Chapter 81: A Confession to the Princess

Lian Ying carried Ji Xiao back into the house, placed him on the bed, and stood silently to the side.

Ji Xiao lay on the bed, slightly turning his head to look at him. “There’s a bronze mirror on that cabinet. Go get it.”

“Yes.”

Lian Ying brought the mirror over.

Ji Xiao smiled. “Look, the few strokes I added, how are they?”

Lian Ying raised the mirror. Seeing that the original brand of the character ‘dark’ had been replaced by winding, twisting flower branches, his eyes showed no fluctuation. “Very good.”

Black Cat: “I told you, even if you drew a pile of crap, he’d still say it’s good.”

Shadow guards unconditionally obey their master; no matter the situation, they must not contradict him.

[Shut your cat mouth.]

Black Cat: “…”

Ji Xiao closed his eyes. “The bed is a bit cold. A-Ying, come and sleep with me.”

“Yes.”

Lian Ying put the mirror back, took off his boots and sword, and lay down beside him fully dressed.

Ji Xiao naturally turned over and leaned against his shoulder, one arm resting across his waist.

Lian Ying didn’t move.

Black Cat sighed. “Back then, when you were doing it with mission targets, you were completely clear-headed and not this lustful. Now, tsk, host, you’ve changed.”

Ji Xiao closed his eyes and said nothing, his breathing steady, as if asleep.

“It seems like since the world of Wei Xiuyuan… Eh, went there and got drugged right away, then did it every day. Could it be because of that reason, that your body and soul developed a habit? Ah, this…”

“…”

Black Cat got no response, so it shut up and went off to complain to the group leader.

Ji Xiao’s fingers moved slightly, gently holding Lian Ying’s hand.

Just a cat, what does it know?

He tightened his grip on Lian Ying’s hand.

Perhaps subconsciously, he could sense it, but he kept telling himself that it was just a mission target, just a few years, that giving them a lifetime of deep affection would be enough, and it wouldn’t count as betrayal.

But what if subconsciously, he treated them as one person?

Lian Ying also closed his eyes, letting him hold his hand, neither returning the grip nor pulling away.

Ji Xiao gently stroked his hand.

So, who exactly is it?

Chasing after him from one world to the next, accurately landing on the mission target without revealing any flaws.

What is the reason?

Yan Xiao’s body was weak, lacking energy.

Under the quiet warmth, Ji Xiao gradually fell asleep.

When he woke again, it was already afternoon.

He and Lian Ying still maintained their original positions.

When he got up, Lian Ying also got up quickly, put on his boots, and hung his sword back.

Ji Xiao put on a robe and went out. Sensing something, he turned to look but didn’t see Lian Ying.

He paused. “Come out. From now on, no need to hide. Just follow me openly.”

“Yes.”

****

The servants knew he was resting and didn’t dare disturb him.

It wasn’t until he came out that someone approached. “Master, lunch is ready. Would you like to dine?”

The servants originally called him “old master,” but Yan Xiao didn’t like the word “old,” so he only let them call him “master.”

After he was awarded the top scholar title and agreed to marry the princess, the emperor kept him as a capital official and bestowed this mansion. As for the servants, they were bought with money from his sister and brother-in-law, not many, barely enough.

“The weather is nice today. Set it up in the courtyard.”

“Yes, master.”

Just as lunch was laid out, someone reported that the Fifth Princess had arrived.

Fifth Princess Cao Mengyang, dressed in red like the blazing sun.

“Brother Yan~”

Cao Mengyang looked at him in surprise. “It’s so late, you haven’t eaten yet?”

Ji Xiao smiled slightly. “I was a bit lazy in sleeping.”

Cao Mengyang sat across from him. “Then you should eat quickly.”

Ji Xiao looked up. “All of you, withdraw.”

Lian Ying and the Yan mansion servants withdrew as instructed.

Cao Mengyang also smiled and raised her hand.

The maids and guards who followed her lowered their heads and withdrew.

