"I know," Xianyu nodded in reply. "That's why I'm keeping it here."
In fact, he had gotten his servants to clean things in his own study many times in the past. If only it could stay that way for more than a week.
It was his own fault of course, Xianyu acknowledged that more than anyone else. Which was precisely why he much preferred to keep his prized belongings, such as his fantastical novels and play scripts, here in his gege's study.
It was so much neater here! It would be impossible to lose anything.
"Try and be nice to your servants," Jingrui sighed, clearly not approving of the excuse.
To this, Xianyu gave a soft huff, his exaggeratedly feminine voice only serving to make him sound even more petulant. This wasn't someone who would be easily mistaken for a man, though that was exactly what he was.
"I'm plenty nice to them!" he insisted, slipping back into his natural pitch as his delicate hands clutched the book in front of his chest. "Who could be nicer than me?"
"Mmm," his gege hummed quietly in response. "Be good alright? This isn't my office either, I'm only borrowing it from my own ge. Now, isn't it high time you get going?"
That usually meant Jingrui had things to do. Things important enough that he didn't want Xianyu distracting while he did them. So, being as obedient as he was, Xianyu nodded enthusiastically at the request, practically bouncing out of the room without a second thought.
While he wasn't one to listen to instructions usually, he certainly made exceptions for certain situations. And one of those situation was whenever Jingrui gege asked! Afterall, his elder brother was so beautiful and elegant, even more so than Xianyu himself, and the young prince was someone who admired those better than himself.
On top of that, Xianyu had also grown up by his gege's side almost all his life, and over the years, he had grown more than a little attached. If he had to follow someone's words unquestioningly, it would most definitely be his big brother!
The moment Xianyu flitted out of the residence doors, Jiang had already returned to his side without him noticing. Without questioning it, Xianyu immediately launched into conversation.
"Ah, Jiaaang," he purred, blinking his large round eyes with great enthusiasm. "Will you accompany me to the gardens?"
The reason he was trying to convince the eunuch was this: he had lessons later. Calligraphy or something of that importance. Whatever it was, the young prince already knew it wasn't anything he cared about. It wasn't as though he would ever serve a political role anyways! He was perfectly content to dance in the courtyard and perform at celebrations for the rest of his existence. To him, that would be the ideal way of life!
Unsurprisingly, Jiang didn't try to argue with him. Xianyu was his master after all. And anyways, it wasn't as though he could convince the prince to listen to him no matter how much he argued or insisted.
Xianyu had already been sure of this outcome before he'd even opened his mouth. Him asking had simply been courtesy. Yes, this was him being courteous! Of course, had Jiang said he didn't want to, Xianyu would have happily let his servant return to the residence and he would have simply walked alone. He wasn't picky about this kind of thing at all.
"It's so nice when you accompany me," he said as they walked, his fingers gliding over flower petals as they passed. "You can't imagine how lonely I am when you run off back to the residence."
It was only once before that Jiang had left the prince to walk by himself. Xianyu hadn't minded particularly, but he had been extremely sulky during the walk. Afterwards, he'd whined for rest of the evening — a situation the eunuch did not wish to repeat.
As they strolled, they passed both men and women — servants and nobles alike — who cast their gazes shamelessly toward the prince as he passed. Naturally, there would be much talk about someone as beautiful as him. Especially when the beauty belonged to a man and not a woman.
At times, with his reputation, he even wondered how no one had connected him to Yuehua yet. Perhaps they were simply daft, was one thought he had. Or maybe they simply thought him too lazy to learn to dance? That seemed the most plausible to him.
In reality, it wasn't those reasons at all. Though it was hard to say whether or not they were daft.
The real reason no one considered a possibility of him being Yuehua was that they simply seemed so different in appeal. Xianyu the prince was adorable — a young boy dressed as a cute girl — someone bright and welcoming, who would never intend to harm others, despite his games. Yuehua, on the other hand, was a mature, clever woman — one who struck back when provoked and was smart enough to challenge others in conversation. Someone like that would clearly never mix with anyone of Xianyu's nature!
Even those who knew of Yuehua's true identity found it hard to believe. The emperor found it hilarious, how different his amusing little pet of a son could behave under different disguises. And even Jingrui, who simply hoped his brother would not cause himself trouble, found himself wondering where the discipline of Yuehua hid itself in daily life.
