A hand pressed down gently on the back of Chu Jiubian’s neck, forcing him to tilt his head up into the rather rough kiss.
His other arm was wrapped around the young man’s waist, pressing him tightly against his chest.
The man’s breath was scorching against his lips. Chu Jiubian’s throat bobbed. His lips parted slightly, and his breathing grew heavy.
He clenched his hands tightly at his sides, not reaching to touch Qin Xiao back.
His lips tingled as the tip of a tongue brushed against them, and Chu Jiubian’s eyelashes fluttered. His head swam, and his heart pounded like a drum.
He felt like he was drowning. Without holding onto anything, he felt as if he would drown in the man’s embrace.
The hand gripping the back of his neck pulled away, and Qin Xiao lifted Chu Jiubian up with his powerful arms, one around his waist and the other under his rump.
Chu Jiubian reflexively threw his arms around the man’s neck and wrapped his legs around his waist to keep from falling.
A few steps later, he brought Chu Jiubian to a desk.
Qin Xiao had written countless words and read innumerable books at this desk, sitting beside it for many days and nights.
And now, he set Chu Jiubian down on the edge of that same desk.
Just as Chu Jiubian was regaining his senses, Qin Xiao kissed him again.
He started to pull his hands away, but Qin Xiao gripped them and pulled them back around his neck.
And Qin Xiao’s own hands undid the sash of his robe.
It was already the third month of the year, but there was still a slight chill in this room that had been empty all winter.
Cold air brushed Chu Jiubian’s chest, but in the next moment, the other man’s warm, calloused palm kneaded his fair and tender skin.
For the past half year, Chu Jiubian hadn’t needed to maintain a certain weight or restrict his diet, so despite still being thin, he had a bit more flesh on him than when he’d first gotten here.
He just didn’t have much muscle, which made his body even softer to the touch.
Under the man’s fervent touch, that area of skin quickly reddened.
Qin Xiao’s kisses descended from the young man’s lips to his jaw, from his throat to his shoulder…..
A tingling sensation spread across Chu Jiubian’s chest, and he shuddered. His muddled head suddenly cleared, and he raised a hand to push the man away.
But Qin Xiao was too heavy. Even using all of his strength, Chu Jiubian was only able to shift him backward slightly, and remained trapped in the man’s embrace.
Qin Xiao raised his eyes, and within their unfathomable depths was clear hunger and infatuation.
Chu Jiubian’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly averted his gaze. He was unaware of the evocative sight he made with his clothes half-undone, his shoulders trembling slightly and his earlobes flushed red.
Qin Xiao’s throat bobbed, but he made no further moves.
Chu Jiubian pushed him again, and Qin Xiao moved back a little more.
Chu Jiubian pulled his robes together and reached down to re-tie his sash, but his hands were shaking so much that he just fumbled with it for several long moments.
Qin Xiao lowered his gaze to watch, then reached out and tied it for him unhurriedly.
Very soon, everything seemed to return to normal, though the situation between them was anything but.
Chu Jiubian remained sitting on the desk with his eyes lowered, Qin Xiao standing before him with his hands braced against the desk on either side of Chu Jiubian’s waist.
“I’m sorry.” Qin Xiao spoke first, his voice low, but very tender. “The way you were looking at me just now muddled my head.”
The way this person wanted to pull away from him, but couldn’t help drawing close instead….it was really…..
Chu Jiubian raised his eyes to look at him: “And how was I looking at you?”
Qin Xiao paused briefly. Then, instead of answering the question, he asked in a light, probing tone: “Just now, did your heart ache for me?”
Did his heart ache?
Chu Jiubian thought back to that moment at the palace.
He had clearly been torn between keeping his distance from Qin Xiao or doing something else, so where did heartache come into the picture?
But at this moment, as he met the man’s gaze, the words on the tip of his tongue wouldn’t come out.
Chu Jiubian didn’t refute it, and Qin Xiao’s heart began to beat even more erratically.
Ever since his elders passed away one after another, he had never imagined that anyone else would care about how he felt.
The depth of emotion in his eyes had Chu Jiubian looking away, a little flustered.
“Qin Xiao,” he said in a hoarse voice.
“I’m not the person you think I am,” he said.
Qin Xiao looked at him, saying nothing.
Chu Jiubian didn’t speak again.
After a long moment, Qin Xiao wrapped his arms around him again and lifted him up before setting him on his feet. Then he helped straighten his robes, saying: “Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep His Majesty waiting.”
