Leng Qinxue thought he was doing an excellent job, all things considered.

First, he'd been whisked into a random novel without finishing the ending. Second, he had no help but still managed to survive in the cutthroat world of palace politics. Third, he had netted the only male lead without a canon pairing in the entire book.

Of course, that was because Huangfu Rongjin turned out to be a tragic cannon fodder who died early, but with him here he was sure they could both survive. For one thing, the guy wasn't being passed between the second and third princes and suffering everyday. For another, Huangfu Rongjin was supposed to be a genius, so he was sure the man could wrangle up an excuse to whisk him away. He even gave him plenty of free time in case he needed to set up any secret rendezvous with mired agents within the palace.

Although...he sticks around me most of the time?

In the mornings, Huangfu Rongjin dressed him and combed his hair. When Leng Qinxue wandered around the palace on "walks" through obscure side paths bordering convenient palace walls, Huangfu Rongjin never looked at anything but the ground. Even when Leng Qinxue pointed out a dusty alcove perfect for storing secret messages, he would only notice the flower bush in front of it and comment with a line of poetry.

Leng Qinxue figured the guy still didn't trust him and upped his efforts to get closer. He gave the man his snacks and had them share the same table at mealtimes. He made sure to try every dish personally to check for poison before giving the lion's share to his companion. He'd even managed to coax him into sharing the same bed to prove that he was completely harmless.

And yet Huangfu Rongjin only smiled politely and continued to play his part as faithful servant, seemingly oblivious to Leng Qinxue's cues, hints, and blatant suggestions.

Maybe he's got high IQ but low EQ.

Recalling that the man was also a skilled swordsman, Leng Qinxue managed to sneak Huangfu Rongjin's beloved blade Traceless into Jadefrost Palace. The latter was cleaning the table after lunch when he presented it with a proud little flourish.

Startled, Huangfu Rongjin lost his grip on the plates and shattered them on the ground.

"Ah-Jin!" Leng Qinxue ran over immediately. "Are you okay?!"

His gold thigh couldn't afford a single scratch, okay?!

"Stay back!" For the first time, Huangfu Rongjin raised his voice, arms raised to keep Leng Qinxue from the broken shards on the floor. "Don't move, I'll get a rag to clean this up."

Afterwards he grabbed Traceless, but it was only to hide it in the bedroom away from curious eyes.

Leng Qinxue felt inexplicably rebuffed.

—

"It's forbidden to bring weapons into the royal residences," Huangfu Rongjin said solemnly as the two of them sat on the bed later with Traceless lying over his lap.

"They won't care if it's me," Leng Qinxue thumped his chest confidently. "Besides, it's your sword and you need it to train. You can't just practice with branches all the time."

"Your Highness—"

"Ah-Jin."

"...Ah-Xue." Huangfu Rongjin took the sword and pushed it firmly into Leng Qinxue's hands. "I appreciate it, but it's too obvious. Keep it for me until I need it?"

Leng Qinxue realized this was the first time Huangfu Rongjin had ever requested something for himself. Finding it fresh, he agreed and hid the sword beneath his—their bed.

Never hurts to do him favors.

He hadn't even noticed how softly Huangfu Rongjin spoke these days.

—

Huangfu Rongjin felt like he was losing his mind, all things considered.

He had resigned himself to three years of bitterness as Yue's hostage, having heard of the second prince's sadism, the third prince's brutality, and the crown prince's skills to manipulate them both. The fourth prince had never entered his calculations, but now Huangfu Rongjin was willingly waiting on him hand and foot.

To be honest, there wasn't much in the way of work—Leng Qinxue was extremely hands-on for a prince and did everything himself besides the morning dressing rituals. He also had no sense of subtlety and pushed everything good at him to curry favor.

No one had ever treated him so...kindly. He'd be lying if he said it didn't affect him.

"Ah-Jin, the tribute grapes from the west are here! Eat them with me?"

What kind of simpleton told a stranger everything on his mind?

"Ah-Jin, is it summer in Yan already? Yue's so far north we don't get spring until halfway through the year. It sucks!"

