Chapter 089 – The Tragic Prefect’s Son – “It’s a little bright on the top of my head” (04/10)
Mu Xin was held in his arms, his unfocused eyes fixed on Xie Chenyang’s throat.
What was he trying to do?
He had meant to become a tiger or wolf, devouring the lamb, but the lamb transformed into a ferocious beast and devoured this tiger or wolf instead?
Xie Chenyang’s hands still gripped his waist tightly, keeping them pressed together. “Don’t look at me like that.”
Mu Xin: “You…”
Xie Chenyang brushed his fingers across Mu Xin’s cheek, lowering his gaze to meet his eyes. “This inn has no other guests. Why are you holding back? No matter how fierce I am, you never beg for mercy. Your lips stay tightly sealed.”
Mu Xin pushed his hand away. “Let go. I’ll fetch water.” He gestured toward the hands still resting on his waist.
Xie Chenyang: “I’ll go…”
“I’ll go.”
Xie Chenyang released his grip.
Mu Xin dressed himself and stood tall as he walked out, showing not a trace of discomfort.
Xie Chenyang muttered under his breath, “Stubborn pride.”
You Huang: “You let him go knowing that?”
[If I didn’t let him go, I’d be the one dealing with the consequences.]
You Huang: “I almost thought you two might switch roles this lifetime.”
[Being the top is exhausting. How could I bear to see him struggle?] Xie Chenyang flashed a cryptic smile: [You wouldn’t understand.]
After that, You Huang fell silent.
[Dad, I’m sorry.]
[Dad, please forgive me.]
[I absolutely didn’t mean to imply you’re a single dog, okay?]
[You know what I mean, right? A dominant partner always wants to handle all the hard work themselves, letting their partner just relax and enjoy, right?]
[Dad QAQ]
Even after Mu Xin returned, Xie Chenyang remained listless. He felt he’d lost his father’s affection. All because he’d gotten carried away and botched his words.
Seeing his lifeless expression, Mu Xin walked silently to his bedside and sat down.
Xie Chenyang noticed his tense posture, sighed softly, and pulled him into an embrace. While massaging his lower back, he murmured, “For the next couple days, don’t sit directly on the floor. If you must, use a cushion.”
Mu Xin: “It’s unnecessary.”
“Mu Xin.” Xie Chenyang held him gently, his voice tender and earnest. “I love you. So in front of me, you don’t have to force yourself.”
Mu Xin’s long lashes fluttered.
Love?
Once his memories returned, things would likely be different.
His voice was hoarse. “I’m not forcing myself.”
Xie Chenyang’s fingertips slid downward. “Let me check.”
Mu Xin: “…” His fingers flashed like lightning, sealing Xie Chenyang’s pressure points. His expression cold, he stood up from Xie Chenyang’s embrace.
Xie Chenyang blinked. “I was joking, my dear Ah-Xin. Please untie me.”
Mu Xin ignored him. Instead he snatched the soft brocade quilt from Xie Chenyang’s body, folded it neatly, and sat on it.
[Dad???]
[You’re laughing at me, aren’t you? I heard it just now—you were laughing at me!]
You Huang completely retreated, pretending not to see or hear.
An attendant knocked on the door shortly after.
Mu Xin rose, flung the quilt to cover Xie Chenyang entirely, then opened the door to let the attendant bring in the hot water. The sound of it pouring into the tub was clear.
Only after the attendant left and the door closed did Xie Chenyang mutter hoarsely, “Ah-Xin, take this blanket off. I’m suffocating.”
Mu Xin walked over, pulled back the quilt, and casually undid his sash.
Xie Chenyang: Staring.
Mu Xin glanced at him before walking to the tub.
With his acupoints sealed,Xie Chenyang couldn’t move. He strained his eyes sideways but couldn’t see.
The sound of clothes hitting the floor and water being stirred was distinctly audible.
Xie Chenyang licked his lips. “Ah-Xin, unseal me. You can’t reach your back. I’ll scrub it for you.”
Xie Chenyang: “I beg you.”
Mu Xin ignored him.
“Ah-Xin, release my pressure points~”
“Ah-Xin, I got bitten by a mosquito. It’s so itchy.”
