Chapter Five: Alas, My Child

Yu Hualiang had always been confident in his own painting. He laughed and said, "Of course I can! Who do you think your young master is?"

Mo Cai flattered him, "Young master is truly a celestial being."

Yu Hualiang couldn't stand it. "Enough, enough. Let the painting dry and mount it. I'm going to change clothes."

Mo Cai smiled, "Alright, young master. If the master sees this painting, he'll surely be delighted."

Yu Hualiang didn’t understand. "Was I really that terrible before?"

Mo Cai replied without thinking, "Terrible!" Then he quickly covered his mouth, "Well, not so bad, just a bit of a spoiled son."

"What? How was I spoiled?"

Mo Cai was afraid to speak, but Yu Hualiang gave him a look, and he finally spoke. "You used to sneak out every day, indulging in wine and pleasure. Young master always went to the brothel, but after meeting Ah Liu at the tavern, you started running there every day."

"Oh." The brothel... truly a man's paradise. He wanted to see it for himself...

Suddenly, Yu Hualiang remembered he was supposed to go find Ah Liu today to redeem him. He had forgotten entirely. He looked up and saw it was already dark; it seemed he would have to wait until tomorrow.

The sky had dimmed, and candles flickered weakly in the room. Painting now would strain his mind, but staying indoors felt dull. If only he had a deck of poker cards to play.

Yu Hualiang glanced at Mo Cai, got up from the bed, and said, "Mo Cai, come here."

Seeing his young master sitting on the bed with a gentle smile, Mo Cai felt a chill run down his spine.

He hesitated, taking a small step forward. "Young master, what do you wish of me?"

Yu Hualiang walked to the desk and touched the leftover paper from his painting. "Do you have thicker paper than this?"

Mo Cai came to his senses. "Yes, that's butterfly paper from the north. The paper from Jiangnan is thicker."

"Go get a few sheets."

"Yes." Mo Cai turned mechanically, confused about what the young master wanted. He wanted to ask but didn’t dare.

After dawdling for a while, he went to the paper room. Jiangnan paper was expensive and stored there, only accessible with Yu Ming's authorization. But since the young master was his son, Yu Ming had specially given him a jade token for convenience.

This made things easier for Mo Cai, who had to go back and forth.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving, he bumped into Mo Gui at the back door, who said Ah Liu had come. Mo Cai was terrified.

The young master's lover had arrived, but the young master had shown no intention of seeing Ah Liu. If he let him in and the young master was unhappy, what then? If he didn’t and Ah Liu complained later, the young master would also be unhappy. After weighing his options, Mo Cai decided it was better to let him in.

Meanwhile, Yu Hualiang, busy contemplating how to teach Mo Cai to play cards, had no idea his "little lover" had arrived.

He studied his painting, thinking about how to draw a set of poker cards.

Ah Liu had come in high spirits today, but upon pushing the door open, he saw Yu Hualiang admiring a painting—the gentleman in the picture smiled elegantly, lifelike and vivid.

Moreover, Yu Hualiang was smiling foolishly as he gazed at it, which made Ah Liu jealous.

Ah Liu stood at the doorway in a daze. Mo Cai saw tears shimmering in Ah Liu's eyes and knew trouble was at hand.

Yu Hualiang wondered why Mo Cai hadn’t closed the door upon returning—didn’t he know it was cold? He turned around and, like a guilty cat caught mid-act, was startled.

Seeing Ah Liu’s sorrowful expression, Yu Hualiang found himself unable to explain anything.

Not until Ah Liu ran off did Yu Hualiang feel as if something was missing in his heart. He reacted and chased after him.

Prince Seven had originally come to drink wine and play chess with Yu Hualiang. At the crossroads, he saw Yu Hualiang chasing a young man toward the back door, calling out Ah Liu's name as he ran. Prince Seven knew well that Ah Liu was Yu Hualiang’s lover and smiled to himself.

