Chapter 37: Sweetheart?

Chapter 37: Sweet Brother?

Upon hearing that his daughter had come to bring him lunch, Liu Shiwen's heart swelled with joy. His back no longer ached, his legs no longer felt weak—he sprinted to his office like the wind, not noticing the Crown Prince strolling leisurely behind him.

By the time her father arrived, Liu Yun had just finished trimming the last bonsai pine. Hearing footsteps, she looked up to see her father stepping in with a beaming smile.

"Father, you're finally here!"

After a long morning of tedious official work, his daughter's crisp, cheerful voice instantly revived Liu Shiwen and cleared his mind.

"Ah, it's Father's fault for making Shanshan wait so long."

He first went to wash his hands, saying this with a chuckle.

Liu Yun naturally wouldn't truly blame her father. She just giggled and said, "It wasn't long at all. Come eat, Father, before the food gets cold."

"Mother personally stewed today's pigeon soup, and I made the milk cakes with my own hands. Father, you must eat plenty."

Delighted, Liu Shiwen asked about the one thing he cared about most.

"Did you bring roast goose?"

Seeing her father's eager look, Liu Yun decided to tease him, putting on a deliberately guilty expression that said it all.

She watched her father's face fall in disappointment, then he reassured her, saying, "No matter, no matter—it's a small thing. I'll just head back—"

"I was just teasing you, Father! I bought some on the way—roast goose from the Su family on Osmanthus Lane. It's still warm!"

Before Liu Shiwen could finish, his daughter burst out laughing, clearly having tricked him on purpose.

"Ha! You dare to tease your own father? You bold girl—watch how I deal with you!"

Liu Shiwen pretended to pinch his daughter's ear, but Liu Yun fell back on her old childhood trick—she didn't run, just clung to her father's arm and started acting cute.

"Father, I know I was wrong—please forgive me~"

As she said these coaxing, playful words, Liu Yun pressed close and nuzzled him, a tactic that had never failed her.

Liu Shiwen had only been pretending to scare her anyway. Seeing his daughter put on such an adorable display, he couldn't resist and reached out to pinch her chubby little cheek.

"My girl is just so adorable!"

This scene was witnessed by Xiao Hang, who had just arrived. His mind began to wander.

Would there come a day when she'd treat him the same way—hugging him without any guard, speaking sweet, honeyed words, acting coy and spoiled before him?

Even if it were only to get something out of him.

He would wait for that day, wouldn't he?

Just imagining such a scene made Xiao Hang's body tense involuntarily, and he couldn't control the way his head lifted.

When it came to her, Xiao Hang admitted his self-control was far too weak to change.

Though there was nothing he could do at the moment, Xiao Hang still couldn't help drawing closer.

"I've arrived at just the right time. Might my father-in-law have room for one more?"

Inside, the father and daughter had just finished their playful antics and were setting out the dishes when they heard a voice from the doorway.

The familiar voice immediately made both their expressions tighten. They looked toward the source, their faces growing solemn.

It wasn't that they were unwelcoming—it was just that during a rare family meal, having a high-ranking future son-in-law they barely knew suddenly join in made things awkward and stiff.

But since he'd already asked right at their doorstep, they couldn't possibly turn him away—and they didn't dare to.

"Your Highness, you flatter us. Please, have a seat."

And so, a small official's desk became their dining table. The three sat around it, the atmosphere cold and stiff.

Liu Yun had brought three dishes, a soup, a dessert, and a roast goose—more than enough to feed them.

But the Crown Prince glanced at the dishes and ordered a few more.

The Eastern Palace kitchen worked quickly, and before long, several delicacies were delivered. Liu Yun glanced over them and was surprised to find they were all dishes she loved.

Since this meal was prepared for her father, the three dishes, the soup, and the roast goose were all his favorites.

Dishes like scallion-fried lamb, spicy stir-fried lung slices, and spicy braised mixed fish were quite different from Liu Yun's taste.

She preferred light, fresh, and sweet flavors, and her favorite was crab-stuffed orange—which happened to be among the dishes the Eastern Palace had sent.

Liu Yun's mind wandered a bit, and she wondered if she was flattering herself.

Perhaps the Crown Prince just happened to share her taste in food.

Picking up her spoon, Liu Yun went straight for the crab-stuffed orange.

She hadn't originally planned to stay for the meal, but when she'd proposed going home, the Crown Prince had stopped her.

"It's mealtime—how can you go back hungry?"

"Why not eat here? That way you won't be hungry on the way home?"

These words struck a chord with Liu Shiwen. How could he let his daughter go home hungry?

He immediately sided with his future son-in-law and persuaded his daughter to stay.

