Ever since the Crown Prince and Shi Qing had a falling-out and were expelled from the palace to establish their own residence, the few remaining princes who were once close to Shi Qing became even closer to him than their own brothers. After all, the Crown Prince had been a formidable contender for the position of the Crown Prince, and he had suffered not only a physical beating from Shi Qing but also banishment from the palace.
Before, they had merely sought to please Shi Qing, but now they were careful not to offend him in the slightest. They all knew that Young Master Shi had a spoiled and fiery temper. While they used to consider themselves as princes, and Shi Qing as their elder brother, they now realized they had to be cautious.
The Crown Prince's painful lesson had taught the other princes a valuable lesson. Of course, they conveniently forgot their own roles in the events leading to the Crown Prince's expulsion and the creation of the "Contenders for Crown Prince" list.
Shi Qing was only fourteen years old, having grown up in pampered luxury, and the Emperor openly favored him. He was someone who couldn't tolerate the slightest grievance. So, being cautious around him was the right approach.
As a result, the three princes also conveniently ignored Shi Qing's increasingly demanding requests for assistance with Yu Chenyan. Since Shi Qing had informed the Emperor about Yu Chenyan's friendship with him, they were virtually inseparable while inside the palace.
However, from the perspective of the three princes, this was not a good situation for Yu Chenyan. If previously Shi Qing had occasionally treated Yu Chenyan as a servant, now that the Crown Prince was gone, he practically had Yu Chenyan by his side all the time.
In the eyes of the three princes, this was tantamount to treating Yu Chenyan as a personal attendant. According to the information they gathered, Shi Qing insisted on napping with Yu Chenyan every day, claiming it was to warm his feet.
Shi Qing complained about the palace rules, as outsiders had to eat everything served to them. Although he had previously discreetly discarded unwanted dishes, perhaps to ensure Yu Chenyan's safety, he now pulled Yu Chenyan into his own room during meals and gave him the dishes he didn't like.
As for how they knew this, they simply observed that Young Master Shi no longer sneaked away with his food box like a guilty thief after meals.
Even on rare days off, Shi Qing refused to let Yu Chenyan go. He had a waist pass that allowed him to enter the palace at any time. On holidays, Shi Qing still went to the palace and took Yu Chenyan to the garden.
Their "play" was a peculiar one. Shi Qing had recently taken up painting, but he had only been learning for three days. He claimed to be learning from Westerners, and when painting portraits, the model had to maintain a specific pose for a long time.
Evidently, Yu Chenyan was Shi Qing's "model."
For a legitimate prince, being treated this way was unacceptable. However, Yu Chenyan had a lower status due to losing his mother at a young age and his foster mother residing in the Cold Palace. He had endured Shi Qing for a long time.
If it were the other princes, they would have been angered by being used as foot warmers, forced to eat unwanted food, and required to maintain a pose for half an hour.
But Yu Chenyan endured it all silently.
Therefore, the three princes increasingly saw their youngest brother as weak, silent, and indecisive.
Because of the Crown Prince's earlier expulsion from the palace, they had learned their lesson and refrained from tormenting Yu Chenyan further. After all, according to Young Master Shi's logic, he could torment Yu Chenyan as much as he pleased, but if anyone dared to harm Yu Chenyan, it would be a direct challenge to Shi Qing's authority.
They didn't feel any loss in not having their daily routine of tormenting their younger brother. Seeing Yu Chenyan suffer at Shi Qing's hands was satisfying enough for them.
On this day, it was time for lunch. The eunuch respectfully placed the lunch boxes on their table as usual, and Shi Qing lifted his chin slightly and called out, "Yu Chenyan."
So, the young man sitting at the back silently approached. He held his own lunch box in his left hand and skillfully picked up Shi Qing's with his right, acting like a silent servant.
Once he stood beside them with both lunch boxes, the young master finally stood up contentedly, swaggering outside. Yu Chenyan followed him silently.
The several princes, who were having their lunch boxes opened by the eunuch, exchanged glances. They felt a momentary sympathy for Yu Chenyan. After all, he was still a prince and was being humiliated by a mere servant.
But this sympathy was short-lived.
As Yu Chenyan followed Shi Qing into the room, he didn't feel humiliated at all. Once inside, Shi Qing dismissed the serving eunuchs and watched as Yu Chenyan placed both lunch boxes on the table. Then, he sat cross-legged on the floor.
Yu Chenyan silently sat down opposite him, observing as the young master eagerly opened his lunch box. He watched as Shi Qing used his chopsticks to pick out the dishes he didn't like and put them in Yu Chenyan's lunch box.
"Is this beef?" Shi Qing wrinkled his nose, picked up a piece of meat, and sniffed it delicately. An expression of distaste immediately appeared on his face. "It's so gamey. Can't the Imperial Kitchen find a decent chef?"
He muttered complaints as he moved all the beef from his lunch box to Yu Chenyan's.