"Jiang," Xianyu suddenly turned his head to his companion, hands clasped together excitedly, "did anything happen recently?" By this, he naturally meant gossip.
"Yes, Your Highness," Jiang's tone remained perfectly serious. "Many things happen around the palace everyday. For example, the laundry girls responsible for washing your robes found a gold earring stuck in the sleeves. Or, alternatively, the kitchen women recently made too much rice while cooking. And how could I forget, one of the younger boys stole a red bean bao from your kitchens."
Xianyu pouted in response. "That wasn't what I meant!"
Hmmph, you knew exactly what I was asking, Xianyu thought.
Though, he did vaguely find the stolen bao funny. He didn't mind it much. If the boy had stolen it without him finding out first, then Xianyu certainly thought he deserved it.
"What did you mean then?" Jiang asked innocently. "You only asked what happened in the palace."
"You know," the prince waved his hands dramatically. "Interesting things!"
"I found those incidents plenty interesting," was the reply he received.
Frustrated, Xianyu could only wail in response, his long silken sleeves fluttering in the air as he threw his arms above his head in faux distress. He couldn't very well say the word gossip in public like this. That wouldn't be cute at all! That would ruin his adorable appeal completely, something he cared very much about.
"Ahhhh," he pawed childishly at his eunuch companion, "I should revoke your privileges it what I should do! No more sweets after dinner. I should stop talking to you!"
"If that's what you wish, Your Highness," Jiang smiled quietly at his master's childish whining. It was almost comforting to watch the mini tantrum, knowing full well how silly the threats sounded, especially compared to what could be said.
Xianyu only glared at the words, before bouncing off, already moving on to the next attraction.
The spring air was cool on his skin as he moved, not paying any heed to what direction he was heading in. After all, why should he? He was a favoured son of the emperor, and seen as an utter joke politically. Even if he ended up somewhere he shouldn't be, no one would accuse him of spying or being a threat. They'd simply scoff at his incompetence and send him away, with varying degrees of harshness.
And even they were angry about it, he still had plenty of people to fall back on. His Jingrui gege was the empress's third son, and one who had a good bit of power. Even beyond that, he had the emperor, his father, on his side too!
Of course, both Jingrui gege and His Majesty would simply attest to Xianyu's incompetence to get him let off the hook, but it was still a solid fall back plan!
In his mind, nothing could penetrate his safety net. What was safer than pure utter lack of standing?
For this reason, Xianyu even didn't mind crawling over the partitions of the corridors like a naughty child. That was how the people of the palace saw him after all. No one would question him.
"Your Highness, please slow down," Jiang called after him.
Because the prince had taken to crawling over things that shouldn't be climbed over — things Jiang absolutely did not wish to follow in clambering over — the eunuch was far slower at following his master.
Unbothered by it, Xianyu continued on his fast paced exploration of the world he'd spent his whole life roaming. Occasionally, he would stop to admire the flowers or eavesdrop on passing conversations, allowing the eunuch to catch up to him.
The further they moved, the more Xianyu was starting to feel unfamiliar with his surroundings.
It wasn't that he was lost exactly, he still knew where to go, but no longer did he know every crook and cranny of this particular area. Which alone told him exactly where this was. The important part of the palace — he was closing in on the imperial audience hall!
Even Xianyu rarely dared step foot here.
There was something weird about coming here. Had he not been so utterly confident in his reputation for being about as threatening as a koi fish, he may have been to fearful to enter the area unpermitted.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, he was confident it both the lack of threat he presented and the emperor's favour for him.
So when he saw what looked like a small procession of important looking people coming his way, Xianyu didn't hesitate to hide behind a nearby pillar to watch. He'd always been curious about these kinds of things.
It was only the fact that every time he tried to see the important figures of his father's court, the man seems to assume his son has taken an interest in politics. And he's perhaps far too enthusiastic about sending tutors in the prince's direction. Due to this, Xianyu had stopped mentioning it at all, in fear of being forced to study like a proper royal son.
He nearly shuddered at the thought.
It was only a small group of men. The one at the head of the group was young, especially to be leading such a group. Maybe around gege's age, Xianyu thought. Except this man wasn't a royal son.
At this distance, he was sure he could easily be spotted, making him far too afraid to take a proper look at the procession. It was exciting! Like playing a game of hide-and-seek with gege when he was little.
With the men distracted, Xianyu snuck out carefully from behind the pillar, just for a peak. They were close enough now that he could see.
And oh…