Shallow

The Crown Prince froze at his words.

He silently lowered his head, no longer daring to look at Xiao Yu.

That was right.

He was the Crown Prince. His marriage had never been his own decision to make.

Nor could it bear the slightest stain.

When Xiao Yu saw how his words had suddenly dampened the Crown Prince's spirits, an unfading sorrow lingering around him,

he seemed to be standing in the moonlight yet falling into boundless darkness.

Xiao Yu's eyes flickered. He jumped down from the roof, walked over to him, and patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry," he comforted him. "If you aren't ready to marry, my Elder Imperial Brother and Imperial Sister-in-Law won't force you."

Then he changed tack. "If you already have someone you like, you should tell them soon. That way, my Elder Imperial Brother won't pair you with the wrong person."

The Crown Prince's face flushed at his words, and he lowered his head even further.

Someone I like...

He stole a sideways glance at the man beside him, a trace of longing passing through his eyes.

What he felt for him went far beyond something as shallow as liking.

It was admiration, and more than that, faith.

When Xiao Yu looked his way, he hastily averted his gaze.

Suddenly, a desolate sorrow rose in his heart.

He had fallen in love with someone he should never have loved.

What good would saying it aloud do?

His Emperor Father and mother would never agree.

Seeing his shy expression, Xiao Yu knew he must have someone he liked.

But seeing his troubled face and the bitterness in his eyes, he could not help asking, "Is that person's status too low?"

"It's all right," he reassured him. "As long as you love each other, I'm sure my Elder Imperial Brother and Imperial Sister-in-Law won't simply tear you apart."

"Of course, she had better not be too jealous, or your harem will never know peace."

Hearing the concern in his voice, the Crown Prince's heart stirred.

He suddenly lifted his head and stared steadily at him.

"What about you, Little Imperial Uncle?" he asked. "Do you have someone you like?"

Xiao Yu started, then remained stunned for a long moment.

Someone I like?

He had never really thought about it.

Suddenly, a figure flashed through his mind.

His gaze shifted evasively.

Then he abruptly replied, "There are plenty of people I like. My Elder Imperial Brother and Imperial Sister-in-Law, you, Little Xiyue—I like all of you very much."

Although the Crown Prince knew that Xiao Yu did not mean "like" the way he did, how could he still control himself after hearing him say he liked him so much?

Looking at Xiao Yu, radiant beneath the moonlight, the Crown Prince's heart pounded.

He suddenly leaned closer. "Little Imperial Uncle, I-"

Whoosh!

An arrow suddenly flew toward him from behind.

"Watch out!"

Xiao Yu pulled him behind himself.

The arrow drove straight into the wall behind them.

Crash!

The wall collapsed with a thunderous roar.

That showed just how much strength the archer had used.

He turned toward the person who had fired, his pupils suddenly contracting.

He recognized him at a glance.

The Ghost Mask he wore was simply too distinctive.

Yuchu...

Why has he suddenly appeared in the Eastern Palace?

Could... his assignment be to assassinate the Crown Prince?

Xiao Yu frowned.

This is going to be tricky.

While he was distracted, another arrow shot straight toward his throat.

"Imperial Uncle, watch out!" The Crown Prince stepped directly in front of him-

Thwack!

The arrow pierced straight through his shoulder.

Thud, thud, thud!

Hearing the commotion, the Eastern Palace guards hurried over. "We were late to protect Your Highnesses! Please punish us, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness Prince Yu!"

"Useless fools! The Crown Prince was already injured by the time you arrived!"

Supporting the Crown Prince, Xiao Yu shot them a glance.

"Hurry up and catch the assassin!" he snapped.

"Yes!" The guards immediately pursued the assassin in the direction he had vanished.

Xiao Yu quickly scooped the Crown Prince into his arms and carried him inside.

He glanced down at him, his voice tinged with reproach. "You idiot. I could have dodged it myself. Why did you shield me?"

The Crown Prince looked sheepish. "I... didn't want to see you suffer even the slightest injury, Little Imperial Uncle," he said weakly.

