Only You Were a Mountain of Green (Revised)

On the day of the Qionglin Banquet.

The emperor hosted a banquet for the newly successful imperial scholars and prominent figures from all walks of life. The crowd bustled with activity.

Everyone's eyes were on the top three. Those who fought their way out of a competition among ten thousand people would generally rise swiftly through the ranks, with boundless prospects ahead.

Many powerful nobles hoped to win them over. Securing the allegiance of future pillars of the court in advance would benefit them as well.

A silver-haired beauty at the Qionglin Banquet drew everyone's attention. They whispered among themselves, sneaking glances at him from time to time.

"Why has the Imperial Preceptor come to the Qionglin Banquet? Isn't he usually either at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau or in the National Preceptor's Residence? What's he doing joining the fun here?"

"The Imperial Preceptor really likes joining the fun. His temperament has changed quite a bit."

"But the Imperial Preceptor truly is handsome. Becoming in-laws with him wouldn't be bad, if it were possible."

"Doesn't the Imperial Preceptor have a private ailment?"

"Shh, don't let him hear you. His private ailment is hardly something to be proud of."

The matter of the Imperial Preceptor's private ailment simply would not go away. Everyone had to mention it whenever they saw him.

Even Zhang Lanhe's tea lost its appeal. "..."

Zhang Lanhe heard every word clearly. After a moment of silence, he decided he would settle this score properly once he revealed his identity to Xie Huizhou.

He absolutely did not have any private ailment.

He had made Xie Huizhou cry for quite some time that day, and it had made his heart ache terribly. He wanted to hear those lovely cries again, wanted to lick away the tears at the corners of his eyes.

Despite the rumors of the Imperial Preceptor's private ailment, beauty and power were part of a man's charm. With the illustrated book having cleared his reputation, quite a few people remained deeply interested in him.

Many admiring gazes turned toward the Imperial Preceptor, Zhang Lanhe, but he remained unmoved. He soon located Xie Huizhou amid the worldly bustle.

Xie Huizhou wore magnificent moon-white robes beneath a white fox-fur cloak. Like a wild crane roaming far and wide, he seemed ready to fly away at any moment, his every movement tugging at the heart.

His cool, proud profile tilted slightly upward, that flawless face showing a hint of a smile as he watched fireworks scatter across the night sky, like a bird longing for the heavens as it prepared to take wing.

He was more beautiful than the fireworks.

Zhang Lanhe quietly admired the sight, yet feared he would fly away. He could not help watching him, afraid that a moment's inattention would make him disappear.

Ever since spotting Xie Huizhou in the crowd, Zhang Lanhe had held only him in his heart, unable to see anyone else.

All others were mere grass and trees to me; only you were a mountain of green.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough."

Amid the conversation and laughter, Xie Huizhou suddenly began coughing.

Recently, Xie Huizhou had stayed up late drawing, caught a chill after failing to cover himself properly, and developed another fever. With his body weakened, the poison within him had seized the opportunity to flare up again, leaving his complexion paler and more sickly, his frailty stirring tender pity.

This body really was a nuisance. It was interfering with my performance.

Damn it, I was clearly a macho man!

But that didn't matter. As long as I could witness sweet moments between the couple I shipped in person, none of this mattered.

A man who lived for his ship's sweet moments would never admit defeat.

Ever since the Imperial Examination, Xie Huizhou had inexplicably gained quite a few people around him. Surrounded by them, he cut an increasingly imposing figure, making the other princes wary of him.

Ninth Son was no simple character.

Xie Huizhou suddenly realized something was wrong. Very wrong.

Why were the people who should have been flocking around Third Place in the Imperial Examination now flocking around me together with him?

Where was my Shura Field?

Why did they all look ready to follow me to the death now?

Zhou Yanqing finally had the standing to appear before Xie Huizhou. Thrilled to see his benefactor, he approached him in high spirits and expressed his gratitude.

"Ninth Prince, thank you for personally saving me that day. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known what to do. If you would not mind, please come to the marquis's residence in three days and allow me to offer a small token of my gratitude."

Fang Yuanke warmly invited him as well. "I've prepared quite a few gifts of thanks. Please do us the honor of accepting, Your Highness."

Although he did not much like Xie Huizhou letting Zhou Yanqing do so, the proper courtesies of thanking someone still had to be observed.

Xie Huizhou suddenly noticed something. "You two live together?"

Zhou Yanqing was a little embarrassed. "Yes. I have nowhere to stay in Capital City, so I'm staying here temporarily."

I think I just got a sweet moment!

Upon hearing that he could observe his ship living together up close, Xie Huizhou eagerly nodded. "Then I shall accept your kind invitation."

Seeing Third Place in the Imperial Examination and the young marquis speaking with Xie Huizhou, quite a few others gathered around to drink with him.

"Your Highness, come, have a drink."

"It's only one cup. What could possibly happen?"

"A toast to you, Your Highness."

Seeing that he was unwell yet people kept pressing drinks on him, Zhang Lanhe frowned and walked toward him in full view of everyone.

Outrageous. How could Xie Huizhou drink in this condition?

This infuriated those who were already jealous of Xie Huizhou.

What had a sickly prince done to deserve such regard from the Imperial Preceptor?

