After returning from the hunting grounds, as usual, Taifei waited outside Xie Caiqing’s door before bed.
Xie Caiqing neatly folded his soiled robes, stacked them in a bundle, and handed them to Taifei. He turned to shut the door, but she rummaged through the clothes and called out, “Wait.”
Xie Caiqing paused.
“You didn’t use a handkerchief today?” she asked, puzzled.
Feigning nonchalance, Xie Caiqing replied, “I left in a hurry this morning and didn’t bring one.”
“Hmm.” Taifei eyed him skeptically but, seeing his calm demeanor, didn’t press further. She took the clothes away to wash.
Behind the closed door, Xie Caiqing let out a quiet sigh of relief.
He had so many handkerchiefs—missing one shouldn’t be noticeable.
….
The next day, while working, Xie Caiqing kept recalling the two lively foals from the day before. He sped through his tasks and, after finishing early, politely excused himself. Once he obtained permission, he eagerly made his way to the Imperial Stables.
But when he arrived, the two little foals were gone. Only the black and white horses remained in the pasture.
The black horse, which had barely been able to stand the day before, now looked alert and spirited. It rested its neck against the tall white horse, the two of them leaning into each other affectionately.
Xie Caiqing gazed at them, a small, unguarded smile forming on his lips. The stable attendants nearby were momentarily stunned.
The Top Scholar always carried himself with an air of composed warmth, like a spring breeze—pleasant, but distant. Only now did he smile with genuine joy, a smile that could light up the heart and clear the mind.
One of the attendants chuckled, “Does Top Scholar like horses?”
Xie Caiqing nodded slightly. His life had always been full of obligations—things he had to do, choices he had to make. Even though he accepted them willingly, watching the horses made him feel free and at ease.
Standing amidst the fresh green grass of early spring, he asked, “Where are the foals?”
Just then, from behind, Xiao Yun strolled forward, leading the two little foals as if he were taking dogs for a leisurely walk. Catching sight of Xie Caiqing standing against the breeze, his white robes fluttering elegantly, Xiao Yun smacked his forehead.
Truly lingering like a ghost.
Xiao Yun hesitated in place for two seconds before silently turning around with the two foals in tow. However, the keen-eyed attendants behind him quickly spotted him.
“Your Majesty! You’ve been out for so long—let us take over! Please, take a rest!”
Xiao Yun paused.
“Your Majesty, have some tea!”
“Your Majesty, wipe your face!”
A group of attendants swarmed toward him.
Xiao Yun was about to tell them to get lost when he noticed Xie Caiqing turning his head to look in their direction. In an instant, Xiao Yun wiped the expression of irritation from his face. Instead, he calmly handed the reins to the ever-diligent Yin Xian, took the teacup offered by a eunuch, and leisurely took a sip before leading the foals toward the adult horses.
He acted as if Xie Caiqing didn’t exist.
Xie Caiqing greeted him with a bow, looking slightly despondent and visibly embarrassed. Pressing his lips together, he turned away and slowly walked off.
Xiao Yun didn’t spare him a glance, his attention entirely on the horses. He ordered a eunuch to bring a bucket, preparing to milk the mare.
Yin Xian, observing from the side, was growing increasingly anxious. This scholar is really clueless. His Majesty said he didn’t want to see him, but wasn’t he still hovering around? If he could just coax the Emperor a little, wouldn’t His Majesty naturally want to see him?
Judging from this, what mistake had Xie Caiqing made to make His Majesty dislike him so much—so much that he wouldn’t even give him a glance?
But then what was all that about yesterday? The Emperor had even allowed the scholar to get close to him.
Thinking of the favor he owed Xie Caiqing, Yin Xian gritted his teeth, took quick steps forward, and suddenly grabbed Xie Caiqing’s wrist, deliberately grinning.
“Hey now, Top Scholar Xie, it’s rare for you to visit. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? His Majesty is about to milk the mare—surely you’ve never seen that before? Stay and have a look.”
Before Xie Caiqing could refuse, Yin Xian had already dragged him back.
