Extra (iii)
Edited: 01.17.2024
In mid-Spring, the young masters of Chang’an aristocratic families met for a horseback riding excursion.
This group of playboys had always been uneducated, let alone understand how to do anything elegant. Although they said it was an excursion, the reality was that they just wanted a change of scenery to continue drinking and having fun.
The young masters of the aristocratic family and their entourage set off from Chang’an on horseback early in the morning. When it was approaching afternoon, they arrived at a beautiful mountain stream. The entourage set up a table by the water and everyone dismounted.
In the pleasant atmosphere, only one person rode to the end on horseback with a cold expression, as if he was rejecting the others from thousands of miles away. There was a peach forest near the river. Gu Yan walked into the peach forest as his eyes swept to the crowd not far away and the color of contempt in his eyes deepened.
“Your Highness, what are you thinking about?” A voice rang out from behind him, calling back Gu Yan from his thoughts.
Gu Yan turned his head and looked over. The boy who called him was dressed in dark clothes. He was only sixteen or seventeen years old. His hair was simply tied back with a black headband and there was a little smile in his eyes.
“Nothing.” Gu Yan replied indifferently.
“How is this nothing to you?” The young man said, “Everyone else is happy when they come out to play. If Your Highness keeps doing this, I’m afraid it will spoil everyone’s fun.”
Gu Yan retracted his gaze: “If you hadn’t begged me so much, I wouldn’t have bothered coming here. It’s boring.”
“Your Highness is always locked up in the palace and has few friends to talk to. I believe it’s good to be able to socialize with the various young masters from aristocratic families, so why is Your Highness being like this?” The young man pondered for a moment before adding: “Besides……I have been staying in the palace for a long time as well so I’m also bored. Didn’t we agree that Your Highness will accompany me today for some fun?”
As the young man said this, he raised his hand and picked off a peach blossom from the branch and handed it to Gu Yan, “Your Highness, this is for you. Don’t be unhappy.”
“Huaiyuan.” Gu Yan didn’t reach out to take it. He simply raised his eyes to look at him and said coldly, “Don’t use your method of coaxing girls on me.”
After he dropped these words, he steered his horse toward the front.
The young man who was left behind looked at the peach blossom in his hand and muttered in a low voice: “I never use these to coax girls……”
Gu Yan steered his horse to the river and soon someone called him over. Gu Yan got off his horse and sat down on the riverbank with the person who called him.
The host this time was Zhong He, the young master of the Marquis Ding’an family
Zhong He was a few years older than Gu Yan. He called for wine to be brought to him as everyone raised their glasses and drank freely.
Gu Yan, however, had no interest. He raised his eyes and looked into the distance. Huaiyuan led the horses they had just ridden to the river for some water.
Huaiyuan’s back was turned to him and he bent slightly to stroke the horse’s mane. The dark tight sash wrapped around him made him taller. His legs were long and his waist was slender, seemingly slender enough to be embraced with one arm.
As if sensing that someone was looking at him, Huaiyuan straightened up and turned his head, looking in Gu Yan’s direction for a moment.
When he caught Gu Yan’s gaze, Huaiyuan curved the corners of his mouth, revealing a shallow smile.
Gu Yan realized what he was looking at and his face flushed with heat. He quickly lowered his head in embarrassment and took a sip from the wine cup in front of him. The wine was extremely strong and the spicy taste rushed into his throat. Gu Yan choked hard and coughed.
After a while, one hand touched his back and patted it gently a few times while the other hand brought a glass of warm water to his mouth.
Gu Yan drank from that person’s hand before he finally stopped coughing.
Gu Yan raised his head and happened to meet Huaiyuan’s worried gaze: “Are you alright, Your Highness?”
Gu Yan coughed and nearly choked again. His face turned red and he turned his head without daring to look at him.
“Are you alright, Zicheng?” Little Marquis Zhong He sat across from Gu Yan and spoke with concern.
Seeing that Gu Yan was fine, Zhong He smiled: “This wine was imported from the Western Regions and is very strong so Zicheng shouldn’t drink it too quickly.”
Gu Yan nodded and didn’t reply.
Zhong He lingered for a moment on Huaiyuan, then withdrew his gaze and continued talking to the people next to him. Huaiyuan knelt down next to Gu Yan, took out a handkerchief, and wiped Gu Yan’s face. Gu Yan turned his head to avoid it and whispered: “I will do it myself, you don’t have to do this.”
