Chapter 91

Chapter 91

You Nan ushered the man out and promptly shut the door, refusing him entry.

He heard Chen Mingzhou apologizing and pleading for forgiveness outside, but You Nan steeled his heart, turning a deaf ear.

He leaned his head against the door, trying to calm the ache within him. After a long while, he turned around, only to meet a pair of bright, round eyes.

His son had woken up at some point and was sitting on the bed, staring at him intently and curiously.

Seeing his son, You Nan’s eyes reddened slightly. Suppressing his turbulent emotions, he quickly went to the child’s side. "Why are you awake? Did Daddy wake you?"

The child shook his head, his small mouth pouting. "N-No."

He struggled to articulate the words, but managed to get them out.

You Nan kissed the child’s forehead.

The child looked wide awake and energetic, clearly having been up for some time.

His child was very well-behaved; even if woken, he wouldn't fuss. He would just lie there quietly, pretending to sleep, and only sit up when he thought no one was watching.

The child beamed after being kissed by his Daddy.

His features were almost identical to Chen Mingzhou’s, whom You Nan had just sent away—even his little mouth was strikingly similar.

You Nan gazed at his son’s face, momentarily lost in thought.

The child sitting on the bed was practically a miniature Chen Mingzhou.

Aside from his nose and skin, which resembled You Nan’s, the child was increasingly taking after his biological father.

You Nan hadn’t expected the protagonist shòu's genes to be so dominant, inheriting only the most attractive traits.

A faint, almost imperceptible jealousy and resentment stirred in You Nan’s heart, coupled with a sudden fear that his son was being taken from him.

The child, still basking in the warmth of his Daddy’s kiss, noticed that You Nan was no longer looking at him.

Child: "?"

The little one reached out to take You Nan’s hand, but to his surprise, his Daddy pulled away.

Tears instantly welled up in the child’s eyes, making him look utterly pitiful, his nose and eyes turning red in an instant.

007, who had been feigning sleep nearby, immediately lifted its head, its round cat eyes staring at the child in astonishment.

Wasn't this ability to cry on demand a bit too impressive?

No warning, just instant, devastating charm.

You Nan, feeling his son tug at his hand, snapped back to reality and realized he had, for a moment, let his frustration spill over onto the child because of his resemblance to Chen Mingzhou.

When he met his son’s tear-filled, trembling little face, his heart instantly softened, and guilt quickly followed.

"Daddy’s here," You Nan soothed the child.

He held the child in his arms and swayed gently, his thoughts drifting uncontrollably.

When Chen Mingzhou took the child from the palace back then, he might have already known the child was his biological son.

You Nan was reluctant to consider whether Chen Mingzhou had initially sought the child, intending to claim him exclusively, making him solely his own, and taking him away from You Nan.

But he couldn’t help dismissing the idea.

If Chen Mingzhou had truly wanted custody of the child, he wouldn’t have taken You Nan out of the palace.

He probably would have preferred You Nan to disappear, so no one could contend with him for the child.

You Nan held the child tightly in his arms.

The little one sensed his Daddy’s low spirits. He nestled into You Nan’s embrace, not making a sound.

His small hand gently patted You Nan’s chest, and he mumbled, "Daddy... sad... hug."

You Nan murmured an acknowledgment, quickly burying his face in the child’s neck.

He didn’t want the child to see the turmoil and confusion on his face.

But soon, You Nan’s heart settled, and he reached a decision.

His gaze became more resolute.

Indeed, Chen Mingzhou had given him the child, and it was the child’s presence that had given him solace during his year-plus in the palace. Having his child by his side kept him from losing his way in the East Palace.

When You Nan was helpless, Chen Mingzhou had taken the initiative to help him take the child away. Later, he repeatedly risked exposure to send supplies for the child and 007, comforting You Nan’s longing for his child.

You Nan was deeply grateful for this; in that regard, he truly owed Chen Mingzhou thanks.

But Chen Mingzhou also owed him.

You Nan closed his eyes.

For a moment, he didn’t know what to do.

With an uncertain future and living under someone else’s roof, he and his child could only take things one step at a time, maintaining a temporary truce with Chen Mingzhou.