Chu Jiubian looked up at him with a slight frown.
What did this mean?
“I was too presumptuous.” Qin Xiao looked down into his eyes and said with a smile, “It won’t happen again next time.”
Next time?
There was going to be a next time?
Chu Jiubian frowned even harder.
“This is my courtyard in Qin Manor,” Qin Xiao said, changing the subject. “There isn’t much time today, so I’ll bring you back here again later.”
Chu Jiubian paused, and he turned to look around the room, his attention diverted.
This was where Qin Xiao had spent many of his years, and traces of his life could be seen everywhere. This was his true home.
But time was short, and they had Bai Lihong to think about. So once they straightened themselves out, they headed straight for the restaurant in the Western Market.
Meanwhile, Shenwu Street was packed with a dense crowd of people that stretched out in both directions.
Whether they were the powerful and wealthy or ordinary commoners, everyone was gathered in the same place today. They leaned forward and craned their necks, gazing in the direction of the approaching sounds of drums and music.
The Imperial Guard and the City Defense Force had all been mobilized, and stood at attention on either side of the thoroughfare. They stood shoulder to shoulder, spears held horizontally in front of them to keep everyone from running out into the street.
The beating of gongs and drums was growing louder.
“They’re coming, they’re coming! The Achievement Parade is coming!”
“What exactly is an Achievement Parade, ah? It looks to me like a long procession of horses.”
“It’s a mounted parade, all on horseback.”
“Heavens! Look at the riders! What a magnificent sight!”
The mounted parade approached in the distance, An Wuji leading his troops at the very front. In the middle, the scholars rode tall, impressive horses, while the imposing Imperial Guard brought up the rear.
On either side of the street were the vastly different Eastern and Western markets.
But the shops here were mostly restaurants and inns, so all of the windows facing the streets were open. Countless people leaned out those windows to watch as the Achievement Parade approached.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that in all of those windows, the people leaning out were all prominent figures in the capital.
Not only were there children of prominent families like Wang Qichen and the Situ siblings, there were also high-ranking court officials, all figures that the common people would never imagine seeing in their daily lives.
These people had already known which direction the parade would be heading, and had booked rooms in these establishments well beforehand.
Minor officials who had already booked such rooms obediently gave up their spots, not daring to oppose these high-ranking officials and powerful figures.
The largest Western Market restaurant on the street belonged to the Wang family. To be precise, it had belonged to Old Madam Wang, and had since been handed over to Wang Qichen.
It was here that Wang Qichen had watched the procession of vassal kings enter the city, and had exchanged a silent greeting with Situ Zhaoling.
The finest private room in this restaurant was reserved for Chu Jiubian.
Chu Jiubian had informed Qin Xiao about it early on, and since Qin Chuan had been staying in the capital these days, he heard about it from Qin Chaoyang.
So when he got there first with Bai Lihong, he went straight in.
Wang Qichen had arrived earlier in the day, so when they stepped inside, he was already sitting there listening to a storyteller recount the tale of the “Sacred Star God.”
Others with reservations here included Minister of Rites Wang Zhiyuan, Deputy Minister of Revenue Wang Pengyi, Nanjiang-wang’s family and Pingxi-wang’s retinue, and several other prominent figures seated throughout the main room.
Everyone was stunned when a masked man led a child in dragon robes and a young eunuch into the room very nonchalantly.
But they all reacted quickly, hurrying out of their seats to greet them.
The storyteller had already known that important guests would be arriving today, but he hadn’t expected that those guests would include vassal kings, as well as a prince and princess.
By comparison, the Wang family’s minister and deputy minister weren’t nearly as frightening.
But he never could have imagined that he would have the honor of gazing upon the face of Imperial majesty!
Those golden dragon robes, that diminutive figure….this could be none other than the young Emperor himself!
His legs went weak, and he was the first to sink to his knees facing the door.
The waiters quickly realized what was happening, and got to their knees one after another.
Even those who hadn’t yet guessed Bai Lihong’s identity saw all of the high-ranking officials and prominent figures in the hall step forward to greet him, and understood that the newcomer must be a bigshot.
When he saw what a stir his appearance had caused, Bai Lihong quickly put one hand behind his back and waved the other in a steady and experienced manner, saying: “No need for formalities, everyone. This emperor has simply come to enjoy the fun.”
The child had a sweet, milky voice, and his effort to act all grown up was simply delightful.
But nobody dared to laugh. Situ Zhaoling silently raised her eyes, peeking out from behind her father.
