Wang Muhan smiled and said, "Your Highness, your lunch is almost ready. This servant will go check on it first."

Chu Shaoling nodded. Wang Muhan bowed and withdrew, closing the door and standing guard outside.

Wei Ji's face was a bit pale. He never expected Chu Shaoling to come to his room, and even less did he expect the painting he had hidden so well to be discovered by Chu Shaoling. For a moment, Wei Ji didn't know what to do, and stood frozen at the door.

Originally it was Chu Shaoling who came to Wei Ji's room to rummage around, but now that he was caught, it was Wei Ji who felt awkward. Chu Shaoling sat down and unfolded the painting in his hand, chuckling, "This is yours?"

Wei Ji bit his lip and knelt down, saying, "In reply to Your Highness, it belongs to this subordinate."

Chu Shaoling laughed, "This was clearly painted by me. How did it become yours?"

Wei Ji was a bit anxious. Privately keeping a prince's handwriting was a serious offense. Wei Ji was only fourteen years old and was still afraid in his heart, but he insisted, "Your Highness, this belongs to this subordinate. Please return it to me."

Wei Ji's face was pale, and his hands holding the small cloth bag were trembling slightly. Chu Shaoling silently regretted teasing him. After all, he was still a child. Why was he always teasing him? Chu Shaoling softened his voice, "Do you like ink paintings? I'll paint another one for you, okay? What do you like?"

Hearing this, Wei Ji couldn't help but raise his head to look at Chu Shaoling. He was stunned for a moment before saying, "This subordinate doesn't dare trouble Your Highness. It would be good if Your Highness could just return this painting to this subordinate." Although he said that, Chu Shaoling could see that Wei Ji's face was a bit flushed. Was he embarrassed?

Chu Shaoling chuckled, walked over and helped him up. He had just felt guilty for teasing him, but seeing Wei Ji this close, Chu Shaoling couldn't resist. He used a bit of force to pull Wei Ji closer. Wei Ji instinctively wanted to dodge, but seeing the painting in Chu Shaoling's other hand, he reluctantly endured it. Chu Shaoling held Wei Ji's wrist and teased in a low voice, "You really value this thing. That day you were so unromantic, but now for the sake of this scrap of paper, you're willing to listen."

Wei Ji lowered his head and pursed his lips without speaking. Chu Shaoling's mood became even more cheerful. He graciously handed the painting to him. The moment Wei Ji got the painting, he broke free from Chu Shaoling's hand, retreated a few steps, carefully folded the painting and put it in his bosom, warily looking at Chu Shaoling like facing a great enemy. He murmured, "This subordinate doesn't dare offend Your Highness."

"What are you avoiding? You think I'll snatch it back?" Chu Shaoling laughed. He walked to the desk and rummaged through it, glancing at Wei Ji and said, "What are you standing there for? Come grind some ink."

Wei Ji really didn't know what Chu Shaoling wanted to do and didn't dare ask. He could only walk over and stand to the side to help grind ink. Chu Shaoling searched for a while and only found a piece of raw silk that could be used. He also picked a suitable brush and dipped it in the ink to paint.

Chu Shaoling thought for a bit, then lifted the brush and painted a cliff. The cliff was steep, with a bright moon hanging above it and a few wisps of thin clouds. Chu Shaoling changed brushes and started painting figures. This time, it was no longer Chu Shaoling and Chu Shaoyang. Chu Shaoling was a master of painting, and with a few strokes, he outlined Wei Ji's figure.

On the cliff, Wei Ji was sitting on the ground, looking up at the moon in the sky. Beside him, Chu Shaoling was sitting lazily, turning his head to look at Wei Ji with a smile on his lips, as if saying something. There was also a jar of wine by their side. The scene was tranquil and warm.

Chu Shaoling changed brushes and continued. It took nearly an hour to complete this painting, even more effort than the one he gave to Chu Shaoyang. Chu Shaoling took a brush dipped in dark ink and inscribed: For Wei Ji, Winter of the 13th Year of Tianqi.

Chu Shaoling took out his personal seal and stamped it on the lower right corner. He put away the seal and chuckled softly, "This is for you. Isn't it much better than the one you have?"

Chu Shaoling turned his head to look at Wei Ji. At some point, Wei Ji's eyes had already turned red. Chu Shaoling laughed, "What's this? You like this painting, don't you? I painted a good one for you, but you're unhappy?"

Wei Ji lowered his head and said in a hoarse voice, "This subordinate is unworthy of Your Highness' great favor."

Chu Shaoling sighed inwardly. He had probably figured out Wei Ji's temperament. He had a good heart and was honest, just too inflexible, only knowing to stand foolishly to the side and watch. Otherwise, in the previous life, he wouldn't have stayed by his side for ten years without him even knowing of his existence. Chu Shaoling had always fought for and seized the things he wanted, but this was the first time he encountered someone with a temperament like Wei Ji's. He felt both perplexed and distressed.

Chu Shaoling placed the painting on the desk and sat down with Wei Ji. Wei Ji was a bit embarrassed and wiped his eyes. Chu Shaoling chuckled, "I know your feelings for me, and you're not stupid either. These past few days, with the way I've treated you, you should understand my feelings too."

Wei Ji naturally understood. These days, Chu Shaoling would tease him from time to time, saying things that made him blush and feel shy. Eunuch Wang would also look after him, undoubtedly under Chu Shaoling's instructions.

