Chapter 8
Translator: マイ
Proofread/edit: adlt1226
T/N: a little notice for the next update (making notice in each novel lol). Usually, I update 2 chs a week for WiFi and LAMMLR, and 2 chs a month for Taizi, however, due to some problems I’m having right now, I might not be able to update for a while. I’ll try my best to provide bit by bit to the proofreader who has been helping me correcting my translating for all these times… if I can squeeze some spare time during this disaster period. (=´；ω；｀=) I hope I can be back on track soon.
“Mother?” Yong Lin exclaimed in surprise and sat up from the bed. “Why is mother here?”
How could Yong Shan not understand why she rushed over? He sat up from the bed, made a gesture of inviting her to sit down, and smiled – it was a smile unlike a smile, and said, “The weather is freezing, not to mention it’s already the middle of the night. Mother came rushing in like this. Is it because you wanted to visit me? Isn’t this right, mother?” Then he turned his head toward Yong Lin. “Who told you not to go back right away? Now it has alarmed our mother.”
His words made Shu Fei’s face turn white and red.
She actually received word that Yong Shan called Yong Lin over to scold him. Not only did he give Yong Lin a good scolding, he even punished Yong Lin and had him kneel in the snow. She thought the punishment would only last for a while, but she didn’t expect that Yong Lin would not come back even after midnight.
Kneeling in the snow for such a long time, wouldn’t he freeze to death?
She was aware of Yong Shan’s cold temperament and was afraid that Yong Shan would really disregard his brother, and the more she thought about it, the more anxious she became, prompting her to rush over in person.
As soon as she barged into the inner room, what greeted her was the unexpected scene of the two brothers lying side by side in bed, talking to each other in harmony. This picture surprised her and made her feel very awkward. She felt relieved, and her agitatiion calmed down at the same time, she smiled and said, “Well, I don’t care about Yong Lin. I should leave his disciplining to you. It seems the wind has gotten stronger again tonight, and I’m worried this will affect your injury. I can’t sleep anyway, so I just come over to take a look. Has it gotten better?” She sat down and gently looked at her twin sons whose personalities were quite different from each other.
Knowing that what she said was insincere, Yong Shan also did not expose her words. He smiled and said, “Thank you for worrying about me mother. In fact, the wound has healed a lot and it doesn’t hurt at all. It’s just that I’m bored staying here by myself, so I asked Yong Lin to come over and chat. Does Mother want to take him back?”
When Shu Fei sat down, she clearly saw the five finger marks on Yong Lin’s face. She guessed a little bit in her heart, and knew that Yong Shan did not tell the truth. But seeing how these two brothers were getting along, talking and laughing, everything was good. Knowing that the Crown Prince’s temper was not easily provoked, she shook her head and smiled. “What would I want him to go back for? It’s better to have him accompany you. As his older brother, you can also teach him a thing or two, and seeing that your wound is alright, I feel relieved. I will go back first.” Then she said to Yong Lin, “Listen to your brother. Even if he beats you and scolds you, it’s all because of your failures, it’s all for your own good.”
After warning Yong Lin with a few words, she left, feeling a sense of relief.
After being beaten earlier and sitting in the cold for a long time, Yong Lin was now rolling in a warm and comfortable bed; he felt sleepy and gave out a big yawn. Yong Shan glanced at him. “Do you want to sleep?”
“Um.” Yong Lin nodded in a daze.
“You’re indeed insensible.” Yong Shan cursed, “Who else in the world is more blessed than you? You don’t need to worry about anything, and just concentrate on making trouble, making some people lose sleep because of you. Our mother, and even that person.” With a cold snort, he called Chang Defu over. “Go and tell Yong Qi that Yong Lin has already fallen asleep here, and not even a single hair has been harmed. Tell him not to worry and get a good night’s sleep himself.”
When he said this, he felt that his face was taut, like a piece of rusted iron – cold and stiff. His heart was also cold and heavy, and the sourness that emerged seamlessly from nowhere was pervasive and engraved itself in his chest.
He felt that he was really a cold character.
