It was night. Ye Chonghui asked Luo Yan out for the first time.
Master Luo was full of surprises and spent a long time picking out clothes in the room. Hengzhi had always disliked his impetuousness, so he specially chose a dark blue gown to complement his calm temperament. From the inside out, he exudes the demeanour of a gentleman.
The two made an appointment to meet at a teahouse in the south of the city. When Luo Yan arrived, Ye Chonghui had already drank a cup of tea.
Because it was getting late, Ye Chonghui was not as blinding as in the daytime, but people passing by were still a little unable to walk when they saw that face.
Luo Yan looked at his figure from a distance. It looked like an ink bamboo, straight and slender. His long hair, which was usually neatly combed, was only tied up with a white ribbon. His black hair and white clothes made him look like an immortal in a painting.
Luo Yan's heart was beating fast. He sat across from him and asked with a smile: "Why does Hengzhi remember this foolish senior brother and made an appointment here?"
There was actually a bit of guilt hidden in these words. From here, if one goes one street down and then turn around the bend, there is Yanliu Lane, which he often frequents.
From the name, you can tell what kind of place it is. When he was young, he loved to play and often lingered in the houses with wooden fences. Later, as he rose through the official ranks, he became more restrained. However, he had no scruples about listening to music to relieve his boredom. There are many people in the court who are good at this. Occasionally meeting one or two like-minded people and appreciating poetry and paintings together is also considered refined.
For example, he met Minister Shen Lin from the Ministry of Ancestral Hall there.
Luo Yan took a sip of tea and secretly looked at the man opposite who was sipping tea lightly. His face was as cold as jade. Cold and clear, like the bright snow on Tianshan Mountain, unstained by dust.
His cheeks were slightly hot. An immortal like Hengzhi would never set foot in such a filthy place.
Ye Chonghui put down his cup and asked, "Xingmiao, I have something to ask you."
The word "Xingmiao" made Luo Yan's heart tremble. He quickly straightened his face and said, "Just ask, I will definitely tell you everything I know."
There was a smile in Ye Chonghui's eyes, and he said: "The flower house in the deepest part of Yanliu Lane in the south of the city, is it a good place?"
"Ahem, cough, cough..."
Luo Yan choked on a mouthful of water. His face flushed, then he calmed down and asked: "You, why did you ask about this? Who said something to you? No, no, whoever would taint your ears with this is committing a serious sin!"
Ye Chonghui lowered his eyes, remembering A-Jin's sly smile. That child clearly lured him here on purpose.
He knew it was his younger brother's mischief, but he wanted to come and see what the "dirty place" he kept secret was like.
"Take me there."
Luo Yan almost fell off the stool. He waved his hands repeatedly and said: "Hengzhi, everything else is easy to talk about, but this matter is the only one that is inappropriate. How can you go to that kind of place?"
Ye Chonghui raised his eyebrows and said, "You can go, but I can't?"
"How can you and I be the same? I'm used to it, but you have always kept yourself clean. You will definitely look down on that kind of place. It will stain your eyes..." Besides, he himself doesn't think he has seen enough of Hengzhi, so how could he give others an advantage.
Ye Chonghui looked cold, "Since you don't want to, that's fine. I'll go by myself."
"..."
Luo Yan slammed the table and said, "I'll go! I'll watch over you and see which little goblin dares to touch you."
Ye Chonghui frowned slightly for a moment. Luo Yan coughed lightly and explained: "You and I are family friends, and I'm a few years older than you. Naturally, I can't let you do whatever you want. If something happens to you, how will I explain to Uncle Ye and my father later?"
Ye Chonghui glanced at him again. In the past, he was not enlightened, so he didn't think much about it, but after something like that happened at home, it was inevitable that he would be more concerned.
He said: "Luo Xingmiao, you don't have any other thoughts towards me, do you?"
His voice was cold and clear, and there was a hint of chill in it.
Luo Yan's chest felt tight, but he laughed a few times and said: "What other thoughts? You and I have been classmates for several years, and you still don't know me. I have always cherished beauty and talent. You are both a beauty and a talented person, so I naturally cherish you as a friend."
