Prince and His Fool

Finally, surviving the day, Rong Zian lathered his hair with shampoo of his own making, relaxing his muscles as he sank deep into the hot bath. Ever since he had found himself in this era, it seemed as though he couldn't get any rest from quarrelling with his family, being scolded by the prince, abused by Ying Tie and unwanted marriage proposals. The only thing that kept him sane was a hot bath and jar of wine, that is to say, Rong Zian would only ever leave a bath when either his fingers were pruney or when he was drunk enough.

Satisfied but mostly relaxed he grabbed his clothes and walked out of the room. As he opened the door his brows furrowed when he saw Ying Tie waiting outside but he wasn't alone. Ying Tianshi was standing beside him and as soon as Rong Zian stepped out, she became ecstatic ready to devour him at a moment's notice.

His body wasn't completely dry which made his white clothes stick to his skin revealing things a young lady should only see on her wedding night. His jet black hair still wet, emitting a pleasant fragrance was draping on his shoulders. It aroused her curiosity so much so that she wanted to touch his hair but Ying Tie was holding her back.

"And then? Why are both standing here looking conspicuous?" he asked unable to comprehend such odd behaviour. He couldn't help but wonder if they had been waiting for him to finish bathing or they just wandered around and felt like discussing their affairs right outside the bathroom. With one eyebrow higher than the other he turned to walk away from such an awkward situation but the lady stopped him in his tracks.

"Zian-ge!" she yelled as though her timid nature had been miraculously cured.

Almost falling in shock, Rong Zian turned around and caught a glimpse of one of Ying Tie's death stares. He placed his fingers in between his eyebrows and gently massaged in a circular motion lost in thought. 'Is she trying to get me killed and when did we become so familiar that she could address me so?'

"Who is your brother? Have some dignity you shameless girl?" yelled Ying Tie scolding his sister but it was as though his words were entering one ear and exiting through the other.

She walked closer with a beaming smile and said, "Please reconsider, I am certain we would be happy together," as though pleading with him.

Ying Tie was truly upset with his sister, it turns out she had been waiting for Rong Zian outside as he was bathing. Coincidently her brother was also on his way to find Rong Zian when he saw her pacing up and down by the door red-faced with sweaty palms. Rong Zian unknowingly stepped into an already awkward situation but was smart enough to flee.

Her speech, though touching, wasn't enough to make him linger around so the moment her brother began scolding Ying Tianshi, he took the opportunity and slipped away. Little did he know the evening events were far from over.

At a fast pace, he made a quick getaway as though running away from the yakuza. He was extremely terrified, anticipating Ying Tie would take advantage of the prince's absence and beat the crap out of him. In all fairness, Ying Tianshi taking a liking to him had nothing to do with him but her tenacious attitude would inspire her brother to act out his frustrations towards him.

Thankfully he finally found the room that had been assigned to him after aimlessly running around an endless corridor. He quickly got in securing the door behind him and leaned on the door letting out a sigh of relief. "Phew...I thought he was going to kill....ahhhh! What the hell, you fuckin' scared me," he screamed but it quickly turned to hysterical laughter when he realised it was just the prince looking ominous under the dim candlelight.

Wu Yange was also stunned by his reaction but remained expressionless as he watched him pace around clueless. "Would you mind?" asked Rong Zian in a cynical tone pointing at the candle. The prince didn't appreciate his tone but indulged him and a wave of sapphire flames simultaneously lit up all the candles. It was a beautiful sight to see that an amazed Rong Zian couldn't help but beam in excitement praising the prince. Seeing that he was impressed the prince turned away from him to conceal his flustered ears.

Rong Zian walked over to his bag and as he rifled through it as he asked, "Did Your Highness wish to discuss anything with me? If there's nothing else I would like to rest early. It has been a long day and tomorrow the nightmare begins."