He lowered his eyes and looked at Yong Lin quietly. The handsome face that was an exact copy of himself looked childish when he was asleep.
So fast to fall asleep…
Yong Shan felt jealous. He poked his brother’s cheek with his fingertips without any real force. It didn’t make him feel any pain; instead, feeling the touch on his cheek, Yong Lin unconsciously slapped his mouth. Then he rested his forehead on his brother’s arm, closed his eyes, and raised the corners of his lips into a sweet smile as if someone was playing with him in his dream.
Yong Shan sighed in his heart, feeling that Yong Lin was a really blessed child.
However, the word ‘blessing’ pierced his heart. He turned his eyes away, and his thoughts became more and more sober. The outside was so dark that he could not see his fingers, but his mind was like a slowly burning candle. This slow burning process made him uncomfortable.
Finally, he freed up a hand, lifted the silk canopy hung around the bed, and whispered in a low voice to avoid waking Yong Lin, “Someone.”
“His Royal Highness?” The eunuch was well-trained. He walked more quietly than a cat, came over like a shadow, and leaned on the bed.
“Go and bring Yong Qi.”
Yong Qi was brought in shortly.
Yong Qi hadn’t slept long, but just closed his eyes after receiving the message from Chang Defu. On such a cold day, he was suddenly “invited” from his bed by the attendant. He couldn’t help feeling cold and confused.
When he arrived at the most magnificent bedroom and was stared at by those familiar, bottomless dark eyes, Yong Qi shivered suddenly and realized the danger.
“Shhh.” Yong Shan forced a smile, touched his lips with his fingers, and made a slight noise. This seemingly child-like gesture when done by Yong Shan showed a terrifying force, nailing Yong Qi on the spot, not daring to move.
Yong Shan looked at him, and his mood gradually improved.
Yong Qi, who wore a white silk nightshirt, appeared extraordinarily slender; the silk clinging to his skin outlined the curves of his chest and waist vaguely.
If Yong Shan still had doubts as to why he wanted to be this resentfully terrible prince a moment ago, now he could once again feel confident about it.
“Come.” He straightened up on the bed and stretched out a hand towards Yong Qi. Seeing Yong Qi taking a step back, Yong Shan smiled pretentiously, and opened a corner of the curtain, revealing Yong Lin’s sleeping face.
This haughty third Prince would never suffer from insomnia. He was nestled beside Yong Shan’s shoulder, sleeping soundly.
Yong Qi suddenly startled and stared at Yong Shan uncomfortably.
“Come on, don’t wake him up.” Yong Shan softly and tenderly said to him.
No, it was more than just speaking these words.
This was like a warning, a threat.
In fact, Yong Qi simply ignored such warnings and threats. Yong Shan and Yong Lin were closer in terms of blood relationships, and between siblings who share the same parents, and siblings who share only a father, who should care and love Yong Lin more?
Yong Lin lowered his eyes habitually.
Yong Shan waited firmly, believing that he would be obedient.
Sure enough, after a while, Yong Qi moved very carefully, as if suppressing his breath, silently, and involuntarily leaned over.
Really! Just for Yong Lin…
Seeing Yong Qi’s righteous expression as if he was about to sacrifice himself, indescribable jealousy ignited in Yong Shan’s heart, causing him to almost tumble out of bed, it burned so much that he could hardly suppress it himself.
In that instant, he almost jumped out of bed to strangle Yong Lin who slept beside him.
Maybe he could even strangle Yong Qi to death as well.
But that uncontrollable rage passed away in an instant. Yong Shan used his cold heart to suppress the anger fiercely, and swallowed it down his throat.
What or who was there to hate?
Yong Qi? But Yong Qi was never his.
Yong Shan stared at Yong Qi who was already standing by the bed. His favorite person was so close, that he could even feel Yong Qi’s temperature through the thin clothes on his body. He could feel the wisps of warmth interspresed with the cold air, making him want to torture the person in front of him severely, tear him into pieces, swallow him, and make him a part of himself, but there was also a gnawing desire to kneel down and confess what he had done to the person in front of him ― if, if everything could be undone.
