Chapter 95: Why Is Your Face So Red?

Chapter 95: Why Is Your Face Red?

Liu Qingci looked at Xiao Yan.

Looked at his expression so open that it bordered on brazen.

How could tea spill onto the bed in the middle of the night?

But he didn't ask.

Because Xiao Yan had already, with practiced ease, pulled him into his arms, nuzzled his chin against the top of his head, then gently patted his back.

"Alright, let's sleep."

Xiao Yan's voice was languid, as if he were already very drowsy.

Both of them had been tossing and turning, unable to sleep all night, but now it seemed they had both found their most reassuring refuge.

Finally, they fell into a deep, contented sleep.

The next morning.

Liu Qingci saw Fu'an muttering in confusion beside the large bed in the bedchamber: "How did this tea spill onto the bed? Oh dear, His Highness didn't call anyone to clean it up. How did he sleep like this..."

As he spoke, he called for someone to replace the brocade quilt soaked by tea.

Fu'an directed the eunuchs to strip and change the bedding. The entire brocade quilt was rolled up.

A young eunuch carrying the quilt passed by him and bowed in greeting: "Young Master Liu."

Liu Qingci nodded.

His gaze fell on that quilt.

The tea stain was too uniform, splashed square in the center, nothing like an accidental spill.

Liu Qingci thought of something, lowered his eyelids, and the corners of his lips curved upward.

—

Prince Rui's Mansion.

Xiao Jing sat behind his desk, a white jade chess piece pinched between his fingers, held motionless in mid-air for a long time.

There was a knock at the door.

"Your Highness," came the voice of a trusted subordinate from outside the door, tinged with tension. "The men from the Western Hills Villa have arrived."

"Enter."

The man entered, kneeling and nearly crawling along the floor. Fine beads of sweat stood on his forehead, and he dared not lift his head.

"Y-your Highness, last night... last night the people at the Western Hills Villa were taken away."

Xiao Jing's fingers froze.

"Taken away by someone?" He tossed the chess piece into the bowl with a sharp clink. "What happened?!"

That estate, the Western Hills Villa, was located deep in the Western Hills on the outskirts of the capital, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with only one winding path for access.

When he initially acquired it, he ensured that the deeds, ledgers, and correspondence documents were all handled impeccably, without a single slip.

Even among the trusted members of the prince's mansion, only a few knew its exact location.

"Explain clearly," he said, emphasizing each word. "What do you mean, taken away?"

The man bowed his head lower, almost touching it to the floor tiles.

"In reply, Your Highness... Yesterday, suddenly people came outside the estate. We didn't think much of it at first, assuming they were passersby. But they infiltrated the estate directly. They were extremely skilled, and the guards couldn't stop them..."

"How many people?"

"Over twenty," the man's voice trembled.

Because Xiao Jing had always believed the villa's location was sufficiently hidden, and arranging more people would only attract attention, only a few guards were stationed there.

Xiao Jing's expression grew grim. His trusted subordinate watched him warily and said cautiously,

"The leader of them... your servant recognizes him; he's one of Prince Yu's men."

Xiao Jing's face suddenly darkened.

"Who did you say?"

Prince Yu, Xiao Yan.

Him again?

Xiao Jing found it both unbelievable and absurd.

Since when had Xiao Yan become so resourceful and all-powerful?

At some point, Xiao Yan had managed to pinpoint the place where he had hidden Liu Qingci, and also to snatch away the evidence he had painstakingly found in Qingshan Town ahead of time.

And now, he had actually managed to find the Western Hills Villa that he had painstakingly built and hidden for so long.

In the time he hadn't noticed, what exactly had happened to Xiao Yan?

In the past, when Xiao Jing looked at him, he had only found him laughable.

Dissolute and debauched, tyrannical and absurd—all court officials shook their heads when mentioning him.

Xiao Jing had never taken him seriously.

He had even thought that someone like Xiao Yan was not even fit to be his opponent.

But now...

Xiao Jing felt an unprecedented threat.

—

Hall of Embracing the Moon.

Fu'an entered with a smile on his face and a light step.

"Your Highness," he bowed and reported, his voice full of cheer. "Lord Liu has sent someone with a message."

Xiao Yan looked up. "Mm?"

They say they're making dumplings in the Listening Bamboo Court. Master Liu has also gone there. Madam Liu personally prepared the filling, and Miss Liu and Master Liu are making them together.

Fu'an's smile deepened as he said this.

Madam Liu even sent someone especially to ask if Your Highness would like to come and have a taste. Now that's what the New Year should be like – full of life!

In the Listening Bamboo Court, steam billowed everywhere.

The door of the small kitchen was wide open, and a white mist of steam drifted out from inside.

Madam Liu, apron tied on, stood at the cutting board rolling out dumpling wrappers.

Liu Qingci sat to the side, holding a dumpling in his hand, carefully pinching the pleats.

His movements were unhurried and deliberate, each neatly pinched, lined up like little gold nuggets.

"Brother's dumplings look really beautiful." Liu Qinghe leaned in for a look, then glanced at the crooked dumpling in her own hand, a bit dejected. "Why are mine always falling apart..."

"You'll get better with more practice," Liu Qingci said softly, placing a finished dumpling onto the plate. "Even I was lousy at making them when I was little."

When Xiao Yan entered the courtyard gate, this was the scene that greeted him.

Although Liu Qingci was born into a wealthy family, he didn't buy into the idea that a gentleman should avoid the kitchen.

On the contrary, his technique was smooth and a pleasure to watch.

Xiao Yan stood at the courtyard gate for a while, not entering immediately.

He just stood there watching quietly.

Liu Qinghe, who was glancing around, spotted him first.

Liu Qinghe was momentarily stunned. She didn't say anything aloud, but instead leaned over to whisper something in her brother's ear.

Then Liu Qingci turned his head and looked toward the gate.

When he saw Xiao Yan standing at the gate, his eyes first lit up, and the corners of his mouth automatically lifted into a smile. He was about to speak.

Liu Qingci stopped short.

The images from last night suddenly flooded into his mind, and his ears turned bright red.

He didn't dare look at Xiao Yan again.

He even forgot that he was still holding a dumpling in his hand.

That dumpling was squeezed out of shape by his grip, the filling oozing out of the crack and smearing onto his fingertip.

Liu Qinghe saw it clearly from beside him.

She blinked, then tugged at Liu Qingci's sleeve. "Brother, why is your face so red?"

Liu Qingci: "..."

Xiao Yan watched this scene from the gate, and finally stepped in.

Madam Liu, seeing him, gave a slight bow. "This humble wife greets His Highness Prince Yu."

Liu Qingci finally lifted his head.

He stood up, and his sister beside him bowed in salute along with him.

"Qingci greets Your Highness."

"Qinghe greets Your Highness."

Xiao Yan walked up to him.

Then he reached out and steadied Liu Qingci by the arm.

"No need for such formalities." He helped him up, then turned and said, "Everyone, rise."

Having lived and eaten together with Liu Qingci these past days, they had long since done away with those empty formalities.

Liu Qingci had grown less formal with him and spoke more casually.

Xiao Yan thought this was a very good sign.

Now Liu Qingci was bowing so formally again that it actually threw Xiao Yan off.

Last night, when he crawled into his bed, he sure hadn't acted like this.