Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

Watching Zhong Yansheng being carried away before his eyes, Xiao Wenlan stood dumbfounded, tears welling up in his eyes, his gaze following the movement: "Brother?"

Why did his brother carry off Young Master Zhong?

Pei Hong's expression changed instantly, and he rose to intercept, "Put him down! Uncle King, what are you doing?"

Amidst the quails trembling from the cold on the ground, Xiao Nong, who had arrived swiftly on horseback through the rain, appeared exceptionally tall and imposing. Another bolt of lightning split the dark sky, illuminating Xiao Nong's gaze at that moment—

High and mighty, cold and indifferent, devoid of any emotion.

He didn't even bother with an explanation, looking at them as if they were mere pebbles on the roadside.

Pei Hong's movements froze, his face gradually turning grim.

The group crouching behind, upon seeing Xiao Nong's expression, dared not breathe loudly, exchanging glances.

What was going on between this fake heir of Marquis Huai'an and His Highness, the King of Ding?

No one had ever heard of the King of Ding treating anyone so specially, carrying them away without a second glance at his own cousin.

Especially those who had previously cursed Zhong Yansheng for being a harbinger of bad luck, now looked like quails, staring in shock and fear as Xiao Nong carried the person away.

It was Xiao Wenlan who, trembling, stepped forward, sobbing, "Brother, our horses have all run off, and there are still people on the mountain—"

Without lifting his head, Xiao Nong said, "Zhan Rong."

Zhan Rong, who had silently followed, bowed and accepted the order, then took a step forward, whistling, "Half of you search for the others, the rest stay here to escort the master and the young master down the mountain."

The guards, well-trained, responded in unison, "Yes!"

Zhan Rong helped the tearful Xiao Wenlan to his feet, his face cold and composed, "We found a path down the mountain. Second Young Master, please mount the horse first. The rest of the young masters, if anyone is injured, please mount the horse; the rest, follow us."

His Highness, the King of Ding, was indeed terrifying, but staying on this desolate and stormy mountain was equally frightening.

Everyone looked at each other hesitantly, slowly getting up with the help of their attendants, not daring to ride the fierce horses brought by the King of Ding, which clearly had poor temperaments, and followed along, stumbling through the mud.

Zhong Yansheng's entire body was burning.

He felt he must be running a high fever.

The arms holding him were steady and strong, the chest firm and cold, and with his face feeling hot, he wanted to press against something cool, unconsciously rubbing his face against Xiao Nong's shoulder.

He was gently jolted, "Ah," and the brief sensation of weightlessness cleared his drowsy mind a bit.

Zhong Yansheng opened his eyes groggily, discreetly pulling down the outer robe covering his face a little, revealing his eyes to sneak a peek. He met the deep blue gaze looking down at him, like the deepest ice pool.

Zhong Yansheng froze.

"Don't move."

A pat on his lower back.

Zhong Yansheng trembled all over, too preoccupied with the fear of his face being exposed to feel the sting of the slap. He quickly touched the handkerchief covering his face, relieved it was still in place.

He tried to remain calm, "Your Highness, why are you here?"

Even with such a high fever, he was still trying to deceive.

Xiao Nong felt a bit of anger, responding indifferently, "To hunt mountain pheasants."

Oh...

Zhong Yansheng, in a daze, thought that His Highness, the King of Ding, was also here for the hunt. What a coincidence. It seemed that His Highness, the King of Jing, not only had bad luck but was also unreliable, just like Xiao Wenlan.

His body was weak from the fever, his throat sore and hoarse, his voice soft and weak, not even aware of what he was saying, "Did you catch any?"

Reaching the horse, Xiao Nong placed the person in his arms onto the horse, then swiftly mounted, steadying him back into his embrace, his expression indifferent, "I did."

Zhong Yansheng's thoughts were drifting, and after a while, he managed to say, "Then, congratulations?"

Burnt out.

Xiao Nong thought, he wasn't very smart to begin with.

On the way to find the others, Xiao Nong had been riding fast, but now that he had found them, he slowed down a bit to avoid jostling the delicate young master. Looking at his misty, slightly red eyes and the handkerchief almost slipping off his face, he coldly adjusted the robe to cover half of his face again, "Mm."

Xiao Nong rode steadily, his tall figure completely enveloping Zhong Yansheng, shielding him from everything, making the sound of the heavy rain seem distant.