“Don’t wake him up.” Yong Shan repeated it again. Even he was surprised to find that his voice was calm and unhurried. As if he was truly a ruthless villain, he stared at Yong Qi viciously and gently stretched out his hand at the same time. “He’s sleeping really well, right?”
Yong Qi was convinced of his cruelty and ruthlessness. He was afraid that his brother, Yong Lin, would be poisoned, so he had to obey his wishes and sat down by the bed.
But to have him just sitting down like that was obviously not what his younger brother the Crown Prince had in mind. Yong Shan’s gentle but strong hands dragged him into the bed involuntarily. In order not to wake up his innocent brother, Yong Qi complied with Yong Shan’s dominance with fright, and finally lay down on the noble bed belonging to the Prince.
Yong Qi, with bright and shining eyes looked at Yong Shan as they occupied the same bed as the sleeping Yong Lin.
Yong Qi feared that in this world, no other pair of eyes could bring such fear into people’s hearts except this brother of his.
Yong Shan slept in the middle, his back facing the ignorant Yong Lin, and both arms imprisoning Yong Qi in an embrace. Perhaps Yong Qi had been standing in the cold with his thin clothes for a long time, he found that Yong Qi was trembling. However, this made Yong Shan very happy because he could warm him up with his body temperature while Yong Qi’s favorite Yong Lin slept beside them.
How interesting.
“Is it cold?” His nose was less than a nail’s distance away, and when he talked, the hot breath went past Yong Qi’s face.
After seeing Yong Qi close his eyes in resignation, Yong Shan slowly stuck out his tongue inch by inch, licking Yong Qi’s straight and perfect nose.
“You and him,” Yong Shan licked the elastic skin with his tongue, sliding from the tip of his nose to his lips, lowering his voice. “What exactly happened between you two?”
What? Yong Qi opened his eyes suspiciously, he didn’t know what Yong Shan meant.
“Has he ever hugged you?” Yong Shan carelessly bit his lip.
Yong Qi shook slightly. He clearly remembered that this new Crown Prince in front of him had tortured him with this question before. The method of torture was cruel and painfully embarrassing, which made him feel ashamed. He also knew very well that for him, this question was undoubtedly a fuse that could cause a catastrophe.
The more he tried to struggle between Yong Shan’s arms, the more Yong Shan tightened his muscles, and the carelessness in his tone just now was really just his imagination. Yong Qi could only try to relax a little bit before lowering his beautifully thick eyelashes, and replied in a low voice, “No.”
Yong Shan finally spared his red lips from being bitten. “He really has not?”
Yong Qi shook his head. Suddenly realizing that his gesture might cause him to misunderstand, he nodded quickly.
After nodding, Yong Qi’s expression seemed even more at a loss.
Then, Yong Shan started laughing beside his ear.
After laughing for a while, Yong Shan stretched his arms out, hugged his nervous and pale elder brother in his bosom and stuck close to his ear. “Say you like me.”
This strange request made Yong Qi peek at Yong Shan momentarily in amazement, and then lowered his gaze again.
Yong Shan disliked this silence of his.
“Quickly, say you like me.” Yong Shan gave the order in a creepy, coquettish tone, and began to tighten his arms. Yong Qi didn’t dare to put his hand against him, and his chest was gradually forced against the other’s chest.
The two undulating chests rubbed against each other, with only a thin single layer of clothing separating them, but because the layer was so thin, it seemed as if it was non-existent.
Yong Shan held the silent man in his arms for a long time, and it took some time to feel his breathing even out. At this moment, he was extremely grateful for the darkness of the night, and that he didn’t have to hide and secretly watch him like he did during the day. Yong Qi was in his arms now, so behaved like a cat whose claws had just been trimmed.
“Yong Qi, I’ll treat you better,” he pressed against Yong Qi’s trembling earlobe. “Okay?”
An affectionate, focused voice, with a vague fear of being let down.
He waited for a while.
