Chapter 84 – Extra
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1 – Suspending Court
When Li Yi opened his eyes in a daze, he found himself surrounded by intricately carved patterns, with everything appearing as silhouettes. The windows were draped in a faint bluish-white hue.
For a moment, he didn’t know where he was until someone beside him propped up their arm and adjusted his blanket for him.
Having experienced too much in life, amidst such warmth, he feared that dreams and reality might become intertwined.
Li Yi clumsily moved under the silk quilt and shifted into Zhao Yuan’s embrace.
“Qi Yuan…”
The voice that spoke early in the morning was hoarse and muffled, unlike Li Yi’s usual clear tone.
Zhao Yuan responded with a vague sound and leaned over to kiss him. Soft and tender kisses landed on his lips, then moved to his cheeks, the tip of his nose, his forehead, before returning to his lips, lingering there affectionately. It made Li Yi linger in a half-dreaming state, not allowing the dawn to disrupt their shared dreams.
“Qi Yuan… Today is the first day of the lunar month,” Li Yi intermittently reminded, his years of courtly upbringing prompting him to remind Zhao Yuan not to miss the monthly court assembly on the first and fifteenth day of each month.
Zhao Yuan, however, ignored his reminders, too engrossed in kissing Li Yi, pressing him down, and devouring his lips, disregarding any other thoughts.
Zhao Yuan’s actions caused Li Yi’s eyes to shimmer with moisture, his gaze darkening.
“Qi Yuan…” Li Yi called his name again, powerless to resist his advances.
Zhao Yuan’s desire intensified as Li Yi called out, but he managed to restrain himself, patiently nibbling on Li Yi’s earlobe.
As the round beads of flesh touched his moist tongue, Zhao Yuan lightly teased them, causing Li Yi’s entire body to tremble. A momentary flush spread across his face, rendering him speechless.
Satisfied with Li Yi’s reaction, Zhao Yuan tightened his embrace, leading him into the waves of passion beneath the quilt.
Zhao Xi walked from the inner courtyard to the outer one, and Sun Changshi felt a headache coming on when he saw Zhao Xi’s calm demeanor as he approached. After all, it was his responsibility to handle the affairs of the court. He had to explain to officials from various departments, from the Ministry of Rites to the Military Command, and even to officials from various prefectures and counties, why the Regent did not attend the morning audience. Sun was the one who faced the cold shoulders and accusations for failing to advise His Highness properly.
Nevertheless, he had to face it, even if reluctantly. Could he utter a word of dissent in front of Su Wang?
Sun Changshi with a forced smile on his face, spent the morning explaining to the officials, finally finishing his duties by midday.
In the rear courtyard, Li Yi felt too embarrassed to face anyone after what had happened. Seeing his state, Zhao Yuan knew he had been too reckless. Indifferent to his own embarrassment, having spent many years in the military and capable of doing anything, Zhao Yuan couldn’t disregard Li Yi’s dignity.
After being tossed around all night, Li Yi’s body felt weak, and even simple movements became difficult. Despite this, he didn’t want to blame Zhao Yuan. He sat there silently, quietly composing himself.
Zhao Yuan walked into the outer room, pushed open the half-closed door, and didn’t call for servants or attendants. He quietly gave a few instructions, then, after receiving the tea tray brought in, he closed the door and returned to the inner room.
Li Yi finished washing his face and looked up to see Zhao Yuan waiting by his side, handing him a cup of hot tea.
Having been through what they had, sweating profusely in their passionate encounter, Li Yi was incredibly thirsty. He took the cup and felt the warmth blown on it by Zhao Yuan. He gulped down the tea without hesitation.
After finishing the tea, Li Yi heard Zhao Yuan say, “I’ve instructed them, you are injured.”
Implied in this statement was that it didn’t matter if Li Yi didn’t go out today; he had already found a good excuse to cover up.
Li Yi set down the teacup and before he could speak, he was lifted up. He was startled when Zhao Yuan pressed him down onto the bed, almost making him jump up.
He was truly afraid of Zhao Yuan, he wouldn’t want more would he?
Not long after, Li Yi felt a tingling sensation spreading behind him, as Zhao Yuan reached out to massage his back.
Having done these things one after another in the morning, Li Yi felt content in his heart. Rather than feeling angry, he felt a bit pleased and foolishly happy.
