“Bro. Huan!”

Huan Moche got off the cart. Holding back the pain in heart, he was going to have some rest in Zuiche Restaurant. That was his business. Though he appeared to be an underprivileged man in the capital city, he wouldn’t really be one. If he could do nothing, but play around, why would His Majesty put him in such an important position? And why would other ministers flatter him? For example, among those ministers who supported the Crown Prince, some of them took the order from Huan Moche. Just for such power he had, he could never be underestimated.

Hearing her voice, Huan Moche flashed a disgusted look. He stopped and looked around at Leng Tiantian behind him. His voice remained, but he sounded cold, “I’m the only child of my father. Miss Leng, please mind the way you call me!”

Leng Tiantian took fast hold of her handkerchief. At dinner, she saw Mr. Huan held Bro. Leng and left the palace with the Crown Prince. Mr. Huan seemed to care much for her cousin, but she didn’t feel it right. She kept an eye wherever Mr. Huan turned up. That was why she found that Mr. Huan, who looked gentle but never cared for anyone, looked frequently at the Crown Prince when they were at dinner.

Leng Tiantian had never seen the similar look in Mr. Huan’s eyes before. That was too enthusiastic and crazy. It was then that Leng Tiantian realized Mr. Huan only treated her cousin as a close friend. But he treated the Crown Prince as something else. Something very different. When she walked out of the palace, she was scared. Just then, she saw Mr. Huan flew out of the Crown Prince’s cart. The anger in his eyes looked strange, but he didn’t seem to be annoyed. She buckled down to walk after him. She thought carefully before she stopped him. Unexpectedly, how she called him simply disgusted him so much.

“Mr. Huan!” yelled Leng Tiantian with anger. It had been years since she became crazy about him. Couldn’t she even call him? Could Mr. Huan really fall in love with a man? The more she wondered, the more awkward she felt. Over all these years, he had never got close to any girl. He didn’t even touch any of his maidservants. Could he… could he really like men? What if he really did? Who would she do? How could she realize her dream?

Looking at the darkness, Huan Moche said, “It’s getting late. I think you’d better go back home early!” As soon as he finished, he was about to leave. In the blue robe, he was almost going out of her view. Getting upset, Leng Tiantian asked directly, “Mr. Huan, do you like someone?”

It had been the first time that she asked such a question in front of a man she adored. Leng Tiantian felt not only scared, but also shy. Her beautiful face shone more brightly with such shyness.

Huan Moche disdained to answer such a question. But hearing that question, the figure of a “young man” popped out in his mind, along with the cold eyes and pleasant smell. He replied, “Sure, I do. That’s my love.” But he didn’t know if he was replying to Leng Tiantian or saying to himself. He loved that “young man” so much that he came to believe that intrigues were not the greatest thing in this world, but unreachable love was.

Leng Tiantian stopped. She wanted to reach out and hug the gentle but cold man. However, before she could get close, he disappeared in the moonlight and left her alone, thinking about what he had replied.

After a long time, Leng Tiantian no longer looked sad. Strong feelings of jealousy struck her. How could a man be with Mr. Huan? Even if they had feelings for each other, so what? How could others accept them? She must get Mr. Huan!

“Cousin!” Leng Zishi trotted to her and asked worriedly, “Cousin, where did you go? I’ve been looking for you! Why don’t we get back home early? We shouldn’t be too late!”

As he said, he held her arm like a kid. Leng Tiantian gave a scheming look.

Seeing the tears of his cousin, Leng Zishi panicked. He asked hastily, “Cousin, what’s wrong with you? Did anyone bully you? Tell me! I will defend you!” As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves as if he were going for a fight. Such an innocent boy could always win universal favor.

“No!” Leng Tiantian stopped him. She mumbled a lot before she finally explained, “I’m complaining for my cousin and Mr. Huan. You know what? The Crown Prince seems to be a gay. I wonder how Cousin and Mr. Huan will get on with ‘him’.”

“Cousin? You don’t trust me?” she asked and wept. She added, “I always think we’re the closest families. My parents died at a young age. When I came to your home, I could depend on no one, but you. You were kind to me. I thought we would always trust each other. But you…” As she spoke, she wiped her tears.

“What?” asked Leng Zishi in disbelief. How could a gorgeous “boy” like the Crown Prince be a gay? “He” was so handsome that “he” even looked as elegant as the lotus. “He” seemed to be the purest man in the world. How could “he” be a gay? Leng Zishi didn’t want to believe that.

“You think I’m lying to you?” Leng Tiantian asked and sobbed. Her weeping face looked quite pitiful. She repeated, “After my parents died, I came to your home. You were the first one who treated me nicely. I used to think we would trust each other. But I didn’t expect you to…” As she spoke, she wiped her tears.

“Cousin, don’t cry!” said Leng Zishi. He raised his hand to wipe her tears. Then he hurriedly promised, “I believe you!”

After Leng Tiantian stopped crying, Leng Zishi asked carefully, “Cousin, do you like Bro. Huan?” When he asked, something flashed in his eyes.

“I…”Leng Tiantian murmured. The question shocked her. She was so embarrassed that she didn’t know how to answer. But before she figured out how to answer, Leng Zishi added, “Cousin, you’re the best. You’re the perfect match for Bro. Leng. I’ll help you.” He sounded as innocent as he used to be.

“Really?” Leng Tiantian asked happily, with her eyes wide open.

“Certainly! Why would I lie to you?” promised Leng Zishi who clenched his fists and had his head tilted to one side. He looked so cute that Leng Tiantian couldn’t help laughing.

*

With green grass around, flowers were in full bloom. A stream wound its way down the flowering shrubs. In the north, there was an open space. Pavilions stood aside and the carved banisters were hidden among the trees. Looked down, the stream ran through the rocks. The cloud floated over the pool and the stone bridge was over the pool.

This was a graceful villa. Inside the study, a man in purple was reviewing a memorial to throne in front of his desk.

“My Lord!” said one of his subordinates who walked into the study.

“Did you find her?” asked the man in purple. He still held the memorial to throne and sounded cold.

“Yes. Her Highness is in the Crown Prince’s mansion of Shang State. The Crown Prince saved her!” replied his subordinate.

“Get ready and we’re going to Shang State!” said the man in purple who put down the memorial to throne and stood up.