Two or three days flew by swiftly enough, and it was already the fifteenth.
On this day, the palace was decorated with lanterns and banners, its servants bustling about, lively as ever.
Ye Yunting rose early to change into a set of deep red brocade robes. The robes had been specially tailored for him by the elder Wangfei’s seamstress; their scarlet base was trimmed with black, interspersed with patterns of coiling snakes. Though simple, they exuded a natural air of nobility. Tailored to fit his figure, these robes accentuated Ye Yunting’s advantages—the way his movements swept back his sleeves, revealing his graceful bearing.
Li Fengqi had originally been straightening his own clothes but when he spotted Ye Yunting, his gaze momentarily froze, unable to look away.
Ye Yunting lowered his lashes to adjust his belt, then inadvertently met Li Fengqi’s eyes. Without attempting to hide his intentions, Li Fengqi continued to stare. Ye Yunting didn’t look anywhere else for a moment, before hesitantly lowering his head to examine himself. “Is there something wrong with my appearance?”
“No.” Li Fengqi raised his eyebrows at the question, smiling as he said, “I simply think that the Young Master looks charming and benevolent, like a pearl or jade, and by your side I feel inferior.”
If Li Fengqi were more straightforward, Ye Yunting might have secretly rolled his eyes—but instead, he chose to say, “like a pearl or jade, and by your side I feel inferior.”
Ye Yunting pursed his lips and shot him a warning glance, but ultimately said, “Even the brightest starlight cannot eclipse moonlight. Why should the prince be so modest?”
“Hm?” Li Fengqi drawled deliberately, spreading his arms wide as he smiled at him. “Can I take this as Young Master expressing his satisfaction with my appearance?”
“…” After a few serious words, that man always had the ability to turn the topic to a different direction. Ye Yunting was no match for him in terms of smooth talk, and he had no intention of falling into Li Fengqi’s trap and being taken advantage of. So he pretended not to hear and asked Ji Lian to bring in his belt and crown.
Li Fengqi chuckled softly at his reaction, then stopped teasing him. After straightening out his clothes, he left the hall with Ye Yunting.
There was no chief steward within the palace, so Zhu Lie and Wu Geng were tasked with greeting guests at the gate today while the elder Wangfei received the female family guests in the rear courtyard. By the time the two of them exited, early-arriving guests had already begun gathering outside. The sight of them drew smiles from those present, regardless of their inner feelings.
In front of outsiders, Li Fengqi remained as aloof and unapproachable as ever, nodding slightly without another word.
Several officials were looking at one another, unsure whether they ought to leave or stay. They did not know how to proceed—staying to deal with Prince Yong’an alone would undoubtedly invite awkwardness, yet leaving would be a waste of time, considering they had arrived so early to seize the opportunity to test the waters.
Ye Yunting noticed their hesitation and suggested with a smile, “Honored officials have arrived early, why not take a seat and rest for now? Please enjoy some tea.”
He gave them a way out of this awkward situation, and the officials could only bow respectfully to accept his invitation.
After they left, Li Fengqi finally spoke up. “You’re all smiles when greeting outsiders, but you look at me with such disdain.”
Ye Yunting hadn’t expected that his words would be taken as an opportunity to throw shade. He smiled insincerely, “As Wangye has said, they are outsiders, so naturally we must treat them courteously. If Wangye prefers I treat him as I do them, there is no objection.” The smile on his face grew increasingly fake.
But Li Fengqi was immune to such tactics. He had his own methods of interpreting things. After pondering briefly, he lowered his voice and offered him a warm smile, “So if I’m not mistaken, the Young Master acknowledges me as his wife?”
Ye Yunting: “…”
He realized that Li Fengqi’s thick skin was something he could never match even after hundreds or thousands of years of cultivation.
Seeing that he had fallen silent, Li Fengqi pulled Ye Yunting’s hand closer. “Young Master, did I say something wrong?”
Just as Ye Yunting was about to pull away, a familiar voice drew out a dramatic howl: “Shidi, weren’t we told to come at this time?”
Yue Changgou pretended to cover his eyes, but the fingers between them were spread wide open, allowing those two eyes filled with interest to peek through.
Ye Yunting abruptly pulled back his hand, his face changing expression. Facing teasing eyes, he wanted to explain but was unsure where to begin. In the end, he could only turn toward Chang Yu’an beside him. “Teacher, why did you arrive so early as well?”
Before Chang Yu’an could respond, Yue Changgou chirped, grinning, “Of course we came early to see how Shidi has been faring at the prince’s palace.” Only then did he turn toward Li Fengqi, who had remained silent on the side. “This must be the renowned Prince Yong’an, yes? Shidi hasn’t introduced us yet.”
Ye Yunting stared at him, unblinking. No one would take you for a dummy if you didn’t speak.
Yue Changgou returned his gaze innocently. So it really is because of this wild man that you refuse to go with us.
Ye Yunting: “…”
The staring contest between the two lasted no more than a moment before Li Fengqi noticed this little squabble between the siblings. He pressed down lightly on the wheels of his chair to move forward. With a swift turn, he positioned himself next to Ye Yunting. His attitude toward them was completely different from earlier when facing the officials. “Teacher Chang, Elder Brother Yue, I have long heard of your esteemed reputations.”
“We are but insignificant unknowns, how can Prince Yong’an speak of ‘long-esteemed reputations’?” Yue Changgou’s lips curled up slightly as he smiled at Li Fengqi. His skin was lightly tanned and features deeply sculpted. There was a scar on his face that moved with his smile, lending him an air of malevolence.
Upon observing his expression and listening to his words, one would find that this young man was far more aloof and unfriendly than he appeared to be.
