Chapter Forty: Yu Hua Liang Requests a Meeting

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The Seventh Prince sat loftily, gazing at Aliu, and suddenly let out a cold laugh. "Truly, like a bird seeking shelter..."

"I've heard from Ziliang that your soups are quite good. From now on, you'll stay in my courtyard," the Seventh Prince said indifferently, sipping his tea.

Aliu's eyes widened; the Seventh Prince was clearly trying to forcibly separate him from Yu Hualiang. He knelt to the ground, knocking his head against the floor, pleading, "I am here to serve the young master. Please, Seventh Prince, let me stay with him!"

"Enough!" The Seventh Prince hurled his cup to the ground in anger. "Don't think I don't know what you're plotting."

Aliu trembled, tears welling up in his eyes as he faced the Prince.

The Seventh Prince sneered, "Aliu? Your real name is Ding Anchen, isn't it? The outcast from Ding Family Village, infamous for your inclinations."

"My lord, I..."

The Prince leaned closer. "Tell me, whom did you entangle yourself with to be driven out?"

Mentioning this made Aliu's face pale. Before meeting Yu Hualiang, he had indeed liked someone, and at first, his relationship with Yu Hualiang had been motivated by money.

But now, his heart belonged solely to Yu Hualiang.

"Hmph, his name is Ding Anliang, isn’t it?"

Aliu’s heart thudded violently. Ding Anliang was his cousin, and indeed, he had been exiled for harassing him.

"Anliang, Hualiang—wasn’t it him you loved? Why do you still cling to the young master?"

A large tear rolled down Aliu’s cheek as he protested, "Seventh Prince... Seventh Prince, Aliu loves only Hualiang."

The Prince’s gaze grew colder, his smile stiffening. "You love Ziliang? Haven’t you said the same to those twenty-seven others? If Ziliang knew, would he treat you as he does now?"

"No, no... Seventh Prince, please, I’ll do anything, just don’t tell Hualiang." Aliu crawled over, clutching the Prince’s leg.

The Prince, disgusted, kicked him away. "Ziliang is not like you. If not for the disgrace you bring, he would not be the subject of ridicule."

The Prince’s words struck deep, and Aliu knew it himself—he had always held Yu Hualiang back, making him a laughingstock. If Yu Hualiang ever achieved fame, Aliu would forever be a blemish on his life.

"Leave him, or die... which will you choose?"

Despair washed over Aliu’s face. Though he had long sensed he would have to leave Yu Hualiang, he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

"Why hasn’t he come back yet?" Yu Hualiang paced anxiously in the room.

Grass Edge, resting by the bedside, said, "Worrying won't help."

"Young master! Young master!"

Hearing Mokcai call him, Grass Edge hid. Yu Hualiang’s impatience grew—was it getting dark already? Had Aliu gone fishing?

Mokcai arrived, breathless and grave. Yu Hualiang poured him water, and Mokcai gasped, "It’s bad, young master. Aliu has been summoned by the Seventh Prince."

Yu Hualiang’s mind went blank. The very thing he feared had happened; he had always known the Prince harbored animosity toward Aliu.

Unable to reach him, the Prince had targeted those closest, threatening him!

Intolerable!

"I’m furious! You stay here! I’ll go find him!"

Yu Hualiang stormed out. Mokcai wanted to follow, but Yu Hualiang moved so fast he vanished in moments.

Mokcai wondered—was the young master always this lazy?

Yu Hualiang looked disheveled, hair messy, dressed in a paint-stained, wrinkled robe, his face bruised, like a refugee fleeing disaster.

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At the doorway, Ye Fang blocked him with a smug look. The more urgent Yu Hualiang’s need, the more Ye Fang obstructed him, making Yu Hualiang’s face flush with anger.

"Let me in!"

"No," Ye Fang replied, legs spread to block the entrance.

Yu Hualiang tried to rush in, but Ye Fang pulled him back. Desperate, Yu Hualiang pleaded, "I really need to see the Prince! Please, let me in!"

Ye Fang tilted his head in silence. Out of options, Yu Hualiang crouched, picked up a stone, and pointed it at Ye Fang. "Will you let me in or not?"

Ye Fang, unimpressed, pointed to his own hair. "Throw it here!"

Yu Hualiang thought, he’s playing his trump card, surely Ye Fang would yield—but the man showed no mercy.

Yu Hualiang gave up the tantrum, tossed the stone aside, and stood there, waiting to see what else Ye Fang would do.

Realizing he couldn’t get in, Yu Hualiang wondered if he could at least call him out. After all, they were close—surely not so heartless.

He stepped back and shouted, "Prince! Yu Hualiang requests an audience!"

His shout nearly deafened Ye Fang. The Prince forbade noise, yet Yu Hualiang shattered every rule.

Hearing Yu Hualiang outside, the Prince was startled, his hand trembling, spilling tea on his robe.

Aliu’s face brightened at the sound, but the Prince glared, forcing him to hide his joy. "You promised me."

