Chapter 117
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When Han Jiao turned around and saw the big boss walking towards him, it felt like his body was gradually filled with joy and relief.
He hadn’t met Xie Duo privately for two days. At some point, the time apart from Xie Duo had become dull and unbearable. Han Jiao went from feeling nervous to enjoying Xie Duo’s constant attention.
But Xie Duo was no longer as attentive to him as he used to be right after returning from the war.
Nowadays, Xie Duo often seemed indifferent to the people and events around him, always wearing a blank expression as if he were thinking about something very important.
Did becoming the Crown Prince force him to grow up?
Surprisingly, Han Jiao regretted his past avoidance. If Xie Duo would now approach him with just a look, Han Jiao would try to respond, at the very least not avoid him anymore.
Right at this moment, Xie Duo just exchanged greetings with him and began conversing with his two older brothers, discussing matters related to the Second Prince.
The Third Prince was very excited about Xie Duo’s perfect “surprise attack.” He didn’t want to restore a superficial brotherly relationship with the Second Prince after things had turned sour because the Second Prince used to cause trouble for him and Prince Yan. He never expected his Ninth Brother to completely crush that troublemaker with a single move.
He kept praising his Ninth Brother’s remarkable talents, attributing them to an inheritance from Father Emperor.
Xie Duo laughed, but Han Jiao noticed him lick his lips with the tip of his tongue. Xie Duo made this small gesture when he was dissatisfied. Perhaps he didn’t want to become an Emperor like his Father Emperor.
“Still, he’s our Second Brother,” Prince Yan reminded Xie Duo as he leaned in close to Xie Duo’s ear. “That should be enough. Show him more respect in public. Don’t let outsiders make fun of the imperial family.”
Xie Duo didn’t look at him. “Alright.”
Han Jiao furrowed his brow.
Xie Duo’s reaction was a bit strange. He wasn’t someone who easily compromised or showed weakness. When Prince Yan gave him such advice, Xie Duo should have started with some strong words before reluctantly agreeing.
Han Jiao also wanted to join the conversation and ask Xie Duo’s thoughts, but Xie Duo was chatting with Xie Jing and Xie An, who had just arrived. It was difficult for him to eavesdrop on the conversation between Prince Yan and Xie Duo.
Everyone took their seats. Unlike the Eldest Prince’s birthday banquet, Han Jiao was a guest of Prince Yan. He sat with the other Princes to enjoy music and performances.
Han Jiao was seated next to Prince Yan, while Xie Duo sat on the other side of Prince Yan.
This reminded Han Jiao of the first time he attended such an outdoor gathering when Xie Duo wanted to sit with him and even personally joined two small tables together. However, in the end, Xie Duo ended up sitting with Prince Yan.
“What’s making you smile, Master?” Prince Yan noticed Han Jiao was happily looking down.
Han Jiao looked up and fibbed, “Prince Duan’s earlier remark was quite amusing.”
Prince Yan also chuckled. “My Seventh Brother doesn’t always get jokes. In the future, don’t tease him too much.”
Han Jiao nodded with a smile.
Not long after the feast began, Han Jiao saw a servant bring a whole roasted lamb. It wasn’t a novelty to him, but the trouble was, guests had to use a small curved knife to cut the meat themselves.
Probably because they couldn’t touch a knife in front of the princes, the servants held up the wooden stick that went through the whole roasted lamb to make it easier for the Princes to cut the meat themselves.
Since Xie Duo was the Crown Prince, the whole roasted lamb started from his table and was passed to Prince Yan, quickly arriving at Han Jiao’s side.
Han Jiao followed their example, picked up the curved knife, and somewhat clumsily cut a small piece of lamb before setting the knife down.
The Third Prince on the other side said, “Master, why did you only take a piece of the skin? The leg meat is more delicious.”
Han Jiao shook his head, saying he had enough, but the Third Prince insisted he try a piece of leg meat.