“Yong Qi, why do you hate me like this?” He loosened Yong Qi’s stiff body a bit, grabbed his soft boned hand, and put it on his face, his tone became a little anxious, “Touch and see, how is it different from Yong Lin?”
“You hate me so much that you don’t even want to look at me?”
“What is it about me that is different from Yong Lin?”
“We’re the same, clearly we are the same.”
“If you don’t believe me, you can try touching Yong Lin’s…” When he brought Yong Qi’s hand to Yong Lin’s face behind him, Yong Qi suddenly pulled his hand back and sat up.
In an instant, everything condensed into a deadly silence.
Yong Shan stared at the graceful undulating figure in the dark, feeling as if a hammer was beating his heart, and its smashed pieces falling, hitting the ground hard.
The pure white silk shirt seemed to glow in the dark. He didn’t know whether it was his clothes or Yong Qi himself that was glowing under the moonlight.
“Lie down.” After a long while, Yong Shan squeezed out two words from between his teeth.
His tone sounded terrible.
Even the person sitting in front of him stopped breathing slightly, and his outline stiffened in the dark.
“I want you to lie down for me.” These few more words were squeezed out hard between his teeth.
His eyes were fierce like a wounded wolf, and it was even more horrifying at night when the dim light shot out from his pupils, almost piercing the weak Yong Qi.
Yong Qi took a deep breath, and after a while, he surrendered to his fate and slowly lay down next to Yong Shan.
Yong Shan’s breathing became heavy, he panted so hard, like trying his best to suppress an evil beast that was about to break out, making Yong Qi uncontrollably panicked.
A moment before the string broke, Yong Shan gritted his teeth and turned around fiercely, his back facing Yong Qi.
“Sleep.” After suppressing himself with all his strength, his voice became rough, and he found it hard to say this to Yong Qi.
Yong Qi was behind him.
And his younger brother Yong Lin slept right in front of him, with a face devoid of any worries.
Yong Shan clenched his fists under the covers, then pinched his palm with his nails. In his heart, he wanted to rouse this blessed brother of his who had what he wanted most; he wanted to wake this carefree Yong Lin from his dream with a hard punch. But his hand completely violated his will. Instead, he gently stroked Yong Lin’s closed eyes in distress.
He can really sleep.
This little fool…
This damned little fool.
“I’m afraid of you……”
A faint vague sound suddenly floated from behind.
It was so faint, and yet it made Yong Shan stiffen in disbelief for a while.
“I,” in the middle of the night, Yong Qi’s voice was low and very pleasant. A light, clean voice. He paused for a long time before continuing, “I, do not, hate you.”
Quiet.
It was unknown how long this quiet dominated everything.
I do not hate you.
Yong Shan felt that his throat was choked.
Yong Qi, Yong Qi.
On the warm, crowded big bed, surrounded by silk canopy curtains, the prince who had everything he could ever want in the world used his resolve to restrain himself and to lie quietly, with only one thought repeatedly whispered in his heart.
Yong Qi, I will treat you well.
I want to treat you better, better than anyone else.
Always treat you well…
These words were silently repeated in his heart.
The oath was running in his veins, but his body did not dare to move at all.
He was afraid that he would suddenly startle away this fragile warmth with the slightest movement of his fingertip.
Even though it was just a little bit of coldness that had initially surrounded his heart, it had stayed there for too long, and his heart seemed eternally cold.
He could finally feel a little warmth; even if it was only a little, it was enough…
The next day, the weather was visibly better.
Yong Shan expected that he wouldn’t be able to sleep well all night, but when he woke up in a daze, he was surprised that he had slept until late into the morning.
Hearing his movement, Chang Defu hurried to the bedside to wait on him, and said with a smile, “Your Highness is awake? It’s rare to see Your Highness sleep so well. This servant is happier to see that your Highness slept soundly than having himself a good night’s sleep. The sky is bright and clear today. If Your Highness is interested, how about taking a small sedan to go out for a stroll? It will also help in relieving the pain.”
