After being reborn, the aloof prime minister was once again forced by a tyrant.

"After a few drinks and some warm conversation, we went for a walk."

"Thank you for your refined taste, Prime Minister." Xiao Jingheng walked slowly to his side, gently waving his folding fan, and stood shoulder to shoulder with him gazing at the pond. "I have seen the night view of Taiye Pond for more than ten years, and I still can't get enough of it. I remember when I accompanied my father to a banquet, fireworks filled the sky above the pond, making it as bright as day. After the late emperor passed away, the palace never set off fireworks again. Many old customs were buried with him in the imperial mausoleum, and even many corners of the imperial garden have been overgrown for many years."

He closed his folding fan and pointed towards the northwest: "Speaking of which, Prime Minister Xie's Tingxue Pavilion is over there. It's a remote place, quiet as it is, but—"

He paused, then sighed, "That was originally the residence of Consort Shen. Consort Shen was His Majesty's birth mother. After being brought into the palace by the late Emperor, she was imprisoned there. After her death, the courtyard was empty and no one lived there anymore."

He picked up his wine cup and took a sip, the lamplight reflecting off his face in a soft glow. His tone was gentle, as if he were casually chatting with a guest who had come from afar about palace anecdotes.

Xie Qinglan naturally understood the underlying meaning. It was ostensibly casual conversation, but in reality, it was a dig at his sore spot—you live in nothing more than the cold palace where the late emperor imprisoned his favored concubines.

"Thank you for informing me, Your Highness," Xie Qinglan said calmly. "Tingxue Pavilion is indeed secluded, and I prefer quiet. As for the past affairs of Consort Shen, Your Highness is very kind."

Xiao Jingheng paused for a moment, looking at his unmoved appearance, and then nodded slightly: "It's getting late, Prime Minister Xie should return to his seat early so as not to worry the Emperor." After saying that, he turned and left, his blue figure disappearing into the shadows of the flowers.

No sooner had he left than Xiao Jingyuan strode out of the shadows. He had heard the whole thing, and his face was terrifyingly grim.

He gripped Xie Qinglan's arm, his brows furrowed deeply: "What did he say to you?"

"It's nothing," Xie Qinglan said, brushing his hand away. "We just chatted about palace anecdotes."

"Anecdotes?" Xiao Jingyuan's voice rose slightly, then he abruptly lowered it again, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the man's face. "He told you about Tingxuexuan?"

Xie Qinglan raised an eyebrow slightly: "Your Majesty heard everything?"

Xiao Jingyuan's ears turned red, but he didn't care about his embarrassment. He grabbed his sleeve and said urgently, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Tingxue Pavilion is indeed where Mother Consort lived, but I let you live there not for—"

He couldn't continue, his Adam's apple bobbing, his eyes filled with anger and grievance: "That's where I grew up, the quietest place in the palace. I dare not let you live in Lan Yue Pavilion, for fear that you'll be reminded of your past life and feel unhappy."

Upon hearing this, Xie Qinglan suddenly recalled the days she was imprisoned in Lan Yue Pavilion in her previous life. Xiao Jingyuan stood at the door, looking down at her, and said, "You are my person, and you will never leave in this lifetime."

At that time, he only saw himself as a stolen possession, with his wings clipped and his pride broken, trapped in a world waiting to wither and die.

But what happened next?

Later, the man knelt by his bedside, his hand trembling as he gripped the man's, repeatedly apologizing. Later, the man moved a crabapple tree from Nanyue and, after three months of hard work, managed to revive the withered tree. Later, the man dared not anger him, so he squatted on the rooftop wall, watching until midnight.

Who would treat a private possession like this?

Xiao Jingyuan was different from his father. Although he was impulsive and jealous, and the thought of keeping him by his side never left him, he ultimately couldn't bear to hurt him in the slightest, and couldn't even bear to say a harsh word to him.

"I know," he said, his voice softening slightly. The three words, though simple, carried a reassuring quality.

Xiao Jingyuan stared at him blankly, his throat dry, unable to say anything. He simply slid his hand down and tightly grasped Xie Qinglan's fingers.

Just then, Xiao Jingchen appeared out of nowhere, tilted his head and stared for a while, then innocently said, "Brother, your Prime Minister is so handsome. Does he wake up every day because he's so good-looking?"

