Chapter Eighty-Four: Rather Than Becoming Mere Friends

A few days later, Yu Hualiang was summoned by the Seventh Prince. When they met again, the prince was still hiding behind the screen.

He held his brush, feeling inexplicably heavy-hearted.

The servant beside the Seventh Prince greeted him politely, “Master Ding, you’re quite late today.”

Yu Hualiang explained, “Forgive me, sir, I was delayed by some matters.”

Earlier that day, when Qi Feng came to fetch him, Ah Liu stubbornly refused to let him leave. With no other option, Yu pretended he wanted Qi to stay for a meal and sent Ah Liu to buy fine wine and dishes. Only then did he seize the chance to slip out quietly with Qi Feng.

The servant smiled, “Without further ado, my lord asks whether Master Ding can paint the Flower of the Other Shore today.”

Yu Hualiang nodded—it was merely a red stonewort.

“Yes, I can.”

The servant was momentarily stunned. Most people knew the Flower of the Other Shore bloomed in the underworld, and its mention would usually startle them. Yet Yu Hualiang’s expression remained utterly calm.

The servant asked, “That flower grows in the realm of the dead—have you seen it with your own eyes, Master Ding?”

Yu Hualiang smiled, “It grows everywhere; any damp, warm place will do.”

“This…” The servant was clearly taken aback. He glanced at the Seventh Prince, unsure how to respond to Yu Hualiang’s words.

The prince signaled him to continue, so the servant said, “My lord had a dear friend who passed away. It is said if the Flower of the Other Shore appears, his soul will return.”

Yu Hualiang’s heart suddenly skipped a beat, his gaze hollow. At this moment, he was certain—the man behind the screen was indeed the Seventh Prince. He had found him after all.

He set down his brush. “Then I cannot paint for your lordship.”

A dull ache gripped the Seventh Prince’s heart. Was Yu Hualiang still unwilling to forgive him? Still unwilling to return to him?

The servant protested, “Master Ding, what do you mean? It’s only a flower—aren’t you able to paint it?”

Yu Hualiang replied, “The deceased are gone; please accept my condolences. He has been dead for so long, his soul has surely been reincarnated or else become a vengeful spirit.”

He stood up, suddenly smiling. “If you summon him back and he clings to your lordship, it would not end well.”

Seeing Yu Hualiang about to leave, the servant rushed to block his path. “How dare you defy my lord’s command!”

Yu Hualiang turned and cast a cryptic smile toward the screen. The servant found his demeanor aggravating and was about to call for men to seize him.

Suddenly, a hoarse, deep voice sounded from behind the screen: “Let him go.”

Yu Hualiang’s ears felt cleansed as he heard it, clear as day—this voice had once called him by his courtesy name, Ziliang, and he remembered it still.

It was truly the Seventh Prince. Yu Hualiang exhaled, left the room, and Qi Feng, seeing his troubled expression, asked with concern, “What happened? Did you offend that lord?”

Yu Hualiang waved his hand. “It’s nothing. Take me home.”

Qi Feng nodded. All the way, Yu Hualiang’s heart was uneasy, guilt toward the Seventh Prince welling up within him, his brow furrowed.

His expression made Qi Feng uncomfortable as well, so he tried to comfort him. “No need to be like this. It seems you haven’t truly angered him. When you get back, pack your things and leave quickly.”

Qi Feng’s words echoed Yu Hualiang’s own thoughts. He too felt this way—how formidable the prince was, to have found him.

Yu Hualiang had never expected it. He’d imagined the Seventh Prince would storm in and bind him, but instead, he’d come in such a refined manner.

Was the prince afraid of frightening him into cursing?

Thinking of this, a faint warmth stirred in Yu Hualiang’s heart. He sighed. The prince knew he’d faked his death, yet showed no anger, nor forced him to return.

Could he really intend to let Yu Hualiang go? Three years apart, and such change—sometimes Yu Hualiang wished he could slap himself.

At a time like this, how could he still dwell on such matters!

Lost in thought, Yu Hualiang was jolted by the carriage, nearly falling into Qi Feng’s embrace.

Qi Feng helped him up, “Are you alright?”

Yu Hualiang rubbed his bruised hand. “I’m fine.”

Qi Feng, furious, shouted at the driver, “How are you driving!”

The coachman’s voice trembled, “Fi—fire!”

Yu Hualiang had only rubbed his hand twice when he heard this; he had no time to care, and rushed off the carriage.

Just as the coachman said, the village was ablaze—and not just in one place.

Qi Feng looked at the smoke rising from Yu Hualiang’s village. “What’s happening?”

Yu Hualiang seized him, a rare severity in his voice. “Go! Quickly!”

Qi Feng had never seen Yu Hualiang so serious. He hesitated, then ordered the coachman to hurry.

Yu Hualiang’s heart was uneasy. Such thick smoke surely meant disaster.

Indeed, his fears were confirmed. The village was burned. The little thatched huts he’d known were now only piles of ash.

Yu Hualiang was stunned. Like a madman, he rushed home. His own house, too, was burned—more than once, by the look of it.

