The residence was large, but there was only one master bedroom. At night, Xin Yi looked at the alcove bed, feeling troubled. He asked Bai Jiu, perplexed, “Is this the only room with a bed?”

“The others haven't been renovated yet, so they're uninhabitable,” Bai Jiu said, taking off his outer robe, preparing to bathe in the inner room off to the side. He glanced up and saw Xin Yi was so troubled he was almost biting his fingertips. He smiled and said, “Though I am handsome, I still ask Young Master to show mercy tonight.”

Xin Yi's face flushed. “Decent people don't mess around.”

“That's true,” Bai Jiu said, pulling off his belt. He was already by the screen in the inner room, not forgetting to instruct Xin Yi, “Wipe your hair dry before getting into bed.”

Xin Yi assented and, after wiping his hair mostly dry, tumbled into the bedding and rolled around once. The alcove bed was truly enormous; with its surrounding screens and drawn curtains, it formed an enclosed room-within-a-room space. Two pillows were placed side by side on the mattress. Xin Yi looked at them and hugged one to his chest. The thought of Bai Jiu sleeping on one of them made his face feel hot.

When Bai Jiu emerged, he heard no movement from inside the curtains and thought Xin Yi had already fallen asleep. When he lifted the curtain and entered, he saw Xin Yi hugging the pillow and rolling back and forth. He made a mental note to have the beds in his own manor replaced with alcove beds, just so Xin Yi could roll around freely. As this thought crossed his mind, his hand already touched Xin Yi's hair. Xin Yi showed him his dimples and said, “It dried a long time ago.”

Bai Jiu leaned down and pecked his forehead. “A reward.”

Xin Yi's face reddened. He put the pillow back and made space for Bai Jiu. Bai Jiu blew out the lamp at the head of the bed and got under the covers. He noticed Xin Yi was pressed against the inner side, too well-behaved to move. He turned to him and said, “Come here.”

Xin Yi's heart was pounding frantically, unable to settle. He blinked several times in the darkness before moving closer. Bai Jiu felt his hand, which was slightly sweaty, and couldn't help but chuckle softly. Xin Yi, whose hand was being held, heard Bai Jiu's laughter, and the tips of his ears felt faintly hot. He said, “...It's my first time sleeping with an outsider, it's, it's inevitable to sweat a little.”

The two were close. Bai Jiu could feel Xin Yi's body was like a small furnace. He squeezed his fingertips and said softly and gently, “Did you share a bed with your brothers before?”

Xin Yi gave a soft hum. He felt that when Bai Jiu lowered his voice, the two of them were like telling secrets hidden under the covers. He also replied in a low voice, “For the first few years, I always slept with my brothers.” He then added with lingering fear, “Third Brother loved to kick people.”

Bai Jiu said, “That's good.”

“Hm?”

“I don't kick people.”

“Hm...” Xin Yi found Bai Jiu's indistinct outline in the darkness and quietly leaned his face closer, wanting to get even closer. He whispered, “That's really good.”

How could Bai Jiu not know? He simply pulled him into his embrace and immediately felt his own back break out in a sweat. Xin Yi, however, only felt that the inner garments were unbelievably thin. With the two of them pressed together like this, and then soaked with sweat, there was hardly anything separating them. Thinking this, his face uncontrollably turned crimson, and he stammered.

“Hot...”

“That's because you're young and vigorous,” Bai Jiu chuckled. “I'm older, I can't stand the cold.”

Before he even finished speaking, Xin Yi had already reached out and hugged his waist, mumbling into his chest, “I'm hot... if you hold me, you won't be cold.”

Bai Jiu was already sweating. He held him tighter. “Thank you for the consideration, to keep me warm for one night.” He then smiled. “Perhaps.”

“Perhaps?”

“One night is too short; I'll still be cold next time.”

Xin Yi understood what he meant and suddenly buried his face. Bai Jiu ruffled his hair, only saying, “Go to sleep.”

Xin Yi's tension and shyness gradually dissipated with Bai Jiu's rhythmic patting on his back, turning into a sense of security and drowsiness. He was gently patted and coaxed to sleep just like that. He fell asleep quickly, but it was much harder for Bai Jiu. With the two of them pressed close, even without youthful vigor, one would still be stirred.

He remained awake until the latter half of the night, but his mood was excellent.

The next day, when Xin Yi woke up, he felt as if his entire body had been soaked in water. Bai Jiu's hand hadn't let go of him once. He let out a sleepy sigh and said in a hoarse voice, “...I'm all sweaty.”

Bai Jiu chuckled, “Go take a bath.”

