Chapter 56: Saving the Aloof Crown Prince 07

Garden.

Although the autumn wind was bleak, the autumn flowers blooming in the cold wind were still fervent.

Xiao Su walked through the courtyard, pulling his collar tighter; though he wore a cloak, the cold wind still found its way into the gaps.

But he had finally mustered the interest, wanting to properly admire the flowers in full bloom in deep autumn, and didn't want to just leave like that.

Jin Chen noticed, stepped forward a few paces, walked to his side, and just happened to block the wind.

Xiao Su sensed it, and a barely perceptible smile flickered in his phoenix eyes.

He stood beside a mutabilis hibiscus, extended his fingertip to touch it, and asked as if unintentionally.

"Ying Jiu, what was your past like?"

Jin Chen caught a glimpse of a figure slipping into the East Palace; combined with Xiao Su's question, he guessed the wife still didn't trust him and had sent someone to investigate.

He naturally dared not conceal it any further.

"When I was young, my family suffered a calamity, I was left alone; fortunately my master took me in, and I entered the Heaven Moon Pavilion for training."

Those three short sentences summed up Ying Jiu's entire life.

Xiao Su continued gazing at the flowers, lost in thought, unsure if he had heard, and asked again.

"Before you entered the Heaven Moon Pavilion, did you have your own name?"

He always felt that the name Ying Jiu and this person were strangely mismatched.

Jin Chen heard that and recalled the original host's memories.

At four years old his whole family was slaughtered, so his impression is naturally vague.

However, since 0731 arranged this identity for him, his current name should be the same as his own.

He replied.

"I faintly recall that as a child I was called Jin Chen."

"Jin Chen."

Xiao Su turned his head to look at him and softly repeated the name once.

A strange feeling suddenly welled up in his heart.

【Detected emotional fluctuation of the antagonist toward the host, triggering Heartbeat Value, Heartbeat Value +10!】

【Host, it turns out the Little Pitiful One is like this because of this name; only Jin Chen makes his heart race, Ying Jiu does not.】

0731's words were quite clever.

Jin Chen couldn't help but feel delighted.

He could hardly restrain himself, wanting to cup Xiao Su's face and kiss him tenderly in that windy evening.

Thinking this, the light in Jin Chen's peach-blossom eyes grew a few degrees more fervent.

Xiao Su blinked his phoenix eyes, slightly uncomfortable as he looked away; his gaze flickered, he turned his head not to look at Jin Chen, leaving only a slender back view and his cold, delicate jawline.

Yet in that aloofness he also bore a shyness he himself didn't know.

His slender fingers, hooked on the petals, also retracted, pulling back into his sleeves.

The atmosphere inexplicably took on an ambiguous hue.

Jin Chen, who could originally hold himself back, completely abandoned his self‑control in front of his lover.

He let out a sigh, wrapped his long arms around Xiao Su's slender waist, and pulled him into his embrace.

His voice was soft as strong liquor, his tone seemingly carrying a seductive hook.

"Master."

Xiao Su only felt the scorching breath spraying onto his ear.

By rights he should reprimand this ignorant hidden guard.

But he simply couldn't bring himself to be harsh.

Perhaps the autumn wind made one intoxicated.

Xiao Su relaxed his body, leaning against the broad, sturdy chest behind him, enveloped in sandalwood scent, feeling utterly at ease; a warm haze gathered in the depths of his eyes.

"Jin Chen."

His tone was icy cold, yet when he spoke softly it sounded like a lovers' murmur.

"I'm listening, subordinate."

Jin Chen rubbed his chin against the top of his head, his voice gentle.

"Since you have shown yourself, you must not betray me."

Xiao Su's voice was faint, clearly an icy threat, yet the trailing tone carried moisture, inexplicably gaining a touch of coquetry.

"Never; I, as subordinate, will follow my master unto life and death."

