Chapter Forty-One: Confession

“What?” Yu Hualiang was dumbfounded.

What was this Prince Seventh up to again? Was he planning to force himself on him this time? Fortunately, he’d learned a few moves from Cao Zhileng…

He edged warily toward the door. “This doesn’t seem quite right.”

Prince Seventh was candid. “Let me see your wound.”

Yu Hualiang shook his head. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. I can handle it myself.”

Prince Seventh’s tone was tinged with guilt. “After that day, you locked yourself in your room and refused to see anyone…”

If not for Cao Zhileng, Yu Hualiang would have explained, but he remained silent. Prince Seventh continued, “Do I really repulse you so much?”

Yu Hualiang scratched his head. “If you weren’t… inclined that way, you’d actually be quite all right…”

“Inclined which way?” the prince asked.

“Uh… you know, preferring men.”

Prince Seventh sighed. “So you still can’t accept me?”

“Then what about you and A-Liu?”

“Huh?” At the mention of A-Liu, Yu Hualiang knew things were about to go wrong. He’d only shared a few innocent hugs with A-Liu, but the prince had already called her over as a threat.

Given Prince Seventh’s temperament, A-Liu was bound to meet an untimely end sooner or later…

Yu Hualiang quickly shook his head. “I only see A-Liu as family.”

The prince’s gaze grew wickedly playful. “Oh? Is that so?”

Yu Hualiang felt an uneasy chill as he met that look. He hesitated. “Yes.”

Prince Seventh suddenly let out a cold laugh, which Yu Hualiang found odd; he must have said something to A-Liu already.

The prince then opened the door. “Come, let’s dine.”

Yu Hualiang followed in confusion, keeping a careful distance. “Your Highness, where are we going?”

“To the Warm Lake. The scenery there is quite nice.”

In Yu Hualiang’s memory, the only watery place in the prince’s residence was where they’d admired the fish together that day.

Could it be that pavilion?

But reality surpassed all his expectations—he truly learned what luxury meant!

Besides the lakeside pavilion he’d seen before, there stood a three-story building by the Warm Lake.

When Prince Seventh led him up, Yu Hualiang reached out to touch the wood, discovering that the entire building was constructed from fragrant rosewood.

A single piece from here could fetch a small fortune. And inside—what splendor! Even a tiny oil lamp could illuminate the entire floor, making the gold and glazed decorations shine.

The columns were intricately carved, exuding an air of opulence, and the delicate red gauze drapes hanging inside were made from finer material than even the finest clothes Yu Hualiang owned.

He followed Prince Seventh upstairs. This place rivaled anything he’d seen in a museum, but—why were there no servants?

Come to think of it, since arriving at the prince’s residence, he’d hardly seen any servants at all—except for the day that boisterous Madam Xuan came to cause trouble, when there were quite a few young maids around.

Was it possible that, for all his rank, the prince had only Ye Fang to attend him?

Could the household really be so short-staffed? Impossible—no one with a residence like this would lack the means to hire help.

There was only one explanation: he trusted no one.

Thinking of it that way, Prince Seventh was rather pitiable. As a confidant, Yu Hualiang would certainly do his duty—but as for romance, that was a line he couldn’t cross.

Why, of all things, did Prince Seventh have to prefer men? Lost in his thoughts, Yu Hualiang walked right into the prince’s back, completely unguarded.

Prince Seventh turned with a faint smile, as if to say, “You’re still so foolish,” with all the overbearing charm of a CEO doting on a sweet, bashful lover.

Yu Hualiang felt awkward and hurried to explain, “Ahem, I was just lost in thought.”

Only upon entering the next floor did he notice two maids standing there. Prince Seventh took a seat beside a rosewood table at the center.

He looked at Yu Hualiang. “Ziliang, sit.”

The two maids moved to pull out his chair for him, but as a man, he couldn’t bear to let young women serve him that way.

He said to them, “No need—I can manage.”

Once seated, Yu Hualiang remembered his purpose. “Your Highness, what is this place?”

Prince Seventh sipped his clear wine and addressed the maids, “Open the doors.”

Upon his command, the doors swung open. A gust of cold wind swept in, and before them stretched a sky full of stars.

Yu Hualiang stepped forward, his eyes lighting up at the view—in this spot, it seemed the entire residence lay before them, lanterns twinkling everywhere. The Warm Lake reflected the stars and the lights, dazzling and brilliant.

“What a beautiful sight…” Yu Hualiang murmured.

Prince Seventh said, “This rosewood tower was a gift from my elder brother after the campaign at Helian.”

“Wow, that’s quite a gift,” Yu Hualiang said, full of envy.

But the prince gave a cold laugh. “Indeed, quite a gift—bought with the lives of fifty thousand soldiers. How could it not be precious?”

At these words, Yu Hualiang felt a pang in his heart. The scenery before him dimmed.

He poured himself a cup of wine without asking. Prince Seventh gently reminded him, “Ziliang… you’re injured, you shouldn’t drink.”

Yu Hualiang sighed at the moon. “A soldier dies for his country, his spirit guards the land.”

With that, he swept his cup to the ground—a libation to the fallen. Whatever role Yu Hualiang played in the prince’s eyes before, now he seemed every inch a true man.