But with the Crown Prince present, both father and daughter felt much more constrained.

"I've been busy with court affairs these days and have neglected Yunniang. In a few days, I should have some free time—I'll teach you horseback riding then."

Both father and daughter politely declined. Liu Shiwen said, "Your Highness speaks too gravely. These are all trivial matters—we wouldn't want to delay state affairs. Please focus on matters of the court."

Behind him, Liu Yun nodded frantically, even hoping the Crown Prince would be so busy he'd forget about teaching her horseback riding altogether.

She was now completely certain that whenever she went out with the Crown Prince, she'd end up getting kissed by him.

Liu Yun didn't want to do such things with him—that feeling made her panic like she was drowning.

The kind of discomfort where her heart felt like it might jump out of her chest.

Under Liu Yun's hopeful gaze, Xiao Hang curled his lips into a smile, deliberately refusing to give her what she wanted.

"Rest assured, Yunniang—I won't forget."

Liu Yun's face fell. She stuffed a piece of milk cake into her mouth and chewed vigorously, her cheeks puffing out, drawing a few more glances from Xiao Hang.

After the meal, Liu Yun packed up the food container and got ready to leave.

"Your Highness and Father, please go ahead with your duties. I'll head back now."

Finally, she could stop having to deal with the Crown Prince's occasional, sudden stares.

What a weird habit—the more he ate, the more he stared at her face. She couldn't figure out what was so interesting about it.

Now that she could finally get away from the Crown Prince's sight, Liu Yun was thrilled.

"I'll escort you out."

That joy came crashing down and shattered.

A moment later, Liu Yun looked at the carriage Su Neishi (Palace Attendant) had driven over from the Eastern Palace and reluctantly boarded it.

"Shanshan, be careful on the way!"

Liu Shiwen also felt the Crown Prince was up to something, but since they were already engaged, he could trust his daughter to him.

At least the Crown Prince seemed to really care about his daughter.

"I know, Father. Take care of yourself too. Mother and I will be waiting for you to get off work."

Pulling back the carriage curtain, Liu Yun spoke to her father.

Liu Shiwen said "good" and then said to the Crown Prince, "Sorry for the trouble, Your Highness."

Xiao Hang stepped onto the carriage step, gave a short "mm," and bent down to enter the carriage.

There was a brief flash of light, then his figure blocked it as he ducked inside, casting the carriage back into dimness.

Once inside, Xiao Hang first glanced at Liu Yun, who sat obediently in the lower seat, before slowly settling into his seat.

The carriage set off, its wheels rumbling over the lotus-patterned blue bricks found only in the palace.

"Do I eat people?"

No sooner had he sat down than Xiao Hang crossed his legs and spoke up out of the blue.

Obviously, with just the two of them in the carriage, Liu Yun had to respond.

"You're joking, Your Highness. Of course, you don't eat people."

That's right—he didn't eat people, but he was always nibbling on her lips, and she was scared of that.

Seeing Liu Yun's shy, awkward smile, Xiao Hang arched an eyebrow and asked again, "Then why are you sitting so far away?"

"Come closer."

His tone remained calm and indifferent, but the words left no room for argument.

For some reason, she felt a rebellious streak rise up against that tone.

Why should everything he said be the rule?

Why should she obey him so readily?

Just because he was the Crown Prince?

It seemed... yeah, that was exactly why.

At that thought, Liu Yun suddenly gave up and obediently moved closer.

Fine, whatever happens, happens.

If only one day she could get her way.

Liu Yun braced herself, yet unexpectedly, the Crown Prince didn't lean in to kiss her as she'd anticipated.

She stole a glance and saw him leaning against the carriage wall, eyes closed, resting. Feeling her eyes on him, he suddenly opened his eyes to meet hers.

"What are you looking at?"

In the dim carriage, the young man's eyes sparkled like stars, so bright that Liu Yun didn't dare to meet his gaze.

"Nothing, just looking."

Somewhere along the way, Liu Yun had gradually forgotten the trivial rules around the Crown Prince and started using "I" instead of a more formal way of addressing him.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince didn't mind whether she followed those rules—in fact, he actually wanted her to be less formal with him.

He wanted her to be bolder, more intimate.

Helpless, Xiao Hang could only take the initiative, again and again.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Liu Yun's heart skipped a beat, sighing that the inevitable had finally come.

She even braced herself, looking like she was about to make a heroic sacrifice.

"Go on, Your Highness."

Liu Yun lifted her chin slightly and closed her eyes.

"Heh~"

In the dim carriage, Liu Yun, with her eyes shut, ready for it, suddenly heard a soft laugh.

It was so blunt that she immediately opened her eyes.

