Chapter 49: I Am Devoted to You

Chapter 49: I’ve Fallen for You

Chen Shuo’an hummed a light tune as he strolled into Yuan Rang’s bedchamber, tucking the crimson sachet he’d been fiddling with beneath the Sixth Prince’s pillow.

He and Yuan Rang had faced life and death together—he was his closest younger brother, and this New Year’s money was non-negotiable.

May the year ahead bring him smooth sailing and keep misfortune at bay.

Chen Shuo’an chuckled softly to himself.

It wasn’t much—but it was all he had.

Snow continued to fall. Chen Shuo’an stepped out of the room, carefully closing the door behind him, and made his way toward the center of the courtyard.

Festive red lanterns hung beneath the eaves, each inscribed with four neatly written “Fu” characters, softening the inky black night.

Chen Shuo’an’s feet sank into the snow as he walked, leaving a trail of footprints across the pristine white ground.

Lights blazed throughout Guangyang Palace; servants bustled about the courtyard—some pasting spring couplets onto doorframes, others hanging lanterns from the beams.

Perhaps due to the dim light, they only noticed the young man standing there when they drew near.

Chun Cui carried a tray of freshly prepared dishes, steam rising gently from the food in the cold air.

She hurried along, offering a slight bow as she passed Chen Shuo’an.

Then, beaming, she said, “Young Master Chen, happy New Year!”

Chen Shuo’an lifted his round eyes and smiled back. “Happy New Year to you too, Chun Cui.”

Jili, who had been overseeing the commotion nearby with great enthusiasm, spotted the figure standing alone in the snowy courtyard and muttered under his breath, “That little ancestor.”

He scurried over, snowflakes swirling in his wake.

“Young Master Chen, please return to the hall with this servant—the New Year’s Eve feast will be ready shortly, and the heated floors inside are warm and comfortable—far more so than standing out here.”

Jili draped the heavy cloak from his arm over Chen Shuo’an’s shoulders, speaking in a low voice.

“Alright,” Chen Shuo’an buried his face in the fur collar and followed him back toward the hall, then asked, “When will His Highness return?”

Jili carefully brushed fine snow off the steps with the tip of his shoe, then bent to help Chen Shuo’an ascend them.

“The other princes have already arrived at Chenggong Palace for the New Year’s Eve banquet with His Majesty. His Highness won’t return for several more hours.”

Jili pushed open the closed door and took Chen Shuo’an by the arm, guiding him inside.

“His Highness said you needn’t wait for him.”

Chen Shuo’an glanced back at the courtyard blanketed in fresh snow, lowered his gaze, and murmured a muffled, “Oh.”

Sensing his disappointment, Jili tried to comfort him: “Guangyang Palace *is* rather quiet tonight. How about this servant pours you some fruit wine to warm you up—and arranges for a few maids to sing some festive tunes?”

Chen Shuo’an’s doe-like eyes lit up—he thought that sounded wonderful.

Tonight, they’d find out who truly reigned supreme as Guangyang Palace’s singing champion.

————

Inside Chenggong Palace, undercurrents churned. Each prince harbored his own agenda.

Prince Ping, Yuan Jiu, lay bedridden. At the banquet, Yuan Shu and Yuan Wu openly clashed.

Crown Prince Yuan Qi nursed deep resentment toward the Emperor over the Pingshuo affair—and all three directed their hostility toward Yuan Rang, who was soon to depart for his post in Bozhou.

Yuan Zhen walked beside him into the inner palace, his expression troubled: “Sixth Brother, you’ve only just begun to make your name. Your assignment to Pingshuo will inevitably draw trouble from petty men. The road ahead won’t be easy.”

Yuan Rang’s fingers idly traced the jade pixiu pendant dangling from his wrist as he replied casually, “Thank you for your concern, Fifth Brother. I’ll manage.”

Yuan Zhen exhaled deeply, at a loss for further words.

“Even if you harbor no such ambitions, the other three will never let you go.”

They walked in silence until they reached the corner, where they parted ways in the twilight.

Yuan Rang gently pushed open the closed wooden door—and found a limp figure sprawled across the disheveled bed.

He arched an eyebrow and approached to look down at Chen Shuo’an.

The man had buried his head deep into the bedding, burrowing like a plow cutting through earth.

Yuan Rang couldn’t help but laugh. He gently pulled Chen Shuo’an’s head free from the soft bedding, smoothed his tousled black hair with gentle fingers, and murmured softly, “What’s our Shuo’an up to?”

