Chapter 45

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Cheng Yun had been busy until nightfall before returning home. Before even stepping down from the carriage, he removed the elaborate hat from his head. As he walked, he loosened the overly intricate ceremonial robes he wore for the Heaven worship ritual, then took a soft long jacket and draped it over himself, asking, “Already asleep?”

Though he did not mention any names, Pang Qi understood who he was referring to and replied, “No.”

Noticing the unusual tone in his voice, Cheng Yun tilted his head and asked, “Why?”

Pang Qi had no choice but to say, “They haven’t come back yet.”

The Crown Prince stopped in his tracks. “Where have they gone?”

At the Linxian Pavilion, Song Qianfan was wearing a troubled expression as he looked at the two sitting on his bed.

“I’m telling you both, aren’t you going to leave?”

“I’m not leaving,” Chang Xingzhu lay back on the bed and said, “No one to play with if I go back.”

“Go find Ping’an then.”

“No way. Princess Qingyang is always eating explosives and rolls her eyes whenever she sees me with him. It’s irritating.”

Song Qianfan had no choice but to check on Wen Biesang.

Wen Biesang did not lie down on his bed directly but sat up very straight. His words were calm and straightforward: “I want to stay here.”

Song Qianfan softened his voice. “Why?”

“He had a fight with Cheng Yun,” Chang Xingzhu said. “Don’t ask anything else. Anyway, he’s staying here tonight too. Come here, little dream demon, let’s sleep. Forget about him.”

Song Qianfan asked, “Then where do I sleep?”

“There are so many guest rooms in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. You can’t find one?”

“What day is it? The first day of the new year! So many guests came to celebrate. All rooms are booked out, don’t you know?”

“Alright, alright.” Chang Xingzhu put one arm around the approaching Wen Biesang and reached out his other hand to Song Qianfan. “Come here. Brother will hold you to sleep.”

Song Qianfan looked at Wen Biesang obediently resting his head on his arm, his expression serious. “Chang San, what if the Crown Prince comes today, what do we do?”

“He won’t come,” Chang Xingzhu said casually but with absolute certainty. “Since childhood, whenever he argued with someone, it was always the others who apologized or time erased all traces. You know as well as I do, His Highness the Crown Prince never bowed to anyone.”

“But didn’t you say His Majesty already agreed to…”

“The little dream demon said that was all just for show. Enough, enough. If you don’t come, I’ll give both my arms to the little dream demon.”

Wen Biesang was already looking a little drowsy. Song Qianfan’s expression was complicated; he glanced outside suspiciously.

Though late, the streets outside were still brightly lit because of the special day. Occasional bursts of fireworks echoed in the sky.

After some mental preparation, Song Qianfan finally surrendered to sleepiness and climbed onto the only bed before him. Chang Xingzhu reached out to pull him closer and pushed him firmly, saying, “Get in.”

Chang Xingzhu, slightly annoyed, told Wen Biesang, “Move further inside.”

Wen Biesang obediently shifted inward. The bed was not small, but three men sleeping on it was still a bit cramped.

Song Qianfan lay back on his pillow, closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them again. “Chang San, I have a bad feeling.”

“You always have bad feelings about everything…” Chang Xingzhu muttered, turning over and draping an arm around Wen Biesang’s waist. “Go to sleep… I’m exhausted.”

The Drunken Immortal Pavilion remained lively. Occasionally, the voices of guests calling servants or drunken revelers could be heard. Fireworks sounded intermittently, accompanied by the crackling of firecrackers from nearby houses.

Song Qianfan clasped his hands on his chest, half-asleep, murmured, “If the Crown Prince comes and sees the three of us lying together…”

“I told you, he won’t come.”

Chang Xingzhu grumbled irritably.

The room gradually filled with soft breathing.

After some time, a noise came from outside—the voice of the maid Xiao Tao: “All the guest rooms are fully booked today. Young Master Wen and Young Master Chang are both at the little east house…”

“I know the way.”

Song Qianfan had not truly fallen asleep. Half-awake, he heard the nightmarish noise and immediately sat up with a start, quickly trying to push Chang Xingzhu, who waved him off. “What’s wrong…”

“The Crown Prince has come. Let him go…”

Wen Biesang frowned but did not open his eyes. Chang Xingzhu was groggy for a moment. “Let go of who…”

With a creak, the door was pushed open. Song Qianfan rolled off the bed and quickly glanced at his clothes—luckily, he hadn’t taken them off.

The room was unlit, but lanterns hung all around outside, casting a bright glow inside.

Cheng Yun’s gaze immediately landed on the two sleeping face-to-face on the inner side of the bed.

He approached expressionlessly, bending over and staring unblinkingly at Chang Xingzhu’s face.

Song Qianfan covered his eyes, peeking through his fingers.

The Crown Prince’s gaze felt tangible, and Chang Xingzhu was finally roused, his blurry vision slowly focusing. After a few moments, he sat upright, his expression briefly blank.

“You… how did you come here…”

The Crown Prince spoke kindly: “Does this bed fit all three of you?”

Chang Xingzhu turned to look at Wen Biesang, shaking him awake. Wen Biesang was even slower to respond, blinking open his eyes sluggishly. Chang Xingzhu helped him sit upright and said, “He’s asking you a question.”