"Fish? So many bones. You can have it."
"Why is there a bowl of soup?" Shi Qing opened the lower compartment of the lunch box, revealing a steaming bowl of soup with ginseng roots floating in it. He stirred it with his chopsticks and noticed the ginseng at the bottom.
Ginseng was a highly treasured ingredient, even in the Imperial Kitchen, and its rarity made it even more valuable. This nourishing ginseng soup was not part of a regular prince's meal. It was probably added to Shi Qing's lunch box to please him, considering his special status and the fact that he had successfully ousted the Crown Prince.
However, Shi Qing was no ordinary prince. He had grown up with the finest delicacies from a young age, and he couldn't be bothered with a bowl of mere ginseng soup. He pushed it aside, uninterested.
"You can have this too."
Subsequently, Shi Qing continued to grumble about the excess moisture in the dishes and their lack of taste, all while meticulously selecting the vegetables he didn't like and placing them in Yu Chenyan's lunch box.
After he finished picking, the young master finally began eating contentedly.
Although he usually appeared extremely proud and reserved, he came from a prestigious family and, when it came to eating, he was meticulous and slow, with a delicate and refined demeanor.
Most of the time, Yu Chenyan presented himself as silent to the outside world. However, he could engage in conversation when Shi Qing took the initiative to ask about his well-being.
As he watched Shi Qing start eating, Yu Chenyan, who had been sitting quietly across from him, began eating as well. He began with the dishes that were originally in his own lunch box.
Yu Chenyan picked up a piece of fried eggplant with his chopsticks. At first glance, the dish looked visually appealing, appearing quite delicious. However, the taste was something only the person eating it could truly understand—it was extremely difficult to swallow.
There was an excessive amount of oil, causing the outside to seem burnt while the inside remained raw. After a few bites, it was an indescribable experience.
If it were Shi Qing, the pampered young master, he would likely have spat out the first bite. Yu Chenyan, on the other hand, continued to chew calmly.
Only those who lived in the palace knew how dreadful life could be for an unfavored master. The palace was full of sycophants who were quick to please those in power, especially masters like Shi Qing. They would eagerly send dishes like ginseng soup to gain favor.
However, for someone like Yu Chenyan, the palace chefs often deliberately mistreated him, serving cold food in his lunch box and preparing dishes haphazardly. Soup? Did he really think he was so wealthy and esteemed? This was a common practice to extract money. If you wanted to eat well and have hot meals, you had to pay extra. Otherwise, you'd have to make do with cold dishes and rice. After all, a fallen phoenix was not as good as a chicken, and most masters who were treated this way would likely never rise again.
As the foster son of a deposed empress, Yu Chenyan had grown up in such conditions. He was used to hardships that Shi Qing couldn't endure. At his age, he needed far more food, but unlike other princes who could order food whenever they were hungry, Yu Chenyan didn't enjoy such privileges. His allocated portions were often cut down, and he couldn't even use his allocations to purchase additional meals.
In the past, Yu Chenyan had to endure it. During the day, it was manageable, but at night, his stomach would ache from hunger. However, ever since Shi Qing had a falling-out with the Crown Prince and solidified his position in the palace, he had become bolder and started openly giving Yu Chenyan the dishes he disliked.
Eating nearly one and a half portions of food every day, Yu Chenyan no longer woke up hungry in the middle of the night.
After finishing his own dishes, Yu Chenyan began eating the ones Shi Qing had given him. Despite Shi Qing's constant complaints, these dishes were meticulously prepared by the palace chefs. After all, if he expressed dissatisfaction, it would be reported to the Emperor, and the Imperial Kitchen would suffer the consequences.
The dishes Shi Qing had dismissed as undesirable were actually quite delicious, and the ingredients were carefully selected. After finishing them, Yu Chenyan finally drank the soup. The bowl of ginseng soup warmed his entire body.
[Ding! Yu Chenyan's Rejection Level: 75/100]
Shi Qing wasn't surprised. Regardless of what he did, Yu Chenyan's rejection level spontaneously decreased these days. If there weren't a one-month time limit, he would be content to gradually reduce it until it reached fifty.
Although Yu Chenyan had finished eating, Shi Qing had barely touched his own food and continued to eat slowly. Seeing the young master put down his chopsticks, Yu Chenyan noticed his discontent but couldn't care less about the silence over their meals.
"Why do you always eat so quickly when you clearly have more dishes than I do?" Shi Qing's competitive nature showed itself again.
Yu Chenyan knew it was a habit of the young master's to try to outdo others in everything he did. He was arrogant and proud, and he took great pride in being able to excel in whatever he attempted. On the other hand, he disliked being outdone by others.
Observing the young master's irritation, Yu Chenyan calmly said, "Next time, I won't eat so quickly."
"Am I the kind of person who needs others to accommodate me?" Shi Qing, however, remained unimpressed. He put down his chopsticks, turned around, sat on the couch, and kicked off his boots before burying himself under the covers.