Worried that delaying too long would cool the roasted lamb, Han Jiao hastily picked up the curved knife again to cut into the leg, but he used too much force, and the knife got stuck on the bone.
Han Jiao’s hands shook as he tried to pull the knife handle out, which made the Third Prince laugh. It wasn’t malicious, but it still made Han Jiao feel somewhat awkward.
“I’ll do it.” Suddenly, Xie Duo’s voice came from behind his ear, and his long hand reached over, covering Han Jiao’s hand on the knife handle.
Han Jiao shivered slightly and immediately let go of the knife handle.
Xie Duo knelt behind him like this, using one hand to slice a few pieces of lamb leg meat. A servant put them on a plate and passed it to Han Jiao.
At this distance, it was sure to trigger Han Jiao’s ear-shaped signal lights, but Han Jiao didn’t back away. He patiently waited for Xie Duo to finish cutting the meat, then turned his head, almost touching noses with Xie Duo. “Thank you.”
Han Jiao seemed a bit disheartened, which caught Xie Duo’s attention.
“Bring my cushion over,” Xie Duo ordered a servant, and then sat down directly next to Han Jiao, sharing a table with him.
“Did you hear about the new academic courses at the Imperial Academy?” Xie Duo stared at him with an inquisitive look, as if trying to understand why Han Jiao wasn’t very cheerful.
“Yes.” Han Jiao felt even more disheartened. He wasn’t interested in this. He hoped Xie Duo would playfully tease him like before, not discuss politics like this.
He felt like he was a difficult subject to please. When the big boss used to be a slacker, he looked forward to Xie Duo showing political and military talent every day. Now that Xie Duo was more mature than before, it made Han Jiao feel miserable.
Yes, it was painful. He felt that something was wrong, as if there was some immense, dreadful pressure that had suddenly transformed the big boss into his current state. The lingering effects of that immense force left Han Jiao breathless.
Even he felt an inexplicable pain. Could Xie Duo be in pain?
Han Jiao looked at Xie Duo with a sense of disappointment.
“Academic matters like mathematics and astronomy should be taken slowly.” Xie Duo misunderstood the reason for Han Jiao’s unhappiness.
“Yes, we must take it slowly.” Han Jiao gazed at Xie Duo. “Your Highness, what has been troubling you lately? Why do you look so pale?”
Xie Duo was momentarily surprised. “The complexity of state affairs.”
“State affairs should not overwhelm you,” Han Jiao stared at the big boss and continued, “You haven’t been to the cuju field for several days.”
“Yes, I’ll relax after this busy period is over.” Xie Duo picked up the untouched wine jug from Han Jiao’s table, poured himself a glass, and downed it in one gulp.
Han Jiao earnestly offered, “Your Highness, if there are too many burdens, you can order me to share the responsibilities with you.”
Xie Duo lowered his head, revealing two sharp little tiger teeth as he laughed softly. “I’ve never seen you, my loyal minister, assert your authority and seek to govern so confidently. Do you need me to invite you to do so?”
In his presence, it was always easy to speak without restraint. Han Jiao blushed and fell silent.
“I understand what you mean.” Xie Duo noticed that the little child prodigy had become even more temperamental after two days without seeing him. He had to correct his tone and said, “If it gets too much, I’ll ask for your help.”
Only then did Han Jiao look up and say, “I can do anything for Your Highness.”
Xie Duo was taken aback. He touched his own cheek and asked, “Is my complexion very pale? Do I look pitiful?”
“How could you look pitiful?” Han Jiao strongly disagreed. He was the all-capable big boss, never to have a pitiful day.
“Then why are you suddenly being nice to me?”
“Suddenly?” Han Jiao stared. “When have I ever been unkind to you?”
Xie Duo complained seriously, “You always try to avoid me but willingly teach Seventh Brother to dance. When Seventh Brother stripped your clothes, you didn’t refuse.”