However, he still had some concerns about the matters of the previous dynasty. Tilting his head, he said to Zhao Yuan, “Your Highness should still attend court sessions regularly. Skipping regular sessions is acceptable, but on auspicious days, officials from various ministries come from far away. There are always important matters to report, so it’s not good to miss them.”
Hearing this, Zhao Yuan smirked, pretending to think seriously before leaning close to Li Yi’s ear and whispering, “What’s this? Afraid people will say, ‘Henceforth the regent king no longer attends court early’?”
“Qi Yuan!” Li Yi blushed with embarrassment and anger. He waved his hand, realizing he couldn’t win against Zhao Yuan, and angrily got up and left the room.
Zhao Yuan couldn’t stop laughing behind him, which only fueled Li Yi’s anger even more. How could this guy tease him so much?
2 – Mid Autumn
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, it was the first time Su Wang celebrated the festival in his fiefdom. Not knowing the preferences of their immediate superiors, officials at all levels pulled out all the stops in their celebrations, hoping to handle all matters properly.
When Zhao Yuan saw the long list of festival arrangements handed over by the Sun Changshi, he couldn’t be bothered to look at it. Turning his head, he left it on the corner of the table. It was Li Yi who understood the difficulties of the subordinates and picked it up, skimming through it in the elegant handwriting, line by line.
Suddenly, he saw that on the night of the sixteenth, there would be a feast with sky lanterns released in the Garden on the western hill. Li Yi became excited and casually asked Zhao Yuan, “How about we go there in disguise?”
“If you’re willing to go in any way, then we’ll go. Just rent the entire garden, and it’s settled.”
Li Yi pursed his lips and glanced at Zhao Yuan with narrowed eyes, implying that this would distance them from the people.
The Mid-Autumn Festival lantern festival in Su Garden was originally a grand event held by the provincial capital every year, attracting crowds of visitors. Li Yi had heard people praise it several times since arriving in his fiefdom.
Moreover, Su Garden was a luxurious mansion occupying a large area of the mountain. The pavilions and gardens had been carefully managed for many years, comparable to those in the south of the Yangtze River. Renting the entire garden seemed somewhat extravagant.
He couldn’t help but think of the phrase “the king no longer attends court early,” and couldn’t see any signs of Zhao Yuan’s potential as a wise king.
Seeing Li Yi staring at him, Zhao Yuan probably understood what he was thinking. He laughed in front of the Changshi, didn’t say anything, just waved his hand casually, letting the subordinates arrange it.
On the evening of the sixteenth, Li Yi and Zhao Yuan dressed up, looking like two wealthy young masters accompanying each other for an outing. They followed the crowd into Su Garden.
In the garden, colorful ribbons floated every few steps, but there were not many lights. They were afraid of overshadowing the brilliance of the moon and the silver wheels in the sky, affecting people’s moon viewing.
Only the red bamboo lanterns carried by servants lit up the path, winding through the mountains, stretching for several miles like a dragon, winding through the depths of the forest.
Seeing the scenery, Li Yi’s hands itched. He had come out to release lanterns. He had prepared ink and paper in advance. He took out a thin bamboo lantern with a cotton-white base and casually began painting scenes of the garden on the lantern surface.
Zhao Yuan personally held the lantern for him. Li Yi’s hands were very steady, skillfully supporting the lantern’s surface, unaffected by the gentle breeze.
Breeze blowing, Li Yi finished drawing the procession of people touring the garden with ease.
He raised his head to look at the person in front of him, and in the light of the lantern, there was a different charm than usual.
Unable to contain his joy, Li Yi drew two little figures leaning against each other at the entrance of the garden, admiring the autumn scenery in the garden under the moonlight.
After he put down his brush, Zhao Yuan turned the lantern around to take a look, then reached out to Li Yi, holding out his hand without moving.
For a moment, Li Yi didn’t understand what was going on and looked at Zhao Yuan inquiringly. Zhao Yuan raised his chin slightly, and his gaze fell on Li Yi’s hand holding the brush. It suddenly dawned on Li Yi, and he handed over the brush.
Su Wang’s handwriting was bold and imposing, but compared to the past, it had softened considerably.
Li Yi leaned in to look. Zhao Yuan had casually added a line of verse, even the tone was somewhat loose, with a hint of arrogance.
“Holding candles for a night stroll, with a jade beauty by my side, why not indulge in a bit of recklessness.”
In the light of the lantern, Li Yi looked helpless, and Zhao Yuan raised an eyebrow at him. They both understood each other’s intentions and smiled at each other.