Yong Shan slept well and felt refreshed; even his wound did not hurt much. He was in a surprisingly good mood even after hearing Chang Defu’s nagging. He sat up and let them serve hot water and the towels. Bright and shining rays came through the window and swept away the heavy mood that had surrounded the room these past few days as if everything suddenly became bright. A smile appeared on his heroic face as he threw the hot towel for wiping his face into the basin. He raised his head and exhaled a long breath. “It’s sunny, good weather!”
Glancing at the empty quilt on his left and right, he asked casually, “Where are the two princes?”
“Replying to His Royal Highness, both of them are in the side hall.”
“The side hall?” Yong Shan let out a casual voice, and then asked, “What are they doing?”
“They are playing chess, Your Highness.”
The sun shone through the fully carved pattern of Happiness and Longevity on the top of the corridor, the rays angled downwards through the spaces of the carving and made mottled patterns on Yong Shan’s skin, comfortably warming his whole body, and his steps were much lighter.
Going around the corridor, he saw the large wooden door of the side hall. The door was not fully closed, but was left slightly opened. Two or three young servants were standing at the door, basking in the rare good sun, squinting and bending over, yawning. Upon seeing Yong Shan appear and stand in front of them all of a sudden, their faces became pale with fright and they knelt down without delay. “Your Highn…”
Yong Shan stretched out a finger, swung it sideways, and waved them all to one side. He didn’t push the door, and just sneaked in sideways through the slightly opened door.
The big sun during winter was always a welcome sight.
The huge side hall was illuminated by it, and the glazed seven-color tiled lamp that his Father Emperor personally admired not long ago hung from the center. Because there was already daylight, the servants had already blown out the lamp, and the hall was bright enough.
Judging by the randomly placed cups, pots, bowls and chopsticks on the side, it was apparent that someone had used the small table earlier. There were five or six white jade plates holding small dishes; its contents only moved around slightly, and a large portion of these dishes remained; a half-bitten yellow sponge cake rested on the edge of a bowl. The whole scene was filled with comfort.
In front of the window on the other side of the room, a chess game was well underway. Both parties of the ongoing chess war were deeply invested. Yong Lin bowed his head and gritted his teeth, frowning at the chessboard. Yong Qi’s expression was unknown, and Yong Shan resisted the urge to lean over and look at his face, and just stood quietly behind him, his eyes gazing towards the chessboard.
He couldn’t help but smile after taking a glance.
It was no wonder Yong Lin had such a sad face while gritting his teeth – he had already suffered a defeat.
His chess skills still had not improved even after they had not seen each other for a long time.
“I’ve got you now!” After thinking hard for a long time, Yong Lin gripped the black chess piece in his hand and enthusiastically put it on the board.
Yong Shan said in his heart, idiot, isn’t that just sending your piece to die?
As soon as Yong Lin pressed his finger down, he seemed to realize something. He was startled as if he suddenly realized the danger, and then yelled, “No! No, it’s not right!”
Yong Qi only tilted his head and made no sound.
Yong Shan who stood behind Yong Qi, lowered his eyes, carefully observing, not missing anything. Yong Qi’s back was relaxed, the lines on his spine were soft and graceful. Even though he could not see it with his own eyes, Yong Shan knew that his face must be as calm and relaxed as when he used to secretly peek at him countless times before.
“Yong Qi Gege, you took these two pieces, now it’s my turn.” Yong Lin repented, and squeezed the black piece back into his palm, and stared at the chessboard relentlessly. After a long time, he suddenly stretched out his hand to pinch away two of Yong Qi’s white pieces, and smiled as if he was acting with coquetry. He suddenly raised his head and shouted with a shock, “Yong Shan Gege!”
It was too late for Yong Shan to wave his hand to silence him. The back in front of him suddenly stiffened, and the Yong Qi who had his back to him suddenly stood up, as if a snake was biting his foot.
He was horrified by Yong Lin’s “Yong Shan Gege”. Yong Qi stood up firmly, but because he got up anxiously with his head turned halfway, he lost his footing when he saw Yong Shan’s half shadow, and couldn’t help falling backwards.
With his quick eyesight and quick movement, Yong Shan’s hands passed under his armpits, and after picking him up and steadying him on his feet, he laughed softly. “You’re really careless.”
