A Bitter Heart (Part 10)

At dusk, Wei Ming left his duties and returned to the Prince's Manor. The servants at home welcomed him into the main courtyard but cautiously refrained from following him into the house. Wei Ming's heart stirred slightly. He pushed open the door and, as expected, saw a white-haired figure sitting upright on the couch by the window, reading a book.

It was early winter, and the sky had not yet completely darkened. The room was dim, but a little bit of clear light still shone beneath the window. He was like a beauty hidden deep within an ancient scroll, appearing both demonic and immortal. A single glance from him could captivate and mesmerize any onlooker.

His back was to the door. Wei Ming walked in quietly and, out of nowhere, snatched his book away. However, Chi Lian was so sharp that he had already heard him enter. He looked up at Wei Ming as usual, and with a gentle pull from Wei Ming, he leaned into his embrace. "It's getting dark. Be careful you don't hurt your eyes. Have them light the lamps."

Chi Lian shook his head and smiled. "I just arrived. I just picked it up to pass the time, I haven't been reading for long."

There was a teacup on the low table. Wei Ming picked it up and took a sip; the tea was still hot. Just as Chi Lian said, "That's mine," Wei Ming leaned down and kissed him. Their breaths intertwined, their lips and teeth lingering warmly, still carrying a faint fragrance of tea. But the emotions surging in their hearts were as scorching as lava, having seethed suppressively for the past hundred, even thousand years. It would erupt violently in the boundless romantic nights, and it would also flow quietly in the deep dusk.

At this moment, with no one to disturb them, it was as if they had stolen a small, tranquil fragment from a noisy, busy day, melting into a hint of sweetness on their tongues. Wei Ming was not in a hurry, and Chi Lian, held in his embrace, was also very relaxed. After the long kiss ended, they still lingered, reluctant to part. Thus followed many small, fragmented kisses, scattered in the gentle afterglow, gradually losing even the hint of desire, becoming entirely like two little animals grooming each other.

By the end, Wei Ming was kissed into a laugh. His long, beautiful fingers combed through the cool, long hair, kneading the back of his neck neither too hard nor too soft, as he answered Chi Lian's earlier sentence in a low voice, "What does it matter? You are also mine."

In that short while, the sky outside had completely darkened. In this utterly dim light, Chi Lian gazed at his features, knowing them by heart without needing to see them clearly. He did not object, as if silently accepting those words.

The sound of servants' footsteps echoed in the courtyard. The little eunuch Jiang Hai knocked on the door from outside and asked in a soft voice, "It's dark, does the Prince wish for the lamps to be lit?"

Only then did Wei Ming let go, sitting properly back on the other side of the low table. He raised his voice, "Come in."

Jiang Hai entered the room with a maid carrying a light, and with lowered eyes, they lit the lamps around the room one by one, not daring to glance around. Finally, he asked, "The kitchen has prepared dinner. When should it be served? Please give your orders, Prince."

Wei Ming raised his hand to signal him to wait, then asked Chi Lian, "There's a lantern festival in the East Market tonight. Should we eat before we go, or head over now?"

Chi Lian had been in this world for less than a year and was not yet familiar with the customs of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He asked, "What day is it today?"

"The fifteenth of the tenth month is the Day of the Lower Prime, the Sky Lantern Festival. The East Market has a lively lantern festival every year. Since we have nothing to do, we might as well go for a stroll." Wei Ming said, "Speaking of which, according to seasonal custom, we should be eating some red bean paste buns today."

Jiang Hai bowed and said, "Replying to the Prince, they have all been prepared."

Chi Lian then said, "His Highness has been busy all day. You should have a bite to eat first, then change your clothes before we go out."

Wei Ming nodded. Jiang Hai took his leave. Chi Lian poured him another cup of tea. "His Highness has worked hard. You're in such a good mood, you must have had a fruitful day."

"It was somewhat fruitful. At least I now know there's more to General Wei's death, and Fang Tianchong definitely has something to hide." Wei Ming concisely recounted the interrogation of Fang Tianchong. Chi Lian listened intently and then asked, "Then why didn't His Highness strike while the iron was hot and make him confess on the spot? What if he goes back, thinks it over, and changes his mind?"

Wei Ming said, "A man like Fang Tianchong won't shed a tear until he sees his own coffin. Don't be fooled by his current status as a prisoner; his pride is still very high. If I appear too eager, he'll dare to use this leverage to bargain with me, and what he says will be three parts truth and seven parts lies. Rather than waste time playing guessing games with him, it's better to first break his spirit, make him recognize his own situation, and then find a way to extract the truth."

