Chapter 30 Quiet Changes

Chapter 30: Subtle Changes

Lin Lu escorted Cang Youling all the way to the palace gate before he learned that she had drugged all the eunuchs and maids to sneak out, and even the true dragon emperor of Great Zhou was still asleep in her bed.

“It’s nothing serious,” Cang Youling casually took the lantern, “that old man sleeps like a log.”

Lin Lu was somewhat puzzled by her completely unguarded words and actions in front of him.

Whether she was proud of her methods or simply didn’t care at all was unclear.

“If someone hears these words, you’ll die a horrible death,” Lin Lu said.

“Do you think I want to live that much?” A flash of ferocity crossed Cang Youling’s eyes.

“Alright, thank you for escorting me back,” Cang Youling then showed her usual charming smile, “I won’t forget you.”

Lin Lu silently nodded and turned to leave.

He missed the probing gaze and playful smile Cang Youling gave him as he left.

After this night, something seemed to shift subtly, yet everything appeared the same.

Shen Xingzhou was absent from the Summer Welcoming Banquet for the next two days.

Lin Lu, intentionally or not, learned that the sixth prince caught a cold and ran a high fever for two days.

“Are you heading out again, Godfather?” Lin Lu was helping Ji Xiuyu organize the accumulated official documents from the past three days when he encountered Ji Xiuyu heading out.

Once the banquet period ended, Ji Xiuyu’s schedule became noticeably packed.

Ji Xiuyu remained silent, casting a deep look at Lin Lu, then suddenly asked, “Have you been to Yuexiao Tower on Shuojin Street?”

Lin Lu looked up and replied, “Yes.” After a pause, he added, “Cat Egg—my late father—took me there once.”

“How was it?” Ji Xiuyu’s eyes curved as he casually asked while adjusting his clothes.

“The place is elegant, and the food is excellent.”

“I’ll take you there one of these days,” Ji Xiuyu looked at Lin Lu again, smiling at him with the warmth of a close elder.

Lin Lu agreed without hesitation, lowering his eyes and continuing working, not wanting to delve into any hidden meanings in Ji Xiuyu’s words.

Ji Xiuyu had previously insulted and tormented Lin Lu in every possible way, leaving Lin Lu’s psyche irreparably scarred.

Facing Ji Xiuyu, Lin Lu didn’t even dare to harbor thoughts of hatred or resistance; only through complete submission could he endure under Ji Xiuyu’s dominion.

—The lesson learned through blood and tears made Lin Lu deeply aware of this, and the dark side that emerged during this period also made Lin Lu’s mind exceptionally strong, capable of facing any situation with calm.

But Shen Xingzhou blazed like a wildfire, shattering the icy barriers around Lin Lu’s heart with unstoppable force, inevitably causing some slight tremors.

Lin Lu silently collected the official documents on the desk; without Ji Xiuyu’s permission, he wouldn’t excessively peruse their contents.

They were likely just about the turmoil in the court; he wasn’t particularly concerned about the power struggles among the princes and ministers, only instinctively following Ji Xiuyu’s arrangements, like a truly tamed and obedient dog.

No wonder Lin Lu quickly earned a reputation as a lackey or a lowly slave as soon as he appeared in the Directorate of Ceremonial.

But despite the insults, these words would never reach Lin Lu’s ears.

As noon approached, Lin Lu finished his work but didn’t wait for Ji Xiuyu to return. A young eunuch politely inquired if he wanted his meal served in the room, but Lin Lu declined and left the Directorate of Ceremonial to enter the palace.

Shen Xingzhou was sprawled on the stone table in his courtyard, soaking up the sun and lost in thought.

"Your Highness, it's time for lunch," said Ling Du, the personal eunuch, who had become particularly deferential after Shen Xingzhou displayed what could be called "royal authority."

"No appetite," Shen Xingzhou muttered, sounding drained.

Due to a lack of experience, Shen Xingzhou and Lin Lu's first intimate encounter was not particularly pleasant. As the less experienced partner, Shen Xingzhou even suffered minor injuries, which led to a persistent high fever.