"On such a cold day, with only a charcoal brazier in the room, how am I supposed to eat? I can barely hold my chopsticks." He burrowed his head under the covers and sulked, "I'm not eating anymore!"
Yu Chenyan glanced at the mostly untouched food on Shi Qing's plate. Though the young master had a small appetite, this amount was definitely not sufficient.
Yu Chenyan got up and made a suggestion, "Why not eat on the couch?"
"How can I eat wrapped up in blankets on the couch?" The young master cocooned himself like a silkworm.
He rolled around on the couch unhappily, then suddenly had an idea and brightened up. "You feed me."
Perhaps fearing that Yu Chenyan would refuse, without waiting for his response, Shi Qing urged, "What are you waiting for? Do you want to freeze me to death? Hurry up!"
Yu Chenyan looked at the young master wrapped tightly in blankets on the couch, with only his head visible. His eyes darkened slightly. He obediently picked up his lunch box, approached, and sat on the edge of the couch.
Since the remaining dishes were all Shi Qing's favorites, the young master couldn't be bothered to make verbal selections. He simply lay down comfortably, covered himself with thick, warm blankets, tucked his hands and feet inside, and left only his head exposed, resembling a nestling bird waiting patiently for food.
Yu Chenyan seldom had the opportunity to make choices for others. He started by picking up a spoonful of rice, steamed with high-quality Wujiang rice, glistening and round in appearance, with a soft and glutinous texture, much like Shi Qing, who napped in his arms during siestas.
The spoonful of rice was offered to the young master's mouth, and he chewed contentedly, his face showing satisfaction at not having to hold cold chopsticks on such a chilly day.
Yu Chenyan picked up a meatball next, and Shi Qing obediently ate it. As he watched the young master, who appeared docile and would eat whatever was given to him, Yu Chenyan's heart began to feel a different kind of flavor.
Feeding the delicate Shi Qing made him feel sweet, like honey. Yet, for Shi Qing, he was merely someone convenient to boss around, which left a bitter taste.
It felt somewhat like the sensation of plucking a persimmon from a tree when one was terribly hungry as a child, biting into it, only to find it extremely astringent and causing a burning sensation in the stomach. It was a complex feeling.
With these conflicting emotions, Yu Chenyan slowly fed the young master, who eagerly accepted each bite.
Once satiated, Shi Qing let out a small yawn. His usually proud and round eyes began to droop as he grew drowsy. He was tired.
However, instead of immediately falling asleep, the sleepy young master rolled around under the blankets, positioning himself closer to the inner edge of the couch. Then, he patted the couch and urged, "I want to sleep. Come up here quickly."
Yu Chenyan silently joined Shi Qing on the couch and expertly slipped under the covers. As he entered, the warm and cozy atmosphere enveloped him, and he was suddenly snuggled up to by the young master, who had a good sense of where to fit.
As Shi Qing burrowed closer, he poked his head out and playfully prodded Yu Chenyan with his hand. "Why do I feel like you've grown stronger?"
Yu Chenyan, feeling the young master's soft and tender touch roaming his body, involuntarily tensed up. His throat felt dry, but his voice remained steady. "Yes, I've grown a bit."
In these past few days, with good food, good sleep, and occasional nourishing soups, he was already in a phase of rapid growth. In less than half a month, he had grown taller, and his body had become sturdier.
"You're growing so fast." There was a hint of envy in Shi Qing's tone as he continued to playfully prod Yu Chenyan. "I've had my share of good things since I was young, but I'm still so weak. I wish I could be as strong as you."
Yu Chenyan, however, found the young master's current state quite appealing. He was delicate, with every part of his body in perfect proportion, appearing slender but possessing softness when held in one's hands. Especially that slim waist, it could be easily encircled with one hand. Perhaps it was because he had been controlled by others since childhood, but Yu Chenyan had a preference for this kind of feeling—being able to fully grasp someone with just one hand.
Clearly, Shi Qing was included in this preference.
The young master continued, "Fortunately, I'm still young, so I can grow taller. By the time I reach your age, I shouldn't be as frail as I am now."
As he listened, Yu Chenyan gradually pieced together an image of the seventeen or eighteen-year-old Shi Qing. He would undoubtedly be taller, with well-defined features. He was already naturally delicate, and if he grew further, there wouldn't be much difference from now.
His slim frame couldn't be changed, but Yu Chenyan couldn't help but wonder if, at that time, Shi Qing would still curl up obediently in his arms, poking him gently with those tender, blemish-free fingertips, as he did now.
Having shared his thoughts, Shi Qing, with a few words of envy, soon snuggled up in Yu Chenyan's embrace and fell into a deep sleep.
Left alone, Yu Chenyan was strangely overcome by the heat of the future he had imagined. He didn't disturb Shi Qing's nap, but he also couldn't find any drowsiness himself. He just lay there, staring at the ceiling, with his eyes wide open throughout the afternoon.
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