Chi Lian nodded in agreement. "If you can get ahold of this leverage, the blow to Prince Kang's faction will be no less than Fang Tianchong's fall from power." After a thought, he added, "Does His Highness already have a plan in mind?"

But Wei Ming blinked, giving him a profound and mysterious smile, deliberately keeping him in suspense. "I have a plan, but I'll need to borrow a favorable wind from the Grand Preceptor. That is why I've specifically invited the Grand Preceptor to condescend to join me on this outing tonight, to allow this Prince to express a little of his gratitude."

In truth, whatever he wanted Chi Lian to do was a matter of a single command. But the line between other identities and that of an intimate lover was distinctly different. The longer Chi Lian spent with him, the more he could feel the way Wei Ming cherished him like a precious treasure. Perhaps because he was tainted by mortal karma, Wei Ming's nature—different from the Emperor's deep and reserved disposition—was more gentle and fervent, which made Chi Lian's own mood unconsciously lighten as well.

"Alright."

He accepted the small, round red bean paste bun Wei Ming had picked up for him and took a bite into the sweet filling. "I'll have to trouble the Prince to spend money tonight."

As winter set in, the weather grew colder, and the evenings were especially chilly. The two changed into thicker clothes and cloaks before leaving, taking a carriage to the East Market. By then, the lantern festival had already begun. The entire street was as bright as day, with song towers and taverns brilliantly lit. Colorful stalls lined the street, selling all sorts of colored lanterns, food, and trinkets. Many also offered games of chance, such as pitch-pot, dice throwing, coin tossing, and wheel-of-fortune ring toss, among others.

As soon as Wei Ming entered the East Market, he first bought two half-masks from a mask stall and handed one to him, saying, "There are too many people here. This is to prevent us from being recognized."

Although Chi Lian lived a secluded life at Zixiao Academy, his hair color was too striking, and his looks were too outstanding. And even more people had seen Wei Ming. To avoid being spotted—His Highness, Prince Duan, and the Grand Preceptor strolling hand-in-hand—and having rumors reach Emperor Qiansheng's ears, it was better to be low-key and not attract attention.

The masks were gaudily painted, vaguely resembling a tiger's head. The good thing was that once worn, not even their own fathers would recognize them. Under the cover of their wide robes and large sleeves, the two held hands and slowly strolled along the long street, stopping for a moment whenever they encountered something new and interesting. In the past, when Chi Lian was in the White Jade Capital, he would occasionally take the opportunity to descend to the Mortal Realm and walk through the markets of the Spirit Race or other immortal continents. But he rarely immersed himself in them with the identity of someone from this world. Plus, he wasn't someone who had much interest in amusement, so he would just glance at things cursorily, leaving no deep impression.

The markets of the world were all more or less the same, and the mortal world's lantern festivals were no exception. The things sold were nothing more than homemade items or imitations of antique calligraphy and paintings, far inferior to the objects in the palace. But with someone for company, it wasn't boring. Chi Lian looked at everything with great interest. When he walked up to a colorful stall, his gaze suddenly shifted, and he caught sight of a very interesting little trinket.

Wei Ming stopped and asked with a smile, "What has caught your eye?"

The stall owner saw that the two were dressed in silks and satins and immediately introduced his wares with enthusiasm, "My ancestors were glass artisans who supplied the imperial court! These are all heirlooms, exquisitely beautiful. They are for gambling, not for sale. Five hundred wen for one try, pitch-pot blindfolded. If you hit five out of ten shots, you can choose any one item to take home. If you like it, young master, you can try your luck!"

Glassware was already rare and precious, and pieces of exquisite quality were worthy of being presented as tribute. So, although the price he set was much higher than other stalls, many people still stopped to watch. However, his condition was even more stringent—pitch-pot was simple, but hitting five shots blindfolded was too difficult. It was even less worthwhile than throwing five hundred wen into the water.

Chi Lian pointed to one of the items. Wei Ming followed his hand and saw a small glass piece, three inches tall and palm-sized. Below was a lotus throne of a deep ruby color, and on top lay a small Qilin with a silver mane and golden eyes.

The artisan's craftsmanship was indeed ingenious; even the flower petals and the scales and claws were carved in minute detail. Its exquisite quality went without saying, but the wonderful thing was that its symbolism secretly matched their identities, making it a truly rare and desirable masterpiece.

Chi Lian leaned close to his ear and whispered, as if a little embarrassed, "His Highness, I want this."

Other than having told Wei Ming "I want you," this was the first time he had ever taken the initiative to ask for something. Let alone a mere piece of glassware, even if he had asked for the stars and the moon, Wei Ming would have had to reach out and try to get them for him.