"Yes... Aliu will leave Yu Hualiang."

"Prince! Yu Hualiang begs to see you!" His voice strained from shouting.

"Silence! No clamor in the Prince’s residence!" Ye Fang drew his blade.

Yu Hualiang shrank back, terrified. "Let’s talk calmly... no need for blades."

Ye Fang rubbed his ears impatiently. "Stop shouting, you’re deafening me."

Yu Hualiang bargained, "Then let me in!"

"The Prince decreed, no one may disturb him."

Ye Fang was using the Prince’s words to suppress him, but the Prince emerged, his expression grave. "You finally deign to visit me."

"Prince, let’s speak plainly. Where is Aliu?" Yu Hualiang pressed urgently.

Aliu appeared, eyes red. Concerned, Yu Hualiang pulled him behind and gently asked, "Are you all right?"

Aliu shook his head, pushed Yu Hualiang’s hand away, and bowed to the Prince. "Your Highness, I will report to the kitchen now."

Yu Hualiang was perplexed. "Why go to the kitchen?"

Was he being demoted to a cook? Forced to stoke fires daily?

The Prince addressed him, "Ziliang, don’t be anxious. I’ve done nothing to him. I simply recall you praising his cooking and wish to try it."

Hearing this, Yu Hualiang—no longer the naive newcomer—wondered if it was just about cooking. Would Aliu cry over that?

Aliu’s expression suggested he was hiding something, perhaps unable to speak with so many present. At least he wasn’t hurt, so Yu Hualiang patted his shoulder with a smile. "Do your best."

Aliu nodded and quickly walked away. Yu Hualiang glanced at the droplet on his hand—where had it come from, with no rain?

After Aliu left, the Prince stepped closer. "Since you’re here, let’s talk inside."

Yu Hualiang didn’t want to, but standing at the door, refusing further would be improper. He followed the Prince in.

He was familiar with the main residence, having lived there for half a month—though it was winter then, all white and cold. Now the courtyard was lush and green.

Dusk settled, the sunset casting a golden hue over the grass.

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The peach trees in the courtyard were budding. The Seventh Prince, clothed in black, blended with the scenery, stunning Yu Hualiang’s eyes.

Yu Hualiang shook himself—why did every private moment with the Prince make him want to paint him?

The Prince sat in the pavilion and beckoned Yu Hualiang over. Yu Hualiang took his seat calmly.

He looked up at the glowing horizon, reminiscing. "I recall the first time we walked together, it was under a sky like this."

Yu Hualiang looked up as well. "It was different then—the clouds were cold and heavy, not as brilliant as now."

The early spring breeze was warm, scented with layers of blossoming branches, gently brushing Yu Hualiang’s face. He gazed at the sky, his eyes reflecting its brilliance.

He no longer held anger toward the Prince; his features softened, as refreshing as the wind itself.

Such scenes could become addictive. The Prince lingered his gaze, then finally looked away, joining Yu Hualiang in watching the sky until the gold faded and the air grew chilly.

Yu Hualiang, having hurried out, wore only light clothes and shivered. The Prince reflexively began to remove his own robe.

"No need, Your Highness. I am a man as well," Yu Hualiang said resolutely.

The Prince lowered his eyes, drawing his robe close. "Ziliang, come indoors with me."

Yu Hualiang resisted. "No, I’m fine here."

The Prince struggled to maintain composure. "How long will you keep your distance from me?"

"Prince, aren’t we here to discuss something?" Yu Hualiang replied with a smile.

The Prince, regaining his composure, voiced his concern. "How are your injuries? Ye Fang said they were severe."

"It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt anymore."

"Do you still have medicine? I’ll get you a few more bottles."

Medicine? What medicine? Yu Hualiang paused, then recalled the Prince had left him a bottle the night he visited.

If the Prince could fetch more, then there must be medicine in that room—perhaps even Grass Edge’s antidote.

Yu Hualiang nodded. "Thank you, Your Highness."

The Prince rose. "When we’re alone, just call me Zicheng."

Yu Hualiang smiled, following him inside. The Prince glanced back, his face alight with joy.

He hadn’t intended to show him, but seeing Yu Hualiang so happy, he broke protocol and revealed his secret chamber.

The Prince twisted the lamp stand beside the bed; the porcelain shelf slid aside, revealing a two-meter-square room.

Inside, shelves were lined with medicine bottles. Yu Hualiang exclaimed in awe—such a room! Yet he mourned its purpose; why not store gold instead?

The Prince entered, and Yu Hualiang, curious, followed. He reached for a small white bottle, but the Prince stopped him. "That’s poison."

Startled, Yu Hualiang withdrew his hand. "So which is the medicine you gave me?"

The Prince went to the far end, retrieved a small bottle, and solemnly handed it to Yu Hualiang. "Revitalizing Powder."

Yu Hualiang clutched the bottle. "Impressive."

After closing the chamber, the Prince suddenly turned and fixed his gaze on Yu Hualiang. "Take off your clothes."