You Don't Understand

Outside Qiaoshan Post Station, the postmaster was pacing anxiously back and forth.

The relief convoy, which was expected to arrive around 7 PM, was nowhere to be seen. The food prepared at the post station was reheated again and again, and the coachmen waiting to inspect the carriages and horses were yawning repeatedly. Just as the postmaster was hesitating whether to send someone to check ahead, a light finally appeared in the distance, and the sounds of cart wheels and horses' hooves gradually became clearer in the night.

As the carriage drew closer, the bloodstains on the lanterns and carriage shafts became clearly visible, and a faint smell of blood lingered in the air.

"Quickly! Go forward to greet them!" The postmaster's expression changed, and he shouted loudly.

The group was welcomed into the post station. The injured guards were taken away to be cared for, the silver chests were carried into the warehouse and locked up for safekeeping, and the carriages and horses were sent for repair. After everything was arranged, the group returned to their rooms to wash and change.

Because her hands were not in a convenient position, Youlu asked Pixiu to help rub her back and rinsed her off briefly, and that was it.

After washing away the blood and dust, the group sat down to eat.

The meal wasn't lavish, but it was much better than what the Huaiyang government office had prepared. Because of the fight that night, Youlu was starving and didn't care about being picky, so he just picked up his spoon and started eating.

Considering that he was currently unable to use chopsticks, the eldest prince thoughtfully had a spoon prepared for him.

The eldest prince, rarely seeing him eat so enthusiastically, said happily, "Seventh brother, eat more."

Her hands never stopped moving, piling the bowls with deer decorations into a small mountain, enjoying the pleasure of feeding her younger brother.

Gu Cheng poured wine for Cang Shuyue and gestured for him to enter.

Cang Shuyue picked up the wine glass, and the rich aroma of the wine was so enticing that it made him feel slightly dizzy.

In the dim candlelight, the boy's features were exquisite, but his cheeks bulged out, which was hardly elegant. Yet, for some reason, the phrase "snow-white cheeks" came to mind.

This wine is really potent; you get drunk before you even take a sip.

Gu Cheng raised his cup: "This humble official toasts the Duke of Zhenguo."

You Lu swallowed the food in his mouth, glanced at the wine glasses in the two men's hands, and said, "Drinking will affect the healing of wounds. Are you two crazy?"

Both of them sustained minor injuries.

Gu Cheng scoffed dismissively, "A true man doesn't concern himself with trifles. What's a little injury? After a life-or-death battle, you have to drink to feel better!"

Youlu rolled her eyes, scooped up a chicken leg and put it into the eldest prince's bowl, saying, "Elder brother, you should eat too."

Then he threw the chicken head into Gu Cheng's bowl, saying, "It's better than nothing; every little bit helps."

Gu Cheng: "??"

What does this mean?

Is she trying to make amends to him?

He was secretly pleased with himself.

Cang Shuyue lightly twirled the white porcelain wine cup between his fingers, and as it swirled, the aroma of the wine grew stronger. He tilted his head back and drank the wine in the cup to the last drop. When Gu Cheng picked up the wine pot again, he raised his hand to block it, his voice cool and clear: "A little wine is good for the soul, one cup is enough."

Gu Cheng agreed and dared not drink any more.

Just then, the postmaster arrived, and the eldest prince got up to discuss matters with him, leaving only You Lu, Cang Shuyue, and Gu Cheng at the table.

Gu Cheng was struggling to eat a chicken head.

Cang Shuyue beckoned, "Come here."

Youlu looked left and right, then pointed to himself.

Seeing Cang Shuyue nod, he put down his spoon, puzzled, and sat down opposite her. "Is something the matter?"

The bench wasn't long, and it was narrow and thin. Worried that he might not be able to sit steadily, Cang Shuyue raised her hand to protect him behind her, lowered her head, and asked in a low voice, "Does your hand still hurt?"

Somewhat surprised, You Lu answered honestly, "A little bit more."

Because of the height difference, he could only tilt his head slightly to talk to the person in front of him.

Cang Shuyue nodded and asked again, "Are you full?"

A cool fragrance mingled with a light scent of wine brushed against his cheek. A deer blinked, then snuggled into his arms, sniffing the air, and casually replied, "I'm full."