In an instant, she met the Crown Prince's deep, inscrutable dark eyes, which had a hint of amusement.

"What are you doing, Yunniang? Don't tell me you thought I was going to kiss you?"

Hearing this, Liu Yun's face flushed crimson, and she couldn't even pretend she hadn't been doing that.

"No."

After a long pause, that was all Liu Yun could manage to say. Mortified, she shrank into the corner, burying her head in her arms like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand.

Though she couldn't see the Crown Prince's expression, she could hear his low, sporadic laughter beside her.

Then, a sudden warmth at her ear.

"I've been neglecting you, Yunniang. It's fine—just say the word, and I'll do whatever you want."

That warm breath made her ear tingle and go numb. Liu Yun stayed quiet, stubbornly ignoring him.

Yeah, right, now he says he'll listen to her—what a lovely thought.

Liu Yun grumbled inwardly, completely unaware that her attitude toward the Crown Prince was gradually becoming more brazen.

Fortunately, the palace gate arrived before long, and Liu Yun couldn't wait to get off, where she happened to run into an acquaintance.

Dressed in the green robe of a ninth-rank official, the young man had a handsome and upright appearance, and was hurrying into the palace.

Encountering Brother Xiuyuan here, Liu Yun felt a pleasant surprise, momentarily forgetting that she was no longer the ordinary Miss Liu of the Liu family, and blurted out: "Brother Xiuyuan!"

Yang Xiuyuan paused at the sound, lifting his gaze to the young woman not far off, and the stern-faced Crown Prince behind her.

Yang Xiuyuan knew it would be best not to approach her right now, but Sister Yun had already walked over with a smile to greet him, and there was no way he could dodge it.

"Sister Yun."

His mind went blank, and Yang Xiuyuan's mouth moved too fast, instinctively using the old address.

Sure enough, Yang Xiuyuan discreetly glanced at the Crown Prince and saw that his expression had already turned cold.

"Your Highness, this humble official pays his respects."

Cursing himself inwardly for the slip, Yang Xiuyuan only wished to leave this troublesome spot quickly.

Unfortunately, Sister Yun was oblivious, completely unaware of the Crown Prince's feelings, and cheerfully came up to chat with him.

"Brother Xiuyuan, where are you off to?"

It was well past the morning roll call—could Brother Xiuyuan have overslept?

Father said oversleeping meant a dock in pay, and Liu Yun couldn't help but worry for him.

Under those repeated calls of "brother," Yang Xiuyuan no longer dared to look at the Crown Prince's face, forcing a smile as he said: "I forgot an extremely important document today, and my superior ordered me home to fetch it. I've only just returned and need to report back."

Learning that he hadn't overslept and missed the roll call, Liu Yun's worry faded.

Yang Xiuyuan dared not linger, and indeed had pressing duties, so he hastily took his leave: "I still have important matters to attend to, so I won't keep you any longer, miss."

Seeing that Brother Xiuyuan did look serious, Liu Yun said no more, only urging: "Then hurry along, Brother Xiuyuan, and I'll head home too."

With that, Yang Xiuyuan clasped his hands toward the Crown Prince and hurried through the palace gate.

Liu Yun also withdrew her gaze, but as she turned, she bumped into a wall of flesh.

"What did you just call Third Young Master Yang?"

The question came crashing down out of nowhere, and Liu Yun, utterly confused, answered honestly.

"Brother Xiuyuan!"

Seeing that Liu Yun could still say it without a hint of shame, Xiao Hang laughed in anger, a fire burning in his chest.

"Calling him that—if outsiders heard, they'd think that Yang Sanlang was your fiancé, and I was the outsider."

The sarcastic words reached her ears, and Liu Yun froze, finally catching on even in her slowness.

Perhaps she really shouldn't address another man so intimately in front of her fiancé.

But she'd been calling him that since childhood, out of habit—how could she change it overnight?

Still, she knew how to make amends, and immediately tugged at the Crown Prince's sleeve to explain: "How could that be? I only see him as an older brother, and I've called him that since we were kids. You, Your Highness, are my fiancé—how could you be an outsider?"

Liu Yun swore she'd used every ounce of strength in those few sentences, and had nothing more to offer in the way of coaxing.

Fortunately, they worked, for the Crown Prince's expression softened, and he suddenly smiled.

Then, with no gentleness at all, he pinched her cheek and huffed: "That's more like it. Consider this your punishment—don't ever call him that again."

Liu Yun nodded eagerly, finally seeing the grim-faced god off.

Climbing into her own carriage on the way back, Liu Yun rubbed her just-pinched cheek and quietly cursed the Crown Prince several times.

Author's note:

None.