102 Only Fear

The night was deep and serene.

Wei Xueqin gazed at the reflection in the mirror and smiled softly. “Yuer, do you think I’m beautiful?”

Behind her, Yuer, who was styling Wei Xueqin’s hair, glanced at the bronze mirror and smiled. “Your Highness, you hold the title of 'The Most Beautiful Woman in the Capital.' Of course, you are beautiful.”

The woman in the mirror had skin as smooth as cream, delicately arched brows, almond-shaped eyes, and petite, rosy lips—a true beauty. Yet, Wei Xueqin hesitated, murmuring softly, “But, Your Highness…” A woman’s heart is always delicate and sensitive; Wei Xueqin sensed that Zhao Yixiao’s gentle demeanor toward her was perhaps only superficial.

“Your Highness, don’t overthink it,” Yuer said with a light laugh as she removed the crimson hairpin from Wei Xueqin’s hair. “The Prince will be here any moment now.” Wei Xueqin nodded and sighed, looking at her reflection once more. Barefaced and without makeup or adornment, she asked, “Yuer, do you think I look too plain like this?”

Yuer examined her thoughtfully and nodded. “It is a bit plain.” Then she took a golden butterfly hairpin inset with jewels and placed it diagonally on the bun. “How about now? What do you think, Your Highness?”

Wei Xueqin gently touched the pin and dabbed a little lipstick on her lips. The faint pink instantly added a touch of allure. “Alright, Yuer, bring me that pale yellow gauze skirt.”

“Ah,” Yuer replied, heading to the wardrobe to retrieve a pale yellow floral lily gauze skirt. “Your Highness, didn’t you say you disliked this color?”

Wei Xueqin smiled softly as she put it on. “The Prince seems to favor yellow lately.” After Yuer helped fasten the dress, she teased, “Your Highness truly remembers all the Prince’s preferences. If I were him, I would cherish you dearly.”

“Stop talking nonsense!” Wei Xueqin feigned anger, but two faint blushes bloomed on her fair cheeks. Yuer stuck out her tongue playfully and adjusted the collar behind her. “There, I think pale yellow suits you very well.”

Wei Xueqin looked at herself from every angle in the mirror and asked with a smile, “Do you think it looks good?”

Yuer nodded enthusiastically. “It’s beautiful—absolutely beautiful! You have always been fair-skinned, and pale yellow makes you look even more radiant and younger.”

“So, you’re saying I used to look old?” Wei Xueqin teased, blinking.

“I never said that! Your Highness looks young and beautiful in anything!” Yuer pouted in protest.

Wei Xueqin laughed, ceasing her teasing. “I wonder if His Highness will like it…”

“Oh, Your Highness, you only think about him!” Yuer teased. “Don’t worry! He will definitely like it.”

“Like what?” At that moment, Zhao Yixiao entered with a smile. Both Wei Xueqin and Yuer were startled and quickly stepped out from the inner room, bowing respectfully. “Your Highness, greetings.”

Upon seeing the yellow dress, Zhao Yixiao frowned briefly but composed himself as he stepped forward to support Wei Xueqin. “I don’t recall seeing you wear yellow before, Xueqin.”

Wei Xueqin smiled softly. “I found it in the wardrobe today and decided to wear it. Don’t you like it, Your Highness?”

Waving at Yuer to leave, Zhao Yixiao helped Wei Xueqin sit on the low couch and said with a faint smile, “Xueqin, I remember you didn’t like yellow. I also think it doesn’t suit you well. Change out of it.”

Wei Xueqin stiffened, then slowly looked up at Zhao Yixiao. He nodded with a smile. She stood from his embrace and forced a smile. “Yes, Your Highness, I will change immediately.”

Somewhat flustered, she removed the dress and threw on another. Slowly, she reached behind to straighten the collar that had curled inward. Zhao Yixiao came from behind and pulled her into his arms. “Perhaps you’re just not used to it yet, Xueqin. Don’t take it too much to heart.”

She nodded stiffly and forced a dry laugh. “I felt a little strange wearing it too. Your Highness, please sit down.”

With that, she turned and gently pushed Zhao Yixiao to sit. On the small table before them were tea, preserved fruits, and sweets. Zhao Yixiao casually picked up a small biscuit and popped it into his mouth. “This biscuit tastes good.”

At his words, a genuine smile finally appeared on Wei Xueqin’s face. “I made these myself. If Your Highness likes them, I can prepare more for you tomorrow.”

Zhao Yixiao nodded. “Thank you for your effort.”

“It’s no trouble…”

“Knock knock—” A sudden knock interrupted her.

Zhao Yixiao smiled and patted her hand before asking in a low voice, “What is it?”

“The Second Prince, someone has delivered a visiting card.” The attendant glanced discreetly at Wei Xueqin, who sat quietly with her head lowered. Zhao Yixiao’s gaze flickered. “I’ll go see.”

Wei Xueqin nodded obediently. “Please go, Your Highness. I will wait here.”

Zhao Yixiao smiled and nodded, rising to open the door. Quietly, he inquired, “What’s the matter? Whose visiting card is it?”