Xiao Yu: "..."

Half his cultivation had already recovered. Unless he went looking for death himself, no one in the mortal realm could hurt him.

How could this little Crown Prince be so foolish?

"Don't ever do anything so dangerous again."

Xiao Yu warned him.

He laid him on the bed and leaned over to examine his wound.

Only then did he discover that the flesh around it had already turned black.

Xiao Yu's pupils contracted.

The arrow is poisoned.

He hurriedly fed the Crown Prince a Detoxification Pill first.

"Master, what happened?" Hearing the noise, Qinggeng poked out from the side hall.

"Qinggeng, bring me a basin of hot water," Xiao Yu replied.

"Yes, Master!" Qinggeng immediately went out.

"Bear with it. I'll pull out the arrowhead first."

Xiao Yu took out a towel, folded it, and offered it for him to bite down on.

The Crown Prince hesitated, then declined it. "It's fine. I can bear it."

The next moment, Xiao Yu pulled out the arrowhead, and he could not help letting out a muffled groan.

Xiao Yu glanced at him and offered him the towel. "Bite down on it. The arrow was poisoned, so I still have to remove the dead flesh around the wound. You're in for some pain..."

The Crown Prince silently took it.

Watching Xiao Yu clean his wound with such a serious expression, he could not stop his heart from fluttering.

He was also thankful that he was the one who had been struck. If it had been his little imperial uncle... he dared not imagine it.

He only knew it would hurt a hundred, a thousand times more than having his own flesh cut away.

His nose suddenly stung with the threat of tears.

"Little Imperial Uncle... I don't want to take a Crown Princess," he said softly.

Xiao Yu's knife hand paused, and his eyes lowered slightly.

"Then don't," he replied. "As long as I'm here, no one can force you."

The Crown Prince's eyes lit up at his words, but soon dimmed again.

He looked up at Xiao Yu, his lips parting slightly, and hesitated for a long while.

Only then did he say, "Little Imperial Uncle... actually, I..."

Before he could finish, his vision went black, and he fainted.

Xiao Yu frowned slightly and helped him sit upright, intending to use his cultivation to force out the remaining poison.

"Master, this isn't ordinary poison. It's a gu poison unique to Southern Zhao. This kind requires the poisoner's blood as a catalyst for the cure."

Xiao Ba suddenly came forward and spoke.

After cultivating alongside its master for three years, it could now speak.

Xiao Yu froze at its words.

Yuchu... is from Southern Zhao?

Why would he try to assassinate the Crown Prince and me?

Who sent him?

At present, his only connection to Southern Zhao was Qi Yunheng.

Could one of Qi Yunheng's enemies have discovered our close contact over the years and seized the chance to retaliate?

I'll write to Qi Yunheng later and ask who he's offended lately.

Knock, knock!

A familiar sound rang out.

Xiao Yu: "..."

He did not even have to think about it.

Fuxi was knocking on his window again.

Qi Yunheng had sent him a letter.

He went to the window, opened it, and took the letter.

He stared at Fuxi for a moment.

Then he suddenly asked, "Has your master come to the Jin Kingdom?"

Startled, Fuxi spread its wings to fly away, only for Xiao Ba to wind tightly around its claws.

Fuxi: "??"

Xiao Ba ignored it and sought praise from Xiao Yu. "Master, I caught it!"

"Very good."

Xiao Yu seized Fuxi by the neck, a chill flashing through his eyes.

"I'll ask you one last time," he said coldly. "Has Qi Yunheng come to the Jin Kingdom? What is he doing here? What is his purpose?"

Fuxi: "..." So many questions at once-which one should I answer first?

Seeing it close its eyes as though ready to face death without fear, Xiao Yu said nothing more.

He simply used the Demon-Binding Rope to hang it from a roof beam.

He unfolded the letter and read:

Why did you let him kiss you? You even protected him, held him around the waist, carried him, and let him onto your bed?!

Xiao Yu: "??"