Chapter Sixty-Two: Darkness Beneath the Lamp

Prince Seven pulled him up from the bed and silently watched his movements.

Yu Hualiang discreetly touched his wound. Seeing Prince Seven’s expectant expression, he didn’t want to let him down. So he quickly stepped over and embraced him, but withdrew after barely five seconds.

“Is that enough?”

Prince Seven was clearly dissatisfied and reminded him, “Ziliang, I remember when we went to admire the apricot blossoms…”

“Oh, oh, oh,” Yu Hualiang interrupted, “Zicheng, let’s have fish today. I’ll go tell the kitchen.”

Just as Yu Hualiang was about to leave, Prince Seven pulled him back and whispered in his ear, “Ziliang, you mustn’t fool me.”

Heavens! Why must it be Prince Seven? This man is truly troublesome. So much time has passed, and he’s still hung up on such a trivial matter!

Yu Hualiang turned to face him directly. “Alright, alright, close your eyes.”

Prince Seven obediently closed his eyes. Yu Hualiang frowned and leaned in to kiss him, only to realize he wasn’t tall enough and had to stand on tiptoe.

Feeling Yu Hualiang’s movement in his arms, Prince Seven’s smile deepened. Yu Hualiang adjusted his angle, and just as he was about to kiss Prince Seven’s handsome face, he hesitated, unsure whether to start from the left or the right.

As he wavered, Prince Seven suddenly opened his eyes. The two were so close their gazes met, and before Yu Hualiang could react, Prince Seven bent down and kissed him.

The kiss grew deeper, until Yu Hualiang responded in kind. Who knows how long they kissed? By the time Yu Hualiang came to his senses, he found himself pinned against the wall by Prince Seven.

He pushed Prince Seven away, wiped his mouth, and said, “Isn’t that enough?”

“Never enough… No matter how many times, it’s never enough,” Prince Seven said, licking his lips.

Yu Hualiang ignored him and poured himself a glass of water.

Prince Seven moved closer and sat beside him. “Ziliang, are you angry?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Yu Hualiang answered mechanically.

Prince Seven sighed and spoke of more serious matters. “In a few days, I’ll lead the army south. At least three or four months, at most a year or more.”

Yu Hualiang perked up. “Zicheng, you’re going too?”

Prince Seven replied, “The imperial command cannot be defied.”

A hint of disappointment crossed Yu Hualiang’s face, which Prince Seven noticed keenly.

“Ziliang, are you reluctant to part with me?”

Yu Hualiang replied uprightly, “Prince Seven is going to war for the nation. Such an honor would make others envious.”

Prince Seven lowered his eyes. “To me, the greatest honor in this world is simply being able to stay by your side.”

Yu Hualiang stared in befuddlement at Prince Seven, who was suddenly speaking romantically. I can’t respond to that!

“Um…” He was silent for a long while.

“I don’t understand,” Yu Hualiang broke the silence. “Why does His Majesty want to attack Fanhe?”

Prince Seven said, “So Ziliang already knows.”

“I heard it from others,” said Yu Hualiang.

“Fanhe is a small nation. To the north it borders Mu, to the south Xiafan. In recent years, Mu and Xiafan have been at odds, and Fanhe is leaning toward Xiafan. This campaign is merely a minor punishment to serve as a warning.”

Yu Hualiang understood. There was no avoiding this war. He worried, “Even if Fanhe sides with Xiafan, it’s only the decision of the emperor. The common people simply follow the tide. They’re innocent.”

Prince Seven stroked his head. “Ziliang, you’re still too kind. But rest assured, as long as they surrender, I won’t harm a single hair on their heads.”

Yu Hualiang suddenly felt his worries were unnecessary. This man, who had walked through the battlefield himself, didn’t need his reminders.

After dining with Prince Seven, Yu Hualiang returned to his courtyard. He moved a chair beneath a tree and sat there. Whenever he had something on his mind, he liked to sit quietly this way.

Jinhe came over with a coat for him. Yu Hualiang accepted it. “Thank you.”

Jinhe paused, then approached. “Master Yu, what are you looking at?”

Yu Hualiang sighed. “The tree… The ants on the tree.”

“What’s interesting about ants?”

“These tiny creatures, from birth, are busy ceaselessly. Life never ceases, nor does their struggle.”

Yu Hualiang turned to glance at Jinhe, who didn’t understand, and confessed, “Alright… I admit, I’m just idle and full.”

“Haha, Master Yu, you’re truly amusing.”

“Ugh… You find everything amusing…” Yu Hualiang said.

Jinhe laughed. “No, only Master Yu can amuse me.”

“Oh, enough!” Yu Hualiang shivered, goosebumps rising all over.

Yu Hualiang sat outside until dusk before returning to his room. Prince Seven was busy today and hadn’t come to his courtyard. Yu Hualiang waited late before instructing Jinhe to close the door.

He didn’t know why. Before, Prince Seven was always pestering him, and he found it annoying. Now that he truly didn’t come, he found himself missing him…

Yu Hualiang mocked himself—such is human nature.

Late at night, Yu Hualiang finally dared to unwrap the cloth on his arm and checked the still-bleeding wound. He sighed—Prince Seven’s strength was truly excessive…

He cleaned the wound carelessly, intending to apply medicine and sleep, when he suddenly heard movement behind him.