Xin Yi groggily felt his way off the bed. Hot water had already been prepared in there early in the morning, which must have been Bai Jiu's instruction. The water was still a bit hot when Xin Yi stepped in. After bathing, he was fully awake. He changed clothes, and breakfast was already on the table. He saw that Bai Jiu also looked like he had just finished washing, presumably in another room.

Although they had come up the mountain, state affairs still needed attention. Even before getting up, documents had been delivered to the residence, so Bai Jiu couldn't relax. If Xin Yi was tired, he would nap on the couch beside Bai Jiu. If not, he would take Chichi and wander all over the mountain, which was always more relaxing than being in the capital.

While wandering, he again encountered Xiao Jin squatting in a tree. Chichi, catching an unfamiliar scent, barked incessantly around the tree. Xiao Jin, surprisingly afraid of dogs, wouldn't come down from the tree and gave Xin Yi a wry smile.

“Could you please take this fellow far away? It doesn't look good for a third-rank Capital Guard like me to always be hanging in a tree, Young Master.”

Xin Yi smiled slightly, letting Chichi look up at him and excitedly whimper-bark softly.

“No, no,” Xiao Jin raised his hand innocently. “I'm squatting here because I wanted to see you. After seeing you, I'll have something to report when I meet Third Sister at the end of the year. For the sake of our families' long-standing friendship, could you tell it to move aside?” He then slapped his head as if suddenly remembering. “Say something, Young Master, I know you can talk.”

“You know quite a bit,” Xin Yi smiled, called Chichi back, and asked him, “Now that you've seen me, is there anything else?” 'Would he wait here if there was nothing?'

Xiao Jin slid down from the tree like a monkey, stumbled a bit when he landed, and quickly raised his hand. “No problem! My martial arts are excellent; I'm just a bit numb from squatting too long.”

'Would the Marquis of Huiyang jump out of his grave if he knew his only young son had such a personality?' Xin Yi just smiled and asked again, “What is it?”

“It's nothing really...” Seeing him turn to leave, Xiao Jin quickly called out, “Third Sister told me to watch over you, and not let anyone bully you, especially, especially the Prince of Pingding.”

“Xiao Yan?” Xin Yi stopped and said to him, “Then send her a message. I'm doing quite well, and the Prince of Pingding is also doing quite well.”

“You can't say that,” Xiao Jin said, easing his numbness. He circled around Xin Yi, wanting to get closer but also afraid of Chichi, who was wagging its tail incessantly, making him look silly as he hopped around.

Xin Yi felt that not only would the Marquis of Huiyang rise, but perhaps the Capital Guards of the entire city would also rise. 'Look at this newly appointed Commander-in-chief—why does he look so silly? Without speaking, he had the noble air of a distinguished family, but once he opened his mouth, he was just a little fool new to the capital.' Xin Yi couldn't help but ask him, “If what I say doesn't count, then whose does?”

“Mine, of course,” Xiao Jin replied as a matter of course. He then remembered something, his expression changed repeatedly, and he swallowed his words several times. He moved closer hesitantly and whispered, “Is the Prince of Pingding forcing you to do something?”

“Not really,” Xin Yi suppressed a laugh.

Xiao Jin grew anxious. “Tell me the truth! Even though I just arrived in the capital, all I've heard along the way is Bai Jiu's reputation as the King of Hell. After seeing you two yesterday... if he's forcing you, you have to tell me.”

“What good would telling you do?” Xin Yi asked, puzzled.

“I'll beat him up for you,” Xiao Jin gestured with his fist. “I'm good at martial arts.”

“...Goodbye.”

Xin Yi took a step to leave. Xiao Jin exclaimed and immediately followed, chattering incessantly, “What exactly is going on with you two? Did he really force you?! Don't be polite with me. Even though we didn't end up becoming in-laws, the sentiment is still there. Look, my Third Sister still isn't married, no, wait, she still says she's married to your Third Brother Xin Li, and is your Xin family's daughter-in-law. So, shouldn't we be brothers?”

“Did your Old Madam agree?” Xin Yi felt a pang of discomfort hearing about Xiao Yan's situation. He stopped and asked, “Aren't you picking some options for Sister Yan?”

“Of course, she agreed,” Xiao Jin said seriously, with an air of certainty. “Third Sister and Xin Li truly had an engagement.”

“I know, but they never had a wedding ceremony, so there's no need... no need for her to remain a widow for my Third Brother.” This sentence was difficult to say. Xin Yi squeezed his fingertips, actually feeling a little longing for Bai Jiu.

