Stepping out of the imperial palace, Fang Junqian saw Xiao Qingyu waiting for him at the end of the street. 

Xiao Qingyu looked up at Fang Junqian at the palace entrance, who looked lonely and sorrowful. 

The snow-white skin, the red scarf, and the black palace door. The three colors mixed together to form a thrilling picture.

The layers of palaces against the b.l.o.o.d.y color sunset came into his sight in one glance. 

The majestic palaces were shrouded in the screen of sunset, as if being thrown into boiling lava and burning in despair. 

The strong visual pressure and mental shock were all highlighting the supremacy of the imperial power which tolerated no defiance. 

At the sight of him, Fang Junqian smiled slightly, “You’re here.”

“Yes, I’m here.”

“Qingyu,” he put his hands on the wheelchair, “Let’s go.”

Xiao Qingyu played with the gold thread in his hand, calm and composed, not revealing a trace of his emotion. 

“Fang Junqian. Prince warned you not to do this.”

Fang Junqian suddenly realized something, “So you’re the one who sent us the news last night?” Xiao Qingyu should have such a fast information network! 

“But you still did.” Xiao Qingyu said coldly, “Fang Junqian, are you an idiot?”

Fang Junqian smiled bitterly, “Obviously, the Emperor wants me to die there… Even the imperial edict was composed in advance. He knew I would step out for my father…”

Xiao Qingyu stared at Fang Junqian. 

He found it hard to describe him at this moment. For the first time, something different appeared on that spirited face.

What was that? 

Pain? Loss? Helplessness? Fragility? Or all of these. Or none of these.

At this moment, he was no longer the spirited ambitious young duke. 

Standing behind him was merely an abandoned child whose eyes were full of panic and helplessness. 

Maybe, maybe, he had never really understood him. 

“Fang Junqian!!” Xiao Qingyu was angry, “Man up!!”

“The Fang Junqian I knew isn’t a person needing sympathy!!”

Xiao Qingyu’s eyes were as sharp and aggressive as his words. 

“If the million army of Tianbin can defeat you, then just die there. Let’s say I never know you.”

“I despise to befriend with that kind of people, let alone to be bosom friends with.”

Fang Junqian was dazed for a second and then burst into laughing!

Suddenly he hugged Xiao Qingyu hard and said in a m.u.f.fled voice, “Thank you.”

This was the kind of comfort between men. He understood him, as a bosom friend…

They shared the same threatening talents and the same unyieldingness towards their fates! 

Fang Junqian, “I’ll conquer the world and hold all the people in awe.”

Xiao Qingyu, “I believe you will.”

Fang Junqian, “I hope by then, you’ll also put your eyes on me.”

Xiao Qingyu, “I will.”

Then, Xiao Qingyu asked Fang Junqian to push him to Prince Dingguo’s Mansion. 

Prince Dingguo seemed to have aged thirty years in an instant. He had spent most of his life on horse and in wars. Fang Junqian was his only son, whose life and death was unpredictable on this journey.  

Would he suffer the pain of grey-hair sending off dark-hair?

Xiao Qingyu comforted him, “Stay a.s.sured, prince. I’ll try my best to keep young duke safe with my humble learnings.”

“Childe—!” Old Prince Dingguo burst into tears and left the chair to kneel to him! 

“No, please don"t, prince!” Xiao Qingyu stopped him, “Duke Fang and I are bosom friends. It’s also my business to keep him safe.”

Bidding farewell to Old Prince, Xiao Qingyu followed Fang Junqian to the inner courtyard. 

“Qian—!” A gentle middle-aged madam called.

“Aunt Lan, why are you here?” Duke Fang gave her a heartily smile. 

Aunt Lan looked worried, “Tell me. Are you going to war on behalf of your father?”

“Um…” Fang Junqian was silent. Which big mouth told Aunt Lan? … 

Xiao Qingyu had never seen Duke Fang so stumped and somehow became delighted by his expression. 

“Aunt Lan, it’s a minor battle. I’ll be fine… Oh no, don"t cry…”

Aunt Lan wiped her tears, “Promise me, do come back safe and sound.”

Fang Junqian smiled like a child, “Yes!”

She then turned to Xiao Qingyu, “This is…?”

“I’m Xiao Qingyu.”

“The Right Prime Minister?” Aunt Lan covered her mouth in astonishment. This youth—was not much elder than a child to her!!

She lovingly held his hand, “It must be hard, right? …”

The warmth from her fingertips was the temperature of a mother. 

Xiao Qingyu couldn"t help being a little immersed in his emotions…

After aunt Lan left…

“She really loves you.” Xiao Qingyu’s long eyelashes cut across each other. 

Fang Junqian replied, “My mother died of childbirth. Aunt Lan is the second wife of my father. She treats me as her own and brought me up. We’re as dear as real mother and son.”

… 

“It’s so nice…” Xiao Qingyu dropped his head, his expression unable to tell, “It’s good to have a mom…”