Caring naught for how many despised him behind his back, Yan Si lived on in tranquil contentment. He believed his life had truly turned a beautiful new page, one where he could fully feel the care and affection of his loved ones.
He no longer needed to contemplate death to reach a place filled with warm, golden sunshine and happiness, for here... right in the embrace of RongCheng, Yan Si felt it all.
"Now... are you finished embracing me?" RongCheng was seated within a pavilion, awaiting Shan Yuan, when Yan Si had suddenly appeared and clasped him in an embrace.
"Not yet..." Hearing the question, Yan Si tightened his arms even further.
Seeing this, RongCheng sighed softly. Having long grown accustomed to Yan Si's behavior, he never once refused him... always waiting until the other was satisfied before moving. However, lately, he had begun to notice an unusual difference. He said, "A Si, you are no longer a child, to cling to me thus all day. It would be ill-regarded should others witness it."
"Ill-regarded?" Yan Si suddenly released RongCheng, asking with an air of confusion, "Why would it be ill-regarded? Did you not say before that I could embrace you at any time?"
"That matter..." That was half a year past, when Yan Si was still but a frail, sickly skeleton. But now, things were different.
After a long period of nourishment and care, Yan Si had transformed greatly, like an ugly duckling suddenly shedding its skin to become a remarkably beautiful swan. Hence, the numerous palace rumors of late had greatly displeased Shan Yuan, who frequently advised RongCheng to maintain a distance from him.
Yan Si seemed to understand and, slightly sulking, rose to his feet. "I... I shall return now."
RongCheng was not Yan Si's to possess alone. He merely felt it best to seize the opportunity to embrace him whenever possible, and if dismissed, he would leave immediately.
Seeing him depart thus, RongCheng made no move to stop him, only sighing with a feeling of helplessness.
Once Yan Si was gone, Shan Yuan approached and sat beside RongCheng, asking, "Is Your Highness greatly fatigued?"
Seeing Shan Yuan, RongCheng instantly brightened, sighing dramatically, "Indeed, I am utterly exhausted. I miss my consort so much I am near madness."
Hearing this, Shan Yuan was momentarily at a loss for words. RongCheng suddenly embraced him just as Yan Si had embraced him moments before, sighing again, "My Yuan-er, do you know when my grandmother will return to Mount Shang? She summons you every day and will not release you even at night... how can I endure this?"
Truly, a matter had recently caused RongCheng great displeasure. The Empress Dowager had suddenly returned to the palace and commanded Shan Yuan to attend her, forcing His Highness to endure lonely nights in his bedchamber, his sadness beyond measure.
Shan Yuan suddenly sighed. "Grandmother says she will depart in two days, but..."
RongCheng sat up and looked at him, asking, "But what?"
Pondering for a moment, Shan Yuan abruptly shook his head, seemingly unwilling to elaborate, and changed the subject. "I thought I saw A Si just now?"
Seeing that he did not wish to speak, RongCheng did not press further, though in his heart he resolved that he must certainly visit the Empress Dowager tonight to beg for Shan Yuan's return... Then he answered casually, "Ah yes, he only just departed."
"Is that so..." Shan Yuan gently nodded, a sudden, inexplicable worry stirring in his heart... After a long period of silent contemplation, a thought suddenly struck him, and he asked, "Does Your Highness not find A Si's appearance resembles someone?"
"A Si resembles someone?" Now that he mentioned it... lately, RongCheng had gradually felt that Yan Si truly resembled an acquaintance of his, yet he could not recall who it was... It was not until he visited the Estate of General Shi the other day that he could definitively confirm one thing: "Is it... Lady Shi?"
"Precisely." If one were to deliberately dress him in female attire and apply a little makeup, he would surely be mistaken for her: "On the day Lady Shi entered the palace to visit the Empress Dowager, I truly felt the two of them were..."
"This matter..." RongCheng suddenly stood up and paced back and forth, contemplating. "How could a male and a female, moreover two strangers, resemble each other so closely?"
It was then he suddenly remembered a detail: "Indeed, perhaps they are not entirely strangers as I thought... A Si once mentioned his surname was Shi... He is Shi Yan Si."
Since their acquaintance, RongCheng had never truly heard him speak of his past. Given this coincidence, he wished to investigate the matter further.
RongCheng planned many things in his heart, resolving to carry them out after the Empress Dowager departed. But before that... he abruptly turned back and lifted Shan Yuan into his arms, saying, "Hurry, let us return to the chamber for a matter or two."
Knowing His Highness's intent, Shan Yuan tried to struggle free. "No... no, you mustn't. Grandmother only naps during the day. Should she awaken and not find me, it will trouble her to send palace staff to search."
RongCheng let out a soft "Hmph." "My grandmother truly is vexing. I am the First Imperial Grandson, yet she shows me no regard, and even contends with me for my Imperial Consort? Hmph... Fear not, it will only take a moment. I shall surely return you to her swiftly."
His Highness was clearly speaking nonsense... but once RongCheng set his mind on something, not even the heavens could stop him. In the end, Shan Yuan merely shook his head softly, ceasing his resistance and allowing himself to be carried away.
He knew not how many years had passed, but the feeling remained not only intact but deepened with each passing day. RongCheng's affection for him had never diminished in the slightest.
RongCheng kicked the door open and paid it no mind to close it. Then he gently laid Shan Yuan down upon the bed, his hands delicately touching and tracing the Consort's entire body, softly calling out, "Ah Yuan... Ah Yuan..."
Shan Yuan sighed softly, "Cheng... you have not closed the door."
He immediately shook his head. "Let it be. At any rate, none would dare to trespass here."
Their garments were quickly shed. RongCheng, simultaneously biting at the focal point on Shan Yuan's chest and teasing the other side, asked, "My Yuan-er, have you missed your husband these past few nights?"
Shan Yuan remained silent, offering no reply.
Even without words, RongCheng understood. Surely, he felt the same, missing him to the point of madness.
Mere nights felt like years of separation. Being accustomed to sharing the same bed for so long, they were familiar with each other's scent, and the slightest absence felt incredibly unbearable. RongCheng truly could not imagine a day when he would witness Shan Yuan leaving him. At such a thought, he knew not what would befall him, and dared not dwell upon it...
How could he possibly leave him?
Reflecting upon it, he knew not when this affection first blossomed...