Warm breath brushed his ear; Xiao Su's waist went limp for a moment, hearing Jin Chen's reply, he suddenly recalled the final moments of his previous life.

In that filthy, wretched prison, he wore inmate garb, his body covered in wounds, curled on a floor crawling with worms and snakes; even when his consciousness was hazy, he had also fantasized that someone might come to rescue him.

So Jin Chen, in this life, have you come to rescue me?

He subconsciously leaned back again, as if relying on him.

After a long while.

Xiao Su spoke again.

"Do you have any secrets you're keeping from me?"

Jin Chen chuckled lightly, not answering directly.

"And what about the master?"

""

Xiao Su pressed his lips together, his long lashes shielding the deep emotions in his phoenix eyes, and a fragile demeanor arose unbidden.

He has plenty of secrets.

Jin Chen loosened him, turned to Xiao Su's front, and gently smoothed his cloak.

"The night is deep and dew heavy; master, rest quickly, don't catch cold."

"Hmm."

Xiao Su slightly moved his cheek, as if lightly brushing against the fingertip Jin Chen touched.

"You don't need to guard tonight; let Defu take you to the East Wing Room."

"Yes."

Jin Chen withdrew his hand.

Defu is the chief eunuch managing the East Palace.

——

After returning to the Qin Gong.

The palace maids attending to washing up and sleeping were already waiting in the outer chamber; seeing Xiao Su enter, the maids hurriedly closed the ventilated window, moved a sandalwood table into the inner chamber, and set out a rinsing tea cup.

Xiao Su sat straight across the table and lifted the tea cup to rinse his mouth.

The palace maids on the ground bent back and forth to serve; aside from their skirts touching the ground, there was hardly any sound.

"Withdraw."

He set down the tea cup and coldly gave the order.

The palace maids put down their work.

The senior palace maid lowered the canopy at the bedside, extinguished several candles, and lit the gold qilin incense burner.

"Yes."

The palace maids performed a salute, not daring to raise their heads, and filed out.

Xiao Su took another sip of tea.

"Come in."

A dark-clad figure slipped in through the window, knelt respectfully on the ground, with a piece of bamboo leaf embroidered on the corner of his clothing.

"Your Highness."

"How's the investigation?"

Xiao Su spoke offhandedly.

"Shadow Nine comes from the Heaven Moon Pavilion; he keeps secret information extremely well. Our subordinates only found out he comes from the Jin Family of Hangzhou; as a child his family was exterminated, so he followed the then Pavilion Master of the Heaven Moon Pavilion and left Hangzhou; after that, there's no way to investigate further."

It matches what Jin Chen himself said, not off by a bit.

The corner of his mouth curled slightly, and Xiao Su's mood improved considerably.

"Go investigate why the Jin Family was exterminated."

"Yes!"

That person clasped his fist, then quickly left the East Palace, leaving no trace.

Jin Chen sat on the roof, watching that person's back, had 0731 turn off the screen, and his smile couldn't be stopped.

His wife is concerned about his past, huh.

【……】

0731 didn't dare speak, but felt that after these few small worlds, the Host not only lost much of his cold aura, but also became somewhat love-brained.

Jin Chen happily laughed for a while, seeing Xiao Su fall asleep, he flew back to the East Wing Room and slept soundly.

——

Not long after the fifth watch.

Because today he still has to go to the Imperial Study to pay respects, Xiao Su already had poor sleep; having something on his mind made it even harder to sleep, he got up promptly.

The night-watch palace maids guarding the outer chamber heard the movement inside and whispered.

"Your Highness, are you getting up?"

"Hmm."

Xiao Su rubbed his slightly swollen forehead and responded.

Several palace maids holding washing utensils came in.

The candles were lit from outside to inside by the little eunuchs; shortly, the Qin Gong became bright.

After changing clothes, Xiao Su was completely awake.

He asked Defu, who was waiting nearby.

"Jin... Shadow Nine, where is he?"