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nThank you GrotesqueWombat for the ko-fis!

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nEditor: SimoB

nYu Chennian finished removing the little master’s socks.

nHe also helped him to take off his red cloak without being prompted, exposing the slim figure within.

nThe spoiled little master dove into the bedding until only a small white face was peeking out. His long eyelashes curled slightly, but he refused to close his eyes.

nHe did not dismiss Yu Chennian, and Yu Chennian did not move either. He just sat by the bed with lowered eyes, like a piece of wood.

nAfter staring at him for a few seconds with no response, Shi Qing was displeased. Two pale feet emerged from the bedding to kick at Yu Chennian.

nWhen Yu Chennian looked up at him, the little master was finally satisfied. He withdrew his feet and raised his chin: “I’m going to sleep. Sing something for me. I want to listen to a song.”

nSinging was something only a courtesan would do.

nShi Qing’s request was truly trampling on Yu Chennian’s pride as a prince.

nYu Chennian, who has obeyed his every order from before without complaint, could not do the same this time. He frowned slightly. A pair of dark eyes looked at Shi Qing emotionlessly.

nHe was born with good features, but his blank-faced stare still made others uncomfortable.

nWhen a few servants in the palace, who deliberately messed with Yu Chennian, touched a nerve, his expression was enough to send them scurrying away.

nNo one had ever said harsh words or disciplined Shi Qing since he was young. This was the first time that someone had directed such a look to his face.

nThe little master’s white and tender face became a little timid. A pair of round eyes that refused to admit defeat widened to try and appear more intimidating. His delicate lips were tightly pressed together, and he hid behind a corner of the quilt.

n“Wh-what are you staring at me for!”

nHe’s obviously terrified, but forcefully put on such a fierce appearance.

nBut Yu Chennian knew nothing good would come from him upsetting Shi Qing.

nWith that thought, Yu Chennian slowly lowered his head. His voice was quiet and deep: “I don’t know how to sing.”

n“Why are you so useless?! You can’t even hold a tune.”

nSeeing that his frightening look had disappeared, Shi Qing’s courage seemed to return. He hummed as he kicked Yu Chennian’s leg again with his foot.

nHe wasn’t very strong and his feet were soft and white. The tender meat was almost incapable of inflicting harm. Yu Chennian straight up pretended not to have noticed. He just sat there and let the little master express his anger.

nBefore even ten kicks, the little master had tired himself out.

nThe white face was flushed slightly due to his recent exertions. His breath was a little uneven as well. Yet he insisted on peering at Yu Chennian triumphantly. As a result, when he saw the indifferent look on the young man’s face, Shi Qing exploded in embarrassment.

n“What are you eating all day?! Your flesh is so hard I can’t even kick it!”

nHe was like a little kitten trying to scratch someone only to find out that his claws weren’t sharp enough. He meowed resentfully and threw a tantrum.

n“You can’t even sing a ditty! Your meat is so hard too! Why are you so useless!”

nHis insults bounced right off Yu Chennian, who was used to much worse from an early age.

nThe young man was even idle enough to think that it wasn’t too bad listening to Shi Qing scold him here. At least he has a nice voice and his words were just petty. His kicks didn’t hurt either. It was better than being teased and belittled by his imperial brothers outside.

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nHis imperial brothers all had a reading companion. Naturally, he had one as well. However, their tutors looked down on him and his imperial brothers often made things difficult for him. They would often deliberately ask him difficult questions in class.

nIf he wasn’t able to answer, it was his reading companion who would be hit on his hands.

nAlthough Yu Chennian was not a favored prince, the reading companion given to him was the son of a high ranking official. How could he accept this kind of punishment day in and day out? Gradually, he made excuses so that he wouldn’t have to attend classes and take beatings for Yu Chennian.

nWithout his reading companion, Yu Chennian would be hit instead.

nHis tutors never show him any mercy. After all, most of them had some connections with the other princes. They certainly didn’t have a high opinion of Yu Chennian, the least favoured prince. If one of the other princes demanded it, they would even put all their strength behind their blows.

nTherefore, while the Imperial Study was a place to learn for the other princes, it was hell for Yu Chennian.