After saying this and without waiting for Huaiyuan’s reaction, Gu Yan directly grabbed the silk handkerchief from his hand and wiped his own face.
Huaiyuan raised his eyes to look at him with a hint of gloom in his eyes. He lowered his head and sat quietly aside, saying nothing more.
Gu Yan didn’t like to bring too many attendants with him when traveling, so he only had Huaiyuan by his side all year round. Although Huaiyuan followed Gu Yan on the order of the late Emperor and went everywhere with him, he always regarded himself as a subordinate and never overstepped his status.
But the more he did so, the more unhappy Gu Yan became.
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The joy and hatred he felt when he was a youth were extremely inexplicable and Gu Yan couldn’t tell what kind of feelings he had for Huaiyuan. He only knew that the feeling of caring and losing control was something he didn’t want to experience.
Therefore, he could only use his nonchalant attitude towards that person to cover up certain real emotions.
Everyone drank and chatted by the river for a while. Some went hunting in the mountains together and some brought dancers to perform. The banquet was very lively, but the places where Gu Yan and Huaiyuan were sitting were relatively deserted.
Suddenly, someone walked over beside them. Gu Yan raised his eyes and saw that it was Zhong He.
Zhong He placed a jar of wine on the table in front of Gu Yan and said with a smile: “Zicheng, this wine is not as strong as the previous one, but the taste is clean and mellow with a long aftertaste. Give it a try, and if you like it, I’ll personally send a few jars to your residence tomorrow.”
He bent down to help Gu Yan pour the wine.
Gu Yan looked calm and faintly said: “Thank you.”
“What’s there to thank for? It’s my honor that Prince Rui was willing to come out with us.” Zhong He said half-jokingly as he handed the wine cup to him.
Gu Yan didn’t say much to him. He took the wine cup and drank it together with Zhong He.
Zhong He observed Gu Yan’s expression and asked: “How is it?”
Gu Yan said: “It’s indeed good.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Zhong He said, “When we get back, I’ll have someone send some to you.”
Gu Yan responded without saying anything more.
After Zhong He finished delivering the wine, he had no intention of leaving. He turned to look at Huaiyuan, who was beside Gu Yan: “Mr. Huaiyuan, would you like a cup?”
Huaiyuan was sitting there, lost in thought. When his name was suddenly called, he was stunned for a moment and shook his head: “Thank you, Little Marquis, for your kindness, but this subordinate doesn’t drink.”
Zhong He, however, refused to stop and said with great hospitality: “This wine is not intoxicating. Mr. Huaiyuan, please give me some face and give it a try?”
Gu Yan frowned without any trace, feeling a little unhappy in his heart.
Huaiyuan looked at Gu Yan with difficulty, but the latter just sat quietly in place, with no intention of helping him out. Huaiyuan’s lips pursed lightly and he could only take the cup in Zhong He’s hand, lifting it up to take a small sip.
However, even the mildest wine was a bit too spicy for him. Huaiyuan frowned and his eyes turned red due to the flavor of wine.
Seeing his reaction, Zhong He quickly grabbed Huaiyuan’s wrist and dissuaded him: “Okay, okay, if you really don’t know how to drink, don’t force yourself. It’s like I’m bullying you.”
Huaiyuan broke away from Zhong He’s hand without any trace, put the wine cup back on the table, and apologized: “Sorry Little Marquis, this subordinate really can’t drink, so I won’t spoil your fun.”
“What’s wrong with that, no need to be concerned.” Zhong He thought for a moment and then added, “I still have some tea leaves at my residence. They are new teas that just arrived this year. I will send them together with the wine tomorrow for Mr. Huaiyuan to taste.”
The other party showed such earnestness that Huaiyuan could not refuse, and could only say: “Thank you, Little Marquis.”
Zhong He wanted to say something else, but Gu Yan suddenly spoke: “Huaiyuan.”
Huaiyuan responded: “Your Highness?”
Gu Yan narrowed his eyes and commanded: “When I came here, I saw a meadow not far away. You can take the two horses there to feed them and let them relax.”
Zhong He’s face changed slightly and he said in a low voice: “Zicheng, just leave that to the servants, there’s no need to——”
Gu Yan interrupted: “Shouldn’t he help me with that?”
Huaiyuan’s eyes moved slightly as he stared blankly at Gu Yan.
