TRM Chapter 13

Qiao Guanxing was enveloped in a warm embrace. Although the mint leaves had withered, he could still smell the faint fragrance on Zhou Jingyuan.

Whether it was because of Zhou Jingyuan’s words or the scent, his mind was in chaos. His heart pounded in his chest, and with his face flushed, he stammered, unable to say anything.

The two remained in the embrace for a while. Zhou Jingyuan understood that Qiao Guanxing needed time to think and didn’t force him. Instead, he adjusted the cloak’s tie and took his hand again.

“Let’s go back.”

The damp and cold mist hit their faces as distant pavilions were swallowed by the overwhelming white fog. Zhou Jingyuan dismissed the attendants and took the lantern himself.

Neither of them spoke as they quietly walked toward the Eastern Palace.

The thick fog seemed to cover their flushed cheeks, their tightly held hands, their rapid heartbeats, and uneven breathing.

In the world between them, there was only mutual understanding.

The small, often unnoticed details from before now surrounded them with the mist. As Qiao Guanxing felt the warmth from Zhou Jingyuan’s hand, his thoughts became clearer.

He realized—it was the same.

He and Zhou Jingyuan were the same.

When Qiao Guanxing was nervous, his palms would sweat slightly. By the time they returned to the Eastern Palace, Zhou Jingyuan’s hand had inevitably become wet as well.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Qiao Guanxing took out a handkerchief, lowered his head, and mumbled, “Let me wipe it for you.”

Zhou Jingyuan obligingly held his hand out, watching as Qiao Guanxing wiped his hand and then wiped his own.

Afterwards, the crown prince pressed his lips together and suddenly took the handkerchief, walking toward the inner hall with it.

“Your Highness?” Qiao Guanxing was confused. “What are you doing? It’s already dirty.”

“It’s not dirty.”

“I want to keep it.”

A small box hidden in the dark corner of the inner hall was brought out. Inside, it wasn’t filled with rare treasures or ancient books, but with things that had been carefully placed by him: a withered mint plant, a dirty sheet of rice paper stained with ink and scribbled with the words “Zhou Jingyuan,” a half-used piece of charcoal… and now, an old handkerchief folded into a small square.

Qiao Guanxing froze. He instinctively turned to look at the person who had collected these odd bits and pieces, but Zhou Jingyuan awkwardly turned his head, only the tips of his ears turning pink.

From the moment Qiao Guanxing had heard Zhou Jingyuan’s confession, his heart had felt like it was floating in an unreal deep space—happy, but confused and lost. But seeing these trinkets, it was as though he had been hit with a spell, and that unstable heart suddenly felt solid and grounded.

Zhou Jingyuan was the crown prince of The Great Zhou, but in front of Qiao Guanxing, he was just Zhou Jingyuan.

He was one among the countless people in the world, yet he could present a sincere and pure heart.

“Your Highness…”

Qiao Guanxing held Zhou Jingyuan’s hand, walked in front of him, and nuzzled into his chest, changing his address, “Mianmian.”

Zhou Jingyuan responded and touched his reddened eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“You don’t have to beg me.”

Qiao Guanxing spoke seriously, raising his head to meet his eyes. He repeated, “I like you too. So no matter what, I’ll agree. You don’t have to beg me.”

Not long after, the ailing Emperor of The Great Zhou passed away.

Zhou Jingyuan did not shed a single tear.

The young new emperor ascended the throne and quickly implemented reforms. Temples and Daoist monasteries that occupied agricultural lands were demolished and rebuilt. The people in the Immortal Garden were also investigated, with those deserving execution being executed, and those who should be imprisoned were imprisoned.

Those who hadn’t done anything too wrong were expelled from the palace.

For a time, only the Astrology Tower remained in the garden.

They stood at the top of the tower, looking out just as they had when they first met.

The weather had turned cold, and the sunlight pierced through the clouds, scattering off tiny ice crystals. The layers of clouds displayed a beautiful glow from within.

“Rainbow halo.”

Zhou Jingyuan glanced at it, then turned to look at Qiao Guanxing. “The court ministers think this might indicate war, and they want me to write a self-blame edict to offer to Heaven.”

He smiled nonchalantly and then asked, “What about you? Do you believe it?”

Qiao Guanxing shook his head. “This is a halo.”

He then seriously explained the principle to the young emperor.

The cold wind stirred the curtains atop the tower. Zhou Jingyuan warmed Qiao Guanxing’s hands, his thoughts seemingly drifting.

“The world’s phenomena, examining principles, observing changes, are not matters of fate or divine beings.”

The garden was never burned to the ground but was instead renovated.

By spring, over a hundred scholars had gathered here, all with aspirations in this field.

Qiao Guanxing became busy. Everything had just begun, and he had a lot to do. He spent his days at the Astrology Tower, discussing and researching with everyone, or attempting to make instruments. He barely exchanged a few words with Zhou Jingyuan each day.

Zhou Jingyuan had no solution to this.

This afternoon, a few old ministers had pressed him, saying that with the position of Empress vacant, he needed to decide on an empress as soon as possible. That way, once his mourning period ended, he could prepare for a grand wedding.

He nodded in agreement, but at the same time, his head ached.

You think he didn’t want to?

His empress was busier than he was.

But even so, Zhou Jingyuan never complained. Whenever he had time, he would stay by Qiao Guanxing’s side and help out with small things.

Even when he was upset, he would only occasionally show it when Qiao Guanxing was recording data from the books. He would deliberately flip the pages faster or slower, as if to express his displeasure.

In these situations, Qiao Guanxing never got angry. After finishing the last few strokes, he put down the charcoal and smiled as he hugged him, “Mianmian.”

Perhaps knowing that he had been neglecting Zhou Jingyuan recently, Qiao Guanxing decisively closed the book, washed his hands, and pulled Zhou Jingyuan outside for a walk in the breeze.

In the courtyard of the Astrology Tower, the patch of mint had started to sprout again, tender and fresh, exuding a faint fragrance.

The two of them held hands, walking aimlessly through the Immortal Garden. Several flower trees gently swayed in the night wind, and the pink-white petals fluttered down, covering their shoulders.

Nearby, the stream gurgled softly, and the insects, newly awakened after the first stirrings of spring, chirped and hopped about.

The spring night was gentle, with bright moonlight, the flowers full, and the moon full as well.

Zhou Jingyuan adjusted his hand-holding position and seriously intertwined his fingers with Qiao Guanxing’s.

Even though they had done this countless times, every time, he would still blush.

The sky above them glittered with stars. He shook Qiao Guanxing’s hand and suddenly asked, “Before, you said that it wasn’t the right time for me to select a crown princess.”

“Then please,can Master Qiao take a look? If we are to choose a consort now, what does the heavenly omen say?”

Qiao Guanxing smiled, his eyes filled with the clear moonlight. He felt a bit shy, but since Zhou Jingyuan had asked several times and seemed on the verge of being upset if he didn’t answer, Qiao Guanxing relented.

“Alright, alright.”

Qiao Guanxing was quite susceptible to this kind of behavior. He patted Zhou Jingyuan’s head like he would with Lord Ning.

“The heaven says… now is most suitable.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhou Jingyuan was finally satisfied. He tightly pulled Qiao Guanxing into his arms, smiling as he repeated,

“It is most suitable.”

His voice rang in Qiao Guanxing’s ears, blending with the sound of the spring water flowing and the insects chirping, with the silent falling flowers as a backdrop.

“Mianmian and you, a match made in heaven.”

————End————