Chapter 39 - 1#
Clarification Xiao Cuan, I hate you to death!#
“Ugh—”
Yan Zhi crouched by the couch, retching repeatedly toward the floor.
Caught off guard, Xiao Cuan was pushed away and sat on the couch, momentarily stunned.
But he was only dazed for a moment; he soon reacted, lunging forward to grab the bedding and wrap it around Yan Zhi. Then, he hurriedly reached out to feel his forehead and cheeks.
“Caught a cold again? No wonder you refused to eat the cream puff.”
As he retched, Yan Zhi twisted his body, trying to evade him.
He hadn’t caught a cold; it wasn’t because of a cold that…
Feeling his struggle, Xiao Cuan held him tighter, still confused: “What is it now? Shivering from the cold? I came here in a hurry and didn’t bring an imperial physician. What should I do?”
He asked intentionally: “Yan Zhi, with no doctor and no medicine, what if you get even sicker?”
Yan Zhi didn’t want to talk to him and just stared blankly at the floor.
Finally, Xiao Cuan said: “Who told you to stay up all night waiting for someone in the cold wind?”
As expected, he still cared about Yan Zhi waiting for Chu Yu at the town entrance.
Yan Zhi wiped the corners of his mouth with his sleeve, then raised his hand and pushed him again.
Xiao Cuan was holding him tightly; this time he wasn’t pushed away, but he still noticed Yan Zhi’s intention.
He lowered his eyes, frowned, and asked intentionally: “What now?”
Yan Zhi looked at him and said seriously: “Go away.”
“You’re telling me to go away?”
“Yes.” Yan Zhi’s gaze was steady as he nodded earnestly.
“I only said one thing about him, and you’re already angry?”
“No…” Yan Zhi paused, “It’s not because of Chu Yu; I just feel unwell.”
“You feel unwell even when I’m holding you?”
“Yes.”
Xiao Cuan’s expression suddenly darkened.
He turned his head away, took a deep breath, and finally compromised: “Fine, I won’t hold you.”
As soon as he let go, Yan Zhi wrapped himself in the quilt, hugged Tang Gao, and hid back in the corner of the couch.
It was also at this moment that a sickly sweet scent suddenly spread.
Xiao Cuan looked down and saw that the cream puff had been crushed at some point, by someone.
The pastry shell was broken, and sweet cream had leaked out, soiling a small patch of the bedding.
Yan Zhi only glanced at it before looking away as if nothing had happened.
Xiao Cuan frowned but shifted his gaze to Yan Zhi, staring at him fixedly, seemingly trying to discern something.
Yan Zhi whispered: “His Majesty crushed it himself.”
“Psh—” Xiao Cuan gave a light snort and said coldly, “Nonsense.”
He knew Yan Zhi had done it.
Earlier, while retching by the couch, Yan Zhi had intentionally reached out and quietly crushed the puff.
He’d rather crush the puff than eat it or be forced by Xiao Cuan to eat it.
Forget it, if he doesn’t want to eat, then he won’t.
Since he’s already caught him, he can eat it once he’s better.
Xiao Cuan withdrew his gaze, picked up the ruined cream puff, popped it into his mouth, and chewed.
There was still some cream on the bedding where Yan Zhi had been lying. Xiao Cuan stared at it for a while but ultimately didn’t lean over to lick it off; instead, he picked up a piece of Yan Zhi’s clothing and wiped the stain clean.
After all that, the sky outside the window was beginning to brighten.
Xiao Cuan tossed the soiled clothes to the foot of the couch and unceremoniously lay down, using Yan Zhi’s pillow and covering himself with Yan Zhi’s quilt.
He turned his head to look at Yan Zhi and opened his arms toward him: “Come here.”
Yan Zhi ignored him, still sitting in the corner, head turned away, facing the wall.
His resistance was obvious.
Xiao Cuan’s hand stopped in mid-air for a moment before he eventually pulled it back.
Whatever temper he was throwing, let him be.
Xiao Cuan folded his arms and turned over, his back to Yan Zhi.
Yan Zhi glanced back, finally breathed a small sigh of relief, leaned his head against the corner of the wall, and relaxed.
He wanted to sleep for a bit, as it would be light soon and he hadn’t slept all night.
If he had to run away later, he couldn’t do it like this.
But…
He truly couldn’t fall asleep.
His Majesty was right beside him, and that intense pressure was omnipresent, constantly entangling him.
He didn’t understand why His Majesty insisted on coming to find him.
Couldn’t he just be left alone to be free?
He wasn’t that important to His Majesty at all.
Even if His Majesty found him, there was only bullying and sarcasm.
Why treat him like this?
Yan Zhi couldn’t figure it out.
As he thought, he unconsciously drifted into a daze and fell asleep.
Xiao Cuan remained with his back to him. Hearing his breathing gradually stabilize, he turned back to look at him.
He sat up, reached out, and felt Yan Zhi’s forehead with the back of his hand.
It was fine; no fever.
Xiao Cuan’s hand continued downward, wanting to support Yan Zhi’s shoulder and lift his legs to move him out of the corner and lay him flat on the couch so he could sleep more comfortably.
But at his slight movement, Yan Zhi frowned, about to wake up.
Having no choice, Xiao Cuan could only pull the quilt over and cover him.
If he wanted to be a mushroom, then let him be.
Xiao Cuan propped up his legs and sat before Yan Zhi, intentionally slowing his breathing and watching him without blinking.
