Chapter 44: Unit Two (End)

Chapter 44: Unit Two (End)

When Yan Wuyou arrived at the princely estate, he spotted the Virtuous Prince pacing back and forth outside from a considerable distance.

He still remembered how, on the day he returned home after the substitute marriage, the Virtuous Prince had anxiously paced at the entrance just like this, craning his neck to catch sight of their carriage…

This time, however, the Virtuous Prince looked noticeably older, with more white hair than before, and… his eyesight had clearly deteriorated.

Yan Wuyou had already walked right up to him before he finally noticed, tightly grasping Yan Wuyou’s arm and studying him intently from head to toe, not even bothering to wipe his tears.

"Father, have I changed that much? Don’t I still look the same?" Yan Wuyou asked, puzzled. "How come you didn’t recognize me until I was right in front of you? Are you really my father?"

The Virtuous Prince coughed awkwardly a couple of times, explaining that he had thought Yan Wuyou, after spending two years in such a remote place, would surely return tanned and thin, perhaps even in tattered clothes, looking utterly miserable, so…

"No wonder you were staring at the beggars on the roadside earlier…" Yan Wuyou was both amused and exasperated. "You weren’t hoping one of those little beggars would run up and call you 'Father,' were you?"

The Virtuous Prince laughed awkwardly. "My eyes aren't what they used to be, Wu You. It’s just so good to have you back, so good to have you back."

*

Even though Yan Wuyou hadn’t become as sallow and emaciated as his father had imagined, as soon as he held Yan Wuyou’s hand, tears welled up again.

He felt heartache for Yan Wuyou, believing he must have suffered greatly away from home. The more he worried, the more muddled his words became—tear tracks still visible on his face, yet he began to smile.

"Come, come… let’s go inside."

The Virtuous Prince pulled Yan Wuyou toward the house, saying he had specially ordered Yan Wuyou’s favorite dishes from a restaurant, and they should arrive soon.

Before entering the mansion, the Virtuous Prince seemed to remember something and looked behind Yan Wuyou. "Ah, where’s General Yu? Why didn't he come with you?"

Yan Wuyou: "He didn’t come with me; he went to the palace first. He should be here soon, I think?"

The Virtuous Prince: "I see. Well, let’s go inside quickly. Your Eldest Sister and Second Sister should be here soon too."

Yan Wuyou: "...Is Second Sister still at the temple on the mountain?"

The Virtuous Prince: "Yes, I couldn’t stop her. I had to let her be. Ah… she said she wanted to pray for your well-being there."

*

The long-separated father and son continued talking as they walked into the mansion.

Yan Wuyou held the Virtuous Prince’s arm the whole way. He clearly felt that the Virtuous Prince was somewhat shorter than he remembered and that his steps were slower than before.

It had only been two years apart. While he himself seemed unchanged, his father had aged so noticeably, which showed how much anxiety he had endured over those two years.

The further they walked into the mansion, the more Yan Wuyou noticed that the princely estate was far quieter than he remembered. Yan Wuyou had always been straightforward with his questions.

"Father, where is everyone else?"

"Most of the time, it’s just me at home. Having too many servants around felt wasteful, so I let some of them go."

The Virtuous Prince sighed and offered this explanation. He seemed to want to say something else but held back after a moment’s thought. "Anyway, it's just so good to have you back now… Ah, Wu You, in your last letter you mentioned you were injured. Let me see where."

"Ah, that time? It’s healed long ago." Yan Wuyou walked step by step from the outer gate to the inner courtyard. Having grown up in the princely mansion, he could navigate it with his eyes closed.

As he walked, he occasionally spotted a few somewhat familiar objects on the stone tables in the courtyard or the railings along the corridors. "What’s this?"

The Virtuous Prince looked nostalgic. "These are a few toys you loved playing with when you were little. You threw tantrums until I made them for you."

Paper kites, wooden tops, and diabolo spinners—things from early childhood he had long forgotten, leaving only vague impressions.

"You still kept them?"

"Back then, if I secretly threw away your things, wouldn’t you have thrown a fit for half the day?"

As he spoke, the Virtuous Prince began wiping tears again. "My son, you have no idea… a while ago, when I woke up in the morning, I felt dizzy. I was so worried, afraid I might die without seeing you again. Now that I’ve seen you, my heart is at ease."

"You were sick? Why didn’t you tell me in your letters? Didn’t you say you were doing well?" Yan Wuyou’s eyes grew moist. "Don’t talk nonsense about seeing or not seeing me. What about your precious bird? The one with fiery red feathers—I don’t see it."

