"You two have been waiting for a while. I was just meeting with some business associates, and time got away from me. My apologies," Cui Yi said as he approached.
ChengSangJY raised his hand in greeting. "No need to apologize, Brother Cui. We just arrived and took the opportunity to look at your new friends in the yard."
Mention of the new livestock brought a bright smile to Cui Yi's face. "Ah, you wouldn't believe it. I found these little ones by the river in the back hills. Their mother seemed to have drowned, and the little ones were crying on the bank. They look like they're still nursing, and since my sheep recently gave birth, I brought them back to feed them."
"Brother Cui, you truly have a kind heart," ChengSangJY said with a smile.
"So, Brother Cui, what brings us here today?" LinHuaichu asked bluntly.
Cui Yi hesitated briefly before smiling apologetically. "To be honest, today is my birthday. I thought I'd invite some close friends to celebrate. In the capital, you two are my dearest friends."
"Your birthday! Why didn't you say so earlier? We could have prepared a gift. Coming empty-handed is rather embarrassing," LinHuaichu exclaimed.
Cui Yi waved it off. "No need. I didn't mention it in the letter because I didn't want you to go through any trouble. Also, I was concerned someone might tamper with your gifts like last time."
ChengSangJY nodded in agreement. "What happened last time was clearly aimed at me and Huaichu. I understand your concern, Brother Cui. I'll have a gift sent over after I return."
LinHuaichu nodded vigorously in agreement.
"If you insist, I won't argue. I've prepared a few dishes. Shall we move to the dining hall?" Cui Yi suggested, making a gesture of invitation.
"Brother Cui, isn't Zhiyue coming today?" LinHuaichu asked.
Cui Yi's expression grew serious. "Miss Zhiyue visited a few days ago, saying she and her master were leaving the city for a while. I've heard about LiLuoning. Is he really the renowned Li Lanxing from the martial world?"
"I don't know much about his past, but it seems we won't be seeing them for a while," ChengSangJY replied with a bitter smile.
Seeing ChengSangJY's change in expression, Cui Yi quickly said, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up. Let's go to the dining hall. I have some fine wine prepared. Let's not leave until we're drunk." He led ChengSangJY forward, leaving LinHuaichu following behind, frowning slightly.
In the dining hall, they took their seats as host and guests. "Brother JY, this is a fine wine from my hometown called Qingzhuo Zizhu. It's fragrant and smooth. It's my favorite. Please, have a taste," Cui Yi said, pouring a cup for ChengSangJY and LinHuaichu.
LinHuaichu smelled the wine appreciatively. "Indeed, it's a fine wine. I've tasted many, but this Qingzhuo Zizhu is exceptional." He downed it in one gulp and wiped his mouth. "But it's strong. JY can't hold his liquor well. Three cups might knock him out."
Cui Yi looked at ChengSangJY apologetically. "I didn't know you couldn't drink much. I meant for us to have a good time, but if you can't handle it, I won't force you." He called over a servant and whispered instructions.
"Don't listen to Huaichu. I may not be a heavy drinker, but I can handle more than three cups. It's your birthday, Brother Cui. Let's drink heartily," ChengSangJY said, downing his cup.
Cui Yi hesitated but drank with him. Soon, the servant returned with another pot of wine, placing it by ChengSangJY.
"What's this?" ChengSangJY asked, puzzled.
Cui Yi smiled, lifting the pot. "Since today is special but you can't drink too much, I had them bring fruit wine. It's lighter but still good."
ChengSangJY tasted it, noting the sweet fragrance. "It's indeed good, keeping the wine's essence but lighter and more fragrant."
LinHuaichu eagerly held out his cup for a refill. "Brother Cui, did you make this yourself? It's excellent."
As the evening progressed, LinHuaichu passed out drunk. ChengSangJY, feeling slightly tipsy, watched as Cui Yi signaled the servants to take LinHuaichu to a guest room.
"He's had too much. Take him to rest," Cui Yi instructed.