After saying this, he said: "Why do you suddenly want to go to that place? You are not in love with a man."
After saying this, his heart was already tightening.
Ye Chonghui didn't have any expression at all, he just said lightly: "Just curious."
Luo Yan felt relieved. In his eyes, Ye Chonghui disdained lying. If he said he was curious, then he must be curious.
Yanliu Lane is full of gambling houses, as well as some places for people to have fun and relax. Luo Yan is indeed familiar with the roads. He has visited almost every household here. He has visited less in the past few years. The most familiar thing is the silent building in the deepest part of the alley.
It is said to be silent, but it is just quieter than ordinary flower buildings.
The carved ebony plaque and the dignified and elegant thin gold fonts reveal a charming appeal if you look closely.
There was no pretty girl in front of the door, only a delicate young man. When he saw Luo Yan, he took a few steps forward to greet him. He smiled very cleanly and said, "Master Luo is here. Please come in quickly."
As he said this, he looked at Ye Chonghui, and he was stunned.
"This, this is..."
Without waiting for Ye Chonghui to answer, Luo Yan answered for him: "He is a good friend of mine. He just came to listen to the music and drink tea. There is no need to wait on him."
The boy nodded quickly and looked at him several times. He was glanced at indifferently by Ye Chonghui, and he immediately forgot to breathe. He thought that accompanying such a man would be worth it, even if he paid a small price for a good night.
As the night got darker, the number of guests gradually increased, and the waiter hurriedly welcomed them in.
The candles were brightly lit, and they met many people along the way, including guests and waiters. They talked about poetry, songs, and ancient and modern classics. Occasionally, they had a hearty joke or two. When they encountered something unclear, they treated it like an ordinary wine shop and teahouse.
Ye Chonghui glanced briefly and couldn't see any connection, but Luo Yan sneered. They were all shameless people, so naturally they couldn't do anything in the outer hall. When they entered the wing, it was another scene. However, he kept these words in his heart and could not tell Ye Chonghui.
After all, they were going to a private room without all this nonsense.
After sitting down, Luo Yan called two musicians to play the zither behind the screen. The two drank tea and chatted leisurely.
But Ye Chonghui didn't care about this. He wanted to know what the love between men was about.
After the song ended, he asked: "Do you come here often?"
Luo Yan hurriedly waved his hand and said: "Not often, but occasionally. It is elegant here and it is comfortable to stay."
The two zither players smiled softly. They look like elegant scholars when playing the zither. When they smile, their postures were graceful and soft.
Those who can serve in the elegant room are all good looking, clean-minded, and only talk nicely. Occasionally, when they meet a powerful guest or a guest who spends a lot of money, then there is no reason not to accompany him. However, Luo Yan has never slept with them. He has someone in his heart, so naturally he doesn't look at anyone else.
One of the zither masters laughed and said: "Master Luo does not come here often, and he doesn't stay for long when he comes. The tea in Wusheng Lou is nothing more than that. If you are used to drinking the tea given by the Emperor, how can you like the coarse tea here? But Master Luo's other sentence is correct. Although our silent building is simple, the guests who come here can go home 'comfortable'."
The other also said: "Master Luo likes to listen to music. It seems that this Young Master doesn't seem to like this. Then, how about ...poems and songs? The two of us are also a little familiar with it, so we can accompany the Young Master to enjoy them."
Ye Chonghui pondered for a while and said: "I'm not here for this. What do most of the men come here for?"
The two people looked at each other. Although they have seen a lot of sanctimonious men, this person with the cold aura, who looks like an immortal, was brought by Luo Yan. They just thought he was here to kill time and didn't think about that at all.
Luo Yan's expression was ugly. He raised his hand to drive the people out. When he turned around, his words contained a hint of grievance and he said, "Hengzhi, what are you doing? Are you just curious?"
Ye Chonghui stood up and walked over. Next to the window, a rosewood window was opened, facing a bright moon.
"Xingmiao, can a man and a man grow old together?"
Luo Yan was stunned, looking at his figure in a daze. His moon-white brocade shirt was blown up by the wind, his tall body stood straight. He hesitated: "Okay, if you really like it, it's not a bad idea."