The most distinct sound in his ears was the steady, powerful heartbeat of Xiao Nong.

Despite the cold and hard body close to him, Zhong Yansheng felt less cold, closing his eyes in fatigue, inhaling the scent of rainwater hitting the ground, the earthy smell of the forest, and the fresh fragrance of green leaves and grass.

And the cold, indifferent aura nearby, mixed with a faint, bitter medicinal scent that could only be detected up close.

It was Xiao Nong's scent.

Zhong Yansheng vaguely recalled the descriptions in poetry of snowfall in the vast desert, the cold gleam of a lone blade, and the thousand miles of white.

Was he recognized?

In his daze, this thought slowly formed in Zhong Yansheng's mind.

But if he was recognized, why would His Highness, the King of Ding, act like this... shouldn't he be furious and want to hang him?

If he wasn't recognized, then why treat him this way?

Zhong Yansheng, burning and dazed, felt a headache coming on, his thoughts becoming muddled. Unable to resist, he poked his head out from under the outer robe, his wet black hair clinging to his pale cheeks, tinged with a rosy flush, his lips red and swollen.

Like that day when he was drugged, but even more pitiable.

Unaware of the mask slipping down, he gazed hazily at the prominent Adam's apple before him, staring for a long while, feeling inexplicably shy. He then lifted his head and stared at Xiao Nong's sharp jawline, calling softly, "Your Highness, King Ding."

Xiao Nong usually had no patience for idle chatter; even ten sentences from Xiao Wenlan wouldn't necessarily get a response.

But he still lowered his gaze: "Mm."

Zhong Yansheng almost blurted out, "Do you recognize me?" but changed his words at the last moment: "Do you know me?"

...What kind of question is this?

Xiao Nong was speechless: "Yes."

Zhong Yansheng was startled, stammering: "T-then who am I?"

Burnt so badly that you can't even remember your name?

Xiao Nong pinched the outer robe with two fingers, covering Zhong Yansheng's hot little face again to protect it from the cold rain: "Zhong Yansheng."

Zhong Yansheng felt relieved.

Great, His Highness, King Ding, said he was Zhong Yansheng, not Tiaotiao.

He closed his eyes half-asleep, resting for a while.

In less than half an hour, there was another rustling in the robe in his arms. Xiao Nong looked down, and that pretty little face peeked out again, eyelids flushed red, struggling to keep his eyes open, his voice hoarse as if he had swallowed sand, still insisting on murmuring: "Your Highness, King Ding..."

Xiao Nong: "..."

Helpless: "What do you want?"

Zhong Yansheng was dazed for a moment, then remembered what he wanted to ask, struggling to maintain consciousness: "What about the others?"

Xiao Wenlan, His Highness, King Jing, and the others, were they all saved?

Even in such a state, he was still worrying so much.

Xiao Nong glanced at the group far behind: "They're following behind."

Zhong Yansheng was completely reassured.

With the two things he was most worried about clarified, he closed his eyes and fell into a peaceful sleep. His thick, curled eyelashes, wet from the rain, looked like butterfly wings with dew, trembling slightly and dropping water like tears.

Xiao Nong watched for a while, then lifted the robe to cover his face again.

This time, until they descended the mountain, that little head remained quietly against his chest, not poking out again.

Yannan Mountain has a complex terrain, with high and low elevations. Today, many sons of nobles accompanied King Jing, and the sudden heavy rain posed a danger. The people left at the foot of the mountain immediately sent news to the Imperial City, and each family was very anxious, sending people over, and even some parents rushed over.

Because King Jing was also in the mountains, even the emperor was alarmed and sent the eunuch Tian Xi.

At this moment, the road leading into the mountain was crowded with people, discussing how to rescue those trapped, a bustling scene.

"The rain is so heavy, there might be flash floods. The young masters trapped in the mountains may be in danger!"

"We've explored five paths up the mountain, all blocked by streams. The water is deep enough to submerge half a horse's leg. Our horses probably won't make it through."

"What can we do? My son is still in the mountains, my son..."

Tian Xi, who had just arrived, got off the carriage, and the crowd fell silent, greeting him: "Eunuch Tian Xi is here too."

