The clatter of the palace carriage wheels echoed faintly in the courtyard as the two princes prepared to leave. Jian's dark robes swayed slightly in the morning breeze, and Lei lounged lazily, adjusting the sleeve of his tunic with casual ease. Yuan's stomach sank as he noticed Ming's delicate hands resting on the rail beside him, her eyes still bright with unspent curiosity.
He had hoped the morning tea would end with polite farewells, but now she was lingering, and his instinct screamed at him: Do not be alone with her.
"Your Highness," Yuan said quickly, bowing slightly to Jian. "I, um… I wanted to discuss something with you. Perhaps we could go together?"
Jian raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching in quiet amusement. "If that is your wish. Lei, we'll leave now."
Lei, ever the lazy schemer, tilted his head and grinned. "As you like, gege. I'll see you later." And with a lazy wave, he departed, leaving the three of them in the soft morning sunlight.
Yuan exhaled sharply. He had bought himself a temporary reprieve, though only just. Ming looked at him expectantly, her curiosity undimmed. He forced a polite smile and gestured for her to follow as Jian led the way.
Once they stepped into the quieter part of the palace gardens, Jian finally asked, voice low and even, "What is it you wanted to discuss, Yuan Wei?"
And then Yuan lost it.
He spun to face him, hands flailing slightly. "What do you mean discuss?!" he demanded, voice sharp enough to startle even himself. "Why—why were you planning on leaving me alone with her?!"
Jian blinked, expression carefully neutral. "I don't—plan on leaving you—"
"No!" Yuan cut him off, waving a hand frantically. "I'm serious! I… I can't be around women of this palace. I cannot! First, Princess Lian—she nearly suffocated me with attention. Now Princess Ming… she's… she's so… so charming and… and I—I can't handle it!"
Jian frowned slightly, though he said nothing.
"They stare, they smile, they talk, they praise, and I…" Yuan flailed dramatically, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I'm younger than you! I shouldn't even be—like… you should be marrying first! Why am I here being scrutinized like some—some… prize!"
Jian's expression shifted subtly, the calm mask never cracking but something flickering behind his eyes. Yuan ignored it completely.
"I don't want to be around women anymore," he continued, his voice rising as he paced a few steps ahead. "They're terrifying! Every move I make, they notice! Every breath I take, they comment on! And I can't—" He stopped abruptly, chest heaving. "At this point, I might even—"
He froze, eyes widening at his own words, then quickly added, "—marry a man instead!"
Jian's brow rose ever so slightly, a flicker of amusement—or was it disbelief?—in his eyes.
Yuan whirled, glaring at him. "Don't look at me like that! I am serious! Women are too… too complicated! Too… unpredictable! I've survived streets and debts, Jian, and I can't survive… charm like this!"
The Crown Prince tilted his head, silent for a long moment. Then he finally spoke, voice calm, smooth, almost teasing. "You've never been particularly subtle, have you, Yuan Wei?"
"I'm not subtle!" Yuan shouted, gesturing wildly. "I'm being honest! For once in this palace, I'm honest! If anyone else hears this, I'll be laughed at, or worse, forced to drink more tea while smiling politely while they stare at me with those eyes!"
Jian's lips curved slightly. "You mean Princess Ming."
"Yes!" Yuan snapped, his hands balling into fists. "Her! That's exactly what I mean! I do not want to be alone with her ever again. I would rather…" He hesitated, then muttered under his breath, "…rather fight a hundred armed men than be left alone with her for five minutes."
Jian's expression did not change, though a soft glimmer of amusement twitched in the corner of his eyes. Yuan, misreading the slight movement, clenched his jaw.
"Do you understand me?" Yuan demanded, voice almost pleading. "I'm begging you. I'll go anywhere else in the palace—anywhere! But do not leave me alone with her!"
There was a pause. A soft breeze rustled the leaves around them, and Yuan could feel Jian's gaze on him, quiet and steady.
"I see," Jian said finally, voice calm but firm. "You feel uncomfortable."
"Yes!" Yuan shouted, almost triumphantly. "Exactly! You get it!"
"Then," Jian said, tilting his head, "perhaps you should learn to endure some discomfort. The palace is full of women who will stare, comment, and praise. Avoiding it entirely will be… impossible."
Yuan froze. He had expected a scolding, maybe a lecture, but not this calm, almost logical reasoning.
"But… it's too early!" Yuan stammered. "And… and… I can't! I just—"
Jian sighed softly, and Yuan swore he saw the faintest hint of a smirk.
"You may speak your mind," Jian said carefully, "but the world does not always bend to your comfort."
Yuan stared at him, chest heaving, hands shaking slightly. "You… you're terrifyingly reasonable."
"Perhaps," Jian said, voice low, smooth, "or perhaps I simply find your honesty… entertaining."
Yuan felt himself go red. "Enter—entertaining?!" He spun away, pacing in frustration, nearly tripping over the stone path. "I'm not here for entertainment! I'm here to survive the palace, not to be complimented, admired, or… whatever you call this!"
Jian let the silence stretch for a moment, then asked casually, "Do you truly feel safer with me than with her?"
Yuan froze. He blinked. "…Yes."
"That is something," Jian said softly. "Remember it."
Yuan blinked. Remember what? That he was grateful for the Crown Prince's presence? That he might actually prefer being near him over anyone else? He opened his mouth to respond but stopped.
Ming's voice rang faintly in the distance, laughing softly with one of her attendants. Yuan clenched his fists. There she is again.
"I am not ready for this palace," Yuan muttered, mostly to himself. "Not the princesses, not the teas, not the compliments… nothing!"
Jian's expression remained calm, unreadable, though Yuan swore there was a flicker of something almost like amusement—or was it patience?—in his dark eyes.
Lei's words from earlier echoed in his mind: The heroine is now admiring you.
Yuan groaned inwardly. Why me?
Jian, finally, placed a hand lightly on Yuan's shoulder. "If it truly frightens you," he said quietly, "you are not required to face it alone. That is the advantage of having allies."
Yuan blinked. Allies? He hadn't expected reassurance. He had expected a lecture, perhaps subtle mockery. Instead, Jian's calm presence grounded him.
He clenched his jaw, muttering under his breath, "Fine. But only because… I don't want her staring at me again."
"And?" Jian prompted, eyes narrowing slightly.
"And… I might actually hate the idea of tea for the rest of my life," Yuan admitted, muttering as he followed Jian back toward the inner courtyard, careful to keep his composure while simultaneously plotting ways to avoid being left alone with Princess Ming ever again.
The breeze carried the faint scent of tea and flowers, and somewhere along the palace walls, Yuan realized one thing with a shudder: surviving this palace—and its women—was going to be far more complicated than surviving loan sharks or debts ever had been.
But he wasn't about to admit that out loud. Not to Jian. Not to anyone.
Not yet.