Cry of the Midnight Jackdaw

Chapter Forty,
Daylight

“Your Highness.” Song Ying was dressed in a green long robe, his waist was hung with a jade-green flute, while his ink-coloured long hair was clipped up with white jade. At this time, he was holding up a bowl of medicinal soup, and said, “The medicine is ready.”

He Xuan lifted his head up to look at him, then nodded his head, “Place it here.”

“Yes.” He Xuan finished flipping over the rest of the pages, seeing Song Ying still stand there, he finished the cooled medicinal soup in one gulp, then took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth, and asked with a raised eyebrow, “Is there something?”

“Where is your Highness resting at night?”

Song Ying pursed his lips, and asked with slight reserve. He had an optimistic nature, and originally wasn’t willing to say these, but since that day he did as Li gong’gong told and prepared to arrange things to go to He Xuan’s bedchambers, he instead got blocked at the door.

“Please go back, Sir Song, his Highness has already gone to rest.” He faintly could hear that sound of the bed planks, but this was not something he should concern himself over, and he was not willing to think too much about it too.

But since then, He Xuan came over very rarely, and in the times he occasionally thought about him, he would only listen to him play the flute, then talk about the sheet music and such. This originally wasn’t anything much, he had been in the place of debauchery for many years, he did not learn any other skills, but adapting oneself to different circumstances was something engraved in the gaps of his bones, something he would remember even if he was burned to ashes. Furthermore, people who were like floating duckweed, their lives were not up to them, the servants in big families were mostly clever and mischievous, adding flowers to embroidery and throwing stones down the well were their principles of navigating the world. Now, he almost couldn’t even get a monthly allowance, so he had no choice but to throw his face to come here.

He Xuan heard the probing tone he had, and knitted his eyebrows in slight annoyance, “You’re overstepping your bounds.”

“Forgive me, your Highness.” Song Ying sighed, he hesitated for a while, but in the end, still could not open his mouth, “Then…… Song Ying will go back first.”

Just as Song Ying pushed open the door, he encountered a Xiao Zuo holding up a basket. He quickly made a glance, then lowered his head, and only had time to hear Xiao Zuo say, “Your Highness……”

The voice faintly felt a bit familiar.

“Your Highness.” Xiao Zuo did not pay attention to Song Ying, he smiled as he opened the basket, and took out the layer of cakes from the inside, then picked up one piece and held it to He Xuan’s mouth, “I had the kitchen make this in Nan Liang’s style, have a try and see if you like it, your Highness.”

That cake was a bit sweet, He Xuan typically did not like things sweet, but the sweetness this time seemed to be a bit different- it was not sweet on the mouth, but like it was much deeper, below the throat, probably in the direction of the heart.

“En, it’s delicious.” He Xuan took another piece and put inside the mouth, the tip of his tongue sentimentally hooked a bit of the sweet cake, the slightly rippling smile in bottom of his eyes rose up in circles, and his tone bore an intimate dubiousness, “But…… its taste is inferior to yours.”

Xiao Zuo was helping him pour tea, but when he heard these words, his hand shook, and the scalding tea splashed on the table. He hurriedly took a rag from the side to wipe it, hung his eyes down, but did not refute, “As long as your Highness likes it.”

He Xuan used a hand to prop his chin, and curled his lips and stared at his body, like observing his finely-chosen prey, “It’s already this late, are you still going back later?”

Xiao Zuo paused, the inside of his heart was in complete chaos like gods having a fight, but his mouth instead very quickly made the decision for him, “Mm, yes.”

Just as the words fell, Xiao Zuo felt the air immediately haze, scorching like it was going to have sparks at any time, about to burn him cleanly. Xiao Zuo waited for a while as he trembled in fear, but only saw He Xuan nonchalantly put the cake back. The candlelight soaked half of his face, casting his unreasonable, cold, and hard profile in a warm yellow halo, “I’m full.”

“Your Highness, your Highness.” Ling Xiang knocked on the door, she glanced at Xiao Zuo with some panic, then said with a stutter, “De…… De Qing gong’gong just came by, and sa…… said the ducal residence……”

“Speak properly.” He Xuan knitted his eyebrows, and irately cut her off, with his expression all gloomy. Ling Xiang took a brief breath, swallowed her saliva, then spoke slowly, “There’s been a fire at the ducal residence……”

“What?” He Xuan froze, he turned his head to look at Xiao Zuo, with some inconspicuous surprise and nervousness in his eyes. Xiao Zuo seemed like he had been completely startled silly, and stood there without moving at all. He Xuan hesitated for a moment, and probingly pulled Xiao Zuo’s sleeves, and pulled him outside, “Ig will have the guards go help, don’t panic……”

He Xuan’s voice seeped with a very careful tone, and was dipped with an indescribable gentleness, like he was going to stick Xiao Zuo to his heart, warm him up until he turned into a pool of softened[1] water.

“En.” Xiao Zuo hung his eyes down, and inconspicuously slid his hand downward, enough to lock fingers with He Xuan. He felt He Xuan’s hand distinctly for the first time, it carried some of the dry and cold air of the north, yet was also warm and powerful, that channel that connected to the palm also connected to the heart at the same time, so he could hear He Xuan’s beating heartbeat.

Xiao Zuo strangely palpitated for a bit, he subconsciously wanted to let go, yet was instead held back by He Xuan even tighter, he slightly struggled for a bit, but did not manage to, he then let He Xuan do as he pleased, and heard him speak, “Ling Xiang asked De Qing just now, the people are fine, don’t worry.”

“Then that’s good.” Xiao Zuo let out a breath of relief, then lifted his head up and asked, “Where is De Qing?”

“Just at the front. Ig will bring you there.”