The Aloof Noble Son Feeds His Body to a Wandering Soul - Chapter 3

The following day, the sky cleared, and the rain ceased.

Entrusted by Prince Ji, Shu Fuyan headed to Tianwaitian (Beyond the Heavens). There was no other reason than the fact that Xiao Yi would be attending an appointment at the Beiguan (North Pavilion) today.

Tianwaitian was located directly opposite the Beiguan. As long as Shu Fuyan ascended to the upper floor of Tianwaitian, it would be as easy as flipping his hand to catch sight of Xiao Yi.

“Lord Shu, the carriage is ready. Shall we depart now?” the coachman tightened the reins, reminding Shu Fuyan, who had fallen into a daze.

Shu Fuyan pressed his lips together. Whenever he thought of that man, he would involuntarily become lost in thought. He had tossed and turned throughout the previous night, his mind filled with nothing but illicit, unspeakable visions.

Shu Fuyan lifted his robes, trying his best not to let the hem touch the dust.

“Let’s depart.” Shu Fuyan dropped the carriage curtain and sat up straight.

“Understood!” The coachman cracked his whip, the carriage sped off, and the wheels rumbled into the distance.

In his dreams last night, every time he opened or closed his eyes, he saw that face. It wasn’t as if Shu Fuyan had never seen a handsome young man before, but none could compare to Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi’s eyes were narrow, long, and sharp. When they met, they felt ancient and profound, easily bewitching the soul.

He liked them very much.

Shu Fuyan gripped his sleeves tight. His throat felt parched and wretched, making it uncomfortable to swallow. A growing, intense urge to catch his breath took hold, and he involuntarily licked the corner of his lips.

“This is the first time I have ever anticipated someone with my whole heart. Xiao Yi, do not disappoint me.”

Shu Fuyan closed his eyes, idly playing with a scented sachet in his hand. He had bought it on a whim while leaving the Tianxian Tower yesterday. Upon catching a glimpse of the brilliantly vibrant begonia flowers embroidered on its surface, he had been seized by an inexplicable impulse to purchase it.

Shu Fuyan carelessly rubbed the surface of the sachet and whispered to himself: “No matter how brilliantly the begonias on the sachet bloom, they are ultimately dead objects; they cannot compare to the one that fell upon your shoulder so beautiful that it defied description.”

It was much like the impact that man had made on him upon their first meeting; it was enough to incite a feeling of tyranny, a desire to destroy, ravage, and toy with him in the palm of his hand.

About half an hour later, the area through which the carriage passed grew bustling. The sounds of peddlers crying their wares drifted into his ears on the breeze, awakening the man who had been resting with his eyes closed.

Shu Fuyan lifted the carriage curtain, inadvertently stealing a glance at the scenery outside.

The streets on both sides were bustling with people. The spring rain had stopped, and more people were venturing out.

Suddenly, the carriage slowed down; the wheels ceased their rotation, and the coachman let out a soft “whoa” to bring it to a halt.

“Lord Shu, we have arrived at Tianwaitian.”

Shu Fuyan let out a hum of acknowledgment and climbed out of the carriage at a leisurely pace.

Upon reaching the ground, he noticed a figure on the second floor of the Beiguan across the street. However, the view was blocked by a screen, making it impossible to see clearly or determine if Xiao Yi had arrived first.

Shu Fuyan had not forgotten his true objective. He told the coachman to depart first and not to wait for his return to the manor.

Following this, Shu Fuyan did not head toward Tianwaitian, but instead stepped inside the Beiguan.

The proprietor recognized Shu Fuyan. Seeing that a noble guest had arrived, he personally stepped forward to greet him.

“Lord Shu, you’ve come alone today? Your private room is being held for you; shall the wine and food be the same as usual?” the proprietor bowed and scraped.

Shu Fuyan unfastened his money pouch and took out an ingot of silver. “There is no need for food. Fetch me my konghou (harp).”

Shu Fuyan paused for a moment before adding: “The instrument is at Tianwaitian.”

Shu Fuyan was a regular guest at Tianwaitian and had once left a konghou there. The Beiguan was extremely close to Tianwaitian—only a few steps away—but because the proprietor was on bad terms with Tianwaitian, he found himself in a difficult position.