After a long while, he curved the corners of his mouth and answered softly: “Yes, Your Highness, I’ll go now.”
After speaking, Huaiyuan stood up and turned to leave.
Huaiyuan led the two horses and left the camp. Zhong He stared at the slender figure disappearing from his field of vision and sighed: “Zicheng, Zicheng, rather than cherishing such a little beauty by your side, you ask them to do this and that for you. If your heart doesn’t ache, my heart aches.”
Gu Yan’s heart inexplicably burned with anger and he took a sip of wine, “How I deal with my people is my business. There is no need for the Little Marquis to fret over it.”
Zhong He heard the dissatisfaction in Gu Yan’s tone and said nothing more, continuing to drag Gu Yan along for drinks.
After another while, Zhong He finally couldn’t hold back and spoke: “Zicheng, I want to discuss something with you.”
“You may speak, Little Marquis.”
“This Mr. Huaiyuan……” Zhong He looked a little embarrassed and deliberated: “To be honest, I have been interested in him for a long time. If Zicheng feels that he is an eyesore, how about giving him to me?”
Gu Yan frowned: “Give him to you?”
“Or if you want anything, I’ll trade with you.” Zhong He was afraid that he wouldn’t agree so he persuaded: “I know that Huaiyuan was given to you by the late Emperor, but I don’t think you like him very much. After all, he’s just a subordinate, so if you don’t like him, it wouldn’t hurt to give him to me, would it?”
Gu Yan didn’t answer for a long time. Just as Zhong He wanted to persuade him again, the latter suddenly put the wine cup on the table and said without any doubt: “Absolutely not.”
“Zicheng, are you really not going to think about it anymore?” Zhong He paused and hesitantly asked, “Or are you two……?”
Gu Yan didn’t understand what he was saying for a moment and turned to look at him doubtfully.
Huaiyuan was given to Gu Yan by the late Emperor and was indeed very good-looking. Since he went everywhere with Gu Yan, many people in Chang’an rumored that Huaiyuan was Gu Yan’s “favorite.”
Zhong He had naturally heard of this rumor and when he saw Gu Yan’s reaction, it was even more confirmed. He felt a little regretful in his heart but still said: “It doesn’t matter if that’s the case, I don’t care. Let’s do this Zicheng, I will find some more beauties for you, whatever you want, I will trade them with you. Zicheng, just promise me.”
With his words having come to this point, how could Gu Yan still not understand what he meant?
Gu Yan was so angry that all his blood surged up. He stood up suddenly and said in a cold voice: “Little Marquis will be disappointed today. My Prince Rui Manor never had a rule about sending people away. Since the Little Marquis is able to get any kind of person you want, why must you have your eyes set on someone belonging to me?”
“You——”
“There’s nothing else to say.” Gu Yan said: “It’s too noisy here, this Prince will walk around by himself so I won’t accompany you any longer.”
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After Gu Yan finished speaking, he left Zhong He, whose face turned white and red, and strode away from the river bank.
Stepping back into the peach forest, Gu Yan took in the fresh and pleasant aroma of the peach blossoms for a while before finally calming down his anger. He hadn’t been this angry for a long time, but for some reason, when he heard Zhong He say that, his anger made him almost want to fight with that person on the spot.
It was not uncommon among the officials and nobles to give each other gold and silver utensils, fine wines, and beauties, and it was not like the Prince Rui Manor had never done such a thing.
But……Huaiyuan was different.
Gu Yan took a deep breath and the hand hanging at his side tightened slightly.
But how exactly was he different? Wasn’t that man just a guard that the late Emperor had given him?
Why on earth was he so angry when he heard Zhong He described that man as an object that could be transferred and given away at will?
Gu Yan was walking around in the peach forest with his heart in turmoil when he suddenly caught a glimpse of something familiar.
He turned his head and saw two horses standing under a tree in the distance.
This peach forest was huge. He had reached the end of the peach forest and the sounds of the young masters playing by the river bank were no longer visible. Two horses were tied to a peach tree, snorting impatiently.
It was none other than the Prince Rui Manor’s horses.
Gu Yan frowned and stepped forward. Behind the two horses, a young man in black was leaning under the tree, sleeping soundly.
Gu Yan: “……”
He ordered him to herd the horses, how dare he be lazy here?
Gu Yan’s anger caused him to have a headache. He was about to wake him up, but suddenly he caught a glimpse of Huaiyuan’s abnormal expression.
