Chapter 111 - We look alike

It was the first time the new medicine made by Zhang Yi, greatly helped by Yu Xuan of course, was being taken. Zhang Yi brought a teapot full of medicine and some teacups for everyone in the room:

-The medicine is ready. I'll take it first. - Zhang Yi smiles.

-Please, Zhang Yi... Let me do it for us.

Feng Long smiles and takes the teacup, drinking it in one go. His reaction was neutral:

-Well, I'm feeling ok... It has some suspended solids, hasn't it?

-Your majesty, yes... The minerals cannot be fully ground up, they must have a particular coarseness. Some powders are coarser and will not fully dilute, but they should be safe to drink, even for children. - Zhang Yi bows slightly.

Next, they all drink the medicine, emptying the teapot:

-So, I think we are all protected from now on. This medicine has shown promising results according to Yu Xuan, but the number of participants in the trial was very small. I urge you to report any side effects. - Zhang Yi bows slightly to everyone.

Feng Long smiles, helping him to rise:

-You are all so brilliant... I'm sure this will not cause anything other than keep us protected.

-That's what I want...

A few minutes have passed. Yu Lexuan decides to invite Ouyang Ziyu for a walk. He accepts the invitation, letting Feng Long and Xia Chunyu alone again. Zhong Kunyi and Zhang Yi decided to move to his lab, so they can think together about the economics of the new medicine, especially how to get some profit from it by selling to other empires. 

On their way to leave the palace, Yu Lexuan and Ouyang noticed it was quite cold outside:

-Yu Lexuan, I forgot to bring appropriate cold-weather clothes...
-This is not really a problem. Would you bother about using mine? I think they will fit perfectly.
-I... I thank you for the offer. I'll accept...
-Please, follow me.

Ouyang bows slightly, and Yu Lexuan helps him to rise. Yu Lexuan guides Ouyang to his bedroom, opening his wardrobe:

-Well, there are not a lot of different styles to pick from, but I think any of them will look great on you.
-Thank you, your highness...

Ouyang bows and Yu Lexuan helps him to rise:

-If you don't mind... May I help you put them?

Ouyang blushes:

-You can...

Yu Lexuan smiles, taking an outfit and getting in front of Ouyang. Oyang blushes slightly, turning his back to Yu Lexuan:

-Sorry, your highness... Could you... untie my waistbelt? It is difficult to reach, I need Xia Chunyu to do it...

Yu Lexuan proceeds. He moves Ouyang's long hair to the side and gently unties his waistbelt. Ouyang holds it and turns, smiling:

-Thank you...

Yu Lexuan smiles back and carries the outfit to his bathroom, letting it there so Ouyang can wear them. He enters and closes the door, returning in a minute. Yu Lexuan smiles:

-It fits perfectly! - Yu Lexuan moves around Ouyang.
-In addition to being beautiful, these clothes are so comfortable to wear.
-I'm happy that you enjoyed it.

Ouyang smiles, and moves closer to Yu Lexuan:

-Your highness has such good taste in everything... I'm not surprised at all.

Yu Lexuan blushes, but quickly recovers:

-Well, now we can go outside and have a walk!
-Fortunately, our dinner was very light. It will improve our sleep quality as well.

Ouyang smiles and follows Yu Lexuan. As they get outside of the palace, Yu Lexuan points his hand in a particular direction:

-Please, let's walk towards that street. 

On their way, there is a pergola covering a path leading to a scenic lookout Yu Lexuan wants to get to. Some lanterns are suspended on the pergola by ropes tied to the wooden beams, illuminating the path with a warm light that reflects beautifully on Ouyang's hair.  
It didn't take long until they arrive at a gazebo on the scenic overlook. Yu Lexuan and Ouyang sit side by side on a bench, looking at the city lights below them:

-Jinhua looks fantastic and vibrant at night, Yu Lexuan! - Ouyang smiles.
-Well, it didn't ten years ago. 
-How come? 
-Well, the city was much poorer before Feng Long was crowned, after that, he started to deeply change the imperial palace. There was a lot of corruption going on and some officials were incredibly rich... He changed that under a lot of pressure and even death threats. It took a long time to purge all the crap from the government.

-This is something I admire about him...
-Feng Long's approach was different from everyone else. No one was killed but rather imprisoned. Feng Long is against killing people as he believes everyone may eventually get better.
-This was not the case in Wuxi... Xia Chunyu actually killed some dangerous criminals himself, but only after being attacked. 
-I'm not against death sentences. That's something I and Feng Long disagree on. Some crimes cannot be paid back, nor the criminal recover. I understand that taking someone else's life is disturbing and sad, cruel even... But those people hadn't shown any mercy towards their victims.

Ouyang then moves his right hand over the bench, reaching Yu Lexuan's left one. Both freeze, but Yu Lexuan knew that Ouyang was enjoying that time at his side. He finds Ouyang very handsome, especially because they look alike, but was not brave enough to openly says he likes him.
Ouyang's hand then gently closes. Yu Lexuan blushes, but couldn't hold himself for a longer time. He moves his other hand over Ouyang's, gently caressing it. Ouyang blushes, smiling. They keep silent for a few seconds, and then Yu Lexuan breaks it:

-Ouyang... My suit is keeping you warm... I can feel it...

-Yu Lexuan...