When she saw the child’s soft and squishy little face, she was ecstatic, and screamed treasonously to herself –
So cute, ahhhh!
I really want to pinch His Majesty’s little cheeks!
Everyone still greeted His Majesty in unison, and Bai Lihong bid them rise.
Wang Zhiyuan and Wang Pengyi both stole looks at Wang Qichen, who was standing not far to the side. He was the owner of this property, so it was only fitting for him to be the one to lead His Majesty upstairs. This was also an opportunity for him to make an impression on the Emperor.
The Wang clan faction led by Wang Qichen had firmly decided to pledge its allegiance to the Imperial Court. It wouldn’t be long before they formally ousted Wang Huanzhi from his position as family head, after which the entirety of the Wang family would be in Wang Qichen’s hands.
As the next family head, it would naturally be an excellent thing for Wang Qichen to cultivate a good relationship with His Majesty.
Wang Zhiyuan and Wang Pengyi refrained from stepping forward, because they wanted to see how Wang Qichen would handle the situation. If he lost his composure when facing His Majesty, he wouldn’t be a suitable family head.
Fortunately, Wang Qichen was unfazed.
He stepped forward and gave Bai Lihong a formal bow, then said with a smile: “Greetings, Your Majesty. This humble subject is Wang Qichen, the heir of the Wang family and the owner of this restaurant. His Lordship the Grand Tutor has already reserved a room upstairs. If it is unsatisfactory, another room will be arranged for you.”
Bai Lihong looked up at him and his eyes lit up.
He was stuck in the palace day in and day out, and apart from the officials at court and the vassal kings, he hadn’t met many people from outside that setting.
And Wang Qichen was the most handsome man he had ever seen, aside from Jiujiu and Xiansheng.
Nobody disliked good-looking people.
Not to mention that the child was constantly at the sides of Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian, and even Eunuch Hong Fu and Xiao Yuzi, as well as the other palace matrons and maids, were all very easy on the eyes.
As a result, he felt a greater sense of closeness to good-looking people.
“Then take this emperor up first,” said Bai Lihong.
Wang Qichen then led the three of them up to the second floor and to the most spacious private room, which also had the best view.
Instead of having others wait on them, he personally brought in the tea and pastries.
When he saw that Bai Lihong had no further instructions for him, he stepped out the door.
After closing the door to the private room behind him, he headed downstairs with a thoughtful look in his eyes.
Of the two people accompanying His Majesty, the younger one was a eunuch, and the other one seemed very familiar to him.
He seemed to have crossed paths with that person once before, and back then, he had also been covered from head to toe in concealing garments.
At that time, he had assumed that the man was a retainer of some powerful family, but it turned out he belonged to His Majesty.
Wang Qichen put the matter out of his mind and continued downstairs, where he rejoined Wang Pengyi and Wang Qichen.
None of them discussed what had happened upstairs, knowing full well that Wang Qichen had made a good impression on His Majesty.
Situ Zhaoling and Situ Zhaoyao were sitting together, munching on preserved fruit while they focused on the platform in front of them.
The storyteller was telling them how the Sacred Star God displayed his divine power in Hexi Prefecture, and the two of them were unavoidably impressed when they heard how he was able to produce a steady supply of food and medicine.
He was truly worthy of being a god on the same level as the High Priest. They were both so impressive.
It was just that compared to the High Priest, the Divine Lord, who had descended to the mortal realm, seemed to have much of his power sealed away, and wasn’t able to use it without limitations.
But the Divine Lord had sacrificed his power for the sake of his love tribulation. For the sake of Ning-wang Qin Xiao.
This was very touching.
But the hearts of the Situ siblings ached for the High Priest, who had quietly done so much for the Divine Lord. Seeing the Divine Lord share affection with someone else must sadden him terribly.
The two siblings alternated between great admiration and sighing while shaking their heads.
Fortunately, Bai Lihao and Situ Anli were accustomed to the personalities of their children, and didn’t take their behavior seriously at all.
There were too many people around to talk freely, so the two siblings never mentioned the High Priest or related matters when they spoke. They understood each other regardless.
Wang Qichen caught a glimpse of them from the corner of his eye, and the usual smile on his lips gained some genuine warmth.
They were complete strangers in the eyes of outsiders, and had only met a few times. But in private, they had long since become as close as family. It was a pleasant feeling.
At this point, the Achievement Parade had reached the main street of the Eastern Market. It would then loop around to Shenwu Street, pass along the street dividing the Eastern and Western markets, and then turn into the Western Market.