“They did have a ceremony,” Xiao Jin said, looking as if he couldn't believe Xin Yi didn't know. “The second month after Xin Li was brought back, Third Sister had a ceremony with his memorial tablet. At first, the Old Madam absolutely refused, but Third Sister was determined to be with your Third Brother. She said that having such a ceremony and entering the family, they would be half-husband and wife, and your Third Brother wouldn't dare not wait for her down below.”

Xin Yi stood stunned, his heart a mix of emotions.

“It's not your fault you don't know,” Xiao Jin scratched his hair. “You were under the Prince of Ping's control, and we were suppressed in the capital. It wasn't easy for any of us. Now Third Sister has finally made her mark in Qingping, and you're back from the Prince of Ping's side. Naturally, we need to support you, lest someone in the capital dares to bully you without knowing any better.” With an "aiya," he circled back to Bai Jiu, asking Xin Yi, “I'm not afraid of anything else; I only ask you, is the Prince of Pingding using this residence to force you into something?”

“The residence?” Xin Yi asked him, “What about the residence?”

“We had no travel money when we left the capital,” Xiao Jin said very frankly. “The Prince of Pingding took this residence and let our family travel unimpeded to Qingping.”

Xin Yi's chest tightened. What he had heard from Old Qu yesterday came flooding back to his mind. He asked, “Is Lord Bai Jiu an old acquaintance of the Xiao family?”

“Of course not,” Xiao Jin snapped a maple branch and played with it in his hand, his expression becoming somewhat serious. He said, “I was going to ask if your family has any old ties with the Prince of Pingding. If so, then it makes sense. If not...” He paused, then looked up at Xin Yi. “Well, is there or isn't there?”

'No... there isn't, right?'

'Given Bai Jiu's personality, he would never meddle in others' affairs. Yet, whether it was helping the Xiao family or bringing him back to the capital, neither seemed like a spur-of-the-moment decision. But no matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn't recall ever hearing of Bai Jiu at home before.'

“If not,” Xiao Jin scratched his hair irritably again. “If not, then why? I couldn't figure it out before, but after seeing how intimate you two were yesterday, I seemed to understand some of the reasons, but the timing doesn't match up. Bai Jiu entered the capital in the 51st year, how old were you then? He couldn't possibly be so deranged...”

“The 51st year?” Xin Yi's heart pounded rapidly. He subtly frowned. 'No, Lord Bai Jiu clearly said the 47th year yesterday... how did it become the 51st year?'

“The major embezzlement case in Shanyin in the 51st year was uncovered by him. At that time, no one in the capital knew his name; they all said he was His Majesty's trusted Brocade Uniform Guards. This case made the Prince of Ping suffer a silent loss, costing him a major general in his command. It was only then that he made a name for himself in court.” Xiao Jin saw his expression was off and couldn't help but ask, “Could he be an old acquaintance of your brother?”

Xin Yi did not answer.

Xiao Jin said, “You still haven't said whether he forced you or not!”

“No, never.”

“Then what about you and him—”

“We got together,” Xin Yi said, using the phrase he had just learned yesterday, enunciating it clearly to Xiao Jin, “We got together.”

Xiao Jin's expression of shock and admiration was even sillier than Chichi's. For a moment, he even forgot Chichi, almost jumping as he exclaimed loudly, “My ancestor!”

Xin Yi was startled.

“You're truly an ancestor! You, you, who can you not get together with?!” He then clutched his head and spun around, muttering, “It's over, it's over, it's over. When Third Sister arrives, she'll flay me alive. Why didn't I come sooner? Why not?! Oh my heavens, how am I going to explain this? If you, you, if you got together with it, I wouldn't be this worried!” Xiao Jin stomped his foot and pointed at Chichi, “Look, isn't this better? So pitifully cute!”

Xin Yi genuinely wanted to punch him, fearing that after punching him, the kid would still be spinning around foolishly.

“If you pity it, take it.”

“Young Master, how can you say this isn't coercion?!”

Xin Yi sighed, “What if I forced him?”

“I'm being serious, what's good about him?” Xiao Jin slapped his thigh as if regretting his past actions. “This matter isn't easy to resolve. His Majesty is still watching you, and now you've gotten together with him. He's His Majesty's subject, if the capital becomes like, like it was back then, what should we do?”

“Relax,” Xin Yi's dimples swirled. He patted Xiao Jin's shoulder comfortingly. “Just tell Sister Yan frankly. If it truly doesn't work out, I'll talk to Sister Yan.”

Before Xiao Jin could reply, a corner of a robe fluttered, revealing a tall, straight figure among the red leaves. Bai Jiu brushed aside the branches and leaves. His striking brows and eyes, set against the red maple, evoked a sense of cool tranquility, yet his voice was gentle.

“Lord Xiao, what a coincidence.”