It had only been a few months since he last saw him, yet Xiao Cuan felt as though a long time had passed.
Earlier he was so focused on kissing him that he hadn’t looked at him properly.
Xiao Cuan tilted his head, his gaze piercing through the corner, scanning Yan Zhi up and down, left and right, front and back, in meticulous detail.
Yan Zhi was the same as before, with fair cheeks and ruby-red lips.
Though they might have been red from his kissing.
He seemed to have gained a bit of weight; there was more flesh on his cheeks. It seemed he had been living well outside.
Likely from making brown sugar cakes, there was still some flour on his fingers that hadn’t been washed clean.
Why? Why did Yan Zhi start making brown sugar cakes after leaving the palace? Why didn’t he make cream puffs? Was he still thinking of Xie Yi?
Still, after making brown sugar cakes for several months, Yan Zhi should smell even sweeter than before.
At this thought, Xiao Cuan couldn’t help but lean in, wanting to get closer to smell the scent on Yan Zhi.
But just then, the real Tang Gao poked its head out from Yan Zhi’s arms, facing him and pushing him back.
The wolf cub let out a low, threatening growl from its throat: “Gulu—”
Xiao Cuan gave a short laugh and threatened it back.
He raised his hand and tapped the wolf cub’s head.
Get back!
Go to sleep with your father!
Just then, a hurried set of footsteps came from outside the courtyard.
The smile faded from Xiao Cuan’s face, and he turned to look out the window.
It should be his personal guards.
Xiao Cuan got off the couch. He no longer wore the black cloak he had come in but took an outer garment of Yan Zhi’s from the wardrobe.
Yan Zhi’s build was much smaller than his; the garment draped over him like a small cape.
But he liked this.
Finding Yan Zhi was a joyous occasion that should be announced to the world.
Xiao Cuan put on the garment, intending to go out and instruct his guards, but he was afraid Yan Zhi would run away.
If Yan Zhi wasn’t right under his eyes, he couldn’t feel at ease.
He hesitated for a moment, then finally returned to the couch, pushed open the window, and beckoned to the guards.
Seeing him, several guards hurried forward: “Your Majesty…”
Xiao Cuan made a silencing gesture and said in a low voice: “Prepare horses and boats; we’re returning to the capital.”
“Yes.”
“Inform Bian Ying that the person has been found. The coronation ceremony will be held upon our return. Have him prepare according to the last ceremony’s arrangements.”
“Yes.”
“Also—” Xiao Cuan paused and glanced at Yan Zhi, “Find a doctor.”
“Yes.”
Although Yan Zhi didn’t have a fever, it was best to be prepared.
The guards received their orders and left. Xiao Cuan closed the window, draped in the garment, and moved next to Yan Zhi to sit with him.
With arms folded, Xiao Cuan leaned against the wall, looking down at Yan Zhi. Imagining the scene of the coronation ceremony, he couldn’t help but curl his lips in satisfaction.
He reached out and caught a strand of Yan Zhi’s hair.
He wound Yan Zhi’s long hair around his fingers, twisting it back and forth like playing cat’s cradle, and finally tied a hunter’s knot.
Wonderful. Now Yan Zhi could never escape again.
Some time later.
Yan Zhi was awakened by voices outside.
“Officers, thank you for your hard work. I’m the next-door neighbor and also a good friend of Yan Zhi’s.”
“Seeing you’ve been on guard most of the night, I’ve brought some food for you. Brown sugar cakes, delicious brown sugar cakes.”
“I’m a friend of Yan Zhi’s. Could I trouble you to let me in to see him? To bring him some breakfast? Yan Zhi rarely cooks, and there’s not much food in his house. Even if you’re taking him away, you can’t let him starve to death.”
It was Chu Yu!
Why was Chu Yu here again?
Didn’t he tell him not to worry about things here anymore?
Yan Zhi struggled out of his sleep and suddenly opened his eyes.
But as soon as he woke, he felt someone beside him move.
Xiao Cuan also opened his eyes, got off the couch, and walked out: “What is it?”
“Your Majesty, this person insisted on…”
Yan Zhi quickly pulled himself together, moved to the window, quietly lifted the pane, and peered through the crack.
Chu Yu was too kind-hearted; even though he’d been told not to come back, he still…
He wouldn’t starve to death if he didn’t eat brown sugar cakes.
Yan Zhi was worried but didn’t dare act impulsively.
He knew that sometimes, if he didn’t show his face, His Majesty might actually spare his friend.
If he intervened, His Majesty’s anger might flare up, which would be worse.
So he decided to watch for a bit longer.
It was already broad daylight outside.
The weather today was not good; it was gloomy and overcast.
Draped in his garment, Xiao Cuan stood at the bedroom door, looking into the courtyard.
Chu Yu held a small basket and said with his head held high: “Your Majesty, I thought Yan Zhi wouldn’t have much to eat at home, so… I brought some over, just to do my duty as a neighbor…”
“No need,” Xiao Cuan interrupted coldly. “He’s with me; he naturally won’t starve to death.”
“I know that, of course, but…”
Chu Yu stepped forward, trying to push past the two guards.
The guards, dutiful as ever, raised their weapons to block him.
“But…” Chu Yu looked up at Xiao Cuan and suddenly said, “A cream puff is far too expensive for Your Majesty. How many cream puffs would Yan Zhi have to eat to be full?”