Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]
Chapter 156: Dancing Yellow Chrysanthemum — VII

Chapter 156: Dancing Yellow Chrysanthemum — VII

[Bonus Chapter 2]

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Once the nine-tailed fox made his exit, Li Xinyuan turned his attention to the bird circling around the room.

"Xueyue," he murmured, holding his arm out for it to perch on, "I have awaited your return."

The bird let out a soft caw and flew to sit on the surgeon’s forearm. As Li Xinyuan carefully untied the letter from its leg, Xueyue groomed its wings.

Li Xinyuan looked at the letter in his hand and ran his fingers on its corners, gently stroking the delicate paper. To express his gratitude to the snow-like bird, the surgeon petted its head affectionately.

"I’m extremely grateful, Xueyue," the surgeon led the bird to the water and some seeds. "Have some rest now."

The bird butted its head against his fingers, letting out soft noises as it did so. "Yes, Master."

Afterwards, the surgeon moved to sit by the window. Lighting a lamp would be easy, yes, but it would also take effort, and Li Xinyuan was too lethargic for that.

Sitting by the window, under the glow of cold crescent moonlight, the surgeon sat leaning towards the window sill and slowly opened the letter, the scent of the paper drawn in ink danced in the air. Dry but still fresh.

Golden eyes traced every word slowly, the noise of the night lulled around him. Every word written in perfect penmanship, one that exuded regal strength and restraint with every brushstroke.

Why must Liu Mingyun’s handwriting be pleasing to the eyes as well?

A soft snort left him as he leaned back against the chair, one leg crossing over the other as he rested the side of his head against his fist. He smiled, feeling something sweet curl in his chest, heart thumping with a steady rhythm.

It was a thing of hilarity, the way he spent so long simply admiring the Crown Prince’s penmanship. Perhaps this was the protagonist’s halo effect?

That, or... He was beginning to truly fall for the man.

"My Xin’er," the letter began, the ink flowing with ease. "Forgive me, for how long it has taken to pen this letter. This Prince prays dearly for your well-being, the JiangHu is a vicious abyss, after all."

Li Xinyuan bit his lips to stop a foolish and uncontrollable smile threatening to bloom. Just a few words of concern and he was behaving like a girl with a crush.

Gently, he shook his head in a bid to compose himself. Liking someone, loving someone, what a strange thing it was. To make him act like this.

"This Prince has been well—there is hardly much to inconvenience us—although it is an arduous thing, to wait for the day you return. I have nearly let my impatience win a few times, entertained the thought of rushing to you more than that, can you believe?"

Believe? Li Xinyuan could almost see the smile of amusement and mischief dancing on Liu Mingyun’s face.

"Certainly, I trust you" —wrote the Crown Prince— "to keep this letter only reserved for your beautiful eyes. Thus, allow me to divulge unto you a rather wayward thought, or more aptly—experience."

The surgeon felt his eyebrows shoot up, eyes lingering on the line for a touch too long. How curious. A wayward thought? He smiled wryly. What could it possibly be?

A thought so clandestine that even the Crown Prince would be cautious of sharing?

His smile widened into something so unwittingly besotted, eyes and mind reading the same line over and over.

(If Hu Lijing had chosen to stay, the nine-tailed fox spirit would have physically shuddered at the surgeon’s expression.)

"I dream of you. Every so often, they come unbidden. I could swear in the name of heaven and earth, I have never once thought of you in any way that would be untoward. And yet, This Crown Prince is helpless against the nightly illusions his mind conjures." Li Xinyuan’s smile froze.

What. Did he read that right? Nearly, the surgeon choked on his own disbelief.

Rapidly, a pink flush climbed up his face, setting his cheeks aflame at the implication hidden in Liu Mingyun’s words. "It is a great misfortune for me, this nation’s Crown Prince, to lay awake at night, fearing the images my mind would dare show. Forgive me, the atrocities committed by my mind are entirely on its own accord. Surely you would understand?"

Li Xinyuan understood. All too well.

Even if he wished he did not. However, did he mind?

... No. He found that he did not mind. They were to be married sooner than later. It was a good sign, Liu Mingyun’s fondness for him.

However astonishing the magnitude of it may be.

As though startled by his own thoughts, the surgeon jolted, lowered the letter onto his lap and turned to look out of the window. Closing his eyes, he swallowed, praying fervently for any strange thoughts to vanish as the night winds teased and caressed his searing face.

With a deep breath, he centred himself once more. Enough to brave through the letter to the end.

He adored the Crown Prince, perhaps much more than he thought possible for himself. The way he hung onto every word, every brushstroke, every visualised smile—the man’s name alone made his heart stutter a few beats too fast.

This— this was a far cry from his previous life, the select few instances of him sleeping with men in that life were driven purely by a fleeting fancy. A night of relaxation from his high-strung duty.

It was a good experience. Nothing more. He had enjoyed their company briefly and then moved on to give his attention to what mattered.

The deep, molten gold of his irises flicked down at the letter once again. A helpless smile danced on his lips, and before Li Xinyuan could think of anything else, a singular thought came, like a burgeoning force of nature.

His affection for Liu Mingyun was a different thing entirely.

A frightening emotion he had never dared to dwell on for even a moment too long.

It was not a fleeting fancy. It was neither a compromise he was making with the story nor an ultimatum he was choosing because there was no other option.

It was a decision. A conscious decision. To love Liu Mingyun, to give the man his heart.

Gingerly, Li Xinyuan picked up the letter and exhaled deeply as he started reading it again.

"But, whatever happens, never shall I make a conscious decision to do something you would not want, Xin’er. I know this seems like madness, but I would let the world burn before it causes you pain. Never forget that. Be safe. Or I might just go insane.

"This Prince is waiting for your answer, perhaps it is far too soon to be besotted by you but I doubt I desire it any other way.

"Yours,

"Liu Mingyun."

Li Xinyuan clenched the paper tightly until it crumpled in his hands, his chest too full with something he now knew the name of.