The group continued to walk forward. Li Yi was not one to pay attention to the road. Having been accustomed to being escorted and being a painter, he often forgot to look where he was going when he saw beautiful scenery or people. Therefore, Zhao Yuan kept a close eye on him. Whenever Li Yi was careless, Zhao Yuan quickly reached out to protect him.
Without mentioning to him to be careful, he let him be.
When they reached the lantern stall, the crowd was so dense that they couldn’t even turn around, and Zhao Yuan and Li Yi were squeezed together.
At first, Zhao Yuan was afraid that Li Yi wouldn’t like it. He was about to ask, but then he happened to raise his eyes and saw Li Yi looking at him.
In Li Yi’s deer-like eyes, there was a glimmer of light, looking at him brightly, with joy in the corners of his eyes and brows. There was no impatience at all.
In the midst of the hustle and bustle, Zhao Yuan suddenly settled down. With his heart set, he completely ignored the gaze of others and boldly embraced Li Yi.
Following behind them were Zhao Xi, Zhou Yi, and the guards of the ceremonial department in their casual uniforms.
The silver moon fell into Li Yi’s eyes, surrounded by colorful lanterns and trees. The crowd surged past, layer upon layer.
Zhao Yuan held Li Yi close, feeling as if the thousands of glass lanterns had become the backdrop for the person in front of him. He couldn’t help but think that he should have rented the garden earlier. At this moment, he could be as close to him as he wanted.
Li Yi, unaware of Zhao Yuan’s wandering thoughts, looked around, admiring the moonlight and the lanterns on the towers. After he had seen enough, he smiled and approached Zhao Yuan, saying, “Let’s find a place to drink and release lanterns.”
As Zhao Yuan nodded, he signaled to Zhou Yi. In a moment, the guards led the two of them away from the main path, heading towards a small slope nearby.
There were several tents set up on the slope, originally prepared for high-ranking officials to rest. As soon as they entered, a steward from the mansion recognized Zhao Yuan and quickly led his family out to avoid disturbing them.
After a while, somehow the news spread, and the nearby tents on the hillside began to thin out, making the night even quieter.
Zhao Xi quietly led the two eunuchs to take out wine cups and plates, and laid out fruits. When Li Yi came to his senses, everyone else had already retreated far away.
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. It was not clear when the sound of strings and flutes drifted over, faint and distant, not very clear. Li Yi was still drinking lightly.
After two or three cups, his face flushed red. When the moon reached its zenith, a sudden gust of wind blew, making the banners on the slope rustle. He stood up, grabbed the lantern he had drawn earlier, and ran outside the tent.
Zhao Yuan shook his head, finishing the wine in his cup. He strode out of the tent like a shooting star and casually tossed the empty cup into Zhao Xi’s arms.
Li Yi was enthusiastically lighting the lanterns he had drawn himself. The paintings and verses he had originally depicted were now shining brightly under the lantern light, becoming even more vivid.
Sensing someone approaching from behind, he turned around and handed the lantern to Zhao Yuan, then turned to ask the attendants for lamp oil.
When people release sky lanterns, they need to be coated with lamp oil so that the lanterns can burn completely when they rise high into the sky, avoiding accidents.
Unexpectedly, before Zhao Yuan left the tent, he had the intention of imbibing some wine. At this moment, he casually sprayed it all over the lantern surface, making the ink colors on the drawings even more vivid.
He smiled slightly at Li Yi, raised his hand, and released the lantern. Like a sparkling pearl, it rose slowly into the clear night sky. Li Yi leaned towards Zhao Yuan, and they both looked up at the lantern flying high.
“Huan An.”
Li Yi responded, turning to the person beside him. At this moment, Zhao Yuan had no reservations. He lifted his chin and kissed him deeply and lightly.
On the way back to the mansion that night, Zhao Yuan asked Li Yi, “Was Su Garden enjoyable?”
Li Yi, still feeling the effects of the alcohol, began to ramble about the evening’s festivities. But he was not very self-aware, speaking incoherently, with only his eyes shining brightly like stars.
Zhao Yuan sat opposite him, smiling gently, listening carefully to every word he said.
A few days later, Sun Changshi handed several documents to Li Yi, with a land deed sandwiched in between. Li Yi became the new owner of Su Garden.
“The Prince said that the young master doesn’t need to worry about anything. The former imperial merchant will still take care of everything as usual. If the young master wants to hold celebrations for any occasion, he can do so, and if he wants to cancel them, he can do that too. However, there needs to be a place for future convenience.”