“Ah-Xin, my eye is twitching.”
“Ah-Xin…”
No matter what he said, Mu Xin offered no response.
Xie Chenyang talked himself hoarse, racking his brain to understand why Mu Xin had suddenly turned so cold-hearted.
Just moments ago, he’d been so obedient, cooperating with him completely.
Was this… turning his back on him?
To clean himself thoroughly, Mu Xin took an unusually long time bathing. By the time he emerged from the water and changed his clothes, the bathwater had grown cold.
Mu Xin returned to the bedside. Xie Chenyang had been still for quite a while. His eyes were tightly shut, his breathing even and calm. He seemed to have fallen asleep.
Mu Xin laid down beside him, flicked his wrist, and a gust of wind extinguished the candle.
Seeing Mu Xin had no intention of releasing him before sleeping, Xie Chenyang’s lips twitched: [Dad, help me release my acupoints?]
His dad ignored him.
Xie Chenyang sighed softly. “Ah-Xin, could you release my acupoints?”
A flicker of hope danced in Xie Chenyang’s heart. Little did he anticipate that after releasing his acupoints, Mu Xin immediately struck his sleep acupoint.
Xie Chenyang fell into a deep slumber, his face frozen in astonishment.
When he awoke, it was already the next day. He found himself lying in a carriage, and the first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was Mu Xin’s jawline.
[Wow, Dad, I’m sleeping on my wife’s lap! Looks like he’s calmed down.]
You Huang: “Son.”
[Hm?]
You Huang hesitated, then said, “You’ve always been steadfast. I trust no matter what happens, your resolve won’t falter, right?”
Seeing him awake, Mu Xin lowered his head and captured his lips. Xie Chenyang instantly forgot his doubts, savoring his lover’s initiative. When the kiss ended, Mu Xin’s cold face darkened slightly.
Xie Chenyang raised an eyebrow. “Why does my head feel so cold…?!?”
His hand brushed against his bare scalp, and his expression froze.
[Where’s my hair!!!]
You Huang: “Don’t be sad. Your wife shaved it off.”
[What?! Dad, why didn’t you wake me up?!]
You Huang: “Didn’t realize.”
Mu Xin grasped his slightly trembling hand.
Xie Chenyang: “Is there a mirror?”
Mu Xin tightened his grip, sidestepping the question. “From this day forward, you are no longer Yang Su. You are mine alone… bearing my surname… Mu Yang, my… lamb.”
Xie Chenyang: [Should I bleat to fit the occasion?]
You Huang: “Go ahead.”
[Baa~]
You Huang: “…Baa at your wife.”
Xie Chenyang gazed at Mu Xin with a haunted look. “Whether I’m a sheep or not doesn’t matter. Why did you shave my head?”
Mu Xin had long studied Central Plains culture and knew well that people there regarded hair and skin as gifts from one’s parents, to be cherished above all. His actions would surely drive the man before him mad.
Thus, he held one hand while pressing the other against his waist. “Forget your former identity. Forget the Central Plains. From now on, you will follow me to the Western Regions.”
Xie Chenyang: “I don’t remember them anyway.” I’m suffering from amnesia, baby!
[Looks like he’s not planning to give me a mirror. Dad, without my hair, am I still handsome?]
You Huang: “Actually, he has one. It’s right in his breast pocket.”
[Got it.]
Xie Chenyang broke free from Mu Xin’s grasp, wrapped his arms around his neck, and pulled him down. As he kissed him, his other hand slipped into Mu Xin’s coat, finding a small mirror.
Mu Xin jerked his head up. “You!”
Xie Chenyang had already pulled out the mirror and held it up before him.
You Huang: “Pretty, huh? Your wife personally painted your henna, shaped your eyebrows, applied your cosmetics, and rubbed on your lip balm…”
Xie Chenyang could clearly see his reflection: a glistening bald head, fair and translucent skin, cheeks flushed with a faint rosy hue. His naturally bold eyebrows were meticulously plucked into delicate arches, framing lips painted with lip gloss…
What a fair-skinned, rosy-lipped little monk!