However, only Shen Xingzhou himself knew the reason. He alarmed his mother, who kept asking where he was injured, when he bravely asked Noble Lady Xia for a cooling and anti-inflammatory ointment. Shen Xingzhou couldn't muster the words to explain.

"This..." Ling Du was at a loss. "Your Highness has just recovered from a cold. The kitchen has prepared light and easily digestible food. Could you try to eat a little?"

Before Shen Xingzhou could answer, a palace maid entered the courtyard. Shen Xingzhou recognized her as Qiao'er, who served Noble Lady Xia.

Shen Xingzhou immediately closed his eyes, awkwardly feigning sleep. Ling Du stood by, glancing between the newcomer and his master, his lips twitching awkwardly.

"Is this how you serve your master?" Qiao'er snapped at Ling Du, frowning as she approached. "His Highness has just recovered from illness, and you let him sleep out in the cold?"

"No, I didn't..." Ling Du stammered.

"Aunt Qiao'er, it's not his fault," Shen Xingzhou quickly came to Ling Du's defense. He sat up straight, revealing a triumphant smile that looked particularly pure in the sunlight. "It's such a nice day, and it's not cold at all."

Qiao'er, an old servant of Noble Lady Xia who had watched Shen Xingzhou grow up, was left speechless by such a pure smile. Her heart softened, and she said gently, "Your Highness, someone is here to see you. From the looks of his uniform, it's a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial. He has been invited by the mistress for tea. She told me to... Ah, Your Highness! Slow down!"

At the mention of "Directorate of Ceremonial," Shen Xingzhou bolted out.

Could it be Lin Lu?

Is he here to see me?

At this thought, Shen Xingzhou couldn't help but smile, running so fast that his mind, which had been foggy for two days, seemed to clear up in an instant.

Noble Lady Xia led Lin Lu to the main seat, not daring to sit in the secondary seat herself, and stood respectfully to the side, timidly inquiring about the reason for his visit.

"You are too kind, Noble Lady," Lin Lu did not decline, gracefully accepting the hot tea she offered with both hands. He took a sip and said, "I merely wish to have lunch with the Sixth Prince."

Noble Lady Xia knew that her son had been longing for a young eunuch for many years. The most memorable incident was during his recent house arrest, when Shen Xingzhou would frequently demand to go out. It was only through her maternal authority that she managed to keep him in line.

She never expected that the young eunuch she had heard about was actually a favorite of the powerful eunuch Ji Xiuyu. As a low-ranking noble lady who had not been promoted for a long time, it was no wonder she dared not address herself as the mistress in front of Lin Lu.

"Ah, it is truly a blessing for Zhou'er to have your favor, Eunuch Lin. You are too kind," Noble Lady Xia quietly sighed in relief. "I have already sent someone to call him. Please wait a moment."

"Brother Lu!" As soon as the words were spoken, Shen Xingzhou stepped into the hall, laying eyes on the person he had been yearning for.

Noble Lady Xia desperately gestured to Shen Xingzhou with her eyes. Lin Lu saw this but did not expose it. He calmly set down his teacup, stood up, and walked over. "Good day, Sixth Prince. Have you had lunch yet?"

"Not yet," Shen Xingzhou leaned close to Lin Lu, his eyes shining brightly. "Brother Lu, would you like to join me?"

Lin Lu remained expressionless, but the lines on his face softened noticeably. He nodded silently and followed Shen Xingzhou to his small courtyard.

The two got along as effortlessly as old friends who had known each other for years.

Noble Lady Xia was so shocked that her mouth hung open. On one hand, she was relieved that Shen Xingzhou had finally befriended someone of high status, but on the other hand, she worried that her foolish son might unknowingly offend him.

Shen Xingzhou happily led Lin Lu to his bedroom and instructed the small kitchen to prepare the meal quickly.

The two sat down at the table. Lin Lu listened patiently while Shen Xingzhou chattered on about every little thing that had ever happened in the corners of this small courtyard, all related to himself.