But if Chen Mingzhou ever tried to take the child away from him, You Nan would never forgive him—even if it meant death, he would fight Chen Mingzhou to his last breath!

With this thought, You Nan finally felt his panic subside.

In the following days, You Nan did not see Chen Mingzhou again.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, yet for some inexplicable reason, a faint sense of loss crept into his heart.

This feeling came suddenly and inexplicably, and You Nan quickly pushed it away.

Little did You Nan know, Chen Mingzhou came to see him every day. But the man felt guilty, worried, and afraid.

He never dared to appear before You Nan during the day, fearing he would anger him and harm his health.

You Nan was already exhausted from caring for the child, and Chen Mingzhou didn’t want to become an additional burden.

Chen Mingzhou remained incredibly busy, yet every evening he would carve out time to go to You Nan’s courtyard and stand vigil over the one he loved.

He did nothing else.

He didn’t knock on You Nan’s door, nor did he disturb him.

He would simply sit alone at the stone table in the courtyard, facing the doorframe, and remain there for a long time.

That night, You Nan woke up.

The child had a hearty appetite and could eat quite a bit even in the evening. The food delivered today tasted good, and You Nan liked it too. Without realizing it, he ate a lot alongside his son.

But eating more led to a problem.

You Nan needed to relieve himself.

He carefully got out of bed, gently moved his clingy son aside, and when the child instinctively reached for his father, You Nan swiftly shifted 007—who was sprawled out asleep and snoring—over.

Perfectly tucking him into the child’s arms.

You Nan cautiously finished his little maneuver and waited a moment. Seeing that the child was indeed still asleep, he finally relaxed.

He pushed the door open and stepped outside, immediately spotting someone sprawled out in his courtyard.

Seeing him so suddenly, You Nan froze, his mind a blank. He was utterly terrified by the man’s unexpected appearance.

His heart pounded, and he reached out to steady himself against the doorframe.

The man by the table could no longer pretend to be asleep.

He was tired and relaxed, never expecting You Nan to get up suddenly. When You Nan pushed the door open, he only just reacted. With nowhere to hide, he quickly dropped back down, pretending nothing had happened—a futile attempt at self-deception.

But he hadn't expected to scare You Nan anyway.

Chen Mingzhou rushed towards You Nan, filled with both guilt and concern.

He scooped You Nan into his arms, apologizing sincerely, "My fault, I scared you."

Chen Mingzhou knew he had messed up again, feeling like an idiot for ruining everything.

He glanced into the room and saw the child and the cat curled up, sound asleep.

In a flash, Chen Mingzhou closed You Nan’s door and carried him off to his own courtyard.

You Nan, held in his arms, had already recovered. His hand on the man’s chest initially started to push him away, but for some reason, he ended up wrapping his arms around Chen Mingzhou’s neck instead.

In You Nan’s ear, he could hear the man’s heart beating erratically—perhaps because he was pressed against his chest, the sound was so intense.

You Nan looked up and saw an unfamiliar environment. He wasn’t afraid, but he pinched the skin on Chen Mingzhou’s neck.

Chen Mingzhou let out a hiss, his brow furrowing slightly, but he didn’t put You Nan down. He brazenly said, "If Xiao Nan is still angry, go ahead and pinch me a few more times."

You Nan raised an eyebrow. Since Chen Mingzhou had said so, it would be rude not to.

As soon as Chen Mingzhou finished speaking, You Nan pinched his side hard several times, making him wince in pain.

He could feel the person in his arms watching his expression, seemingly judging how much pain he was in.

Chen Mingzhou didn't betray a hint of discomfort.

But the next second, Chen Mingzhou couldn’t maintain his composure.

He was utterly shocked.

Who would have thought You Nan would directly pinch a sensitive spot on his chest?

This time, Chen Mingzhou couldn’t take it. He staggered, about to fall to the ground.

You Nan saw his expression change, but before he could even smile,

he felt a sudden loss of balance. He let out a short cry, but the man holding him quickly shifted position, placing himself beneath You Nan to act as a human cushion.

You Nan didn’t fall, but his face was pale, whether from fright or some other reason.

Chen Mingzhou quickly helped him up, asking worriedly, "What’s wrong? Did you hurt yourself?"

