as the cheerful Tashi Dolma performers.
Their limbs simply weren’t made for dancing.
No matter how hard they tried…
They just couldn’t keep up with the rhythm.
In the end, they simply gave up and returned directly to the hotel.
“Gege… I think I’m a little drunk.”
From behind, Lu Xiao wrapped both arms around Qian Jinye’s waist, nuzzling lightly against his ear.
His intentions couldn’t have been any more obvious.
Qian Jinye didn’t say much in response.
His fingers gently cupped Lu Xiao’s cheek before he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Lu Xiao’s cool ones.
He sucked lightly at them, then gently grazed them with his teeth.
“If you’re drunk, then go to sleep. Why are you telling me that… mm…”
Before he could finish speaking, Lu Xiao turned him around and boldly claimed Qian Jinye’s mouth.
Qian Jinye pounded against him twice with surprising force, yet Lu Xiao had no intention whatsoever of letting him go.
This kind of playful intimacy was nothing new between them.
Lu Xiao had long grown accustomed to it and didn’t think much of Qian Jinye’s resistance,
Until Qian Jinye suddenly used every ounce of strength he had and shoved Lu Xiao away with all his might.
“Gege? I… I’m sorry. Are you alright?”
Never before had Lu Xiao seen Qian Jinye resist him so fiercely.
He froze in panic.
In that instant, he began desperately replaying everything he’d done, wondering where he had gone wrong.
“I’m fine… really… Lu Xiao… let me take a breath of oxygen.”
It had never once crossed Lu Xiao’s mind that the reason Qian Jinye had pushed him away…
Was because he couldn’t breathe.
The same Qian Jinye who could withstand Lu Xiao’s inhuman strength…
Couldn’t overcome something as ordinary as oxygen deprivation.
“Alright, stop looking so upset. It isn’t your fault. It’s just that my body can’t manage it right now. We still have to get up early to watch the sunrise tomorrow, so let’s get some sleep.”
Qian Jinye reached over and ruffled Lu Xiao’s soft, fluffy short hair.
The texture was genuinely pleasant beneath his fingers.
Unable to resist, he rubbed it again…
And then once more.
Lu Xiao’s face remained clouded with dissatisfaction.
He had already begun regretting bringing Qian Jinye here in the first place.
There were countless places where they could have escaped the summer heat.
So why had he chosen the one place that made Qian Jinye feel so miserable?
“Gege, don’t move. I’ll help you.”
“Hm? Lu Xiao, don’t…”
Night quickly settled over the mountains.
Some time later, Lu Xiao emerged from the bathroom with an utterly exhausted Qian Jinye in his arms.
He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss upon Qian Jinye’s forehead before reaching over to switch off the final lamp.
“Lu Xiao… will we really be able to see it?”
Qian Jinye gazed towards the distant snow-capped mountains.
They had travelled thousands of miles…
All for a single glimpse of the Golden Mountain at Sunrise.
But this wasn’t the best season for witnessing it.
The chances of actually seeing it were very small.
As he exhaled, his breath transformed into drifting white mist in the cold air.
Lu Xiao quietly draped another blanket over Qian Jinye’s shoulders.
At this point…
All they could do was wait.
“What if we do, Gege? We’ve had terrible luck so many times already. Surely it’s about time fortune smiled on us for once.”
Lu Xiao answered with his usual cheerful grin.
Yet deep inside…
He was worried too.
If they couldn’t see it…
Wouldn’t this entire trip have been for nothing?
“Don’t think about whether the trip was wasted or not, Lu Xiao. As long as you came here with me… that’s already more than enough.”
Qian Jinye reached over and took Lu Xiao’s hand into his own.
Then he pulled half of the blanket over Lu Xiao as well.
Lu Xiao said nothing further.
He simply sat down beside Qian Jinye.
Together with all the other visitors…
They waited.
“It’s here! We can see it!”
Lu Xiao had nearly dozed off when someone’s excited shout suddenly rang through the crowd.
Everyone jerked awake at once.
Originally, the chances of seeing it today hadn’t been particularly high.
None of them had held much hope.
Now everyone hurriedly raised their phones, taking photographs, posting them online, and sharing the news.
By the time they had gone through that entire routine…
Many more visitors had already gathered around Lu Xiao and Qian Jinye.
Modern technology really was something else.
News travelled from one person to ten…
Then from ten to a hundred…
The speed was astonishing.
“Gege… Gege. Wake up. Look.”
Lu Xiao gently nudged the still-drowsy Qian Jinye.
The moment Qian Jinye opened his eyes and looked ahead…
Every trace of sleepiness vanished.
His gaze locked firmly upon the brilliant streak of golden light crowning the summit of the snow-covered mountain.
“So this is… the Golden Mountain at Sunrise?”
“Yes, Gege… we got to see it.”
The sunrise itself didn’t last very long.
