MTCCP Chapter 23

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Hua Muzhi was sound asleep.

He held him in his arms, his warm palm resting on his waist.

Yue Yiwan was very close to his chest, so close that he could faintly feel the silk pajamas rising and falling with his breath. If he moved any closer, he might even hear his heartbeat.

In the pitch-black night, his face suddenly heated up.

The dessert he had before bed left his throat dry. Although he was reluctant to leave the warmth of the embrace, he still made an effort to slip out quietly, got out of bed, and poured himself a glass of lemon water.

The refreshing drink washed away the sweetness, making him feel much better.

Yue Yiwan set down the glass and tiptoed back onto the large bed.

Hua Muzhi had actually woken up the moment he left, but he maintained his previous posture, slightly tilting his head to see what he was doing.

For some reason, he decided to pretend he was still asleep, waiting to see what Yue Yiwan would do next.

Yue Yiwan sat beside the prince, caught in a dilemma.

That position just now… had felt incredibly secure and warm.

But crawling back into his arms again—wouldn't that be too deliberate?

He lifted the blanket and slid back in, lying on his side with his back facing Hua Muzhi for a while.

So cold.

At this moment, it was as if a little angel and a little devil were poking each other inside his mind, making it impossible to rest.

No, sleep is the priority.

The exhaustion from the day's work hit him again, and he could barely keep his eyes open.

…Anyway, the prince was sound asleep. Sneaking back in shouldn't be a big deal, right?

Hua Muzhi was just about to drift off again when he suddenly felt small movements under the covers.

That certain someone, honest as ever, had snuggled back into his embrace, closing the distance between them once more.

His cheek rested against his chest, and just like that, he fell asleep, nestled in his arms.

Hua Muzhi lowered his gaze and smiled, wrapping his arms around him once more.

Goodnight.

The two of them ended up sleeping in until eight in the morning.

The old lady had gone out early for her morning hike, so there was no need for morning greetings, and the palace attendants didn't come to wake them.

At this hour, Hua Muzhi would usually wake up early to avoid any awkward situations.

But lately, work had been exhausting, and unknowingly, he had slept for quite a while.

They woke up almost at the same time.

Still in each other's embrace.

When Yue Yiwan lifted his head, he saw the golden morning light spilling over Hua Muzhi’s face.

His long lashes, his flawless features—at this moment, they were all bathed in a warm glow.

He looked like a sacred statue kissed by the divine, so breathtakingly beautiful that it was impossible to look away.

The next second, Hua Muzhi’s eyes fluttered open slightly, and their gazes met.

Yue Yiwan blinked rapidly, thinking that maybe he should slip out of his arms now.

Otherwise, how was he supposed to explain this?

"Uh… Hi? I felt cold in the middle of the night and accidentally scooted over?"

"Do you want to sleep a little longer?" he asked in a husky voice.

"...Mhm." Yue Yiwan nodded weakly, burying himself in Hua Muzhi’s embrace to continue sleeping.

The arm around his waist tightened slightly, and just like that, they fell back asleep together.

During breakfast, Yue Yiwan didn't dare to meet Hua Muzhi’s eyes.

He actually quite liked sleeping that way, liked the scent in his arms, but he was also afraid that Hua Muzhi would ask him something embarrassing.

...No wonder he always woke up smelling so nice lately.

So, all this time, this was how they ended up sleeping like that?

Then in the beginning, was it the Crown Prince who took the initiative?

He always seemed so proper—who would have thought?

Wait... have I been taken advantage of in my sleep?

While Yue Yiwan was lost in thought, an attendant approached, holding a schedule for them to confirm.

"Tomorrow night, you need to attend the old prince’s birthday banquet. Then, over the next few days, there will be a winter hunt at the estate."

"After the hunt, the media might come for interviews."

"And also..."

Yue Yiwan sipped his scallop and shredded chicken porridge, suddenly realizing something. "Wait—we’re both going?"

"Yes, your luggage has already been sent to the estate today."

"But—" Yue Yiwan instinctively looked at Hua Muzhi. "We both have work to do."

One of them had to write daily updates, and the other needed to work on drafts and finalize designs.

If they attended the winter hunt, would they end up working overtime together at night?

The attendant looked troubled. "Your Highness, this event is not easy to decline."

"Let’s just bring our tablets." Hua Muzhi thought for a moment. "I'll bring my external keyboard too."

He had already given up on handwriting with a stylus. Lately, he had been practicing touch typing, and his speed was steadily improving.

This would likely be the first public appearance of the Crown Prince and his consort after their marriage, and it was a gathering of the royal family.

Yue Yiwan had memorized the royal family tree pretty well during his etiquette training, but now he felt nervous. "What do they usually talk about at these gatherings?"

Would it be as painful as going home for Chinese New Year?

Hua Muzhi gave him a meaningful look.

He had been pressured into marriage ever since he was eighteen. For four years, he had been set up on blind dates under various circumstances.