nRegardless of the season, he took the brunt of the punishments. In the cold winter, he would still be beaten until his hands were red and swollen from frostbite. He was even made to copy books. Only he was forced to write and write until the break of dawn.

nCompared with those experiences, Shi Qing’s words were nothing to him.

nThe eunuch serving outside heard the little master suddenly raise his voice. He was worried that something had happened in the room, so he hurried over to the door and bent over like a shrimp, “Little Master, did you call this one over?”

n“Yes!”

nThe little master responded angrily. Shi Qing was verbally abusing Yu Chennian passionately, but he didn’t get any response. He stared at Yu Chennian, whose face was completely calm. Shi Qing buried himself in the quilt unwillingly.

n“Get in here.”

nThe eunuch immediately opened the door. He bowed his head and walked in respectfully.

nThen he heard the little master’s lazy voice: “I’m going to sleep. Sing me a song.”

n“Understood.”

nThe eunuch immediately opened his mouth and sang skillfully. This was obviously not the first time he had done this.

nYu Chennian just recalled a joke his imperial brothers made in the past about Shi Qing being a big baby because he needed someone to sing him to sleep.

nRealising that Shi Qing wasn’t targeting him with this specifically, Yu Chennian became ambivalent about this in his heart. He just sat there in silence.

nThe eunuch sang for a while, but the little master who should have been drifting comfortably off to sleep, frowned and ducked under the quilt.

nFrom his angle, Yu Chennian could see Shi Qing burying his entire face into the quilt.

nA few minutes later, the restless young man in the quilt came out with a face full of unhappiness. He was not pleased.

n“Did you not bring in a basin of charcoal?” He asked grumpily, “Why is it so cold?!”

nThe eunuch who served him quickly shut his mouth and replied carefully: “Little Master, the basin was always here. I had asked someone to bring in some high quality red silk charcoal earlier. It’s been burning for a while now.”

n“But this room isn’t warm at all.”

nShi Qing drilled into the quilt again, displeased, “I’ve been lying here for a long time but my feet are still cold and uncomfortable.”

n“Would you like me to bring you a hot water bottle?”

n“I don’t like to use those. What if I get burned.”

nThis spoiled little master was quite high maintenance.

nHis round black eyes wandered around the room. They seemed to pause when they fell on Yu Chennian. His eyes lit up as he issued an order to Yu Chennian:

n“You! Take a seat by my side.”

nYu Chennian went over in silence.

n“Come over more! Am I going to eat you or something?!”

nShi Qing was not satisfied with how far away he was. He grumbled as he rolled with the blanket wrapped around him like a silkworm baby in Yu Chennian’s direction.

nWhen he felt like he was close enough, Shi Qing raised his lips with satisfaction: “A big guy like you shouldn’t be afraid of the cold, right? Help me warm my feet.”

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nAs he said this, the little master stretched out his white feet and plunged them beneath Yu Chennian’s shirt without waiting for an answer. His feet were now directly touching the young man’s waist.

nWith Yu Chennian’s body warming his cold feet, the discomfort and impatience on his face retreated slightly.

nYu Chennian still showed no signs of resistance. He turned slightly and looked at the youth. His little head was the only thing poking out of the quilt.

nIn actuality, this room was already very warm, at least when compared to the Imperial Study.

nBecause of his status, Yu Chennian had never been able to get his fair share of charcoal. He sent whatever he received to his bedridden foster mother.

nTherefore, his house was almost always the same temperature as it was outside. In addition, the house was not often in the sun to begin with. Every night, his bed felt like it was made of ice.

nBut here Shi Qing was, complaining about it not being warm enough, in a cozy room like this with many warm blankets that had been preheated by the servants.

nThis spoiled little boy was never satisfied.

nAfter his feet were no longer cold, thanks to Yu Chennian, he started complaining about how his ankles were too exposed in this position.

nThe eunuch carefully brought over a blanket made with rabbit fur to cover Shi Qing’s ankles, but he was scolded away.

nIf the little master was not happy, he was sure to lose his temper.

n“Why is there only one basin of charcoal fire in this room? I have three basins at home.”

nThe eunuch hurried to offer an explanation: “Little Master, there was less red silk charcoal made this year, so the amount that can be used is regulated. Your room can only use one basin. Even His Highness’s room only has one.”

