Wang Yibo dreamed about a very inconspicuous incident.
When he was fifteen years old, he had already demonstrated his talents in front of outsiders. Several other princes knew of his existence and sent people to win him over.
One of the dirtiest methods was seduction. He was taken to a tea house, but when the door was closed, a few wisps of incense smoke were lit in the room and several young women wrapped in tulle came out to flirt with him and touch his face.
This was the most vigorous age, where many people experienced the taste of love, but he was indifferent.
He was thinking internally, who sent these women, and how would they treat him if he was drawn over? If those people were killed, could he escape unscathed?
The beauties tried their best to seduce him, but found that not only did he not respond physically, but his face became more and more gloomy. They couldn't help feeling a little frightened, and retreated to the side.
In the end, Wang Xuan arrived in time and took him back. He couldn't help but joke: "What's the matter with you? There was really no reaction at all?"
What response could be given?
The way Wang Yibo looked at them was like looking at the fish on the chopping board or an aspect of business, nothing unusual.
But seeing Wang Xuan's surprised face, it seemed that this was an abnormal response, so he said lightly: "Maybe I don't like women."
Don't like women?
Wang Xuan gave him a strange look: "Then you like men?"
Wang Yibo didn't answer, because how could he tell Wang Xuan about something he didn't even know himself?
He just thought that the most idiotic behavior was to put all of his thoughts on another person.
He wanted many things, but that did not include women.
It was hard for him to believe that he would give up those things for someone, let alone show all of himself to another.
He lived pitifully but proudly, never letting others see his deepest scars.
Half asleep and half awake, he felt warmth against his back. Xiao Zhan was kissing his brand again. He seemed to love kissing that place very much, half in pity and half in affection. It was warm and ticklish. Wang Yibo kept his eyes closed, moved a couple of times, and then was embraced from behind.
His eyes remained closed as he felt Xiao Zhan's heartbeat. It was very fast, very powerful, and the lively strength and temperature were continuously transmitted to him.
Thinking of that dream, the corners of his mouth relaxed, then turned up slightly.
It could be seen that as one grew older, one's ideas would also change. He not only put his thoughts on another person, but he also accepted the other person wholeheartedly, showing all of his scars.
This was a very miraculous thing for him. After some thought, it would be impossible for him to face another person like this again. Xiao Zhan was the only one.
When he woke up completely, the bedside was empty. Sitting up on the edge of the bed, he took a while to lift the blanket. He had just taken two steps away from the bed when his expression changed. Looking down at his shaking legs, his eyes darkened.
"You're awake." Xiao Zhan's figure appeared at the door of the room, and he entered in high spirits with a bowl of porridge and some steamed buns. "Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?"
Wang Yibo propped one hand on the table next to him while staring at him.
Xiao Zhan set down the food and walked up to him, touched his forehead, and carried him back to bed without a word: "Fortunately, you're not sick."
"What act are you performing for me now?" Wang Yibo scolded him.
"Yes, yes, yes, it's all my fault."
Xiao Zhan crouched by the bed, admitting his mistake very sincerely. If only he was so obedient when he called for him to stop several times last night.
The more Wang Yibo thought about it, the angrier he became, and he kicked his shoulder: "Get out, I don't want to see you."
Xiao Zhan brought the food in front of him with a smile: "Don't be so angry, eat something first, ba. This is the porridge I bought at Huichun Tower, and the buns I made myself!"
Wang Yibo was indeed hungry. He drank a few mouthfuls of porridge before picking up an unfortunate-looking steamed bun, and took a bite while Xiao Zhan looked on eagerly.
"How is it? Did I succeed this time?" Xiao Zhan widened his eyes and looked at him anxiously.
Wang Yibo took two bites and asked: "What time is it?"
"Youshi."[1]*
*[1] Youshi (酉时) = 5-7pm.*
Wang Yibo was slightly surprised, and looked outside in amazement. The sky was dark. He had really slept until this hour?
But after tossing around all night, he vaguely remembered hearing the crow of a rooster. As for Xiao Zhan......
"When did you sleep?"
Xiao Zhan's face flushed slightly, remembering that he had failed to fall asleep several times last night while looking at that limp sleeping person. He still couldn't hide his enthusiasm, and after a while, he fell asleep when the sky was slightly bright.
"You didn't sleep all night, did you?" Wang Yibo took a look at his face and ventured a guess. After some surprise, he felt sorry for himself.
How miserable, ah, he was not even let go when he fell asleep, damned smelly man!