The subordinate handed him the card. “Reporting, Your Highness, it is from the Li Estate. You said if anything happened there, to inform you immediately.”

Zhao Yixiao took the card, glanced through it, then folded it and handed it back. “I understand. You did well. Tell him I await the Young Master of the Northern Palace Estate at any time.”

“Yes!” The attendant nodded sharply.

The Northern Palace Qi Yi actually wants to see me… Zhao Yixiao closed the door slowly and chuckled softly. Coincidentally, I’ve been longing for you too… Northern Palace Qi Yi!

“Your Highness… Is something the matter?” Seeing him distracted, Wei Xueqin asked with concern.

Zhao Yixiao shook his head, coming back to himself. “No, nothing. It’s late; let’s rest.”

Wei Xueqin eyed him suspiciously but lowered her gaze and nodded. “Alright.”

Behind the embroidered dragon and phoenix screen stood a large bed. A young man in a pale yellow robe lay lazily across it, his black hair loosely tied at the nape. Beside the bed was a small table laden with fruits and snacks.

The youth casually picked up a bright red cherry and tossed it into his mouth. Suddenly, he said, “Mu Min, I want to eat lychees.”

A man standing in the shadows by the bed stepped forward indifferently. “Master, it’s winter; there are no lychees.”

The youth closed his eyes and sang softly with exaggerated expression, “Riding through the red dust, the consort laughs, none knowing the lychee has come.” Then his narrow, beautiful phoenix-like eyes snapped open, looking pitifully at the man beside him. “I just want lychees. Even if I can hardly walk now, Mu Min, you can’t dislike me and refuse to give me anything to eat!”

Mu Min looked at the various fruits on the table and the discarded peels beside them in silent exasperation. “I’m not refusing, Master. There really just aren’t any lychees now.”

Northern Palace Qi Yi pouted and grabbed a sticky rice dumpling, chewing it heartily. Mu Min quietly averted his gaze and swallowed the dumpling. Qi Yi frowned in dissatisfaction. “Forget it, then. If there are no lychees, I want strawberries.”

“…There aren’t any either,” Mu Min said dryly. “Master, if you don’t want these, I’ll have someone take them away.” With that, he picked up a plate of cherries and started to leave.

“Hey, hey! I never said I don’t want to eat!” Northern Palace Qi Yi called out loudly. “Mu Min, bring them back!”

Mu Min’s face was turned away, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Moments later, he wiped the smile away, resumed his impassive expression, and put the cherries back.

“Mu Min, you’re paying less and less attention to me, your Master!” Qi Yi sat up against the bedhead, scowling.

Mu Min replied in his usual deadpan tone, “I only have eyes for my Master.”

“…” Qi Yi was momentarily speechless, pressing his lips together. After a pause, he changed the subject. “Have you delivered the visiting card to Zhao Yixiao?”

Mu Min nodded. “I have. The Second Prince said he awaits the Master’s arrival at any time.”

Tilting his head slightly, Qi Yi muttered softly, “When would be a good time? Maybe tonight… What do you think, Mu Min?”

Mu Min looked at him silently. “Master needs to recover.”

“This little injury is nothing,” Qi Yi said as he rolled over on the bed. “See? It’s fine.”

Mu Min’s mouth twitched slightly. He approached and flipped Qi Yi over, speaking coldly, “Master, you shouldn’t move around recklessly.”

Rolling his eyes, Qi Yi lay quietly on the bed. The canopy above was embroidered with white lotuses. “But I haven’t seen my brother in days.” He glanced at the expressionless Mu Min, lips pursed in grievance. “My brother knows I erased his memory and hasn’t spoken to me for days.”

“When you did that, Master, you should have known this would happen,” Mu Min said. “You can hide it for a while, but can you hide it forever?”

Qi Yi looked up and shook his head slowly. “You don’t understand, Mu Min. Sometimes, a moment can change a lifetime. Do you know what spell I cast on my brother?”

Mu Min shook his head. “I do not know.”

Qi Yi blinked and smiled lightly. “It’s called 'Emotion Crossing'—a bond of shared affection. If my brother had no feelings for me, I couldn’t have cast it even if I wanted to. He does have feelings, and I need even the slightest trace of that affection to maintain our relationship.”

He tilted his head toward Mu Min. His dark eyes shimmered like stars in the night. “Whether my brother remembers or not doesn’t matter. As long as he carries 'Emotion Crossing,' he can’t leave me. I just don’t want him to remember the bad things—not because I’m cruel, but because those memories would hurt him.”

“Master, if you knew the things you did would hurt the Northern Palace Lord, why did you do them?” Mu Min asked, puzzled.

Qi Yi smiled bitterly and sighed. “I never wanted to hurt him. I was just too jealous. Jealous of other men in his life, jealous of everyone who was ever near him. I was so jealous that I lost control of myself. Maybe I didn’t even want to control it back then…”

Looking at Mu Min, his voice cold and clear, Qi Yi said, “In this world, I fear nothing—no demons, no spirits, no gods or beasts. The only thing I fear is that my brother’s heart will never truly belong to me.”