Without thinking, Xueya crouched under the table. As soon as he was hidden, he heard someone enter. A pair of boots stopped opposite He Xulan. Seeing the dragon pattern on the boots, Xueya, terrified of being discovered, edged closer to He Xulan.
Cui Lingjing’s voice came from above. “So Godfather has already eaten. I thought finishing court early today would give me a chance to dine with you.”
Cui Lingjing’s tone was different from when he spoke to Xueya, now sounding a bit complaining and playful, more like an ordinary teenager than a young emperor.
He Xulan said, “I didn’t know you’d come. The kitchen has more breakfast prepared. Would you like some?”
“Sure.” Cui Lingjing glanced at the seat next to He Xulan, then sat on his right. Xueya, noticing Cui Lingjing’s movement, was too scared to move, especially when servants came to clear the table and serve new dishes.
His eyes kept darting around, watching the feet that appeared and disappeared before him. Xueya regretted hiding under the table and felt somewhat resentful towards He Xulan for keeping Cui Lingjing here for a meal.
Cui Lingjing was actually surprised today. It was rare for He Xulan to invite him to stay for a meal. Once before, when Cui Lingjing visited while He Xulan was eating, He Xulan hadn’t asked for an extra pair of chopsticks for him.
“Godfather seems to be in a good mood today,” Cui Lingjing couldn’t help but say.
He Xulan responded with a slight smile.
Cui Lingjing wasn’t disheartened by He Xulan’s silence. He had grown accustomed to He Xulan’s extreme coldness towards him since he was a crown prince. Just being invited to dine with He Xulan today made him especially happy.
The people at the table each had their own thoughts, and so did the person under it. Xueya, initially worried about being discovered by Cui Lingjing, became more restless as he listened to the conversation above. Cui Lingjing’s tone towards He Xulan was too kind. Xueya thought that if Cui Lingjing treated him with even half that gentleness, he would be overjoyed.
If even he was moved, what about He Xulan?
The old emperor was dead. Wasn’t He Xulan lonely and empty in this deep palace? Although he acted indifferent about Cui Lingjing having children with someone else, Xueya feared He Xulan might be swayed.
Xueya looked at Cui Lingjing’s feet, then at He Xulan’s feet. At this moment, Cui Lingjing was praising the palace’s pastries. Xueya stealthily reached out from under the tablecloth and grabbed He Xulan’s ankle.
After holding on for a while, he withdrew his hand. After a moment, he reached out again to grab He Xulan’s ankle.
He wanted to distract He Xulan so he wouldn’t pay attention to what Cui Lingjing was saying.
Just as Xueya was about to grab He Xulan’s ankle a third time, the tablecloth on He Xulan’s left side was slightly lifted, and a hand reached in. Xueya saw the hand and was startled, but then noticed it held a pastry wrapped in a silk handkerchief.
It seemed to be the pastry Cui Lingjing had been praising.
Xueya blinked and gently took the pastry from He Xulan’s hand. He wasn’t hungry initially, but seeing the pastry made him hungry. Glancing at Cui Lingjing, who was happily chatting with He Xulan, he carefully began to eat the pastry, chewing slowly to avoid making noise.
After finishing the pastry, the tablecloth was lifted again. At the same time, Xueya heard Cui Lingjing’s voice, soft and almost submissive, calling “Godfather.” Knowing Cui Lingjing’s affection for He Xulan, Xueya felt uneasy. Just then, He Xulan’s hand reached in again, this time holding another pastry.
“Godfather, I’ve always wanted to tell you something,” Cui Lingjing said shyly.
Xueya bit into the pastry in He Xulan’s hand. He Xulan seemed to notice that Xueya was eating directly from his hand, his hand slightly stiffening. After Xueya bit off half of the pastry, he heard Cui Lingjing beginning to recount the first time he saw He Xulan. Growing anxious, but unable to rush, Xueya slowly ate the other half of the pastry.
As for the crumbs on He Xulan’s handkerchief, he licked them off with his tongue.
Xueya didn’t want He Xulan to listen to Cui Lingjing’s heartfelt words, but he couldn’t crawl out from under the table. With limited options, he continued to use this method whenever He Xulan reached in with a pastry.
He wanted He Xulan’s attention on him so that He Xulan wouldn’t listen to Cui Lingjing.
Just as he licked a few crumbs, He Xulan’s slightly cold voice spoke.
“Your Majesty, it’s getting late. You should finish your meal and return to review the memorials. As a newly enthroned emperor, you should not be distracted by other matters.”
Cui Lingjing paused, then his voice turned stiff, “Godfather, I…”
He hesitated, unable to speak, while Xueya, stunned by He Xulan’s rejection, stopped moving and listened intently. However, He Xulan’s hand didn’t withdraw.
Not only did it stay, but it moved further in.
He Xulan’s fingertips brushed against Xueya’s lips.