For the umpteenth time, Han Jiao patiently explained to the grudge-holding big boss, “At that time, Prince Duan was still unwell. If I had refused, it would have hurt him.”
Xie Duo’s gaze suddenly turned bewildered. He paused and whispered, “Han Xiaobai, I seem to be unwell too. You can’t resist me in the future.”
Han Jiao nervously examined the big boss from head to toe. “Your Highness, where are you unwell?”
“I seem to not feel my heartbeat.” Xie Duo stared blankly at Han Jiao. “Am I still alive?”
Han Jiao’eyes suddenly widened as he looked at Xie Duo’s face. “What are you talking about? Are you feeling unwell?”
Xie Duo suddenly laughed, as if he had only been joking. He lowered his head, picked up the wine jug, and was about to take a sip, but Han Jiao held his wrist.
“Your Highness, when did you learn to drink?” The fear in Han Jiao’s heart magnified significantly. Although it seemed like a joke, Xie Duo’s previous statement filled him with an inexplicable dread.
Xie Duo glanced to the side. “Do I need to learn to drink?”
“Drinking is harmful to your health. It’s best if you don’t learn.”
Xie Duo chuckled but still tried to raise his hand to drink.
Han Jiao was in a state of panic, desperately pressing down on his hand, as if the drink in the cup was not alcohol but poison.
He inexplicably felt the need to prevent something from happening, to stop anything that could harm Xie Duo from occurring. “You can’t drink!”
Xie Duo turned his head to look at him. “Why not?”
“This is my drink!”
“But you don’t drink.”
“Who says I don’t?” Han Jiao snatched the cup from Xie Duo’s hand and gulped it down!
Xie Duo was stunned.
The little child prodigy had never drunk alcohol before. Even Sixth Brother had mentioned that he never touched a drop. No amount of persuasion had made him change his mind. Yet, at this moment, he willingly drank a cup of wine.
Han Jiao looked down at his empty cup and suddenly remembered his low alcohol tolerance. He nervously looked at Xie Duo and asked, “Your Highness, is this wine intoxicating?”
It had been a long time since Xie Duo had laughed so carefreely. The sight of the little child prodigy’s silly and nervous demeanor left him almost breathless with laughter.
“Stop laughing.” Han Jiao was almost desperate. “I might cry… I have to leave…”
“What did you say?” Xie Duo didn’t catch it.
Han Jiao nervously said, “May I be excused early?”
Xie Duo suppressed his laughter. “Is there something urgent?”
“I can’t handle alcohol,” Han Jiao urgently stated, “and I’m feeling a bit fatigued.”
“You’ve only had a small cup.”
Han Jiao nervously looked up at him, and in the next moment, he suddenly slumped into his arms…
He had fallen asleep!
Xie Duo lowered his head to look at the unconscious little child prodigy in his arms and gently poked his face with a finger, but there was no response.
Anyone else might have thought that Han Jiao was joking, but not Xie Duo.
Based on his experience, if Han Jiao were playing such a prank, with so many people present, there was no way he would choose to collapse in his arms.
The banquet came to an inexplicable pause.
Xie Duo planned to personally escort the unconscious Master Xiaobai home. His brothers bid him farewell in advance.
Han Jiao was carried into the carriage by Xie Duo and slept soundly in his arms all the way.
On the way, the carriage hit a bump, causing it to jolt violently.
Xie Duo lifted one long leg and braced it against the opposite seat, trying to ensure the person in his arms slept more securely.
Han Jiao had already been jolted awake, but he didn’t lift his head.
First, Xie Duo heard a stifled sob from the person in his arms, and then he lowered his head to find the little child prodigy clutching his front and quietly sobbing.
“What’s wrong? Are you awake?” Xie Duo raised Han Jiao’s face with his hand. “Why are you crying?”
In his sight were those teary, shimmering peach blossom eyes, looking at him with such despair and helplessness, as Han Jiao choked out in a whisper, “Your Highness, please don’t go… don’t leave me…”
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