Springtime

Shen Tingjue squeezed his cheeks with both hands. "You do, you do, you do!"

"Stop messing around." Xiao Hanye pulled his hands away. "You should know that aside from you, I've never indulged anyone else this much, so don't push your—"

Seeing his eyes redden again, His Highness the Crown Prince could only swallow the rest of his words.

Xiao Hanye was mentally exhausted. "You start tearing up after barely two sentences. How am I supposed to talk to you properly?"

"You call that talking to me properly?" Shen Tingjue bit his lip. "Are you sure you were talking to me properly? After barely two sentences, you turned fierce and threatening, gritted your teeth, frowned, and glared. And you say you were talking to me properly?"

"..." Backed into retreating step by step, Xiao Hanye instinctively moved back, his head feeling twice its usual size. He took a deep breath, unwilling to argue with him. "Fine, fine, I was wrong. Whatever you think it was, that's what it was. Everything you say is right, all right? Stand still. Stop crowding so close. I'm afraid of you, okay?"

Shen Tingjue was displeased. "You're changing the subject. Why don't you dare answer my question directly?"

Xiao Hanye went along with him. "I like you."

Shen Tingjue said, "How will you prove it?"

Forced back against the edge of the desk, Xiao Hanye narrowed his eyes. He considered himself patient and indulgent enough; he had apologized, made amends, and answered as Shen Tingjue wished. Yet he was still being pressed so aggressively that he could barely swallow his anger. "What exactly do you want?"

Shen Tingjue thought for a moment and gestured with his hand. "I want you to kiss me atop the city walls with a thousand strings of firecrackers going off—grandly enough for the whole world to know you like me."

"..." Xiao Hanye was entirely certain he had learned this bizarre notion from storybooks. His expression was complicated. After a brief silence, he said, "I'm not ill."

Shen Tingjue looked at him with half-understanding. "What does that have to do with being ill? Are you afraid? Is there anything in this world that His Highness the Crown Prince would not dare do?"

There was no chance Xiao Hanye would compromise on this or comply. His stance was resolute. "Save your provocation. It won't work."

Recalling the methods those demon sect enchantresses used to seduce people in the storybooks, Shen Tingjue wrapped himself around Xiao Hanye with both hands and feet. He kissed his forehead, then his nose, working his way down. The more he kissed, the more intoxicated he became, until the other man turned the tables and took control. By the end, Shen Tingjue's eyes were red at the corners and he was panting, looking thoroughly delighted.

The curtains blocked most of the light outside, making the atmosphere all the more suggestive. Shen Tingjue looped his arms around Xiao Hanye's neck, rubbing and pressing close to the person he liked. His clothes hung loose, making him look wanton and alluring.

Like a little fox.

Xiao Hanye began to wonder whether his soft heart had been deceived by Shen Tingjue's pitiful appearance earlier, or whether he had simply been bewitched by beauty. But now that Shen Tingjue had stirred up his desire, he had no mind to consider such things.

Shen Tingjue buried his face in the pillow. While floating blissfully, feeling that life was truly wonderful, he smugly thought that not just anyone could win the Crown Prince into bed. He should be content and not ask for too much. Mm, this was already very good.

Spring warmth filled the bedchamber, while wind and snow tangled outside. Standing beneath the corridor, Yuchi Sheng shook the snow from his shoulders and breathed warm air into his palms. "Why hasn't His Highness come out yet? Even whispering secrets shouldn't take this long, should it? I'm still waiting to give my report."

Wu Dequan tucked his hands into his sleeves and stared at the snow in the courtyard with the detached calm of someone who had seen through the vanity of the mortal world. He said nothing.

Yuchi Sheng felt as though he had been possessed. He scratched his head in confusion, clicked his tongue twice, then leaped onto the roof to join the Shadow Guards.

Both the Black Tiger Camp and the Shadow Guard Camp served the Crown Prince. They could be considered brothers from the same household, but in the beginning, they had secretly competed fiercely for favor.