Xueya frowned, disliking the touch, and turned his head away. After a moment, He Xulan’s hand pulled out, but soon returned with another type of pastry.
Xueya was amazed at how He Xulan managed to speak with Cui Lingjing while secretly handing him food without Cui Lingjing noticing.
Xueya’s nose twitched, and he couldn’t resist the food’s temptation. He cautiously moved forward, thinking of using his hand, but remembered he had used his mouth before and didn’t want to be inconsistent. So, he again ate directly from He Xulan’s hand.
While eating, he felt He Xulan’s fingers lightly brush his chin.
He wasn’t sure if it was intentional.
As he ate half of the pastry, he heard the sound of a chair scraping against the floor.
Cui Lingjing’s voice was no longer soft, “I’ll return to the palace. I’ll visit Godfather again another day.”
He left without waiting for He Xulan’s response. Xueya, hearing Cui Lingjing’s footsteps recede and the servants bidding farewell, quickly crawled out from under the table, not finishing the remaining half of the pastry in He Xulan’s hand.
Xueya crawled out from beside He Xulan, but instead of standing up, he squatted down, hiding most of his face behind the table, peeking out with only his eyes to make sure the coast was clear. Seeing no movement outside, he finally turned his gaze to He Xulan. He Xulan, sitting on a chair, looked down at him with a lowered gaze.
Under He Xulan’s stare, Xueya suddenly wondered if there were crumbs on the corners of his mouth. He instinctively licked his lips while softly complaining, “Brother Empress Dowager, my legs are going numb.”
He Xulan continued to stare at Xueya without speaking.
Xueya was most afraid of silence, especially from someone like He Xulan. He quickly extended his hand, saying, “My hand accidentally touched the ground and got dirty, so I had to use my mouth to eat.”
This explanation was something Xueya had thought up in advance.
He Xulan glanced at Xueya’s hand and then extended his own right hand in front of Xueya, with the silk handkerchief still holding half a pastry. Xueya looked at the half pastry, then at He Xulan, hesitating. “Brother Empress Dowager, I need to go back. The emperor might notice if I’m missing.”
“Xueya, I don’t like seeing food wasted,” He Xulan’s voice was lower than usual.
Xueya didn’t want to eat anymore; he wanted to leave. But he had no other choice and obediently finished the remaining half pastry from He Xulan’s hand. As he was about to raise his head, he heard He Xulan hum softly. The hum’s trailing note compelled him to lick off the remaining crumbs.
After licking clean, Xueya quickly raised his head, “Brother Empress Dowager, I really need to go now.”
His voice was even more pitiful than before.
He Xulan’s gaze moved away from Xueya’s lips, and he called a servant to escort Xueya out through the usually locked small east door. This way, Xueya could quickly reach Fengrui Palace.
Xueya learned from the servant that this shortcut was indeed faster, and he managed to return to Fengrui Palace ahead of Cui Lingjing. Just as he got back to his room, someone informed him that the emperor had summoned him.
Xueya’s heart jumped, but he maintained a composed face. He agreed to the summons, quickly tidied his clothes and hair, and then headed to Cui Lingjing’s sleeping quarters. As soon as he entered, the door closed behind him.
He glanced back at the door, then around the room, silently repeating to himself that he wouldn’t die today, before walking further inside. In the inner chamber, he saw Cui Lingjing sitting by the window.
Cui Lingjing was still wearing his imperial robe but had removed his crown. Hearing Xueya’s approach, he slightly raised his eyelids, revealing a hint of allure. Cui Lingjing’s face had a naturally delicate and feminine beauty, and when he looked askance, an involuntary charm emerged, though he usually kept it in check.
“You’re here.”
“Your servant greets Your Majesty,” Xueya said, worried that Cui Lingjing might have discovered him hiding under the table earlier.
Cui Lingjing beckoned him with a finger, his youthful face calm and even somewhat gentle, reminiscent of the first time Xueya had seen him.
Xueya couldn’t disobey the emperor’s command and walked over, only to be pulled closer by an arm around his waist, bringing him even closer to the couch.
Cui Lingjing was sitting while Xueya stood, with Cui Lingjing’s arms tightly around his waist and his face buried in Xueya’s chest. This overly intimate gesture made Xueya shiver. He didn’t dare push Cui Lingjing away and stood stiffly.
After a while, Cui Lingjing finally moved, lifting his head to look at Xueya. He suddenly asked, “Broken rabbit, have you ever kissed anyone?”
Xueya was taken aback, then shook his head.
Since being bought by the late emperor, Xueya had never experienced any intimate gestures, not even a touch of his hand.
“Is that so? Then you’re still clean,” Cui Lingjing’s tone was flat. He stared at Xueya’s lips for a while before suddenly pushing him down onto the couch. The sudden, rough action caused Xueya to hit his head, making him feel dizzy.
Feeling the weight pressing down on him, he instinctively tried to push away.