Even after Yong Shan helped him up, Yong Qi was still in a daze. Yong Shan pressed his shoulders lightly, and sat him down. He also sat next to Yong Qi after tidying his clothes.
The seat, originally made for one person, now had two people sitting on it. How could it not be crowded? Yong Qi was sandwiched between the wall and Yong Shan. Sitting on the opposite side, Yong Lin was full of embarrassment, and he was a little at a loss. Yong Shan’s voice penetrated into Yong Qi’s ears, “Is it too crowded? Should I get another square couch?”
“No need to get another one. I’m not afraid to squeeze with you, brother, come and sit with me.” Yong Lin patted the square he was sitting on, and moved inside, smiling.
Yong Shan lightly responded, but did not move. He still looked to Yong Qi’s side and asked in a low voice, like it was a private conversation between them, “Is it crowded?”
Across the small table with the chessboard, he was rather unscrupulous, and while asking in a low voice, he gently held Yong Qi’s hand under the table and rubbed the soft palm with his thumb.
Yong Qi’s body suddenly shook. He raised his head and glanced at him to plead. Looking at him like this, Yong Shan couldn’t bear it anymore, he pursed his lips and smiled, and let go of his comfortable palm as if he didn’t mind.
“Have you had breakfast?” Yong Qi asked, lowering his eyes.
It took a while before Yong Shan realized that he was asking him. He was overjoyed in his heart, but frowned absent-mindedly. “They serve the same things every day, what’s so delicious about them?”
Yong Lin interrupted, “How can you be like this? You said that I was disobedient. It turns out that my brother was the same in his palace. I will tell mother later when I see her.” Then he stood up and took the chessboard away. After a while, he brought all the small dishes from the table on the other side, one by one. There was also a small bamboo steamer with steamed buns and steamed bread roll and crystal buns, which left only one of each inside. He also brought the bowls and chopsticks he had just used and placed it in front of Yong Shan. “I’m too lazy to call someone to bring clean bowls and chopsticks. It’s just this much, so use my set, okay?”
His kindness made it hard for Yong Shan to refuse. He took the chopsticks and randomly picked from a side dish and chewed it in his mouth, frowned and said, “How did Chang Defu do it? Making these sour things on a cold day.”
Unexpectedly, Yong Lin immediately showed a look of being wronged, and complained, “This was deliberately brought back from Jiang Zhong by me. I was very careful all the way, for fear of falling over with the jar. What about cold and sour? You can’t make such a good thing in the palace. Yong Qi Gege likes it very much.”
Yong Shan was skeptical, and turned to look at Yong Qi.
When Yong Qi saw that he wasn’t doing anything frightening while seated next to him, his expression gradually became more natural. Seeing Yong Shan watching him, he coughed slightly. “It’s delicious with hot yellow sponge cake.”
While looking into the small bamboo steamer, he suddenly remembered that he had eaten most of the yellow sponge cake, and the last half piece was still lying on the bowl on the table over on the other side, and he was suddenly speechless.
Yong Shan watched him take a look at the table over on the other side, and he already understood, and smiled. “Cold sauerkraut with yellow sponge cake, I want to try it.” He stood up and took the small half-eaten yellow sponge cake lying on the edge of the bowl.
“That…” Yong Qi was surprised to see that he really wanted to eat it, and couldn’t help but say, “That yellow sponge cake…”
Halfway through, he shut up again, staring at the yellow sponge cake that Yong Shan was holding in his hand.
That was the one he had bitten. Because he had already eaten one at the beginning, and could no longer eat an entire piece for the second time, he put the remaining half aside.
“What about this?” Yong Shan saw his interesting expression and deliberately teased him.
“It’s cold……”
“It doesn’t matter.” Yong Shan stuffed two small dishes into the yellow sponge cake and took a big bite. He closed his mouth and narrowed his eyes. It seemed that the taste of peaches that the Queen Mother had been nurturing for three thousand years were indeed authentic. He dared not miss even the slightest taste. After he swallowed them all, he sighed. “It’s really delicious. It’s even more delicious when it’s cold.”