The man’s face was abnormally red and there was some moisture at the end of his eyes. Even in his sleep, he was still frowning, as if he wasn’t sleeping well. Gu Yan squatted beside him and watched for a while before coming to a conclusion.
——It must be from the alcohol.
He knew that Huaiyuan couldn’t drink, but he didn’t expect that the man couldn’t even hold even the tiniest amount.
It was just a small sip, was it really that bad?
The fire in Gu Yan’s heart suddenly subsided and he patiently and softly called out: “Huaiyuan, don’t sleep here, you’ll catch a cold.”
Huaiyuan murmured softly but didn’t answer.
The wind blew occasionally in the mountains, but it wasn’t Summer yet. Although it was cool in the mountains, for those who were drunk, it would feel even colder. Huaiyuan unconsciously crossed his arms and hugged himself tighter, making his figure look even thinner.
If a drunk person was exposed to the wind, it would definitely be more difficult for them to wake up. Gu Yan looked down at him for a while and expressionlessly took off his cloak to put it on the other party.
After finishing, Gu Yan hesitated for a moment. He stretched out his hand to straighten the cloak and wrapped the person in it so that no gaps could be seen through.
He himself didn’t even notice that his movements at the moment were unprecedentedly gentle and meticulous.
After doing this, Gu Yan sat down beside Huaiyuan. As if sensing a warm thing approaching beside him, Huaiyuan moved in his direction without warning, tilted his head, and leaned on Gu Yan’s shoulder.
“You——” Gu Yan had rarely been this close to anyone and for a moment, he didn’t know whether to push him away or let him lean on him.
But the man didn’t seem to notice at all and after leaning on Gu Yan’s shoulder, he nuzzled against him affectionately. Gu Yan retreated without leaving a trace, but as soon as he retreated, Huaiyuan lost his pillar of support. With a dissatisfied murmur, he continued to chase forward and in the end, he simply laid his entire body on Gu Yan’s lap.
Gu Yan lowered his head and Huaiyuan’s head rested on his thigh, facing up, sleeping quietly and obediently. His slender eyelashes trembled slightly and his plump lips were slightly opened, vaguely revealing his white teeth and a little pink tip of his tongue even deeper inside.
Gu Yan’s breathing suddenly became heavier.
Almost at the same time, he felt a stream of heat reaching his lower abdomen.
Gu Yan was so stiff that he didn’t even know where to put his hands.
It was impossible for a teenage boy to be unaware of the changes that had taken place in him. But knowing it was one thing and actually encountering it was another. Gu Yan was used to focusing on studying and practicing martial arts. He had never cared about matters related to lust and thus had never reacted like this.
Who would have thought that this first time would happen in this situation?
Gu Yan had the heart to push the person away, but he was afraid that if he woke the person up, he would realize what had happened. His body was frozen as a stone slab, not daring to move, and he sat stiffly under the peach tree, cradling the sleeping teenager in his arms.
The other party seemed to like the feeling of being held in Gu Yan’s arms and drilled deeper into Gu Yan’s embrace, causing Gu Yan to hold him a little tighter. However, Huaiyuan seemed to be oblivious to what was happening and after lying in Gu Yan’s arms, his brows were no longer furrowed and he seemed to be sleeping more peacefully.
Gu Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
But after the nervousness passed, certain other thoughts began to emerge uncontrollably.
Because he was worried that Huaiyuan would fall from him, Gu Yan reached out and hugged him lightly. Huaiyuan had a slender figure and looked particularly petite and fragile when sleeping peacefully. His hand rested on Huaiyuan’s waist through the cloak, tightening slightly, and it actually felt like he was completely holding the person in his arms.
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There was not much meat on his body, but he didn’t feel uncomfortable to hold, instead, he felt soft and moderate.
Gu Yan lowered his head, staring blankly at the familiar face, and certain emotions began to grow uncontrollably in his heart.
He suddenly remembered the rumors in the city, those rumors said that this person was his “favorite.”
In fact, if Gu Yan wanted that, Huaiyuan simply couldn’t refuse.
Where exactly Huaiyuan came from, Gu Yan wasn’t sure, but since this person was given to him by the late Emperor, it meant that everything about this person belonged to Gu Yan.
Naturally, his body included.
This knowledge made Gu Yan’s heart flutter even more. He lowered his head in a strange way and took those warm lips into his mouth.
