Chapter 16: Heart Stirred?

Chapter 16: Heart Fluttering?

Shen Lian's lips curled slightly, but his face was all pitiful as he looked at Yan Huaixuan. "Your Highness, are you blaming me?"

But Yan Huaixuan didn't say a word. He yanked Shen Lian into his arms, snapped a stick in his other hand, and lashed the eunuch with it.

The eunuch let out a scream, "Ah!"

He scrambled up, trying to run. "You dare hit me? You're just a commoner—how dare you hit me!"

Yan Huaixuan said coldly, "You dared to touch him."

Thinking back to what he'd just seen, Yan Huaixuan's gaze grew even colder, like frost spreading over everything.

If he hadn't heard the noise, that kick would've landed right on Shen Lian.

And Shen Lian didn't even think to dodge.

Seeing the eunuch about to get up, Yan Huaixuan moved fast—a few strikes sent the man rolling and howling in pain, until he finally knelt, crying and sniffling, begging for mercy. "Crown Prince, this servant was wrong, please stop hitting me."

The eunuch didn't get it—he could've dodged, but his body was stiff as a rock, stuck in place.

It was like he was cursed!

Meanwhile, Shen Lian's eyes locked onto Yan Huaixuan, unable to look away.

Even a random snapped branch in Yan Huaixuan's hand looked like some legendary sword, beating the eunuch until he was groveling and begging.

Shen Lian blinked a few times.

Yan Huaixuan... was getting back at him for me.

For some reason, Shen Lian's ears started getting hot again.

Seeing the eunuch on the ground, twitching and speechless, Yan Huaixuan finally tossed the branch aside.

Shen Lian figured it was about time and was about to say, "Your Highness, I'll walk on my own," when he was suddenly picked up in a bridal carry.

Startled, Shen Lian instinctively grabbed Yan Huaixuan's neck as his feet left the ground. His lashes fluttered, and looking up, he saw Yan Huaixuan's sharp jawline.

Shen Lian pressed his lips together, his nose full of Yan Huaixuan's clean, nice scent.

He paused, then gently pressed his ear to Yan Huaixuan's chest.

The heartbeat was hot and steady, strong and solid.

Shen Lian was placed on the bed, and Yan Huaixuan grabbed his hand, his brow furrowed. "Aren't you usually the best at pulling little tricks? Why didn't you dodge or move today?"

He didn't even call out, even though he knew Yan Huaixuan was just a few steps away in the room.

Shen Lian pressed his lips together and said quietly, "That food was important. If it got ruined, Your Highness would go hungry."

"Plus, it's Your Highness's rest time. I didn't want to bother you over something so small."

Shen Lian gave a small smile, showing the rice and flour he'd carefully kept safe in his arms.

"Look, Your Highness? Tomorrow I'll make you some sugar cakes."

Yan Huaixuan looked down at the bag. The young man's hands were dirty and covered in blood, but what he was holding was totally fine.

He looked up, meeting Shen Lian's eyes that were clearly looking for praise.

Yan Huaixuan kept his face blank, then just reached out and turned Shen Lian around.

"What? Your Highness?"

Before Shen Lian could even figure out what was going on, he felt a sharp smack on his butt.

It was the ruler.

Shen Lian bit his lip, a rare flash of annoyance in his eyes.

He was a grown man, and he was getting spanked with a ruler.

"Your Highness!" Shen Lian tried to flip over, but Yan Huaixuan's hand was like a rock, easily holding him down by the back.

The ruler came down again with a sharp smack.

Shen Lian went quiet, and the room was filled with just the sound of the ruler hitting.

After about ten hits, Shen Lian's butt was burning with a fiery sting.

Only then did Yan Huaixuan say coldly, "Food is way less important than a person. Next time something like this happens, your first priority is to protect yourself. Got it?"

But to his surprise, Shen Lian didn't answer—which was rare.

Yan Huaixuan frowned and turned him around, only to see tears welling up in those pretty eyes.

Yan Huaixuan froze.

Shen Lian looked totally wronged, his cheeks red like they might bleed. He pulled his clothes down to cover his butt, his face full of grievance. "I did it for you, and you still scold me. My hands still hurt."

"Does Your Highness really think teaching me a few words makes you my dad?"

With that, Shen Lian wiped his tears and turned to leave.

Yan Huaixuan stood there, watching him leave, and after a moment found it kind of funny.

He hadn't used much force—less than a mosquito bite—and yet the guy was sulking and talking back.

He lifted a hand.

Shen Lian suddenly felt his feet get heavy, like his body was frozen in place.

Then his wrist was grabbed, and he was pulled back, landing in that embrace that smelled like fresh snow again.

The moment Shen Lian's butt touched Yan Huaixuan's lap, he hissed and tried to get up right away.

But Yan Huaixuan easily held his waist, saying calmly, "Enough, stop faking it. I know exactly how hard I hit."

Shen Lian paused, keeping his head down and not looking at Yan Huaixuan.

Yan Huaixuan didn't push further to call out Shen Lian's little act. For some reason, he suddenly asked, "Still mad?"

Shen Lian still wouldn't look at him. "How would I dare be mad? After all, I'm just some nobody. Your Highness can hit me or scold me whenever you want, without caring about me."

Shen Lian finished speaking, fully expecting Yan Huaixuan to coax him, but instead, Yan Huaixuan said:

"In that case, stay lying down like that. There are still ten lashes to go."

Shen Lian immediately lifted his head, grabbing Yan Huaixuan's sleeve, "How can Your Highness be like this!"

Shen Lian's eyes went wide, and he was a bit annoyed.

But when he looked up, he unexpectedly caught the upturned corners of Yan Huaixuan's lips.

Shen Lian was momentarily stunned.

This was the first time since he'd arrived that he'd seen Yan Huaixuan smile.

He was already otherworldly, stunning even without a smile, but when he smiled, it was like winter snow thawing—it made your heart race and you couldn't look away.

Shen Lian murmured, "Husband, you smiled just now."

Yan Huaixuan's hand around him paused slightly, his lips flattening into a straight line as he said coolly, "Did you absorb what I taught you earlier?"

Shen Lian pouted, "Yeah, I heard you. Next time, I'll put myself first."

Yan Huaixuan gave a slight nod, and Shen Lian knew that fishing was all about knowing when to pull and when to let go, so he stood up and said, "Your Highness, I'm heading back now."

But to his surprise, Yan Huaixuan grabbed his wrist and held on tight.

Shen Lian frowned, "Your Highness?"

Yan Huaixuan said calmly, "The wound on your hand needs tending. You don't have to cook for the next few days—I'll have the guards handle the meals."

He'd long since stopped eating, but Shen Lian hadn't.

Shen Lian snorted, "No need. It's not like Your Highness cares about me anyway."

He tried to pull his hand back, but Yan Huaixuan's cold, clear eyes locked onto him, "Want another taste of the ruler?"

Shen Lian immediately froze, though he was still stewing inside. When Yan Huaixuan wiped his palm with clean water, Shen Lian sat there like a wooden puppet.

With an air of "do whatever you want," he didn't say a word.

He didn't chatter away like he usually did.

After Yan Huaixuan finished bandaging him, he saw Shen Lian still puffed up with anger, and his eyes flickered slightly.

"Very well, what compensation do you want?"

Shen Lian immediately lifted his head, looking at Yan Huaixuan with sparkling eyes.

Yan Huaixuan said in a flat tone, "But do not overstep."