Li Yi sighed at first, then couldn’t help but smile. In the end, he didn’t say anything.
<Returning to the Capital>
In the twilight, with rain and wind, Li Yi, dressed in white, sat in the meditation room. Both inside and outside the mountain house were quiet and desolate. Occasionally, he could hear the croaking of frogs, adding to the atmosphere.
After several years away, he didn’t expect his return to the capital to be not for the emperor’s grand wedding, but for a funeral.
The Empress Dowager had passed away.
Zhao Yuan went alone to the palace to pay his respects. Knowing that he would be detained in the palace for several days, unable to leave, and seeing that the whole city was in mourning with white clothes everywhere, it was not a good place to stay. He suggested that Li Yi go to the Baoen Temple, where the scenery was beautiful and far from these troubles.
Despite being separated for ten years, the past few days without seeing each other made Li Yi miss Zhao Yuan even more. This separation was so different. Knowing that he would come soon, the longing became even more unbearable, barely suppressing the restlessness, but also giving rise to a worrying anticipation. Li Yi felt that things in the capital should be almost settled, and his mood swelled even more.
Just like the lotus pond behind the mountain, overflowing in the rain, with the frogs croaking incessantly.
He simply got up and left the meditation room, opened an oiled paper umbrella from the corridor, and strolled through the guest hall.
Looking up, the mountain was covered in misty water vapor, like ink splashes, shrouding the temple, Guanyin Pavilion, and further away was the flying eaves and precious roofs of the Bell and Drum Tower, faintly visible and majestic.
Just as he reached the front yard of the mountain temple, a group of people emerged from below the green jade stone steps. In the light rain, they were all dressed in plain white clothes, blending into the scenery of the temple.
As soon as Li Yi saw the leader, he stopped in his tracks.
Zhao Yuan also saw him and gestured for the others to leave, then climbed the steps alone. In the dim twilight of the evening rain, the mountains were all painted in shades of ink-like gray.
Zhao Yuan looked up, and what caught his eye under the reddish-brown umbrella canopy was Huan An in white, standing there spotlessly clean. The mountain breeze danced around his robes from time to time, fluttering incessantly.
In the midst of the mountain woods, the wind danced with his robe’s corners, fluttering ceaselessly. Zhao Yuan took three steps in one stride, swiftly crossed the long steps, grabbed the umbrella with one hand, and pulled Li Yi close with the other, as if afraid that the person before him might be carried away by the wind.
He bowed his head, pressing his forehead against Li Yi’s. Li Yi was enveloped entirely by his breath, feeling nothing but the light panting of both under the small umbrella, as if the world had been shut out.
Zhao Yuan whispered softly by his ear, ‘Have you thought of me?’
Li Yi, tracing Zhao Yuan’s hand along his sleeve, intertwined their fingers, holding tight, brushing his lips against Zhao Yuan’s, “Madly.”
Zhao Yuan’s breathing grew heavier and quicker again. “We’ll leave the temple tonight.”
The temple was inconvenient for many, and Zhao Yuan had no qualms, but Li Yi did.
Hearing Zhao Yuan’s urgency, Li Yi chuckled softly, “Your Highness, endure a bit longer. Master Chen will emerge from seclusion tomorrow. At least let me see him before I accompany you.”
Zhao Yuan firmly grasped Li Yi’s hands, his face finally showing a cold response.
At night, with the person he hadn’t seen for several days, how could Li Yi sleep? And thinking of Zhao Yuan’s days of mourning in the palace, rushing to the temple without rest, Li Yi just laid silently beside him.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Yuan broke the silence in the meditation room.
“The first time I accompanied you to the temple, I was still your “horse attendant.”
His voice was slow, instantly pulling Li Yi back to old memories.
Every year on the anniversary of the grandmother empress’s death, Li Yi would send condolences to the temple, offering a bright lamp.
At that time, he had just obtained the Bai Yuqi and, without much thought, brought Zhao Yuan along, saving him from having to leave someone behind at the school to look after him.
At that time, he was still a prince, coming to mourn his ancestors, and the temple closed its gates for three days, with only the attendants from the palace coming and going.
Master Chen even personally welcomed him in front of the main hall.
It was also a rainy day. By the time they entered the temple at dusk, the rain had stopped, and the clear air of the mountains enveloped them. A few monks stood in rows inside and outside the evening temple, and the distant sound of evening drums could be heard.
