CROWN PRINCE'S CONCUBINE

While the Crown Prince was still busy talking, Bai Ying got up and hugged the Crown Prince, instantly making the young man stop his words, confused by Bai Ying who suddenly got up and hugged him.

“Ying”

“Your Highness” Bai Ying tightened his embrace, resting his head on the Crown Prince’s shoulder.

“The weather looks so pretty and nice this afternoon, let’s have a picnic in Pai Hua valley, just like when we were the Peony valley”

Luo Xiang stuttered, he raised his hand to caress Bai Ying’s back so thin that he could feel his bones, even though the child really likes to eat. He didn’t understand but the man quickly nodded, his eyes glazed over as if he was holding back his tears too. Luo Xiang smiled.

“That seems like a good idea, let’s have a picnic.”

Bai Ying nodded, he couldn’t hold back the tears, but he tried to cover them up with a smile.

“Um yeah, that sounds a really great idea”

.....

.....

Beautiful Pai Hua Valley in the afternoon. The sun shone gently behind the thick clouds and a little ash, the cold air blew the tall grass that grew as far as the eye could see in the valley behind the palace compound.

The sound of the wind was blowing quite hard, waving the magnificent clothes of the Crown Prince and Bai Ying who walked in the front with Bei Yau and Xiao Hong behind them, Yan and Bi, and several rows of maids who had joined the picnic that afternoon. The two young maids were at the very front carrying Bai Ying and the Crown Prince’s two warm long fur coats.

Luo Xiang held Bai Ying’s hand tightly. Traversing the path that was all covered in grass, against the wind that blew in front of them, which caressed Bai Ying’s long hair that floated lightly in the air, a light brown colour that shimmered in the afternoon sun.

“It’s a very beautiful place, does Ying like it?” asked Luo Xiang, holding Bai Ying’s hand tightly and occasionally helping him walk through the somewhat rocky path. Bai Ying smiled.

“Of course Your Majesty, just like what I said, all the places with Your Majesty are the most beautiful places in the world, wherever they are”

Luo Xiang smiled. He poked the tip of Bai Ying’s nose in annoyance.

“This kid, now you’ve become a sweet-talker, come on, let’s sit under the tree over there, it looks quite shady”

Bai Ying nodded.

“Yes, Your Majesty”

Luo Xiang got even more excited, hooked Bai Ying’s hand on his arm and walked side by side towards the front of them.

“Come my Ying Ying”

Before long. Xiao Hong, who was enjoying the atmosphere in the Pai Hua valley, was seen here and there cheerfully, picking whatever flowers he found, chasing butterflies, and even dipping his feet into a small stream with clear water not far in front where Bai Ying and the Crown Prince sit and enjoy the evening air.

“Your Majesty, the water is warm!” Xiao Hong exclaimed.

Bai Ying who was sitting enjoying his meal couldn’t stop smiling seeing the face of Xiao Hong who enjoyed their picnic more than anyone else at that time.

“Hehehe Xiao Hong, Hong better get out of the water right away, the air is getting colder” Bai Ying exclaimed.

Bei Yau reached out his hand for Xiao Hong to help him out of the river.

“Let me help”

“Thank you Guard Bei”

Luo Xiang couldn’t help but stare at Bai Ying’s cheerful face which was so gentle in the wind that brushed past his face. He raised his hand and tucked Bai Ying’s long hair behind his neck until the young man turned to look at him. Bai Ying’s beautiful smile made Luo Xiang’s heart warm and filled with beautiful butterflies flying around his shining face. So pretty.

“I want it every day, all my life, just seeing your face like this, heh, it all enough for me”

Bai Ying smiled, he held the Crown Prince’s hand that was holding his cheek, long looking at the Crown Prince’s eyes that couldn’t take his eyes off him.

“Yes, if only time could stop, Ying also wished that we could stay like this forever”

Luo Xiang saw Bai Ying’s face for a moment, and almost shed tears if he didn’t immediately pull Bai Ying into his arms.