“Lord Shu, fetching the instrument is easy enough, but… do you have a token as proof?”

The proprietor looked sheepish; if he were to rush over to Tianwaitian to fetch the instrument without any proof, wouldn’t he look like a fool trying to pull a fast one?

Shu Fuyan let out a soft laugh. “There is no need. Just say that I am across the street; Tianwaitian will not make things too difficult for you.” Finally, Shu Fuyan nodded toward the proprietor. “Sorry for the trouble.”

Having received the silver, the proprietor was naturally in a good mood. “You are too kind, Lord Shu.”

Tianwaitian was a restaurant owned by Prince Ji, which had now been placed under Shu Fuyan’s management. Prince Ji only concerned himself with the rising tides of the imperial court and had never taken much interest in the affairs of the shops.

To Tianwaitian, Shu Fuyan was the true master.

With Shu Fuyan’s word, the proprietor immediately sent someone to the opposite side to fetch the harp.

Shu Fuyan was familiar with the Beiguan, so he told the proprietor not to bother showing him the way, and strode onto the second-floor terrace on his own.

Passing the private room on the second-floor terrace, he saw that the door was not latched. Shu Fuyan cast a cursory glance and confirmed that Xiao Yi had not yet arrived.

Since he had not arrived, he could once again lay eyes on that face which haunted his dreams.

Whenever he thought of Xiao Yi, Shu Fuyan’s imagination would wander astray. Hidden beneath the silver-white armor was a pulse of raw power; the bulging muscles developed over years of slaughter on the battlefield testified to a vigorous, overflowing masculine energy. His clothes clung to his skin, drenched in sweat from head to toe, with hot, humid, salty perspiration trickling down his V-line into secret, hidden places.

Someone was breathing in low, ragged gasps.

The imagery was impossible to shake. Shu Fuyan’s heart trembled, and his departing footsteps became hurried.

Arriving at his exclusive private room, Shu Fuyan passed by the screen straight toward the terrace. He leaned against the railing, where he could survey the land for a hundred miles.

“Lord Shu, your tea has arrived.” The waiter pushed open the door. “I’ve placed it on the table for you, Sir.”

Shu Fuyan did not turn around, instead intently observing his surroundings.

Confirming there were no eyes monitoring him, Shu Fuyan let down his guard slightly.

As the sound of the waiter closing the door reached his ears, Shu Fuyan withdrew his gaze and picked up the tea to take a sip.

Who could have imagined that the brilliant strategist of Shangjing, Lord Shu, was a man with such wretched, sordid thoughts, using every ounce of his energy to achieve his goals? He only wanted to hook his prey and taste him properly as soon as possible.

“Whoa, General, we have arrived at the Beiguan.”

Hearing the commotion downstairs, Shu Fuyan’s gaze swept downward.

Xiao Yi descended from the carriage in a black-gold brocade robe, appearing different from the disheveled man covered in wind and rain yesterday. Xiao Yi wore his hair tied up with a purple-gold crown. His jawline was distinct and sharp, his face seemingly carved by a knife; his high, bridge-like nose coupled with just-right thin lips sent a message of seduction to Shu Fuyan from head to toe.

His robe, embroidered with threads of pure gold, appeared incomparably opulent, and the aura of a man who had been to the battlefield was enough to repel anyone with sinister intentions. Merely stealing a glimpse from afar was enough to fill a person with awe and a sense of unreachability.

Having learned from his previous mistake, Shu Fuyan was very careful. He lowered his body and used the screen on the terrace to hide his figure, revealing only a pair of amorous, glistening peach-blossom eyes.

Regrettably, those eyes, sharp as a hunting hawk’s, never once looked his way. The man simply straightened his robes and walked into the restaurant, without a hint of distraction.

Shu Fuyan pulled back from the screen, unable to hide the disappointment in his heart, and sat back in his seat with a lack of interest.

“Sir, the instrument has arrived.” Before long, the proprietor arrived upstairs, just ahead of Xiao Yi.

Shu Fuyan’s heart stirred—the instrument had arrived just in time.

“Give it to me.” Shu Fuyan stood up and naturally took the konghou from him.

