My Years in the Jianghu with the Prince: A Time of Unethical Conduct

Chapter 187 Recollections 2.10 - Cohabitation

Under Fu Tingyu's arrangement, Chu Ling temporarily moved into his side hall.

The Seventh Prince's palace was not as magnificent as one might imagine. It didn't even have many luxurious decorations. Everywhere was arranged in a simple and elegant manner, which was not at all like the residence of a favored prince.

But it had a more lively, everyday feel than a typical palace.

During the two months that Chu Ling lived in the Seventh Prince's palace, he secretly observed this famous Seventh Prince.

He was completely different from the arrogant and domineering persona he was rumored to be, who acted with impunity because of his favor and status as a prince.

On the contrary, he was sincere by nature and exceptionally gentle in temperament.

They were completely different from the noble families and royal children that Chu Ling knew.

Despite his noble birth and the favor he received, he possessed none of the arrogant and haughty demeanor often associated with spoiled brats.

He seemed utterly out of place in this imperial city.

After taking his medicine, Chu Ling leaned against the bed and looked out through the half-open window beside the bed.

Snowflakes were falling outside.

The plum trees in full bloom in the courtyard were covered with a thin layer of snow, and the red plum blossoms looked even more beautiful against the white snow.

Chu Ling's gaze remained fixed on the scenery outside the window, seemingly lost in thought out of boredom, but only he knew that he was searching for and waiting for a certain figure.

He didn't know how much time had passed, until the sky darkened, the moon hung high, and even the palace lanterns were hung high under the eaves, but he still couldn't see the figure he had been waiting for.

At that very moment, outside the palace walls, on the distant horizon, several streaks of fireworks pierced the darkness, and tiny points of light suddenly exploded in the night sky.

Today is the annual Lantern Festival in Dajing.

It is a day of national celebration and family reunion.

But whether it's a family reunion or a national celebration, it has nothing to do with him at this moment.

Chu Ling withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes slightly, his long eyelashes casting a shadow under his eyes, and looked listless.

"Indeed, he probably won't be coming back for today's family dinner."

He muttered something under his breath, then got up to close the window.

But just as he was about to close the window, a small figure suddenly appeared from the end of the corridor not far away.

It was Fu Tingyu, who had just returned from a palace banquet.

At the same time, Fu Tingyu seemed to sense something and turned to look at him, their eyes meeting.

Chu Ling was slightly taken aback, then withdrew his gaze and curled his lips into a half-smile.

Sure enough, not long after, Fu Tingyu waved to the palace servants who were following him, indicating that they did not need to come.

Then he turned around and walked briskly toward the side hall where Chu Ling was.

The dormitory door was pushed open, and as a figure walked in, a blast of cool air, carrying a faint floral fragrance, was brought in from outside.

Chu Ling looked up.

The boy wore a snow-white fox fur cloak, with almost half his face buried in the fox fur at the collar, revealing only a pair of bright eyes and a nose tip that was red from the cold.

They look absolutely adorable.

After pushing the door open a crack and slipping inside, Fu Tingyu did not rush to find Chu Ling.

Instead, she jumped around at the door a few times until she shook off all the snow on her body before looking up at Chu Ling who was walking towards her.

"I thought you were asleep."

Chu Ling calmly met Fu Tingyu's gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I was originally planning to go to sleep, but then I saw Your Highness."

He then countered with, "Why has Your Highness come so late?"

During the time Chu Ling stayed here, Fu Tingyu would come over almost every day, and even if it was just to take a look, he would chat with him for a few minutes.

Chu Ling originally thought that on such a festive day, Fu Tingyu would definitely stay in Consort Chen's palace and would not return to the palace.

But to my surprise, he still came.

Upon hearing this, Fu Tingyu's long eyelashes fluttered a few times. He blinked and suddenly reached out his hand from inside the fox fur coat.

He smiled and said, "Happy Lantern Festival."

Chu Ling then discovered that there was a flower lantern hidden under his fox fur coat.

Fu Tingyu quickly walked up to Chu Ling and stuffed the lantern into his hand.

Chu Ling was slightly taken aback. He lowered his eyes to look at the lantern in his hand, then looked up at Fu Tingyu.

She smiled slightly, holding a lantern in one hand and grasping the other's hand that hadn't had time to retract, and said, "Happy Lantern Festival."

The sounds of fireworks outside the window gradually faded away.

Perhaps because he had attended a palace banquet all day, Fu Tingyu, who had relaxed, became somewhat drowsy after only a few words.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he slowly slumped onto the table, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

A cold wind blew in through the cracks in the window, causing the candlelight inside to flicker.

The sleeping boy seemed to sense a chill and unconsciously wrapped his fox fur cloak even tighter around himself.

If the Seventh Prince is allowed to sleep here, he will probably catch a cold when he wakes up tomorrow.

After pondering for a moment, Chu Ling silently got up, nimbly picked up Fu Tingyu, and placed him on his bed.

She carefully removed his fox fur cloak and tucked his hands and feet into the quilt.

Fu Tingyu was sleeping soundly, and even this series of actions could not wake him from his sleep.

Instead, she unconsciously rubbed against the pillow and let out a soft hum.

Chu Ling smiled slightly, then turned around, blew out the candle, and climbed into bed.

Although the bedding was thick and soft, it was inevitably a little chilly because no one had warmed the bed for a long time.

So when he felt the heat coming from his side, Fu Tingyu, who was curled up, subconsciously moved closer to Chu Ling.

Chu Ling lay on his side, and through his thin inner garment, he could clearly feel Fu Tingyu's head pressed against his back.

He paused, remained silent for a moment, then changed direction, turning to face Fu Tingyu.

He then reached out and pulled the person into a tight embrace.

The child's body temperature was always a bit high, and when Chu Ling held him in his arms, he felt heavy and very warm.

Chu Ling lowered his eyes and stared at the person in his arms for a while. In the end, he couldn't resist and reached out to pinch that soft little face.

"Sweet dreams, Your Highness."

Listening to the soft, steady breathing coming from beside his ear, Chu Ling closed his eyes after a long while.

At this moment, inside the Wenying Hall—

Chu Heng looked up at the moon with a blank expression.

"Brother, at a time like this, don't you come back to visit your elder brother?"