Handing a cup of tea to ChengSangJY, he said softly, "JY, have some tea to sober up."
Half-conscious, ChengSangJY accepted the tea and drank deeply. He didn't notice Cui Yi's calculating gaze.
In the guest room, ChengSangJY tossed and turned, sweating and grimacing in his sleep.
In his nightmare, XiaoRui gripped his neck tightly. "You're nothing but a whore's son. Keeping you is already a great favor," she spat, her eyes bloodshot, her face ghostly pale beneath the regal garments.
"No, Mother, let go!" ChengSangJY struggled, his face reddening as he gasped for breath. Just as he was about to lose consciousness, XiaoRui released him, throwing him to the ground.
Gasping for air, ChengSangJY managed to ask, "Why keep me if I'm not yours? Why raise me, teach me, and support my claim to the throne?"
XiaoRui laughed hysterically, then leaned down, gripping his chin. "Without a son, I'd be a laughingstock, and the throne would go to ChengSangMo. He'd destroy the Xiao family."
Tears welled in ChengSangJY's eyes. "So I'm just a tool for your power? To control the court?"
XiaoRui laughed again. "Everyone in the palace seeks power. Did you think otherwise? Poor boy," she said, shaking her head as she vanished.
Staring at the ground, ChengSangJY's mind raced with her words. Suddenly, black and silver shoes appeared before him. Looking up, he whispered, "Brother Mo."
In the dream, seeing ChengSangMo brought a wave of emotion. Tears flowed as he hugged ChengSangMo's leg, sobbing, "Mother does love me, right? Even if I'm not hers, she raised me, so she must care, right?"
ChengSangMo crouched, wiping ChengSangJY's tears with a cold hand. His silver hair and the moonlit robes made him seem colder, his lips pale, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
As he wiped the tears, his fingers slid to the back of ChengSangJY's neck, tightening. Feeling the pressure, ChengSangJY's eyes widened in fear. "Brother Mo, it hurts."
But ChengSangMo's expression didn't change. His grip tightened, lifting ChengSangJY off the ground. Struggling, ChengSangJY's attempts to break free were futile. In desperation, he swung at ChengSangMo, only to have his wrist caught and pinned, leaving him helpless and more terrified.
In the dream, ChengSangMo slowly drew a knife from his sleeve, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he admired the cold sheen of the blade. "In the Northern Desert, disobedient lambs are destined to be slaughtered once their necks are seized," he said, and then moved the knife toward ChengSangJY.
ChengSangJY couldn't see what was happening behind him, but ChengSangMo's words sent a chill down his spine. Sensing the movement, he used all his strength to push ChengSangMo away. The grip on his neck vanished, and he stumbled forward, staring in terror at the knife that had fallen to the ground.
"No, this can't be. Brother Mo wouldn't want to kill me. This must be a dream. It has to be a dream," ChengSangJY muttered to himself, trying to calm his racing heart.
"Your Highness?" a gentle voice called out.
ChengSangJY, still seated on the ground, shivered and looked around in panic, unable to see anyone in the dark.
"Who? Who's there?"
"Your Highness, are you alright?" the voice came again.
"Teacher! That's Teacher's voice," ChengSangJY suddenly realized. He stood up and started searching frantically.
"Teacher! Teacher, where are you?" ChengSangJY called out, but the endless darkness gave no response.
"Don't be afraid, JY. I'm here," the voice reassured.
ChengSangJY wandered aimlessly in the darkness, unable to see where he was going or find the person he sought. Suddenly, he bumped into someone. He turned slowly and saw ChengSangKing in full battle armor, looking down at him with a kind smile.
"F-Father," ChengSangJY stammered, taking two steps back. Remembering what had just happened, he was as tense as a startled bird. Moreover, he couldn't recall his father ever smiling at him like that. The supposedly loving smile now seemed especially eerie.
"Why so distant, my son? Come, let me see if you've grown taller," ChengSangKing beckoned.
