Chapter 33: Ancient Palace BL (VI)

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Chapter 33: Ancient Palace BL (VI)

Xuanyuan Zihao walked toward the red-dressed Miao Lichen, seemingly lost in thought. He didn’t look up and almost charged straight into Xuanyuan Zihao’s chest, but stopped just a few centimeters away. He looked up and met those slightly narrowed eyes. He started to kneel in greeting, as though he weren’t the same proud man from yesterday.

Xuanyuan Zihao grabbed his arm to stop him. The fabric against his hand was soft, but it was nothing compared to the feel of Miao Lichen’s skin beneath it. Seeing Miao Lichen’s face from such close range noticeably improved Xuanyuan Zihao’s mood. “Why be so courteous with our relationship?”

“How can the difference between master and servant be ignored?” Miao Lichen easily freed himself from his grasp and stubbornly completed the formal greeting between master and servant. His kneeling body appeared somewhat frail. Xuanyuan Zihao stared at the top of his head with no intention of asking him to get up. This wasn’t the first time Xuanyuan Zihao had said those words, but it was the first time Miao Lichen had openly defied him.

“I didn’t expect to see Mr. Miao here today. It’s a pity you didn’t bring your guqin. Enjoying the scenery, drinking tea and listening to music would be a wonderful experience here.” Luo Qinglan walked over, waving his fan. His eyes were narrowed, making it impossible to discern his true intentions. But the warm feeling he gave off made people want to be closer to him. “Is Your Highness not allowing Mr. Miao to get up? I heard he had just recovered from a serious illness.”

“No one is stopping him from getting up.” Xuanyuan Zihao flicked his sleeve and turned back to the pavilion. He glanced in Luo Qinglan’s direction, the scene of him stretching out a hand to the kneeling man was rather irritating. ‘Hmph~ Luo Qinglan is nothing but a hypocrite.’

∇ Capture Target Xuanyuan Zihao Favorability: 50.

“Thank you.” Miao Lichen tightly clasped the offered hand. The sudden increase in pressure made Luo instinctively tighten his grip. His smile remained unchanged as he subtly pressed a pressure point on Luo Qinglan’s palm. He lowered his sleeve to cover the flushed hand as he watched Luo Qinglan take an abrupt step back.

The Qixiu physique was famed for skin as smooth as cream and as white as jade, making it easy to leave marks. Luo Qinglan was even using internal energy to test him. Should he be glad that this hypocritical prince was very honest in front of him?

“No need for thanks. Mr. Miao, you truly surprise me more and more. It is unfortunate that you were born in Xuanyuan instead of Azure Dragon.” Luo Qinglan seemed to be implying something as he clenched his fingers. The pain from his palm was still persisting, showing how merciless Miao Lichen was. He closed his folding fan and leaned to whisper into Miao Lichen’s ear. “You are truly a beauty like jade; your skin is exceptionally lovely to touch.”

“What? Does your Azure Dragon Empire lack such a musician?” Xuanyuan Zihao drank a cup of wine. The specially prepared wine naturally tasted better than ordinary wine and was far stronger as well. After several cups, he soon felt a burning sensation in his chest. His finger moved along the rim of the cup, but he stopped drinking.

“Naturally, there is not a shortage of musicians. But a beautiful one like Mr. Miao is truly rare. Your Highness should be a like-minded person and understand my feelings.” Luo Qinglan made an inviting gesture to Miao Lichen and went back to the pavilion. His gaze swept over Xuanyuan Zihao and Miao Lichen, and couldn’t help but smile at the atmosphere between them.

‘How interesting! Rumors are really unreliable.’ From his point of view, it wasn’t the prince that abandoned Miao Lichen, but that the prince couldn’t obtain the musician’s affections. Xuanyuan Empire truly has many hidden talents; a mere musician whose martial attainments far surpassed even the famed War God. He would be the first to disbelieve that Miao Lichen is only a musician. But if you were to say he wasn’t a musician…

Luo Qinglan abruptly flipped open his fan to hide his overly sharp gaze. The Emperor of this empire wasn’t as simple as their intelligence reports suggested.

“Put away those thoughts you shouldn’t be having.” Xuanyuan Zihao set down the wine cup and softly tapped the table. His eyes that were more misty due to the alcohol stared unblinkingly at Luo Qinglan. The two “affectionately” stared at each other for a good while before Luo Qinglan broke eye contact.

“What thoughts can I have? The whole world knows Mr. Miao is yours.” Luo Qinglan leisurely took a sip of wine, as though he were drinking tea. “But if Mr. Miao gets tired of the Xuanyuan Empire, he can come over to Azure Dragon for a visit. I, Xu Lan, will certainly be a good host.” The name he used on the envoy list is Xu Lan. Luo was the imperial surname of Azure Dragon Empire, and he would not use it when trying to conceal his identity.

“My thanks to you in advance then, Mr. Envoy.” Miao Lichen leaned against a pillar, staring out at the scenery. He looked very carefree compared to the veiled tension between the two princes. His response was almost nonchalant, like a reflexive response to being mentioned. “I just hope… Mr. Envoy doesn’t forget when the time comes.”