Tian Xi had been castrated since childhood and had served the emperor for decades. Now, as the chief eunuch of the Office of Ceremonial, he managed the inner palace. Even the grand secretaries of the cabinet would address him as "eunuch" when they met him.

Moreover, unlike other eunuchs who became arrogant once they gained power, Tian Xi was kind-hearted. When court officials offended the emperor and were punished, he would try to plead for them, earning respect from both superiors and subordinates.

Behind Tian Xi, two young eunuchs held umbrellas, looking calm amidst the worried and anxious crowd, their faces gentle: "The emperor heard that His Highness, King Jing, was trapped on Yannan Mountain and sent me to check on the situation."

His gaze quickly fell on one person in the crowd, surprised: "My Lord Marquis."

Among the anxious crowd, Marquis Huai'an had a solemn expression. Behind him stood a gentle-looking youth, frowning as he gazed at the distant mountains. Hearing Tian Xi's voice, Marquis Huai'an turned his head and gestured for Zhong Sidu to step back.

Zhong Sidu hesitated, glancing at the direction of the forest one more time, then bowed his head and retreated.

Only then did Marquis Huai'an turn around and bow to Tian Xi: "Eunuch Tian Xi."

Tian Xi carefully lifted his slightly long hem, walked to Marquis Huai'an's side, and smiled: "My Lord, you are esteemed and should not personally come to such a place."

Marquis Huai'an exhaled deeply: "Eunuch, you jest. As a parent, how can one not worry about their child?"

"Isn't your true heir already back?"

Tian Xi glanced at the direction Zhong Sidu had left, smiling kindly: "My Lord, to be so concerned about a child who was mistakenly taken, truly makes me feel moved. When I left the palace, the emperor mentioned to me whether Marquis Huai'an's noble heart remains unchanged."

Marquis Huai'an's eyes flickered imperceptibly, but only for a moment, then returned to normal: "Raising a cat or dog for over a decade can foster some affection, let alone a human... But you are right, now that the real one is found, there's no need to worry about the false one. Thank you for your reminder, Eunuch."

Tian Xi shook his head: "After not seeing you for over a decade, I'm glad to see you still have the same demeanor. There's no need to thank me."

The two spoke in low voices for a long time, and the others, eager but hesitant to interrupt, finally asked when they finished: "Eunuch Tian Xi, the rain is so heavy, the water is rushing, our horses can't cross. Perhaps only the warhorses from the nearby three camps can manage..."

"Ah, don't worry."

Tian Xi calmly waved his duster, his unhurried manner making the anxious crowd even more frustrated, inwardly cursing the eunuch.

After everyone had vented their frustration, Tian Xi smiled: "When I came, I heard that His Highness, King Ding, had already led a team of guards up the mountain—look, aren't they coming down now?"

Hearing about King Ding, everyone was stunned, then vaguely remembered that Xiao Wenlan, the second son of the Xiao family, was also among those who entered the mountain today.

It was said that His Highness, King Ding, usually treated his cousin coldly, but as the only remaining branch of the Xiao family, it was normal for him to go up the mountain to save Xiao Wenlan.

But with the temperament of His Highness, the Prince of Ding, wouldn't he just bring Xiao Wenlan down and leave everyone else to their fate?

Everyone, worried, looked in the direction pointed by Eunuch Tian Xi. Indeed, they saw a squad of black-clad cavalry galloping towards them, slicing through the rain like a long sword breaking the night, calmly wading through the water that blocked everyone's path, heading this way.

At the forefront was none other than His Highness, the Prince of Ding, whom people usually tried to avoid. For some reason, he had taken off his outer robe, draping it over the person in front of him.

No one knew what kind of astonishingly bold person it could be, leaning so casually in the arms of the Prince of Ding, making everyone’s hearts race and speculate: Could it be... Young Master Xiao, Xiao Wenlan?

But this speculation was quickly dispelled.

On the dozen or so horses following the Prince of Ding, each carried two or three people, so the well-treated Prince of Jing and Xiao Wenlan stood out, each sharing a horse alone, escaping the fate of being piled on the horses or carried.

...

So who was on the Prince of Ding’s horse?

This question popped up in everyone's mind, including Eunuch Tian Xi and the Marquis of Huai'an.

The mountain path below Yannan Mountain was not wide to begin with, and was now crowded with so many people that even riding a horse would be impossible.

