Crossdress Ch99

Before Xu Yan could react, the fresh, sweet taste of floral honey filled his mouth. It was made from the most vibrant flowers in the garden, the very ones he had been tasked with tending. Now, their nectar was inside him. Was this considered stealing from the crown? Xu Yan had already decided which direction to kneel if the crown prince accused him, hoping for a quick and painless death. But the guard’s audacity was beyond belief. He leaned in closer, inhaling lightly near Xu Yan’s lips, where the sweet scent of honey lingered.

“How is it?” the guard asked.

Xu Yan hastily spat out the half-dissolved pastry. How could he taste anything when death was looming? “This is the crown prince’s food! How dare you be so reckless?” Xu Yan pouted, on the verge of tears. “You’re just a guard, and I’m just a eunuch. We’re doomed, our heads will definitely be chopped off…”

Wen Sinian showed no sign of panic. He picked up another piece of pastry and offered it. “Try this one.”

Xu Yan quickly covered his mouth and shook his head. “I won’t eat it. Put it back!”

Wen Sinian looked at him. “Not hungry?”

Xu Yan’s stomach was empty, but he wouldn’t dare eat here, even if he starved. “Let go of me. I’m not comfortable like this.” The guard’s firm thighs pressed against him, holding him in place. His waist ached from the tight grip. No wonder he’s the crown prince’s guard, tall, strong, and intimidating. But their position was undeniably intimate.

Wen Sinian didn’t budge. “Still trying to run?”

Xu Yan was truly innocent. He spread his hands in proof. “I didn’t swallow it. I didn’t eat it. You’re the one who ate it…”

Wen Sinian chuckled. “This pastry melts in your mouth. Didn’t you absorb the honey? Isn’t the sweetness still on your tongue? Doesn’t the floral scent linger in your throat?” Xu Yan was left speechless. The sweetness still filled his mouth.

“So,” Wen Sinian smoothed a strand of hair by Xu Yan’s ear and said softly, “we’re in this together. If I’m punished, you won’t escape either.”

Xu Yan was terrified. The half-spat-out pastry in his hand fell, only to be caught by Wen Sinian’s other hand. He looked at the soft, warm pastry in his palm, glistening with a bit of Xu Yan’s saliva, the rich floral scent wafting into his nose. His throat moved slightly in restraint as he placed the pastry back on the jade plate, leaving a sticky, damp spot on his palm.

Xu Yan, unaware of Wen Sinian’s thoughts, angrily hit his chest, only to hurt his own hand. “You forced it into my mouth! I didn’t want to eat it!” he blurted out. “You, how can you be so wicked?” He had just praised him as a good person!

His wrist was suddenly seized and lifted. Wen Sinian lowered his gaze to Xu Yan’s soft, white palm, now flushed red. So delicate, he should be cherished, not serving others. Xu Yan, seeing him stare at his palm, yanked his hand back. “What are you looking at?”

Wen Sinian didn’t tease him further. He released his hold and settled Xu Yan onto the stool beside him, placing a pair of jade chopsticks in his hand. Before Xu Yan’s wide-eyed gaze, he explained, “These are the crown prince’s rewards to me, and he permitted me to dine here.”

Xu Yan still seemed skeptical. “Really?”

Wen Sinian served him food onto the jade plate. “Truly.”

“Then earlier…” Xu Yan realized, glaring at him. “You tricked me!” This man was truly wicked, he just wanted to see Xu Yan scared out of his wits.

Wen Sinian replied calmly, “How is it a trick? You assumed I was being reckless without asking. Isn’t that an insult to my character?”

Xu Yan couldn’t argue. His cheeks flushed slightly, and he put down the chopsticks, standing up. “If it’s a misunderstanding, then I’ll take my leave.”

Wen Sinian didn’t stop him this time. He rested one hand on the table, his long fingers tapping lightly at the edge, a faint smile playing on his lips, his thoughts unreadable.

Xu Yan turned to leave without looking back. Just as he reached the door, a knock sounded from outside. His hand froze mid-air, and he listened intently.

A young palace maid whispered outside, “Sir, do you need someone to attend to you?”

Xu Yan quickly turned back to see Wen Sinian still watching him. If someone came in and saw him, he was truly finished. Before Wen Sinian could answer, Xu Yan rushed back and covered his mouth, shaking his head pleadingly. He mouthed silently, “Don’t let anyone in.”

Wen Sinian sat with his legs apart, and Xu Yan stood between them, using his boneless, soft strength to try and control him. Did he realize how defenseless and innocent he looked, easy prey to be devoured without a trace?

