Chapter Fifty-Two: Fourth Prince, Stop Fooling Around

“What is the little painter thinking about? Could it be that you’re thinking of Seventh Brother again?”
Yu Hualiang smiled, “Just remembering some old times.”
Fourth Prince said, “My Seventh Brother has never truly cared for anyone, let alone for someone of his own gender. You are his first, you mustn’t let him down.”
“I understand,” Yu Hualiang replied.
“I’ve noticed you getting close to Jinhe. Be careful—my Seventh Brother may be a prince, but when he’s jealous, it’s quite something.”
Yu Hualiang raised both hands and feet in agreement. He had experienced Seventh Prince’s jealousy firsthand.
He gave a bitter laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Little painter, can I ask you something?”
Yu Hualiang saw a sly glint in his eyes, sensing nothing good would come of it. “Please speak, Your Highness.”
“What do you think of me?” Fourth Prince looked at him expectantly.
Seeing that eager look, Yu Hualiang felt helpless. Was Fourth Prince fishing for compliments again...?
“Your Highness is handsome, elegant, dashing, carefree—your personality is truly charming. I imagine you’ve enchanted more than just young ladies? Haha.” Yu Hualiang joked.
Fourth Prince was delighted by the flattery. “And compared to my Seventh Brother?”
Yu Hualiang replied earnestly, “Do you really want me to say?”
Fourth Prince raised an eyebrow, “Say it.”
Yu Hualiang thought for a moment. “Both Your Highness and Seventh Prince are handsome, rare among men... fine gentlemen.”
Fourth Prince nodded, pleased. “Go on.”
“Well... Seventh Prince can be a bit childish sometimes. He’s not as mature and steady as you, haha.”
“Hmm.” Fourth Prince nodded. “So the little painter prefers maturity and steadiness, I suppose?”
Yu Hualiang was baffled; he didn’t really prefer either, but since Fourth Prince asked, he nodded perfunctorily.
Suddenly, Fourth Prince drew near and grabbed his hand before he could react.
“How about you come with me instead?”
Yu Hualiang was speechless—were all princes like this?
He forced a smile and pried his hand free. “Wasn’t Your Highness just saying Seventh Prince is jealous? If he saw us, we’d both be in trouble.”
Fourth Prince sat back with a mischievous grin. “See how nervous you are. I was just teasing.”
You tease enough already!
Suddenly, the carriage jolted—they’d arrived at Fourth Prince’s manor.
Stepping out, Yu Hualiang saw the manor was far less grand than Seventh Prince’s.
It felt secondhand, almost shabby.
Even the gatekeepers—one fat, one thin—looked mismatched and casual, and the yard had weeds left unpulled.
Dust lingered in corners, neglected—the manor clearly lacked the meticulous care of Seventh Prince’s residence.

“Little painter, rest here today. Tomorrow, you can attend the painting meeting,” Fourth Prince said.
Yu Hualiang nodded, led to his room by a guard.
Fortunately, Fourth Prince had at least made sure the courtyard was tidy. It was smaller than the one he’d stayed in at Seventh Prince’s manor.
Only a single peach tree and a large jar with goldfish adorned the yard.
The pink peach buds reflected in the water, creating an illusion of flowers on water and moon in a mirror.
Fourth Prince left Yu Hualiang to settle in; his own affairs took him elsewhere.
Feeling bored, Yu Hualiang tried to go for a walk, but the guard stopped him. “Master Yu, movement is restricted in Fourth Prince’s manor.”
Helpless, Yu Hualiang returned. It was only afternoon, yet he lay tossing and turning, unable to sleep, so he dragged two chairs into the courtyard.
Sitting by the fish jar, he said to the fish, “Stop standing, come sit.”
The guard replied solemnly, “I dare not sit with the painter.”
Yu Hualiang joked, “Then I’ll stand and you sit?”
Unexpectedly, the guard knelt, “I dare not.”
Yu Hualiang had only meant to tease, but seeing him kneel, guilt surged, and he quickly helped him up.
“Sorry, I was only joking. But I mean it—you can sit down.”
The guard’s face was grave. “I dare not sit with Master Yu.”
Conversation was impossible with this guard. If he wouldn’t sit, Yu Hualiang didn’t insist, and sat alone.
There were five fish in the jar: two black, three red.
The red ones were sluggish, the black ones lively. Yu Hualiang found fish food and tossed some in; only then did the red fish swim with vigor.
After a while, bored out of his mind, Yu Hualiang glanced at the guard. “Hey, who takes care of these fish?”
The guard answered with mechanical precision, “Fourth Prince specially prepared them for your arrival.”
“Hm? No one lived here before?”
“This courtyard used to house Fourth Prince’s favored concubine. After her death, it was left unused.”
“Oh? Someone died here...”
Having seen Qingzhang’s death, Yu Hualiang was now quite afraid of ghosts. He knelt before the house several times, murmuring, “Forgive me, forgive me, I mean no harm.”
The guard’s eyes revealed a hint of contempt.
Yu Hualiang sat back. “Hey, brother, what’s your name?”
The guard replied, “I dare not address Master Yu as brother!”
Yu Hualiang’s smile froze. “Well, this conversation is going nowhere.”
The guard remained silent and severe.
Yu Hualiang couldn’t understand it—how could Fourth Prince be so carefree, yet his men so rigid?
Uninspired, Yu Hualiang broke off a peach blossom and dangled it in the jar to tease the fish.
Perhaps it was the sleepy warmth of afternoon or sheer boredom, but Yu Hualiang fell asleep by the jar.
His dark hair was disheveled, blue robes draped over his slender, slightly fragile frame, evoking sympathy.
His lashes curled gently, his sleeping face serene—a stark contrast to the lively person he was earlier.
Even the guard’s gaze lingered. He was sleeping on the edge of the jar, and the guard moved closer, worried he might fall and ready to catch him.
Fourth Prince, finished with his business, came to check on Yu Hualiang, only to find him asleep at the jar.
He thought the guard wanted to wake him. He gestured for silence and sent the guard away, then tiptoed over himself.
He meant to prank him awake, but seeing that tranquil face, he couldn’t look away.
Yu Hualiang sensed darkness, opened his eyes groggily, and saw someone blocking the sunlight.
He mumbled, “Zicheng, stop messing around...”
Suddenly, he realized—no, this was Fourth Prince’s manor.
He sat up abruptly, staring at the mischievous smile on Fourth Prince’s face.
“Your Highness... why are you here?” He quickly got up. “Please, have a seat.”

