"Prince Pingding." Arslan was no stranger to Bai Jiu. Though he held no affection for the man, he raised a hand in greeting. "Pray, speak."
Bai Jiu’s hand paused as he poured the wine. "It is precisely because such sincerity is rare that it deserves careful consideration and cherished thought. If a match is truly made in heaven, one should not fear a few complications along the way. Your delegation has only just arrived in the capital; there is no need to rush for a perfect resolution immediately."
"We have come for this matter alone," Arslan said, frowning. "Only this is worthy of my presence. Time is precious; this matter should not be delayed repeatedly. Your country avoids the subject again and again—what is your intent?"
*What is their intent?*
Xin Yi found the food tasteless. By intercepting Arslan’s mention of the Prince of Yan, Bai Jiu had shielded him from trouble. He sat there watching the two sides locked in a stalemate, silently weighing Great Yuan’s motives.
Great Yuan’s power was currently at its peak; why would they trouble themselves to beg for an Imperial Princess of Da Lan? Their thirty-two tribes were tightly allied; they had no need for a marriage alliance to maintain stability. On the contrary, it was Da Lan that was being forced into a steady retreat, filled with trepidation and defensive caution. Arslan repeatedly showed a lack of respect, yet the Emperor feigned ignorance—a direct manifestation of fear. However, the ministers refused to relent, likely suspecting that Great Yuan harbored ulterior motives.
So, why was Great Yuan doing this?
Xin Yi was still peeling oranges and pondering this even after the banquet ended. He stood by the carriage outside the palace gates waiting for Bai Jiu, while the dispersing officials whispered about the day’s events. A few spotted him and lowered their voices.
"If His Highness the Prince of Yan were still here..."
"How could we suffer such humiliation today?"
"But..."
Xin Yi focused his gaze on the orange peel in his hands with profound devotion, maintaining his facade of a mild-tempered, hard-of-hearing youth throughout. Just then, Bai Jiu emerged. The various ghosts and gods of the court instantly vanished, and Xin Yi’s ears were finally at peace. The two boarded the carriage, and the moment the curtain fell, Xin Yi finally relaxed.
He stuffed a piece of the peeled orange into Bai Jiu’s mouth, saying sheepishly, "If I have to attend another palace banquet, I’ll end up sick of oranges."
Bai Jiu smelled slightly of wine, so he didn't embrace him but sat close. "Next time, I’ll have them prepare something else for you." He tilted Xin Yi’s chin up. "Why were you looking at me so expectantly just now?"
"I... I wasn't..." As Xin Yi spoke, Bai Jiu’s thumb brushed against the corner of his lips. He flushed instantly and stammered, "I—I just wanted to look at you, My Lord."
Bai Jiu sighed softly. "You only wanted to look?"
Xin Yi pursed his lips and took Bai Jiu’s hand, nuzzling it against his cheek. Bai Jiu smiled, his palm sliding to grip Xin Yi’s hand as he pinned it against the carriage wall. He leaned in, pressing Xin Yi against the wood, and slowly brushed his lips against the boy's. Xin Yi felt a flush of heat, and before he could react, a sudden, forceful kiss descended like a storm.
Only when Xin Yi’s tongue felt numb from the kiss did Bai Jiu release him, saying earnestly, "Next time, don't just look. Do this."
Xin Yi’s face was burning. After a long silence, he managed to squeeze out a single word: "Okay..."
He looked dazed, appearing much slower than usual. Bai Jiu squeezed his fingertips, finding endless amusement in how he had kissed the boy into a stupor. He felt that such dullness was quite good—it made him easier to bully.
"Great... Great Yuan’s move has... has deep meaning," Xin Yi said, his face turning red again under Bai Jiu’s gaze. He had to look away just to catch his breath. "What do you think, My Lord?"
Bai Jiu didn't press him further. He answered, "Great Yuan’s proposal will likely succeed."
"Succeed?" Xin Yi looked back at him. "There will really be a marriage alliance?"
Bai Jiu paused before continuing. "Since the Crown Prince’s policy of 'reducing the military to favor the civil,' few talented generals have emerged. His Majesty is wary of Beiyang and dares not move them rashly. Prince Ping has been executed, leaving only Prince Tang who can still be dispatched by the capital to lead a campaign. Great Yuan is currently at its strongest; His Majesty has already considered the marriage alliance."
"Then what is Great Yuan’s goal? Even without Da Lan’s support, Chagatai could take the throne. With Arslan behind him, no one in Great Yuan can oppose him."
