Troublemaker Prince C20
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 20
The palace servants attending in the inner chamber withdrew with great discretion, and thoughtfully closed the door behind them. The vast room now contained only the two of them, and the light had become dim and unclear.
Huo Xiling stared at the person before him, his Adam's apple involuntarily rolling slightly, his strong willpower barely restraining his body's instinctive impulses.
Then, Huo Xiling heard a soft laugh. That piece of pure white silk undergarment, gently lifted by slender, pale fingers, was handed to him. He could faintly smell the incense that His Highness the Crown Prince commonly used.
Huo Xiling couldn't help but redden at the ears, his head turning slightly away, appearing particularly innocent and adorable in You Yusui's eyes.
"Tell me, secretly keeping my personal clothing—what did you want to do with it?" You Yusui asked softly beside Huo Xiling's ear.
The warm breath and lips lightly brushing against his neck made the young man's body tremble slightly, and that faint, elusive fragrance was a silent temptation.
If Huo Xiling hadn't remembered You Yusui's stern rejection from the previous night, the one playing with fire*** would have been You Yusui himself.
You Yusui looked at the adorable reaction of the young man before him and couldn't help but curl his lips. He naturally knew that Huo Xiling hadn't done anything to these old clothes of his.
Ever since Huo Xiling had arrived at the Eastern Palace, he had eaten and lived together with him, spending almost all his time by his side, under his very nose. Huo Xiling simply hadn't had time to do such things. Moreover, these old clothes were folded neatly and organized orderly—they had been carefully arranged and preserved with great care.
Just as You Yusui was quite interested in teasing the young man before him, Huo Xiling said in an almost inaudible voice, "I didn't?"
He had merely wanted to collect all the things His Highness the Crown Prince had used. The sandalwood prayer beads the Crown Prince had given him, he always wore on his wrist, and the jade pendant he had given him was hung around his neck, resting at his heart.
"Didn't?" You Yusui's voice rose slightly.
For the first time, Huo Xiling felt somewhat at a loss, as if any explanation he gave would be wrong. Had he known this would happen, he might as well have actually done something to those old clothes.
The next moment, You Yusui's fingers landed on Huo Xiling's face, then gently turned Huo Xiling's averted face back around with his hand.
"You are this prince's little pervert," You Yusui said with a laugh.
Huo Xiling couldn't help but look down at You Yusui, only to see bright laughter in You Yusui's eyes. He understood now—he had been teasing him just then.
Soon, You Yusui withdrew the hand he had placed on Huo Xiling's face, turned around to put away that old undergarment properly, then opened another chest to search for an outfit that would match that bid-feather cloak for Huo Xiling.
"Your Highness," Huo Xiling couldn't help but call out, looking at You Yusui's figure.
"Mm?" You Yusui responded while searching through the clothing.
Huo Xiling lowered his eyes. He wanted to ask if You Yusui truly had no desire for him at all, but in the end he didn't voice the question, only saying, "Your Highness, let me search instead."
These past few days, the seamstresses had sent many clothes, plus sachets, purses, shoes and socks—several hundred items in total. Searching through the clothing was quite laborious.
You Yusui spent half a day and finally matched an outfit worthy of the bird-feather cloak from the pile of clothing.
Huo Xiling put on this ensemble according to You Yusui's instructions, making You Yusui's eyes brighten involuntarily. The bird-feather cloak displayed his nobility, while the dark-colored garments underneath were understated and steady. Combined with the untamed aura emanating from Huo Xiling's person, it was absolutely perfect.
"On the day of the Spring Banquet, you shall wear this outfit," You Yusui couldn't help but reach out to adjust Huo Xiling's collar.
"Won't it attract too much attention?" Huo Xiling frowned slightly.
"Don't you like the birthday gift this prince gave you?" You Yusui raised an eyebrow.
Upon hearing this, Huo Xiling hurried to explain, but was gently silenced by You Yusui's index finger on his lips.
"The Spring Banquet is a place where talented scholars from various regions display their abilities. There are plenty of wild scholars there—you're merely dressed a bit more magnificently," You Yusui said with a smile.
The Spring Banquet was a feast held by the court where students from various regions could display their talents and thereby gain the appreciation of high officials and nobles, either becoming their retainers or receiving recommendations for official positions.
The Spring Banquet also featured competitions in the Six Arts of a Gentleman, with the winner receiving an official position from the court, plus priceless treasures as rewards.
Of course, besides talented scholars displaying their abilities at the Spring Banquet, noble ladies could also come to enjoy themselves and seek good matches, with activities like floating cups and pitch-pot games for entertainment.
In short, the Spring Banquet during the Shangsi Festival was a grand celebration, and the person in charge of this Spring Banquet was the First Prince You Yuyi. Thinking of the information leaked from Li Yuan's mouth, You Yusui couldn't help but curl his lips. He wanted to see how his eldest imperial brother would explain to their good father emperor when the Spring Banquet erupted in great chaos.
"I will listen to Your Highness," said Huo Xiling, who had never attended a Spring Banquet before. He only felt that he was incompatible with the world of noble families and scholars. His world contained only archery and family, and now it had one more addition—His Highness the Crown Prince.
