Cry of the Midnight Jackdaw

Chapter One Hundred and Two,
Flying Fireflies

The residence set aside for He Xuan was on the lakeside spread all over with lotuses, there was a white jade bridge connecting the two piers in the center, while the reflection of the bridge in the middle of the lake seemed like a fluttering band the Empyrean Fairy dropped, creating bits of gold on the surface along with the slight wind’s caress.

Xiao Zuo was wearing a moon-white wide-sleeved silk robe, and his long hair was randomly tied with a red string just after bathing. The moonlight trickled in between his pitch-black long hair, slightly swaying along with his figure, billowing with circles of ripples.

In his hand was a glowing palace lantern, the dimly leaping candlelight just barely heated half of his face, while the remaining half fell into the shadows of the dark night, like a ball of glistening snow. He lonesomely walked on the bridge, atop of his head was highly-hung with an ancient bright moon, beneath his feet was the solitary and aloof jade, as though in the next instant, the cool winds by the ears were going to cut him out from this night scene, ride on the flowing clouds, and send him all the way to the moon palace planted full with osmanthus trees.

He Xuan hid himself deep in the corner of the darkness, like he accidentally spied upon an immortal that fell into the mortal realm, bearing a veiled selfish desire and drive, silently watching his every move, and watched Xiao Zuo slowly walk to the lakeside, crouch down, and extend his hand out like he was going to approach that lotus flower nearby.

“Brother Xuan?” Xiao Zuo held up the stem of the flower soaked with night dew, and smiled as he turned around. The moonlight shallowly shone on his fair face, making his gaze particularly gentle, pretty much carrying some enticement, making people willingly sink into the amber sea in his eyes.

“For you.”

He Xuan vacantly looked at him, Xiao Zuo stuffed the flower into his hands, and reached out to play with the flower petals, then narrowed his eyes while smiling, “Like it?”

“En.” He Xuan heard his own indifferent voice.

Xiao Zuo unhappily knitted his eyebrows, and used his hands to prop himself up, then, like he was going to complain, “You……”

“Mm……”

The words after were all blocked back by He Xuan’s sudden kiss. He Xuan’s right hand powerfully grasped Xiao Zuo’s waist, like a wild animal starved for an entire winter, releasing all its skill in that moment the spring winds sprung up, crudely and strongly making an effort to suck on its prey it had yearned for long. Xiao Zuo felt like his tongue was going to go numb from He Xuan licking it, but the words he wanted to say were all swallowed in by He Xuan.

He Xuan continued to barge in and sweep over his oral cavity, up until Xiao Zuo could not bear it any longer due to the suffocation and bit down on He Xuan’s tongue that seemed to not know of fatigue, that he then abruptly came to, and withdrew like he still did not have enough.

Xiao Zuo lifted the back of his hand and wiped the leaking silver threads on the side of his lips, and lightly coughed, “Let’s…… let’s go back.”

He Xuan suddenly pulled on his arm, and said while lifting his chin, “Look over there.”

“Are those…… fireflies?” Su Province was located to the south of the Su River, and was evidently much more humid than Shang An’jing, so while it was the beginning of autumn, in the nights, it was still warm, carrying a lax humid heat, like at this time, Xiao Zuo’s slightly gathered palm had some sweat on it.

Fireflies flickered as they hovered over that shrub by the lake, and these clusters and clusters of hazy fireflies burned the stuffy autumn night with a lonesome hole.

Far off, soft sounds of singing faintly drifted by, separated by a lotus pond, it echoed along with the quiet and beautiful waves and rustles of the lotus leaves in the wind, misty like it was almost a dream.

“Singing?” He Xuan froze, “That direction……”

“Is He Yang’s residence.” Xiao Zuo took over.

He Xuan coldly laughed, with his gaze full of ridicule, “He certainly doesn’t avoid anything, just as Zhao Yun Xin leaves, this happens.”

In the afternoon during Lord Yong’s birthday banquet, Zhao Yun Xin got found to be pregnant, He Yang at that time even fakely said he was afraid Zhao Yun Xin would not be accustomed to staying here, so once the banquet ended, he had someone send her back to the capital, but was instead planning this inside.

Xiao Zuo hung his head down, and absentmindedly pinched He Xuan’s finger, and had He Xuan stroke his head, “Let’s go back and sleep, we will need to get up early tomorrow.”

“En.” Xiao Zuo obediently nodded his head, and held hands with He Xuan, slowly strolling back along the edge of the lake.

“Tomorrow……” He Xuan paused, and wanted to say something.

“En?”

“Tomorrow, He Yang will probably have some little trick, I have already made preparations, it will be fine, don’t worry.”

Xiao Zuo thought to how He Yang provoked them several times at the banquet, and predicted that the autumn hunt this time won’t end nicely, as expected. The hand he hooked He Xuan’s pinky with lightly moved, like clumsily and gently consoling, “Worry…… it’s something that involves you, how could I not worry.”

“However.” Xiao Zuo lightly laughed, the moonlight clearly shrouded over his eyes, like a stream of snow, “I believe you.”

He Xuan’s eyes went dark, he slightly stiffly avoided Xiao Zuo’s gaze, his throat seemed like it got dyed in a windchill and was sore and tight, blocking the words he wanted to say yet did not, those things swelling about to overflow seeped into the limbs along the blood, making him pretty much subconsciously bring Xiao Zuo into his arms.