"I have but one guess," Bai Jiu said softly.
"Hmm?" Xin Yi leaned in to listen.
Bai Jiu brushed aside a stray lock of the boy's hair, his narrow eyes darkening. "Great Yuan wants to start a war."
On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xin Yi was appointed as the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. The decree essentially ordered him to accompany the Great Yuan delegation and ensure they had a grand time in the capital. When he received the imperial edict, he sighed to Bai Jiu.
"His Majesty is truly persistent with an 'honest' man like me."
"A soft persimmon," Bai Jiu reached out and pinched his cheek. "Soft and tender to the touch. Everyone wants a squeeze."
Xin Yi’s cheek turned slightly red from the pinch. "Fortunately, you aren't using your teeth. Otherwise, one bite would reveal I'm solid inside, and I’d feel bad for you."
Bai Jiu laughed. "Swallowing you whole would be better."
Xin Yi immediately covered his face.
Since he had accepted the post, he had to work. That afternoon, he left the manor to scout the capital with Hu Yong, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. Along the way, it was clear that Minister Hu had received some word; while not fawning, he was very polite to Xin Yi. As a "mute" prince with no support in the capital, Xin Yi naturally acted even more politely, and the two got along quite harmoniously.
"The Lion King has been to the capital three times already. He likely knows all the rare spots and has little interest in them," Hu Yong mused atop his horse. "But the Fourth Prince is here for the first time. If we show him something too common, I fear it won't catch his eye."
Xin Yi found it hard to offer suggestions. Today was his first time openly wandering the capital, and he knew the layout even less. Just then, he saw Xiao Jin sauntering over on horseback and smiled.
Heaven had eyes; someone who knew the city inside out had arrived.
Xiao Jin had been roaming the capital since he was in diapers. In terms of familiarity with the city, perhaps only Xin Wen could rival him. Xiao Jin’s horse headed straight for them, and upon arrival, he let out a string of "What a coincidence, what a coincidence!"
Hu Yong had clearly thought of this as well. His eyes lit up the moment he saw him, and he hurried to pull the man over, laughing. "Coincidence indeed! Meeting Officer Xiao is today’s stroke of good luck. Where are you headed?"
"Just wandering," Xiao Jin said, knowing full well why they were there. "Where is Minister Hu headed?"
"I’m nursing a headache," Hu Yong said, not letting go of him. "Since Officer Xiao is free, why not lend me a hand? Where should we take the Great Yuan delegation for entertainment? I suspect the Lion King is tired of the capital’s wine houses."
"It’s not the houses one tires of, but the flavors." Xiao Jin patted his waist token and made a show of checking the sun's position before saying, "It just so happens the Capital Guard Bureau doesn't have much going on right now. Shall I show you two around?"
Hu Yong readily agreed, and Xin Yi followed along. To his surprise, Xiao Jin acted as if he were trying to spite someone, leading them straight to the pleasure districts and brothels, claiming there was "more fun" there. Whenever he got a moment, he would sneakily tell Xin Yi how wonderful the girls were, acting as if he wanted to shove seven or eight of them onto him just to separate him from Bai Jiu immediately.
Hu Yong actually began to seriously consider a tour of the flower streets, leaving Xin Yi speechless. It wasn't until evening that the three emerged from the pleasure district. Xin Yi was covered in the scent of rouge and powder; he couldn't stop sneezing, and his eyes were rubbed red, making him look quite pitiful.
Unexpectedly, they hadn't gone far when they saw Prince Pingding, dressed in a dark red round-collared robe with a flying-fish pattern, riding Chiye slowly across the arched bridge at the end of the street. Xin Yi immediately saw Xiao Jin’s back stiffen. Xiao Jin whispered a "Good God," then quickly cupped his hands to bid Hu Yong farewell. Before Hu Yong could react, Xiao Jin spurred his horse and bolted. Seeing him leave and worried about the entertainment arrangements, Hu Yong hurriedly waved to Xin Yi and chased after him.
In a few short moments, only Xin Yi was left standing there.
The moment he saw the narrowing of Bai Jiu’s eyes, he knew things were bad. The scent of rouge on him was impossible to hide. When Bai Jiu reached him, he didn't ask much. His expression was neutral as he said, "Going home?"
Xin Yi nodded, and Bai Jiu turned his horse to lead the way back. They didn't take the main road, instead choosing a secluded path along the water. Seeing that Bai Jiu remained silent, Xin Yi’s heart did somersaults. His expression shifted nervously as he followed, feeling inexplicably guilty.