A softer touch than expected caused Gu Yan to indulge in it at once and he gently licked those lips. After he had tasted enough, he couldn’t help but pry open the other party’s lips and teeth with the tip of his tongue and tentatively probed into it.
Gu Yan’s breathing gradually became heavier. He stretched out his hand to slightly lift the back of Huaiyuan’s head, and without any explanation, he drove straight in and plundered his mouth wantonly.
It wasn’t until Huaiyuan whimpered impatiently that Gu Yan came to his senses.
He raised his head sharply. The latter’s eyes were still closed, but his breathing was a little less smooth, and his face was a few shades redder than before.
When he realized what he had just done, Gu Yan’s face turned red, and his limbs were stiff as he hugged the man in his arms, not daring to move anymore. After about two hours, Huaiyuan finally woke up.
He pressed his vaguely tingling temples and slowly opened his eyes.
He knew he couldn’t drink, so he never drank. Although he only took a small sip today, he soon felt dizzy. He endured the discomfort and went to herd the horses, but before he could get out of the peach forest, his headache took full control of him. He casually tied the horses to a tree, leaned under the tree, and fell asleep.
Huaiyuan opened his eyes and looked up to see Gu Yan’s face close at hand.
He immediately woke up from the fright. He shouted in shock, rolled out of the other party’s arms, and fell to his knees: “Forgive me, Your Highness. This subordinate…….this subordinate was just drunk. I didn’t mean to…… “
“No worries.” Gu Yan stood up holding the cloak. He put on the cloak with his back to Huaiyuan and faintly said, “Don’t drink if you can’t drink, it delays things.”
“……Yes.”
On the way back, Gu Yan wrapped his cloak tightly so that no wind could get through. Huaiyuan wanted to ask several times, but he didn’t dare to. He touched his lips subconsciously and there was still a slight discomfort around his mouth, which was also slightly red and swollen.
Huaiyuan couldn’t understand, it was hard to believe that drinking alcohol could cause such side effects.
But since that day, Gu Yan’s attitude towards him had become a lot better.
……
Gu Yan opened his eyes and the person in his arms was sleeping soundly.
The Emperor’s Imperial bed wasn’t small but Ye Zi just left most of the bed on his side unslept. He had to curl up into a ball, wishing that he could be stuffed into Gu Yan’s arms.
It turned out that this habit had been like this since his previous life.
Thinking of what he recalled in his dream, Gu Yan couldn’t help but curl up the corners of his mouth. Back then, he didn’t know anything about love and his character was even more upright. Even in the peach blossom forest, he endured the physical reaction and didn’t dare to take any advantage except for the original kiss, letting the man sleep in his arms for several hours.
Now it wasn’t so.
Gu Yan looked out the window and saw that it was almost time. He lowered his head and pressed a kiss on Ye Zi’s lips. The boy in his arms groaned unbearably and was woken up by his forceful kiss.
“What are you doing?……” Ye Zi’s voice was still a little muffled and permeated with a weariness that was not difficult to detect.
Gu Yan pressed against his ear and whispered: “It’s time to get up.”
Ye Zi muttered and rested in Gu Yan’s arms, no longer speaking. Gu Yan kissed and hugged him again. After tossing and turning for another incense stick of time, Ye Zi reluctantly sat up.
He rubbed his eyes and allowed Gu Yan to help him dress: “Zicheng, I had a dream last night.”
Gu Yan said: “Hmm?”
“I dreamt about the past.” Ye Zi tilted his head to think, “I dreamt that we went on an outing, you were so mean to me back then and you even made me go and herd horses for you.”
Gu Yan paused and asked: “What else did you dream about?”
Ye Zi thought for a moment: “I seemed to have been drinking, then sought a place to sleep, and when I woke up, I was lying in your arms.”
He held his chin and thought back before giggling foolishly a little and said with some regret: “What a pity, why didn’t I take advantage of you at that time? Gu Zicheng, who had just turned sixteen, was fresh and tender, and still couldn’t beat me, what a great opportunity.”
Gu Yan laughed and shook his head, reaching out to touch his lips.
This fool was destined to be taken advantage of.
☽ ⋆ℍalf 𝕄oon 𝕋ranslations⋆ ☾ 
Some more fragments about their past lives!
Thank You for the new chapter (♡´౪`♡)
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Aww.lol Ye Zhi just be taken advantage of and help counting money!lol thank you
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