A steely hero, his clothes fluttering in the wind, revealing a slender frame.

Prince Seventh was deeply moved. As Yu Hualiang turned, the prince pulled him into a sudden embrace.

Yu Hualiang bristled, but realized it was only a proper, brotherly hug.

“Ziliang… you have a good heart.”

“Hey… Your Highness…” Yu Hualiang thought it best not to struggle.

The maids served the meal—fish, meat, all manner of dishes, and even stewed hen prepared by A-Liu.

Once the maids had withdrawn, only the two of them remained in the upper room.

After a few cups, Prince Seventh smiled at Yu Hualiang. “Ziliang, do you play any stringed instruments?”

Yu Hualiang was busy gnawing on a chicken foot. He spat out a bone and replied, “No, but I can play the melodica.”

“Melodica? What sort of instrument is that?” the prince asked.

Yu Hualiang answered offhandedly. He hadn’t thought that such an instrument didn’t exist in this era, so he covered, “Uh… I can also play leaves.”

“Play leaves?” the prince inquired.

“Oh, you know, blowing tunes on tree leaves. You don’t know how?”

Prince Seventh chuckled. “When I was a child, my mother had me study the six arts, but before I mastered the instruments, she passed away.”

Yu Hualiang set down his chicken foot, apologetic. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought up sad memories.”

“It’s been twenty years. It’s no longer a sadness,” the prince replied calmly.

Halfway through the meal, a firework shot into the sky, bursting into a blossom that reflected on the lake below.

It gave the illusion of being among the clouds, the fireworks seeming close enough to touch.

Then several more exploded above, and though fireworks were common, their radiance in combination with the lake and sky was truly breathtaking.

“This…”

Prince Seventh watched the fireworks with a smile. “Do you like it, Ziliang?”

Yu Hualiang praised, “It’s beautiful, no doubt about that.”

“To tell you the truth, today is my birthday.”

“Hm?” Yu Hualiang was surprised. Wasn’t a prince’s birthday supposed to be celebrated with great fanfare, banquets in the residence for days?

How could it be that only he, Yu Hualiang, was here to mark the occasion with the prince?

Prince Seventh explained, “After my mother died, I was raised with my fourth brother by his mother. They changed my birthday to match his, so we’d see each other as true brothers.”

“I see,” Yu Hualiang said.

“So I’ve never really celebrated my true birthday. You’re the first, Ziliang.”

Yu Hualiang was flattered and, after a moment, said, “Then I’m truly honored. But a birthday isn’t complete without noodles—let me go to the kitchens and ask them to make a bowl.”

The prince asked, “Why noodles?”

“For long life, of course! Longevity noodles—eat them and you’ll live long.”

Prince Seventh gave a bitter smile. “If only one could truly live long.”

Yu Hualiang didn’t want the prince to dwell on such a gloomy note for his birthday. He patted him on the shoulder. “By the way, is there anything you want? As long as it’s within my power, I’ll do my best to get it for you.”

The prince, already tipsy after two jugs of wine, sat slouched over the table. At Yu Hualiang’s words, he slowly straightened, seized Yu Hualiang’s hand, and said, “I want you to love me, Mu Zicheng.”

Yu Hualiang was mortified. He’d forgotten to specify that romance was off the table. “Uh… could you ask for something else?”

Prince Seventh’s expression darkened, like a disappointed child. “You just promised me anything and everything… Ziliang, are you going to break your word?”

“It’s not that… It’s just, I’m not inclined that way…” Yu Hualiang was at a loss—when Prince Seventh drank, he became as temperamental as a child.

The prince lowered his lashes and began to drink, one cup after another, finally grabbing the wine jug and gulping directly from it.

Yu Hualiang hurried to stop him. “Your Highness, that’s enough.”

Suddenly, the prince grabbed Yu Hualiang by the collar and pulled him close, their faces just inches apart.

“Call me Zicheng…” The prince’s eyes were like a pond stirred by the blooming of peach blossoms—clear and deep.

Yu Hualiang tried to pry his hand loose, but the prince wouldn’t let go. He had no choice but to give in. “All right, Zicheng… now let go.”

Hearing Yu Hualiang call him by his given name, the prince’s brows lifted with joy.

Now it was Yu Hualiang’s turn to look miserable. He steeled himself. “You have to let me adjust, all right? Liking someone doesn’t just happen overnight.”

The prince gazed at him in quiet surprise, as if he hadn’t expected Yu Hualiang to agree. Yu Hualiang caught his breath, not quite sure how those words had escaped him.

He was just as astonished, but perhaps it was too late for regrets.

The prince took his hand gently. “Ziliang, even if the world is torn asunder and the forests wither, to win your heart is enough.”

Hearing such a declaration, no less weighty than “Until heaven and earth are sundered, only then shall I part from you,” Yu Hualiang was so startled he broke out in goosebumps. He awkwardly withdrew his hand. “I need time to get used to this… and until I do, you’re not allowed to touch me inappropriately.”

The prince nodded eagerly, his bashful charm almost endearing. Yu Hualiang couldn’t help but smile, “Good boy.”

The prince suddenly leaned in, gazing at him with deep affection. “Ziliang, could you kiss me first, just once?”

Yu Hualiang was speechless.

“Don’t push your luck!”