"Jing... Jingyuan..."
Chiye slowed to a halt under a weeping willow by the water. Bai Jiu looked back at him. "What is it?"
Xin Yi reined in his horse beside him, looking restless in the saddle. He opened his mouth to say "I—" but was interrupted by a loud sneeze that turned the tip of his nose red. With willow branches brushing his shoulders, Xin Yi rubbed his nose, his voice sounding a bit dazed.
Bai Jiu leaned over slightly from his horse and asked in a low voice, "What is that smell?"
Xin Yi answered honestly, "The ladies' rouge..." Before he could finish, the other man had already pressed against his lips, forcefully sucking on the tip of his tongue. Xin Yi felt a sting of pain and realized his lips were being licked repeatedly. Just as he was losing himself to the tingling sensation, he suddenly heard the sound of people chatting as they approached the path behind the willows. Startled, he tried to pull back. But Bai Jiu’s palm had already slid down to press against his spine, his kiss becoming even more domineering. He didn't let go even as the people passed behind the trees. Xin Yi’s cheeks were flushed; in his lightheaded state, he had no idea where the passersby had gone. Bai Jiu’s fingers slid against his neck, the coolness making him shiver.
"This smell." Bai Jiu had been frowning, but seeing Xin Yi’s reddened nose and eyes, he couldn't help himself. He rubbed his cheek firmly against the boy's. "It smells terrible."
Xin Yi nodded frantically and was led back to be washed clean.
When he came out, his face was still steaming. Xin Yi buried his face in a towel and lay prone on the bed, playing dead. Ever since they returned from Mount Luyi, Bai Jiu hadn't mentioned him sleeping in another room. By the time Bai Jiu came out later, Xin Yi was already half-asleep.
It was Xin Yi’s first time being "taught" how to bathe by someone else, and his mind was still a hazy blur of the sight of Bai Jiu’s chest visible through his water-dampened inner robe. *Beauty is a ruinous distraction, a ruinous distraction...* A weight settled on his back as Bai Jiu blew out the lamp and pressed down on him.
"Heavy..." Xin Yi murmured, turning his head to complain drowsily.
Bai Jiu took the opportunity to linger on his lips for a while. Though Xin Yi’s eyes were closed and his responses were sluggish from exhaustion, Bai Jiu enjoyed this sense of half-awake dependence. His kisses were mostly tender and lingering. Afterward, Bai Jiu reached out, pulled the towel away, and tossed it aside before rolling over onto his pillow. He pulled the boy onto himself. Xin Yi was so tired that he settled quietly against the crook of Bai Jiu’s neck. Though he never said it outright, Xin Yi always slept well when Bai Jiu patted him gently; the moment he closed his eyes, he became incredibly docile.
Bai Jiu ran his fingers through the boy's slightly damp hair and looked down, patting his back softly. Sure enough, Xin Yi’s breathing soon became deep and steady. Bai Jiu tilted his head to press a kiss to his temple, his hand gradually slowing as he too prepared for sleep.
Xiao Jin was a good lad.
If he couldn't stay still, then he shouldn't stay still at all.
The next morning, before dawn, Xiao Jin was jolted awake by a pounding on his door. He had been sleeping at the Capital Guard Bureau lately to handle any nighttime emergencies. But such frantic pounding was a first.
He threw on a cloak and opened the door, exhausted. "What is it? Speak quickly."
"Sir! Someone from Censor Li’s manor says there’s a fire!"
Xiao Jin snapped awake, grabbed his outer robe, and ordered his men to lead the way. He galloped to the scene, only to find that a pot in Censor Li’s small kitchen had caught fire.
Xiao Jin laughed in anger. "A single scoop of water could have fixed this, and you tell me there's a fire? A! FIRE!"
Before he could even kick the messenger, another man ran up. "Sir! A great thief has broken into Academician Zhao’s house at the Hanlin Academy!"
It turned out to be a stray cat stealing fish.
"Sir! The Imperial College has lost its star-gazing plate!"
It was found wedged under a cabinet.
"Sir! The golden needles of the Imperial Academy of Medicine vanished in the night!"
"Sir!"
"Sir..."
Xiao Jin rushed tirelessly from one trivial incident to the next, his mind nearly exploding from the constant cries of "Sir!" He gritted his teeth and spurred his horse, screaming internally.
*What is going on today!*
He must have run into a streak of bad luck to be this busy!
***