Le Chen and Li Yi exchanged greetings, and he said with a smile, “We just finished discussing with the abbot this morning, and the few Tanhua flowers by the Vermilion Pool are about to bloom tonight, coinciding with your visit.”
Li Yi’s eyes lit up. “It’s so fortunate!”
Le Chen nodded with a smile. “Please, Your Highness, enjoy the flowers.”
Zhao Yuan, new to the realm of the temple, did not understand the intricacies of this. When night fell and they arrived with the others, the evening breeze blew away the clouds, revealing the Vermilion Pool under the moonlight behind the mountain. This opened his eyes.
Li Yi, in his white robe and plain cap, stood in the distance and suddenly turned to Zhao Yuan, lifting his chin. Behind him were several huge vermilion hot springs, emitting billowing white mist. The hot springs were stacked high and low towards the mountainside, with the outermost one overlooking the vast valley, deep and unseen in the night.
Around the spring, colorful palace lanterns were already hung, and ceremonial guards held torches in the distant woods.
The crackling of candles and torches drove away the ghosts in the mountains.
The closer to the pool, the warmer and more humid the air became. In this small exotic place in the capital’s climate, Zhao Yuan found the trace of those three Tanhua flowers.
Two of the plump flower buds had fully opened, their jade colors illuminated by the lamps, with the red pool and silver moon as background, awaiting their fragrance.
As midnight approached, all was silent, only the sound of flowers blooming.
Li Yi admired the icy beauty of the Tanhua flowers and couldn’t help but sketch a few strokes. The flowers blushed shyly, but in just a few hours, they would return to their slumber.
Just as memories resurfaced, Zhao Yuan turned to Li Yi and asked, “Do you have the inclination to revisit?”
Without the need for asking, Li Yi knew what he was thinking. He simply propped himself up and smiled, saying, “I couldn’t ask for more.”
In the chilly rainy night, the two of them quietly, without disturbing anyone, Zhao Yuan led the way with Li Yi protected by his right hand and holding a lantern with his left, winding their way to the side of the Vermilion Sand Spring.
Darkness surrounded them, leaving only the two of them in the vast universe.
Zhao Yuan hung the lantern on a tree branch, casting a dim light in the area.
In the dim light, Li Yi could see the stone steps beside the Vermilion Sand Spring.
Accustomed to military life, Zhao Yuan quickly took off his clothes and plunged into the pool, checking the poolside. The Baoen Temple usually had someone to take care of it, so there was nothing wrong with the stone steps or the pool bottom.
In the dim light and shadows, Li Yi saw Zhao Yuan standing in the pool, with the pitch-black and vast empty valley stretching behind him. Around him was the sound of the wind, and beneath his knees was the dark spring water flowing like ink.
His figure was even more exquisite than the most exquisite statue in the temple, tall and slender, without an ounce of excess flesh. The black night concealed his battle scars, leaving only perfection.
Zhao Yuan turned towards Li Yi, raindrops hitting him like needles, silently converging into several streams of water flowing from his chest and shoulders into his abdomen and waist…
Li Yi stood there in a daze, his heart skipping a few beats, until Zhao Yuan took his hand. Only then did he turn around, hurriedly taking off his clothes and following him into the pool.
The two of them nestled into the hot spring, feeling the cool rain and wind on their faces but warmth all around their bodies.
Li Yi leaned into Zhao Yuan’s arms, the water lifting him up, while Zhao Yuan held him steady. After lying on his back for a moment, enjoying the tranquility, Li Yi turned over and rubbed his cheek against Zhao Yuan’s neck, murmuring in a half-dreamy state, “Qi Yuan, what more could one ask for?”
Zhao Yuan hummed in agreement, lowering his head to kiss Li Yi’s forehead and then his brow, before removing his jade hairpin and gently massaging his black hair. Li Yi twisted his body comfortably, the corners of his lips unable to hide the seductive tone.
“Don’t move,” Zhao Yuan’s voice was equally husky. “If you move again, I can’t guarantee I won’t do something else in the temple.”
As he spoke, there was a hint of warning.
Li Yi hurriedly stopped moving, and Zhao Yuan couldn’t help but laugh softly. He kissed the back of Li Yi’s neck, his hand secretly stroking underwater…
“Don’t, don’t tease me,” Li Yi couldn’t break free, pleading softly, “Qi Yuan—”
Being called by him almost made Zhao Yuan lose control, so he had to stop teasing Li Yi and the two of them quietly enjoyed the peaceful night.