His mouth was full of lingering fragrance.
Yong Qi knew in his heart that he meant something else, and his face blushed all the way to his ears.
Yong Lin was very surprised and swallowed. “Is it really delicious? I will try it too.”
With enthusiasm, he took the cold steamed bread roll from the bamboo steamer, and then took the chopsticks to pick up the side dishes. Yong Qi couldn’t stand it and snatched both the chopsticks and steamed bread roll from his hand, and asked with a sullen face, “Are we still playing chess?”
“Yong Shan Gege is still having breakfast.”
“I’m full.” Yong Shan said in a leisurely manner.
Yong Lin remembered the stinky game that he was clearly losing, and made a bitter face, so he had to obediently remove the things on the table and put the chessboard back on.
It was the same game as before, but Yong Lin was shameless and forcefully took away Yong Qi’s two white pieces.
Yong Qi did not pursue it. Then he took a white piece, put it down, and watched Yong Lin carefully.
Yong Lin scratched his head vigorously for a long time, and asked, “Can you not put it down at that spot? You see, I only have that one spot remaining.”
“Good-for-nothing.” Yong Shan smiled on the side as he scolded Yong Lin, then took a black chess piece and played on behalf of Yong Lin.
His move seemed casual, but he had been thinking about it since he stood behind Yong Qi. Yong Lin won over two of Yong Qi’s pieces and the situation turned more favorable. Sure enough, as soon as he made his move, Yong Qi paused. He no longer made a move casually and was not as calm as he was in the beginning, pinching a white piece and carefully pondering for a while before placing it on the board.
Yong Lin folded his hands over his chest.
“Why aren’t you making your move?” Yong Shan looked at him.
Yong Lin chuckled. “Playing chess is something smart people do. I don’t think I’m smart enough. It looks like the black ones are going to die in this game. If Yong Shan Gege can make a comeback and win, I will give you a whole jar of side dishes as thank you.”
Yong Shan gave him a glance. “Who cares about your side dishes?” Then he raised his hand again and held a piece in his hand.
Yong Lin asked Yong Shan, “Gege, do you want to sit here with me?”
“No need.”
“Aren’t you uncomfortable?”
“I will feel more comfortable if you talk less.”
Yong Lin stopped speaking.
Without him talking, the hall was much quieter. Yong Shan’s chess skills were hundreds of times better than Yong Lin. Yong Qi could beat Yong Lin, but he was far inferior to Yong Shan. Although he won a lot of pieces at the beginning, the black pieces gradually became more aggressive, pushing him further to the back. Yong Shan’s moves became more carefree, just raised his hand and placed it on the board as if his moves were made without much thought, while Yong Qi showed an embarrassment state of struggling surviving the game. He held a white chess piece in his hand that was suspended in the air for a long time, hesitating, not knowing where to place the piece.
Yong Shan had been a “brother” to him for so long, and this was the first time he had had the opportunity to play against him.The exterior wall, which had always been steady, seemed to have collapsed automatically, and the novelty and excitement that came out from it, almost made him snicker several times.
While waiting for Yong Qi’s move, he pretended to be impatient, tilting his head and squinting at his opponent. The sun shining in from the window, reflecting his beautiful hand holding the white piece almost made Yong Shan want to grab it, put it in his mouth and gently take a bite, at most only bite, and only until Yong Qi frowned would he let go.
This move Yong Qi was about to make was very difficult to play. He couldn’t set down the piece for a long time, and even Yong Lin, who had been reduced from a participant to a spectator, yawned fiercely on the other side. Yong Shan supported his cheeks with both hands and stared at Yong Qi and thought secretly to himself that even if he didn’t put it down for a lifetime, it was still a good thing to sit by his side watching him. But after a while, he seemed to suddenly remember something, he straightened up and approached Yong Qi’s neck, “It seems much better.” It was probably due to the direct sunlight. Looking at it from this angle, the burned area, in the shape of the flowers, seemed to be getting shallower and lighter.
