Chapter 21: A King of a Different Surname
"It is I who have not been good enough."
When the Crown Prince suddenly said this, Yuan Jiabai tilted his head in confusion and replied, "Your Highness has not. Your Highness has been very good."
Xuan Qiao gazed deeply at his fair, clean face. Radiant and full of life, the youth’s cheeks always carried a healthy, rosy glow that softened one's heart without trying. It made Xuan Qiao want to lay every precious treasure in the world at his feet just to make him happy.
He truly did not know how best to cherish him.
Xuan Qiao suddenly felt that even the title of a First-rank Duke was beneath Yuan Jiabai. It would be better to ennoble him as a King of a Different Surname. a hereditary title passed down through generations, ensuring him eternal glory and honor.
The title itself would have to be the most prestigious. What should it be? Jin? Qin? Or perhaps Xuan? Prince Xuan... that would practically be another way of bestowing the imperial surname upon him. As for his residence, it would have to be located closest to the palace. That way, whenever Xuan Qiao missed Jiabai, he could easily summon him to court.
Yuan Jiabai wrinkled his nose in confusion. What is His Highness thinking about? He looks like he's in a spectacularly good mood.
Snapping back to reality, Xuan Qiao said to him, "In a few days, during your scheduled break, I will leave the palace with you. We will stay at the suburban estate after that, so you won't have to be cooped up in the palace for the time being. Look around and see what you want to pack. Don't worry, I will keep this room reserved for you. Whenever you visit the palace again, you will still stay here, alright?"
Yuan Jiabai pursed his lips. "Actually, it's not that boring..."
He knew the Crown Prince had only reached this decision because of his casual complaint about being bored earlier.
"Then will you listen to me?" Xuan Qiao asked gently.
Yuan Jiabai deflated. "...I'll listen."
"I know you're worried about me, but rest assured, it won't affect my duties. Besides, I can return to the palace whenever I wish. It is far more convenient for me than it is for you."
Unable to win the argument, Yuan Jiabai let himself be tucked back into the covers. Qi Guangde entered from outside to blow out the lamps before tiptoeing back out. Leaving two young eunuchs on night watch, the old chief eunuch went off to bed as well.
---
The room plunged into darkness, leaving only faint, blurry silhouettes. It was as if the vanishing candlelight had stolen away all sound, lulling the world into absolute silence.
Yuan Jiabai continued chattering at first, but his voice gradually grew faint until he finally drifted off into a deep sleep.
This was Xuan Qiao’s very first time sharing a bed with someone else. He had assumed he would find it jarring, but to his surprise, he didn't. Yuan Jiabai’s steady, shallow breathing echoed softly beside him like a soothing rhythm that brought unbidden peace of mind.
He, too, closed his eyes.
Xuan Qiao had always been a light sleeper, it was true in his past life, and it had only worsened since his rebirth. The slightest movement beside him was enough to startle him awake.
A fluffy head was nestled tightly into the crook of his shoulder, a soft cheek pressed against his chest, and limbs wrapped around him like a clinging octopus.
Xuan Qiao rested his palm against Yuan Jiabai’s cheek, pausing for a brief moment before gently untangling the youth’s arms and legs, easing him back into his own side of the bedding. He then lay back down and closed his eyes once more.
Yet, only moments later, Yuan Jiabai relapsed into his old habits.
This time, he didn't press his face against Xuan Qiao’s chest; instead, he snuggled right up against his cheek. He was so close that the moment Xuan Qiao turned his head, he could feel the youth's breath. Each soft exhalation brushed against his skin like a feather, sending light shivers across his neck.
Xuan Qiao had known that Yuan Jiabai was a restless sleeper, but he hadn't anticipated this.
He gently cupped Yuan Jiabai’s chin to nudge him back, but at the slightest movement, Yuan Jiabai let out a soft, disgruntled whine. Xuan Qiao froze, and after a brief impasse, slowly withdrew his hand.
Very well. It's not as if I can't sleep like this.
Xuan Qiao closed his eyes again, lightly patting Yuan Jiabai’s back in a steady rhythm, as if coaxing a restless child.
---
The next morning at the crack of dawn, Xuan Qiao woke up. Detecting the subtle movement, Qi Guangde slipped into the room. Because the morning sky was still dim, he quietly lit two small lamps. Following a quick gesture from the Crown Prince, the attendants moved with absolute silence, their every action fluid and weightless.
