Chapter 24: Look at That Cloud in the Sky—Doesn’t It Look Like…

Bai Muge was not, after all, a man made entirely of titanium alloy—a cold, unyielding pillar of steel. The moment he caught sight of Li Shixuan’s petite and endearing demeanor, he instantly understood: she must have something to ask of him. Yet, the more he looked at her shy and bashful expression, the more adorable and charming she seemed, leaving his heart restless and wandering.

It was unmistakably the feeling of love.

“What is it?” Bai Muge asked with a gentle smile, reaching out his left hand to ruffle Li Shixuan’s hair, his movements smooth and practiced. “I’m heading to the Imperial Study to report the specifics about the Heavenly Dragon Sect to my second brother. I’ll come find you in a little while.”

“Alright!” Li Shixuan nodded obediently.

But suddenly, she lifted her little head and, raising a fair and slender finger toward the clouds in the sky, asked with excitement, “Brother Mu, look at that cloud up there—doesn’t it look like a kiss?”

Bai Muge was taken aback for a moment, then couldn’t help but burst out laughing. He tapped her gently on the head and chided her, half-amused, half-exasperated, “Silly girl, you’re even learning to set me up now!”

[If you want a goodbye kiss, just say so!]

But Li Shixuan, hands clasped behind her back, only stuck out her tongue playfully, not minding his little reprimand.

“Come on—” Her enchanting, almond-shaped eyes stared straight at Bai Muge, her cheeks puffed and tinged with pink as she pouted and hummed, “Brother Mu, just say it—doesn’t it look like it?”

“It does!” Bai Muge, unable to resist her, bent down and pecked her gently on the rosy cheek before straightening up again. “Now, are you satisfied?”

“Hee hee…” Li Shixuan at last broke into a delighted smile, touching her cheek as if savoring the moment, dimples appearing sweetly as her long lashes fluttered with joy.

Her little scheme having succeeded, Li Shixuan waved both hands in farewell, grinning. “Brother Mu, don’t forget to see me later!”

“I know, I know!” Bai Muge laughed and shook his head, waving back at her.

Li Shixuan nodded with satisfaction, her heart utterly content as she hurried off toward her palace chambers with her attendant Ling’er in tow.

Bai Muge also made his way toward the Imperial Study.

[Shixuan really is growing more charming by the day!]

[She’s even learning to tease me now!]

[So, my first kiss has been stolen just like that…]

Despite his mock complaint, Bai Muge’s heart was filled with delight as he hummed a tune all the way to the study.

“Lord Bai, you seem to be in quite a good mood!”

Just then, the Young Prince of Tang, who should have been inside dealing with state papers, appeared in the main hall. As he looked at Bai Muge, his eyes were full of jealousy.

Even his tone was laced with sarcasm, and he abandoned his usual friendly address of “Old Bai.” He held a memorial in his hand, tapping it lightly against his palm, clearly in a fit of jealous pique.

“Second Brother, were you stung by a wasp or just hit on the head with a black club?” Bai Muge, unfazed by the prince’s annoyance—he was long accustomed to his jealous outbursts—replied cheerfully, “Everything’s taken care of!”

“You mean you’ve settled things with Shixuan?” the Prince interjected abruptly.

Bai Muge fell silent.

[Li Chen, you’re such a hopeless sister-obsessive!]

Still, Bai Muge understood how he felt. From childhood, Li Chen had been both father and mother to Shixuan, always fearing she might suffer the slightest grievance or unhappiness. It was hardly easy for him.

But to be so distrustful of Bai Muge—now that was truly too much!

[Shixuan and I are completely in love!]

[We’re practically an old married couple, what’s wrong with a kiss?]

He kept these thoughts to himself, not wanting to provoke the prince’s possessiveness any further.

“Second Brother.” Bai Muge rolled his eyes, slung an arm around the prince’s shoulder, and, turning slightly, pointed up at the clouds, adapting the earlier joke. “See that cloud up there? Doesn’t it look like the Heavenly Dragon Sect?”

The Young Prince was utterly baffled.

[What on earth?]

[Does he think I’m an idiot? How could a cloud look like the Heavenly Dragon Sect?]

[Wait a minute…]

After a moment’s confusion, the prince realized it was a joke—one of many he’d grown used to from Bai Muge in the past month. On reflection, he found them rather amusing.

He was already well aware of Bai Muge’s meaning. In fact, he’d only been a little upset moments ago after hearing from a palace guard that Bai Muge had kissed Li Shixuan at the palace gates.

In all his years, he had never received such affection from Li Shixuan as a brother. Bai Muge, on the other hand, always enjoyed her favor far more than he ever did.

“Hmph, my precious little cabbage, and you’ve managed to snatch her away!”

With a huff, the Young Prince finally nodded and said, “Old Bai, I trust you with the Heavenly Dragon Sect; here’s today’s memorial. Take a look—who do you think is best suited to handle it?”

“What’s happened?” Bai Muge took the memorial, puzzled.

He had not expected the contents to make his brows furrow and his eyes narrow in surprise. “The emperor of Zhou wants to cancel the engagement?”

A broken engagement between two countries was no small matter, touching on national honor and dignity.

If the Zhou emperor chose to do this now, was it not a slap in the face for Tang?

But on further thought, Bai Muge understood Zhou’s reasoning. With the Prince of Zhen’nan dead, Tang was likely to fall into turmoil for some time, and their border defenses would surely be weakened.

It was a reasonable judgment from an outsider.

“It may be a broken engagement, or it may not.” The Young Prince shook his head, both troubled and uncertain. “The Zhou emperor’s envoy must have learned that we’ve dealt with the Prince of Zhen’nan. Though they claim to be here for the engagement, it’s likely they’re seizing the opportunity to spy out our strengths and weaknesses. It’s a tricky matter.”

As he spoke, the prince nudged Bai Muge meaningfully.

Bai Muge finally understood: the prince had intended all along for him to shoulder this responsibility.

[So that earlier show of anger had an ulterior motive?]

He sighed inwardly and looked at Li Chen, finding him more exasperating than ever.

“Second Brother, how about we settle this with a fight?” Bai Muge flexed his wrists and stared at the Young Prince, speaking with deliberate seriousness. “If we do, I probably won’t be able to see Shixuan later.”

“Heh…” The Young Prince gave a cold laugh. “Dream on! It’s settled—you won’t get away with feigning illness this time!”

Bai Muge was left speechless.

[Li Chen is getting sneakier by the day!]