Chen Shuo’an’s eyes were hazy and unfocused. Dreamily, he began to sing:

“Busy smiling and crying, busy chasing shooting stars across the sky…”

Yuan Rang: “…”

His narrow phoenix eyes snapped toward Jili, who knelt on the floor, dark eyes wide with dawning dread.

“You let him drink?”

Terrified, Jili kowtowed frantically, his voice shrill and trembling: “Spare this servant, Your Highness! I’ve already sent someone to prepare hangover soup—it’ll arrive momentarily…”

“Go fetch it.”

Jili scrambled out—relieved, desperate—and remembered, just in time, to close the door quietly behind him.

Yuan Rang sat beside Chen Shuo’an, watching him toss and writhe on the bed, then reached out, drew him close, and settled his head against his thigh.

Chen Shuo’an seemed to like that—turning his face upward to beam directly at Yuan Rang: “Hehehe… no one can out-sing me… I’m the greatest…”

Yuan Rang smiled, fingertips brushing Chen Shuo’an’s wine-flushed lips—warm, soft, slightly slick—as he teased them gently.

“Mmm…”

Chen Shuo’an frowned, reaching out to thump Yuan Rang’s abdomen, his small face scrunching up as he tried to evade those mischievous fingers.

A faint smile curled at the corner of Yuan Rang’s mouth.

He raised one hand to firmly grip Chen Shuo’an’s chin, while the other slipped inside to playfully tease his tongue.

His mouth was warm, tight—slick and soft.

“Where do you think you’re going, hm?”

Chen Shuo’an’s eyes reddened and watered; drool trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Yuan Rang’s breath hitched. He withdrew his slick hand, hooked his arm around Chen Shuo’an’s slender waist, and lifted him upright onto his lap. Chen Shuo’an’s body went slack and numb—and, feeling uncomfortable, he raised his hand to slap Yuan Rang across the face.

Yuan Rang grabbed both his wrists in one big hand and pinned them behind his back, while his other hand gripped the back of his head and kissed him hard.

The feel of his lips was warm and soft, and Yuan Rang half-closed his eyes and licked Chen Shuoan's tightly closed lips.

Chen Shuoan couldn't move his head, and he arched his back away, but Yuan Rang caught up in an instant, biting and licking at him.

"Mmm..."

Chen Shuoan clenched his teeth, his face flushing bright red, and pushed him away, saying, "That hurts."

Yuan Rang slowly came to his senses.

He let go of Chen Shuoan's hands, gently stroked his crimson lips, and murmured, "Open... good baby, open up for me."

Chen Shuoan's eyes were hazy, and seeing that he was finally being gentle, he gave a haughty little hum through his nose.

He parted his red lips slightly, poking the tip of his soft tongue out, tempting him until his eyes burned with desire.

Yuan Rang leaned in gently, sucking and tasting, their lips and teeth tangled in a scorching, intimate kiss.

He captured Chen Shuoan's wet, red tongue, grinning softly as he teased, "Such a good baby... did you drink orange wine tonight?"

Chen Shuoan's lips and tongue were blocked, his eyes welling up as he whimpered and shook his head.

Yuan Rang chuckled softly, finally releasing his swollen, red lips, and leaned close to his ear to ask with a sly grin, "No, or you just don't know?"

Chen Shuoan couldn't speak, and didn't want to either.

Yuan Rang grabbed his waist and yanked him into his arms, covering his lips again, pushing past his teeth and sweeping his tongue inside his mouth.

There was a knock at the door.

Yuan Rang sucked hard on Chen Shuoan's tongue, then pulled back, his eyes burning with desire, locked on Chen Shuoan's flushed face, and said hoarsely, "Come in."

Jili didn't dare lift his head, kneeling and crawling forward on his knees.

He handed a jade cup of hangover remedy to Yuan Rang, then crawled back out of the room.

Yuan Rang urged him gently to drink the soup, then held him tenderly in his arms, gently kissing Chen Shuoan's burning red earlobe, letting out a satisfied sigh, but with a hint of reluctance.

"Don't bother seeing me off tomorrow."

He looked at the peaceful sleeping face in his arms and pressed a soft kiss on the tip of his nose.

At last, he voiced the feelings he'd kept buried, too secret to say aloud.

"Shuo'an, I'm in love with you."