His attendant said, "Your Highness, Yu Hualiang..."

"I know. Let’s go wait in his courtyard."

Upon arrival, Prince Seven saw Mo Cai tidying up the Jiangnan paper that had been knocked over by the two.

Seeing the prince, Mo Cai felt compelled to kneel, scattering the paper again.

"Rise, I’ll wait here for your young master’s return."

---

Mo Cai replied, "Yes." He was awkward—young master, hurry back! I can’t serve this temperamental prince!

When Zi Cheng entered, the painting hanging in the room caught his eye.

The person in the painting was himself, cradling a rabbit, with a gentle smile. The snow-covered pine trees and dusk in the background were beautifully rendered.

He was painted so vividly that even he felt his heart skip a beat.

Yu Hualiang was undeniably a genius, but... he actually painted him.

"A penchant for the cut sleeve, is it?" Prince Seven’s laughter was enchanting, always hinting at someone else’s charm.

His attendant saw the painting and assumed Yu Hualiang was infatuated with their prince, his face reddening with anger, about to tear it down, but Prince Seven stopped him.

"Let’s go, Ye Fang."

"Yes."

Mo Cai was greatly relieved the prince finally left. Everyone knew Prince Seven was the hardest to serve—most sinister and cruel. Saying a wrong word could cost one’s head, yet he treated his young master so well. It made no sense.

"Ah Liu! Wait for me!" Yu Hualiang's body was weak; though Ah Liu ran slowly, he couldn’t keep up.

After a few steps, he had to rest.

Yet Ah Liu refused to wait, and Yu Hualiang grew anxious, calling out until he was nearly out of breath.

"Ah... Ah... Liu... wait, listen to my explanation!"

"What’s left to explain? I’m just a mere wine attendant, a lowly servant! Young Master Yu can’t wait for me to leave. It’s my own foolishness!"

Ah Liu’s reply left Yu Hualiang stunned, unsure what to say for a moment.

"No! You’re very important to Yu Hualiang!"

He meant it—the real Yu Hualiang truly thought so.

"You’re lying..." Ah Liu sobbed, wiping his tears with fragile hands. Yu Hualiang felt heartache; he really liked this younger brother.

He stepped forward to hug him, hoping to give him warmth, but Ah Liu unexpectedly pushed him to the ground and, still sobbing, ran off again!

Yu Hualiang felt as though his tailbone had shattered; he had no mood to chase further. He got up, rubbed his backside, and tried to return.

Upon standing, he realized he had chased Ah Liu out of the Yu family estate, finding himself in an unfamiliar alley, with strange surroundings he didn’t recognize. Yu Hualiang wanted to cry; he was hopeless with directions! How would he find his way back?

The street was exposed to the wind; snow whipped against his face. Soon he was freezing. He’d rushed out without a cloak, now hugging himself and shivering in regret.

Why didn’t that damned Mo Cai come look for him!

The street was deserted, pitch black everywhere, the wind stinging his eyes. He couldn’t believe he’d chased Ah Liu out here.

Yu Hualiang wandered the street twice, startled by stray cats, and finally decided to find somewhere to sleep.

He recalled how TV shows depicted homeless heroes knocking on doors at night, always met by some kind-hearted, gentle maiden who would take them in.

But Yu Hualiang proved such things impossible.

He knocked carefully on a window, shivering. "Is anyone there? I just want to stay for the night!"

"Get lost! Who knocks on windows in the middle of the night? Can’t a man get some sleep?"

A rough voice shouted from inside, frightening Yu Hualiang away. Now lost and stranded, he felt bitter.

This business of crossing worlds was nothing fun. Yu Hualiang felt as miserable as if he'd eaten dirt.

He wandered aimlessly for ages, not knowing where he ended up, until he saw two stone lions. He knew that in ancient times, any house with lion statues at the entrance belonged to a wealthy family.

