Chapter 87: He’s So Cool

After two days of traveling through the dust, the carriage finally entered the city.

Looking at the familiar, bustling, and prosperous streets of the capital, Chen Huaian suddenly had a question.

He asked quietly, "Brother Qingci, now that we're back, are you... still going back to Prince Yu's mansion with His Highness?"

Liu Qingci was staring absentmindedly out the window. Hearing this, he was a little startled, as if he hadn't seen that coming.

Seeing Liu Qingci hesitate, Chen Huaian continued,

"I mean, His Highness hasn't said anything yet, maybe he'd be willing to... let you go?"

He'd noticed during the trip that Prince Yu treated Brother Qingci completely differently from how he treated an ordinary male favorite.

So maybe Prince Yu would set Brother Qingci free?

"...Leave?" Liu Qingci looked a little dazed.

Where could he go?

Moreover, he felt deep down that... he should go back with Xiao Yan.

Leaving had never even crossed his mind.

Chen Huaian thought Liu Qingci was worried about where to go, so he immediately said generously,

"Brother Qingci, don't worry. Even though I'm still just a minor compiler at the Hanlin Academy, I recently got a small courtyard house on East Street here in the capital. It's simple, but quiet. If you want, you can stay there for now!"

Chen Huaian came from a poor family. Although his official position was modest, he was a successful scholar from humble beginnings.

After settling down in the capital, he brought his parents from his hometown to live with him.

Liu Qingci naturally wouldn't impose on him. His voice was barely audible:

"Huai'an, I appreciate your kindness, but as for this matter... let's talk about it later."

The last few words drifted off like a soft breeze.

Chen Huaian found that weird.

He'd always thought of Brother Qingci as decisive and straightforward.

So why was it different when it came to Prince Yu?

"Young master, there's a restaurant up ahead. His Highness says we should eat first before we go on." Yun Feng's voice sounded outside the carriage curtain.

They entered the restaurant.

Chen Huaian had almost gotten used to eating at the same table as Prince Yu these past few days.

The air was always a little awkward, though he was the only one who felt it.

Just like now.

The restaurant waiter was serving dishes one after another. A plate of chicken oil and dried bamboo shoot slices was placed in front of Chen Huaian.

Before he could even see the dish, a hand reached over and took it.

Looking to the side, he saw Prince Yu himself holding the plate and placing it in front of Liu Qingci.

"This is a seasonal dish; it's one of your favorites. Try it."

Liu Qingci did as told and took a bite with his chopsticks.

Xiao Yan tilted his head, his eyes fixed on Liu Qingci.

"How does it taste?"

"Not bad." Liu Qingci gave a slight nod. After a pause, he added, "But it's not as good as the chef at the mansion."

A hint of amusement flickered in Xiao Yan's eyes. He said very casually,

"I know you like it; it's already prepared at the mansion. We'll have dinner at the mansion tonight."

Liu Qingci's mouth curved into a slight smile, and he quickly agreed,

"Mm, okay..."

Going home...

Chen Huaian felt he shouldn't be here.

He still couldn't get used to it...

He just felt the atmosphere getting more and more awkward. Of course, that was all in his head.

Chen Huaian lowered his head and silently shoveled rice into his mouth.

In the afternoon.

They were still some distance from the mansion. Before heading out, everyone took a short break at the restaurant.

Xiao Yan, arms crossed, leaned against the doorframe. He saw Chen Huaian wandering around the courtyard, looking blank.

He called him over and asked in a casual, friendly tone, "By the way, how did you and Qingci meet?"

In the original story, Chen Huaian was just a minor supporting character with few appearances, so the story never really described how he and Liu Qingci met.

But now he couldn't help being curious.

He wanted to know about Liu Qingci's past that wasn't in the book.

Chen Huaian was a little startled, as if he hadn't expected Xiao Yan to ask this.

He scratched his head and said sheepishly, "Your Highness, Brother Qingci is actually someone I owe a lot to. I've always respected him deeply!"

"Oh?" Xiao Yan looked interested, waiting to hear more.

Chen Huaian thought Prince Yu was just making small talk and wouldn't bother with a long story, so he kept it short.

But seeing this, it seemed Prince Yu really wanted to hear about the old days.

Chen Huaian looked into the distance, beginning to recall. His honest face flushed a little with emotion.

"It was three years ago. I had just arrived in the capital to study."

He paused, as if weighing his words.

"My family was just average. When I first came to the capital, my clothes and things were a bit worse than what my classmates had. One afternoon, several classmates surrounded me in the bamboo grove of the academy, saying my old clothes were an eyesore and a disgrace to the academy. They got more and more abusive, even demanding I take my clothes off in public."

Chen Huaian put it euphemistically, but Xiao Yan understood immediately.

That's just

bullying, isn't it?

Xiao Yan listened attentively and asked, "Then Qingci appeared and saved you?"

Chen Huaian nodded innocently, his eyes shining. "Yes, Brother Qingci appeared like a god descending from heaven!"

Xiao Yan tried to picture it.

He pictured a radiant, angelic Liu Qingci descending from the sky.

"How did he save you?" Xiao Yan guessed. "Did he put on a stern face and say, very seriously, that they shouldn't bully their classmate, or else he would report them to the teacher?"

Chen Huaian quickly shook his head, taking a deep breath. "No, Brother Qingci didn't say that."

Xiao Yan was all ears, curious. "Then what did he say?"

Chen Huaian's voice dropped lower, with a strange kind of reverence.

"Brother Qingci said he also didn't like looking at their clothes—they offended his eyes. Then he said he would call someone to strip them..."

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

Chen Huaian continued: "Those people were wary of Brother Qingci's status and didn't dare to act rashly. Besides, at the time, Brother Qingci had Prince Rui... with him."

He stopped mid-sentence, cleverly cutting himself off in time.

Chen Huaian had an instinct that it was best not to mention Prince Rui in front of Prince Yu.

Especially when it came to Liu Qingci.

Fortunately, Xiao Yan didn't seem to notice.

Xiao Yan's mind was entirely focused on imagining the Liu Qingci of that time.

Three years ago... only fifteen years old. He was just like a little tyrant.

He even knew how to use violence to counter violence, like a big brother protecting his younger brother.

As Xiao Yan thought about it, he couldn't help but laugh.

So adorable—too bad he didn't get to see it.

"Your Highness, wha... what are you laughing at?"

Xiao Yan snapped back to the present, his lips still curved in a smile. He said with a sigh-like exhalation: "He's so cool."

"Ku?"

It was Liu Qingci who spoke.

He had obviously just walked over and hadn't caught the previous conversation. Now his face was confused and curious.

"What is 'Ku'? Who are you talking about?"

Seeing who it was, Xiao Yan's smile deepened.

He slightly turned his head, looking at Liu Qingci, who had come to stand under the eaves without him noticing. His voice carried clear affection, his voice rising slightly at the end:

"I'm talking about you, little tyrant."