Especially when he noticed the Marquis of Huai'an, Xiao Nong’s eyebrows slightly raised.

It seemed he couldn’t take the little sparrow in his arms home today.

Xiao Nong reined his horse to a stop outside the crowd, nodding coldly at Eunuch Tian Xi and the Marquis of Huai'an standing together.

The Marquis of Huai'an, still puzzled, suddenly remembered Xiao Nong’s strange behavior and inquiries during his last visit to the Supreme Court, as well as how Xiao Nong almost turned the Imperial City upside down looking for someone named "Tao Tao"...

He suddenly realized something, his gaze falling on the small bundle in his arms, his expression turning extremely complex.

But before the Marquis of Huai'an could speak, others who had been anxiously waiting rushed over: “My son, my son!”

The group of young masters, either piled on the horses or being carried, struggled to turn their heads, seeing the crowd waiting at the foot of the mountain, and began to cry and wail: “Father, Mother! I, I’m so scared... Ah, Big Brother, put me down, my stomach is hurting…”

Xiao Nong had only brought back a small group; there were still two more groups separated from Zhong Yansheng who hadn’t been brought down yet.

Seeing that everyone else’s children had returned but theirs were still missing, the anxious crowd, suppressing their fear, gathered around Xiao Nong’s horse, politely looking up and asking: “When His Highness, the Prince of Ding, went up the mountain, did he encounter anyone else?”

Xiao Nong glanced down at the person asking, his eyes cold.

The person, chilled to the bone, shrank back, his words stuck in his throat.

Zhan Rong dismounted, helping the shivering Xiao Wenlan down, and strode over, bowing: “Gentlemen, there’s no need to worry. The Prince has dispatched the remaining guards to search the mountain.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, deeply grateful: “Thank you, His Highness, the Prince of Ding!”

Xiao Nong’s guards had been with him through countless battles, experienced in handling all kinds of situations, and were among the elite. Such skilled soldiers and horses were far more reliable than requesting troops from the three major camps from the emperor.

They didn’t dare to linger in front of Xiao Nong’s horse. Upon hearing this good news, they quickly stepped back.

Eunuch Tian Xi spotted Pei Hong and hurried over, personally helping him dismount: “Oh, our Prince of Jing, were you frightened?”

Pei Hong, unusually without his usual smile and carefree demeanor, merely nodded at Tian Xi, then refocused his gaze on Xiao Nong, his eyes filled with an indescribable complexity.

Tian Xi, supporting him, followed his gaze and saw the Prince of Ding dismount, carefully lifting the person he had protected all the way from the horse, handling him as if he were a fragile porcelain, with utmost gentleness.

Tian Xi, who had watched Xiao Nong grow up, had never seen this fierce man treat anyone like this. He signaled a young eunuch to hold an umbrella for the Prince of Jing, then walked over.

Just in time, he saw the Prince of Ding carrying the person under the Marquis of Huai'an’s umbrella, pulling back the robe covering the face in his arms, revealing a pale face flushed with red, soft black hair wet and clinging to his cheeks and neck, exuding a breathtaking fragility and beauty that was hard to look away from.

Tian Xi’s steps paused.

Finally, he clearly saw who was in Xiao Nong’s arms. The Marquis of Huai'an managed to squeeze out a few words: “I am grateful for Your Highness’s care for my son.”

Xiao Nong remained unperturbed: “It’s my duty.”

A vein throbbed on the Marquis of Huai'an’s forehead, unable to contain himself: “The carriage of the Marquis of Huai'an is nearby, with a physician waiting inside. Please, Your Highness, let my son down.”

“There is also a physician waiting in my carriage.”

Xiao Nong, having removed his outer robe to wrap Zhong Yansheng, now dressed in a narrow-sleeved round-collar robe, appeared even taller and leaner. Instead of putting Zhong Yansheng down, he walked past the Marquis of Huai'an towards the carriage of the Prince’s residence: “Rest assured, I am not unreasonable. I will return Tao Tao to the Marquisate.”

Hearing Xiao Nong’s name for Zhong Yansheng, the Marquis of Huai'an’s heart sank.

He was utterly perplexed.

Tao Tao was always so well-behaved and sensible, how could he have gotten involved with Xiao Nong?

Zhong Sidu had been watching the situation closely. Seeing this, he finally couldn’t bear it, quickly getting off the carriage and walking over, his voice tinged with anxiety: “Father!”