You Nan mumbled, his voice barely audible, but Chen Mingzhou had sharp ears and heard him.

The man’s expression tightened, and he picked You Nan up again, carrying him into the backyard.

Only then did he step back out, standing guard outside and allowing no one else to approach.

Inside, You Nan covered his face with both hands, feeling like the whole night was a dream.

It was so embarrassing he wanted to disappear into a hole.

By now, You Nan’s mind had long shed the tangled thoughts of the day. All he wanted was to silence Chen Mingzhou and make him forget this incident as soon as possible.

Crouching down, You Nan quickly blamed all the embarrassment on Chen Mingzhou.

If Chen Mingzhou hadn’t been awake and suddenly appeared in his courtyard tonight, he wouldn’t have been scared, wouldn’t have been carried here, and wouldn’t have lost all dignity.

You Nan gritted his teeth.

When he came out of the backyard, he saw Chen Mingzhou still waiting at the door, not leaving.

You Nan bit his lip, feeling both embarrassed and furious.

He softened his footsteps, not letting the other detect his mischievous intent, and slowly approached.

But he didn’t know Chen Mingzhou possessed martial prowess and keen senses.

The man’s ears twitched, immediately catching the sound of his light footsteps.

Chen Mingzhou’s lips curved upward. He heard You Nan’s movements but pretended not to, still facing outward, leaving his broad back exposed.

You Nan tiptoed up behind Chen Mingzhou, reached out, and twisted Chen Mingzhou’s ear towards himself. Then he suddenly yelled into it, a truly ear-splitting sound.

Chen Mingzhou yelped, "Aiyo!" and shuddered, looking thoroughly startled.

The man quickly composed himself, and upon seeing it was You Nan, he feigned a sigh of relief.

"Oh, it’s you. Why are you scaring people?"

You Nan crossed his arms, looking quite pleased with himself.

Chen Mingzhou loved seeing him like this—eyes sparkling, unafraid, without resentment—vibrant and beautiful.

The moonlight fell on You Nan. His already fair skin now glowed like fine, warm jade, his features bright and lively.

You Nan had scared the other and thoroughly "bullied" him tonight, feeling much better.

He snorted, "So what if I scared you? Weren’t you the one who scared me in my courtyard earlier?"

You Nan retorted, "This is what you call reciprocity."

He extended a finger, gently tapping Chen Mingzhou's chest. Chen Mingzhou looked down at his fingertip, feeling a tingling sensation right over his heart.

It was as if the other wasn't just poking his clothes but had directly touched his heart.

A numbing, electric feeling.

This was the first time Chen Mingzhou had experienced such a sensation, but he didn’t find it unpleasant at all—in fact, he quite enjoyed it.

He even subtly puffed out his chest a little, hoping You Nan would press a bit harder.

His thoughts were truly inappropriate, getting distracted like this at such a moment.

You Nan only poked him a few times before withdrawing his hand, then made a fierce threat: "How you treat me is how I’ll treat you! Just like tonight—you frightened me, so I’m definitely going to scare you back."

You Nan, though outwardly fierce, was inwardly timid, raising his voice. In Chen Mingzhou’s eyes, he resembled a mischievous cat or 007 when up to no good. "I’m not someone easy to bully or without a temper!"

"If you pull something like this again, I won’t let you off!" You Nan lifted his chin slightly.

His demeanor was full of bravado.

Chen Mingzhou suppressed a smile, responding gently and tolerantly, "Of course, I’ll definitely remember."

He added, "I won’t do this again next time—ah, no, I mean there definitely won’t be a next time!"

The man quickly corrected himself.

You Nan, seeing his earnest and honest expression, finally believed him.

You Nan said, "I should head back now."

Chen Mingzhou softly acknowledged, "Then I’ll walk you back."

You Nan didn’t respond, and his silence made Chen Mingzhou’s heartbeat quicken.

Chen Mingzhou accompanied You Nan on the walk back.

The residence wasn’t very large, and the courtyards were quite close to each other. You Nan felt like it only took about five minutes to reach his place—it was really too short a distance.

The two walked side by side in silence, maintaining a gap wide enough for another person between them.

You Nan pushed open the door to his room; everything inside was just as he had left it.

The child and the kitten were sound asleep.