"Your Highness, you have been unwell lately. Please drink no more. I shall drink on your behalf." Zhang Lanhe reached out and took the cup. Under everyone's astonished gazes, the wine slid down his throat, a little trailing down his Adam's apple. "His Highness is a student I have personally taught. This is only what I ought to do."

The wine trickled down Zhang Lanhe's Adam's apple onto his collarbone, adding a touch of sensuality to the ethereal silver-haired beauty. Xie Huizhou's thoughts wandered, and his heart skipped a beat.

He hurriedly turned his head away.

Utterly fed up with the custom of pressuring others to drink, Xie Huizhou lowered his head to look at the wine cup, not daring to look at the Imperial Preceptor. "Your student is frail. Sorry for the trouble, Imperial Preceptor."

He could not let anyone discover that the ninth prince had become mesmerized by the sight of the Imperial Preceptor drinking!

Damn it, this was the man who would kill me in the future. Was I staring so spellbound because I wanted to die by a honey trap?

Still, Xie Huizhou was happy that Zhang Lanhe would take the drinks for him.

After two successive drinking disasters, Xie Huizhou had recently lost all interest in alcohol.

With so many people at the Qionglin Banquet, what would he do if drinking led to another bizarre incident?

The Imperial Preceptor, Zhang Lanhe, suddenly noticed Zhou Yanqing standing nearby, and his mood immediately soured. "Why is he here?"

This man had been staring at Xie Huizhou ever since he came in. Could he be in love with him?

Zhou Yanqing had long since guessed that the person Zhang Lanhe had been searching for was Xie Huizhou. He thought the Imperial Preceptor merely coveted Xie Huizhou's beauty and was no respectable Imperial Preceptor, so he refused to back down.

"I am merely expressing my thanks. Surely there's nothing wrong with that? Even if you are the Ninth Prince's temporary tutor, aren't you overstepping?"

Xie Huizhou had saved him. Zhou Yanqing could not stand by and watch him fall into the hands of the notoriously vicious Imperial Preceptor. He had to repay his benefactor.

Once he became a powerful minister, the Imperial Preceptor would be the first person he killed.

Those nearby stared at Zhou Yanqing in shock, thinking he was remarkably brave.

The two glared at each other, each finding the other an obstacle.

Noticing the looks passing between them, Xie Huizhou muttered inwardly, Why does the Imperial Preceptor keep looking at Zhou Yanqing? Could he be looking at his beloved?

Xie Huizhou had originally wanted to enjoy the drama, but for some inexplicable reason, it bothered him. Suddenly, he no longer wanted to watch.

Why would I care who the Imperial Preceptor liked?

The more he thought about it, the more stifled he felt. Then a sudden realization sent him into a panic.

Could I really be gay?

Xie Huizhou's thoughts fell into turmoil. With the very person responsible standing beside him, he suddenly felt the urge to flee. "Imperial Preceptor, I'm going to get some air."

He needed to think carefully about what place the Imperial Preceptor held in his heart.

His former savior? His current tutor? Or the man in his paintings?

The Eighth Prince, Xie Tingchun, had seen all of this and was about to follow him out to stir up trouble.

After the Imperial Preceptor took the drinks for Xie Huizhou, he saw the gazes of many high officials and nobles grow increasingly fervent as they looked at Xie Huizhou. They were practically ready to pledge allegiance and support his ascent to the throne.

The Eighth Prince was seething with rage.

"Ninth Son, don't think having the Imperial Preceptor backing you means no one can touch you." The Eighth Prince held grudges, his gloomy eyes fixed on him. "It's truly unfair that a sickly wretch like him has lived this long."

Especially when he saw how highly Third Place in the Imperial Examination, Zhou Yanqing, favored him, the flames of jealousy overwhelmed his reason.

Not only did Xie Huizhou want to steal his throne, he would not even leave the beauty he had set his sights on alone.

He would never be at ease while Xie Huizhou lived.

An adviser could not help reminding him, "During the Spring Hunt, the ninth prince killed a death warrior with every punch."

Your Highness, come to your senses!

Xie Huizhou only looked frail. He could kill an ox with one punch!

Although they did not know that "Xie Huizhou" had been a double, the sight of him looking like a god of war descended to earth had left far too deep an impression on them.

In their minds, though Xie Huizhou looked listless and ready to cough up blood and die at any moment, a single punch from him might kill them.

An assassination could never succeed.

The Eighth Prince's style was to assassinate his opponents with simple brutality, so his advisers all urged him not to act rashly.

"He's so ill now, all weak and limp. How could he still fight?" The Eighth Prince thought his advisers were overly cautious and convinced himself. "How can a real man back down? If you useless fools can't do it, I'll do it myself. Either I succeed, or I die trying."

As though possessed, the Eighth Prince followed him, intending to have Xie Huizhou die at the Qionglin Banquet and frame Zhou Yanqing. Once the beauty was in the imperial prison, he could do whatever he pleased with him.

The advisers exchanged looks, feeling that perhaps they could find another lord to serve. The Eighth Prince really was not very bright.

Earning merit by helping a prince ascend the throne was no easy task.

Xie Huizhou also noticed that someone was following him.

"A little rat is following me."