An armful of blossoms

Xie Huizhou was still asleep when Eunuch Li hauled him out from under the covers, his shrill voice waking him.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, it is time to go to the National Preceptor's Residence. Their carriage is already waiting at the gates for you."

Eunuch Li had not expected the National Preceptor's Residence to send someone to fetch him personally. That alone showed how much importance the Imperial Preceptor placed on Xie Huizhou.

Wanting Xie Huizhou to secure a better future, Eunuch Li, who had watched him grow up, hurriedly washed and dressed him before pushing him out the door.

Unless there was a particular reason, Xie Huizhou usually slept until the sun was high and woke naturally. He was not used to suddenly getting up so early.

"This early? Why don't we just crawl back under the covers? It's not as if the Great Xia Dynasty can't afford one more freeloader like me."

The hour alone was enough to make his vision go dark. He had lived more freely when he was being ignored; at least he had not needed to get up this early.

Spring was tolerable, but once everything was covered in ice and snow, it would be freezing.

Eunuch Li explained, "These are the rules laid down by our ancestors. All the princes in the palace begin studying with the Grand Tutor at this hour. Naturally, we must keep up."

Ancestral rules could not be changed.

Looking at the starlit night, Xie Huizhou wore a face full of resentment. "At this very moment, I want to make a decision that defies our ancestors' rules."

Xie Huizhou thought it was no wonder the Imperial Preceptor had suggested he simply move into the National Preceptor's Residence. He did not want him traveling back and forth from dawn until dusk, either.

The Imperial Preceptor really had put a great deal of thought into this.

Xie Huizhou's impression of Zhang Lanhe improved somewhat.

When Xie Huizhou finished packing his luggage and stepped outside, the procession of carriages from the National Preceptor's Residence was already waiting like an army. The guards all turned to look at him in unison.

An oppressive air hit him head-on. They looked less like they had come to welcome him than to arrest him.

He was only going to the National Preceptor's Residence to study under the Imperial Preceptor. Was all this fanfare really necessary?

At the same time, the snake markings around Xie Huizhou's waist and abdomen began heating up again.

The Imperial Preceptor is here!

Xie Huizhou abruptly looked toward the carriage.

As if sensing it, someone drew back the carriage curtain, revealing Zhang Lanhe's outrageously handsome face. His eyes brightened when he saw Xie Huizhou, and he extended a hand, inviting him inside.

"Your Highness, I have come to fetch you personally."

Once their agreed date arrived, Imperial Preceptor Zhang Lanhe had tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He had changed into his most handsome clothes early that morning and come to fetch him himself.

The thought of having his favorite artist beside him filled the Imperial Preceptor with delight.

Xie Huizhou had only wanted to make the trip quietly by himself and wondered why Zhang Lanhe was being so attentive.

As it was nearly time, Xie Huizhou thought nothing more of it and simply climbed into the carriage.

The moment he entered, Xie Huizhou felt as comfortable as if he had returned home.

The carriage was spacious and warm, with soft carpets imported from the Western Regions. Luminous pearls suspended overhead lit the entire interior, the incense was just fragrant enough, and there was even the floral fruit tea he liked.

This was quite the luxury.

Even more eye-catching than the carriage was Imperial Preceptor Zhang Lanhe beside him, the silver-haired beauty pouring his tea.

Zhang Lanhe sat upright on a cushion, his silver hair loose. As he moved, his hair slid across Xie Huizhou's wrist as though alive, sending his thoughts wandering.

Xie Huizhou had never been this close to Imperial Preceptor Zhang Lanhe. He was within arm's reach; they could even hear each other's breathing, see the fine hairs on each other's faces, and take a clearer look at one another.

He really is handsome.

Xie Huizhou felt that face was far too striking. Staring at it for too long could turn him gay, so he pretended to look at the scenery outside.

His mind, however, was elsewhere.

He had drawn quite a few pictures of Zhang Lanhe and knew perfectly well every part of him that looked good. The more he drew, the more he could appreciate the beauty of this man, who resembled an immortal from a painting.

If he kept drawing him, he feared he might fall in love with him.

Flowers bloomed and fell, and the carriage rolled on, its horses' hooves stirring their fragrance. The streets, emptied by the curfew, seemed to hold only the two of them, everything utterly still.

