An Inexplicable Sense of Familiarity

While the palace servants were squatting by the entrance, making crickets fight, they saw the National Preceptor's carriage slowly approaching the detached palace.

"What's going on? Why would the National Preceptor come here?"

"What are you standing around for? Hurry! Get the tea ready."

Apart from the few people who had always been close to Xie Huizhou, no one ever visited him. The National Preceptor's unexpected visit put them on high alert, sending everyone into a flurry.

"Why would he suddenly come looking for me?"

Xie Huizhou's hand paused over the painting he was working on. Pigment splashed onto the paper, blooming into a vivid flower.

His heart pounded with unease. He worried that Zhang Lanhe had noticed something. Especially with the snake markings on his waist refusing to disappear, it was best to play it safe.

He simply tossed aside his brush, stuffed the painting into a cabinet, and hurried into bed. Pulling the covers over himself, he pretended to be sick, also concealing his figure so he would not be recognized.

"I'm going to lie down for a while. If anyone asks, I'm sick. Tell the National Preceptor to go home."

I can't live like this anymore.

Before long, Zhang Lanhe entered. Xie Huizhou hid in the corner of the bed and watched him secretly.

Completely unlike the terrifying figure in Xie Huizhou's memories, Zhang Lanhe was impeccably dressed and looked more like a refined, harmless immortal. His luxurious purple robes set off his peerless good looks.

He was utterly different from the blood-drenched man of a few years ago, who had resembled a general from hell.

A palace maid stole a glance at the National Preceptor and blushed, betraying her maiden's feelings.

His beauty is completely different from the Ninth Prince's. Capital City really does nurture beautiful people.

Hiding beneath the covers, Xie Huizhou thought, He wasn't wearing this much before, and it was too dark to see clearly. Now that I can see him, he's quite handsome.

As someone with a weakness for white hair, he found the sight pleasing.

Zhang Lanhe spotted the lump on the bed. It was like a cat hiding beneath the covers and pretending to play hide-and-seek. He walked straight over.

"My respects, Ninth Prince."

Xie Huizhou hid beneath the quilt, making his voice hoarse. He refused to come out, afraid Zhang Lanhe might notice something amiss.

He coughed feebly for a long while, his face pale and his breathing so faint that he seemed close to death. "Cough, cough, cough, cough. National Preceptor, you're here. Unfortunately, I can't get up."

What was a dignified National Preceptor doing visiting a prince who had fallen out of favor? Had he noticed something suspicious about me?

Standing nearby to attend him, Eunuch Li blinked so hard his eyes nearly cramped. He wanted to warn Xie Huizhou but dared not make a sound.

Your Highness, you're overdoing it. You don't look seriously ill-you look one breath away from the grave!

This is far too fake.

Zhang Lanhe listened to his wrenching coughs, his eyes having already seen through everything. "Summon an imperial physician. The Ninth Prince is so gravely ill, yet no one thought to keep an imperial physician here to attend him."

He could hear that Xie Huizhou's breathing was steady. The little bit of his face that showed was fair with a healthy pink flush. He was clearly neither sick nor suffering.

He even dares to pretend in front of me.

"Cough, cough, cough. There's no need. I've merely caught a slight chill." Xie Huizhou guiltily stopped him. If an imperial physician actually came, everyone would know he was pretending. "My health has always been like this. I've grown used to it over time. You're busy praying for the nation's blessings, National Preceptor. Please don't waste your concern on a sickly invalid like me."

Go, just go. Otherwise, I'll pass this illness to you. Better yet, let it put you in bed for a few days too.

"It's no trouble. Your Highness's health is a concern of mine."

Xie Huizhou cursed inwardly. What a bastard.

While the two went back and forth, an elderly imperial physician was dragged over by someone from the National Preceptor's Residence, trembling as he carried his medicine chest. His eyes were frightened, as though he were heading to the execution ground.

This was his first visit to the detached palace where the Ninth Prince lived.

And the National Preceptor had personally ordered it. What a surprise.

Since when were the National Preceptor and the Ninth Prince so close? It seems another contender will be joining the struggle among the princes in the palace.

"Ninth Prince, please allow this old physician to take your pulse and prescribe some medicine."

At this point, Xie Huizhou could only brace himself and go through with it.

Xie Huizhou extended his fair wrist. White as jade, it was particularly eye-catching. His hand was exquisitely beautiful, slender and clearly jointed, like the finest mutton-fat jade.

For some reason, Zhang Lanhe thought of the hands that had rested weakly on his shoulders that night, stroking him, as luminous as white jade beneath the moonlight.

At that thought, he hurriedly shook every such notion out of his head.

Zhang Lanhe! Now that you've had your first taste, are you lusting after everything?

He tried to shift his attention away from Xie Huizhou's hand, only to be struck by his face.

Zhang Lanhe had imagined what this debauched wastrel looked like several times. He had never expected a young man as beautiful as a painting.

Xie Huizhou lay weakly on the bed, his pale face lending him a fragile air. His orchid-like grace made others reluctant to profane him, and his every movement tugged at their hearts.

A strange flutter stirred in his heart.

Outrageous!

Zhang Lanhe turned and walked away.

"Good heavens! Ninth Prince, your constitution is far too weak! In all my decades of practicing medicine, this is the first time I've seen someone in worse health than a seventy-year-old man!" After taking his pulse, the elderly physician pondered for a moment before reaching a conclusion. He gave Xie Huizhou a meaningful look. "I'll prescribe a few doses of medicine to restore your health. Ninth Prince, remember to abstain from sexual activity."

Young people these days are truly reckless. They have no regard for their own health.

Xie Huizhou was speechless.

Please stop, Doctor. Leave me a little dignity.

While the physician took his pulse, Zhang Lanhe wandered around Xie Huizhou's bedchamber, his mind in turmoil as he tried to cast out all its strange thoughts.

Though the bedchamber could not compare with the imperial palace's splendor, it was still grand. Most conspicuous were the sheets of paper, brushes, and ink scattered across Xie Huizhou's desk.

Their owner's haste was evident. It seemed his visit had disturbed Xie Huizhou.

One sheet showed a small glimpse of a painting that had been forgotten. As though drawn to it, Zhang Lanhe walked over.

Zhang Lanhe's sharp eyes caught the painting Xie Huizhou had left on the desk. It was astonishingly beautiful and full of spirit, the sort of painting one could hardly bear to put down.

"Your Highness paints well. I would have thought this the work of a renowned artist."

The ignorant, unskilled young prince had actually achieved something in this field. Zhang Lanhe offered him a few rare words of praise.

Xie Huizhou panicked for a moment, only relaxing once he saw that it was merely an ordinary landscape painting.

"You flatter me, National Preceptor. Take it if you like. It's only a practice piece, nothing worth mentioning."

I spent ages painting that. You've seen every fine thing there is-why do you have to want my painting?

Zhang Lanhe saw the reluctance in Xie Huizhou's eyes and the grubby-cat expression he had not seen in a long time. He could not resist teasing him.

"Then I'll gladly accept. Thank you for parting with your treasure, Ninth Prince."

Xie Huizhou's heart bled, but he had to keep acting generous, forcing a strained smile. "As long as you like it, National Preceptor."

Did you come to visit the sick? You came to loot the place! My painting!

Fortunately, Zhang Lanhe did not stay long. Before much time had passed, he left with the painting.

After leaving the detached palace, Zhang Lanhe gave Xie Huizhou a long, searching look. He summoned the Shadow Guards and ordered them to investigate the doubts in his mind.

"Find out who exactly the Ninth Prince was with that day."

He had never trusted an inexplicable sense of familiarity.