Chapter 11 - 1#
Leisure: You even gave birth to a “son” for me…#
Yanzhi could hear His Majesty’s voice and feel His Majesty’s breath.
He knew His Majesty had returned.
So he struggled to wake up, wanting to say the words he had prepared all night to His Majesty.
But as soon as he spoke one sentence, His Majesty covered his mouth.
“Wuu wuu…”
Yanzhi shook his head and waved his hands, trying to struggle, but His Majesty held him even tighter.
Arms like cast iron were wrapped around his waist; His Majesty used his copper tendons and iron bones to forge a cage, firmly locking him in his embrace.
“Don’t make a noise, sleep.”
The Emperor’s cold and stern voice sounded above his head.
Yanzhi paused for a moment, then struggled even harder.
No, he had to make things clear. He couldn’t be bullied by His Majesty so inexplicably.
Yanzhi was soft on the outside but a complete stubborn soul on the inside.
The words he decided to say, he must say.
The things he decided to do, he must do.
Even His Majesty couldn’t stop him.
Xiao Cuan noticed his resistance. Instead of letting go, he held him even tighter.
One hand still restrained his waist, while the other rested on the back of his head, pressing him down so his face was buried in Xiao Cuan’s chest.
Total darkness before his eyes, pressure all around.
Yanzhi couldn’t tell dream from reality, nor could he tell if he was awake or asleep.
He only felt like he was being pressed down by a wild beast, unable to speak, even breathing becoming difficult.
So this was a nightmare.
This must be a nightmare…
Yanzhi struggled randomly a few times, finally kicked his feet, his body went stiff, and he fell asleep just like that.
In the darkness, Xiao Cuan slightly relaxed his grip and looked down.
Yanzhi’s body was tense, lying in his arms, both hands still tightly clutching his lapel in a posture of resistance and defense.
Like a startled little rabbit.
Xiao Cuan pried Yanzhi’s fingers open one by one, then took his hand and placed it on himself.
Feeling Yanzhi’s soft chest and belly exposed, pressing warmly against him and snuggling up without reservation, Xiao Cuan finally closed his eyes in satisfaction and fell into a peaceful sleep.
This is how it should be.
*
—“Your Majesty, save me!”
When dawn broke, Yanzhi cried out in alarm and woke up with a start from his dream.
He held the quilt, sprang up from the couch, and gasped for breath.
He… he had a nightmare.
He dreamed that His Majesty took him hunting in the mountains. His Majesty insisted he wanted a tiger skin and took him to hunt a fierce tiger.
When the tiger appeared, a gale suddenly blew through the woods, sweeping him off his horse.
In the next instant, His Majesty vanished without a trace, leaving him alone to face the tiger.
He was terrified, crying and running in his dream, being pounced upon by the tiger several times.
Yanzhi lowered his head, gasping. Sweat slid down his face, condensed on the tip of his nose, and finally dripped onto the quilt.
He composed himself, wiped his face, and felt like something wasn’t quite right.
Usually at this time, His Majesty would have already made fun of him, but this time, there was no movement around him at all.
Yanzhi quickly raised his head and looked around. The couch was empty, and the tent was empty.
His Majesty wasn’t there; no one was there.
He… he really had been left behind by His Majesty!
Yanzhi hurriedly tossed aside the quilt, not even having time to put on shoes, and ran out barefoot.
He lifted the tent flap and bumped straight into two accompanying palace attendants.
Yanzhi froze for a moment. Looking at the soldiers and attendants coming and going in the camp, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Good, good, he wasn’t left here.
The attendants bowed to him: “Young Master Yanzhi.”
“His Majesty…” Yanzhi asked, “Where is His Majesty?”
“His Majesty took several generals up the mountain early this morning. His Majesty said Young Master Yanzhi was exhausted yesterday and needn’t follow today.”
“Okay,” Yanzhi nodded, “I understand.”
He didn’t want to ponder whether His Majesty’s forbidding him to follow was truly because he wanted him to rest, or if it was intentional coldness because of last night, wanting to give him a warning.
He just felt relieved.
Not going up the mountain meant not meeting a tiger.
Not meeting a tiger meant not being chased by one.
Not being chased by a tiger meant his nightmare wouldn’t come true.
That was great.
Yanzhi sighed in relief again, turned back into the tent, and changed out of the clothes dampened by nightmare sweat.
The attendants brought him hot water and breakfast. He washed up briefly and ate a large bowl of meat porridge, a piece of meat cake, and a piece of red bean paste cake.
He was in a good mood and ate much more than last night.
After breakfast, the attendants tidied up and left.
Yanzhi stayed alone in the tent, took out the small bundle he brought, and found two volumes of storybooks from it.
Normally, he always followed behind His Majesty to serve him and had no time to read these.
These two volumes were bought by him two years ago.
Not knowing when His Majesty would return, he curled up on the couch and read page by page, very seriously.
When he reached a thrilling part, he couldn’t help covering his face with his hands, not daring to look further.
Just then, a cheer came from outside the tent—
“Bravo!”
Yanzhi instinctively turned his head, put down the book, and walked outside.