“Gonggong…”
Yin Xian gave him a pointed look, but Xie Caiqing only widened his eyes and shook his head repeatedly. Yin Xian ignored him, pulling him right up beside Xiao Yun, gripping his wrist tightly, afraid that if he let go, the scholar would bolt like a frightened rabbit.
Xie Caiqing truly hadn’t expected to run into Xiao Yun. He had already planned things out—whether or not he saw the Emperor today didn’t matter. He was worried that this unexpected encounter would disrupt his plans, making the situation rather awkward.
Hearing the faint sound of movement behind him, Xiao Yun didn’t say a word. He simply pulled the little white foal closer, pressing its head against the mare’s teat.
The foal resisted for a moment, but then, catching the scent, eagerly latched on and began suckling, its neck bobbing with each gulp. Suddenly, Xiao Yun covered its mouth and half-lifted it away.
The little white foal kicked its hooves and neighed in protest.
Xie Caiqing: “…”
Letting it drink for only a moment before pulling it away—why not just deny it altogether?
Noting Xie Caiqing’s confused expression, one of the attendants chuckled. “If the mare doesn’t let the foal drink at least one mouthful, it won’t start producing milk for us to collect.”
Xie Caiqing nodded in understanding.
Xiao Yun gestured for the eunuchs to bring the bucket. Squatting down slightly, he grasped the mare’s full udder and gave it a few firm squeezes.
A distinct milky fragrance drifted toward Xie Caiqing.
He watched in fascination, a hint of amusement in his gaze. So this is how milk is extracted—it’s surprisingly simple.
Yin Xian, quick to read the room, waggled his brows and suggested, “Scholar Xie, would you like to give it a try?”
Xiao Yun’s hand paused. This d*mned servant is always meddling.
Xie Caiqing shook his head.
Xiao Yun turned to glance at him, then remarked casually, “I’m tired. Why don’t you try?”
Before Xie Caiqing could refuse, Xiao Yun had already stepped aside, wiping his hands with the cloth a eunuch handed him.
With no other choice, Xie Caiqing stepped forward, crouching down to mimic Xiao Yun’s actions. Tentatively, he reached for the mare’s udder. He hesitated slightly, as if embarrassed, before finally grasping it.
Xiao Yun, watching from the side, couldn’t help but smirk. He quickly suppressed the expression, his face resuming its usual impassive demeanor.
Xie Caiqing hadn’t expected it to be so soft and textured. He hesitated, worried he might squeeze too hard and cause the mare discomfort.
Xiao Yun’s voice carried over, laced with amusement. “Scholar Xie, are you milking or fondling? I never knew you had such a hobby.”
“…” Xie Caiqing’s face instantly turned crimson.
The surrounding eunuchs burst into laughter. Scholar Xie hadn’t even married yet!
Flustered, Xie Caiqing focused his attention and gave a careful squeeze—but nothing came out. It felt like he was groping the mare rather than milking it.
Xiao Yun, suppressing his laughter, remained an observer on the sidelines. “Squeeze harder.”
Trying again, Xie Caiqing unknowingly used too much force or perhaps grabbed the wrong spot. The mare, a proud and spirited steed, was unaccustomed to anyone other than Xiao Yun touching her. She suddenly threw back her head and neighed loudly.
Xiao Yun’s expression darkened. He shouted, “Get back!!”
Xie Caiqing’s hand was still on the mare’s udder when she abruptly lifted her hind legs. Memories of being kicked by a horse as a child flashed through his mind. His brain went blank—he was a second too slow to react, and the powerful hooves were already coming straight for his face.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Gasps of alarm rang out across the pasture. Xie Caiqing’s heart nearly stopped. He barely had time to raise an arm in defense before he was tackled to the ground.
They rolled twice across the grass, narrowly avoiding the mare’s furious kick.
For a moment, the vast pasture fell silent. The sound of breathing was suddenly all too clear.
