Your Highness, Please Love Me Tender

5. The Gorgeous Prince Xian

Translator: Flying Lines

Xiao Shengnian did nothing more than a mild and quick kiss before saying, “If you feel bored, let Yu Jiang show you around the mansion.” With that, he got up and left the room without waiting for Su Jie’s response.

“Your Highness,” Zhui Xing who had been on guard at the door greeted when seeing Xiao Shengnian walking out, his stern look softened a bit. He then closed the door and followed in Xiao’s wake. He was Xiao Shengnian’s close guard, one with his utmost trust.

“Has ninth brother arrived?” asked Xiao Shengnian in a flat tone.

“Yes, His Highness Prince Xian is waiting in Pavilion of Ningfeng,” answered Zhui Xing respectfully with head bowed.

When they two arrived at the Pavilion of Ningfeng, Prince Xian Xiao Shengxian was lying slothfully on a couch with a beautiful maid massaging for him.

Xiao Shengxian was born an unrestrained playboy who even the emperor himself felt helpless to discipline and, in a fit of rage, granted him the title of Prince Xian (meaning an idler) on court with all courtiers present. However, the funny thing was the courtiers took it as another word Xian that pronounced the same but carried a completely different meaning, sage, and the official in charge of such affairs mistakenly prepared the plaque inscribed with three golden words of Prince Xian Mansion.

The emperor, after his anger dispersed, acquisced in the mistake. Though disappointed, he was still his son.

Xiao Shengxian and Xiao Shengnian were blood brothers born by the same imperial concubine, who naturally were close to each other. However, the two brothers gave people completely different impression as Xiao Shengxian had the same slanted eyes as the emperor did, which struck people as frivolous while Xiao Shengnian exhibited an air of nobility and grace, looking gentle and amicable with the smile in his mesmerizing eyes.

“What delays my brother?” Xiao Shengxian asked, eyes narrowed into a slit in satisfaction. Every move and act of him exuded an air of nobility cultivated for long, and the charm exuded from his slanted eyes added a touch of intoxicating beauty to his already handsome face, so fascinating and mesmerizing that one might find it hard to avert his eyes.

The maid continued her massage in silence, seemingly unaffected by the gorgeous prince. However, her blushing earlobes betrayed her.

“Ninth brother.” There came Xiao Shengnian’s voice.

Hearing that, the maid left sensibly in an unhurried manner to make room for the two brothers.

Xiao Shengnian covered his forehead, complaining in a lethargic voice, “Brother, can’t you at least make some noise when walking? You gave me a fright.”

Xiao Shengnian just took a seat, casualness and easiness in his manner, and smiled, “Did you get anything?”

Xiao Shengnian shook his head, “Nothing constructive. The boy’s identity is perfect, seamless without anything suspicious.”

The boy he referred to was Su Jie.

“But…” he added after another while of ponderation, “I think that is exactly where the problem is. Nothing is unflawed. His encounter with you is in itself something suspicious.”

Xiao Shengnian absent-mindedly uttered “H’m” in response while in secret felt somewhat relieved as no prince would like to keep someone suspicious by his side. A person with unknown origin was always dangerous, as you’d never know whose order he was taking and when he would stab you in the back.

After a while of thought, Xiao Shengnian said, “Keep digging.”

“Ye…s, brother,” Xiao Shengxian deliberately protracted his tone while leaning closer to his brother, his brows raised as curiosity glinted in his slanted eyes, “Did you…sleep with the boy last night?”

Xiao Shengnian took a bland glance at him before another “H’m” came out of his lips.

The ninth prince was shocked, sizing his brother up before saying, “Brother, you seem to be in a good mood. You don’t take a fancy to the boy, do you?”