Wen Biesang looked drowsily at Cheng Yun, whose expression darkened slightly but forced a smile. “I’m sleepy.”

Wen Biesang nodded. Cheng Yun glanced again at Chang Xingzhu, who instinctively moved aside.

He reached out and lifted Wen Biesang into his arms. Song Qianfan quickly took a cloak and covered them. “Your Highness, I swear on the heavens, we were just sleeping together, nothing else.”

Chang Xingzhu nodded and then remembered something. “No, why should we explain so much? Cheng Yun, didn’t you say beforehand it was all agreed upon to avoid the arranged marriage? The little dream demon said yesterday was all acting.”

Cheng Yun said nothing.

Having followed the ceremonial procession all day, his mind was full of negative emotions. He maintained composure only because he was too tired to lose his temper.

Just as he was about to leave, Wen Biesang suddenly woke and began to struggle.

Cheng Yun frowned, speaking softly, “Let’s go back.”

“No,” Wen Biesang confirmed his presence and immediately perked up, deliberately saying, “I’m never going back to the Crown Prince’s residence again.”

“See?” Chang Xingzhu said beside them. “They have no relationship at all now.”

Song Qianfan’s expression was very complicated.

Wen Biesang struggled fiercely. Cheng Yun carried him all the way to the door but still had to set him down.

It was chilly outside. Cheng Yun draped his cloak over Wen Biesang and, still firm in tone, said, “Go back and sleep, alright?”

“No.”

Though he said this, Wen Biesang accepted the cloak. “You have to apologize before I’ll go back.”

Chang Xingzhu sat on the bed, saying, “He definitely won’t apologize.”

The words were about to leave his mouth but were swallowed. Cheng Yun stared unblinking at Chang Xingzhu and said, “I received a letter from my uncle today, asking when you’ll return to the Northern Frontier. Do you want me to reply and bring you back with me?”

“…”

Chang Xingzhu turned around and faced inward, silent.

Cheng Yun suppressed his anger and faced Wen Biesang again. “Let’s go outside first.”

“I want you to apologize here.”

“…”

Chang Xingzhu pricked up his ears. Song Qianfan faced the same direction, ears straining.

“Ah Sang…”

“Then I won’t go back.”

Wen Biesang turned back inside. Cheng Yun hugged his waist from behind, his eyes burning with murderous intent as he cast a fierce glance at the backs of the two in front. He rested his jaw on Wen Biesang’s shoulder and whispered something in his ear.

Song Qianfan and Chang Xingzhu did not hear it; the latter even instinctively leaned slightly toward them.

Wen Biesang turned to look at the Crown Prince. His earlobe was gently brushed by the prince’s lips, and he shrank his neck slightly, nodding with some restraint.

Immediately, the Crown Prince lifted him and left the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

There was no movement behind them for a long while. Chang Xingzhu was the first to turn and look back, immediately asking, “Why is no one here? Did Cheng Yun apologize? Did you hear anything?”

Song Qianfan’s expression was hard to read. “You’ve only survived this long because your father is his uncle.”

Finally, after retrieving him, Cheng Yun leaned against the carriage wall, looking somewhat weary.

Wen Biesang nestled against his chest. “Cheng Wuchang.”

“Hm.”

“Have you just finished your work?”

“After finishing, I came to find you.” Cheng Yun’s voice was low and lacked energy. “But you came here instead.”

Wen Biesang nodded. “I did it on purpose.”

Cheng Yun’s brow twitched. All his negative emotions seemed to magnify instantly.

“...You knew I would definitely come looking for you?”

“Not definitely,” Wen Biesang said. “But I waited all day for you to come find me.”

The swelling emotions contracted. Cheng Yun’s breath caught.

Even though he knew Wen Biesang’s words might not mean anything more, at this moment, his tired, dry heart blossomed with a trickle of sweetness. His withered spirit seemed to be nourished in an instant.

He resisted the urge to look at Wen Biesang, silently holding him tighter. The weariness in his expression gradually lessened, replaced by flickers of anxiety and hope.

“Wait for me to find you?”

“Mm.” Wen Biesang said, “Otherwise, I would’ve gone to sleep already.”

Unable to hold back any longer, Cheng Yun lowered his head to study his expression. Wen Biesang was tilting his face up, looking at him as well.

“What… what exactly do you want to do?”

“I want you to comfort me.”

“…”

Inside the carriage, Cheng Yun’s breathing was restrained and lingering.

“Why do you want me to comfort you?”

“Two reasons,” Wen Biesang enunciated clearly. “Because you bullied me this morning. I should have been very angry, but suddenly I wasn’t so mad anymore. But I have to keep up appearances, so I decided to pretend to be angry with you.”

Cheng Yun: “...And the second reason?”

“Because I know I’m especially, especially good.”

“What does that have to do with me comforting you?”

“You like me because I’m especially good, right?” Wen Biesang said. “So if someone as good as me suddenly ignores you, unless you’ve made a very serious mistake and feel too guilty to show up, since it’s only a tiny mistake and I’m not even mad, wouldn’t you come to ask for my forgiveness first?”

Where did this twisted logic come from?

Cheng Yun said, “Isn’t it because you…”

He looked into Wen Biesang’s clear eyes, hesitated, then said, “Isn’t it because you… actually really like the Crown Prince’s residence?”