Troublemaker Prince Chapter 9
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 9
Because of You Yusui's sudden inability to stand steady, the Eastern Palace was thrown into chaos. Everyone knew that His Highness the Crown Prince had just recovered from a serious illness, and just the day before yesterday, he had suffered a nosebleed from being too weak to handle the nourishing ginseng and old hen soup. Now he had suddenly collapsed to the ground again, which truly startled everyone in the Eastern Palace.
Eunuch Fubao hastily sent someone to the Imperial Medical Courtyard to summon Imperial Physician Cui Yan to examine the Crown Prince, while also ordering servants to prepare hot water and make the bed. You Yusui now felt that he himself was the beast.
The young man before him was not yet sixteen years old, and he had actually wanted to treat him as a male pet! It was all because of Huo Xiling's height and face that were too deceptive. Despite being under sixteen, his height was actually a finger's width taller than his own.
While You Yusui was despising himself, he couldn't help but look at Huo Xiling's face. He felt he needed to change his cultivation strategy—at least he couldn't treat the boy as a male pet anymore.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, are you alright?" Huo Xiling supported You Yusui's waist, letting You Yusui lean against his chest, then asked with slight panic whether You Yusui was hurt.
Besides worrying about You Yusui's health, Huo Xiling was also concerned that You Yusui might lose interest in him. After all, the words You Yusui had just spoken and the way he looked at him revealed a sense of boredom.
Thinking this way, Huo Xiling glanced at the slender waist beneath his hands. If the Crown Prince no longer liked him, would he like someone else? At the thought that the Crown Prince might like someone other than himself, Huo Xiling's hands around You Yusui's waist involuntarily tightened.
"Mm." You Yusui made a sound of pain.
"Is Your Highness alright? I'll carry you to the bed." After saying this, Huo Xiling lifted You Yusui horizontally and carefully placed him on the bed.
The next moment, You Yusui saw Huo Xiling half-kneeling beside his bed, then grasping his hand and saying pitifully, "Crown Prince big brother, please don't stop liking me, alright?"
Although You Yusui very much wanted to refuse, but... he called him big brother! How could he refuse that!
This "big brother" sounded even better than what his hypocritical imperial brothers called him, making him feel extremely comfortable. The half-grown youth before him was too good at acting spoiled! He wanted to reward Huo Xiling with money to keep treating him this way.
So You Yusui looked at the youth before him, grasped his hand in return, and said with a smile, "As long as you keep being like this, I will always be your good big brother."
The youth before him was still young. You Yusui could wait, work hard to live for two more years, and then do some things that only adults could do with Huo Xiling. For now, he would cultivate their feelings more.
Joy flashed in Huo Xiling's eyes. He could clearly feel that the Crown Prince's gaze toward him had become gentler.
You Yusui casually removed the sandalwood bead bracelet from his wrist and handed it to Huo Xiling, saying, "This thing has been with me for several years. It's not particularly valuable, so you can play with it."
As his words fell, the smile in Huo Xiling's eyes stiffened. He hadn't said these things to get such items. But considering that this sandalwood bracelet had been with the Crown Prince for several years, Huo Xiling still carefully put the bracelet away.
During their conversation, the young eunuchs of the Eastern Palace finally managed to summon Imperial Physician Cui from the Imperial Medical Courtyard.
Imperial Physician Cui carried his medical box to You Yusui and asked with a smile, "Does Your Highness the Crown Prince feel unwell anywhere?"
You Yusui fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, then replied, "Dizziness."
He certainly couldn't say that upon hearing Huo Xiling was very young, he had been greatly shocked and nearly lost his worldly desires.
"Please extend your wrist, Your Highness." Cui Yan continued to smile as he spoke.
You Yusui always felt that this black-hearted imperial physician had seen through something, but he still extended his hand.
Cui Yan placed his slender fingers on the Crown Prince's snow-white, delicate wrist, feeling the Crown Prince's strong and powerful pulse, and couldn't help but ponder for a moment.
Eunuch Fubao, watching anxiously from the side, quickly asked, "Imperial Physician Cui, how is His Highness the Crown Prince?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince's body is stro... cough cough cough, his body is weak and needs careful recuperation." Cui Yan said halfway, then coughed a few times and changed his words.
"I wonder if His Highness the Crown Prince takes his medicine on time every day?" As he spoke, Cui Yan revealed a gentle smile.
You Yusui: ...Don't you have any idea about that half-liang of huanglian medicine?
"It seems His Highness needs someone to supervise his medicine-taking." Cui Yan said meaningfully.
You Yusui's face darkened. Although this imperial physician was tactful, his personality was somewhat too detestable.
After Cui Yan finished speaking, he suddenly changed the subject and looked at You Yusui, asking, "Has Your Highness the Crown Prince's cough improved recently?"
Upon hearing this, You Yusui reached up to gently touch his slightly itchy throat, then shook his head. Since recovering from his serious illness, he had been coughing frequently, especially when emotionally agitated.
Cui Yan took out a long-stemmed pipe made of white Hetian jade inlaid with gold and a bag of medicinal herbs from his medicine box, then handed them to You Yusui sitting on the bed, saying, "Perhaps Your Highness the Crown Prince could try this."
Using such an exquisite and luxurious pipe for smoking was something spoiled young nobles of Chang'an often did. This was You Yusui's first encounter with it, and he found it somewhat novel.
Moreover, this white jade pipe had jade material resembling mutton fat, with lifelike white cranes carved on the stem. The small pipe bowl was made of gold, and the connecting part between the gold and the white jade stem was fashioned into the shape of an old pine tree. The craftsmanship and thoughtfulness were truly exquisite.