All the while, he still hadn't raised his head hence he didn't notice the prince gazing at him with an odd expression. Under the candlelight, he could now fully see Rong Zian's frame with his skin glueing itself onto the white slightly revealing garments. The prince watched him take out a cloth from his bag and gently pat his hair dry as the fragrance diffused to the rest of the room. His actions though innocent, aroused a dreadful ache deep within Wu Yange, he suddenly felt parched and couldn't look anymore.

Clearing his throat, he took off his outer garment and boots as he proceeded to lay on the bed with his back facing Rong Zian. Startled Rong Zian placed his hands on either side of his waist and yelled, "Hey! Don't you have your royal room waiting for you? Are you planning on sleeping here?"

In a stand-offish tone, he replied, "You are no longer allowed to have your room throughout this journey,"

"What's that supposed to mean? That bed can barely fit two women let alone two fully grown man," replied Rong Zian still confused by his words. What? Was it that expensive to bring him along so they all had to share?

The prince suddenly sat up straight and justified his reasoning, "For two reasons, one being your wanton behaviour towards women an-," he said before Rong Zian cut him off mid-sentence.

"What's wrong with me trying to get laid? Better yet what does it have to do with you?" he said feeling insulted. In his previous life, there was nothing sinful about one night stands especially with all the apps like Tinder but he never tried any of it because he had poured all his energy into getting educated so he could finally leave his home.

But all of his hard work turned to chuff when his stepmother made a move claiming he had sexually harassed a girl. After all that he had a new motto 'enjoy life to the fullest' but ever since he stepped into this era, he hadn't got the chance, and finding a girl he wouldn't have to take responsibility for was a rare treasure. One would suggest a brothel but he couldn't afford plus pay for it didn't seem all that appealing to him.

"Then get married if you can't control yourself, I can make arrangements with the emperor," he suggested though he seemed pensive.

Rong Zian couldn't hold back the cynical laughter as he thought through how sad his life was. No one ever wanted to see him happy in both his current and previous life. Such an unlucky life could only mean he had somehow stepped on Fu Shen the god of happiness's toes when he was born.

The prince didn't expect this kind of reaction from him but carried on, "secondly that minx and her brother equally want to put their hands on you for different reasons. I am your only defence," he continued as he buried his the third reason deep down.

Shrugging his shoulders Rong Zian murmured, "Fine," accepting his predicament. The thought of those two coming at him frightened him the most. Ying Tie would obviously strangle him while Ying Tianshi would just lie next to him and instantly become his wife even without his consent. Shivering at such a horrifying thought, he said, "Your Highness can take the bed I will take the floor."

"Can't risk you getting sick, it gets extremely cold in the night. We can share, I don't mind," said Wu Yange which stunned Rong Zian but he didn't mind sharing so he hopped onto the bed as well making sure to leave enough room for the prince. He didn't want to make his royal highness uncomfortable by any means, a restless prince meant a grumpy prince and he didn't want to succumb to his anger in the morning.

Barely able to keep his eyes open, he lay his head on the pillow with their backs facing each other. Just as he was to fall into a deep sleep, the prince turned to face the roof and asked, "Do you still have your first kiss?"

His voice drifting off as he surrendered himself into a dreamy state, he replied, "Yes, I haven't kissed anyone....ye...yet." He wanted to ask why Wu Yange had asked him such a weird question but in his exhausted state he lost interest and answered honestly.

On that note, he couldn't hold on any longer and instantly drifted off to sleep but the person sleeping right beside him had just received a rude awakening. Wu Yange felt so guilty for taking away Rong Zian's first kiss and the victim wasn't even aware of it. He turned around to face Rong Zian's back drawn in by that provocative scent that shook his self-control with just a whiff.

Though his behaviour sickened him, his obsession with this idiot was overpowering to the point of losing rationality. Like an addict, he moved in, close enough that his nose was in proximity with the man's hair and slept calmly while breathing in such an intoxicating fragrance.