Wealthy families were usually kind-hearted. Yu Hualiang clung to this hope and pounded on the door.

"Help! I’ll freeze to death! Please, I’m so cold!"

He thought ancient courtyards were too big—for modern villas, you could shout and someone would hear.

Yu Hualiang found a windless corner and curled up, hoping someone would find him by morning. His body felt hot—maybe a fever.

He’d heard that many froze to death in ancient times, and wondered if he’d be one of them.

And if he died, would he return home?

---

"Master, there’s someone at the door."

Lian Sheng had just finished his tasks and was exhausted, nearly asleep in the carriage, when his servant’s words startled him awake, not pleased.

"Ah? A beggar, I suppose. Give him some money and send him off!"

"Yes." The servant took out two taels of silver and went to touch Yu Hualiang, only for him to collapse to the ground, terrifying the servant.

"M-master, I think he’s dead!"

Lian Sheng, calm but impatient, said, "What’s the fuss? Plenty freeze to death. Just report it to the authorities."

"M-master!"

"What now?"

"It looks like Young Master Yu."

Lian Sheng’s heart skipped a beat, his mind spinning, his face pale with shock.

He nearly flew over, cradling him in his arms—indeed, it was Yu Hualiang! He touched his forehead, burning hot but not yet dead.

He secretly rejoiced. "Mo Cheng, quickly call someone to carry Young Master Yu inside, and find Doctor Wang, fast!"

Lian Sheng held Yu Hualiang tightly, just as Yu Hualiang had held him when they were children, hoping to give him warmth. Luckily, there were still people in the art society at this hour.

Those who had apprenticed under Yu Ming usually lived at the Yu residence in early years, then moved to help at the art society once they achieved something. By night, most returned home.

Lian Sheng actually lived at the Yu residence, but the art society was closer to the palace, so he slept there at night.

He hadn’t expected to find Yu Hualiang unconscious at the door.

But Lian Sheng couldn’t understand—what was Yu Hualiang doing at the art society so late? Could he have come to find him?

Lian Sheng watched over feverish Yu Hualiang all night without sleep.

"It’s all your fault! Why didn’t you help your son redeem Ah Liu?"

"I thought he’d forgotten about it by now. Who knew... Sigh. I’ll go redeem Ah Liu later!"

"What’s the use of saying that now! Boo hoo hoo..."

"Madam, don’t cry!"

"Oh dear, you two are arguing again. He’s not dead yet!" Doctor Wang checked Yu Hualiang’s pulse once more.

"Doctor Wang, how is my senior brother?" Lian Sheng asked.

"It’s just a chill, but the fever’s severe. I’ll prescribe some medicine; take it regularly for a few days and he’ll recover. Young Master Yu is weak—he should eat more nourishing food."

Lady Yu nodded and instructed her maid, "Lan Hui, go buy a millennium-old ginseng at the pharmacy later."

Doctor Wang immediately stopped her. "Madam Yu, that won’t do! A little tonic strengthens, but too much is harmful—he could die from it!"

Lady Yu was terrified and hurried over to consult with Doctor Wang about the supplements.

Lian Sheng touched Yu Hualiang’s forehead; the fever had receded some. He walked over to Yu Ming to discuss Ah Liu.

"Master, do you really intend to redeem Ah Liu?"

Yu Ming frowned. "What else can I do? My son likes him."

Lian Sheng advised, "I urge you, master, let senior brother decide for himself."

Yu Ming stroked his beard, puzzled. "Wasn’t my son on the verge of life and death for Ah Liu, wanting to keep him by his side? But now, my son is so gifted, yet... a cut sleeve."

Lian Sheng persuaded, "Master, matters of the heart are not as simple as you think. Maybe senior brother doesn't like him after all."

Yu Ming found it amusing. "How could that be?" If his son didn’t like Ah Liu, could he like Lian Sheng?

Hmm? Now that he thought about it, perhaps there was something there.