“Your Highness is a good person,” Ji Xiao stood up and bowed seriously. “Yan Xiao does not dare to deceive Your Highness. I’m afraid I will let down Your Highness’s deep affection.”

Cao Mengyang’s expression changed slightly. She put her hands down and sat upright. “Brother Yan, what do you mean by this?”

Ji Xiao said softly, “I did not intend to deceive Your Highness.”

Cao Mengyang said impatiently, “Then just say it.”

Ji Xiao lowered his head. “I like men.”

Cao Mengyang slammed her hand on the table, enraged. “If so, how dare you agree to be my consort! This is deceiving the emperor!”

“Your Highness, please calm down,” Ji Xiao said with a bitter smile. “Yan Xiao truly did not hide it intentionally. It was only after Your Highness bestowed a shadow guard upon me that I realized I prefer men.”

Cao Mengyang looked at him strangely. “Don’t tell me you’ve taken a fancy to the shadow guard I gave you?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Cao Mengyang’s eyes became complicated. “Is this my own doing?”

“Your Highness, don’t say that. I am grateful for my preferences,” Ji Xiao said. “Yan Xiao is not worthy of Your Highness. Your Highness will meet a good match.”

Cao Mengyang put one hand on the table. “Come out, aren’t you afraid I’ll report to father emperor and have you executed?”

“Afraid,” Ji Xiao looked up, his eyes clear and honest. “But since I’ve discovered this, I can no longer deceive Your Highness.”

Cao Mengyang gave a cold snort. “This matter has nothing to do with him, he doesn’t know…”

“Call him out!”

“…”

Ji Xiao helplessly called out loudly, “Lian Ying.”

In a few leaps, Lian Ying appeared and knelt on one knee. “Master.”

“Rise.”

“Yes.”

Cao Mengyang gave a light snort. “I didn’t look closely before. So you’re the shadow guard I sent out.”

Lian Ying didn’t reply, his expression cold, showing no regard for his former master.

“You’re stiff and boring, but highly skilled in martial arts. That’s why I kept you and gave you to Brother Yan,” Cao Mengyang said. “But I never expected you to dare…”

“Your Highness,” Ji Xiao interrupted her.

Cao Mengyang abruptly stood up and sneered. “You say it’s so? If you really like men, then prove it to me.”

Ji Xiao: “…How do I prove it?”

“Do you even need to ask?” Cao Mengyang raised her chin. “If you really like him, then kiss him for me to see. A person who doesn’t like men definitely couldn’t bring themselves to do it.”

Ji Xiao turned his head slightly to look at Lian Ying.

Lian Ying stood straight, unmoved.

Ji Xiao walked up to Lian Ying, who was half a head taller, reached out, pulled down on his collar slightly.

Lian Ying lowered his head along with the force, eyes downcast.

Ji Xiao kissed his lips, biting gently.

Several breaths passed, and Cao Mengyang didn’t call stop.

Ji Xiao released Lian Ying, turned around, his face slightly red. “Does Your Highness believe me now?”

“So it’s true,” Cao Mengyang clicked her tongue lightly. “Brother Yan, think carefully. Being my consort is beneficial to your official career.”

Ji Xiao said seriously, “Now that I know my own preference, how dare I wrong Your Highness.”

“If you reject my marriage today on this ground, but dare to marry someone else in the future, this princess will not let you off!”

“I definitely will not. I will not delay any girl.”

“There’s no shortage of men wanting to marry me; they could line up from the border to the capital. Brother Yan, remember, today I am the one who doesn’t want you,” Cao Mengyang raised her chin, her eyes proud. “Since you’ve incurred my disfavor, don’t even think about the position of vice minister that father emperor promised you.”

Ji Xiao: “I ask that Your Highness send me out to the capital, to Changhe County.”

“You’ve got it all figured out!”

Cao Mengyang had once wanted to marry him, so how could she not know he was from Changhe County?

