Chapter 6: Truly… Beautiful

Chapter 6: Indeed... Beautiful

Liu Qingci had once heard those idle rich young masters discuss the dirty secrets of certain powerful nobles' inner courtyards at a banquet.

Those who were themselves flawed men and unable to truly perform would often resort to various shameful means in the bedroom to prove their control, seeking a twisted sense of gratification.

Xiao Yan might be impotent, but...

Before he could dwell on it further, he felt a poke on his arm.

Xiao Yan’s voice carried a hint of sleepy hoarseness: “Why aren’t you moving yet?”

“Your Highness, forgive me…” Liu Qingci’s voice was dry.

Almost with the despair of someone offering his neck for the executioner's blade, he turned over and faced the pillow, lying prone.

Then he heard a faint rustle of fabric beside him.

But he didn’t feel anyone approaching him.

Instead, it seemed… Xiao Yan had bundled himself deeper into the quilt, wriggling away from him.

“Alright, go to sleep.”

Xiao Yan’s voice sounded even more drowsy.

After he spoke, soon, only the steady sound of breathing remained in the darkness.

So… he was just going to sleep?

Liu Qingci stared blankly, eyes wide open.

He lay there, not daring to move, but his mind was in chaos.

The cotton mattress beneath him had been layered many times, fluffy as clouds.

Because of his prone position, the wound on his back was no longer under any pressure, and the originally tense injury experienced a rare sense of relief.

In such an environment, Liu Qingci thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep at all.

But perhaps because the bed was too soft, or because the days of pain and fear had already drained his energy, he gradually drifted off.

The next day.

When Liu Qingci woke up, the morning light had already filtered through the window lattice into the bedchamber.

He had actually slept soundly until dawn.

While lying beside the demon, Prince Yu…

He sat up quietly and turned to look at the person still asleep next to him.

Xiao Yan was completely wrapped in the brocade quilt, his peaceful sleeping face appearing unexpectedly soft and non-threatening.

Liu Qingci quickly averted his gaze.

He quietly rose, straightened his moon-white robe until it was neatly in place, and barely smoothed his black hair into place with his fingers. Then he stood with his head bowed in the farthest corner of the room from the bed.

Until the end of the Chen hour (around 9 AM), the chamber door was silently pushed open a crack.

A middle-aged eunuch in deep blue official robes led two young eunuchs carrying brass basins, silk handkerchiefs, and other items, and they entered quietly.

This was the most trusted personal eunuch at Prince Yu’s side, Fu'an.

As usual, Fu'an first glanced toward the bed, then his gaze was caught by the slim, straight figure in the corner.

A flash of barely concealed surprise flickered in his eyes.

This Liu Qingci… was still able to stand?

And his clothes were neat, his hair not disheveled. Except for his still pale complexion, there was hardly any sign of the disheveled state expected after a night spent in intimate attendance.

It was far from the image of someone lying lifeless on the bed or someone covered in ambiguous marks and looking terrified that Fu'an had anticipated.

Just then, there was movement on the bed.

Fu'an immediately suppressed all outward emotions, putting back on his obedient and cautious expression, and hurried forward with a bow: “Your Highness, it’s getting late. Time to rise.”

As his words fell, the two attendants behind him acted swiftly: one gently raised the heavy bed curtains, while the other laid out the warm towels.

His Highness Prince Yu was notoriously grumpy when waking up, so everyone moved cautiously, afraid to anger him.

Xiao Yan lay on the antique bed and came fully awake.

At first, he stared blankly at the canopy; then, as he came to, he remembered he was now in another world.

He turned over and got up with swift movements.

His eyes immediately found Liu Qingci, standing far from him, almost pressed into the shadow of the wall.

His gaze paused, lingering on the strikingly refined profile for several seconds.

Even in the simplest plain long robe, his back stayed naturally straight, his pale complexion unable to hide his delicate features. Despite his reduced circumstances, the noble air etched into his bones was impossible to ignore.

He was like a heirloom jade temporarily covered in dust—its inherent warm luster remained hard to conceal beneath the grime of the mortal world.

Indeed… beautiful.

A fallen nobleman of such appearance and character would easily attract covetous glances, which was why he had fallen into the hands of that violent original prince.

“Your Highness, your servant shall attend you.”

Fu'an’s words interrupted Xiao Yan’s thoughts.

Fu'an bowed slightly and signaled to those behind him with his eyes.

Two young eunuchs carrying the gilt brass basin and towels hurried forward with small steps and knelt beside the bed, raising the basin high above their heads, stopping at a distance where Xiao Yan could reach with a single outstretched hand.

Another attendant held a zitan wood tray, with today’s black-and-gold-embroidered everyday robes neatly stacked, a jade belt, and various adornments.

Xiao Yan’s mind went blank for a second.

What the… washing your face requires someone to kneel and hold the basin?! Don’t you have hands to dress yourself?!

He cursed inwardly, but his hands moved somewhat clumsily, following the rules.

After a cumbersome routine, even Fu'an thought the Prince was in an unusually good mood today.

He hadn’t shouted or thrown things around, just washed and dressed in silence.

Fu'an cast another puzzled glance at Young Master Liu.

Could it be because of Young Master Liu? Did Young Master Liu put His Highness in such a good mood?

What a rare thing!

After dressing, Xiao Yan turned and lazily leaned against the soft couch.

Only then did he beckon to Liu Qingci in the corner, saying, "Come here."

Liu Qingci obediently walked to him and stood with his hands at his sides.

Xiao Yan looked him up and down for a moment, then frowned.

Fu'an, who was always good at reading the room, saw this and immediately stepped forward, scolding in a shrill voice:

"How dare you! Young Master Liu, it seems no one has taught you the rules of this mansion. Who allowed you to stand while speaking to the Prince? Kneel down!"

He narrowed his long, thin eyes, fully displaying his arrogant, bullying demeanor.

As Prince Yu's personal eunuch, Fu'an was all too practiced at chastising others on behalf of his master.

Liu Qingci's face turned pale at the scolding, and he quickly lowered his eyes to hide his emotions.

He bent down and knelt.

But just as his knees were about to touch the ground, a hand with prominent knuckles reached out.

It caught hold of his wrist.

The warmth of his fingertips seeped through the thin fabric, clearly imprinting itself on his skin.

Liu Qingci froze completely, as if all the blood in his body rushed to that small patch of touched skin, burning with astonishing heat.

"No need. Stand up," he heard Xiao Yan say.