Luo Qinglan looked at Xuanyuan Zihao, who had no reaction to the exchange with barely concealed shock. He finished his drink to calm himself at experiencing such a legendary technique. He had witnessed the legendary sound transmission technique before in his youth, but the user was already over seventy. For a young man around twenty years old to use it, it would surprise anyone.

“There is no precedent for Xuanyuan Empire’s musicians to go to another country.” Xuanyuan Zihao stood up and cupped his hands to bid farewell to Luo Qinglan. “I thank you for today’s discussion. Please inform His Majesty of the content.”

“I naturally will, His Majesty will surely be moved by your loyalty.” Luo Qinglan faintly smiled, and returned the gesture, adopting a business-like demeanor. When he looked back up, Xuanyuan Zihao was already pulling Miao Lichen by the arm and leaving. This one meeting wasn’t enough to determine the prince’s true thoughts. But the musician on the other hand…

He glanced in the direction of the imperial palace hall. If this prince doesn’t work, they would have to approach that person instead. And trying to work with that person wouldn’t be so simple. It all depends on if what he brings to the table can sway that person.

What does the Emperor of Xuanyuan want? Money and beauty were within his grasp, and his so-called threat is likely to be equally detrimental to the Azure Dragon Empire. Luo Qinglan frowned. He wanted a complete Azure Dragon Empire, not a fragmented one. He needed to plan carefully. Things would eventually turn for the better. Perhaps the musician was a good breakthrough…

“Please let go, Your Highness.” Miao Lichen frowned, a strand of white hair falling over his shoulder as he lowered his head slightly. No one would be willing to be dragged to walk, especially by another man. He could already imagine tomorrow’s palace gossip. It would probably be something like “The Prince and the Musician’s Rekindled Romance.”

“Why should I let you go? So you can seduce that envoy? Or are you itching to leave Xuanyuan for Azure Dragon?” Xuanyuan Zihao abruptly stopped and rested his head on Miao Lichen’s shoulder in an intimate manner. His arm instinctively slipped around Miao Lichen’s waist, his hand slowly stroking his back. The smooth fabric felt almost weightless beneath his fingers, going beyond mere intimacy.

“Your Highness, don’t forget this is the imperial palace and not your Prince Ming Residence.” Miao Lichen spoke mockingly. The title “Prince Ming” sounded almost identical to “King of the Underworld” in Chinese, making the Emperor’s choice of title particularly suggestive.

“It’s not like this is the first time. Do you think my brother would punish me for being with a musician? He would probably just give you to me. Since I can openly marry a man as my Consort, I can marry another. I believe my virtuous Consort wouldn’t mind.” When Xuanyuan Zihao mentioned his Consort, his mood clearly fluctuated a little and his hands slowed down.

“Who said I wouldn’t mind? I mind very much!” Nangong Qingyue said angrily as he pulled Miao Lichen out of Xuanyuan Zihao’s arms and used his own body to shield Miao Lichen behind him. “What do you take us for? Merchandise to be disposed of at will? Miao Lichen and I are both men, we don’t need to be someone’s consort or concubine. Just because of your words, we have to?”

“That’s right… Just because of my words, you both have to. Because I am a Prince, and you both are servants.” Even a Consort is just a servant in a Prince’s residence. Especially a Consort he married for a specific purpose. Xuanyuan Zihao smiled provocatively, his eyes appearing red for a moment as he slid a finger across Nangong Qingyue’s chest. “Since you can come here, it doesn’t hurt anymore? Then tonight…”

“Your Highness should learn to cherish those you claim to love.” Miao Lichen sighed softly, though he spoke loudly enough for both of them to hear. Pulling Nangong Qingyue aside, Miao Lichen approached Xuanyuan Zihao with steady steps. His fair fingers traced Xuanyuan Zihao’s robe, and his unexpectedly sharpened nails left crescent marks on the fair skin through the fabric.

A strand of white hair brushed against his ear as he spoke as gently as a breeze. “Otherwise, I’m afraid I’ll repay everything you’ve done in kind. Do you think I have the ability to, Your Highness?”

“You…” Xuanyuan Zihao clenched his hands.

“I really want to see Your Highness covered in whip marks. Your noble body would be even more pleasing to the eye if you showed some pain.” Miao Lichen walked past Xuanyuan Zihao with Nangong Qingyue in hand. “You heard me right, I am threatening you.”

“Miao Lichen?!” Xuanyuan Zihao clenched his hands even tighter. His mood worsened as he stared at their clasped hands. “Leave my Consort here, and you may leave.”

“Your Consort is delicate. It would be better for him to return when you have calmed down. I believe His Majesty will not mind him staying another day.” Miao Lichen bowed slightly to the side where Xuanyuan Ziying had appeared without anyone noticing. In his arms was a beauty whose shock was being covered by a small hand, a very cute gesture.

And the beauty was male.

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