Yet every passing moment was breathtaking beyond words.
From beginning to end, Qian Jinye never once let go of Lu Xiao’s hand.
And Lu Xiao never loosened his grip either.
Hidden from the sight of everyone around them…
They quietly exchanged a kiss.
It was gentle.
It was fleeting.
There was no desire within it.
Only love…
Pure and overflowing.
“How fortunate I am to have met you, Gege.”
“Isn’t that true? Thank you for pulling me out of the mire, Lu Xiao.”
“I love you.”
The End
✦ ✧ ✦
Nycreth
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The Realm is pleased. The translator would be even more pleased with coffee.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← Previous
ChaptersChapter 1 · The beginning of the tragedyChapter 2 · Don’t forgetChapter 3 · Look at it directlyChapter 4 · Whom are you trying to seduce?Chapter 5 · TeaseChapter 6 · Sleeping in the same bedChapter 7 · Internal locksChapter 8 · Tampering The rules…Chapter 9 · Black LotusChapter 10 · FledglingChapter 11 · There are no horses in the stable.Chapter 12 · Water-oil separationChapter 13 · The cost of backtrackingChapter 14 · It got biggerChapter 15 · Was it a mouse?Chapter 16 · Too fieryChapter 17 · Administer medicineChapter 18 · Tracing the PearlChapter 19 · A KissChapter 20 · Ge, Kiss meChapter 21 · Ten Thousand Deaths Without RegretChapter 22 · Endless CorridorChapter 23 · CowardChapter 24 · GoodbyeChapter 25 · Back toChapter 26 · It’s is me, Not MeChapter 27 · VictimChapter 28 · Crossed CupsChapter 29 · IntuitionChapter 30 · ChangeChapter 31 · DifferentChapter 32 · ErrorChapter 33 · Mind Your Own BusinessChapter 34 · WanderingChapter 35 · EmbraceChapter 36 · LoveChapter 37 · UnrestrainedChapter 38 · Asking Over a DrinkChapter 39 · As BeforeChapter 40 · SatiatedChapter 41 · A Change in the WindsChapter 42 · A’SuChapter 43 · Welcoming the BrideChapter 44 · GossipChapter 45 · WeaknessChapter 46 · Wedding NightChapter 47 · Brother QingChapter 48 · FadingChapter 49 · Lying LowChapter 50 · CaressChapter 51 · OnceChapter 52 · The Hidden PassageChapter 53 · MotherChapter 54 · FlawlessChapter 55 · ProphecyChapter 56 · EtherealChapter 57 · DecipheringChapter 58 · The TrapChapter 59 · Stone StatueChapter 60 · ChessChapter 61 · AssassinsChapter 62 · The National Preceptor?Chapter 63 · Please return my belongings to me.Chapter 64 · I’m not that desperate.Chapter 65 · No wayChapter 66 · No turning backChapter 67 · I told you, get out of the wayChapter 68 · Still became a monsterChapter 69 · Let’s end thisChapter 70 · Why do you look so much like him?Chapter 71 · One wanted to kill, two stopped himChapter 72 · Unless, the people at Mingzhu Academy are keeping it from himChapter 73 · FraudChapter 74 · Don’t look back, Lu XiaoChapter 75 · It’s coldChapter 76 · Kill MeChapter 77 · We are even marriedChapter 78 · Gege… I Love YouChapter 79 · “It” had arrivedChapter 80 · Wake Up!Chapter 81 · How Nostalgic….Chapter 82 · You already Promised meChapter 83 · Their TerritoryChapter 84 · Jokes were JokesChapter 85 · What you dream was realChapter 86 · Did you cry?Chapter 87 · What’s wrong, young Master?Chapter 88 · No, I only ever said it to youChapter 89 · Honey, Please let me go.Chapter 90 · What are you pretending to be, a gentleman?Chapter 91 · It’s just a shoddy trick to fool people, but I like it anywayChapter 92 · Ge, I did it voluntarily, it’s no useChapter 93 · You little BratChapter 94 · Gege~ please have mercyChapter 95 · Hearing Lu Xiao come in, he patted the seat next to himChapter 96 · Stop fooling around, let me kiss youChapter 97 · “I want…” “Want what?”Chapter 98 · Gege, watch closely how I get youChapter 99 · Little Eleven, how about we talk to ‘it’ first?Chapter 100 · Had it gone mad?Chapter 101 · I will make my decisionChapter 102 · Tsk, how indecentChapter 103 · You are the creator of my original worldChapter 104 · The world is not your toy, go back to where you came fromChapter 105 · He was a boy with snow-white hair and a handsome faceChapter 106 · Haven’t seen you for a long timeChapter 107 · TYRBL Extra: 1Chapter 108 · TYRBL Extra: 2Chapter 109 · TYRBL Extra: 3Chapter 110 · TYRBL Extra: 4