Wen Sinian allowed Xu Yan’s hand to linger on his lips for a while without speaking. Outside the palace, the young maid sounded increasingly worried. “Sir? Are you still inside?” If there was no response, she seemed ready to enter and check. Xu Yan believed Wen Sinian wouldn’t betray him and was about to loosen his grip when he suddenly felt a warm, wet sensation on his palm, slipping between his fingers. He hastily pulled his hand back, only to hear Wen Sinian say calmly, “No one is allowed inside.” The maid, reassured, replied with a “Yes” and left.

Xu Yan hid his hand behind his back, his ears burning red. That definitely wasn’t his imagination. He muttered, “You, how could you lick my hand?”

Wen Sinian’s narrow eyes slightly narrowed. “Did I lick you?”

Xu Yan hadn’t expected him to deny it. “Just now, when I was covering your mouth, my palm felt wet.”

Wen Sinian’s tone remained steady. “Perhaps it was an accident.”

Xu Yan’s eyes widened. How much of an accident would it take for a tongue to slip between his fingers? But before he could dwell on it, Wen Sinian asked, “Would you like to dine together?”

Xu Yan hesitated. He didn’t know if there were still people guarding outside and didn’t dare to leave rashly. “If I stay with you, you’ll find a way to send me back safely,” Wen Sinian tempted in a low voice. “Otherwise, if you step out that door and are caught trespassing in the crown prince’s chamber again, even I won’t be able to help you.”

Xu Yan sat down immediately. “Will you send me back after we eat?”

Wen Sinian looked at him. “I never joke.”

Xu Yan stared at the table full of delicacies, things he had never seen before. He held the jade chopsticks for a long time, unable to bring himself to take any food. Wen Sinian served him dish by dish, briefly introducing each one so Xu Yan would know what he was eating.

As Xu Yan ate, he silently marveled at how the crown prince dined on such rare delicacies every day, boneless fish, tender chicken, all slipping effortlessly down his throat. Though it was the crown prince’s reward, Xu Yan ended up eating most of the food on the table until his stomach was slightly rounded. When he finally put down his chopsticks, claiming he couldn’t eat another bite, Wen Sinian finally believed him.

The two left the palace one after the other. Sure enough, there were people guarding outside. Upon seeing Wen Sinian, the palace maids and eunuchs were about to kneel in greeting, but a single glance from him stopped them. No one dared to move as they watched the two figures disappear into the garden.

Xu Yan, full and content, was escorted to the side palace gate. He happily returned to his room and felt the gold ingot hidden in his chest. When he took it out, it seemed to have grown larger. Just as he was puzzling over this, Shen Nanli suddenly ran into his room.

“Nanli! How are you here?” Xu Yan exclaimed in delight.

“I’ve been transferred here too,” Shen Nanli said. “The steward even said I’ll be serving under you from now on, Yanyan. We can be together again!”

Xu Yan was overjoyed and immediately had Shen Nanli move into his room. Though he was only a minor overseer, he no longer had to do everything himself, he just needed to give orders to the eunuchs under him. With Shen Nanli by his side, life was much more relaxed than before.

With a friend’s companionship, Xu Yan no longer spent his days scheming about how to return to the cleaning department. But he truly couldn’t stay in the Eastern Palace. Once, he intentionally made a small mistake, hoping to be relieved of his overseer duties. Instead of being punished, he was promoted again. This time, he was transferred to the inner chamber, responsible for the crown prince’s personal affairs, including his daily routines and meals. This meant he would have to serve the crown prince up close.

Xu Yan had never even seen the crown prince. His heart was filled with anxiety, he didn’t know if he could handle the job. Though the pay was high, he was timid and valued his life, so he was deeply troubled.

The position had originally belonged to a eunuch surnamed Wu, a veteran in the Eastern Palace. Because he had served the crown prince for a long time, everyone called him “Eunuch Wu.” Suddenly being replaced by a young, inexperienced eunuch like Xu Yan made Eunuch Wu furious. Just because he was younger and looked delicate, how could he not disturb the crown prince’s mind, especially when the crown prince was about to take a consort?

Taking advantage of the crown prince’s absence from the palace over the past few days, Eunuch Wu decided to find an excuse to send Xu Yan back to the cleaning department as soon as possible.

The opportunity came quickly. When Xu Yan’s clothes were sent for washing, a young maid noticed something unusual. The fabric wasn’t something an ordinary eunuch could afford. Though it looked unremarkable, the moment she touched it, she knew, such smooth, fine silk was usually only bestowed upon the nobles of the palace. Where had Xu Yan gotten it from?

The maid reported this privately to Eunuch Wu. Seizing the chance, Eunuch Wu brought the matter before the steward, publicly questioning Xu Yan about the origin of the fabric. If he couldn’t explain it, he would be accused of theft.

