SC Chapter2

In the thirteenth year of Yong’an, the whole city of Jinling knew that Xie Yunyi liked Shen Yunjie.

The young heir of Prince Wujing of the Xie family was born into nobility and lavished with boundless favor and privileges. His father was a powerful prince, his mother was Princess Zhenyang, and he was the only son in the family. With such a background, it was difficult to find someone of equal social standing for him in Jinling.

But that cold winter, the fourteen-year-old Xie Yunyi bought Shen Yunjie from the street, where the latter was selling himself to afford his father’s funeral. From that moment on, Xie Yunyi’s heart and eyes were filled with only Shen Yunjie. In his youthful infatuation and first experience of love, he frequently committed the foolish act of booking all the pleasure boats on Bianshui Lake of Jinling City just to arrange them into a heart shape to declare his love to Shen Yunjie.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have become known throughout the city. When idle people spoke of Shen Yunjie over tea, they only said that his beauty was so lush and peerless that he had completely bewildered the young heir of Prince Wujing. Only Xie Yunyi knew how bright, graceful, and gently refined his Ah Yun truly was.

It took the young heir Xie seven years to win a nod from Shen Yunjie. He then quarreled with his family for a long time, determined to marry the person by his side. He tried a thousand methods and finally won the reluctant, out-of-sight, out-of-mind consent from Prince Wujing. Being young and ignorant of sorrow, this was the only time his heart had ever been stirred.

The Prince Mansion was wrapped in red silk and gold bells. Tomorrow would be the day of great celebration for the heir of Prince Wujing.

The night was deep while bamboo shadows were swaying in the wind. Shen Yunjie sat alone facing the candlelight with his fingers pinching a one-finger-wide slip of paper inside a small tower. As the fire touched the paper, a wisp of smoke rose and the inked words “The third quarter passed Youshi”[mfn]Youshi is from 5-7pm, so it’s anything between 5:45-7:45PM[/mfn] on the paper gradually turned to ash.

A rustling sound then came from outside the window. Shen Yunjie’s eyes darkened. He blew away the ashes in his palm and turned around only to see the small window being quietly pushed open with a head poking in from outside.

“Young Master.” Shen Yunjie’s heart trembled as he quickly rose.

“Shh…” Xie Yunyi made a shushing gesture while resting his chin on his hand and smiling: “Ah Yun, I missed you.”

As Shen Yunjie drew closer, he smelled alcohol on him: “Young Master, why are you climbing through the window instead of using the door?”

“Ah Yun, I just wanted to come and see you.” Xie Yunyi was born with a youthful, baby-like face. He still had a childlike air even though he was already an adult. When he smiled, his eyes curved like a new moon, and accompanied by the slight flush of wine on his cheeks, he had a certain innocence, as if unaware of the ways of the world.

Shen Yunjie’s eyes softened. He reached out and gently grasped Xie Yunyi’s wrist: “The night is cool. Young Master should come inside.”

Xie Yunyi took the opportunity to climb through the window and as soon as he was steady, he reached out and wrapped Shen Yunjie in his embrace, rubbing against him like a puppy while whining softly, “Ah Yun, Ah Yun, I’m sorry… Father and Mother won’t let me host a grand banquet for guests, but don’t worry. I won’t omit any of the proper Three Letters and Six Etiquettes[mfn]It refers to the traditional formal process of marriage in ancient China. It outlines the official steps and documents involved in arranging a proper marriage between two families.[/mfn] that I should give you. You are the person I’m officially marrying. No one can stop it.”

“Young Master…” Shen Yunjie felt a burning sensation in his nose. Before he could speak, Xie Yunyi covered his lips.

“Don’t call me Young Master anymore,” Xie Yunyi pleaded softly. “Call me Ah Ning like my mother does. I don’t want to be master and servant with you anymore. After tomorrow, we’ll be a real husband and wife.” As he spoke, he smiled again as he shyly buried his face in Shen Yunjie’s soft hair while murmuring, “Ah Yun, I’m so happy.”

Shen Yunjie remained silent. The palm where the ashes had fallen earlier suddenly felt a burning pain.

Xie Yunyi clung to him for a while, then reluctantly let go of Shen Yunjie, “Ah Yun, you should sleep early. When tomorrow comes…”

Shen Yunjie suddenly grabbed Xie Yunyi’s hand with a sheen of moisture in his eyes. With a tragic smile, he said hoarsely, “Young Master, how about we skip tomorrow? Let’s be real husband and wife tonight…”

Xie Yunyi hadn’t fully grasped the meaning yet when Shen Yunjie had already pushed him onto the bed and leaned down to kiss his lips. Xie Yunyi was completely overwhelmed by the sudden rush of happiness. He had treasured Shen Yunjie for years and never dared to be presumptuous, fearing he might slight his Ah Yun even in the smallest way.

“Ah Yun, if we do this…” Xie Yunyi watched as Shen Yunjie pulled the dark hairpin from his hair. Black silk strand-like hair fell down, softening his cool, elegant features. His clothes were completely shed in just a blink of an eye.

Xie Yunyi swallowed the words ‘it’s against the proper etiquette.’ His eyes were fixed on Shen Yunjie while his mind was fuzzy as he stammered, “C-can we?”

Shen Yunjie smiled with tears in his eyes: “Yes. Young Master can do anything.”

The bed curtains were then pulled down, obscuring the spring scene on the bed[mfn]It refers to an intimate scene.[/mfn]…

As dawn approached, Shen Yunjie laboriously opened his eyes and gazed intensely at Xie Yunyi’s sleeping face. Xie Yunyi’s arm was still wrapped tightly around his waist as their black hair intertwined and inseparable. As the first ray of morning light spilled onto the bed curtains, Shen Yunjie wiped the coolness from the corner of his eye. He braced his aching body, leaned close to Xie Yunyi’s ear, then whispered, “Young Master, it’s morning.”