The beauty gazed at the peach blossoms outside, while the man behind him gazed at the one admiring the flowers.

Xie Huizhou could feel the Imperial Preceptor's burning gaze lingering on his back. Its sheer fervor made him uncomfortable all over.

It reminded Xie Huizhou of selling his own fan art at conventions in his previous life, when quite a few fervent fans of his art had secretly watched him like this.

The look was exactly the same.

Xie Huizhou wondered whether Zhang Lanhe could actually have become a fan of his art after seeing those slanderous pictures he had drawn.

That would be far too hellish. He dared not imagine it.

Every time Xie Huizhou turned and caught him, Zhang Lanhe would turn his head away and pretend to admire the scenery.

After several rounds of this, Xie Huizhou simply asked, "Imperial Preceptor, you keep looking at me. Is there something on my back?"

Buddy, just put me out of my misery. Stop torturing me with your eyes.

Zhang Lanhe said, "I was merely thinking what a fine name Your Highness has."

His cool, resonant voice was melodious and pleasing to the ear, enough to make any voice lover's ears pregnant.

"Does Your Highness have a childhood nickname?"

That voice spoke his name. Though perfectly proper, once it rolled across his tongue, it felt more like a caress down Xie Huizhou's back, making him shiver.

Xie Huizhou noticed Imperial Preceptor Zhang Lanhe looking at him with an unreadable gaze, his expression delighted, as though he had acquired something amusing.

Imperial Preceptor, there you go being happy again.

"No," Xie Huizhou said coolly. "My mother died giving birth to me, and my father never bothered with me."

His friends liked to call him Zhouzhou, but there was no need to tell the Imperial Preceptor that.

"What a pity."

What's there to pity? Don't tell me you want to call me by my childhood nickname?

Xie Huizhou imagined Zhang Lanhe tenderly calling him Zhouzhou, and the image sent a chill through him.

Xie Huizhou felt that ever since Zhang Lanhe had seen his album, he had started acting strange, though he could not say exactly how.

The moment Zhang Lanhe saw Xie Huizhou, he seemed to have a thousand things to say. He went on at length about their plans, such as the Four Books and Five Classics, martial training, and so on.

Zhang Lanhe's voice was very pleasant, but to Xie Huizhou, it was as soporific as the most boring teacher in a classroom, making him drowsy.

Sleepy from rising early, Xie Huizhou nearly slumped onto Zhang Lanhe's shoulder several times as he dozed, only to snap awake just before touching that forbidden territory.

He had nearly fallen straight into the Imperial Preceptor's arms.

He won't think I'm trying to cop a feel, will he?

Zhang Lanhe found it amusing and quietly waited to see how long he could hold out.

His arms were open to him.

Just as Xie Huizhou was slowly inching toward the corner of the carriage, a horse took fright and the carriage jerked to a halt. The jolt sent Xie Huizhou tumbling straight into Zhang Lanhe's arms.

Zhang Lanhe seized the opportunity to embrace Xie Huizhou, catching an armful of blossoms.

Xie Huizhou collided with a firm, powerful chest and let out a startled cry. "Ow!"

"Are you all right, Your Highness?" Although holding the beauty had put Zhang Lanhe in an excellent mood, seeing that Xie Huizhou had nearly been hurt instantly soured it.

While helping Xie Huizhou just now, he had secretly felt him up. The identical feel had all but confirmed his identity.

The carriage had nearly overturned, so Zhang Lanhe had to ask.

"Has something happened outside? What happened?"

"My lord, someone is blocking the road."

The coachman thought this was outrageous as he stared wide-eyed at the tiger in front of him.

"He even has a tiger on a leash in the busy streets! The horses are too frightened to go any farther!"

This was the first time the coachman had seen anyone walking a tiger through the streets of Capital City. Its muscles brimmed with explosive power, making it look capable of killing a person with one swipe, and the ravenous way it eyed people was chilling.

Ordinary horses would have bolted at the sight. They were lucky their carriage had not overturned.

"You see my fierce beast and still won't give way? Do you know who I am? Get the hell down here!"

An incredibly arrogant voice rang out beyond the carriage, sounding so brazen that it held the law in utter contempt.