Xie Caiqing, wide-eyed, gasped for breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly. As his mind caught up to the situation, he slowly lowered his arm and found himself staring straight into the eyes of the man who had just saved him.
Xiao Yun had one strong arm wrapped around his waist, shielding his head with a protective hand. His weight pressed down firmly, completely covering him.
Xie Caiqing was entirely enveloped by him. From this angle, he couldn’t see the sky—only Xiao Yun’s strikingly handsome face and those deep, ink-black eyes.
Their bodies were flush against each other.
Xiao Yun gazed down at Xie Caiqing, taking in his disheveled hair, his pale face.
He looked utterly dazed, stunned by the near accident. His lips parted slightly as he struggled to catch his breath, eyes reflecting a mix of shock and lingering fear.
He stared at him without even blinking, seemingly unaware of how offensive it was.
The body beneath him was warm and soft, trembling slightly. The rise and fall of his chest occasionally brought it closer to his own. At the tip of his nose was a light fragrance, far richer and clearer than what lingered on a handkerchief.
It took Xiao Yun a moment to notice the horse milk splattered across Xie Caiqing’s neck, lips, and even his long eyelashes.
Those lashes, like crow feathers, trembled lightly, shaking off the droplets. The horse milk trickled down Xie Caiqing’s delicate nose bridge and slid toward the corner of his lips, seeping toward the inside.
Xie Caiqing unconsciously licked the corner of his mouth.
In Xiao Yun’s mind, it was as if something had snapped with a deafening crack—completely and utterly broken.
Xie Caiqing was still wondering why Xiao Yun was staring at him so brazenly in front of everyone, when suddenly, Xiao Yun propped himself up with one hand and shot to his feet with lightning speed, as if disgusted to the point that he couldn’t even bear to be in the same corner as him.
Supporting himself on the grass, Xie Caiqing sat up sideways, looking up at Xiao Yun with confusion and a faint sense of hurt.
Xiao Yun’s expression was unreadable. Without looking back, he walked off quickly, as though being chased.
Once the emperor left, everyone finally came back to their senses. Yin Xian rushed to help Xie Caiqing up from the ground, anxiously asking, “Are you alright? Does anything hurt?”
Xie Caiqing, still staring in the direction Xiao Yun had gone, shook his head absentmindedly. “I’m fine.”
Yin Xian, still worried, said, “We should call the imperial physician—”
“It was His Majesty who shielded me. If anyone needs the imperial physician, it should be His Majesty. I’m completely unharmed.”
Yin Xian let out a breath of relief, silently thinking how foolish he had been. If anything had happened to Xie Caiqing, His Majesty would have suffered even more injury.
“Then I’ll go summon the physician for His Majes—”
He looked up, caught sight of Xie Caiqing’s face, paused, then turned and asked a young eunuch for a handkerchief. “Wipe your face. There’s some on it.”
“What?” Xie Caiqing looked slightly dazed, reached up to touch his face, and came away with a hand slick with thin, milky-scented fluid. His expression froze for a moment, the corners of his mouth stiffened bit by bit, and his face flushed a deep red in an instant.
Could it be that Xiao Yun…
…
In the carriage, Xiao Yun frowned and sucked in a breath, his face switching between pale and flushed.
Was it broken?
How could something so stupid refuse to obey him?
Why did humans even have such a stupid thing?
He was completely clear-headed—his mind was perfectly lucid. It was just a man. A slightly prettier, slightly better-smelling man.
Xiao Yun looked down. Are you insane? Or were you attached to Xie Caiqing in a past life, and now, seeing him, you’re desperate to reattach yourself?
D*mn it.
His fingers clenched into fists, knuckles cracking loudly. Frustrated and furious, with nowhere to vent, he wished he could tear the carriage apart.
It was all Xie Caiqing’s fault. Why did he have to parade in front of him? He couldn’t even milk a horse properly.
If he didn’t know how, why insist on trying? Can’t people have a little self-awareness?
Cursing under his breath for a while, Xiao Yun finally pulled out a white handkerchief embroidered with twin kites entwined in a pattern.