Ye Chonghui lowered his eyes for a long time and said, "That's fine, let's stop here today."
He walked out and bumped into someone as soon as he went down the stairs. The person smelled of alcohol and a disgusting fishy smell.
The drunkard raised his eyes and squinted at him then suddenly froze. He got up from the ground, grabbed Ye Chonghui's sleeves, and said: "Beauty, what's your name? Why have I never seen you before..." He was tongue-tied, but said "Buy, how much money does it cost to buy you?"
Ye Chonghui frowned, just as Luo Yan came out. Upon seeing this scene, he shouted: "Hurry up and take your dirty hands away!"
As he said this, he stepped forward and tried to pull the man away. Although the drunkard was drunk, he was very strong. Luo Yan pulled for a long time but the other man did not move at all. Ye Chonghui glanced at Luo Yan's face, which was flushed with anxiety, and couldn't help but curl his lips. He raised his hand and pinched the man's wrist, and easily pulled him away.
The drunkard was unwilling to give in and wanted to go forward and hug Ye Chonghui's waist. Ye Chonghui felt bored and raised his foot and kicked him aside. He couldn't get up for a long time.
Luo Yan, who wanted to be the hero who saved the beauty, was shocked on the spot. In his eyes, Ye Chonghui was a dignified and noble person, like snow bamboo and glittering jewels. Such an appearance would give people a feeling of weakness. It turns out... he only looks weak.
Ye Chonghui straightened his sleeves, glanced back, and then froze. The door in front of him was not closed tightly, and heavy breathing came from inside. Looking through the slit, he saw a charming young man being pressed down by a man and doing something inappropriate on the table. The moment is really lively and full of sensuality.
He paused for only two breaths and turned around suddenly.
Luo Yan didn't know why, but Ye Chonghui had already left first. Although the figure was still upright and slender, it looked a little hasty.
=======
On this day, Ye Chongjin made an appointment with Master Dou to go to the thatched cottage to listen to his knowledge.
Master Dou is not too old. At this age, it is extremely rare to have such profound knowledge as him. Even Ye Yanbai said that in some aspects he is inferior to Master Dou.
He no longer kept that blue plant. For a Confucian scholar like him, he thought it was too horrible to kill other flowers and plants, and he didn't like it from the bottom of his heart. So Ye Chongjin gave a bluegrass plant from his mother's yard as a gift to make up for it.
Master Dou was very happy. After chatting with him for a long time, he remembered and asked, "Why didn't Hengzhi come with you?"
Ye Chongjin was also depressed and said, "I haven't seen my Brother for several days. He seems to be avoiding me."
Master Dou comforted him, "With a lovable brother like you, how could he hide? It must be because of his busy official duties. He is now the editor of the Hanlin Academy. In a few years, when Master Liu retires, he will be an academician of the Hanlin Academy, so he has to worry more about official matters."
Ye Chongjin's mouth twitched, Master Liu? Old Liu's calligraphy and painting is still hanging in his room. When he passed away in his previous life, the old man already had a nickname, "One hundred-year-old Liu". It's strange that his brother was promoted to an official under his command.
He just smiled and said: "I'm just talking nonsense. My Brother loves me the most. After a few days of free time, we will come to visit you again, sir."
After bidding farewell to Master Dou, he went directly to Yao Mansion. Ye Ruoyao was going to give birth soon and during this time, Yao Zhen stayed in front of the bed every day. Zhenwei Tower had been closed for several days, and he needed to satisfy his craving.
The servants of the Yao Mansion all recognized him and knew he was an honoured guest, so they welcomed him in as soon as he was reported.
It was almost May, already a bit hot, and the wind in the corridor was very refreshing. He leaned on the railing and glanced into the distance, and then he was stunned.
He saw Yao Zhen and Gu Chen, who should not have appeared here.
The two people stood under the pavilion, and it is not known what they were talking about. Yao Zhen looked reserved and cautious. And the man who was pretending to be pitiful in front of him a few days ago had a cold expression. Suddenly, he turned his head and looked this way, curling his lips and smiling.
Ye Chongjin: "..."