Many court officials had rushed over, setting aside their official duties.
Deputy Minister of Works Liu Junqi, also the student of Minister Wang, had rushed over to pay his respects to his teacher.
Wang Zhiyuan stood up with a smile and said: “It’s almost time. Let’s head upstairs.”
“Alright.”
As soon as they went, the others in the hall realized what time it was and rose one after another to head upstairs.
The building had three floors, and from the first floor, all one could see were the crowds of people. The third floor was a bit too high, and separated watchers from the lively atmosphere, but the second floor was just right.
Most of them went to the second floor.
The group had only taken a few steps when they heard the waiter at the entrance respectfully greet someone as “My Lord.”
Everyone reflexively turned to look, and saw two people in crimson-purple official robes.
One was tall and slender, with an aloof temperament, while the other was tall and imposing.
It was none other than Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao.
The two of them naturally noticed the others in the hall and stepped forward.
Qin Xiao wore a smile, while Chu Jiubian was as cool and detached as ever, but there was a faint gentleness in his eyes that was never present when he was bringing his full strength to bear in court.
And Chu Jiubian’s lips were a full, deep red today, making him look exceptionally radiant and even better-looking than usual.
No one dared to let their gazes linger, and after exchanging greetings, they proceeded upstairs.
Wang Qichen had selected these people with great care and the help of Wang Zhiyuan and Wang Pengyi, so the officials and vassal kings who booked rooms at this restaurant were all aligned with the Emperor, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
Once upstairs, everyone went to their respective rooms.
When Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao opened the door to their private room, they saw the child standing on a chair, his little rump sticking out as he clung to the windowsill and craned his neck to peer down at the street below.
Qin Chuan stood nearby with his arms crossed, watching the child with an unwavering gaze. If the child lost his footing, he would be able to intervene immediately.
The child heard the door open and spun around. When he saw that it was Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian, he relaxed and said with his eyes curved into a smile: “Xiansheng, Jiujiu, come quick! I can already hear the gongs and drums!”
The aloofness immediately vanished from Chu Jiubian’s face, and a smile appeared on his lips as he made his way over to the window.
Qin Chuan took a few steps away to make room for him.
Xiao Yuzi was also standing guard on Bai Lihong’s other side, and stepped back while paying his respects.
Qin Xiao waved a casual hand and said: “No need to attend His Majesty for now. Go and have fun, but don’t wander too far.”
Xiao Yuzi was just a young boy around ten or eleven years old, and with this being his first time leaving the palace, he was bound to be curious about everything.
Xiao Yuzi’s eyes lit up, and he quickly expressed his gratitude before hurrying to the door.
“Wait.” Chu Jiubian called out to him with one final instruction: “Don’t leave the area where the Imperial Guard is stationed.”
Xiao Yuzi had a pretty face and had never left the palace. There were all kinds of people out there today, and it would be terrible if something happened to him.
Xiao Yuzi knew that, much like His Majesty, these two lords treated their subordinates well.
His heart warmed, and he said with a smile: “This servant understands.”
Bai Lihong quickly added: “Remember to bring back a few sticks of tanghulu for this emperor.”
Xiao Yuzi kept Bai Lihong’s money pouch, making him wealthier than Bai Lihong himself.
He agreed, then took his leave, running happily down the stairs and out of the restaurant.
The crowd was packed tight, but with his slender frame, he was able to squeeze all the way to the front.
But the crowd was very dense, and when an older woman bumped into him from the side, he stumbled over and stepped on someone’s foot.
“Aiya!” That person exclaimed in surprise, but quickly fell silent.
Xiao Yuzi could hear that she was a young lady, and turned his head to apologize. But when he looked up, he saw that this person was dressed as a male youth, with a conical hat on their head and a mask covering half their face.
Such attire bore a strong resemblance to that of the man who had just been guarding His Majesty.
But this person’s cry had definitely been that of a woman, and a young one at that.
She had probably snuck out for some fun without notifying her family.
Xiao Yuzi didn’t look any closer, and put it out of his mind once he apologized. The young lady just waved her hand dismissively.
The sound of drums and gongs continued to draw closer. Just like Xiao Yuzi and the young lady beside him, nobody else in the crowd had the attention to spare for idle chatter, all of them craning their necks to look into the distance.
“Here they come! Here they come!” The crowd was a bobbing sea of heads.
Chu Jiubian and Bai Lihong, one tall and one short, leaned out slightly to watch.