"You.....don't change the subject, I asked if it tastes good." Xiao Zhan pointed at the steamed bun.
"It's unpalatable," Wang Yibo said truthfully.
Xiao Zhan's smile froze: "Then stop eating, I'll go have the kitchen cook some of your favorite food, it will be ready soon!" After speaking, he ran out in a hurry.
After a while, Xiao Gao came in to help him clean up the room.
Xiao Gao blushed inexplicably. He snuck a few glances and turned his face away, not knowing what to say: "M-m-m-m-my Lord, would you like to change your clothes?"
"Let's wait." Wang Yibo was still eating the buns. He didn't really want to get up, mainly because he was exhausted. Seeing his furtive looks, he asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Xiao Gao faltered: "Old Man Qin t-told me......My Lord, that you were in the bridal chamber with the General."
Wang Yibo was silent.
"Didn't you guys already have a bridal chamber?" Xiao Gao didn't understand. "Didn't you have a bridal chamber wedding night when you got married?"
Wang Yibo didn't know how to explain it to him, so he simply didn't.
"I heard you cry last night," Xia Gao said pitifully.
Wang Yibo gave a sudden pause and looked at him with embarrassment. Was this kid's hearing so good? Or.....was his voice too loud?"
"I thought the General was bullying you. I was going to help you, but I was dragged away by Old Man Qin. He said that you were in the bridal chamber, and made me go far away....." Xiao Gao twisted his fingers, his face flushed, and he asked in a whisper, "Is it the bridal chamber I'm thinking of? The kind to make a baby?"
"Yes." Seeing him about to ask more, Wang Yibo said, "It's just that we can't have children."
"Ai, that's a pity, ah."
"It's not a pity, I don't want children."
If he had wanted a child, he would have married a woman long ago. For him, a relationship without any burdens was most suitable.
One weakness was enough. He couldn't have too many.
"That's good." Xiao Gao breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again. "As long as you're happy, My Lord."
"En." Wang Yibo lowered his head and ate a mouthful of the stuffed steamed bun, and a smile appeared on his lips unconsciously.
Xiao Gao saw the bun and took two steps closer, saying with a smile: "The General has been making buns in the kitchen for most of the day."
"Most of the day?" Wang Yibo asked.
"That's right, the General got up at noon and had a meal, then went to the kitchen. After putting the buns in the pot, he ran to the room to watch over you, and then went back to the kitchen to try them out. He kept running back and forth like this, but the buns failed four times." After saying this, Xiao Gao laughed. "We were all in the kitchen watching him knead dough and stuffing. It was fun, the General is so nice!"
Xiao Zhan carried in the food made by the cook, but found that Wang Yibo had already finished eating the four buns. He said in surprise: "How did you eat so much? Weren't they unappetizing?"
"I was just hungry," Wang Yibo said.
"Then what about these?"
"Eat it yourself."
"Okay." Xiao Zhan ate in the room, feeding him a couple of mouthfuls from time to time, as if he was afraid he might not be full after a few buns.
As night fell, the sweet-scented osmanthus in the courtyard had already bloomed. Wang Yibo had been laying down all day, and wanted to exercise his muscles and bones.
Xiao Zhan had learned this about him. In the past, if he was sick, he would always lie down and never sit.
He felt a little uncomfortable when he walked a few steps, but he got used to it. Xiao Zhan held his hand tightly and walked with him.
Seeing their backs as the two of them leaned on each other, Housekeeper Qin couldn't help but cry. It's not easy, ah, it's not easy!
"You didn't go to court today?" Wang Yibo asked.
"En, of course I took leave to stay with you in the mansion," Xiao Zhan said stridently. "Anyway, there was nothing serious going on there. It's boring to just listen to them quarreling all day long."
"The Imperial Academy......"
"I had Xiao Gao ask for leave for you, the Imperial Academy is more idle than the Imperial court!"
Wang Yibo smiled, then remembered another matter and said: "By the way, did you bring the gift for Kan Chuan's child?"
"I gave it at court yesterday, don't worry. He also said that he wants you to be the child's godfather," Xiao Zhan said.
Wang Yibo: "En, he mentioned it to me before, but I didn't agree at the time."
"Why didn't you agree?" Xiao Zhan asked curiously. "I heard it's a big fat fair-skinned girl, she should be very good."
"Do you like children?" Wang Yibo looked sideways at him.
"I like them, ah, children are the cutest," Xiao Zhan said with a sentimental tone. "They are the most carefree, their eyes are very pure, and people just like to see them."