Li Fengqi’s eyes darkened as he replied smoothly, “Naturally, from the mouth of Master Yunting himself. Teacher Chang has done great kindness for Yunting, so he is a benefactor of my royal family. Please take a seat.” With those words, he summoned Wu Geng. “Escort Teacher Chang and Brother Yue to the main courtyard. Do not neglect them, nor allow others to disturb them.”
Wu Geng accepted the order and respectfully led the way.
“Shidi should also come with us, so that we can catch up.” Yue Changgou swung an arm around Ye Yunting’s shoulder. “We were in a hurry last time, and there are still many things we haven’t told you about.”
Ye Yunting was about to refuse, but heard Li Fengqi sya,” There are many guests today, and Yunting and I will need to welcome them together. Why don’t Brother Yue stay for a few days in the palace after the banquet if you want to reminisce?”
Yue Changhou looked at him. Both of them were smiling and polite. Only they know how many blows they were exchanging in the dark.
Chang Yu’an, who had been silent throughout this exchange, broke their little standoff with a suggestion of his own. “If that’s the case, then we’ll go ahead and take our seats first,” he said, glancing at Ye Yunting. “I will speak to you later tonight.” With one last glance at Yue Changgou, he followed after Wu Geng.
Yue Changgou could only follow behind. After taking a few steps, he whispered to Chang Yu’an, “He calls me Brother in such a familiar way—have we known each other for long? I think he really does have designs on Shidi.”
Chang Yu’an gave him a mild rebuke. “Yunting also has feelings toward him.”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have hesitated to leave with them for Nanyue.
Ever since that day they met, Yue Changgou knew Ye Yunting must have some attachment keeping him back, which was why he wavered when they suggested leaving. Yet he hadn’t expected that attachment to be Prince Yong’an himself.
A hint of worry flickered across Chang Yu’an’s eyes.
“Are they plotting against each other? Then neither can come out worse off.” Yue Changgou clicked his tongue. “But Shidi is far too naive; he’s no match for Prince Yong’an. I have to keep a closer eye on him.” Besides, Prince Yong’an was older than him, but the prince came from military stock and had spent many years immersed in court affairs. How many tricks and stratagems had he not seen?
Though his shidi was clever, against him, the boy might not fare so well.
“Let’s wait and see,” Chang Yu’an said.
*
As for Ye Yunting, after inviting Chang Yu’an and his disciple to stay in the main courtyard, Li Fengqi snorted softly, “When I reached for your hand, you avoided it like a flood or a raging beast. Yet when your senior brother draped an arm over your shoulders, you didn’t resist at all.”
“?”
Ye Yunting found this ridiculous. “How can they be compared?”
How could holding hands between men and leaning on each other’s shoulders possibly be the same? Moreover, he had grown up with his shixiong since childhood; there was nothing romantic between them. As for him and Li Fengqi… Ye Yunting’s expression flickered before settling back down, but even if he tried not to think about it, he couldn’t help himself.
“Of course I cannot compare to your shixiong.” Li Fengqi sighed quietly, his expression desolate.
If Ye Yunting hadn’t seen his act these past few days, he might have fallen for it—but now, he was no longer that gullible boy who would believe anything. After witnessing Li Fengqi’s many deceptions, his heart had gradually calmed like still water.
Just like now, when he saw Li Fengqi’s face full of loneliness, his heart was not moved at all, and he said lightly, “Wangye thinks too much.”
Li Fengqi saw that he didn’t rise to the bait, and he became more dissatisfied, muttering, “It’s true that you only hear the laughter of the new people, but not the tears of the old people.”
Expressionless, Ye Yunting reminded him, “Logically speaking, Shixiong is the old one.”
“…” Li Fengqi was choked for the first time before eventually saying, “Never mind, this prince won’t hold it against you.” After all, new people were always better than old acquaintances.
After a brief playful bickering, they both collected themselves and went to greet their guests together.
Most of those who arrived early had lowly status, while those coming now required more careful attention.
The Royal Historian, the Imperial Censor, the Minister of Justice… each and every one showed up without exception, greeting Li Fengqi with smiles on their faces. As their gazes swept over Ye Yunting standing beside them, however, those smiles often took on an undertone of indifference or disdain, sympathy or scorn…
Ye Yunting met these glances with a smile, his own expression devoid of any hint of emotion.
Behind the Minister of Justice came the Duke of Qi’s family. Ever since their unhappy parting, the two families had stopped all interactions. This time, as the banquet was open to the public, the elder Wangfei had still extended her invitation to the Duke of Qi’s estate.
Ye Zhili, along with his wife and Ye Wang, were all present. The couple’s expression was not too happy; however, unlike the couple, Ye Wang had an excited expression. The scars left by the truth revealed last time were nowhere to be seen on him; his eyes shone brightly as he looked at Ye Yunting, as if he had much to say.
“Father and Mother, please go inside first,” Ye Yunting said with an unassailable smile. “There are many guests today, so I’m afraid we won’t be able to attend to everyone properly.” He turned toward Ye Wang once more after finishing, and this time his smile held more sincerity rather than courtesy.
Yin Hongye’s complexion was wan, her usually radiant face now pallid beneath layers of makeup. She shot Ye Yunting a hateful glare, opening her mouth to say something, only for Ye Wang to gently push her from beside her. “Mother…”
She swallowed the words that had reached her lips and followed Ye Zhili into the hall.
As soon as they arrived, Zhu Lie’s voice rang out again: “The Grand Tutor has arrived—”
Ye Yunting narrowed his eyes to see Han Chan walking over, white robes billowing behind him.
== Author’s Notes ===
77: This is called mutual affection, you uneducated (rolls eyes)
Yue Zhangguo: ?
=== Translator’s Notes ===
Love their bickering. 😀
Same they are so cute, the straightforward is so cute.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your hardworking.