The scrapes on his face had faded considerably, further concealed by the powder, leaving only faint traces.
Most striking was the vivid red character “Xin” inscribed between his brows. Its strokes flowed like dancing dragons—at first glance, a beautiful ornament, but upon closer inspection, unmistakably a character.
As if branded with a mark.
“Yang Su…” Mu Xin murmured softly.
Xie Chenyang stared intently at the mirror.
Seeing this, You Huang offered gentle reassurance: “He wants to take you to Yangzhou. He fears you might encounter Yu Shuo and wants to eliminate the threat at its root, hence this disguise.”
[I think this disguise is way too much. It makes me look like a pitiful little thing, completely lacking any aura of dominance!]
Mu Xin watched him stare blankly at the mirror, then reached out and took it from his hands. His voice was hoarse. “Do you hate me?”
Xie Chenyang: “No.”
So what if he lost his hair and got a love branding? What’s there to hate?
Mu Xin couldn’t tell if he was telling the truth or lying. Hearing this, he lifted his head again, closed his eyes, and leaned against the carriage wall.
Xie Chenyang couldn’t resist touching his now-bald head again. “I feel like something’s missing…”
Mu Xin opened his eyes.
Xie Chenyang suddenly sat up, grabbing his hand. “We need a shaving scar[mfn]I believe I had covered this in a previous arc (ML’s friend in the Martial Arts arc), but its a ritual burn scar in the shape of a circle on the scalp placed in lines. The more scars the more ‘devotion’ essentially.[/mfn] too! Shall we add one?”
“Enough.” Mu Xin pulled him into his embrace. “This is fine.”
Xie Chenyang: “…Alright.”
Mu Xin: “Your hair will grow back.”
“The mark on your forehead uses a special plant juice from our region. Ordinary water won’t wash it off. I’ll clean it for you when we return to the Western Regions.”
“No need. I think it looks pretty good.”
“I will wash it off for you. Keeping it is fine too. When the time comes, you can get the character ‘Yang’ inked on your forehead.”
They didn’t make many stops along the way.
As they neared Yangzhou City, Xie Chenyang thought: [With just a new hairstyle, could that jerk really not recognize me?]
You Huang: “He won’t. Yang Su had bangs and always left two locks of hair hanging in front, never fully revealing his entire face. Besides, your eyebrows and eyes have changed; your whole aura is different. He might find you somewhat similar, but he absolutely won’t think you’re Yang Su.”
The carriage rolled slowly into Yangzhou City. The driver, a Hu man, presented a pass, and the guards waved them through.
They headed straight for the Prince of Zhen’an’s residence.
As soon as they dismounted, Xie Chenyang spotted Yun Shuo coming to greet them. Yun Shuo noticed Xie Chenyang too, but quickly shifted his gaze to Mu Xin. “Lord Mu Xin, my father and elder brother await you in the front hall. There are matters to discuss.”
Mu Xin gave a faint nod, bent down, and carried him inside. Xie Chenyang graciously leaned against his shoulder, his eyes brimming with allure.
Yun Shuo’s heart skipped a beat. At first glance, the young monk bore a resemblance to Yang Su, but upon closer inspection, they were clearly two different individuals.
Yang Su’s eyebrows weren’t as delicate, his gaze not as alluring.
Yang Su acted with carefree directness—nothing like this seemingly soft, boneless monk with rosy lips and pearly teeth.
Moreover, he hadn’t missed the character etched between the young monk’s brows. Mu Xin’s possessiveness was blatantly obvious.
Yun Shuo quickened his pace to catch up, murmuring, “Who might that monk be?”
The Hu subordinate replied, “Our lord’s favorite.”
Even knowing it wasn’t Yang Su, Yun Shuo probed, “Was he… brought from Bozhuo City?”
The Hu man snapped impatiently, “Seized along the way. Why so many questions? You’ve got your eye on him, don’t you? He’s already marked by our master. Forget it.”
Yun Shuo smiled gently. “Not at all. I’m merely curious.”
The Hu man snorted coldly and quickened his pace to follow behind Mu Xin.
Edit: Krone
Proofread: Choux_choux