After walking for a while, he found that Wang Yibo had been silent the whole time, so he asked: "Why are you thinking so seriously?"
"Do you want children?" Wang Yibo suddenly stopped and looked up at him.
Xiao Zhan was stunned for a moment, then touched his stomach and frowned: "You can't give birth, can you?"
"......" Wang Yibo said, "If you want children, you can find a woman to have a few."
Xiao Zhan looked at him, calm and unruffled: "What about you?"
"I will set fire to the General's Mansion."
It was fortunate that Housekeeper Qin wasn't here, otherwise he would be so frightened that he wouldn't be able to sleep at night. But Xiao Zhan laughed out loud: "You scared me to death, I thought you were going to wrong yourself and let me take a concubine openly."
"Don't even think about it."
Xiao Zhan smiled and squeezed his hand: "Don't worry. I like children when they are other people's children, they don't disturb me with noise. If I wanted to have children of my own, I would have already had a litter."
Speaking of this, Wang Yibo was also a little curious. Clearly, Xiao Zhan had a good family background and good looks, so why did he never marry a wife and take concubines?
It couldn't really be because of the evil star rumors. Xiao Zhan himself certainly didn't care, otherwise why would he come to mess around with him?
"You never thought of getting married before?"
"I used to focus solely on the war, and I didn't expect to have a family at all. The military camp was full of big men, and there were so few girls, so where could I find someone I liked? There were actually two marriage contracts, but they were both dispensable at the time, and the most important thing was to win the battle."
"What about concubines? Didn't your parents prepare any for you?"
When the children of noble families came of age, many parents would prepare a few maids or concubines for them, and let them learn the art of intercourse.
"That was even less possible. My father never took a concubine in his life, so why would he make me take a concubine?" Xiao Zhan said, "My father once told me, our heads are strapped to our belts.[2]* If we don't keep them straight, our heads will disappear one day. So even if you want to get married, try to harm each other as little as possible."
*[2] To have one's head strapped to their belt (脑袋掖在裤腰带上), is to do things at the risk of one's death.*
"Your father is right," Wang Yibo said.
"What 'your father,' how impolite," Xiao Zhan said with a straight face. "It's 'our father.'"
Wang Yibo smiled slightly. Xiao Zhan's heart itched at the sight, and he lowered his head and kissed him.
Servants passed by from time to time. Wang Yibo reached out to push him, but the other party was too strong. Not only did he not move at all, but he also found it fun, and insisted on kissing him unceasingly.
"Stop, stop, I suddenly have an idea," Wang Yibo said.
"What idea?"
"Let's go and see Kan Chuan's child."
"Now?"
"It's not too late, they're probably not asleep yet," Wang Yibo said. "Since you want me to be a godfather, I have to take a look first. Not just anyone can fall into my eyes."
"Then it seems I am really extraordinary!" Xiao Zhan said happily.
"......" Careless.
"Then let's go straight there?"
"No, let's disguise ourselves. I can't go to him openly." Wang Yibo's eyes lit up and he whispered something in his ear. Xiao Zhan was quite helpless.
"Looking at the child is a sham, I think you obviously want to play."
People came and went on the street, but nobody noticed the two black shadows on the roofs, jumping to another place in an instant.
Xiao Zhan led him, avoiding the eyes of the Imperial army as they flew all the way over the eaves and walls. Wang Yibo was no longer as panicked as he was the first time, and was now able to find fun in it. Knowing that with Xiao Zhan there it was impossible to be discovered, he still patrolled the surroundings like a thief.
Kan Chuan was teasing the child with his wife when he heard a knock on the door and asked: "Who is it?"
No one answered. He walked to the door vigilantly, and after opening it, he was taken aback by the two men in black before him. He was about to call out when the tall figure covered his mouth.
"Don't call out, it's us." The person next to him tore off the black face scarf and smiled at him.
"Wang-daren?" Kan Chuan looked at him in surprise, and then at the person covering his mouth.
"It's me." Xiao Zhan retracted his hand and also pulled off his black cloth.
"Why are you dressed like this?" Kan Chuan couldn't figure it out. They were a general and a fourth-rank official of the Imperial Academy, yet they were sneaking around like thieves in the middle of the night. What were they doing?
"Let's go in and talk first, is it convenient?" Wang Yibo asked.
"It's convenient, come in quickly." Kan Chuan welcomed them in. "Li-niang, Wang-daren and the General are here, go and pour them a cup of tea."