He lifted the curtain and looked toward the sound.
It turned out to be a dozen or so young noblemen who hadn’t gone up the mountain to hunt, playing in the open space.
A group of people gathered, tying a strip of cloth to a tree a hundred paces away, taking turns shooting arrows.
Someone had just hit the target, so they cheered.
Yanzhi unconsciously took a step toward the fun, then suddenly remembered his status and quickly stopped.
These were sons of court officials, candidates for His Majesty’s selection.
He was just His Majesty’s personal attendant. His Majesty had just lectured him last night, forbidding him from running around.
He shouldn’t go and join the fun.
Yanzhi dropped the curtain, went back into the tent, retreated to the couch, and continued reading his book.
He lowered his head, pointing at the words in the book with his finger, reading them one by one, trying hard to distract himself.
He and these noble young masters were not from the same world.
If His Majesty found out, he would be finished; His Majesty really would lock him up.
But the more he tried not to listen or think, the louder and clearer the conversations, cheers, and boos from outside became.
The sounds were like a tide, surging toward him, surrounding him, pervasive. His thoughts, like a bird, flew outside.
Actually…
It was still early; His Majesty probably wouldn’t return until evening.
An audacious thought sprouted in Yanzhi’s heart.
As soon as this thought landed, it instantly took root and grew.
He could no longer restrain himself. He jumped off the couch, grabbed his cloak, and put it on.
He would wrap himself up tightly and wouldn’t be recognized by anyone.
He would just hide nearby, in a concealed spot, and steal a look.
He would keep an eye on the surroundings; as soon as His Majesty returned, he would hurry back.
It would be fine; nothing would happen.
Finally, Yanzhi put on his hood and, like a little cat stealing dried fish, quietly slipped out.
He didn’t dare get too close, only daring to hide behind a tent, curiously watching the archers and staring at the flying arrowheads.
When someone hit the target, he would follow with a soft cheer.
When someone missed, he didn’t join the boos.
It was clearly a simple game, yet a group of people gathered together found it very enjoyable.
While he was watching intently, someone suddenly held a teacup with both hands and handed it to him.
Yanzhi was startled, pulled his hood, masked his face with his sleeve, and turned to run: “My apologies…”
In the next instant, a familiar yet strange call came from behind him—
“Young Master Yanzhi?”
Yanzhi turned back and met Xie Yi’s gentle and friendly gaze, momentarily dazed.
Since their parting many years ago, this was the first time Yanzhi had seen him so closely.
Xie Yi had grown up; his features were elegant and his expression gentle.
He said warmly, “You can come over and sit to watch. I won’t tell anyone.”
Yanzhi hesitated and shook his head: “Better not, I should head back…”
“My father followed His Majesty hunting. I recognize his horse’s hoofbeats. If he returns with His Majesty, I will know.”
“Really?” Yanzhi asked instinctively.
“Yes.” Xie Yi nodded, glancing down at Yanzhi’s feet unconsciously shuffling on the ground. “Are you tired of standing? Come and sit. Those noble sons never dare look up at you and don’t recognize you. Just say you are a distant relative of mine who came with my father.”
Yanzhi thought for a moment and finally nodded gently: “…Okay.”
He kept his head down, hiding behind Xie Yi, and cautiously walked toward the liveliest spot.
Xie Yi led him to sit on the trunk of a fallen dead tree in the open space.
Yanzhi tightened his cloak and whispered, “Xie Yi, thank you.”
“It’s just a small favor, not worth mentioning,” Xie Yi said softly. “Besides, I should be the one thanking you. If you hadn’t helped by calling the imperial physician, my father would have died on the battlefield.”
“At that time, I thought you were like me, a junior member of a noble family, and wanted to find you to thank you. But as soon as I started asking around, I was warned by the personal guards around His Majesty.”
“So I’ve never been able to thank you. It was truly rude of me. My apologies.”
“It’s okay…” Yanzhi thought for a bit and urged him, “If… if we are discovered later, just pretend you don’t know me.”
Xie Yi pursed his lips, neither saying “okay” nor “no.”
He only said, “Look, the five brothers of the Bian family are about to shoot. All five of them are quite interesting.”
Yanzhi looked up.
He saw Bian Mingyu, Bian Qi, Bian Cheng, Bian Zhuan, and Bian He standing in a row, all five drawing their bows and nocking arrows simultaneously.
Bian Mingyu said confidently, “I don’t believe it. With five of us, at least one must hit…”
Before he finished, five “whooshes” sounded, and all five arrows missed.
Everyone burst into laughter. Bian Mingyu’s face darkened, and he turned to leave with his four brothers.
“Let’s go!”
Coincidentally, the five brothers found a random place to sit, right next to Yanzhi.
One of the Bians picked up a water skin and handed it to Bian Mingyu.
“Eldest brother, next time don’t speak.”
Bian Mingyu was annoyed: “Can this be blamed on me?”
“Of course it’s your fault. As soon as you speak, we can’t stop laughing.”
“If I had known, we would have followed His Majesty hunting instead of staying to keep you company.”