The Marquis of Huai'an held him back, shaking his head.

Given the unpredictable temper of this Prince of Ding, the fact that he hadn’t directly taken Zhong Yansheng back to his residence was probably giving him some face.

If they insisted on taking him back and annoyed Xiao Nong, he might just take him away.

Xiao Wenlan, having been jolted to near death on the horse, had just recovered and wanted to follow Xiao Nong’s carriage, but the coachman cracked the whip—

The carriage mercilessly passed by him and drove away.

Xiao Wenlan: “….”

Xiao Wenlan gradually became confused.

Did his brother come to Yannan Mountain to save him, or to save Little Lord Zhong?

In the spacious carriage of the Prince of Ding’s residence, indeed, a doctor was waiting, idly cracking sunflower seeds.

When Xiao Nong, drenched, carried the equally wet Zhong Yansheng into the carriage, Lou Qingtang quickly moved aside to avoid getting wet, peering curiously at the familiar, beautiful, wet face, tsking: “That lovesick Little Lord Zhong? It’s really him.”

Xiao Nong ignored him, placing Zhong Yansheng on the small bed in the carriage and then pulling the nearby blanket over him, wrapping him tightly. "Come and take a look."

Suddenly wrapped up like a dumpling, Zhong Yansheng struggled uncomfortably a few times but couldn't break free. His eyelashes fluttered, and he reluctantly gave up.

Lou Qingtang had come over just to see what was happening. Hearing this, he immediately moved closer, placing his hands on Zhong Yansheng's only exposed wrist for a moment. Then, he reached into his sleeve pocket and pulled out several small medicine bottles, pointing at each one. "He has a high fever; we need to bring it down quickly. These are new pills I've made. Take one of each."

Xiao Nong took the medicine, nodded, and said indifferently, "You can leave now."

Lou Qingtang had never seen such swift ingratitude in his life. He was stunned for a moment, then, meeting Xiao Nong's impatient gaze, he grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds in anger. "Xiao Xianwei, you'd better pray you don't need my help again!"

Though his words were fierce, he was actually quite timid. After throwing out the threat, he quickly lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage.

Zhong Yansheng had been drenched in the cold rain, looking as pitiful as a wet bird with its wings drooping, just like that day when he was pulled out of the river.

Xiao Nong took out the pills, pinched Zhong Yansheng's chin, and gently parted his lips, intending to feed him the medicine.

But Zhong Yansheng had fallen into a deep sleep. Even the smell of the medicine made him wrinkle his nose, and he turned his head away, unwilling to take it.

Xiao Nong narrowed his eyes.

Zhong Yansheng lay quietly before him, with a face that seemed deceptively innocent, his soft black hair making him look very obedient.

But in reality, he was anything but.

"Taotao," Xiao Nong's fingertips brushed away the strands of hair stuck to his forehead. "Not going to take the medicine?"

Zhong Yansheng was delirious with fever, his usually rosy lips now dry and pale, yet he stubbornly pressed them together, refusing to take the medicine.

Xiao Nong's fingers slowly slid from his forehead to his lips, which were as soft as petals, just as he remembered. A gentle rub and press made them as red as if they had been painted with lip rouge, making his feverish face even more captivating.

He has been pining for me, and I... find him quite interesting.

Xiao Nong pondered slowly, the dark blue of his eyes reflecting calm ripples. It felt natural to think that this wasn't being improper.

Besides, naughty children should be punished.

Having decided, Xiao Nong put a pill in his mouth, slid his hand to Zhong Yansheng's jaw, and applied a bit of force, making him open his lips. Without hesitation, he covered those lips with his own.

The heat was intense, the touch excessively soft.

Xiao Nong paused, his gaze deepening with his breath, and he pushed past the already weak resistance of Zhong Yansheng's lips, pressing the medicine inside.

In his semi-conscious state, Zhong Yansheng felt as if he were about to be devoured, letting out a muffled sound as he tried to struggle. His head was completely controlled, and the hand on his jaw tightened, forcing his lips wide open. His tongue was drawn in, accepting the dominant and deep kiss.

Author's Note:

Xiao Nong: He's not very smart to begin with.

Taotao: ?

(Covering Taotao's ears) (You're so smart, baby. Xiao Nong is bad, don't listen to him.)