“En.” By the ears, Xiao Zuo’s breathing was shallow, echoing his heartbeat, beat after beat.

When they returned to the room, it was already late into the night. He Xuan had the maid bring in hot water to wash up, Xiao Zuo sat on the couch and sleepily soaked his feet, tilting his head about to sleep away, when suddenly, his foot went cold. He barely opened up his eyelids a sliver, and in his line of sight was the top of He Xuan’s hair. Xiao Zuo subconsciously shrunk his leg back, but got caught by He Xuan, his hands slightly used strength, “Don’t move.”

“You……” Xiao Zuo slightly awkwardly bit down on his lower lip, and secretly glanced at him, then randomly patted his hot face, and stuttered, “You don’t need……”

“I like to.” He Xuan hung his head down, and seriously used the towel to dry his foot, and lifted his eyes up with a seemingly smiling expression, then asked, “Sleepy? Want me to carry you over?”

“No…… no need.” Xiao Zuo lightly coughed, suppressed down the ear-splitting heartbeat, and wound around He Xuan and quickly walked over to the bed, “Blow out the lights.” Actually, he wanted to use the night to cover the long already red face, and in attempts to hide it, Xiao Zuo added, “Hurry up and sleep.”

He Xuan lightly laughed, and blew out the lantern as directed, then turned around and got into bed, “En, sleep.”

❀

The next day, the two got up very early, and after finishing breakfast, they slowly strolled to the entrance of He Heng’s bedchambers. Only a few officials and side royalties were there, when they saw He Xuan dressed into riding attire with cold features, they were scared into a tremble, afraid that they would offend him, and greeted him very respectfully.

He Xuan indifferently glanced at them, then casually waved his hands. The few people acted like they were pardoned, and hurriedly gathered to one side, keeping their distance with He Xuan. Xiao Zuo who was on the side had his collar a bit flipped, and just as He Xuan was going to reach out to help him fix it, his gaze went past Xiao Zuo’s shoulders, and distantly saw He Yang with two hands at his back, making big steps towards here.

He Xuan acted as if he didn’t see it, and still unhurriedly straightened the collar, then heard He Yang say, “Greetings to his Highness the Crown Prince.”

Xiao Zuo slightly froze, He Xuan let go, then turned his head and responded, “Ig even said you would go back today to be with your wife.”

“That must be a disappoint for your Highness then.” He Yang sneered, “I see your Highness cares for my wife more than me, the husband.”

He Xuan was unmoved, and hung his eyes down and fixed the hairs on Xiao Zuo’s ear to one side, and gently said to him, “Go with Fang Shao a bit later, with many people are many eyes, be careful yourself.”

“En.” Xiao Zuo’s lashes shook, like trembling gold butterfly wings, “You…… too.”

“He Xuan!” He Yang was on the side grinding his teeth, fiercely staring at He Xuan, the bottom of his eyes were completely red, “Just you wait.”

Just as the words were said, He Heng came out surrounded by a group of maids, he also changed into attire for riding and archery, making him look to be a bit younger.

Everyone immediately bowed down to give their greetings, He Yang angrily turned his head around, and bent down while holding in the anger.

He Xuan courteously lowered his head, his right hand lightly stroked the sword on his waist, absentmindedly listening to He Heng say some superficial blessings.

“Alright, Iz won’t be holding you guys back, go on your own, whoever hunts the most, Iz will naturally reward heavily.” After finishing, He Heng smiled, and first headed to the stalls.

“Your Highness, today I will be getting first place.” When He Xuan passed by He Yang, He Yang ambiguously sneered, “When it comes to horsemanship, your Highness can’t quite compare to me.”

He Xuan coldly looked at him, and did not refute, “Then I shall congratulate Fourth Brother in advance.”

After finishing, he turned back and pulled on Xiao Zuo’s sleeve, “Follow me.”

A few days ago, the spy He Xuan planted in He Yang’s residence brought back news, saying that this autumn hunt, He Yang did something with the horse that would make He Xuan’s horse get surprised and break free from the reins, to one side was a valley, at that time, if he were to roll down there, no one would know. He Xuan originally wanted to find another of He Yang’s weaknesses, who knew this person immediately sent one over himself, and thus schemed atop of it. He investigated beforehand, at that time, find a slight hill to roll, then send someone to first wait at the valley, in front of He Heng, the ruse of self-injury was typical more effective.

“Your Highness!” He Xuan concentrated, far away, a bunch of people gathered into a crowd, yells rose and fell there, that direction……

He Xuan’s heart shook, and asked with knitted brows, “What is it?”

Following to the side was Lord Qi, upon hearing, he brought his horse over, “Your Highness, it appears that someone’s horse was startled, and directly headed towards the cliff.”

“Your Highness?”

He Xuan’s pupils contracted suddenly, and immediately whipped the horse whip and rushed towards that crowd of people, “Your Highness!”

The person on that horse was Xiao Zuo as expected, before He Xuan reached there, the manic horse already rushed straight down the cliff, “Your Highness!”

To the back was another series of shocked cries, He Xuan knitted his eyebrows, the horse he was riding also suddenly went crazy, and rushed to the place the other person fell off of. Before He Xuan could think of anything else, his eyes went white, only leaving the sound of wind rustling by his ears.

He Xuan faintly remembered the last thought he had, if they could be buried in one place like this, it wouldn’t be bad either.