The konghou was different from the seven-string guqin; it had a total of forty-some strings. The player had to be extremely proficient, otherwise, they would easily pluck the wrong notes. The harp’s body was large and featured dual rows of strings, requiring the player to lean the instrument against one side of their body before beginning to pluck with both hands.

The proprietor did not want to disturb him and quietly closed the door.

On the other side, old friends were reunited.

“You have come.”

“Yes.”

The moment the door closed, Shu Fuyan heard the conversation next door.

He had come.

Shu Fuyan arranged the position of the konghou, tilted his head to press against the cool body of the harp, and did not immediately pluck the strings.

He was waiting—waiting for the perfect opportunity.

Prince Yu had waited for a long time; he had finally waited for this busy man to arrive.

“Xiao Yi, please, sit.” Prince Yu personally walked to the door to greet Xiao Yi and made a “please” gesture.

Xiao Yi had not returned to the capital long ago. Yesterday, after entering the palace to meet the Emperor, he was intercepted by Prince Yu at the palace gate, who claimed they had an appointment at the Beiguan to catch up.

This Xiao Yi was not that Xiao Yi; everything in the capital was unfamiliar to him. After weighing his options, Xiao Yi decided to agree.

And so, this appointment at the Beiguan came to be.

After the two were seated, Prince Yu dismissed the attendants on both sides.

For a time, only the two of them remained in the room.

Prince Yu poured the wine, his eyes brimming with joy.

“Xiao Yi, since our farewell in childhood, it has been nearly ten years, has it not?” Prince Yu reminisced.

Xiao Yi remained silent, holding his wine cup and rubbing against the rim without drinking.

“It has been eight years.” Xiao Yi set down his wine cup. “When the Prince was seventeen, I returned to the capital once.”

Perhaps the time they had spent together was too brief; Prince Yu had forgotten, and even Xiao Yi himself had forgotten. It was only when searching through his letters in the military camp that he had inadvertently discovered it, learning from the contents of the letter about their hurried parting in the capital eight years ago.

Prince Yu was no longer the green, naive prince of his youth. Though he had not yet started a family, he was capable of standing on his own.

“Xiao Yi, I will not beat around the bush with you.” Prince Yu stated his purpose: “In recent years, undercurrents have been surging in Shangjing; no one knows when the winds of change will arise. Now that you have returned, you have broken the stalemate. The Fourth Brother and the Crown Prince will inevitably clash head-on, leading to a bloodbath.”

Speaking of this, Prince Yu sighed with a bitter taste. “I have the protection of the Imperial Father, so I have managed to survive by luck. But what about you? You hold heavy military power and have spent years galloping across the frontier; they will not let you go.”

Prince Yu had arranged to meet Xiao Yi precisely to see if he had any countermeasures. If he did, Prince Yu would not interfere. If he did not, then Prince Yu would pull Xiao Yi into his own faction.

Rather than being left at the mercy of others, it was better to huddle together for warmth.

Xiao Yi clearly had not expected Prince Yu to speak so bluntly.

He thought for a moment, his calm eyes softening. “I have noted what you have said, Your Highness. I am loyal to His Majesty, loyal to the people, and loyal to myself; I will not submit to anyone’s command.”

This was Xiao Yi’s wish, and his own; as long as the people were well, he would be well, with no regrets.

Prince Yu was stunned, and then a bitter smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. “You are still the same steady in your actions, unhurried, as if no matter how great a disaster befalls you, you will always have a fallback plan.” Prince Yu tilted his head and drank, the pungent, spicy taste of the wine hitting his nose. “Forget it, we have had a friendship since youth; regardless of whom you are loyal to, I believe that Xiao Yi will not harm me.”

Xiao Yi gave a faint smile and did not reply, clinking his cup against Prince Yu’s brimming one.

Xiao Yi’s friend—he would protect him.

“Let’s not talk about gloomy things. Since you’ve entered the capital, are there any places you wish to visit in the last few days? I will take you to see them.” Mentioning outings, Prince Yu grew interested.

Xiao Yi turned his head, fixing his gaze on the pedestrians weaving through the street. The era was prosperous and peaceful, the people happy; Xiao Yi showed a gratified smile. “None.”

