Outside, the snow fell lightly, making no sound. In the corridor, the melted snow dripped slowly, creating a rain-like sound.
Inside the room, there was a faint scent of incense, and warm, thick quilts covered the bed. In his embrace, there was a soft and tender little heater.
When Yu Chen Nian woke up, he initially thought he was still in a dream. Such a comfortable and tranquil scene had only been accessible to him in his dreams for so many years.
Slightly moving his arm, he felt the softness beneath his hand. Yu Chen Nian lowered his head slightly and saw Shi Qing sleeping soundly in his embrace.
The young boy's face was rosy as he slept, his lively black eyes that usually looked down on everyone hidden beneath his long eyelashes.
Just from this view, it made him appear like a very well-behaved child. Yu Chen Nian naturally knew that was not the case.
Once Shi Qing woke up, he would transform back into the young master who looked down on him, loved to tease him, and couldn't handle any bitterness. Yu Chen Nian had been bullied since childhood but felt no resentment towards these people.
Yu Chen Nian was proud in his heart, feeling that these people were not worth his hatred. He was like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike down those who stood in his way.
But he wouldn't have any extra emotions like joy or guilt because of their deaths; these people didn't deserve it.
In Yu Chen Nian's eyes, Shi Qing used to be no different from a few other royal siblings. It's just that now, looking at the young master sleeping with rosy cheeks and feeling the warmth emanating from him with each breath on his arm, Yu Chen Nian's heart inexplicably harbored a trace of complexity.
This arrogant yet fragile little fellow, it was like the milk kitten he once wanted but couldn't have.
[Ding! Yu Chen Nian's Rejection Level: 142/100]
Sensing the slight movement of the young boy in his arms, his delicate lips also twitched, as if he was tasting something delicious in his dream. His long, beautiful eyelashes were trembling slightly.
He knew Shi Qing was about to wake up.
Yu Chen Nian closed his eyes as if he had been sleeping all along.
The body in his arms moved more and more vigorously, and he could feel Shi Qing rubbing against him lazily, making soft, spoiled sounds.
After a while, the young master woke up. He lifted the blanket and yawned widely.
The next moment, Yu Chen Nian felt Shi Qing's soft and tender feet kicking his waist, one after another, as if tickling him.
The just-awakened young master's voice still had a hint of sleepiness, but his tone remained as proud as ever. "Hey! Why are you still sleeping? Get up!"
Yu Chen Nian obediently opened his eyes.
Shi Qing had already gotten out of bed and had a satisfied look on his face. Seeing that Yu Chen Nian was awake, he raised his small chin and said with a hint of arrogance, "It seems you are somewhat useful. Unlike what they said, I am quite satisfied. From now on, when I want to take a nap, you will come and warm my bed."
He used a commanding tone, clearly not intending to give Yu Chen Nian a chance to refuse.
Yu Chen Nian had no intention of refusing, at least compared to the other royal siblings outside, this pampered young master made him feel more at ease.
Once the young master gave his order, he called the eunuch outside.
Yu Chen Nian watched as he sat there, arms open, allowing the eunuch to dress him. When he was dressed, he returned to the bed and had someone help him put on his socks and shoes.
Shi Qing never had to dress himself or put on his own shoes. Yu Chen Nian thought that even if he tried to do it himself, he probably wouldn't know how.
By the time they arrived at the study room, it was already afternoon. Several royal siblings greeted Shi Qing warmly, and one of them even prepared a calming tea for him, showing great care and tenderness.
They all tacitly ignored Yu Chen Nian, who was standing by Shi Qing's side, slightly lowering his head, making him seem not as tall.
No one asked if this youngest brother had suffered any hardships from the ill-tempered Shi Qing. No one expressed any objections to him being unfairly blamed.
But from that day on, the young master, who had initially just played with Yu Chen Nian, seemed to have discovered a new way to amuse himself.
He became obsessed with making Yu Chen Nian do the things that lowly servants would do. For example, Shi Qing demanded that Yu Chen Nian arrive early every day so that when he descended from his carriage at the steps outside the study, Yu Chen Nian could carry him all the way to the study.
Before, this was a job for the eunuchs.
At the same time, Shi Qing didn't want to waste even the lunch break. He wouldn't allow Yu Chen Nian to return to his own room but insisted that he stay with him.
According to information from the eunuchs who served Shi Qing, he even asked Yu Chen Nian to sing songs like a court singer and even used his foot to step on Yu Chen Nian.
In the midst of casual conversation with the other royal siblings, the young master unapologetically stated that from now on, Yu Chen Nian would be at his service.
