Troublemaker Prince C25 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 25.2
After parting the layers of gauze curtains, Huo Xiling placed You Yusui in his arms on the inner side of the bed, then climbed onto the bed himself and lay beside him, holding You Yusui.
The bed was filled with the Crown Prince's scent, and in Huo Xiling's arms was You Yusui himself. This made Huo Xiling feel incomparably at peace, without worry that You Yusui would suddenly disappear.
"Your Highness, thank you," Huo Xiling said softly in You Yusui's ear.
Hearing this, You Yusui coughed a few times, then scolded in a seemingly unconcerned manner, "Go to sleep quickly."
Then Huo Xiling raised his hand and used his palm wind to extinguish the candle outside. After everything returned to darkness, he held You Yusui and fell asleep contentedly.
You Yusui looked at the handsome youth before him with closed eyes, feeling the strong, powerful arms around his waist. He thought, how was he supposed to sleep like this?
Finally, You Yusui closed his eyes and gave up, burrowing into Huo Xiling's embrace to find a comfortable position before falling asleep.
This sleep was even more comfortable than You Yusui had imagined. No nightmares, not waking at the slightest sound—it was the best sleep he'd had since his rebirth.
Now You Yusui was considering whether to have Huo Xiling always sleep with him.
Just as You Yusui was about to get up, he suddenly discovered something pressing against his waist, making him a bit uncomfortable.
The next second, You Yusui realized what it was and his face flushed red.
"Get up," You Yusui reached out and pushed Huo Xiling.
Huo Xiling drowsily opened his eyes. Fragmented sunlight fell on his face, making him look exceptionally beautiful. At that moment, You Yusui felt a bit moved.
The awakened Huo Xiling naturally realized what was happening with his body. So he buried his head in You Yusui's neck, tightly holding You Yusui and nuzzling randomly like a puppy.
"Your Highness, I feel so uncomfortable. Won't you help me?" Huo Xiling's voice was aggrieved and pitiful, his eyes wet like a confused, helpless puppy.
His chin rested on You Yusui's shoulder, his movements chaotic as he nuzzled You Yusui, his exhaled breath hot and intense.
"You!" You Yusui was utterly astonished and didn't know how to refuse for a moment.
"Your Highness, won't you help me?" Huo Xiling said pitifully.
No one could refuse a little wolf cub acting coquettish toward them, not even You Yusui.
"Just once, alright."
You Yusui softened, but he didn't expect that this one time would last quite a while. After Eunuch Fubao outside urged them once to get up, he tactfully shut his mouth.
"That's enough." Fine beads of sweat appeared on You Yusui's porcelain-white face, and his slender, fair hands were sticky.
Sitting on the bed, You Yusui took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands with distaste, then threw the handkerchief at Huo Xiling, saying, "Get off my bed!"
In a very good mood, Huo Xiling put away that handkerchief, reached out to embrace You Yusui, and said, "Next time I'll help big brother too."
No need! You Yusui refused internally, even beginning to consider not letting Huo Xiling sleep in his bed anymore.
Just then, Eunuch Fubao waiting outside asked, "Your Highness, are you up?"
You Yusui glared at Huo Xiling, then said to Fubao outside, "Come in."
Hearing this, Fubao hurriedly led the palace servants carrying hot water and washing supplies through the door. As soon as he entered, he smelled the musky scent permeating the air.
Fubao then parted the gauze curtains and glanced at the bed. Sure enough, it was in complete disarray.
Seeing this, You Yusui's face reddened and he couldn't help but scold, "What are you looking at? Hurry up and clean it."
After saying this, You Yusui looked again at the bed made messy by him and Huo Xiling and truly wished he could find a hole to crawl into.
But he was the Crown Prince. You Yusui forcibly maintained a calm appearance, allowing the palace servants beside him to help him wash up.
Huo Xiling was quite composed. Only Eunuch Fubao gave him a meaningful smile.
After washing up, the breakfast dishes were also brought into the outer room by palace servants and placed on the table.
You Yusui, dressed in red robes, casually picked up food with chopsticks while listening to Fubao report news from the palace.
"Your Highness, His Majesty already knows about the matter concerning the First Prince and Third Prince," Eunuch Fubao said while serving food to You Yusui. "The First Prince has been confined to the palace by His Majesty with no punishment yet. As for the Third Prince, His Majesty has issued an edict arranging his marriage and has ordered Assistant Minister Xie to investigate the truth of this matter."
Hearing this, You Yusui looked up at Huo Xiling sitting beside him and asked, "Are you afraid?"
Hearing this, Huo Xiling picked up chopsticks and placed a shrimp dumpling for You Yusui, saying, "What do I have to fear?"
The people who knocked out the Third Prince were all street thugs, most skilled at disguise and impersonation. As soon as they left the Spring Banquet, they probably melted into the sea of people, never to be found again.
Moreover, even if Xie Tan had the ability to find them, what did it have to do with him, what did it have to do with the Crown Prince? Perhaps Xie Tan would even have to clean up after these two thugs.
