Chapter 52: Some Things Cannot Be Yielded, Including My Heart

Tang Mi moved with Ban Xia and Yunxiang into the side room next to the Old Madam’s quarters.

Yunxiang didn’t understand why Tang Mi had chosen her to serve, but since the young lady had always been the Old Madam’s favorite, she naturally dared not slack off.

“Yunxiang-jiejie, let me do the unpacking. You go rest for a bit,” Ban Xia hurriedly said when she saw Yunxiang trying to help with the luggage.

Since Ban Xia insisted, Yunxiang didn’t persist. Still, she didn’t feel right just resting, so she went to make tea for Tang Mi. “Why didn’t you bring Fu Ling along, Miss?”

Tang Mi took the tea, smiling faintly. “I left her to watch over the courtyard.”

Yunxiang found that a bit odd. The Old Madam was very strict with rules, no servants dared to act out of line. Why leave Fu Ling behind just to guard a courtyard?

Yunxiang was always prudent. Though she had questions, she didn’t dare ask. After refilling Tang Mi’s tea, she stood quietly to the side.

Seeing how reserved she was, Tang Mi smiled. “I asked for you because I thought Grandmother would feel more at ease. Don’t be so stiff, just behave the same way you do when you’re with her.”

“Yes, Miss.” Yunxiang smiled, her expression softening.

“I don’t know if this side room has been unoccupied for a long time,” Ban Xia said after unpacking and opening the window to air the room. Then she turned to Tang Mi, her face suddenly flushed. She whispered, “Miss, Prince Xuan is staying right across from us.”

Tang Mi raised her eyes and looked across and immediately locked eyes with a man. His gaze was as deep as a pool, making her heart flutter for no reason.

Her cheeks turned pink, and she quickly averted her gaze, giving Ban Xia a mock glare. “Why haven’t you shut the window yet?”

“Yes, right away,” Ban Xia said and hurried to close it.

Even after the window was shut, Tang Mi’s heart was still pounding fiercely.

That man’s eyes… had she seen them somewhere before?

But no matter how hard she tried to recall, she couldn’t remember where.

Tang Mi gave a bitter smile. Was it because those eyes were too unique? Or was it because he was too good-looking, causing her to have such a strange illusion?

Either way, she should stay far away from him. His ending wouldn’t be a good one.

At the cliffside, Ye Chenxuan stood there, gazing at the window across from him for a long time.

Beside him, Yan Shu saw his prince dazing off and couldn’t help but chuckle.

It seemed His Highness and Lady Tang were truly fated, they ended up in rooms right across from each other. His Highness’s detour to come here had not been in vain.

Meanwhile, Tang Ying’s room also happened to be directly across from Ye Junyu’s.

They exchanged a glance. Tang Ying was shy and delighted; Ye Junyu, on the other hand, instantly turned grim.

The west and north wings were separated by gender-specific quarters, with a deep ravine between them.

These guest rooms at White Horse Temple were built on cliff ledges, giving them a peculiar layout. Neighbors couldn’t see each other even with windows open, only those directly across could. Because of the thick, protruding rock walls, even diagonal angles offered no visibility.

When Ye Junyu realized that Tang Mi was not across from him, he immediately ordered Feng Pan to investigate.

“Reporting, Your Highness,” Feng Pan said, glancing nervously at him, “Lady Tang is… across from Prince Xuan’s room.”

Ye Junyu felt a surge of rage go straight to his head and stormed off next door.

At the door, Yan Shu spotted him and rushed inside to report, “Your Highness, Prince Yu is here.”

“Close the door,” Ye Chenxuan said without even looking up.

Bang! The door shut tight.

Ye Junyu, about to step in, was blocked by the door and nearly bumped his nose.

Staring at the shut door, his anger exploded. He raised his hand and pounded hard. “Ye Chenxuan!”

Yan Shu glanced nervously at his prince.

Ye Chenxuan, unbothered, continued reading by the window as if nothing had happened.

“Ye Chenxuan! Open the door! I know you’re in there!” Ye Junyu shouted.

Still no response. Yan Shu, clearly stressed, tried to smooth things over. “Prince Yu, our prince is asleep. Maybe come back tomorrow?”

“Bullshit!” Ye Junyu roared. “He’s asleep with me pounding like this? You think I’m stupid? Open up, or I’ll have your whole family executed!”

Yan Shu was exasperated. “Your Highness, I am the only one left in my family. No need to execute anyone.”

“Then I’ll kill you! Open the damn door!”

As the yelling continued, Yan Shu rolled his eyes internally. Can a guy like me ever catch a break? And now he wanted to wipe out the only surviving member of his family!

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I don’t belong to you. I serve our prince. If he says I can’t die, then I don’t dare die.”

Yan Shu’s voice trembled with fear, but his words showed no real fear of Ye Junyu’s threats.

Ye Junyu, fuming, finally turned to Feng Pan. “Break the door down.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Feng Pan said and kicked the door.

Just then, the door flew open.

Feng Pan’s foot hit air, and he stumbled into a full split on the ground, nearly screaming from the pain.

As he was about to faint from it, someone stepped on his leg.

He looked up at the looming figure, it was Ye Chenxuan. All his anger dissolved in a puff of smoke.

Crack! Feng Pan heard his bone snap. His vision blurred, and he was about to pass out when Yan Shu rushed over, pinching his philtrum and slapping his face.

“Feng Pan! You can’t pass out! We’re not in the capital there are no doctors around!”

With the slaps keeping him awake, Feng Pan could only look pitifully at Ye Chenxuan. “Your Highness, you stepped on my leg…”

Ye Chenxuan didn’t even look at him. He stepped right over Feng Pan and faced Ye Junyu. “Seems like royal brother is very free lately. Nothing better to do than come and kick doors down?”

Ye Junyu, feeling slightly guilty, didn’t press the issue and instead said, “Cut the crap. Swap rooms with me.”

He stepped forward, not waiting for a reply.

Ye Chenxuan blocked the doorway coldly. “No.”

Ye Junyu scowled. “Name your price, what do you want to give up this room?”

“You can’t afford what I want,” Ye Chenxuan sneered.

Ye Junyu’s jaw clenched. “Are you going to yield or not?”

Ye Chenxuan looked him straight in the eye and murmured, “Some things cannot be yielded. My heart is one of them.”

His voice was low unclear if he was speaking to Ye Junyu or to himself.

Ye Junyu narrowed his eyes. “Ye Chenxuan, don’t tell me… you’ve fallen for Tang Mi too?”