"Wang-daren, why are you here?" Li-niang walked over, overjoyed at the turn of events, and was about to make tea when Wang Yibo stopped her.
"Don't bother, we're just passing by to see your child, and we'll be leaving soon."
Just passing by? Daring to ask if you are the one who excitedly picked out these night clothes?
After Xiao Zhan finished slandering him, he felt it was amusing and smiled.
Kan Chuan naturally didn't believe that they were just passing by while wearing night clothes, but he prudently didn't ask, and led them to the bed with a smile: "The baby was crying for a while, and we managed to get her to be quiet for now."
The two approached the bed and took a look. The child was lying on a soft blanket, with a chubby face and two big, round eyes. She kicked the air with her hands and feet, as if she had a sense that strangers were coming, and looked at them calmly.
Amused, Xiao Zhan stretched out his hand in front of her, wanting to see how big her face was, but she was frightened to tears.
Xiao Zhan was startled and immediately withdrew his hand, looking at Kan Chuan and his wife in embarrassment.
The couple smiled and encouraged them: "It's all right, she just loves to cry. If anyone gets close, she will cry for a while. We really can't do anything about her."
The child continued to cry, and the couple seemed to have no intention of stepping forward to help. Xiao Zhan tugged on Wang Yibo's sleeve and asked for assistance: "You try?"
"How can I try?" Wang Yibo muttered. Helpless, he could only pat the child's stomach and say in a low voice, "No, don't cry, don't cry....."
Seeing him bluntly coaxing her, the other three could only try to hold back their laughter.
Unexpectedly, the child's cries actually grew quieter. Wang Yibo looked back at them doubtfully.
Kan Chuan was astonished: "What is this? She doesn't treat me like this."
"Maybe your daughter likes good-looking people." Xiao Zhan said obnoxiously. "That's right, she has the same discerning eyes as me."
Kan Chuan: "......"
Wang Yibo also felt that it was novel. He stared blankly at this little life he had never met before. At this time, his index finger was caught by a soft little claw. The baby suddenly grinned, and a moment later there was a giggle.
Kan Chuan was really jealous now.
Wang Yibo's gaze softened slightly. Seeing his appearance, Xiao Zhan also started to get jealous.
After a while, Kan Chuan brought up the old matter again: "My lord, she seems to like you very much, why don't you give me face and be her godfather?"
Wang Yibo had originally just wanted to take a look, but didn't expect it to be quite the match. He stood up and touched his body, but found that he had changed into night clothes and hadn't brought anything else with him at all.
Xiao Zhan took out a jade pendant and handed it to him. Wang Yibo looked over in surprise, and Xiao Zhan said: "I guessed you would recognize her as your goddaughter, and prepared everything for you. This was left behind by my mother, and is suitable for girls. In any case, the two of us don't need it."
"It's too precious, we can't take it," Kan Chuan said. "I asked Wang-daren to be the godfather not out of greed for your money. Besides, Wang-daren has already given a gift."
"The two things should be treated differently, that was a gift for you as a colleague. This is what Xiao Zhan and I are giving to the child, not to you." Wang Yibo took the jade pendant and placed it on the child's blanket. He couldn't help pinching her face again, with a smile on his face.
In the end, it was Li-niang who took Kan Chuan's hand and thanked him with a smile: "Many thanks, Wang-daren. Then we will accept it, and hope she can grow up quickly."
The two of them played with the child for a while before finally departing.
After returning to the General's Mansion furtively, Wang Yibo took off his night clothes and lay in bed, thinking about tonight's events. He suddenly said with a smile: "You're right. Children are indeed the most innocent. They will show kindness to everyone they see."
"En." Seeing that he was still reminiscing over meeting the child, Xiao Zhan turned over and lowered his head to kiss him. "Actually, I am also very innocent, you can think about me if you have nothing to do."
"You're innocent?" Wang Yibo asked angrily, "Will an innocent person backtalk me like this?"
Xiao Zhan smiled and worked hard, tossing and turning like waves.
Wang Yibo suddenly realized a problem. He had slept all during the day, and now he was tossed around like this and would definitely not be able to wake up tomorrow.
This was a vicious circle, ah, he still wanted to go to the Imperial Academy to copy books.
"Stop it," Wang Yibo said, out of breath.
Xiao Zhan was taken aback: "Yibo? Okay, Yibo. Yibo..."
Wang Yibo listened to him say he would stop for a long time, but the other didn't intend to pause at all, and he couldn't help but scratch up his back uncontrollably.
— Then why don't you stop, ah!