Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 119: Budding Marigold — XIV

[Bonus Chapter 4]

Li Xinyuan’s strong reaction to his words drew a few slow blinks from the nine-tailed fox spirit. For a few seconds Hu Lijing blankly stared down at him, watching as the surgeon emerged from the water, thoroughly drenched.

As if he finally processed his master’s startled question, Hu Lijing muttered to himself, his tone filled with inquiry. "Did I perhaps perceive it incorrectly?" The look on his face was of a man lost in fog, wandering around aimlessly.

Li Xinyuan spat out the water filling his mouth as he sucked in a sharp breath, pushing his hair back, he carded his fingers through the raven locks, ears twitching when he heard the fox spirit’s question.

Letting out a huff, the surgeon waddled out of the water, his cheeks flushing a pleasant shade of pink. As the rays of sunlight fell on him, the droplets of water clinging to his person dribbled down, glistening as they trailed down the folds and creases of his robes, disappearing when they rejoined the water under.

He looked away, feeling a tad guilty as if he had been caught red-handed by Hu Lijing. Clearing his throat, the surgeon let out a huff. "There is no such thing. You are simply thinking too much."

There was in fact such a thing. Although his decision to roam around Jianghu was not only because of his upcoming and inevitable marriage to Liu Mingyun, it had played a role in pushing him to bring forward the plans of travelling.

After all, just as Hu Lijing said, who knew whether he would be allowed to go out and about after the marriage. And the surgeon did not want to regret putting off the travel later down the line.

As of now, keeping Hu Lijing’s fragile inner state, Li Xinyuan felt compelled to leave for Jianghu as soon as it was possible for him too. Surely, the scenery of Jianghu, its water and air, and trees and rivers would do him some good, if not a lot.

Unbeknownst to him, Hu Lijing, who had been silently observing the minute changes in expression, had caught on his little lie to save face. Hu Lijing of course hesitated not a second in order to call his attempted deception of him out. "Liar." He spat coldly, the dark circles around his haggard eyes only further adding to the smugness of his face. "It is just what I am thinking."

Since he had been exposed once again, the surgeon did not bother making up any more lies to cover up the truth and simply rolled his eyes heavenward. Hard.

Mockingly, he smiled—the expression impressively bland—at the fox spirit. "You are right." He nodded, feigning indifference in spite of the embarrassment crawling under his skin. "But that alone is not the reason. I have been meaning to explore this new world that I have been thrusted into for a long time now. It is only fair that I act upon my long-standing wish before it is too late."

At that, the nine-tailed fox spirit fell silent, and for a long moment he said nothing. Then, he nodded slowly. "I suppose that is true." His tone appeared subdued, contemplative and forlorn all at once. "It’s true..." He repeated himself. "Sometimes, it is better to act upon our desires before it’s too late."

Li Xinyuan bit back a wince at his words. He would have to be both blind and deaf to not realise where this was coming from. Gently, he cleared his throat, in a soft voice, he murmured. "Lijing... Every wound takes time to heal. But one that’s left open for too long will inevitably fester. The longer it festers, the more it will hurt— look at me, babbling again."

"No, I understand..." Hu Lijing shook his head slightly, a pained and wry smile stretching upon his lips. It was painful to look at it. Li Xinyuan would rather him not smile at all then smile in a way that made his agony all the more obvious. "I would like to accompany Xinyuan around the Jianghu for you’re right... Going to new places would do me good."

Needless to say, upon hearing the nine-tailed fox spirit finally say the words he had been hoping to hear from him, the smile that illuminated the surgeon’s face was nearly brighter than the morning sun hanging above them.

...

The peace, though sometimes—if not all—reigned by fear of the power possessed by the young Crown Prince of the nation, prevailed throughout the Crown Prince’s palace as the master of it sat in his chamber, legs crossed in a lotus position, his hands held folded on his lap and palms facing up whilst his eyes remained closed in meditation, the world around him fading to nothing yet his senses assimilating with everything all at once.

The silence of the palace was deafening yet haunting as the calls of birds, chirps of crickets and insects filled the void, preventing the tension from reaching its breaking point.

"His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince requests for an audience with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

The call from outside the doors of his room, given by the guards standing there, seemed to rouse the silver-haired male from his meditation secluded from the world. Minutely, the veil of his eyelids trembled as his long lashes casted a shivering shadow over his cheekbones and then, his eyes closed to the world fluttered open after a long time.

When the guard’s words sank into his mind, his lips parted gently as a soft exhale left him. After a long moment of collecting himself, Liu Mingyun replied. "Allow the Fourth Prince in."

Though his words had been a mere whisper, they easily travelled through the room.

Having received his command, the guards pushed the doors open, the ginormous, intricately carved doors groaned as they parted to allow the Fourth Prince inside.

Liu Mingyun stood up at the sight of his younger half-brother and nodded slightly in greeting. Then with a ghost of a faint smile dancing upon his lips, the Crown Prince walked over to him in a few strides. "This Prince wonders what seems to have brought Imperial Brother to his palace,"

The Fourth Prince looked at him in the eyes, his icy blue eyes holding a trace of exasperated amusement as he merely shook his head in response.

"This Prince has come seeking refuge with Imperial Brother." Helplessly, he shook his head, his loose raven locks swaying slightly as he spread his hands. "I pray that Imperial Brother will not resent me for it." As he spoke, his sharp, handsome features contained a distinct weariness.

Liu Mingyun snorted a soft laugh as he turned on his heels, silently leading the other prince to take a seat as he signalled for the servants to disperse. Lounging back on his seat, the Crown Prince crossed one leg over the other, leaned to the side—on the armrest—and hummed.

"Rest assured, Imperial Brother. You have given me no reason to resent you," he paused as a trace of a smirk appeared on his devastatingly handsome visage. "Say, what brings you here?"

The Fourth Prince—resting his forehead in his hands—bent forward let out a fatigued sigh. "What else could it be but Royal Aunt*?" Saying so, he grimaced while recalling his mother.

Sympathetic as he was, Liu Mingyun could not forebear another huff of amusement at his half-brother’s misery regarding the latter’s mother. "What has the Royal Aunt said now for you to come running to me in search of a refuge?"

"The same old drivel." Dismissively, the Fourth Prince waved his hand. "Always giving me a ’subtle’ push to compete for the throne."

The Crown Prince scoffed. "Ah."

"What is that reaction?"

"Do you wish to compete for the throne?"

"Compete against you?" The Fourth Prince gave a disbelieving sneer. "What does Imperial Brother take me for? A fool? I would not compete against you even in my nightmares, you monster of a man."

Liu Minyun chuckled. "Now, now Mingzhen do not insult me this way."

"I was not aware that speaking the truth is now an insult." Liu Mingzhen, the Fourth Prince laughed, his icy blue eyes ablaze with righteous rage. "Do forgive my ignorance, Imperial Brother."