You Yusui ate the shrimp dumpling Huo Xiling gave him, then said to Fubao, "Continue."
"It's just that Consort Xian's attitude is difficult to fathom. She seems to want to win over the Su family." Fubao immediately mentioned how Consort Xian had sent gifts to the Su family young lady.
You Yusui knew that Consort Xian had always been scheming. If it weren't for his father helping the Imperial Noble Consort from behind, the Imperial Noble Consort would have difficulty contending with her. This time, the matter of the Third Prince and the Su family young lady would probably all be pinned on the First Prince by Consort Xian.
Thinking this, You Yusui looked at Huo Xiling beside him and asked, "Xiling, do you think this prince should let them have their way this time?"
Huo Xiling lowered his head and said, "Whatever makes Your Highness happy."
For Huo Xiling, everything centered on You Yusui's mood.
"No rush, no rush." You Yusui's lips curved up. "Let's wait and see what cousin finds out first."
Seeing this, Fubao continued, "However, His Majesty doesn't seem very angry about this matter."
You Yusui expressed understanding. His father didn't have high expectations for his sons. As the saying goes, no expectations meant no disappointment. It was probably just the Spring Banquet being ruined that annoyed him a bit.
Finally, Fubao added, "His Majesty said that once Your Highness's health improves, he'll have you organize the Spring Banquet. Your Highness, this is good news! Perhaps you'll receive the edict as soon as you return to the palace."
Hearing this, You Yusui's chopsticks fell onto the table with a "clatter." Then he leaned against Huo Xiling, covering his heart and frowning as he said to Huo Xiling, "I feel unwell."
Sorry, he didn't want to work for free for his father emperor. He still wanted to live, not be exploited to death by his father emperor.
"Your Highness!" Fubao was somewhat anxious.
Hosting the Spring Banquet was a good thing! If done well, the Crown Prince would surely gain great fame among scholars. How could he suddenly fall ill at this critical juncture?
Huo Xiling looked at the Crown Prince in his arms, appearing weak and powerless. He suddenly remembered the nightmare he had last night—armies attacking the palace, the Eastern Palace dilapidated and overgrown with wild grass, and that proud, noble Crown Prince long gone. He searched everywhere but couldn't find him.
Could this be the Crown Prince's fate if he didn't strive for power?
Huo Xiling immediately grasped You Yusui's hand and said, "If Your Highness doesn't want to do it, I can help Your Highness do it."
As the words fell, You Yusui remembered the reason Huo Xiling would stay by his side.
He wanted power and influence, and he could only give him power, influence, and wealth.
"Fine, this prince agrees," You Yusui said helplessly. At worst, he would simplify, simplify, and simplify the Spring Banquet again. After all, it was just to select talent—no need for all those fancy flourishes.
Hearing that he was willing to strive for it, Huo Xiling immediately felt relieved. Then he pulled You Yusui over to check his body, asking while checking, "Where does Your Highness feel unwell? Should we call for an imperial physician?"
You Yusui: ...Originally thought you saw through this prince's act of feigning illness, but in the end...
So You Yusui enjoyed Huo Xiling's concerned care with a clear conscience while simultaneously suppressing Huo Xiling's impulse to go find Cui Yan.
Don't go looking for Imperial Physician Cui for every little thing. Didn't he drink enough bitter medicine already?
At this moment, Cui Yan had no time to deal with You Yusui. He had been conscripted by the investigating Xie Tan and was currently at the estate where the Spring Banquet was held, helping Xie Tan identify the source of the knockout incense.
"This knockout incense is good stuff. Smell just a bit, and without external help, one probably wouldn't wake for three days," Cui Yan said, sniffing lightly at a hole poked in the window.
"And its source?" Xie Tan asked expressionlessly.
"The ingredients are special. Several medicines are difficult to buy on the market. Only aristocratic families and the palace probably have a little," Cui Yan answered. "As for the other knockout incense, it's common street stuff—a few wen per packet, and the medicinal effect isn't as good."
Then Cui Yan looked at Xie Tan and asked, "So what did you find out over this night?"
"I found out there were two groups—one belonging to the First Prince, one to the Third Prince," Xie Tan answered, looking at Cui Yan.
"Then who made the move on the Su family young lady?" Cui Yan asked.
"The Third Prince," Xie Tan answered, lowering his eyes.
Cui Yan couldn't help but recall Consort Xian's attitude toward the Su family and the Su family young lady. He couldn't help asking, "Will you tell His Majesty?"
Hurry up, he could barely restrain himself from wanting to watch the show.
But Xie Tan said, "I only want to maximize the benefits for the Crown Prince in this matter."
Hearing this, Cui Yan probed, "Isn't this big enough?"
"Not enough. It depends on what His Highness thinks," Xie Tan said, then looked at Cui Yan. "Today you'll go give the Crown Prince a follow-up examination and ask His Highness's opinion."
Cui Yan: ...Just a tool person, after all.
You Yusui, who thought that by not summoning Imperial Physician Cui, Cui Yan wouldn't come: ...