He tossed the owner a silver ingot. "Bring twenty arrows first. Where is your pot?"

Seeing a big spender arrive, the owner gleefully led him to the pitch-pot area next to the colorful stall and presented a silk ribbon with both hands. Chi Lian knew Wei Ming was particular and quickly said, "Not this one, use mine." With that, he pretended to reach into his robes and used spiritual power to conjure a dark blue satin ribbon. He said to Wei Ming, "Your High... Young Master, please lower your head a little."

Wei Ming pushed his mask up to his forehead and bent down to let him cover his eyes, taking the opportunity to whisper in his ear, "What did you call me?"

The words were so light and ambiguous, spoken with a slight smile, especially in public, that they made Chi Lian's hands tremble. He hurriedly tied the knot and helped him turn halfway around. Wei Ming let him position him, adjusting his stance to face the arrow pot. After Chi Lian let go, he asked, "Ready?"

His eyes were covered, revealing only the handsome lower half of his face. But his cool, pale skin, high-bridged nose, and the smile on his lips gave him a unique charm. Even tourists who were just passing by couldn't help but stop and watch. Wei Ming held a long arrow and, based on his memory of the pot's distance, threw it casually while holding back his strength. As expected, he missed.

"Was it too far or too close? Off to the left or the right?"

Chi Lian handed him an arrow and held his hand to aim for the center line. "To the left, and too close."

The second arrow also missed, followed by the third, and the fourth... The initially curious passersby gradually understood that this blindfolded pitch-pot was indeed worse than throwing money into the water; it was purely closing your eyes and throwing money away for fun.

On the seventh arrow, there was a 'ding'. Although it didn't go in this time, it hit the pot. The onlookers were engrossed, as if they were the ones playing, and they all said, "There's a chance, there's a chance! The next one will definitely go in."

Chi Lian said, "A little bit higher."

However, this time it was too high and didn't even touch the pot. Everyone sighed again, lamenting, "This is too hard!"

Adjusting back and forth without hitting a single arrow was actually very tedious and a test of patience. But Wei Ming, befitting someone who had mastered immortal arts as a mortal, lacked neither precision nor patience. His hand was as steady as that of Chi Lian, a sword-wielding immortal. On the tenth arrow, there was another 'ding'. Chi Lian said, "This time it hit the rim of the pot. Just a hair closer and it would have gone in."

The first five hundred wen were gone. Wei Ming took the second bundle of arrows from Chi Lian's hand and suddenly said, "Blindfolded pitch-pot is indeed harder than I thought. It doesn't just require accuracy; it seems I'm also lacking a bit of luck."

Although his eyes were covered, Chi Lian kept getting the illusion that his gaze was passing through the silk ribbon and landing heavily on him.

The north wind was piercingly cold, and the city was filled with lanterns. In the bustling, clamorous market street, his heart was suddenly filled with an unbridled sense of freedom.

Chi Lian took Wei Ming's free hand, interlaced their fingers, and solemnly promised, "If you win, I will also grant the young master a wish."

Onlooking passersby: "..."

Why did it suddenly become so blinding? Did they interlace their fingers because they wanted to high-five for a pledge but were too cold to have the strength?

Wei Ming's smile deepened. He replied, "Alright, it's a promise."

Immediately after, he flicked his wrist and threw an arrow—a direct hit!

After five consecutive crisp 'ding-ding-dong-dong' sounds, he stopped and asked innocently, "Should I continue?"

Chi Lian: "..."

The crowd of onlookers roared with applause. The owner's face turned green. He said miserably, "No need, no need! Congratulations, young master. I'll box it up for you right away."

Chi Lian took the brocade box from the owner and put it away with satisfaction. Wei Ming had already removed the ribbon himself and put his mask back on. Seeing that the owner was about to give him change, he waved his hand and said, "No need for change. We were the ones who took advantage of you."

The owner's mournful expression immediately turned to joy. He praised loudly, "The young master's aim is marvelous, truly a reincarnation of Hou Yi!"

Wei Ming: "..."

"Hahaha..."

Chi Lian was so amused by the phrase "reincarnation of Hou Yi" that he couldn't help but laugh whenever he looked at Wei Ming. The two walked a long way, until they reached the huge sky lantern in the center of the street, joining the countless citizens of the Capital in looking up at the bright lantern and the deep, brilliant galaxy of the winter night.

He felt Wei Ming's presence draw near. Everyone was looking up at the lantern; only Wei Ming was looking down at him.

Wei Ming planted a soft kiss on his temple and asked in a low, unhurried voice, "I won. How will my beloved thank me?"