========
The man spread his cloak on the stone bench and said, "A-Li, sit down."
"Who is your A-Li?" Ye Chongjin frowned slightly, but still sat down.
Gu Chen half-crouched beside his legs, and raised his eyes to look at him. With unconcealed joy in his eyes, he said: "Of course it's you. You are zhen's A-Li. Zhen said that zhen could find you wherever you hide. You see, you hid in someone else's body, and zhen found you."
He tilted his head and placed Ye Chongjin's hand on his cheek, as if he had received the deepest comfort, his eyes staring at him for a moment.
Ye Chongjin curled his lips and said, "Yes, you can always find me."
Gu Chen tilted his head and kissed his fingertips, whispering softly: "A-Li, zhen misses you..."
His gaze was so intense that a thin layer of sweat stained Ye Chongjin's forehead. He quickly changed the subject and said, "Then, how do you know it is me."
Gu Chen stood up, his tall figure looming over Ye Chongjin. He put his hands on the stone table, trapping Ye Chongjin between his arms and said: "At first, zhen only guessed that you were Song Sanbao. Zhen sent people to find you. They said that you did not enter the palace, but died suddenly when you were six years old. However, the youngest son of the Ye family, who should have died in infancy, has lived well in this life. If your death is reasonable, Ye Chongjin's life has no reason. It just so happens that the day Ye Chongjin was born was the day you died, so zhen had to think about it."
"You thought that when I was six years old, I became Ye Chongjin. So that day, you came to the Prime Minister's Mansion to test me?"
Gu Chen smiled and said, "Zhen originally thought that zhen would be upset when zhen sees such a young A-Li, but when zhen actually saw you, zhen can only express my indescribable love for you. Zhen can hold such a small dumpling with one arm, and it makes me like it so much that my heart aches. A-Li, 'Double Ninth Festival', do you still remember it?"
Ye Chongjin seemed to have thought of something. His fair cheeks were stained with a layer of crimson, and he glared at him. Seeing that the man had calmed down, he asked: "Then, how do you know that I am Song Li?"
"Because of Yao Zhen."
Ye Chongjin's expression changed, "Is he yours?"
Gu Chen pressed his forehead against Ye Chongjin's, and said with a low smile: "What are you thinking about? He is yours, but zhen was the one who sent him to the Prime Minister's Mansion. Do you think that with his status, he can join the Prime Minister's Mansion as a cook? The wealthy family he mentioned in his previous life was just a merchant's home."
"Originally, zhen thought that his cooking skills would make you happy, but the fact that you were concerned about him seems very abrupt amidst your indifference to everyone else."
Ye Chongjin pushed him away, "Is it just because of this?"
"There are many other details, do you want zhen to tell you one by one?"
Ye Chongjin didn't want to hear it, so he just snorted softly.
Gu Chen smiled lowly and said, "In the past, you would never lose your temper like this. If zhen makes you angry, you will just remain expressionless, which makes zhen scared."
When he said this, Ye Chongjin himself was stunned. Gu Chen put his arms around his waist, and hugged him tightly in his arms. He rubbed his nose against the side of his slender neck, and asked softly: "A-Li recognized me a long time ago, didn't he?"
"Even if he recognizes, he has no intention of acknowledging each other."
Ye Chongjin was speechless. After a long time, he said: "Gu Chen, I just don't dare."
The young Emperor's eyes flashed with hurt, then disappeared. He lowered his head, looking at the delicate and beautiful young man. He took a moderate bite on his collarbone. Ye Chongjin groaned in pain and said, "When will you change your biting habit?"
"You can't eat it now. Take a bite to satisfy your craving."
Gu Chen raised his eyes and glanced over with his deep black eyes. Ye Chongjin's skin was as white as jade. He took one bite, leaving a light bite mark. It was not abrupt, but had an indescribable charm.
Gu Chen steadied his breathing and hugged him tighter. Ye Chongjin was embedded in his arms and felt the hot air spraying on his neck, almost scalding him.
The man's voice was hoarse and he said: "A-Li, grow up quickly, okay?"
Ye Chongjin's mouth twitched, "No, I refuse."