"Say one more word," Xiao Jingyuan turned his head expressionlessly, "and I'll send you to the Western Frontier to eat sand with Shen Hanzhou."

Xiao Jingchen quickly waved his hand and scurried back to his seat.

The two returned to their seats together. Seeing Xie Qinglan pick up his wine cup again, already having drunk countless cups, Xiao Jingyuan reached out and pressed his wrist, frowning as he said, "Qinglan, this wine has a strong aftereffect; don't drink too much."

"It's alright." Xie Qinglan brushed his hand away and took another sip. It tasted sweet and refreshing, definitely not like strong liquor.

When the palace banquet ended, the moon was already high in the sky.

The guests gradually dispersed. Xiao Jingchen, completely drunk, was dragged out of the Imperial Garden by two eunuchs.

Xiao Jingheng remained composed, and before leaving, he raised his cup to Xiao Jingyuan from afar.

As Xiao Zhaoyue passed by Xie Qinglan, she did not stop, but said very softly, in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Prime Minister Xie might want to consider my suggestion." After saying that, she waved her round fan and gracefully left.

Xiao Jingyuan dismissed the palace servants and returned to Tingxue Pavilion with Xie Qinglan. He was extremely annoyed by the stares that lingered on Xie Qinglan at the banquet, and even more annoyed that Xie Qinglan had spent the entire evening socializing with others.

Now, only the two of them remained. He walked slowly beside Xie Qinglan. A night breeze, carrying the fragrance of crabapple blossoms, blew from the end of the palace path, causing their sleeves to flutter lightly.

Xie Qinglan walked quietly. He was usually quiet, but his quietness was different this time—his steps were slower than usual, and his shoulders were slightly relaxed, not as straight as they were usually.

Xiao Jingyuan turned his head to look at him. In the moonlight, the lines of his profile were softer than usual, and even the half-withered crabapple by his temple added a touch of languid charm.

He thought Xie Qinglan was just tired. After all, she had stayed up very late last night and had been entertaining clients for most of the night.

He reached out to take Xie Qinglan's hand. Xie Qinglan didn't struggle, obediently letting him hold her hand, her fingertips unconsciously hooking around his palm.

Xiao Jingyuan's heart skipped a beat. He felt that Xie Qinglan was unusually well-behaved tonight.

Back at Tingxue Pavilion, Xie Qinglan pushed open the courtyard gate and saw the crabapple trees blooming quietly in the moonlight. Standing beneath one of the crabapple trees, she suddenly called out:

"Xiao Jingyuan".

Xiao Jingyuan turned his head sharply. Xie Qinglan rarely called him by his given name. Usually, she would either use the distant "Your Majesty" or omit the title altogether.

The moonlight was soft and gentle, and his voice softened, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor at the end, as if he were calling out to someone very close. Xiao Jingyuan's heart skipped a beat.

"I want to dance with you using swords."

Before he finished speaking, he raised his hand and drew the sword from Xiao Jingyuan's waist. The long sword was drawn, its clear sound piercing the night silence. Xie Qinglan took two steps back, gripping the hilt, and stumbled, but then regained her footing.

He usually wielded his sword with the steadfastness of a pine tree, his swordplay sharp and swift as frost. But now, slightly drunk, his movements were a beat slower, tinged with a languid nonchalance. The tip of his sword sliced ​​through the air, sending up a few swirling begonia petals.

Xiao Jingyuan smiled helplessly, took "Gui Lan" from the hall, and went to meet him. He deliberately held back his strength, his sword moves were extremely slow, he only defended and did not attack, as if he was playing with a child.

Under the moonlight, two figures moved among the crabapple blossoms. The silvery light of the sword intertwined with the pink and white petals, making it impossible to tell whether the sword was tainted by the fragrance of the flowers or the flowers were imbued with the aura of the sword.

Xie Qinglan's swordplay slowed, and her steps became unsteady. She lost her footing in a turn and crashed straight into Xiao Jingyuan's arms.

Xiao Jingyuan immediately discarded his sword, opened his arms to catch him, and wrapped his arms around his waist, locking him firmly in his embrace. The long sword clattered to the ground, startling the night birds perched on the branches.

"Xiao Jingyuan." Xie Qinglan tilted her head back, her nose brushing against his chin, her eyes hazy as if veiled in mist, "You're like a dog."