Even so, Yuan Jiabai opened his eyes just as Xuan Qiao was rising, murmuring in a hazy, sleep-addled voice, "Your Highness..."
Xuan Qiao’s voice carried a raspy morning edge as he whispered softly, "Did I wake you? Don't worry, go back to sleep."
With his mind still entirely filled with cobwebs, Yuan Jiabai merely offered a sleepy grunt in response before passing out again. Only then did Xuan Qiao step away from the bed to let the servants attend to his morning wash.
However, because Yuan Jiabai had something weighing on his mind, he barely snoozed for the length of a few minutes before his groggy consciousness suddenly snapped awake. Gasping for air, he bolted upright in bed.
Startled by the sudden movement, Xuan Qiao immediately hurried over. "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare? Do not be scares, I am right here."
Yuan Jiabai shook his head quickly. Spotting a young eunuch holding the imperial robes nearby, he blurted out, "No, no! Your Highness, are you getting dressed? Let me do it! Let me help you get dressed!"
He scrambled out of bed, eagerly reaching out to take the robes from the young eunuch. Caught completely off guard, the attendant looked flustered but dared not disobey, quickly handing the garments over.
Xuan Qiao couldn't help but chuckle. "You jolted awake just to help me dress? It's fine, the attendants are here to handle this. There's no need for you to trouble yourself. Go back to sleep for a while longer, be good."
Yuan Jiabai looked up with an incredibly earnest expression. "Your Highness, please just let me dress you."
This was exactly what he had resolved to do last night. The Crown Prince treated him with nothing but kindness, and while he couldn't offer any help with grand state affairs, he could at least perform a few small tasks within his capabilities.
With a quick reflection, Xuan Qiao understood. Jiabai felt indebted by the warmth he had received and desperately wanted to offer something in return. It was completely in keeping with his character; after all, Jiabai was fundamentally a person who never forgot a kindness.
Remembering their past life, Xuan Qiao couldn't resist gently stroking the youth’s cheek. You silly fool... you already repaid that debt a long time ago.
"Your Highness? Spread your arms," Yuan Jiabai urged gently.
Left with no choice, Xuan Qiao extended his arms, entirely indulgent of the youth playing dress-up.
Watching from the side, Qi Guangde couldn't help but feel that this scene looked exactly like a Crown Princess dressing her husband. steeped in a thick, honeyed tenderness.
Oh, wait, no, no, no! Why was his mind wandering down that path again? His Highness had explicitly stated he harbored no such inappropriate designs toward Young Master Yuan!
Yet... did His Highness truly feel nothing? The loyal old eunuch sighed inwardly. It was probably because the Crown Prince had never allowed anyone to get this close to him before, which was why his old mind kept jumping to conclusions.
As he smoothed out layer after layer of the robes, Yuan Jiabai suddenly let out a soft snicker.
Xuan Qiao looked down at him. "What are you laughing at?"
Yuan Jiabai put on an innocent face. "Nothing, I'm not laughing."
It's just that you look exactly like a human onion right now, hahaha.
♪ If you are willing to peel open my heart layer by layer... ♪
Xuan Qiao narrowed his eyes playfully. The boy’s eyes were practically curved into little crescents, yet he still claimed he wasn't laughing.
"I must attend lectures at the Wenhua Hall today. Go back to sleep for a while longer. I will ensure no one disturbs you."
Still feeling a bit drowsy, Yuan Jiabai nodded obediently, kicked off his slippers, and climbed back under the covers. Instead of falling asleep immediately, he rested his chin on the pillow and simply watched Xuan Qiao.
Every now and then, when Xuan Qiao glanced back toward the bed, their eyes would lock in a quiet gaze.
Before making his exit, Xuan Qiao walked back over to the bedside. "I am leaving now."
Yuan Jiabai offered a sleepy wave of his hand.
---
Following the conclusion of his two-hour lecture, Xuan Qiao stood up and departed, though he did not head straight back to the Eastern Palace.
He did not take the palanquin, but strolled leisurely down the long palace corridors. As he passed a side gate, a figure suddenly came flying out from the courtyard, crashing violently to the ground right at Xuan Qiao’s feet, narrowly missing the Crown Prince himself.
Qi Guangde bellowed in fury, "Audacious wretch! How dare you jeopardize the safety of His Highness the Crown Prince?!"
Sprawled heavily on the cold stones, Zhang Yonggui looked up in absolute horror, meeting the downward gaze of the Crown Prince, whose eyes locked onto him with the glacial indifference reserved for a dead man.
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