Zisui Zhi Chen

Chapter 7: TeasingFor the next few days, no one came by to disturb him. Xin Yi had a lot of time to himself so Old Qu had invited him to fish at the pond in front of the study room. Sure enough, a small boat was added into this pond and a young lad who was skilled at fishing called Xiao Yang was waiting on it. Xin Yi smiled as soon as he saw it and said to Old Qu, “This elder is truly amazing. It has only been a few days and you’ve secured it already.”Old Qu laughed heartily, “It seemed interesting when I heard His Highness speak of it and looking at it after it’s here, it indeed has a rustic charm of its own. His Highness can go in the pond by all means. This lad has been in the water since birth and both swimming and boating are a forte of his.”Xin Yi tucked his robe into his belt, put on a bamboo hat and greeted Xiao Yang when he got onto the boat. This lad was tanned dark by the sun and though not tall, was thin. He was very shy when faced with Xin Yi but once he punted, they safely set out.Xin Yi sat cross-legged at the bow of the boat and smoothly casted the fishing rod, steadily angling with eyes narrowed at the center of the pond. The sun was so burning hot this afternoon that even with the bamboo hat on, his back still got thoroughly soaked after some time. He looked at Xiao Yang who was already on the stern of the boat with half his body soaked into the pond.“Is it cool in the water?” Xin Yi asked him with a smile.Xiao Yang nodded and answered, “It’s a little warm compared to the other seasons but it’s still more comfortable than being above. Why not Your Highness……” It was when he said those words that he suddenly realized he was being presumptuous so he hurriedly said, “I’ll catch the fish for Your Highness.” Immediately after saying that, he slipped into the water underneath and dived down.Xin Yi laughed and directly laid down on the boat. He held onto the fishing rod and covered his face with the bamboo hat. His whole body felt nice and warm and even though his back was somewhat soaked, Xin Yi simply liked the sunlight this way. It didn’t matter even if it’s a little hot. He didn’t know how long he had napped for until suddenly, the fishing rod in his hand shook lightly. He immediately sat up, getting ready to reel in the hook. Unexpectedly, Xiao Yang had also burst out from the surface of the water all of the sudden holding a big and lively carp. He was so ecstatic that his eyes had disappeared into his smile, shouting, “Your Highness, look!”The hook that Xin Yi had reeled up was naturally as empty as anything. He didn’t get annoyed and beckoned at Xiao Yang to quickly toss the fish into the fish basket beside him. Xin Yi casted his rod again then leaned over the fish basket with Xiao Yang for a look. The fish was enormous. It thrashed about in the fish basket until it nearly knocked the fish basket over. Xiao Yang said to Xin Yi, “Your Highness, just watch. I’ll go catch a few more.”Xin Yi answered agreeably and looked at Xiao Yang slipping into the water again, swimming away like a fish. Xin Yi looked on with his head propped for a long while and during this long while, the fish basket was filled up at the speed of light. As he looked at his own empty as anything hook, he couldn’t help but to laugh. Soon after, beyond his initial expectation, the fish basket could no longer hold any more.Xin Yi had no choice but to call Xiao Yang back and both of them returned to shore by boat. Old Qu, who had been enjoying the cool breeze under the tree, couldn't help but smile when he noticed, “Your Highness really has the luck of a gourmet today.”Xin Yi said with a smile, “It’s because I’ve gotten Old Qu’s blessing for finding a veteran fisher to help.”Old Qu gestured towards Xiao Yang and laughed heartily, “You really lucked out, boy. Go back and change your clothes then head to the manor's inner post to receive a big pouch.”Xiao Yang responded so enthusiastically that even his teeth could be seen. He saw Xin Yi looking at it as well and he immediately held himself back, afraid of disgracing himself in front of the nobles only to see Old Qu and Xin Yi burst into a round of teasing.Xin Yi carried the fish basket back himself and having yet to say a few words to Old Qu, someone took the fish basket from behind him. He turned around to see Bai Jiu. Bai Jiu lifted the fish basket in his hand and said, “A bountiful catch.”Old Qu retreated to the back and Bai Jiu started walking side by side with him.Xin Yi shook his head with a smile and said, “Received a mermaid’s offering so it can’t be counted as mine.”“It does not connote being the work of others.” Bai Jiu took the bamboo hat from his head, put it on his own and said, “I see you’ve spared no effort as well, sweating profusely so.” As he spoke, he dropped a handkerchief into his palm, “Give it a wipe.” Xin Yi thanked him and wiped the sweat from his temple, not seeing any mark of ownership on this handkerchief. Bai Jiu said, “Keep it, it’s for you. It’ll be convenient for daily use.”Xin Yi grinned and said, “How does my lord like his fish? With all I’ve got in this basket today, there’ll be enough to eat however you like.”“Braised.”Xin Yi wiped the beads of sweat from his temple again, “That’s great, I liked it braised as well.” He said while turning to Bai Jiu, “My lord must eat more for dinner tonight.”Bai Jiu was gauging the bead of sweat glistening down from his temple to his cheek when he caught on and unconsciously let out a “Hm?”