He turned to see Cao Zhileng, dressed in black, climbing in through the window.

Without a word, Cao Zhileng helped him up and, like a nurse, applied medicine and bandaged the wound.

Yu Hualiang smiled. “You actually dared to come?”

Cao Zhileng replied in three words, “The darkness beneath the lamp.”

He wasn’t wrong. Prince Seven now trusted Yu Hualiang completely, never suspecting that it was Yu Hualiang who had saved Cao Zhileng.

With Cao Zhileng’s high martial skill, only Lin Tang could catch him if she acted personally.

Yu Hualiang sighed. “Do you know Mo is going to attack Fanhe?”

Cao Zhileng nodded. Yu Hualiang asked, “What did you mean that day in the woods when you said we’d talk later?”

After a pause, Cao Zhileng slowly spoke. “I went to the frontier. It’s sealed off. I can’t get out.”

Yu Hualiang frowned. “So you can’t go back.”

Cao Zhileng clenched his fists in anger. “The families and elders of Fanhe still don’t know… If the army comes one day, they’ll face nothing but slaughter.”

A scene of blood and corpses flashed through Yu Hualiang’s mind. He quickly argued, “Prince Seven has said he won’t massacre the people.”

“A war without bloodshed isn’t a war! Don’t be naive! If it’s not your own kin dying, you’ll never understand! Have you forgotten A-Liu? Forgotten how Prince Seven treated him?”

These words woke Yu Hualiang from his daze. He had been too absorbed in Prince Seven’s gentleness toward him, forgetting he was still that ruthless prince.

Yu Hualiang was silent for a while, then slowly lifted his head. “What do you want me to do?”

Ye Fang was serving Prince Seven as he reviewed memorials, feeling pleased. In a few days, he would follow him to the battlefield. This campaign against Fanhe should be a breeze for Prince Seven.

That meant three or four months without seeing Yu Hualiang!

Prince Seven, when with Yu Hualiang, seemed like a different person—nothing like a prince at all. On the battlefield, perhaps Ye Fang would see the heroic Prince Seven once more.

Yet Yu Hualiang shattered Ye Fang’s pleasant imaginings.

Hearing someone enter the courtyard, Prince Seven paused his movements with the memorials. Ye Fang stood vigilantly at the door.

Yu Hualiang hesitated at the door and lightly knocked.

Ye Fang asked, “Who is it?”

Yu Hualiang replied, “I’m here for Prince Seven.”

Upon hearing it was Yu Hualiang, Prince Seven’s heart brightened. He put away the memorials. “Ziliang, come in.”

Yu Hualiang entered and saw Prince Seven, hair loose, dressed only in a white inner robe, reading memorials. He lost his resolve. “Uh… Prince Seven is busy… I shouldn’t disturb you… I’ll leave.”

“Ziliang.” Prince Seven rose from his chair and signaled Ye Fang to leave.

Ye Fang could only glare at Yu Hualiang before leaving. Prince Seven embraced Yu Hualiang from behind. “Ziliang, did you come for something?”

Held in Prince Seven’s arms, Yu Hualiang was frozen. He spoke slowly, “There is something, though I’m not sure you’ll agree.”

Prince Seven drew closer with a smile. “Ziliang, speak freely.”

Yu Hualiang took a breath and turned to face Prince Seven. “Zicheng… Can you take me with you to Fanhe?”

Prince Seven’s smile faded a little as he looked at Yu Hualiang’s earnest eyes, speaking gently, “Why does Ziliang want to come?”

Yu Hualiang hesitated. Why would he want to go to Fanhe? Was he mad? That place was a battlefield!

“If Ziliang can’t say, then perhaps it’s best not to go… It’s getting late, Ziliang should rest. Why not stay here tonight?”

“Because!” Yu Hualiang suddenly raised his voice, then took a breath. “I can’t bear to part with Zicheng!”

Warmth surged in Prince Seven’s heart. He held Yu Hualiang tightly, his words echoing inside, rippling through him.

For that single sentence, he suddenly felt that everything he had done so far was worthwhile.

Yu Hualiang knew that whenever he said such things to Prince Seven, whatever he asked for would generally be granted.

After a long while, Prince Seven loosened his embrace, frowned with worry, and said, “If it were anything else, even if I had to mount blades or brave fire, I’d do it for you. But the battlefield is no place for games…”

“But… I promise I won’t be a burden to you! I swear!” Yu Hualiang said urgently.

Prince Seven replied, “It’s too dangerous. I can’t let you take such risks.”

Yu Hualiang frowned. “I… I can protect myself.”

“How will you protect yourself?” Prince Seven asked.

Yu Hualiang had intended to demonstrate his skill on Prince Seven, but as soon as he touched Prince Seven’s arm, his intent was seen through.

Before he could react, Prince Seven reversed his grip and subdued him—unluckily, right on his wounded arm.

Prince Seven hadn’t held back and used too much force. When he released Yu Hualiang, he saw his face pale with pain, clutching the spot he’d just squeezed.

“Is this all Ziliang can do?”

Yu Hualiang had no mind to respond. Prince Seven noticed something was wrong. Even if he’d used a bit too much strength, it shouldn’t have hurt so much.

He anxiously grabbed Yu Hualiang’s arm, pulled up the sleeve, and saw the white cloth soaked with fresh blood.