n“Are you trying to make me die of hypothermia?! I’m never this cold at home!”

nHis father belonged to an aristocratic family going back hundreds of years. Shi Qing was his only son, so naturally he was given all the luxuries they had to offer.

nThe princes could only have a set amount of red silk charcoal, but Shi Qing could have as much as he wanted.

nThe eunuch quickly proposed: “How about this? This one will go ask if the princes could spare some of their charcoal so that the little master can sleep comfortably?”

n“No way!”

nShi Qing interrupted him without even needing to think. His face was scrunched up in anger: “None of them came to help when that snake was on me. I’m going to ignore them too.”

nThe little boy huffed as he took back his feet. He looked at Yu Chennian: “You almost made me get bitten by a snake so you have to compensate me. Come over here and sleep with me.”

nYu Chennian was slightly shocked.

nWhen he heard the order, he immediately considered if Shi Qing had come up with some new trick.

nBut was Shi Qing actually asking him to come over?

nMaybe it was because the astonished eyes dissatisfied him, but the little master puffed his face up. He lunged up and grabbed Yu Chennian’s arm, intending to pull him onto the bed.

nHis target didn’t move an inch.

nShi Qing was stunned.

nHe stared at him with his round black eyes. He looked at his hands, and then at Yu Chennian, who was taken by surprise but remained stationary. His face grew furious.

nThe little master’s childish voice was full of anger, “I said come here!”

nYu Chennian: “The tutors will punish me if they don’t see me.”

n“What does it matter if they see you or not? You’re just skipping a couple of classes. You won’t learn anything from those rambly geezers anyways.”

nShi Qing snorted and spoke to the eunuch, who was still waiting: “Go tell the tutors that I’m not feeling well. The ninth prince is taking care of me. We’re asking to be excused for the day.”

nThe eunuch retired respectfully: “Understood.”

nWhen he arrived outside, he told the tutor Shi Qing’s exact words.

nThe tutor nodded in acknowledgement. He didn’t ask why a reading companion like Shi Qing would need a prince to take care of him when he wasn’t feeling well.

nIt was no secret that Shi Qing occupied a position in the emperor’s heart that was higher than that of his own sons. The tutor would be insane to consider offending Shi Qing.

nNone of the other princes voiced any disagreement either.

nShi Qing liked to hold grudges. He was almost bitten by a poisonous snake just now, and so they assumed that he had single mindedly decided to take it out on Yu Chennian.

nWhat ‘his body was unwell’? What ‘Yu Chennian was taking care of him’?

nWith Shi Qing’s short temper, he was probably brainstorming ways of getting back at Yu Chennian.

nThey all knew it in their hearts, but none of them sent anyone to investigate.

nMeanwhile, Yu Chennian, who everyone thought was being tortured or bullied, was lying under a toasty quilt in a warm room.

nThe little boy who was originally in the quilt felt the warmth radiating from the other and finally grew silent.

nHe closed his eyes comfortably and squeezed himself into Yu Chennian’s arms like there was nothing wrong with him doing so.

nThis was the first time in Yu Chennian’s memories that he got to lie down in such a comfortable environment.

nThe air was warm, the room was clean and he could even smell the scent of milk.

nThe smell didn’t come from the bedding or the censer. It was the scent of the little boy resting comfortably in his arms.

nHe seemed to like drinking sheep’s milk a lot. Maybe it was due to his love of sheep’s milk that his skin was so white and tender and smelt of milk.

nWhile the white and tender little master fell asleep, his feet were still restless. He closed his eyes and nuzzled towards the heat source and would not stop until he was touching Yu Chennian.

nYu Chennian seemed to be hugging him now.

nThe youth in his arms was soft and tender. He didn’t dare to move an inch. It was as though the smallest of movements would hurt the proud but fragile little thing in his arms.

nThere was a strange feeling at the bottom of his heart. He felt like a kitten was stretching out to claw at him but without using its claws.

nIt didn’t hurt. It just itched a bit. But he was already looking forward to it clawing at him again.

nIn such a comfortable atmosphere with so little expected of him, Yu Chennian slowly closed his eyes. For the first time since he could remember, he slept restfully.

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