The next day in the morning, after Jingting and Sheng talked about their lives into the deep night, Liu Sheng was awakened by soft steps. He didn't move, but just opened his eyes.
"Ah, I see you are finally in your state of mind and can't be jumped on anymore again." It was Liu Cheng. Pretending to be an enemy spy and creeping into his room.
"What do you want?" Sheng asked, whispering, trying not to wake up Jingting.
"Father wrote to me. I… need to go. He is supposed to go into a battle. Uncle is trying to talk him out of it, but it was a direct order from the Emperor. I have a bad feeling. I don't think he should be the first to charge out. It's the same mistake as you were ordered to and how that played out…" Liu Cheng gestured towards Sheng's belly. Where was the huge scar that no one should have.
"Go. I still have to stay here. I think.. I will stay during winter. I still have weeks before I will be okay. Even now, it still hurts, and I feel a weird feeling inside when I'm walking around for too long." Cheng just nodded. He understood. To be honest, when he heard about his brothers being cut like that. He didn't believe he was alive. He was prepared to collect his body. So, this was a surprise.
"Take your time. Guard him and strengthen this base. I don't think it's safe enough. Especially being so near the border." Liu Sheng nodded. He was prepared for that. Somehow, he felt a strong urge to protect this guy. Protecting someone who saved his life.
"Don't worry, I will work with Xicheng on that." Sheng's answer and Liu Cheng's face shifted into something strange. Liu Sheng had a weird feeling…
"What's going on?" he asked, but trying to pry information out of his brother was really hard. But this wasn't the case.
"Xuhua wants to go with me. To the army… She wants to help me to have better doctors to be able to save more people. Xicheng doesn't know about it… And if he knows he will kill… me… you… Both of us?" Sheng just pressed his lips, then he bit his lower lip, trying not to laugh.
"You… he will kill you. Not me…" Just when Liu Sheng finished his sentence, Jingting sat up and smiled softly at Liu Cheng.
"Xuhua is already an adult. She is past marriageable age and perfectly capable of deciding for herself. She never wants to marry, she doesn't trust people. If she wants to go with you, she has definitely weighed and thought of all the questions and problems. Xicheng actually listened to her every word. If she decides he can't do a thing."
"She doesn't want to get married?" Liu Cheng asked.
"Is that the only thing you took from that?" Jingting was fascinated. He couldn't take those two anymore.
"What should I ask for something better? Like, why are you two sleeping in the same bed?" The silence that suddenly covered the room was heavy. Why did they do it? Jingting himself was confused by it.
He felt safe when talking to Liu Sheng. When they talked, when they were close, he calmed down and didn't feel as tired as before. And he would fall asleep, not needing the prescription he had relied on for the last few years. But he let it go.
"I have to tell you something, though. If you want to take her with you, you have to be careful. The twins are here for a reason. Not just because they want to, but they are hiding as well. Or not exactly hiding, but…" Jingting paused, really thinking whether to say it or not.
"Their father is the Prince of Xing." Both brothers were completely stunned. What was going on with this mountain? Was this some sort of sanctuary for state secrets?
"Do you really mean THE Prince of Xing? The uncle of the emperor? The imperial family?" Jingting nodded when Liu Cheng asked with his eyes wide open.
"Are they his bastards?" Liu Sheng asked. Jingting shook his head.
"Xicheng is his rightful heir. The prince of Xing had helped my father to run, and because he was afraid of the current emperor thinking he would want his throne... But I can't tell you more. Xuhua is a bit more open about it than Xicheng, so asked her more if yo-..."
"Stop it!" Liu Cheng shouted. He shook his head and then even rubbed his temples.
"You want to tell me that the guy whose ass I just delivered to the doctor and the girl who kicked my ass and I flirted with as if she was a village girl... are in the line for the throne?? Are the IMPERIAL family?" There was silence after the outburst from Liu Cheng.
Liu Shen laid back in the bed and dragged the blanket over his face.
"I believe you won't make me regret telling you this. I'm giving you my life and future. I believe in you. I really hope you won't disappoint me." Jingting looked deep into Liu Cheng's eyes and once Liu Sheng peeked out of the blanket, he looked at him too. Then, with a slight smile, he spoke up once again.
"I know you are strangers to me. You shouldn't care. But I welcomed you to my house. You told me you have a blood debt towards me. I won't ask you to risk your life for me. I just want you to keep quiet. You don't know anything. But if you decide to take Xuhua with you. Please. Keep her safe."
"I will keep you safe." Liu Sheng suddenly said, and Jingting confusedly turned his head at him.
"No. that'-..." Liu Sheng put his hand over Jingting's mouth and shocked his brother with such an intimate gesture.
But why was he so surprised? They were lying together in a bed. Not that his brother never had a woman. They did visit some brothels together. But he was also interested in guys. He often talked about that one poet whose face was soft and white, giving him the nickname Baihe, White Lily. Maybe he would get a new brother-in-law? New Baihe… And he wouldn't mind. Because Jingting was actually a nice person. Someone who kept the possible heir to the throne in safety for such a long time must be a good person.