At his service!
Wasn't this treating Yu Chen Nian as a servant!
And he didn't hide it at all.
At least he was still a prince. Even if his birth mother was lowly, and his foster mother was a concubine, he was still a prince. Even they, the other royal siblings, wouldn't dare to treat him like this.
Of course, they were not afraid of Yu Chen Nian but feared that the Emperor would have objections. After all, he was a legitimate son, and if he were treated like a palace maid, nobody could predict whether the Emperor would be angry.
Several royal siblings secretly hoped for the Emperor's anger. This way, they could take the opportunity to comfort and console Shi Qing, who had been scolded.
But after five days, the Emperor, who usually knew everything that happened in the palace, remained silent, which meant he supported Shi Qing.
Indeed, Shi Qing's position in the Emperor's heart was much higher than that of the royal siblings. At the same time, Yu Chen Nian's position in the Emperor's heart was much lower than they had imagined.
Some royal siblings, who had taken pleasure in bullying Yu Chen Nian, started looking down on their youngest brother even more.
After all, he had no maternal family backing him, and he was reserved. Even the Emperor didn't like him. It was easy to have some fun at his expense.
On the sixth day, when Shi Qing arrived at the steps outside the study in his carriage, he found the young man who should have been waiting for him on the corridor standing in the snow without any expression.
His boots were already half-buried in the snow, and his body was covered with a layer of snowflakes, indicating that he had been standing there for quite some time.
The young master's brows immediately furrowed.
Having grown up as a precious and pampered child, he jumped out of the carriage in anger, disregarding the snow on the ground.
"Young Master, please be careful..."
This action frightened the eunuchs who served him. They followed him cautiously, like caretakers watching over a toddler taking his first steps.
"Get away!!"
Yu Chen Nian watched as Shi Qing, like an angry little lion cub, drove away the people around him in a fit of anger, and then he walked over with a proud and confrontational attitude.
"Who told you to stand here!"
His originally soft voice became higher in pitch due to his displeasure.
The angry little kitten meowed as if it had discovered an intruder on its territory. "Don't they know that you have to carry me to the study every day? You're covered in snow; how can I let you carry me like this!"
Yu Chen Nian was taken aback.
He hadn't expected Shi Qing to be angry about this. He thought that, given the young master's delicate temperament, he would have directly replaced him with a eunuch, considering his current state covered in snow.
Seeing him not answering, the young master became even angrier.
"Say something!"
Yu Chen Nian replied, "Eldest Prince, they punished me for not attending class these past few days, so I was told to stand in the snow to calm down."
Shi Qing exploded even more.
"Who doesn't know it was me who asked you to accompany me? Is he trying to disgrace me?!"
In fact, it wasn't the case at all.
The Crown Prince just made up a random excuse.
After all, in the past, the Ninth Prince, who had no one to look after him, was an easy target for anyone to bully.
But now, Yu Chen Nian fixed his deep, dark eyes on the indignant young master in front of him.
The young master's face turned red with anger, shouting in a childlike, petulant voice, as if he had discovered someone stealing the food he had painstakingly saved.
"You are here to serve me, why are they interfering!"
"I said it's mine!"
"Mine!"
After venting his anger, the young master glared at Yu Chen Nian again, this time with a displeased look.
"You are useless too. I can't believe you've been following me for a few days, and you let them treat you like this!"
The eunuchs cautiously approached when they saw that he seemed less angry.
"Young Master, please don't stand in the snow anymore. Your boots are all wet."
However, Shi Qing became even more furious because of their words.
"Yu Chen Nian's back is covered in snowwater! How can he carry me like this? Big Brother, what does this mean? I'm here to be your study companion, not to be bullied! Yu Chen Nian has been carrying me for a few days, and they punish him like this. Whose face are they trying to slap?"
The eunuchs: "..."
The logic here doesn't seem quite right.
But the little young master, who had been pampered and spoiled, didn't care about logic at all. He finished his rant in one breath and turned around angrily, heading toward the study.
"I must confront him and demand an explanation!"
After taking a few steps, he turned back and looked at Yu Chen Nian, who was still standing there, urging him impatiently, "Are you a fool? Hurry up and catch up!"
Yu Chen Nian took a couple of steps forward, his stiff legs almost causing him to stumble.
But he had always been quick to recover.
After walking a few more steps, he gradually regained his senses.
Four steps, five steps, six steps...
He was chasing after the scarlet figure ahead, dressed in a red cloak, his eyes becoming brighter, and his steps lighter and faster.
[Ding! Yu Chen Nian's Rejection Level: 100/100]
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