As the weather had turned cold, 007’s fluffy fur provided warmth. The child clung tightly to the kitten, burying his fair, tender little face into the soft fur of the kitten’s belly.

You Nan was almost worried he might struggle to breathe.

You Nan didn’t let the man enter. Holding onto the door, he asked, "Do you have anything else to do? If so, you can go now."

Chen Mingzhou said he did.

Before You Nan could react, the familiar, faint scent of magnolia drifted into his nostrils, and he was pulled into a warm embrace.

But before he could fully process it, the man across from him had already released his arms. It was as if their contact had been an illusion, a fleeting dream.

Chen Mingzhou’s face flushed slightly because of his bold move just moments ago.

You Nan happened to catch sight of it and stared at him, slightly dazed.

Chen Mingzhou’s appearance was extraordinarily handsome—after all, he had been a top courtesan, so his looks were undoubtedly exceptional.

You Nan was only human, and he found himself captivated by the other’s rare display of shyness and charm.

But before he could fully recover from the allure, something soft and warm touched his lips.

All the earlier embarrassment and unease in his heart were instantly soothed by that stolen kiss.

You Nan snapped back to reality just as the man who had stolen a kiss from someone he liked had already withdrawn.

Chen Mingzhou, having held and kissed the person he adored, was in an exceptionally good mood.

You Nan stared straight at him while hearing the man’s gentle words: "It’s quite late now. Get some rest, and I’ll come see you tomorrow."

With that, without waiting for You Nan to urge him, he resolutely made himself leave.

You Nan, however, was thrown into disarray by the other’s sudden withdrawal.

He didn’t close the door until Chen Mingzhou was completely out of sight.

You Nan got into bed, and the child, smelling the familiar, comforting scent on him, immediately turned over and nestled into his arms. The child didn’t let go of the kitten he was holding either.

Sandwiched between the two, the child peacefully drifted back to sleep.

You Nan’s mind was anything but calm; he felt sure he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.

But shortly after lying down, as soon as he closed his eyes, he drowsily fell asleep.

Early the next morning, You Nan asked the attendant Chen Mingzhou had assigned to him, "Last night, I saw Mr. Chen in my courtyard. Did something happen?"

The attendant thought to himself, "Finally, Young Master You noticed."

Their master had been busy during the day these past few days, yet he still came at night to keep You Nan company. He never went inside, just sat outside alone, waiting steadfastly. The subordinates, seeing their master’s one-sided lovesickness, felt uneasy.

Since You Nan had brought it up, Chen Mingzhou’s subordinate naturally took the opportunity to explain his master’s peculiar behavior in detail.

"Nothing major, but the master has been coming for several nights now. We subordinates urged him to go back and rest, but he wouldn’t listen. He said he felt guilty toward you, Young Master You—he misses you but is also afraid to see you. So, he’s been tormenting himself."

As he spoke, the subordinate discreetly observed You Nan’s expression to gauge his mood. "With all this daily stress, the master has lost weight. Young Master You, as the master’s subordinate, I have to speak up for him."

"The master had a hard life before. It hasn’t been easy for him to get to where he is now. In the past two years, he nearly died several times. The most recent time, he only pulled through because he was thinking of the young master."

The subordinate’s eyes reddened as he spoke, reminded of that day, and he couldn’t help saying more.

"Our master is a good man. All of us were picked up by him. He treats us with genuine care. It’s rare for him to fall in love with someone, and we all hope he can settle down happily and build a family."

"These past two years have been unstable. The master has long wanted to bring you and the young master back, but the timing was never right. The Song State royal family was watching too closely, and there were external threats from other countries, as well as internal rebel forces."

"He wanted to wait until everything settled down before bringing you back." The subordinate sighed. "But plans can’t keep up with changes. The master has always felt guilty toward you, so he took the initiative to break into the palace."

You Nan sat in his chair, gazing out the window. "I understand."

Then he asked, "What kind of life did you all live before?"

At this, the subordinate grew animated.

"I used to be a little beggar," he said, a reminiscent expression on his face. "Ever since I can remember, I’ve lived a life of begging."

.

From the time Zhao Tong could remember, he followed behind groups of older and younger beggars, daily wandering through crowded parts of the city to beg for food.