The Virtuous Prince: "Chiyan didn't make it through the winter…"

From his father’s expression, Yan Wuyou understood. After all, birds don’t live long, and his father had kept it for so many years—making it to last year was already a long life.

Yan Wuyou gently patted his father’s shoulder and hugged him. "Alright, how about tomorrow I take you to choose an even more beautiful bird as a gift?"

The Virtuous Prince: "Yes, yes, yes!"

*

Eldest Sister and Second Sister soon arrived in turn. Eldest Sister came first, with Second Sister following shortly after. Their reactions upon seeing Yan Wuyou were quite similar.

"You seem to have grown a little taller…"

Eldest Sister examined Yan Wuyou carefully, then said something to a maid behind her. Shortly after, the maid brought over another child. Eldest Sister leaned down and said softly to the child, "Chun’er, do you remember who that is?"

Without hesitation, the child called out to Yan Wuyou, "Uncle! It’s Uncle!"

Yan Wuyou crouched down and picked Chun’er up. "See, Chun’er recognized me right away! My, how you've grown!"

Children nearly three years old grow quickly. Yan Wuyou remembered that when he left the capital, Chun’er still needed help to walk. Now, he was already this tall.

Yan Wuyou held him and felt he was quite a weight. As he set Chun’er down, he casually took a piece of milk cake from his pocket and handed it to him. "Here, try it. It’s very sweet."

Chun’er, well-trained by Eldest Sister, clearly wanted to eat it but didn’t take it immediately. Instead, he looked at his mother first and only accepted it after she nodded.

"Chun’er, it’s fine. You can take what Uncle gives you," Eldest Sister took the opportunity to teach the child. "I meant you shouldn’t take food from other outsiders, understand?"

Chun’er nodded. He used to call "uncle" like "jojo," but now he could say it clearly, coaxing treat after treat from Yan Wuyou with repeated calls of "Uncle."

Finally, Eldest Sister had to intervene. "Alright, he already ate before leaving the mansion today. Don’t give him any more, or he’ll have indigestion and start crying later."

Yan Wuyou smiled apologetically. "I remember Chun’er being quite quiet when he was little. Is he starting to become energetic now?"

Yan Wuchou laughed. "Oh, he’s quite the handful. Chun’er is even more energetic than you were as a child. He used to ask everyone for food, just like you. That’s why I don’t allow him to accept food from outsiders, in case…" She stopped herself there. "Never mind, it’s all unpleasant matters. Better not to mention it."

*

Second Sister arrived while Yan Wuyou and Eldest Sister were talking. Yan Wuyang was dressed much more plainly than he remembered, wearing no makeup at all. Perhaps because she had just come from the temple, she still carried the distinct aroma of sandalwood.

"Ah, you’re back earlier than expected. I thought it would take you at least three to five more days."

Second Sister approached Yan Wuyou and looked him over carefully. "Turn around for me…"

Yan Wuyou turned in a circle. "Well? Satisfied it’s your brother?"

Yan Wuyang: "Hmm, you really haven’t lost much weight. Seems you did alright over there."

"I was fine, but you…" Yan Wuyou looked at Second Sister’s plain attire. "In your letters, you said you were doing well, even mentioned recently spending time with some nobleman's son. I thought you’d finally moved past your troubles. Why does Father say you’re about to become a Buddhist nun?"

Second Sister smiled. "If I didn’t tell you something good in my letters, should I have told you the bad? Would that have made you worry? …Ah, why don’t I see that…"

Before she could finish, Yan Wuyou added, "Yu Chuan is still at the palace. I told him he would come directly to the mansion after he’s done."

Second Sister smiled but remained silent.

*

Yu Chuan returned around nightfall. When he arrived, Yan Wuyou was surrounded by family, sharing stories from his time away.

He had brought some local specialties, but since they were riding ahead on horseback, those items were following behind and would probably take a few more days to get here...

Then, the gatekeeper announced that General Yu had arrived. Yan Wuyou stood up to greet him and, after just a few steps, bumped into Yu Chuan: "How did it go?"

Yan Wuyou was asking about the situation at the palace.

Yu Chuan didn’t say much, only offering a reassuring smile: "It’s nothing, don’t worry."

Yan Wuyou pushed Yu Chuan playfully: "Alright, then let’s hurry. My father and sister were just asking why you weren’t here. Go on in and see them—don’t let them think I’ve eaten you or something!"

Yu Chuan smiled helplessly.

*

Around noon the next day after returning to the capital, Yan Wuyou went to the palace. Not long after, when he emerged, he had been transformed from a *shizi* (heir) into a *junwang* (commandery prince).

Normally, the legitimate heir of a prince would only inherit the title after his father’s passing, but this time… it could be considered an exceptional imperial favor, right?