Qin Xiao and Qin Chuan stood in front of another window. Neither of them spoke, but this was the first time they had been able to stand together openly.
Chu Jiubian glanced in their direction, and the question “did your heart ache for me?” flashed through his mind.
His ears felt a little hot, and he lifted a hand to touch one.
“Wow! They’re here, they’re here!” Bai Lihong grabbed his hand and said excitedly, “Xiansheng, look! It’s Lu Yao!”
Chu Jiubian looked out, and sure enough, the Achievement Parade was already here.
When they first passed through the main street of the Eastern Market, Lu Yao and the others were stunned by the cheering crowds lining the route.
So many people were watching them and cheering for them.
Their eyes were filled with envy, amazement, deep emotion…..
These students, in all their years of living as ordinary people, had never imagined that they would one day be admired and adored by so many. A strong sense of pride came over them, dispelling their self-abasement and timidness, and they sat up even straighter.
Even a scholar like Tan Yuzhu, who had been renowned for her talent since childhood, felt more gratification during this parade than she had ever experienced before.
From a young age, she knew that she was merely a woman, and that the best outcome she could hope for was to marry a man who was as accepting of her literary talent as her father.
She also knew how unlikely that was.
So as she grew older, her unhappiness grew with her.
She even wondered if a day might come when her parents no longer protected her. If they were determined to force her into marriage, then she would just join a monastery.
But now, she had a better refuge.
As the parade progressed, she caught resentful or scornful gazes from some men, and some of the older women shook their heads at her in bewilderment, pointing and whispering.
But what she heard most often was the common people calling her “Lady Tanhua.”[1]
She saw envy and awe in the eyes of those men, and adoration and joy in the eyes of those women. She even heard a bold young woman loudly wish her “steady advancement in her career and a rise to the highest peak of officialdom.”
Her goal was to become an official and dedicate her entire life, all of her talents and abilities, to Great Ning, its common people, and the Emperor and the Grand Tutor.
As the parade moved slowly through the main street, it passed beneath the restaurant.
Lu Yao had already guessed that the establishments on both sides of the street would be holding powerful officials and other high-ranking figures, so he kept a close eye on them. And sure enough, he spotted Chu Jiubian and Bai Lihong standing at one of the windows.
Qin Chuan and Qin Xiao were standing in the window closest to them.
Lu Yao cupped his hands and bowed in their direction, giving his first smile of the entire parade.
Bai Lihong’s eyes curved into a smile. But, mindful of his position and all of the eyes on him, including those of many high-ranking officials watching from the windows across the street, he remained composed and dignified and only nodded at Lu Yao.
Chu Jiubian also gave Lu Yao a nod and a smile.
Lu Yao turned his gaze toward Qin Xiao and Qin Chuan. Qin Xiao nodded with a smile at the corners of his lips, just like Chu Jiubian.
Qin Chuan’s entire face was concealed beneath his mask and the brim of his hat, but Lu Yao could tell that he must be smiling too.
Lu Yao wasn’t at all surprised to see Qin Chuan standing at Qin Xiao’s side, because the two brothers had very similar physiques and gave him a similar feeling.
These two were tied together by blood. Even though Qin Chuan always wore a disguise and had never revealed his true face to him, Lu Yao could tell.
One after another, he kept meeting individuals with multiple identities. People were truly complex.
Lu Yao looked away as he continued forward with the rest of the group behind him.
Chu Jiubian scanned the common people below, who had already begun to move toward the Western Market. He saw that they were barely able to budge an inch, but with the Imperial Guard and the City Defense Force standing guard, they at least weren’t crushed together.
He glanced again at the rows of windows across the street and saw many familiar faces.
Suddenly, he paused on one of them.
Zuilliang-wang Bai Liyan was chuckling as he watched the excitement when a knock suddenly sounded on the door behind him.
When the door opened, a man with a big belly rushed in with a flustered look on his face and dropped to his knees in front of Bai Liyan.
“System, get me a book on lip-reading,” Chu Jiubian said, coming to a decision on the spot.
[Okay, Host.]
The knowledge contained in the book instantly flooded into Chu Jiubian’s mind.
He blinked, and when he looked at the man again, he was able to instantly translate the movements of his lips.
The man was saying: “Your Highness! Your Highness, please help me! My foolish and ignorant daughter snuck out to watch the excitement, and the guards and sevants can’t find her anywhere! With so many unsavory characters out there mixed in with the honest folk, it’s just too dangerous for a young woman like her to be out there on her own!”