Xu Yan didn’t even know when his clothes had been swapped. He had assumed the Eastern Palace was so wealthy that even the servants’ clothes were made of fine fabric. Only now did he realize his clothes were different from everyone else’s.

“I never thought there would be a thief in the palace!” Eunuch Wu exclaimed. “Fortunately, he hasn’t served in the palace yet. If the crown prince knew of his character, he wouldn’t be as lenient as we are now. He might have his skin flayed and his hands chopped off!”

“Fine, then let’s go explain to the crown prince,” Xu Yan said, seemingly unafraid. “If I didn’t do it, then I didn’t do it. I’ll say the same thing even in front of the crown prince.”

Eunuch Wu hadn’t expected such a delicate-looking person to be so stubborn. “We can’t let a thief like you tarnish the crown prince’s eyes. The palace steward is here today, so we’ll handle you according to palace rules right now. Tie him up!”

“Take him to the Discipline Office!”

Shen Nanli sensed something was wrong early in the morning. While no one was paying attention, he slipped out of the palace gate and rushed to the crown prince’s guard’s quarters, bursting in without even knocking. His transfer to the Eastern Palace was no coincidence, he had been personally summoned by the crown prince’s guard with a secret order. Now, with the situation dire, Shen Nanli had no time for hesitation.

The entire Eastern Palace was stirred. Xu Yan’s rapid promotion had already drawn envy, and now everyone gathered to watch the spectacle. Just as it seemed Xu Yan would be taken to the Discipline Office for interrogation, the palace gate suddenly swung open from the outside. The crown prince’s guard, permitted to carry a sword inside the palace, had already positioned himself protectively in front of Xu Yan before anyone could react.

“What are you doing?” the guard asked coldly.

The steward hurried to explain, “Sir, why are you here? There’s a thief in the palace. We were merely interrogating him. We didn’t expect to disturb you, our apologies.”

“A thief?” The guard swept his gaze over the crowd, settling on Eunuch Wu, who had caused the trouble. “Where is this thief?”

The steward could tell the guard intended to protect Xu Yan, so he didn’t dare speak recklessly. But Eunuch Wu raised his voice, “The thief is right behind you, Sir! He must have stolen the tribute fabric and thought he could disguise himself well. Now that his crime has been exposed, he’s still arguing shamelessly. It’s outrageous!”

Without even turning his head, the guard countered sharply, “What he wears was bestowed by His Highness. Does His Highness’s decree require your approval?”

At these words, the steward and Eunuch Wu were stunned. Xu Yan had been in the Eastern Palace for less than half a month, how had he already earned such favor and reward from the crown prince? Eunuch Wu looked at Xu Yan’s innocent profile, breaking into a cold sweat. Could it be that Xu Yan’s transfer to the Eastern Palace had been the crown prince’s intention all along?

Not just the others, Xu Yan himself was confused. A reward from the crown prince? When had the crown prince given him anything? How could he not even know?

Without wasting more words on them, the guard sheathed his sword and bowed his head slightly to Xu Yan, almost deferentially. “His Highness wishes to see you. Please come with me.”

Amid the shocked gazes of the entire palace, Xu Yan followed the guard out of the gate. They turned left and right, entering a secluded bamboo path. Xu Yan kept his head down, his heart pounding like a drum. As they reached the end of the path, wisps of white mist appeared, growing thicker and warmer the deeper they went, enveloping them completely.

Finally, a vast white jade hot spring pool came into view. The guard stopped at the edge of the pool. Xu Yan didn’t dare to look up or speak. The guard said to him, “Please wait here for a moment.” Xu Yan nodded hastily, and the guard retreated the way they had come.

Left alone by the hot spring, Xu Yan felt the warm, moist air slowly enveloping him. Soon, his dark, smooth hair was dampened by the mist. After waiting for a while with no sign of the crown prince, he sensed faint footsteps behind him. Xu Yan turned to see a familiar, towering figure standing before him, closer than he had realized.

Startled, he took a step back, only to find the hot spring pool behind him. His body suddenly lost balance, and he was about to fall into the pool when a hand swiftly caught his lower back, pulling him back to the edge and into a firm embrace.

Xu Yan, still shaken, lifted his gaze. Wen Sinian raised a hand and gently rubbed the slightly reddened corner of Xu Yan’s eye. His chest tightened, and his voice deepened. “Were you bullied?”

Xu Yan hadn’t felt particularly wronged until that moment, but under such concerned scrutiny, his nose suddenly stung. He turned his face away without answering. A warm, large hand cupped his cheek, and a gentle voice whispered in his ear, “Tell me everything, okay?”