. It was unexpectedly rare for him not to respond back.Xin Yi didn't know what he was thinking about to himself and merely smiled as he said, “Tomorrow is finally the Dragon Boat Festival. I’m afraid I’ll have to put up a front throughout dinner.”Bai Jiu saw the bead of sweat falling from his forehead to the side of his soft and delicate eyebrows before sliding down his deep dimple. Bai Jiu’s throat tightened and he pretended to be unbothered as he turned his eyes to the front with a nod. Even his lips that always carried a smile were pressed to a firm line. Xin Yi saw that he suddenly turned expressionless and stopped answering back. For some reason, he didn’t feel nervous anymore when walking under the shades. Rather, it gave off the appearance of a respectable adult that felt wholly imposing at the same time. When both of them arrived home, the fish basket was handed over to Old Qu. It was still early today and from the slanting sun rays, there was still some time before sunset. As so, both had sat down under a shady tree in the courtyard to play chess for a while. Xin Yi was not an expert when it came to playing this but this time, there were unexpectedly some wins and losses so it was rather fun. What's more, when he saw Bai Jiu in front of him who was about to lose while seated in such a gallant posture, he couldn’t hold himself back from laughing.Bai Jiu knew what he was laughing about, stroking the jaded black chess piece between his fingers, “Not expecting my lord to have his good looks wasted on him by being such a lousy chess player, did you?”Xin Yi fell back against the armchair, rocking as he said, “My lord’s chess skill is truly beyond one's expectations.” He started laughing again after he finished.Bai Jiu put the chess piece away and lying down on the armchair on his side also, he said, “Then again, it’s not such a pity anymore since it made someone laugh.”The breeze under the tree rustled his forelocks. Xin Yi laid on the rattan chair, rocking back and forth as he watched sunlight spilling from between the leaves. Sunlight dappled across the space between his brows and fingers, making him lazily carefree. On the other side, Bai Jiu closed his eyes slightly without any movement. Just from listening to the other’s breathing and the sound from his rocking, he had felt rather drowsy from this idle mood. By the time that Xin Yi turned to look at Bai Jiu, he found that he had fallen asleep.His expression was calm, appearing to be at peace.Long fingers rested on the sides of the rattan chair with fingertips beautiful through and through, deeply drawing in one’s eyes. Xin Yi quietly turned over and laid down on the rattan chair to look at him. He quietly stretched out his own fingers, hovering over his long fingers for a touch but never actually touched them until the end. Without warning, Bai Jiu’s long fingers suddenly moved to catch Xin Yi’s fingers into his hand, holding them firmly. Xin Yi’s face reddened at once and he lifted his head in a panic only to see Bai Jiu looking down at their locked hands. Only having felt his urgency did he turn to him. Xin Yi felt not only had he gone red, but he had also gone dumb. His words stammered as he spoke, unable to pull his hand back in any way. “I… Cough… It’s not… My, my lord…”“What do you call He Anchang?” Bai Jiu seemed unaware of his panic as he raised their locked hands, examining it up front with newfound interest.“Lord, Lord He……”“What do you call Zhang Taiyan?” Bai Jiu quietly caressed the back of his hand with his thumb as the thing inside Xin Yi's chest almost jumped out. His face was so burning red that he didn’t know where to direct his gaze towards. “Lord, Lord Zhang.”“And what do you call me?” Bai Jiu’s eyes landed on his face and he stared at him simply as he brought the back of the other's hand to his cheek and softly rubbed them against the side of his face. Xin Yi felt the touch from the back of his hand sparking all the way to his chest. He immediately placed a fist under his nose, a habit that comes out whenever he gets shy.“My-my-my lord……”“Oh.” Bai Jiu stayed the same as he looked at him, “So all are and only by lord.”Xin Yi buried his face into his arm, no longer able to take any more of this. Even the corner of his exposed eye had been steamed to a burning red. He muffled, “It-It’s not like that…”“Then what should you call?”“Bai, Bai-dage1?”“I’m not your dage.”“Mar, Marquis Jiu?”“There are as many Marquis Jiu in the Capital as ants.” Bai Jiu leaned over the space between the two rattan chairs and looked at the reddish corner of his eye, “Your Highness?”Tenderness was spilling from Bai Jiu’s voice as he called Your Highness, stirring his heartstrings. Xin Yi didn't know what to do and could only keep looking at him. Bai Jiu let out a laugh and laid back on the rattan chair as if he was going to sleep once more, having yet to let go of his hand.The summertime sun sank slowly but surely. It was only when Old Qu invited him for dinner that Xin Yi woke up from having fallen asleep unknowingly. Bai Jiu, who was in the midst of cleaning his hand, turned back to look at him and said, “Come and eat.”Xin Yi went and cleaned his hands first before they went inside. Tonight, Xin Yi ate at full speed while Bai Jiu was the same as usual. When he left, he was