Yu Lexuan freezes for a moment, but his heartbeat increases. He gets up, holding Ouyang's hand:

-Ouyang... I'm sorry...

Ouyang was taken by surprise. He gets up, looking into Yu Lexuan's eyes. He notices a tear falling from his left eye:

-Your Highness... Why are...why are you crying...
-Ouyang... I... I like you...

Ouyang smiles:

-I was about to say the same about you, Yu Lexuan... Please, Your Highness, I beg you for mercy if I'm being careless...

Yu Lexuan moves a step ahead, getting his face very close to Ouyang's. Their noses touch. Ouyang closes his eyes slowly while talking:

-Yu Lexuan... I'm ready for it... I want it...
-Ouyang... You are so handsome...

Yu Lexuan and Ouyang touch their lips, slowly starting a kiss. Ouyang deepens it, and Yu Lexuan feels that he was motivated. They keep kissing for a while until Ouyang gently stops, caressing Yu Lexuan's face:

-Your Highness... Your kiss tastes like candy...
-I have no words...

Yu Lexuan passes his arms around Ouyang, bringing him closer. Ouyang rests his head on Yu Lexuan's pecs and, in response, he tightens the hug:

-I feel better at your side, Yu Lexuan... I'm so glad that I'm having such a heavenly moment with you...

-Everything feels so good when we are in love...
-Yu Lexuan... It can go deeper...
-I... I think it can... As you wish...

Both Yu Lexuan and Ouyang blush strongly, slowly moving a step away from each other. They don't do anything for a while, and then Ouyang hugs Yu Lexuan gently:

-Your Highness... May we come back to the palace?
-We... We can... We should...

Meanwhile, Xia Chunyu and Feng Long drink some tea that he had prepared a few moments earlier:

-This tea has such a special scent... Like you. - Xia Chunyu smiles.
-I choose this one because of you...

Feng Long smiles, serving a teacup for Xia Chunyu, sitting right next to him:

-Xia Chunyu... I was thinking about having a walk with you...
-We sure can have a walk together... I would love to explore your city.

Feng Long smiles:

-Xia Chunyu... Have you ever thought about... Unifying our empires?
-I have thought about it... But Ouyang disagrees with me...

Feng Long keeps silent for a while:

-I... I'm sorry for proposing it... It is hideous... Even if we agree, how about everyone else?
-You are right... Sometimes I fail in following some principles of beautiful governance.
-Well, not really a failure... Our hearts are tied together, and that's enough for me.

Xia Chunyu blushes strongly:

-I... I agree with your majesty...

Feng Long drinks the last bit of tea left in the teapot. They get up. Feng long smiles, and gently takes Xia Chunyu's left hand:

-Please, I'll show you our city, you will like it.
-I'm eager to see it.

Xia Chunyu and Feng Long walk down the street, hand-in-hand. On one hand, it was an awkward situation for most passersby who have never seen Xia Chunyu before or were used to seeing only Yu Lexuan walking with Feng Long with such intimacy. On the other hand, it was a public display of handsomeness as both Feng Long and especially Xia Chunyu are so handsome in their own way. 
Feng Long smiles and invites Xia Chunyu to enter a candy shop. There, he got a stick of tanghulu*, a small bar of soft peanut candy**, and some dragon beard candies***. Xia Chunyu smiles:

-Feng Long, you know what? About these candies...

-Please explain.

-None of these are as sweet as your kiss.

Feng Long blushes strongly, and Xia Chunyu smiles. They leave the shop, walking towards the main city gate. Yu Lexuan and Ouyang Ziyu are returning from the scenic outlook, meeting Feng Long and Xia Chunyu along the way. Both laugh seeing that Ouyang and Yu Lexuan are using the same clothes:

 

-Greetings to his majesty.

Feng Long and Xia Chunyu help them rise:

-Yu Lexuan, I loved this idea... Anyone else could barely tell who is who, given that you look-alike so perfectly... - Feng Long smiles.

-Ouyang is looking so gorgeous using the same clothes as his highness! - Xia Chunyu smiles.

-Ouyang forgot to bring clothing for cold weather. We are going back to the palace, it is getting cold... - Yu Lexuan smiles.

-We will be back soon too... I was showing our city to Xia Chunyu.

They bow to each other and then resume their walk. Feng Long and Xia Chunyu stop in the middle of a small arch bridge that spans over a brook, joining hands:

-Feng Long... The wind is blowing cold...

-I know... It means that we need some heat.

Xia Chunyu then hugs Feng Long tightly:

-You can provide all the heat that I need...

-Xia Chunyu... This is not right...

-Why?

-I can only produce this heat if you help me.

-For sure...

Xia Chunyu takes Feng Long's hands, kissing them. Feng Long blushes:

-Maybe we should go back to the palace as well...

-As you wish... I'm feeling cold!

Feng Long smiles, taking Xia's left hand. The temperature drop becomes even more noticeable as they move towards the palace. Zhang Yi and Zhong Kunyi are about to finish their assessment of the economics of the new medicine and will show the results to Feng Long as soon as possible. 

*Tanghulu ( aka 糖葫蘆) is a very popular candy in China and also in Taiwan.

**Soft Peanut Candy (软贡糖) is a popular Taiwanese candy. 
***Dragon beard candy (龍鬚糖) has its origins dating back to the Han Dynasty.  

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