He kept burrowing into her arms, almost knocking Cang Shuyue off her stool. She had to half-hold him to steady herself before asking again, "Did you learn your marksmanship from your older sister?"

"I guess so." Youlu thought for a moment, "I saw it once on the day I went boating on the lake, and then I remembered it."

Cang Shuyue was slightly surprised, admiration flashed in his eyes, followed by regret, "You are very talented, what a pity."

"There's nothing to regret. You can't have everything." Youlu took it all in stride, and didn't forget to flatter him, "Not everyone is as perfect as the Emperor's brother-in-law."

Rich, good-looking, talented, and smells good too—that's perfect!

The boy's praise was straightforward and passionate, and his obedient posture as he leaned against him stirred Cang Shuyue's heart. He tightened his arms and gently comforted him, "It's okay. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Just do what you're good at."

As for things he's not good at, he's there for you.

You Lu's eyes darted around. He felt that Cang Shuyue was drunk. He no longer had a stern face, and he was talking more. He even comforted people and seemed very easy to talk to. It was really strange.

I just don't know how easy it is to talk to them.

He suddenly had an idea, rubbed his hands together, and asked expectantly, "Brother Imperial Brother, can I touch your abs?"

While he was fiddling around, he managed to touch Cang Shuyue's pectoral muscles; the feel was amazing. He wondered what the abs would feel like. He swore he wasn't lusting after Cang Shuyue's body; he was just testing his limits!

Cang Shuyue was indeed a little drunk, but not completely. The boy's bold remarks made him gasp for breath and his throat tighten. He glanced at the boy with a complicated expression and remained silent for a long time.

Thinking he was refusing, Youlu grumbled in dissatisfaction, "Even when you're drunk, you're still so stingy."

Turning his head, he saw Gu Cheng still struggling with the chicken head. He looked disgusted and said, "Never mind, being stingy is better than having an underdeveloped cerebellum."

When the eldest prince returned, he saw the two of them nestled together under the lamplight. He paused slightly, and asked in surprise and doubt, "Uncle, Seventh Brother, you two..."

Upon seeing him, Cang Shuyue's somewhat muddled mind suddenly cleared, and he stood up, saying, "I can't hold my liquor, I'll go back to my room first."

The human-shaped pillar suddenly moved away, and a deer almost fell off its stool. It looked up, about to complain, but found that the person was gone.

"So he was drunk." The eldest prince said knowingly, sitting down to continue his meal. "Uncle's alcohol tolerance is quite good; he didn't drink too much today. Could it be that the wine here is too strong?"

Gu Cheng finally finished gnawing on the chicken head, wiped his hands, and said, "The liquor here is indeed quite strong."

The eldest prince nodded, without giving it much thought.

It was late at night. After finishing their meal, the group went back to their rooms to rest.

In the east wing, Cang Shuyue sat by the window, resting his chin on his hand, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, looking dazed.

Yinwu, who was reporting on tomorrow's arrangements, stopped talking. Seeing that Yinwu seemed distracted, he asked with concern, "Is something on your mind, Master?"

His tone carried a subtle hint of curiosity.

Cang Shuyue lifted her eyelids slightly, her gaze as cold and aloof as ever.

Yinwu shrank his neck, his curiosity just extinguished, when he saw his master slowly speak.

"If there is someone who always looks at you, is close to you, smiles at you beautifully, and can quickly make you feel better even when you're angry, praising you as perfect, and even wants to..."

The boy's face appeared in my mind—bright, angry, coquettish, focused—every aspect was so vivid and lively, crashing through my dormant heart.

He couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips into a smile.

Yinwu scoffed, and before he could finish speaking, he chuckled and said, "If it were someone else, it would definitely be because they admire and love you, but if it's the Seventh Prince, then it's hard to say. You can't trust the Seventh Prince's words."

Selectively ignoring the second half of the sentence, a look of confusion appeared on Cang Shuyue's face.

"But he's so aloof..."

"That's a bait to catch you."

"He's also kind to others..."

"Then he doesn't like you; he has ulterior motives towards you."

Cang Shuyue's gaze darkened slightly. "You don't understand. Only my older sister does."

Yinwu disagreed and was about to argue when he was kicked out of the room.