only told to be mindful of his steps. It wasn’t until Xin Yi went all the way back to his room and laid on the bed that he could finally breathe properly. He pressed his hand against his heart, feeling it beat terribly fast. It wasn’t long before he remembered that this was the hand Bai Jiu had touched and immediately got red. He slowly fell asleep after tossing and turning for half the night.Xin Yi was on the rattan chair under the tree once more, except the day had already become night with specks of light shining among the leaves. Xin Yi turned over and rolled into a chest that smelled of frost. The owner of that chest planted a soft kiss on his forehead and inch by inch, traced down to the bridge of his nose. With cold fingers undoing his collar and sliding across his skin, Xin Yi’s breathing became slightly fast. This man’s hand that had been on his lower back fiercely pulled him close and Xin Yi’s mouth was sealed shut, utterly defeated in that frosty enclosement.“A-Yi.” The kiss from this man reached his neck and lingered on the apple of his throat, incessantly calling out to him, “A-Yi.”Xin Yi tilted his head up with soft pants. He saw this man’s face in the midst of helplessness and it was Bai Jiu after all. He was neither nervous nor frantic. Instead, he cupped Bai Jiu’s face and dropped a kiss between Bai Jiu’s brows. Bearing looks of such beauty and danger, Xin Yi mused. He caressed Bai Jiu’s cheeks with his fingers and he couldn’t help leaning his face in to affectionately rub them together. Bai Jiu slipped to a dangerous place and Xin Yi let out a stifled groan as he curled up only to be enveloped in a tight embrace. His voice gradually escaped from his throat……Xin Yi jolted straight up with chest heaving heavily. After being out of it for a while, he ruffled and pulled at his hair with a dejected and complicated look. He soulessly and helplessly stared at his quilt, lost in thought.He stayed like that all the way till dawn.He didn’t go anywhere today and merely stayed in his room to read. It was only when Old Qu came to call him that realized he had only read one page just as the sun outside was about to set. After he was done getting dressed, he got in the carriage to see Bai Jiu carving jade and froze still. When he recovered, he quickly ducked his head.Luckily, Bai Jiu didn’t probe and only looked up a few times. Because of last night’s dream, Xin Yi sat further away today and only lifted the curtain to look outside the whole way. After reaching the palace’s gate, they got off the carriage side by side. His ears were still red as stood at Bai Jiu’s side. Bai Jiu didn’t seem to notice as they were both then led into the palace.Xin Yi had barely walked a few steps before he saw Xin Wen approaching from the other side, following behind Prince Qin as he leered at him. Xin Yi put on a smile foremost and paid his respect before Prince Qin could say anything.Prince Qin walked up to him and nodded with a smile towards him. After allowing someone to help him up, he said earnestly while holding his hand, “You rascal, this princely one2 is anyhow still your imperial uncle. How could you be so heartless not to come see this princely one?”Xin Yi’s eyes were filled with equal enthusiasm but having been asked about this, he briefly looked a little embarrassed. He glanced at Xin Wen behind Prince Qin and turned back to Prince Qin with a smile. Prince Qin looked back at Xin Wen with a cold grunt then turned back to Xin Yi to continue, “Your brother had grown accustomed to his overbearing ways and doubtless when he went looking for you, he did not convey this princely one’s intention. If this scoundrel troubles you again in the future, don’t hesitate to let this princely one know. This princely one will set it right for you.”Xin Yi shook his head with a smile as if his impression of Xin Wen hadn’t been that bad. Prince Qin called him a good child a few times before turning to Bai Jiu, his smile intimately deepened.“Lord Bai, Lord Bai, now the correct address should be Prince Ping Ding. In just a span of these few fruitful days, we have all become kindred.” He laughed heartily, “It’s good news, good news.”Earlier, Bai Jiu was looking at Prince Qin holding Xin Yi’s hand without batting an eyelid. At this moment, he was neither hostile or friendly as he smiled, “Becoming kindred, such has already been since long ago.” Finished, he placed his hand on Xin Yi’s shoulder and said, “Xin Yi had just entered the Capital. I’m still inadequate in caring for him so I’ll have to rely on His Highness’ guidance tonight.”“No such words, Prince Ping Ding. We are kindred, not to be taken as outsiders.” Prince Qin set forth as he spoke, walking together with Bai Jiu, “Only by meeting Xin Yi tonight will His Majesty come to know just how much Xin Yi had been deprived of familial longing of an elder.”Xin Yi let out a smile and throughout this entire time, Bai Jiu did not let Xin Wen’s eyes latch onto him for even a moment as he blocked him off by the shoulder, somewhat reserved as he exchanged pleasantries with Prince Qin.As Xin Wen cursed Bai Jiu on the inside, he happened to see Xin Yi looking down with a smile but when his gaze turned over, his eyes were far calmer than the day when he kicked him into the pond.-Notes:1. 大哥 (dage) means big brother ⤴2. 本王 (this prince or this princely one) is what a prince use to refer to themselves ⤴