When Yan Yihuan first received the imperial edict summoning him to the capital, he was completely stunned.
The new emperor who had just ascended the throne four months ago suddenly announced that, although the various heirs of the vassal states were distant cousins, they had rarely met in person. Therefore, he invited them all to the palace banquet to reconnect and strengthen familial ties.
The other kings who received the edict were naturally filled with doubt and suspicion. The first thing they all thought of was the word “hostage”, and Yan Yihuan who hailed from the Linjing1临京 (lín jīng) – t/n: originally translated as outskirts of the capital, but I figured it might be the name of a place, so maybe Linjing is located at the outskirts of the capital Residence of King Yan, the only non-clan2Different surname royal in the Northern Jin Dynasty, was particularly anxious.
What was even stranger was that while other kings sent their heirs to the capital, only his King Yan’s Residence was an exception.
The imperial edict clearly stated “Third son of King Yan, Yan Yihuan,” not his eldest brother. With a nervous heart, he set off in a carriage to the capital under the concerned gazes of his father and mother.
Before leaving, his parents and eldest brother repeatedly reminded him that once the banquet was over, he should hurry back immediately without delay, the farther away he was from the capital, the better.
Yan Yihuan understood—they were afraid he’d be kept as a hostage in the capital.
But he was someone who was used to living care freely. When he arrived at the guest residence in the capital the first day, he was anxious and couldn’t eat. However, by the second day, he was so captivated by the bustling scene around him that he nearly forgot the reason he had come.
Fortunately, the emperor’s banquet was set for five days later. He decided to forget his worries and enjoy his time in the capital so it wouldn’t be a wasted trip.
Yan Yihuan was a handsome man, with a pair of peach blossom eyes that always held a smile, making him very approachable. It didn’t take long before he became familiar with the captain of the guards at the guest residence, upon learning that there were countless painted boats on the capital’s canal at night, he was immediately captivated.
When Yan Yihuan was in the fief of Linjing, everyone there knew that he was the young master adored by the King of Yan and his consort like the apple of their eyes. Naturally, the young masters from prominent local families all favored him, they often visited refined yet pretentious entertainment houses together. Over time, Yan Yihuan really began to see himself as a charismatic and dashing figure, with everyone flocking to him.
Linjing lacked water, and although he had heard of painted boats, he had never seen one before. Yan Yihuan immediately got himself ready, pulling his personal attendant A-Ying, and headed straight for the canal.
The guest residence wasn’t too far from the canal, and after walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea310-15 minutes, they could see a broad river in the distance, reflecting the moon which hung in the sky like a jade plate. The pale moonlight poured down, scattering glimmering fragments on the river’s surface. Through the gaps in the willow trees on the riverbank, they could see the river dotted with over a hundred brightly lit, magnificent ships. The bright orange-red light was even reflected on Yan Yihuan’s face, his eyes shining with astonishment.
“A-Ying…” Yan Yihuan murmured, “I don’t want to seem like a country bumpkin, but this is just too incredible.”
“Young master, we should head back,” A-Ying felt uneasy for some reason. “This place isn’t Linjing, we’re unfamiliar with this area.”
However, since they had come, Yan Yihuan couldn’t possibly turn around after a glance. That would only make him a laughingstock among the other young masters.
He ignored A-Ying and after asking around, he soon learned that these painted boats were of many types—some clean, some not so much—some with courtesans, others with male entertainers. They can be distinguished simply by the lanterns hanging on the boats.
A-Ying could only feel nervous yet helpless and had no choice but to follow his master aboard a painted boat with an orchid lantern hanging from it.
Having never been on a boat before, Yan Yihuan nearly stumbled as soon as he stepped on. Luckily, a quick-handed young attendant beside helped steady him.
“Such a handsome young master, is this your first time here?”
Yan Yihuan finally managed to steady himself. His head swayed with the rocking of the boat, and he felt a little dizzy. He then noticed a fragrant and soft presence beside him. Turning his head, he saw a handsome young man, whose crescent-shaped eyes were filled with laughter, making Yan Yihuan’s bones feel weak.