Wei Ji pursed his lips slightly, his eyes still moist. Chu Shaoling really didn't understand. He said in a low voice, "That day, I wanted to get close to you, but who knew you would run away, making me think you didn't have such feelings. Today, seeing that you actually kept my painting, it seems you do have feelings for me. What else are you unsatisfied with? Just say it directly."

Wei Ji lowered his head. After a long while, he got up, knelt down and said hoarsely, "Having improper feelings for Your Highness, this subordinate deserves to die. This subordinate doesn't dare to hope for anything else, only wishing to stay by Your Highness' side and serve loyally until death."

The words "until death" erased Chu Shaoling's teasing mood. The cliff in the painting he just made was Heartbreak Cliff, thirty li west outside the imperial city. Thinking of the badly injured Wei Ji on Heartbreak Cliff in the previous life, and looking at this half-grown child in front of him, Chu Shaoling felt even more distressed.

Chu Shaoling asked in a deep voice, "Are you content with just being a guard? What if one day I marry and have children?"

Wei Ji lowered his head, "This subordinate will be loyal to Your Highness' princess consort and children, just as loyal to Your Highness. This subordinate, as a man, and without an illustrious family background to assist Your Highness, can only..."

"Don't say anymore." This child was here to torment him. Listening to Wei Ji's words, Chu Shaoling's heart ached incessantly. He pulled Wei Ji up and said softly, "I won't marry a princess consort."

If he could have this person's companionship for life, even without a wife or children, what would it matter?

Wei Ji looked at Chu Shaoling in a daze, stammering, "Your Highness..."

Chu Shaoling closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "I know this is sudden for you and you can't wrap your head around it. Just know that I'm not doing this on a whim or treating you as a plaything. Rest assured, I'm not treating you as a pet. The other day I was too abrupt, don't overthink it. From now on, just stay by my side."

Chu Shaoling chuckled, "Today, I'm promoting you to be a first-rank guard of Bitao Palace. You'll accompany me every day. Do you like that?"

Chu Shaoling never knew he could care about someone so much. After being reborn, he originally wanted to treat him well, fulfill his wishes, and then elevate his family's status, as a way to repay Wei Ji's loyalty in the previous life. But after interacting these past few days, Chu Shaoling discovered that he truly liked this person.

He would worry if he was cold while on duty, would think about whether he ate enough. Chu Shaoling had a cold personality. Except for Empress Ling and Chu Shaoyang previously, he had never been like this before.

Even after promoting him to his side, Chu Shaoling still wasn't at ease. He made an exception to promote him to a third-rank guard, and worried if the other guards would bully him. His Wei Ji was still so young and had such a kind nature. How could one not worry?

No matter how he thought about it, the most reassuring thing was to keep him in sight.

Wei Ji still couldn't quite react and said softly, "Your Highness, your subordinate is too young and lacks merits. Skipping ranks to become a first-rank guard will make people gossip about Your Highness..."

"Your Highness has never been afraid of what others say." Chu Shaoling interrupted him with a chuckle, "I truly want to treat you well for a lifetime. I'm afraid if I say this now, you still won't believe it. Wei Ji, just look forward."

Wei Ji's eyes suddenly reddened. Originally it was an unrequited admiration. He never thought there would be such a day. He would be lying if he said he wasn't moved. It's just that Wei Ji was used to standing in the shadows. For a moment, he couldn't react and asked hoarsely, "Why is Your Highness so good to your subordinate?"

Why treat Wei Ji so well? In the years to come, many people asked Chu Shaoling this question. The Emperor asked, the Empress Dowager asked, Chu Shaoyang asked, and even Wei Ji's elder brother Wei Zhan asked. The people asking were different, and Chu Shaoling's answers were also different.

No one understood. Wei Ji's appearance was only above average, his personality steady and wooden. He couldn't do things to flatter and fawn. But Chu Shaoling was just good to this person, good to a degree that no one could comprehend.

Chu Shaoling looked at Wei Ji and said softly, "Let me ask you, if one day I lose this noble status, fall to a level lower than even commoners, and those closest to me all wish for my death, what would you do?"

Wei Ji was stunned for a moment, then replied without thinking, "Your subordinate would stay by Your Highness's side and risk my life to protect Your Highness."

What a good answer. Now, Chu Shaoling was the esteemed legitimate son of the previous empress. If he asked anyone by his side this question, the answers would probably be similar. But in the previous life, at his most difficult time, when even he himself had given up, it was Wei Ji, only Wei Ji, who held on to the determination to die, and despite being covered in knife wounds, brought him out from the midst of it all.

It was also only Wei Ji, who when facing three thousand imperial guards with him, was fearless. For his sake alone, he fought the three thousand imperial guards with a sword, and in the end died heroically with no part of his body unscathed.

In this vast world, there was only this one person.

It was this person, at the very, very end, in a hopeless, desperate situation, who still persisted in wanting to protect him, to let him live.

Chu Shaoling's previous life was short. Besides Empress Ling, he only tasted this kind of deep feelings in Wei Ji. Just that one time, he could never forget it again. Chu Shaoling had always been a selfish and greedy person. He wanted to tie this person to his side forever, to draw at any time the warmth that only Wei Ji could give.

Chu Shaoling looked at Wei Ji's still somewhat immature and dazed face, and chuckled, "In that kind of situation, you would still stay by my side. This is the reason I like you."