Back then, Yuchi Sheng had been young, reckless, and proud. He deeply resented that the Shadow Guard leader enjoyed more of His Highness's reliance and trust, especially when the other man always acted cold, aloof, and indifferent. Yuchi Sheng had always felt that Lin Zhao looked down on him. Later, their rivalry accidentally reached the Crown Prince's attention, and Yuchi Sheng was lectured harshly and taught a lesson with fists. Only then did he finally come to terms with it.

The Crown Prince was simply biased.

What else could he do?

Sigh.

There was no need to mention that bloody, tearful history.

In any case, they both served His Highness the Crown Prince and were brothers in arms. Besides, Lin Zhao truly was the sort who would risk his life for His Highness. That fearless devotion to protecting his master alone made him worthy of becoming a good brother.

Once he developed the desire to befriend someone he disliked, he began noticing that person's merits. Even having his warmth met with coldness no longer bothered him. As the leaders of the two camps grew closer, their subordinates naturally began getting along as well. On top of that, they had fought wars and killed enemies together, so before long, they became brothers who had entrusted each other with their lives.

Seeing Dark Two's wineskin, Yuchi Sheng grew a little envious. Rubbing his hands together, he sighed, "Your leader really has a lucky life."

Surviving a great disaster truly brought blessings afterward.

Dark Two sincerely suggested, "Why don't you try jumping off a cliff too?"

Yuchi Sheng thought about it, then shook his head. "Forget it. I'm too rough and burly to have the fate of some wealthy young gentleman. If someone saved me, they'd definitely keep me in their manor as a menial servant, the kind who works like an ox or horse."

The Shadow Guards around him all nodded in unison. "Mm-hm."

Yuchi Sheng was dissatisfied. "Shouldn't you be arguing with me?"

Dark Two shook the wineskin. "You're absolutely right. Why would we argue?"

Yuchi Sheng felt stifled. He opened his mouth, then suddenly paused and tilted his head. "Did any of you hear some strange sound?"

The Shadow Guards all gazed at the drifting clouds overhead. "No."

See no impropriety, hear no impropriety.

Yuchi Sheng had keen ears and sharp eyes. Their unanimous denial made him doubt his own hearing. Stroking the stubble on his chin, he said, "Really nothing? Why do I feel like the sound came from inside the room?"

Dark Three quietly egged him on. "Then lift a roof tile and take a look."

Yuchi Sheng glanced at him.

Lift the roof tiles of the East Palace? Did he have a death wish?

A suppressed moan faintly drifted out. Still unwilling to believe there was something wrong with his ears, Yuchi Sheng turned sideways, lay down, and listened intently.

Dark Two kicked him.

Caught off guard, Yuchi Sheng fell with a loud crash, plunging headfirst into a snowdrift. He jerked his head back out and hurled curses at the Shadow Guards on the roof. Halfway through, he suddenly remembered that His Highness the Crown Prince was still inside and hurriedly clutched his head, falling silent.

When their lovemaking ended, Shen Tingjue slept sweetly and quietly, like a soft, lazy cat content after eating its fill, unbearably endearing.

Xiao Hanye brushed several loose strands of hair from Shen Tingjue's forehead and thought, Isn't he obedient like this?

When awake, he could anger someone until their lungs hurt. He was much more pleasing to look at while asleep.

Xiao Hanye pinched his cheek.

Shen Tingjue mumbled and shifted closer, nestling into the warm embrace and throwing himself willingly into Xiao Hanye's arms.

Although Wu Dequan was displeased that the little Shadow Guard had seduced His Highness into daytime debauchery, he still dutifully ordered the kitchen to prepare hot water and promptly carried it inside when the Crown Prince required it.

Only after changing into clean robes did Xiao Hanye summon Yuchi Sheng into the room. Seeing Yuchi Sheng's gaze continually drift toward the inner chamber, he frowned and narrowed his eyes. "What are you looking at? Don't want your eyes anymore?"

Yuchi Sheng abruptly pulled back his gaze, rubbing his hands as he gave a sheepish laugh. "I do, I do."