He wished he could lay everything before Lin Lu, everything from the time before they had met.

Let him understand me, and then... fall in love with me.

As Shen Xingzhou spoke, he kept an eye on Lin Lu's expression, relieved to see no trace of impatience or displeasure. Regardless of whether Lin Lu was listening or not, he continued to talk enthusiastically.

Lin Lu reached out and poured a cup of tea, placing it in front of Shen Xingzhou. "Your Highness has spoken so much, please moisten your throat."

Shen Xingzhou awkwardly picked up the teacup, thinking Lin Lu was subtly interrupting him because he was tired of listening. He silently sipped the warm tea, casting pitiful glances at Lin Lu.

But then he saw Lin Lu pour himself a cup as well, look up at Shen Xingzhou, and ask, "Your Highness mentioned that when you were six, you tripped over the threshold while running into the room. What happened after that?"

Shen Xingzhou gulped down a mouthful of tea and cheerfully replied, "After that, I scraped my forehead and bled all over my face. My mother was so scared she picked me up and ran to find the royal physician!"

"There's still a scar," Shen Xingzhou said, lifting his bangs and leaning closer to Lin Lu. "Brother Lu, want to see?"

Near his hairline, there was indeed a faint scar, about an inch long. Over time, it had become less noticeable, only visible up close. Usually hidden by his bangs, it didn't affect the prince's appearance.

Lin Lu reached out his finger and touched the scar on Shen Xingzhou's forehead.

The cool touch lingered on Shen Xingzhou's forehead. He obediently stayed still, letting Lin Lu touch the scar until he withdrew his hand. Then he let his hair fall back, grinning foolishly, his gaze glued to Lin Lu's face, unable to look away.

Lin Lu raised his hand again, tidying Shen Xingzhou's hair, which had been inadvertently messed up.

Shen Xingzhou felt as if his entire body was immersed in perfectly tempered water, light and almost unreal.

As Lin Lu adjusted his hair, Shen Xingzhou unconsciously leaned into Lin Lu's palm.

Lin Lu took the opportunity to gently pat his head.

Shen Xingzhou smiled so widely that his eyes narrowed.

Then he was startled by the food the maid brought to the table.

Shen Xingzhou had forgotten to instruct the kitchen to prepare more flavorful dishes. What was served was the bland 'sick person's meal' he had been eating the past two days.

He hesitated over whether to call the servants to take it away and have it remade, but Lin Lu had already dismissed the attendants. He picked up the porcelain spoon from the porridge pot and served bowls for both Shen Xingzhou and himself.

"Let's eat," Lin Lu said calmly, his expression unchanged as he gazed at Shen Xingzhou.

It was just a simple meal together, nothing more. Lin Lu thought to himself.

His heart was encased in eternal black ice, a heavy gray-black cloud shrouding his inner world. Only when he was with Shen Xingzhou did it briefly thaw, his heart beating strongly, allowing Lin Lu to feel alive again.

If Lin Lu still retained any semblance of human nature, it was tied to Shen Xingzhou.

As for Shen Xingzhou, he had been captivated by Lin Lu from their first meeting, and with each subsequent encounter, his love grew stronger, a torrent of emotions that could no longer be calmed.

This was the first time the two had sat at the same table for a meal. The door was open, and the bright, warm midday sunlight spilled onto the floor. Birds chirped in the courtyard, and the gentle rustling of willow leaves in the breeze could be heard, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

Shen Xingzhou couldn't help but steal glances at Lin Lu, observing his lowered lashes when he closed his eyes, his slender, well-defined fingers holding the chopsticks, and the slight puffing of his cheeks as he chewed.

If one ignored the perpetual gloom between his brows, Lin Lu resembled a finely crafted jade artifact.

"What are you looking at? Staring at me won't fill your stomach," Lin Lu reminded him softly.

Shen Xingzhou just chuckled, "Eating with Brother Lu makes the food taste better than usual."

Lin Lu dabbed the corner of his mouth with a clean napkin, hiding a slight upward curve of his lips.