Troublemaker Prince C27 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 27.2
Meanwhile, You Yusui, who was selecting jade ornaments, took out a peace pendant made of Hetian jade, white as mutton fat, strung with a red silk cord. This peace pendant had a simple appearance but excelled in material and meaning. After selecting it, You Yusui couldn't wait to put it on Huo Xiling.
"Xiling, do you like this?" You Yusui placed the peace pendant before Huo Xiling.
Seeing this, Huo Xiling turned his head away, saying, "I only want things from Your Highness."
Whether jade pendant or sandalwood bracelet, only because You Yusui had worn them close to his body did they become especially precious to him.
"Oh?" You Yusui looked at Huo Xiling with interest. "You'll only accept it if this prince has worn it?"
Hearing this, Huo Xiling's face flushed red. He hadn't expected his thoughts to be so easily seen through by You Yusui.
Just as You Yusui was admiring Huo Xiling's blushing appearance, Huo Xiling raised his head and took the peace pendant from You Yusui's hand.
Huo Xiling gently untied the pendant's cord, passed both hands through You Yusui's long hair, and tied the red silk cord around You Yusui's neck. The extremely brilliant red and extremely cold white formed a striking contrast. Seeing this absolute beauty up close, Huo Xiling couldn't help but hold his breath.
Then, Huo Xiling raised his head and looked at You Yusui earnestly, saying, "Your Highness, I hope this peace pendant stays on your body."
Because he wanted his Crown Prince to be safe and sound.
You Yusui froze, then reached up to grasp the peace pendant resting on his collarbone and said to Huo Xiling with a smile, "This prince, as you wish."
Huo Xiling also smiled. He said, "When I return home on my rest day, I'll find a good piece of jade and personally carve a longevity lock."
Huo Xiling didn't know how to preserve You Yusui's life. He could only use the most ancient and clumsy method—carving a longevity lock, using this lock to bind You Yusui, hoping for his longevity, hoping for his worry-free life.
"This prince likes whatever you give," You Yusui said with lowered head. Huo Xiling was best at coaxing him. He was very, very happy right now.
Only Xie Ling watching from the side was speechless. A longevity lock—could that be given by peers? That was given by elders! Also, was it really okay for them to show affection so openly regardless of others?
Xie Ling couldn't help but look at Eunuch Fubao beside him. Eunuch Fubao wore an expression of pleased relief, deeply moved by their romantic exchange.
Xie Ling: ...Perhaps I'm the only one in the entire Eastern Palace who's out of place.
"Prepare the gifts well. Tomorrow morning we'll leave the palace early to visit maternal grandfather," You Yusui said to Huo Xiling, putting down the peace pendant.
Huo Xiling smiled at You Yusui and replied with a "good."
Xie Ling: ...Whose maternal grandfather is he? How can you agree so naturally!
Xie Ling felt it necessary to have a good talk with his grandfather and elder brother about His Highness's matters when he returned tomorrow.
After the palace servants of the Eastern Palace finished organizing and cataloguing the things You Yusui had brought from Xuande Hall, the sky had already darkened. After You Yusui and Huo Xiling finished their evening meal, they prepared to sleep.
In You Yusui's first life, sleeping right after the evening meal was completely impossible. He had to read, study, and help You Fengyun handle some government affairs, often staying busy until late at night.
Now, heaven and earth were vast but he was the greatest. Physical health was most important. He would sleep right after dinner. Not only would he sleep at night, he would also sleep during the day!
As for reading and studying—since the throne couldn't possibly be his anyway, he might as well go to bed early.
Soon, the palace servants lit calming incense, then the layers of gauze curtains in the inner chamber were lowered. Finally, they extinguished the candles and withdrew from the inner chamber with trained silence, making no sound at all.
In the complete silence, Huo Xiling lying on the couch by the window fell into deep sleep.
In his dream, Huo Xiling pushed through layers of darkness and saw the palace under sunlight.
The palace here was no different from usual, and compared to his previous nightmare, it appeared even more quiet and peaceful.
Huo Xiling walked into the palace. Everyone here still couldn't see him, yet what he most wanted to do was still go to the Eastern Palace to find His Highness the Crown Prince.
Just as Huo Xiling was walking along the familiar palace road toward the Eastern Palace, two passing palace maids said, "Have you heard? Last night His Highness the Crown Prince died of illness."
As these words fell, Huo Xiling's face turned pale and he immediately broke into a run toward the Eastern Palace.
Though it was a flat, smooth palace road, Huo Xiling stumbled several times. After stumbling all the way there, Huo Xiling saw the white mourning banner hanging before the Eastern Palace's main gate and his mind went blank. From within the Eastern Palace, sobbing could be faintly heard.
Huo Xiling didn't know how he walked in. Upon entering the main hall, he saw the coffin placed in the very center and Fubao kneeling beside it, weeping.
"His Highness the Crown Prince is dead?" Huo Xiling's words carried endless disbelief.