Li Yi was weak, and after soaking for only a short while, he felt a bit suffocated and hot. Soon, he began to feel dizzy and drowsy.
Zhao Yuan called out to him, “Huan An?”
Too weak to nod, he said with difficulty, “We should go back,” but found it difficult to move.
Zhao Yuan lifted him up horizontally, carrying him out of the Vermilion Sand Spring in a few steps.
He wrapped Li Yi layer by layer and only wore an outer garment himself. He didn’t ask Li Yi to walk anymore, simply carrying him back to the Zen room.
Fortunately, it was already past midnight, with no one around. The guards on duty from the Yiwu Court, upon seeing this, obediently hid in the dark, pretending not to see anything.
Li Yi buried his face in Zhao Yuan’s arms. When they returned to the room, he appreciated Zhao Yuan’s thoughtfulness and even took the initiative to gently kiss his lips.
In the lamplight, Li Yi’s cheeks were flushed, whether from soaking in the pool or because of his naturally thin skin, no one could tell.
Zhao Yuan suppressed a smile, catching Li Yi and not letting him retreat, returning the kiss gently. He intended to hold him in his arms and sleep for the night as he usually did.
At dawn, the night rain had stopped, and the morning bell of the temple rang out, startling flocks of birds.
Li Yi overslept because he soaked in the hot spring. Zhao Yuan brought porridge and dishes to the Zen room. After Li Yi was ready, they went to see Le Chen together.
In the abbot’s room, Zhao Yuan just kept his head down and drank Zen tea.
Le Chen reminisced with Li Yi and talked briefly about Buddhist matters, naturally leading to the situation in the temple.
“Yes, we are just about to expand the scripture repository, and the Great Hall of Mahavira is also waiting to be renovated.” Le Chen said with a smile, looking at Su Wang.
Putting down the teacup, Zhao Yuan glanced at the abbot’s openly hinting expression.
Li Yi blinked at him, indicating, “It’s your fault for smashing the treasure hall in the first place.”
Zhao Yuan didn’t avoid it. In front of Le Chen, he began signaling Li Yi. It was you who wanted to become a monk first.
The abbot Le Chen had excellent meditation skills. He didn’t care about their commotion and just calmly added tea for both.
In any case, the abbot’s account would be crystal clear in front of the Buddha. No matter how they calculated, they couldn’t pin anything on these two.
And how could Zhao Yuan refuse?
After the two left the temple, the rainbow after the rain was still hanging in the sky, not yet obscured by the mist of the day.
Li Yi and Zhao Yuan rode out of the mountain gate together. When Li Yi looked back again, his sadness was swept away by Zhao Yuan’s words.
“If I had known that staying this night would be more precious than the most extravagant sale in the capital, I wouldn’t have agreed.” Zhao Yuan said with a smile, teasing Li Yi for the interest owed when they broke into the hall that year.
Li Yi couldn’t help but laugh and cry. He knew that Zhao Yuan had no taboos. Still, as they hadn’t gone far from the temple gate, Zhao Yuan was blurting out anything that came to his mind. Most likely, he still cared about Li Yi’s feelings.
Clearly, he didn’t care about this money at all. Having been a prince for so many years and once dominated the court, his family’s wealth was probably thicker than the emperor’s private treasury. Now, with Li Yi’s expenditure, Zhao Yuan was unwilling to let go of the extravagance he used to enjoy when he was still the crown grandson.
Now that he said that, he probably wanted to dispel Li Yi’s melancholy.
Li Yi didn’t respond, just smiling at Zhao Yuan.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Yuan didn’t turn the page but leaned closer to Li Yi’s side and whispered something that only the two of them could hear, “But being able to bathe together in the Spring is barely worth it. Let’s find a place to stay early tonight, and I’ll take care of everything.”
The tone at the end was raised, clearly not a question, but a statement. Li Yi pulled away from the horse’s head, refusing to acknowledge Zhao Yuan anymore. But inevitably, there was a blush on his cheeks that spread from his neck to his face.
Having teased Li Yi enough, Zhao Yuan turned back to his solemn Su Wang demeanor.
He spoke sternly, but restrained himself from going too far during the night. Knowing that Li Yi didn’t like riding in sedan chairs and couldn’t behave recklessly while riding horses, he held back. After all, he couldn’t bear to see Li Yi suffer.
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