Qi Feng, worried, helped him up. “What do we do, Ah Liang?”

Qi Feng’s words snapped Yu Hualiang out of his grief. He hurried to the carriage, “Quick! To the magistrate, inform the prefect!”

Luckily, the coachman reacted swiftly. Inside the carriage, tears welled in Yu’s eyes. Just that morning, Ah Liu was lively—now gone without a trace.

He’d heard recently of a band of bandits occupying nearby villages, but thought it had nothing to do with him.

Unexpectedly, Ah Liu had guessed right. The bandits hadn’t just coveted the neighboring village—they’d had their eyes on theirs all along.

The entire village was taken. It seemed Ah Liu was merely captured; the bandits hadn’t harmed anyone yet.

If he reported to the authorities in time, there was hope. With this in mind, Yu Hualiang went to the magistrate, only to be doused with cold water.

He arrived at the yamen, ready to beat the drum, but a clerk came out to question him.

When he explained it was bandits, the clerk shuddered and whispered, “Don’t report—yesterday, my lord was threatened by the bandits. If anyone dares to interfere, they’ll kill my lord’s family.”

Yu Hualiang understood the magistrate’s predicament. Reporting was useless. Who else could save Ah Liu?

Qi Feng was beside himself. “What now? These bandits are lawless—even the officials fear them!”

Yu Hualiang nodded absentmindedly. Qi Feng added, “Did they capture people for gold?”

“No. If they wanted gold, they’d only take some, not everyone,” Yu Hualiang analyzed.

Qi Feng nodded uncertainly, and Yu Hualiang’s mind grew sharper. Was this fate forcing him to seek out the Seventh Prince?

Among all officials in Brocade City, none held more power than the prince, and he was renowned for his skill in war.

Only he could save Ah Liu.

Yet Yu Hualiang still hesitated. He had refused so decisively in daylight.

But the longer Ah Liu stayed in the bandits’ lair, the greater the danger—not just for Ah Liu, but for all the village neighbors.

He’d received much kindness from them these three years. Thinking of this, Yu Hualiang spoke slowly to Qi Feng, “I must see your lord Wen Chuan.”

“What?” Qi Feng was taken aback. “Didn’t you just anger him this afternoon? Now you’re preparing to flee?”

“I can’t worry about that now. Hurry!” Yu Hualiang was exasperated by Qi Feng’s chatter at such a tense moment.

The Seventh Prince sat behind the screen, unsure how long he’d been waiting.

When he heard the commotion outside, he smiled. Yu Hualiang, led by Qi Feng, arrived at the prince’s residence, but two guards barred his entry.

“Let me in! I have urgent business with the lord!”

The guards pushed him back. “Our lord is sleeping! Whatever it is, come back tomorrow!”

“It’s a matter of life and death!” Yu Hualiang cried in desperation.

The prince, seizing the moment, called out, “Let him in.”

With the prince’s command, the guards allowed him through.

The prince insisted only Yu Hualiang enter. The noisy atmosphere fell suddenly silent. Yu Hualiang felt uneasy.

In the vast room, only two people. The prince, as before, sat behind the screen.

The candlelight cast his shadow, tinged with loneliness. For a long time, neither spoke.

Suddenly, Yu Hualiang knelt to the floor. The prince’s heart leapt.

“I beg the Seventh Prince to save our Fengping Village.”

The prince exhaled, suppressing his trembling hand. “Ziliang, have you come only to say this to me?”

Yu Hualiang’s heart sank. The prince’s tone was cold as ice—why did it hurt so much?

He could barely muster a single word. “Yes.”

“Our village, Fengping, was attacked by bandits. Over a hundred villagers were taken. I reported it, but the officials are powerless… I… as a last resort, can only beg…”

“Enough!” the prince snapped, startling Yu Hualiang, who knelt motionless.

“Why must you be so distant with me!” The prince could no longer restrain his emotions. He strode out from behind the screen and confronted Yu Hualiang.

Yu Hualiang was speechless. The prince’s eyes were red, like a demon crawling from hell. He grabbed Yu Hualiang’s chin, forcing him to look at him.

Yet Yu Hualiang’s eyes remained clear, as luminous as the full moon on their parting night. If one gazed long enough, they could glimpse the stars within.

Every moment, those eyes stirred the prince’s feelings for him. Looking at that face, the prince was overcome by a longing to kiss him.

But Yu Hualiang evaded him. Sensing this, the prince let go in anger, stood, and said, “Do you know how long I’ve searched for you?”

Yu Hualiang said nothing. The prince continued, “You always say I’m forcing you…” At this, the seven-foot man’s voice broke with sobs.

“Fine! I won’t force you. The choice is yours. If you want me to save your Ah Liu… then tonight, you must sleep with me.”

Yu Hualiang’s eyes widened in shock. He could never have imagined that the man who had always cherished him would utter such words.

The prince shed a single tear. He knew that without this ultimatum, they might never cross paths again.

Better to become enemies who love fiercely than to fade as friends.