The fief granted to Yan Wuyou by the new emperor wasn’t particularly far away—it was a prosperous region that brought in a lot of tax revenue yearly.

"And then? Did he say anything else?" The Virtuous Prince asked from nearby. "Did he really award you that land in Xuanping?"

Yan Wuyou nodded and went on to recount everything in detail that had happened during his audience with the new emperor.

The new emperor was the former fifth prince. In the past, when Yan Wuyou often visited the palace, the two had crossed paths before.

Though it wouldn’t be accurate to say they were particularly close back then?

They could still make small talk.

When he first saw the familiar imperial yellow robes, once worn by his uncle, now adorning the former fifth prince, he paused for just a moment.

By the time he snapped out of it, the former fifth prince, now the new emperor, had already politely gestured for him to sit. In a reflective tone, he remarked, "It’s been two years, and you seem unchanged—both in looks and personality, just as before..."

Yan Wuyou: "That’s right, my father and sisters say the same." His eldest sister had even said that seeing him like this reassured her, that it was clear General Yu had taken good care of him...

Then the new emperor asked about life on the frontier, and Yan Wuyou gave a straightforward account. He also inquired about Yu Chuan—it felt like... the conversation went quite well.

*

"...When selecting the fief, he even specifically asked which land I wanted. I thought it over seriously and, of course, chose some prime locations..."

After finishing his account, Yan Wuyou concluded: "I really think the current emperor is quite approachable—much better than I imagined."

The Virtuous Prince: "......"

Approachable? If he were so amiable, so many people in the capital wouldn’t have died under shady circumstances over the past two years. When he was still the fifth prince, there were even rumors of his compassion and generosity. How did his heart turn so hard and cruel the moment he ascended the throne?

The Virtuous Prince looked at his still-naive son and sighed: "Since he treats you so warmly, let it be. You now have your own fief. Stay in the capital a while longer, then head to your territory."

Yan Wuyou wasn’t in a hurry to leave: "I just got back, and you’re already kicking me out? How heartless."

The Virtuous Prince couldn’t bear to see him go either and was quick to say he didn’t mean for him to leave immediately—he could stay at the manor for several more days. He even asked if Yan Wuyou was hungry, as the kitchen had already prepared food.

After growing accustomed to Yu Chuan’s cooking, Yan Wuyou thought something was off about the dishes made by the family chef: "...Hmm, did we change chefs at home?"

The Virtuous Prince was also puzzled: "No, why? Is it not to your liking?"

Yan Wuyou: "It’s not as good as what Yu Chuan makes."

"???" The Virtuous Prince was stunned. "Wait, so he’s the one who’s been cooking for you all this time?"

"Of course," Yan Wuyou said matter-of-factly. "Did you think your son was the type to cook?"

The Virtuous Prince actually pictured Yan Wuyou trying to prepare a meal... It was too scary a thought; that definitely didn’t seem like him.

"But I did try a few times," Yan Wuyou recalled. "I tried my hand at it, and the kitchen almost burned down. I’m really not cut out for it..."

The Virtuous Prince: "...I knew it."

*

And so, Yan Wuyou stayed in the capital for a few days. Soon, news of his return and his being made a prince spread throughout the capital.

In just two years, many had already forgotten Yan Wuyou’s past antics and instead began praising his ability to stick it out in such a tough place, citing his resilience and strong character...

Having grown used to being mocked openly and covertly, Yan Wuyou found himself feeling weirdly uncomfortable about suddenly receiving praise.

When he went out again, it was as the officially enfeoffed Prince of Xuanping. People no longer called him "heir" but addressed him properly as "Your Highness."

"Mhm, rise," Yan Wuyou said calmly on the surface, though inwardly he was thrilled. "You may withdraw for now. I’d like to catch up with some old friends..."

Yan Wuyou turned his gaze to the few familiar and not-so-familiar old mischief-making friends at the table. They used to have fun together, but now they seemed... different.

Two years hadn’t changed Yan Wuyou much, but they were clearly not the same. The one who used to be very thin had gained weight and looked completely different. The one who was always hot-tempered now seemed unusually mild...

Another, for reasons unknown, appeared to have hit a rough patch, judging by his attire. A few others were completely gone.

*

"Xuanping is a fine place..."

"Yes, yes, and it’s not far from the capital..."

The well-dressed young men offered their compliments as they used to, but received no response from Yan Wuyou. When they looked over, he was staring off into space, as if lost in memory.

"Your Highness? Is something wrong?"

"Your Highness?"

Yan Wuyou snapped out of it: "Oh, it’s nothing. I was just wondering, where are the others? I don’t see them."