Still wary from the previous ordeal, ChengSangJY shook his head and took another step back.
ChengSangKing's brow furrowed briefly in displeasure, but he quickly masked it with the same warm smile and beckoned again. "Come, let your father have a look."
ChengSangJY felt something was off. His father hadn't called him "son" since he was nine, and he hadn't smiled at him since. "No," he refused.
Immediately, ChengSangKing's face darkened, his eyes filling with murderous intent. "I said, come here!" he bellowed, drawing a sword and advancing rapidly.
Already on edge, ChengSangJY turned and ran, the confirmation of his suspicions spurring him on.
"Rebellious child!" ChengSangKing's furious voice echoed behind him.
Looking back, ChengSangJY saw his father's bloodshot eyes and bloodstained armor, pursuing him with unnatural speed. "No, Father, please don't kill me," he whispered, running as fast as he could. But fear made him stumble and fall hard.
"Disobedient son, you dare defy me? You deserve death!" ChengSangKing shouted, raising his sword to strike.
"Father, no!" ChengSangJY cried, covering his head in terror.
Just as the sword was about to strike, a white shadow flew in, shattering ChengSangKing's image. ChengSangJY noticed a white object fall to the ground. He looked up, relieved to find ChengSangKing gone, and picked up the object.
"This fan… it's Brother CY's!" he exclaimed. Turning around, he found ShangGuanCY's face inches from his own.
"What's got you so jumpy?" ShangGuanCY asked, taking the fan from ChengSangJY and using it to gently push him back.
Seeing ShangGuanCY, ChengSangJY felt a wave of relief. "I… I saw Father, and Mother… I…" He struggled to explain his panic.
"Alright, alright. You're the Crown Prince now. Why so jittery?" ShangGuanCY said, waving his fan calmly.
"But I almost…" ChengSangJY started, only to be interrupted again.
"Enough. I'm here. I'll handle whatever comes up," ShangGuanCY reassured, patting his head gently.
These words calmed ChengSangJY, who lowered his head, tears welling up. "Brother CY, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blamed you for Mother's death. I just didn't know how to explain it."
ShangGuanCY didn't respond, just smiled gently, his eyes filled with affection as he watched ChengSangJY.
"Brother CY, they all want me dead. You're the only one protecting me," ChengSangJY whispered, his tears falling freely.
"It's alright," ShangGuanCY murmured, holding him close and patting his back.
ChengSangJY sobbed harder, his tears flowing like a dam had burst. "I'm sorry, Brother CY. I'll treat you well from now on."
ShangGuanCY continued to soothe him, but leaned closer to his ear and whispered, "It's okay. Controlling you means I can control the court's power."
ChengSangJY froze, shocked and unable to believe what he heard. He stared at ShangGuanCY in disbelief as he slowly disappeared, laughing.
ChengSangJY jolted awake, drenched in sweat, clutching his twisted blankets. The room was cold, the moonlight casting shadows on the floor, making the damp sheets even more uncomfortable.
He sighed, realizing everyone was likely asleep. He couldn't ask anyone for fresh bedding. Frustrated, he thought, "Cui mentioned a hot spring at the foot of the hill." Deciding he wouldn't sleep soon anyway, he headed out to find it.
At the hill's base, he found the spring. It was small but could fit several people. Testing the water's warmth, he extinguished his lantern and entered the spring.
"Ah, perfect. I'll soak for a while, then return when the servants are up," he muttered.
The night air was cool, but the warm water was soothing. He settled against a rock, recalling the vivid dream. "It was just a dream," he reassured himself, splashing his face with water.
Then he heard footsteps approaching. "Who'd come here this late? Maybe someone else seeking the hot spring?" He thought, sinking lower into the water, leaving only his eyes and ears above.
"Lin Huaichu, you're late!" a woman's voice called from behind the spring.
"Lin Huaichu? That rascal faked being drunk to meet a girl here," ChengSangJY thought. "Wait, that voice sounds familiar."