Fourth Prince pressed him back in the chair, moving ever closer, his smile growing so bright that Yu Hualiang broke out in cold sweat.
“Zicheng? He lets you call him that?”
Yu Hualiang nodded nervously.
Fourth Prince pinched his chin, startling him.
He drew closer, Yu Hualiang more bewildered—what did Fourth Prince intend?
Suddenly, Fourth Prince tried to kiss him. Yu Hualiang reacted quickly, turning his head and changing the subject. “Haha, that peach tree is beautiful.”
Fourth Prince’s eyes flashed coldly. “Of course it is. It’s nourished with human blood.”
Yu Hualiang’s scalp tingled—he could no longer look at the tree.
“Well... that’s quite a story, then...”
“There’s a story, indeed. Would you like to hear it?”
Yu Hualiang, pale, shook his head. “I think it’s better left mysterious.”
“Heh.” Fourth Prince laughed. “Just teasing you. See how frightened you are.”
Yu Hualiang forced a laugh, but he felt Fourth Prince wasn’t joking.
Fourth Prince said, “Come, little painter, let’s have dinner.”
After a rather oppressive meal, Yu Hualiang returned to his room, which felt more like a cell.
Conversation with the guard was still awkward. With nothing else to do, he lay on the bed.
To his surprise, he fell asleep, only to be jolted awake by thunder at night.
He was barely conscious, drenched in cold sweat, convinced someone was in the room—either Qingzhang or the dead concubine.
Terrified, he murmured names in his sleep—“Zicheng... Seventh Prince...”
Fourth Prince watched him from beside the bed, marveling at how Seventh Brother had been utterly bewitched by him, and now even he couldn’t help himself.
Hearing Yu Hualiang call Zicheng for the third time, Fourth Prince lost control and leaned over to kiss him.
Half-asleep, Yu Hualiang thought it was Seventh Prince, and, annoyed that someone would steal a kiss while he slept, bit down hard on Fourth Prince’s lips, not letting go until he tasted blood.
Fourth Prince groaned in pain, then smiled in delight, pressing closer.
He stripped Yu Hualiang halfway before Yu Hualiang slowly woke up.
By the lightning’s flash, he saw it wasn’t Seventh Prince and snapped awake.
Yu Hualiang shoved him away, scrambling to the side, staring in fear.
“F... Fourth Prince, why are you here?”
Fourth Prince laughed. “Who did you expect? Zicheng?”
Yu Hualiang’s face went even paler.
Fourth Prince, seeing how frightened he was, said bluntly, “Little painter, you and my Seventh Brother—have you already... How was it?”
“We haven’t...” Yu Hualiang replied honestly.
Fourth Prince mocked, “So you’re still a virgin. I won’t boast, but in bed, I’m quite skilled. How about I serve you tonight?”
“No, no, please don’t trouble yourself, Your Highness. You should just go to sleep.”
Yu Hualiang stammered in terror. Was Fourth Prince truly set on sleeping with him?
“Heh, don’t panic, little painter. Tonight is just between us—what do you say?”