Xiao Jinyi, Cold Outside but Warm Within

Xiao Jinyi and Shen Shixu escorted Princess Shou Jia back to her residence. After spending much of the day dealing with everything without having dinner, they were both hungry, so they went to the Heavenly Fragrance House, where they had eaten last time.

The Heavenly Fragrance House did even better business at night, with plenty of people coming out to meet a few friends after a busy day.

As Shen Shixu headed up to the second floor, he saw people gathered in small groups downstairs, telling one another about the interesting things they had encountered that day.

Some were complaining about their wives, saying they were too fierce. One man had merely glanced at another woman, and his tigress at home had given him a beating.

These ordinary conversations were full of the warmth of everyday life. Only when the country was at peace could its people live well.

Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi had arrived rather late this time and had not reserved a table, so they were seated in Heavenly-Class Private Room Seven. By coincidence, the waiter serving them was the same one as last time.

The waiter clearly had not forgotten them either. After all, both men were exceptionally handsome and carried themselves with extraordinary distinction. Seeing them again, he broke into a beaming smile.

"Well, gentlemen, we meet again! What would you like to eat today? The same as last time?"

Shen Shixu had not expected to run into this silver-tongued waiter again either, and he smiled.

"You again! But we won't have the same dishes this time. Bring us a lamb hot pot, an eight-treasure pearl duck, steamed pork with rice flour, a basket of shepherd's purse buns, and a lotus root and pork rib soup. We'll start with those and order more if it isn't enough."

The waiter filled their cups with tea and withdrew with a smile. "Certainly! I'll tell the kitchen to get your dishes out quickly. I'll leave you to it."

After the waiter left, Shen Shixu took a sip of hot tea before saying to Xiao Jinyi, "Your Highness, you're not very honest!"

Xiao Jinyi gave a puzzled hum at that. "What makes you say that?"

"Just four hours ago, I distinctly remember someone coming to find me and saying he didn't know how to comfort people, so he wanted me to help.

"But before I could say a single word, that someone solved the problem himself.

"And the way you spoke so gently and eloquently didn't look anything like a cold-faced god of war!"

Xiao Jinyi froze at his words, then asked in return, "Really? Then do you prefer me cold and quiet, or gentle and eloquent?"

Xiao Jinyi was terribly nervous as he asked the question. Beneath the table, his hand gripped his clothes tightly, and his heart was filled with unease.

Shen Shixu thought the question sounded less like something one friend would ask another and more like something a man would ask the person he liked. But looking at Xiao Jinyi sitting perfectly upright, his gaze open and honest, he decided that was impossible.

Leaving aside the fact that he himself was the most unshakably straight man in the universe, Xiao Jinyi did not look like someone who liked men either. He was probably just overthinking it.

Shen Shixu spectacularly missed the truth. Had he diverted even a tiny fraction of his intelligence toward emotional awareness, he would have noticed Xiao Jinyi's feelings for him.

"Me? You shouldn't ask me that. You should ask your future wife. But since you've asked, I'll give you an answer." Shen Shixu pondered for a moment.

"If you ask me, whether you're cold or gentle, you're still you.

"Being cold toward outsiders doesn't stop you from being gentle with your family. Someone like you is cold on the outside but warm within. You seem distant at first, but once people get to know you, they realize how good a person you are. I actually quite like your type."

Xiao Jinyi could not help smiling at that, but he still explained, "Actually, I'm a fairly cold person, whether it's toward outsiders or family.

"Even my older brother complains that I always wear a cold expression and have none of a younger brother's endearing qualities.

"I only managed to say so much to my aunt earlier because I was afraid she wouldn't be able to bear it, or that she might give up and do something reckless. I really am afraid of her."

As Xiao Jinyi spoke, he pressed a hand to his forehead as though nursing a headache. Shen Shixu felt genuine admiration for Princess Shou Jia. Being able to torment the cold-faced god of war to this extent was quite a talent.

Just as their conversation ended, the waiter brought others over to serve the dishes. "Gentlemen, all your dishes are here. Also, Young Master Zheng is in a good mood today, so he's given every table at the Heavenly Fragrance House a jar of wine."

"Young Master Zheng?" Shen Shixu did not know much about the Capital's rich and powerful, but anyone who could give every table a jar of wine must be very wealthy.

"He's the Duke of Ping's second son. His mother's family is the renowned merchant Chen Family. That young master might lack other things, but never money. That's how he can afford to give every table a jar of such fine wine."

As the waiter explained this to Shen Shixu, his voice was filled with undisguised envy.

Shen Shixu had heard of the wealthy merchant Chen Family. His own family was also in business and had partnered with them in the jewelry trade.

"I see. Thank you for explaining." Shen Shixu slipped the waiter a dozen or so copper coins, and the waiter left happily with the money in hand.

"A free jar of good wine! Your Highness, let's try it. We didn't get to drink any wine last time we came, so let's have a proper taste of what this restaurant serves."

Shen Shixu broke the seal on the jar and poured two bowls of wine. Naturally, it could not compare to the Drunken World in Xiao Jinyi's collection, but it was still quite good.

It had a faint bamboo fragrance, a touch of sweetness when savored, and a hint of fiery strength in the finish.

"This wine is pretty good, but I shouldn't drink too much. One bowl is fine. Any more, and I'm afraid I'll get drunk."

Xiao Jinyi could hold his liquor far better than Shen Shixu. He had served in the army, where every victory was followed by a celebratory feast, and wine was naturally indispensable on such occasions.

At first, the men were mindful of his status and his cold expression and did not dare press him to drink. After fighting a few battles together, however, they grew bolder. With several of Xiao Jinyi's older male cousins joining in, the rough soldiers took turns urging him to drink.

Xiao Jinyi was not truly the sort of person who disregarded others' feelings. Besides, these were men with whom he had shared life-and-death trials, so he drank a bowl.

Once there was a first bowl, a second and a third naturally followed. Little by little, the men in the army trained him to hold his liquor.

Shen Shixu ate until he was stuffed. Since the Heavenly Fragrance House was not particularly far from his little courtyard, he decided to walk home and declined Xiao Jinyi's kind offer to take him back.

After walking a few steps, Shen Shixu suddenly remembered something. He turned to look behind him and saw that Xiao Jinyi's carriage had not yet left the entrance, so he quickly called out.

"Your— ahem, Jinyi, I'm moving in a couple of days. Remember to come celebrate!" Shen Shixu had meant to call him "Your Highness," but there were other people on the street. If he shouted that, Xiao Jinyi might have trouble getting home tonight, so he changed how he addressed him.

"All right, I'll remember. I'll definitely be there."