Of course they weren’t there—they’d picked the wrong side and died, what else? One of them thought this but didn’t say it outright, instead implying delicately: "Your Highness has just returned to the capital, so you might not know. Their families encountered some troubles, and they’re no longer in the capital."

Yan Wuyou didn’t grasp the insinuation; he thought they had left with their families, just as he had: "Oh... I see. No wonder it feels like there are fewer people."

It used to be so lively when they were together, always chattering away. But with fewer people around now, Yan Wuyou found it somewhat dull.

Seeing his expression, the others quickly egged him on to go visit the gambling house. Bored as he was, Yan Wuyou lit up right away: "Sure, sure..."

*

That day, he went to Drunken Mist Pavilion as he used to. The familiar courtesans were gone, replaced by unfamiliar faces.

"Ah, Your Highness..."

A short while later, Yu Chuan arrived.

Actually, after his facial injury healed, he didn’t need to wear a mask anymore, but out of habit, he still did.

He stood quietly behind Yan Wuyou. Yan Wuyou was used to it, but the courtesan beside them was terrified, her hands trembling as she poured wine.

"Ah, look at you, you’ve scared her," Yan Wuyou exclaimed. But he quickly caught himself and said to the trembling courtesan, "It’s alright, you may leave."

After that, Yu Chuan took over pouring the wine.

*

Strangely, whether it was Yu Chuan’s luck or not, Yan Wuyou won again that day.

But after he won three rounds in a row, the others backed out, making all sorts of excuses to slip away.

Either something came up at home, or recalling their wives' instructions to buy something, or at the very least... claiming sudden dizziness or stomachaches...

"It's not like... I was just getting really into it, why did they suddenly leave... seriously."

Yan Wuyou looked at the shiny silver and banknotes, grinning from ear to ear. So overjoyed, he hugged Yu Chuan right there in public and planted a kiss on his mask.

"Ah, you don't know, whenever I gambled with them before, I always lost. But since you came last time, I won. This time was the same..."

Yu Chuan started to say something but stopped: "Well, are you happy about winning money?"

Yan Wuyou nodded: "Of course."

Yu Chuan: "That's good."

*

Yan Wuyou spent a few more days wandering around the capital, feeling that it wasn't much different from when he had left—just a few unfamiliar shops had appeared.

It was still bustling, still lively, still bustling with noise and activity. Yan Wuyou stood right in the middle of the busy market, watching the people coming and going around him. They seemed just as they were in his memory, still living their own lives, unconcerned that the emperor on the throne had changed.

"Wu You."

It was Yu Chuan's voice from behind.

"I had a feeling you'd be here."

That day was the Mid-Autumn Festival. In the evening, Yan Wuyou had dinner with his father and two older sisters, but he couldn't sleep at all that night, so he went out to the courtyard to gaze at the moon.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but one moment he felt the moon overhead was smaller than the one he'd seen in the borderlands, and the next moment he felt they were about the same.

Yan Wuyou: "Has father gone to bed?"

Yu Chuan: "Yes, he had some wine. I had the servants help him inside to rest."

Yan Wuyou: "Oh, at dinner today, why did my father suddenly adopt you as his sworn son?"

Yu Chuan: "Well, it's not a big deal..."

Yan Wuyou didn't actually care about that; he just wanted to make casual conversation with Yu Chuan: "In previous years during Mid-Autumn Festival, the palace would always hold a family banquet. Every time, my imperial uncle—oh no, the previous emperor—would invite me to the palace..."

*

He remembered one Mid-Autumn banquet a few years ago, when Yan Wuyou was just eighteen or nineteen years old. Emperor Qing'an asked him: "Wu You, you're not getting any younger. Have you met any young lady you like?"

Yan Wuyou had thought it over carefully at the time before answering: "No."

Emperor Qing'an asked again: "Then what kind of girl does Wu You like? Your imperial uncle can help you look..."

Yan Wuyou still shook his head: "I don't know either. But my eldest sister said I should find someone capable, but not too capable..."

Emperor Qing'an asked curiously: "Why?"

So Yan Wuyou repeated exactly what he'd heard from his sister.

Because his sister felt her younger brother was a bit simple—he should find someone capable enough to protect him. But while capable was good, that person couldn't be too capable, because someone too capable would easily control Yan Wuyou and restrain him... She didn't want her brother to be completely overpowered by someone else...

This requirement was rather unusual. After hearing it, Emperor Qing'an laughed heartily, stroking his beard and said, "Indeed, indeed," first commenting that this would be hard to find, then promising to carefully look for someone.