“It is indeed this young master’s first time here, so you must take good care of me,” Yan Yihuan took the young man’s hand in return. The cool and smooth sensation made him sigh inwardly. The young attendants in the capital were indeed more beautiful and charming than those at Linjing. When he returned, he would definitely tell his friends about it and make them envious.
The young attendant suddenly felt some weight in his hand, a silver ingot had slid onto his palm. When he looked up at Yan Yihuan again, his eyes sparkled with even more fervor.
“Young master, please come inside!”
In no time, Yan Yihuan found himself with a beauty in his arms while sipping fine wine. With the boat gently rocking and soft melodies in the background, complemented by the cool autumn breeze, Yan Yihuan felt as if he were almost in heaven.
Suddenly, the boatman shouted loudly.
“Raise the anchor!”
The loud command startled Yan Yihuan. The young attendant beside him let out a playful laugh and collapsed into his arms. “Young master, don’t be afraid. This is just the anchor being raised because the boat is full. We’ll follow the canal downstream to the next dock. If you wish to disembark, there’s a carriage waiting there to take you back.”
“How considerate,” Yan Yihuan was very excited to be on a boat for the first time. He pulled the young attendant and walked to the stern of the boat. The boat sliced through the water, the surface shimmering with light. A gentle, cool breeze brushed against his face, making him feel at ease. Not to mention the beautifully decorated and brightly lit boats on the river. It would not be an exaggeration to call this a scene of flourishing beauty.
Yan Yihuan wrapped his arm around the young attendant’s slender waist, thinking to himself that it wouldn’t be right not to make a move. He lowered his head, intent on kissing the attendant’s red lips. Sensing this, the young attendant closed his eyes and leaned in. Just as their lips were about to meet, the boat suddenly rocked violently, causing both of them to stumble and nearly fall.
“What’s going on? This young master almost fell!” Yan Yihuan made a fool of himself in front of the beauty again, and couldn’t help but feel a mix of frustration and anger. The young attendant quickly helped him to calm down.
“Young master, this boat isn’t like solid ground, it’s bound to be a bit wobbly. Why don’t we sit back down?”
The boat suddenly came to a stop for some unknown reason. Yan Yihuan returned to the cabin somewhat disappointed, only to find that the once lively tables had disappeared. The sound of footsteps above continued incessantly, as if everyone had been hurriedly ushered upstairs. At the bow of the boat, the ship’s owner was seen nervously explaining something to a tall figure.
“Sir, we’re a legitimate business here, we’ve even shown you the ledger. As you can see, you’ve searched all the guests and also found nothing.”
A government official had boarded the boat?
Yan Yihuan curiously stepped forward a few paces. The tall figure seemed to have heard footsteps and looked over. When their gazes met, Yan Yihuan felt a sudden, thunderous shock above his head.
“Zhao Chufeng…?”
The man before him was none other than the man Yan Yihuan had been unable to forget for the past year, the superintendent of the Inspectorate, Zhao Chufeng.
Although Zhao Chufeng still wore that soul-stirring face, his eyes had grown colder, and the chill emanating from him made Yan Yihuan instinctively shrink back. The young attendant in his arms suddenly broke free from his grasp and ran towards the stern of the boat, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
What bad luck. Yan Yihuan thought bitterly to himself, how could he possibly run into him in such a vast capital?
“Third Young Master, we truly are fated,” Zhao Chufeng said, a smile curling at the corner of his lips. The slight upward tilt of his eyes flashed with a sharp gleam, and his whole presence radiated brilliance, making Yan Yihuan’s breath catch.
This man was truly a demon!
Author’s Notes:
Guidelines for Reading:
- This is a 1v1 story with a happy ending (HE), focused on sweet romance with a hint of sourness. The shou is a clever individual.
- Everything serves for the purpose of romance, with light political intrigue—don’t take the plot too seriously.
- The setting is fictional, with some references to official titles, but not necessarily adhering strictly to historical accuracy.
- Additionally, this story takes place in a world where male-male relationships are common, so such things are not considered unusual.
- Rolling 360° asking for bookmarks, and please follow the author, thank you darlings!