Yong Qi was concentrating on the game, but was startled by his sudden movements, and the white piece fell onto the board.
Yong Shan gently stroked the wound on his neck. “Was it because of the medicine I asked someone to send?”
“Un.”
Yong Shan smiled, stood up and went to the door of the hall, called a servant who was waiting outside, and ordered, “In the storeroom there is a golden fan, the one with a jade pendant tassel. Tell Chang Defu to take it, and give it to Zhang Xiaogan from the Imperial Hospital.”
The servant hurriedly agreed, and before leaving, asked cautiously, “Your Highness, do you want to tell him what this reward is for?”
“If I want to reward him then I will reward him! What do I need to tell him the reason? Useless thing, go quickly.” Yong Shan glanced at the servant who was cursed foolishly, turned around, and returned to the hall.
Taking advantage of this unexpected opportunity, Yong Qi escaped from the square couch. Pretending to be thirsty, he stood in front of the large cabinet in the corner to drink water. Seeing Yong Shan return, he immediately glared at him and said, “I admit defeat.”
Yong Lin was very happy, stood up and stretched his muscles and bones, and smiled at Yong Qi. “Yong Qi Gege bullied me on the chessboard every time we played together. It turns out there’s also a day when you’ll be defeated. This time it’s my turn to win the prize. I’m thinking, what should I get?”
Yong Qi glared back at him. “You didn’t win, so why should you win the prize?”
Only then did Yong Shan realize that there was a prize for winning, and he looked at Yong Qi playfully. “Since I won, I should have a prize, right?”
Yong Qi was silent.
He was the eldest of all the princes. From the time he was born, his identity was a little different from that of his brothers. From the time he became a Crown Prince, he was not something that ordinary princes like Yong Shan could approach casually. Yong Shan often saw Yong Lin and Yong Qi talking and laughing, but he had no such blessings to be on the same ground as Yong Lin. Later, when Yong Qi’s title was abolished inexplicably and sent to Nanlin, he could no longer talk and play with anyone.
Therefore, until Yong Shan had reached his current status, it seemed that this was the first time he had the chance to joke with Yong Qi. Although it seemed to be just a casual statement, he was a little nervous in his heart, his pupils shrinking subconsciously, as they stared at Yong Qi.
Fortunately, after Yong Qi pondered, although his expression was embarrassed, he finally replied, “There is no significant prize. It’s just that, the loser writes something to the winner.”
Yong Lin triumphantly said, “Yong Qi Gege, you have punished me miserably in the past. Isn’t it my turn to take revenge this time? Don’t worry, I won’t be too ruthless, so I will punish you to copy Thirteen Chapters of《The Book of Chess》by Zhang Ni.”
Before he finished talking, Yong Shan had already picked up his collar from behind, and said, “I won the prize, when is it your turn to talk?” After driving Yong Lin outside the side hall, he closed the door.
“Ge!” Yong Lin hurriedly pressed his hand against the closing door, and whispered, “It is rare that he is in a better mood today. He is not as afraid of you as he used to be. You have to seize this opportunity to clarify.”
Yong Shan was startled. “What did you say?”
“You still don’t understand what I’m talking about?” Yong Lin asked, leaning his head as if he was afraid that the secret would leak. “Mother said that you have always respected and loved Yong Qi Gege. It was because of the Emperor’s order that his title was abolished, and why you also had to be more aggressive towards him. I was skeptical at first, and I didn’t expect you to rescue him from the Internal Punishment Court. But whether your fierce treatment toward him is real or not… Anyway, the Internal Punishment Court has scared him enough. That’s right, who told you to burn him with the branding iron? This bitter punishment is really scary. For you, I spent a lot of effort to please him today, and I hope that the misunderstanding between the two of you will be eliminated, and you’ll be able to shake hands to make peace. In the future, the three of us brothers…”
Before Yong Lin could finish talking, Yong Shan closed the wooden door heavily.
Images from Google ٩̋(ˊ•͈ ꇴ •͈ˋ)و
Next update: Sun, 11t
CrazedPlanet 