*

Come to think of it, wasn't Yu Chuan also at that banquet? Only he was rather quiet, standing silently to the side, and hadn't attracted Yan Wuyou's attention.

Now mentioning this matter, Yan Wuyou felt a bit nostalgic: "I didn't know what kind of person I wanted back then. What about you? You said before that you liked me, but you never said why. Now you have to tell me... quickly!"

Yu Chuan: "Wu You, you're actually asking the wrong question."

Yan Wuyou puzzled: "Huh?"

Yu Chuan: "You shouldn't ask me why I like you. You should ask me why I wouldn't like you?"

Back then, he was so handsome, and even his mischievousness was honest. That bit of mischief didn't bother Yu Chuan—he had seen much worse things.

Yan Wuyou's mischief even had a hint of charm. He was the type who, once he considered someone his own, would treat that person exceptionally well—how could he not be likable?

Yu Chuan had done many things. Even while stationed in the border regions, he often heard news about Yan Wuyou.

And on their wedding night when he had stood in as the bride, Yu Chuan sat quietly by the bed watching Yan Wuyou, his heart filled with an emotion he had never felt before...

Who would have thought? That little scoundrel so disliked by everyone in the capital actually looked like this when sleeping...

And because he always had servants attending to him, Yan Wuyou's hands were naturally very fair. At that time, his nails were painted with bright red nail polish, making them even more beautiful.

What had he been thinking back then?

Yu Chuan had somewhat forgotten.

It was like when he first came to the capital alone, with no money in his pocket, yet too ashamed to steal or rob. After starving for several days, Yu Chuan found himself staring at a small restaurant, hesitating to enter because he was broke.

That's when he first saw Yan Wuyou.

Yan Wuyou's group was dining upstairs in another building. The window of their expensive private room was half-open, allowing Yu Chuan downstairs to look up and see the people by the window.

He saw an exceptionally handsome youth sitting by the window, chin propped on his hand, bored and dozing off. He looked... truly beautiful.

Yu Chuan stayed in the same spot for two days straight. On the third day, Yan Wuyou happened to look down and see him.

Little Yu Chuan didn't really have any feelings back then—he only felt his heart skip a beat. Their eyes met with the young master upstairs.

When the other saw him, his half-lidded eyes widened instantly, sparkling like stars in the sky.

*

Later, Yu Chuan was chased away. Afterwards, he accidentally met his master. At that time, his master was planning to retire from public life and, seeing Yu Chuan had talent, took him in.

Sometimes when his master noticed Yu Chuan often looking toward the capital, he would ask if there was someone there Yu Chuan missed.

Yu Chuan would nod, then shake his head.

When did these feelings develop? He didn't know. If he had to pinpoint it exactly, after so much time had passed, it was impossible to distinguish anymore.

Yu Chuan only knew that every time he entered the capital, he would always go out of his way to pass through certain busy streets. He would always intentionally or unintentionally look up at certain gambling houses or brothels—more often than not, he would see him...

Lost in thought, it felt like he was a teenager again, always wondering when he might look down and make eye contact with him?

Unfortunately, Yan Wuyou never did.

*

"Well, that's roughly how it was..." Yu Chuan mentioned that he hadn't returned to the capital often before, but every time he did, he would deliberately pass through certain streets just hoping to get a look at him. "But you never looked outside..."

Yan Wuyou looked totally shocked. After a long while, as if finally taking it all in, he pointed at Yu Chuan and burst out laughing, laughing so hard he clutched his stomach, his words coming out fragmented.

"So hahaha you... did it on purpose..."

Yan Wuyou also began telling his perspective: back when he didn't know it was Yu Chuan, he had secretly cursed him, saying he was like a lingering ghost—how could he run into him everywhere?

"I actually saw you many times too, but I didn't know you were deliberately passing by... I noticed, but I didn't look outside."

Yan Wuyou thought carefully: "Hmm, back then I was thinking to myself: why are you riding so slowly? Why haven't you passed by yet? So annoying! What's taking you so long? You should have passed by long ago?!"

Yu Chuan likely didn't expect Yan Wuyou to think this way, a smile curling at the corner of his lips. "So that's how it was."

*

At night, Yan Wuyou and Yu Chuan slept embraced.

In the past, Yan Wuyou had always disliked pungent smells, yet Yu Chuan carried with him a persistent metallic scent—the lingering smell of blood accumulated over the years, as well as the sharp, battle-worn presence from long years on the battlefield.

But after staying close to Yu Chuan for so long, he gradually grew accustomed to this scent. It was surrounded by this very scent that he slowly drifted into sleep.

"Tomorrow... tomorrow I want some of your congee."

"Alright."

[End of Part Two]