Bai Liyan quickly went to help the man up. Judging by his attitude, he knew this person well.
The man’s clothes were also very luxurious, made in the style of the Fujian-Zhejiang region. He was likely a wealthy merchant from Bai Liyan’s fief who had brought his whole family here to experience the capital, but had lost track of his daughter.
Bai Liyan ordered the windows to be closed, so Chu Jiubian was no longer able to see inside.
Bai Lihong started to jump down from his chair after watching the show, but Chu Jiubian casually lifted him down.
“Qin Xiao,” Chu Jiubian said.
Qin Xiao turned and walked over: “What is it? Do you want to head back to the palace?”
“No.”
There were no outsiders present, and there were hidden guards nearby. In addition, the room Wang Qichen had prepared for them was the one with the best soundproofing.
So Chu Jiubian spoke frankly, saying: “A moment ago, I saw a commotion over where Zuiliang-wang is staying. It seems that a wealthy merchant’s daughter has gone missing. Let’s have the Imperial Guard be on the lookout for her.”
Qin Xiao nodded: “Alright.” At the same time, one of the hidden guards quietly left to inform the Imperial Guard.
With so many people out there, it was natural for someone to get lost in the crowd. The young woman might even find her own way back before too long.
But just to be on the safe side, it was best to pay a little extra attention.
“Jiujiu, are we going back to the palace now?” Bai Lihong asked cutely.
He was aware of his status, and being able to come out here and watch such an exciting show was already great, so he didn’t make a fuss about staying longer.
Qin Xiao nodded and said: “We’ll head back once Xiao Yuzi returns.”
“Okay,” Bai Lihong said obediently.
He sat down at the table, and Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian followed suit.
The three of them then turned their gazes toward Qin Chuan, who hadn’t moved.
“Sit down,” Qin Xiao said.
Qin Chuan looked toward Bai Lihong.
Bai Lihong naturally had no objections, and he smiled with his set of small white teeth: “Have a seat.”
While inside the palace, Hong Fu, Xiao Xiangzi, and Xiao Yuzi were all very strict about following protocol.
Chu Jiubian came from the modern era, but he knew that in these times, there were certain inviolable rules. A servant must revere and respect their master, lest they overstep their boundaries.
So he didn’t normally comment on the behavior of Hong Fu and the others, since the respectful example they set was actually good for Bai Lihong and showed the others how to treat him with the highest level of deference.
Incidents of treacherous servants wronging their masters occurred often, and someone as experienced as Hong Fu naturally took precautions ahead of time.
Bai Lihong had also grown accustomed to maintaining a certain distance between himself and his attendants, so when he saw his Jiujiu and Xiansheng invite a mysterious “hidden guard” to their table, he was a little curious.
The child’s clever little mind worked, and he realized that this person was probably no ordinary guard. There was also something about this man that made him feel comfortable and secure, just like his Jiujiu and Xiansheng.
Could this be a relative of his?
Bai Lihong rested his small face in his hands and tilted his head, staring at Qin Chuan.
Sitting across from him, Qin Chuan looked up to find the child looking at him, and was at a loss for words.
Chu Jiubian was a little amused.
He startled when he felt something suddenly brush against his leg under the table.
He looked up and across, and met Qin Xiao’s gaze.
They both had long legs, and the table wasn’t very big, so their legs inevitably bumped against each other.
But as their eyes met, Qin Xiao smiled.
Chu Jiubian: “?”
In the next moment, he felt Qin Xiao’s leg forcefully squeeze between his own.
Chu Jiubian instantly felt as if he had been transported back to Qin Manor, into Qin Xiao’s rooms, where the man had trapped him between his arms and the desk and forcefully…..
His face darkened, and he glared at Qin Xiao, then stomped down hard on his foot.
Qin Xiao’s brows rose, and his smile deepened.
The four of them sat there in the room, and none of them spoke.
As time slowly passed, there was still no sign of Xiao Yuzi.
Xiao Yuzi was not someone lacking in common sense. Once he was finished watching the parade downstairs, he would have certainly come back rather than following the crowd.
Even if the crowd had jostled him a bit farther away, or he had gone to buy some tanghulu, he really should have been back by now.
Chu Jiubian frowned slightly.
Could something have happened?
Fortunately, a knock sounded at the door just then, and Xiao Yuzi’s breathless voice sounded from outside: “Your Majesty, My Lords, this servant has returned.”
[1] Tanhua (探花) is the third-place finisher. ⮐
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Chapter 85 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 87