The county magistrate in their city wasn't too bad, not ordering the constables to arrest them, but he wasn't much better either—simply leaving them to fend for themselves and didn't help at all.

Zhao Tong's most valuable possession was that cracked bowl. Sometimes, when he encountered kind-hearted people, he would receive one or two copper coins; other times, when luck was against him, he got nothing, not even restaurant scraps.

Zhao Tong's favorite place to go was the entrance of the Opera Troupe.

The young boy didn't understand that the world outside was harsh; he only knew that there were more and more beggars in the city. But at the Opera Troupe entrance, he could still get a copper coin from another boy older than him.

That boy was good-looking and, despite his young age, was already the star performer of the Opera Troupe. Every time he performed, the cheers from the audience were especially loud.

Zhao Tong knew that the boy had a kind heart. The first copper coin the boy gave him was offered voluntarily, not something Zhao Tong had to ask for.

Zhao Tong was very fond of this older brother and would often blend into the crowd to watch him perform.

Many people came to the opera specifically to see the young boy.

Zhao Tong thought life would go on like this every day until the day his life ended.

Unexpectedly, one day the flames of war reached this small city. The residents scattered and fled, only to be tortured and killed by the invading Tartars marching south.

Terrified, Zhao Tong instinctively wanted to find his older brother. He sneaked into the Opera Troupe but found it empty.

Before he could process what was happening, he heard screams, cries, and agonized wails coming from the front of the Opera Troupe—many women and others were screaming.

Zhao Tong was terrified. At that moment, many torches were thrown into the Opera Troupe from outside. The flames touched the grass and wood, igniting immediately.

Panicked, Zhao Tong darted around the unfamiliar Opera Troupe like a bee. When he reached the front courtyard, he saw corpses littering the ground, and the invaders from distant lands had already left.

They left behind the Opera Troupe, completely looted.

Zhao Tong was horrified by the gruesome scene. He screamed, and suddenly a hand from the pile of corpses grabbed him. Zhao Tong was so frightened his heart stopped, and he passed out cold.

When he woke up, snowflakes were falling from the sky.

Amid the thick, swirling snow, his breath carried the smell of burning wood.

It was thick and choking.

The city was ablaze, a raging inferno devouring everything, reducing it to ruins.

And the sky continued to shed cold snow.

Zhao Tong saw people in the snow.

One was covered in blood, kneeling in the snow, while another wore thin inner robes, followed by several elderly men.

The young man raised his hand, and the elderly men, who seemed unable to straighten their backs, stepped forward. Together with the boy, they helped drag the corpses out of the Opera Troupe and buried them hastily right there on the spot.

"Later, I followed the master and the right-hand man," said the subordinate, Zhao Tong.

Only when he was older did he understand that those old, stooped men were eunuchs who had served the master in the palace.

They were the ones who protected the master, who was just a child at the time, and helped him escape from the palace. The master had only them by his side.

They'd spent their lives with bent backs, and even in death, they remained bent.

You Nan's hands on his knees clenched tightly.

He bit his lip, turned his face away, not letting the other person see the expression on his face.

After hearing all this from Zhao Tong, he had guessed Chen Mingzhou's identity.

So, Chen Mingzhou had been a prince, the only surviving bloodline of the royal family.

He carried a heavy burden—he had to restore the dynasty and kill those enemies. Thus, Chen Mingzhou willingly became "Chen Liangren," staking himself in the gamble.

You Nan didn't know how Chen Mingzhou had managed all these years.

When Chen Mingzhou left the palace, he had only the eunuchs who raised him; they were all he had to rely on.

That small city was far from the imperial capital, and they were often pursued by enemy soldiers.

What a dangerous journey that must have been.

All the manpower was gathered by Chen Mingzhou himself. He had to feed and shelter so many people and protect them from discovery.

You Nan couldn't help but feel his heart ache for Chen Mingzhou, who was a young child, and later a teenager, at the time.

You Nan closed his eyes and raised a hand to wipe his face several times.

Beside him, Zhao Tong spoke again, "Madam You, the master didn't make mistakes intentionally. I hope you can give him a chance. You're all he thinks about."

After speaking, Zhao Tong listened intently.

But all he heard was a muffled response—nothing else.