However, this was definitely not something a mere imperial physician could produce.
"Speak up, what is your purpose in giving me gifts?" You Yusui looked at Cui Yan indifferently.
"Your Highness, why don't you first try the medicinal herbs I personally prepared?" After Cui Yan finished speaking, he smoothly filled the pipe in You Yusui's hand with the medicinal herbs and lit them with a fire starter.
When the medicinal herbs were ignited, green smoke rose from the pipe. One could faintly smell the scents of mint, citrus, and loquat. You Yusui couldn't help but take a puff, and a cool sensation flowed into his chest, greatly relieving the itchiness in his throat.
"Not bad." You Yusui lowered his eyes to look down, not knowing that when he exhaled the smoke, he possessed the ability to enchant all living beings.
"This thing won't harm the Crown Prince's body, will it?" Huo Xiling was the first to ask. He had seen those Chang'an spoiled young nobles—how many of them coughed daily with bad breath and yellow teeth.
"They are all medicinal herbs for treating coughs. If you don't like smoking them, I can also make them into pills." Cui Yan said with lowered eyes. Originally, he was just finding an excuse to give gifts and ask for favors.
"I like it very much." You Yusui said softly. Holding such a precious pipe in his hands indeed gave him a feeling of luxury and indulgence.
"Speak up, what do you want me to do?" You Yusui asked.
"This minister is from the main line of the Cui family of Qinghe." Cui Yan said. "If there is a transfer order for this minister at the Imperial Medical Courtyard, please intervene to keep this minister here."
The Cui family of Qinghe, one of the Five Surnames and Seven Clans, a top-tier aristocratic family. Having someone from the main family line serve at the Imperial Medical Courtyard was truly beneath Cui Yan's status.
However, since Cui Yan was willing to remain at the Imperial Medical Courtyard, You Yusui naturally wouldn't ask him why. Moreover, Cui Yan was the only knowledgeable and tactful imperial physician, so for his own sake, he had to keep Cui Yan at the Imperial Medical Courtyard.
"My life cannot be separated from Imperial Physician Cui, so naturally I cannot bear to let Imperial Physician Cui leave." You Yusui said.
"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Cui Yan smiled upon receiving a satisfactory answer.
You Yusui thought that Cui Yan would prescribe him some non-bitter tonics out of gratitude for his help, but this black-hearted imperial physician left behind even more bitter tonics before departing.
"Your Highness, will you attend tomorrow's family banquet?" Eunuch Fubao asked You Yusui after sending the young eunuchs in the palace to brew medicine.
Eunuch Fubao was thinking that since the Crown Prince had been ill, he could use this opportunity to claim illness and not attend.
"Go, why wouldn't I go?" You Yusui said with a cold laugh. They had already used filial duty to pressure him into going—how could he not go?
Moreover, this family banquet seemed to be related to the marriage between the Third Prince and the Eldest Princess's daughter. He would make sure to ruin this marriage.
After thinking this, You Yusui stood up and said to Fubao, "Prepare ink and paper. I will now copy scriptures for Empress Mother ."
Eunuch Fubao wanted to dissuade him upon hearing this, but seeing the Crown Prince's expression that brooked no refusal, he could only go prepare paper and ink.
****
In the study, with a single lamp burning like a bean flame, You Yusui sat quietly at his desk wearing fox fur, copying scriptures. His handwriting was elegant and his brushstrokes rounded. Beside him hung a portrait of the late Empress, whose appearance was extremely similar to You Yusui's—they clearly came from the same mold.
It was past midnight when You Yusui realized that the hour of Zi had passed, and Huo Xiling tiptoed into the study carrying a bowl of longevity noodles.
(TL: hour of Zi=11:00 PM to 1:00 AM)
"Your Highness, please rest." Huo Xiling placed the longevity noodles aside and said, "The late Empress would not want to see you so exhausted either."
"Noodles?" You Yusui looked at the longevity noodles with two poached eggs floating in them, his expression slightly dazed.
"The hour of Zi has passed—today is Your Highness's birthday." Huo Xiling explained. "This is all I know how to make. Please don't despise it, Your Highness."
"How could I?" You Yusui smiled gently, finding Huo Xiling increasingly likeable.
Although Fubao and the others cared for him, there was always the distinction between master and servant, never overstepping boundaries. This was the first time he had received longevity noodles on his birthday.
"Whatever you want, I will give it all to you." You Yusui said with a smile.
"Am I being good to Your Highness just because I want benefits?" Huo Xiling said somewhat dissatisfied.
No, it was because he wanted Huo Xiling to always be good to him that he wanted to exchange things for it.
You Yusui said nothing and silently took a sip of the noodle soup.
Huo Xiling quietly stayed by You Yusui's side, waiting for You Yusui to finish the bowl of longevity noodles, and finally said, "Your Highness, happy birthday."
You Yusui put down his chopsticks, looked at Huo Xiling, and said, "Today, the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Xian said they would celebrate my birthday."
"It's rare for me to have a birthday—how could they get away with not giving me gifts?"
"Whatever you like, I will get it all for you." You Yusui looked at Huo Xiling with a serious expression. "The Eldest Princess's gifts are also possible."
Most of the things he obtained would be given to his little lover, and the part he liked would be taken underground to accompany him.
"I hope they still remember to prepare birthday gifts for me." As his words fell, You Yusui drowsily fell into Huo Xiling's embrace.