“Heh, we can definitely have it, after all this is over”

Bai Ying raised his hand and paused for a moment before grabbing the Crown Prince’s arm.

“Your Majesty, let’s leave here, return to Liu Yang, or to Yue Yang, or stay at the Hua family home in Chang San, lets’s spend our time there”

Luo Xiang stroked Bai Ying’s back. Kiss his head.

“Well, if we could just do that, be normal people and live alone, things would be very different. Brother hopes, we can be selfish and just run away, but, is that what Ying Ying wants?”

Bai Ying didn’t make a sound. He just held the old Crown Prince’s arm and was silent.

“Your Majesty, should we go over there and face that black snake? Can’t we be selfish? What if something bad happens to us later? And, what if, one day, His Majesty was forced to choose, between Ying, and everyone in Yue Yang? Who will Your Majesty choose?”

Bai Ying’s question made Luo Xiang stop his movements. As if holding his breath for a moment, before lowering his head he saw Bai Ying’s face which looked uninspired as he said that, as if forced to say words that did not come from his heart.

“What, will Ying Ying do? If you really are in that position? Who will Ying Ying choose?”

Bai Ying clenched his fists.

“Your Majesty, just answer me, why Your Majesty is asking back?” he asked.

Luo Xiang held his breath for a moment, and he smiled.

“Heh, because, when that happens, big brother, might be very selfish, letting everyone be the victim, as long as I can be with my Ying Ying”

Bai Ying raised his head, let go of the Crown Prince’s embrace and looked at him with big round eyes.

“Your Majesty, that, is it true?”

Luo Xiang nodded.

“Yeah, that’s exactly what will happen, I don’t want to care about anything as long as I have my Ying Ying with me, that’s what we agreed with, isn’t it?”

Bai Ying averted his gaze, trying to hold back his tears from falling, but clearly, his face looked disappointed.

“I know, that’s not what Your Majesty would do, I know Your Majesty very well, that I know that Your Majesty is not one who would abandon all of your people, sacrifice everything just for Ying alone”

Luo Xiang stuttered, he was about to touch Bai Ying’s arm and pull him towards him, but Bai Ying brushed it off.

“Ying Ying, but, what’s the point of living without my Ying Ying? All of that would be meaningless.”

Bai Ying didn’t move, staring straight ahead where the wind was blowing so hard that the dense leaves growing on the trees around them seemed to be swaying as if dancing. He would almost shed tears if it weren’t for the Crown Prince’s two arms hugging him from behind.

“Ying, then, we really can’t think of ourselves? And, all our happiness is completely meaningless? After what we’ve been through, we can’t even enjoy all our boring lives, is it too big for us to ask for a little happiness?”

Bai Ying held the Crown Prince’s two hands tightly hugging him. Finally, he couldn’t hold back the tears from falling.

Luo Xiang slowly turned the young man’s body towards him, he could feel his body shaking like he was crying, and sure enough, the young man’s smooth cheeks were already wet with his own tears, even though he tried to wipe them so that the Crown Prince would not see them.

Luo Xiang smiled, he raised his hand to caress Bai Ying’s cheek.

“What, is Ying Ying going to do? If you are in such a position? Is Ying really not going to choose this brother of yours?”

Bai Ying raised his head to look at the old Crown Prince.

“Servant, wishing I could also leave everyone behind and flee with Your Majesty to the ends of the world, escaping from everything and just the two of us going through our boring days, but, I think, Your Majesty, won’t be happy. Even if we live as bored as we want, still, we won’t get that happiness, Your Majesty won’t be able to feel relieved even after doing so.”

Luo Xiang smiled, looked at Bai Ying’s gentle face and smiled with a pair of teary eyes.

“Hehe, my Ying Ying has grown up, what a very wise Viceroy, heh, how can I be so lucky to have you in my life”

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