She gave a cold snort and left with a flick of her sleeve.

“Farewell, Your Highness.”

“…”

Ji Xiao sat down again and said to Lian Ying, “A-Ying, you sit too.”

Lian Ying lowered his eyes and sat beside him.

Ji Xiao called for a servant to bring another set of dishes. “You haven’t eaten either. Eat with me.”

“Yes.”

The food had gone a bit cold, but Ji Xiao was hungry and too lazy to have it heated. He just ate as was.

Lian Ying also ate seriously.

Lian Ying: “Yes.”

Ji Xiao: “…” Sigh.

He took Lian Ying for a few rounds in the courtyard before returning to the room.

Sitting on the bed, he beckoned to Lian Ying.

Lian Ying walked over to him and was pulled to sit beside him.

“Do you know why I suddenly reneged on marrying the princess?”

Lian Ying: “Master likes men.”

That was the information he heard.

“I told the princess that I like you,” Ji Xiao said with a light laugh. “What do you think about that?”

Lian Ying: “Everything of mine belongs to master.”

“Soon, news that I was rejected by the princess for breaking off the engagement and sent to a remote county far from the capital will likely spread through the capital.”

Yan Xiao was the top scholar of this session and very famous in literary circles. Many people were probably watching him.

“A-Ying, I hope that from now on, you will say whatever you want in front of me. You don’t have to follow my every word. You can freely show your joy, anger, and sorrow.”

Lian Ying: “Yes.”

“Other shadow guards have lively personalities, but you’re as stiff as wood.”

“…”

Ji Xiao said softly, “A-Ying, would you be willing to leave the capital with me?”

Lian Ying didn’t hesitate. “You are my master. Wherever you go, I go.”

“Is that all?”

Hearing his question, Lian Ying looked at him. “What does master want to hear?”

As if he would say whatever Ji Xiao wanted to hear.

“Forget it.”

****

Imperial Palace.

Cao Mengyang went straight to the empress’s palace, happening to find the emperor there as well.

She bowed, not hiding the anger on her face. “Father Emperor, Mother Empress!”

Empress: “Who made our little Mengyang angry?”

Emperor: “Who’s so tactless as to bully our Xiao Wu?”

“I don’t want Yan Xiao anymore. Father Emperor, Mother Empress, help me cancel the marriage,” Cao Mengyang gave a light snort, walked over, and took the empress’s arm. “Mother Empress, I don’t want him anymore.”

Empress frowned. “Did he do something to wrong you?”

“No,” Cao Mengyang said unhappily. “He’s too weak. Taking him for a walk in the garden tired him out. What use is he?”

Emperor: “You knew he was weak before. You said his literary talent was good, and though he was weak, you could protect him, and you liked him very much. That’s why I agreed to betroth you. Now you’re complaining that he’s weak?”

“Oh,” Cao Mengyang let go of the empress and turned to grab the emperor’s arm, shaking it. “Daughter had only heard about it, never seen it, so I thought it wasn’t a big deal. Anyway, I don’t want to marry him anymore, Father Emperor~”

“Just find a way! For example, say he’s seriously ill and won’t live long, can’t bear to implicate me, and voluntarily asks Father Emperor to retract the order. Wouldn’t that be fine?”

“Wouldn’t those literary men start to feel indignant for him? And judging by his writing style, he doesn’t seem like the type to yield.”

“I can compensate him~ I’ll go talk to him, he’ll agree, Father Emperor you can’t stop me. I want to find a new, strong consort, okay, Father Emperor~” Cao Mengyang said pitifully. “Father Emperor and Mother Empress don’t want daughter to become a widow early, do you? He doesn’t look like he’ll live long…”

“Xiao Wu,” the emperor tapped her head. “Even if you don’t like him anymore, you shouldn’t say such graceless things.”

“Alright, I won’t say it next time.”

****

At that moment, the ‘not-long-lived’ Ji Xiao was lying on his side on the bed, watching his shadow guard pack luggage.

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