To outsiders, these gatherings seemed elegant, but even in the year 2030, nobles still whispered about who was still unmarried and which family still had no children.

Yue Yiwan immediately understood from his look, coughed lightly, and said, "You’d better write two chapters in advance today—I have a feeling we won’t have time tomorrow."

And indeed, that was the case.

The next morning, they changed into traditional attire and took a car to a private estate in the countryside.

The estate was near the famous scenic area of Qianshuyuan, with a crystal-clear river flowing like a silk ribbon nearby. The old-style palace buildings were impeccably preserved, and hunting dogs were chasing rabbits across the lawn.

The hunting grounds extended into the hills behind the estate, home to deer, hares, wild boars, and plump pheasants and pigeons, all well-fed and likely delicious when roasted.

In front of others, Yue Yiwan gave Hua Muzhi plenty of respect.

There was no need to hold hands deliberately, but their body language naturally conveyed closeness.

As soon as they appeared at the banquet, they looked like a perfect pair.

From afar, both were tall and handsome; up close, their eyes held warmth without losing their dignified demeanor. They looked stunning together.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"Greetings, Prince Yong."

Several younger members of the family came forward to pay their respects, while various elders gradually gathered around them.

Hua Muzhi was used to handling these occasions, but he remained alert, ready to step in if Yue Yiwan needed help.

The Chinese kinship system was as tangled as a ball of yarn.

One had to consider both age and seniority.

In the royal family, titles had to be taken into account as well—some were bestowed, others inherited. It was crucial to distinguish between titles from the emperor's line and those from the empress's family.

Yue Yiwan had dodged math and science in school, but after entering the palace, he had been forced to cram etiquette and genealogy like a complex logic puzzle.

A maternal grandaunt and a paternal grandaunt were different people.

An uncle-in-law from his mother’s side and one from his father’s side had distinct titles.

Seeing a bearded middle-aged man, he had to first confirm whether the man was a prince or a noble, whether he had been granted a title, and which side of the family he belonged to.

Meeting relatives was seriously exhausting.

A crowd of royal family members surrounded them, but the Crown Prince Consort maintained a flawless smile, greeting everyone gracefully without a single mistake in protocol.

Hua Muzhi sighed in relief, deftly steering him away from awkward questions and leading him to greet the birthday elder.

After the socializing, everyone returned to their rooms to change into casual attire for lunch.

With twenty to thirty people in attendance, they dined at a long table with individual servings.

And so began the dreaded family gossip.

Yue Yiwan sat beside Hua Muzhi, focusing on his meal and avoiding participation in the conversation.

The nobles chatted about everything from the economy to an unmarried princess, then jumped to the topic of children attending public schools instead of hiring private tutors.

Then, suddenly, the conversation shifted to the Crown Prince and his consort.

"So, when do you two plan on having children?"

Yue Yiwan, who was eating a crab-stuffed orange, nearly stabbed through the peel with his fork.

Hua Muzhi coughed lightly. "There's no rush."

"It’s so easy for two men to have children nowadays," an aunt chimed in with a smile. "Why not have a few? A pair of twins would be perfect—one boy and one girl!"

The couple responded with perfectly professional smiles, swiftly changing the subject.

By the afternoon, Hua Muzhi took Yue Yiwan to the stables early, just in case anyone tried to arrange a betrothal for their nonexistent future children.

"I… I don’t really know how to ride," Yue Yiwan admitted hesitantly.

"Don’t worry, I’ll teach you."

A stable hand led over a purebred Icelandic white horse. Hua Muzhi carefully checked the saddle and reins before helping Yue Yiwan up.

The moment he sat down, he felt as if he had been lifted two meters off the ground and froze in place.

"Maybe… let’s just walk a few laps?" he suggested nervously.

The stable hand prepared to lead the horse, but Hua Muzhi mounted behind him instead, wrapping his arms around Yue Yiwan naturally.

"W-Wait, are you sure about this?" Yue Yiwan’s heart pounded as he recalled their nighttime sleeping habits.

Hua Muzhi rested his chin lightly against Yue Yiwan’s silver hair, his hands guiding Yue Yiwan’s on the reins.

"Giddy up."

The horse trotted forward happily.

"Hey, hey, slow down! I’m going to fall—"

Yue Yiwan panicked, instinctively gripping Hua Muzhi’s hands. When the horse leaped slightly, he nearly let out a scream.

But Hua Muzhi had won international dressage competitions.

Even with an unfamiliar horse, his control was smooth and steady.

The wind carried the fresh scent of grass.

Their husky, ToTo, barked excitedly, racing alongside them.

Yue Yiwan curled up in Hua Muzhi’s arms, barely daring to breathe.

After two laps, he started to enjoy it.

"You… really are good at this."

Hua Muzhi smiled, lowering his head just enough to brush a kiss against Yue Yiwan’s hair.

Their fingers intertwined as they held the reins together.

"Want to go faster?"

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