This Xiao Yi was truly dull, indifferent to everything, showing no sign of what he liked or disliked. Prince Yu pursed his lips, suffering a rebuff from Xiao Yi once again after all these years.

“Recently, the Fourth Brother has been moving frequently, and the Crown Prince is watching closely. It is likely someone will come knocking on your door, Xiao Yi; you must be careful.”

Prince Yu leaned back in his rocking chair, feeling miserable, his gaze vacant as he stared up at the ceiling beams, emptying his mind.

“And you? Do you want that seat?” Xiao Yi did not respond to Prince Yu’s words, instead asking if he wanted to be Emperor.

A flash of pain crossed Prince Yu’s eyes, the rocking chair swayed, and a corner of his noble purple robe, almost brushing the floor, was pulled up by him.

“I have no desire to be confined by a cage.” Prince Yu sat up straight, his gaze fixed firmly on Xiao Yi.

“Fang Yun is dead; it was all my fault. Had I not harbored the desire to contend for that position, he would not have died.” Prince Yu’s expression was decadent, his head drooping like a beaten-down stray dog, helpless and lost.

“Does the Prince not wish to avenge him?” Xiao Yi asked this question with a sharp gaze.

Prince Yu covered his face in agony, sobbing, “So many years have passed, and I have never succeeded once. Xiao Yi, I have given up.” Prince Yu took a deep breath and said with difficulty: “The path to the throne is perilous a dragon’s pool and a tiger’s den; I do not have the ability. I neither want to nor am I willing to approach that vortex.”

Hearing Prince Yu’s explanation, Xiao Yi suddenly felt a sense of sympathy for him. Born into an imperial family it was neither entirely good nor entirely bad.

“Enough about me. I hear that there is a beautiful lady at Nanan Fang, whose beauty rivals that of a celestial maiden. The music in the pavilion is ethereal, making one forget all their worries as if wandering in the clouds. How about it? Let us pay a visit.”

Nanan Fang it sounded like a brothel.

Xiao Yi had always kept himself clean, and his time in the military camp was no exception. Unless the situation was dire and he could not suppress himself, he would rely on his own hands to find release; as for a dissolute place like a brothel, Xiao Yi had never stepped foot into one.

“No, I have been busy with trivial matters lately and cannot find the time.”

Upon hearing this, Prince Yu shook his head, feeling the mood dampen. “You are thirty now, at the age of establishing oneself, yet you have no wives, concubines, or offspring. What are others to think?”

Prince Yu didn’t have the nerve to state the words “long yang” (homosexual) explicitly, but he knew that Xiao Yi understood.

Sure enough, Xiao Yi’s face darkened, and he said coldly: “What others think is not for me to worry about. But in terms of my heart, I am loyal to my King and serve the people; after ten years of campaigning, I only ask to be able to say that I have a clear conscience.”

Prince Yu raised his eyebrows, feeling a newfound respect for Xiao Yi. He raised his wine cup and spoke loudly: “A clear conscience well said! Xiao Yi, I truly admire this spirit of yours.”

Admire? Xiao Yi’s thick brows arched slightly, his eyes narrowing.

Realizing he had made a slip of the tongue, Prince Yu patted his mouth. “Pah, pah, pah! Respect! It is respect. Look at my mouth; my words are faster than my brain.” Prince Yu laughed shamelessly.

Xiao Yi shook his head and raised his cup to clink it against his.

Shu Fuyan, sitting across the way, was still waiting. Watching time slip by while things remained quiet on the other side, Shu Fuyan grew suspicious of whether Xiao Yi had already left.

And so, Shu Fuyan set down his harp and walked to the door, peering through the gap to spy on the other side.

Discovering that there were attendants standing outside the door, Shu Fuyan finally understood that Xiao Yi would not be coming out anytime soon.

If he waited for Xiao Yi to leave, he would be wasting his time for nothing; he might as well take the initiative and lure him over.

Shu Fuyan returned to his seat and recited the music score he had mastered by heart once more in his mind.

The harp’s music was ethereal, clear, and pellucid. Shu Fuyan whispered with expectation: “I wonder if he will like it.”