He stepped into the hall and approached the coffin placed in the center. This wasn't His Highness's golden silk nanmu coffin—the person lying inside wasn't His Highness!
Holding onto this thought, Huo Xiling looked at the person lying in the coffin.
Just one glance, and Huo Xiling lost his three souls and six spirits.
Why? Why? Why!
Just as Huo Xiling was in endless agony, someone woke him.
The familiar scent made him feel extraordinarily at ease. He couldn't help but reach out and tightly embrace the person before him, breathing heavily in large gasps.
"Having nightmares again?" You Yusui touched Huo Xiling's forehead with heartache.
It seemed that ever since Huo Xiling had returned with him from the hot springs villa, he had been having nightmares, each time continuously calling out his name.
"Your Highness, I'm so scared," Huo Xiling said, holding You Yusui.
Just then, the palace servants keeping night watch outside were also startled awake and hastily inquired if You Yusui needed anything.
You Yusui looked at the figures outside the door and said, "This prince is fine. You may withdraw."
Then You Yusui looked at Huo Xiling again. "From now on, sleep in this prince's bed. This prince will accompany you."
Always having nightmares wasn't good. You Yusui could only try to see if sleeping beside him would help.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Huo Xiling's voice revealed joy, but more than that was endless lingering fear.
Hearing this, You Yusui curved his lips and pulled the person onto his bed, then said, "You're not allowed to be handsy with this prince, not allowed to let this prince know that you..."
You Yusui said halfway and felt too embarrassed, then softly uttered two words.
Hearing this, Huo Xiling couldn't help but look skyward. This was every man's normal reaction—how could he control it?
But what You Yusui was thinking was that youthful indulgence was bad, bad for the body, and also detrimental to one's lifespan.
"Alright," Huo Xiling agreed.
To be able to sleep with You Yusui, to put his own heart at ease, he would agree to whatever You Yusui demanded.
"Fine, sleep. Tomorrow morning we still need to visit maternal grandfather early." After speaking, You Yusui wrapped himself in the blanket and fell asleep with his back to Huo Xiling.
Huo Xiling smiled, then closed his eyes and fell asleep in the familiar scent.
Indeed, beside the Crown Prince, he slept well through the night and no longer dreamed that nightmare.
The next morning, You Yusui sadly discovered he had once again ended up sleeping in Huo Xiling's embrace.
"Deal with it yourself. I'm going to wash up."
Leaving these words behind, You Yusui quickly fled.
Huo Xiling, forced to stay behind, didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He could only silently recite the Pure Heart Incantation.
An hour later, after You Yusui finished washing and grooming and everything was prepared, he took Huo Xiling and boarded the carriage to head toward the Xie family's residence.
Lord Xie, over sixty years old, had graying hair, but his bearing remained upright and graceful. Even in old age, his romantic nature hadn't changed. At this moment, wearing a fisherman's straw cape and hat, he was fishing by the pond in his own courtyard. With peach blossoms and flowing water, he presented a picture of contentment.
"You seem very happy," Xie Tan said, standing beside Xie Yi. Who knew how he could tell from Xie Yi's calm, waveless face that Xie Yi was happy.
The fishing Xie Yi didn't raise his head as he said, "Don't say I didn't warn you. If you don't leave now, you'll be late for court."
As these words fell, a fish took the bait, its tail splashing water all over Xie Tan's face. Xie Yi happily caught the fish and put it in the fish basket beside him, saying, "Today I'll make fish soup for Suisui."
After speaking, Xie Yi looked at Xie Tan beside him again. "Why haven't you left yet?"
His tone was disdainful, his meaning clear.
Xie Tan expressionlessly wiped the water from his face. It seemed he was determined to wait with his grandfather for You Yusui's arrival.
Xie Yi snorted coldly and ignored Xie Tan.
A moment later, You Yusui, led by the Xie family's servants, arrived at the courtyard where Xie Yi was.
The place where Xie Yi lived was full of rustic charm. All the buildings were farmhouse cottages, and what was planted in the courtyard were fruit trees like peach and pear trees. A yellow dog lay on the ground, and chickens and ducks were raised in bamboo coops.
When You Yusui saw the old man fishing, he knew this was Lord Xie—his maternal grandfather.
"Suisui has come," Xie Yi said, putting down his fishing rod and smiling at You Yusui.
For some reason, at this moment You Yusui really wanted to cry.
"Maternal grandfather," You Yusui heard himself call out.
Meanwhile, Xie Ling beside them quietly beckoned to Xie Tan, telling him to come over—he had something to tell him. He'd been holding it in the whole journey and couldn't hold it in anymore!
Soon, their brotherly gestures were noticed by Xie Yi.
"If there's something to say, you might as well say it in front of everyone," Xie Yi said. Though old, his authority remained.
Xie Ling, lacking courage, directly told about how You Yusui was preparing a coffin and burial objects for himself.
You Yusui: ......