The next moment, You Yusui smiled at Huo Xiling and said, "I'm really reluctant to let you go out like this. I'm afraid once you step outside, you'll be snatched home by those groups of noble ladies."
"I will forever belong to Your Highness," Huo Xiling obediently embraced You Yusui.
You Yusui buried his face in Huo Xiling's embrace and sighed. "You certainly know how to coax me."
"Every word is sincere."
Subsequently, Huo Xiling heard You Yusui's light, shallow laughter.
As the Spring Banquet approached, the Crown Prince's illness had shown improvement—he could barely get out of bed and walk around. The Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Xian, who had been observing the Crown Prince's condition, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Since the Crown Prince could get out of bed, he would certainly attend the Spring Banquet, as imperial commands were difficult to disobey. Moreover, if the Crown Prince didn't go, how could the trap they had set take effect?
Here, You Yusui wrapped himself in a heavy cloak, holding an exquisite small hand warmer, climbed out of bed, then sat in a chair and instructed Fubao to have people prepare a palanquin—he wanted to make a trip to Xuande Hall.
"Your Highness, if you're feeling unwell, you don't have to go," Huo Xiling said as he helped You Yusui onto the palanquin.
You Yusui leaned against the chair back of the palanquin, playing with the hand warmer in his hands, and said, "I most enjoy watching people I dislike suffer misfortune. The more misfortune they suffer, the happier I feel. Tell me, how could I not go?"
Moreover, his body wasn't as frail as everyone imagined. This lifetime's body was far better than those dozen previous lives—so much better that it made him feel everything was false, that upon waking from the dream he would still be that sickly Crown Prince Li, thin as a skeleton with numbered days.
"As long as Crown Prince elder brother is happy," Huo Xiling didn't stop him but accompanied You Yusui to Xuande Hall.
In Xuande Hall, You Fengyun had just returned from court when he heard the palace servants report that the Crown Prince requested an audience. After briefly considering, he had Anhai go out and bring You Yusui in.
The doors opened, and You Yusui, wearing a cloak and holding a hand warmer, walked in from outside. Seeing this, You Fengyun couldn't help but frown. It was currently the time of spring warmth and blooming flowers when everyone was wearing light spring robes, yet the Crown Prince still dressed as if it were winter.
His second son's health was indeed poor. He wondered whether this was fortunate or unfortunate, You Fengyun thought.
After You Yusui had paid his respects to You Fengyun, he stated his purpose for coming.
"This son has come to request that Father Emperor allow me to attend tomorrow's Spring Banquet."
You Fengyun looked at You Yusui and said, "Your health is poor, if..."
Before You Fengyun could finish, You Yusui said excitedly, "If Father Emperor allows this son to attend the Spring Banquet, even if this son is gravely ill, I must go."
You Fengyun: ...That's not really necessary.
"Besides this, this son also wishes to request Father Emperor's permission to ride a palanquin during the Spring Banquet." After saying this, You Yusui couldn't help but cough softly.
"Granted," You Fengyun said after looking at You Yusui for a moment.
There was no precedent for riding a palanquin during the Spring Banquet, but since the Crown Prince wanted to go, You Fengyun wouldn't stop him.
"Thank you, Father Emperor," You Yusui lowered his head and slightly curved his lips.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, someone was working even harder to attend the Spring Banquet—Li Yuan. Even with broken ribs and a fractured tailbone, he would endure the pain to go to the Spring Banquet, all to watch a great show.
The next day, the third day of the third month, the Shangsi Festival, carriages from the city's prominent families poured toward the outskirts of the city. Young masters and noble ladies from great families, along with scholars, all headed to the Spring Banquet, while common people went to the mountains outside the city for spring outings.
The family heirs and noble ladies heading to the Spring Banquet all dressed themselves in their finest, striving to outshine everyone else. However, among this crowd, Li Yuan was supported by servants, hobbling along with a walking stick as he limped into the group.
Immediately, the noble ladies laughed lightly, and those family heirs who were at odds with external relatives like Li Yuan mocked, "Isn't this our Marquis of Nan'an's heir? How did you become so pathetic in just a few days? Oh wait, you're not the heir anymore."
After saying this, everyone burst into laughter.
Li Yuan trembled with rage, but before he could curse back, an extremely luxurious carriage stopped at the entrance to the Spring Banquet.
The carriage was made of sandalwood, with curtains woven from golden silk bamboo, and pulled by night-illuminating jade lions—only the top noble families could produce such a carriage.
At this moment, a slender hand lifted the curtain, and Huo Xiling stepped down from the carriage. The bird-feather cloak danced with his movements, the golden threads glittering in the sunlight, appearing incomparably magnificent. Almost instantly, everyone's attention was drawn to Huo Xiling.
"A bird-feather cloak worth a million coins?"
"What a handsome young gentleman."
As soon as these words were spoken, noble ladies began throwing flowers at Huo Xiling. Seeing this, Li Yuan said jealously, "It's just a pretty face. Dressed so garishly, like a bird."
Huo Xiling gave Li Yuan a cold glance, then walked expressionlessly into the Spring Banquet—his Highness was still waiting for him.
The next moment, Li Yuan was spat upon by a nearby noble lady.
"Mind your own business about handsome young men, and even more so about beautiful women!"