What kind of prince abandoned a life of luxury for the challenges of living in a foreign land?

"Ah-Jin, did you remember the route through the gardens we took last time? It goes right by the Ministry of Justice, but has the least amount of guards on patrol."

"Ah-Xue," Huangfu Rongjin said as he wiped a crumb off Leng Qinxue's face after dinner, "How are you planning to leave Yue with me? Your father would never consent."

In fact, he'd count it a blessing if he was allowed back in one piece after the three years were up. Yan had a better climate and fertile land; he wouldn't be surprised if Yue was making plans to annex the country instead.

"I was waiting for you to come up with something," Leng Qinxue blinked at him. "Uh, maybe I could sneak out as a servant? Or you take me as a hostage instead?"

"And deal with all the palace guards alone?" Huangfu Rongjin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I'd be assassinated before we made it out the palace gates."

"Then we can make up something else," Leng Qinxue perked up. "For example, fake death or a vacation tour, or—"

"I do have an idea," Huangfu Rongjin said slowly. It was audacious, but maybe something wild was exactly what he needed to keep this strange man by his side.

Leng Qinxue shut up, eyes expectant.

Huangfu Rongjin took a deep breath and said, "Marry me."

"Huh?"

—

Leng Qinxue outright rejected him. Although male consorts weren't unusual in this world, they were just bros, not a couple in love!

But Huangfu Rongjin had been with him too long, too often, to not know his personality. As the treasured son of the King of Yue, Leng Qinxue would have no way of leaving the country permanently. Did he want Yan to rise up and conquer Yue so he could take him by force? Would he really risk the lives of his family and citizens for a bit of personal freedom? A marriage alliance between two countries would be much better, especially when neither of them posed an obvious threat to Yue's royal power.

"How is that any different from now?" Leng Qinxue complained. "After marriage, I'd just be stuck in your Yan palace instead."

"Ah-Xue." This time, there was a pleading note in Huangfu Rongjin's voice that even Leng Qinxue noticed. He looked up as the ex-king took his hands, a bit startled.

"W-what."

"If I can be a slave for you, then why not anything else?" Huangfu Rongjin coaxed. "A king is the soul of his land and people. You want to retire to the countryside; I offer you all the mountains and rivers of Yan. You want to raise chickens; I'll bring the birds of the world to your backyard. You can live where you want, do what you like, grasp the freedom you desire so deeply—I only ask that you allow this Ah-Jin to be by your side."

"...bro." Leng Qinxue managed after a while. "That's generous, but why do your eyes look like they're gonna eat me alive, ah."

Instinct told him this wasn't how brotherhood worked!

Huangfu Rongjin blinked and the intense gaze in his pupils melted back into placid gentleness. "I'm worried Ah-Xue will refuse me."

"Of course I will!" Leng Qinxue exclaimed. "You're a king! You need to—to get married and have heirs. It's not like I can birth you any!"

Something flared in Huangfu Rongjin's eyes—a quick, brief heat—before he settled into a smile. "I'm sure my uncle won't mind me passing the throne onto his son."

"But still—"

"I'm not interested in women," Huangfu Rongjin went on. "The best one I knew drove my father mad. How could I suffer more to approach me?"

Is this leftover trauma from his mother's death? Leng Qinxue wondered. But that didn't mean Huangfu Rongjin would be alone forever. He survived so far, he ought to keep on living until he reached life's peak!

"You just haven't found the right one yet," he reasoned. "Listen bro, these things take time. One day you'll see someone who lights up your world just by existing—that's when you'll know she's the one."

"Has Ah-Xue experienced that yourself?"

"I wish! You're the first person I've talked to properly in the last three years! But it's not like I haven't read novels on this, so trust me, okay?"

"Mm, I understand."

"What d'you under—huh?!" Leng Qinxue was taken aback when Huangfu Rongjin pulled him into his arms.

"Ah-Xue, the summers in Yan are long and warm," a deep voice murmured above his head. "and my palace sits atop a mountain. At night, you can see the entire sky painted in stars."

"I think Ah-Xue would like it. Won't you come watch them with me?"