War was emerging, and Shui Lian met Kai Yin every night up to his last night. Their kiss had certainty changed their demeanor towards one another, Kai Yin suddenly shy, and Shui Lian, too, turned away to avoid eye contact.

"Find another person to bother," Shui Lian said and internally cursed himself. He wanted to say something uplifting but of course, habits were hard to change.

"You make me more disheartened with each meeting," Kai Yin jokingly said, sitting before him slowly.

"Pardon me, be safe on the battlefield, my lord," Shui Lian corrected himself, "if that is possible." He was thinking that but he didn't mean to say it.

"I guess our last night will have to end like this," Kai Yin said sadly, "I have to return soon. There's more preparation for encampment too, as well as organizing supplies. I just couldn't help but want to say farewell."

Kai Yin was dressed in general attire Shui Lian rarely saw, hair tied up, showing off Kai Yin's jawline and the dark brows and honest eyes. He had a look of a soldier but he was still young and had a boyish feel despite his tall figure. His second robe, red with an embroidered yellow sun on it, showed his royal status. It was attractive and the way it fitted his body and over his white trousers made Shui Lian unable to look away.

Kai Yin had noticed and wondered if he looked silly. On walks he never had all his hair gathered up, maybe his widow's peak was unsightly? Or was it the red? Red never suited his tanned skin, but it was winter so he agreed to it. Why was Shui Lian staring so hard?

"Anyways, I'll be off then, it was a pleasure to see you, Shui Lian."

"Wait." Shui Lian stood up, nervous to the point his fingers were quivering. Why, he was never nervous around this big foolish man!

"Return safe. I'll give you a reward, my lord."

"My, you're suddenly acting like a courtesan!" Kai Yin said, finding it more surprising than anything. "And pray tell, what is the reward?"

Shui Lian didn't know either. What should it be? Lewd? No, he knew Kai Yin was rather innocent in terms of that.

"I will reward you with a kiss and seduce you, my lord."

Shui Lian turned away after uttering the embarrassing words, but Kai Yin was filled with what felt like new energy, no, motivation.

Kai Yin jumped onto Shui Lian, laughing as Shui Lian tried to push off his embrace. He truly felt relaxed and calm, and it felt like—it felt like the best friend as well as lover he never had.

They were polar opposites, but Shui Lian's coldness broke once in a while and Kai Yin knew the cold exterior was forged. Shui Lian liked more things than he had said he disliked.

That night they had talked for much longer. Kai Yin had shared his own likes.

"I like roasted pig. I like my younger brother, his name is Cheng. I like you and this pavilion. I cleaned it myself."

Shui Lian was surprised and Kai Yin grinned, pleased he had surprised the cold eunuch.

"No wonder it's so dirty." Shui Lian had a counterattack. He raised a sleeve to show how dirty it was from leaning on the table and Kai Yin sulked, still hugging Shui Lian from the back. He liked being close to him.

"What else do you like, Shui Lian?"

"I like sleeping. I like my only friends in Peony Palace, Lady Ai and Lady Miao. I like listening to them sing. I like sleeping in the shade when it's warm, and in the blankets when it's hot. I like sweet desserts Lady Ran sometimes gets for us."

"Anything else? You did fall asleep on me, so I know you really like sleeping," Kai Yin chuckled.

His hot breath tickled Shui Lian.

"I apologize for that incident, my lord. I like other things, I like playing with clay and making pots. My father made pots. I liked beating my friends in games. I liked catching fish in the pond. I liked playing in the mud and even gardening. I—"

Shui Lian had forgotten all things he liked, they had been memories he repressed. When he arrived to Peony Palace he was branded a woman, and memories of playing as boys with other boys were forgotten. Inside he had still stayed a sixteen year old.

"I liked being reckless, coming home late, and fooling around. But now, now I don't have anything I like anymore."

Shui Lian looked at the moon and envied how routine it was, always leaving in the morning to return at night. Tonight a quarter of it had waned and it looked chipped like a porcelain cup.

Yet it was a symbol of his relationship with Kai Yin.

"I'll take you out in the day when I return. We can garden, you can teach me how to make clay pots, and of course, I'll have a pond cleaned and filled with fish."

"You spoil me too much."

"Why, don't you like me?" Kai Yin asked.

"You're quite nearly almost in my like category, my lord" Shui Lian said, smile appearing on his face.

"I got it," Kai Yin whispered, and looked on him with his strangely dark eyes.

Got what? Shui Lian wondered all day. The answer was Kai Yin had gotten all the faces of Shui Lian that night. Cleaning the pavilion was worth it, and they had went again until the very last night, when Kai Yin had to leave early again. 

And Shui Lian realized there were more things he liked, Kai Yin with a new hairstyle, Kai Yin in a different outfit, even the dumb lotus incense burner that worked better and was more aesthetic, and of course, all of their new memories in Peony Palace.

***

Wei Jiang came to Peony Palace that night to bring Kai Yin back from the brothel of dreams and his sweetheart back to work. He had kept watch of the pavilion every night and realized Kai Yin's sweetheart was an eunuch.

It had take every fiber of him to not speak of the matter with Kai Yin since war was coming up, but he was very confused what he was playing at. The Emperor had been finding noble ladies and foreign princesses for Kai Yin only to always have to wait until this battle or that battle. Wei Jian always assumed it was because Kai Yin doted on sixth Prince Cheng and therefore would not marry yet, but maybe—he was in love already?

The Madame of the brothel, Lady Ran appeared and he broke out of his wonders to ask her if he could pick up Sixth Prince.

"I'll simply wait here." He saw the two return from the pavilion and deciding it would be rather obtuse of him to pop out from the bushes he allowed the two to have their romantic walk back to Peony Palace. Wei Jiang had took the longer route and even ran to get there before them.

Wei Jiang admired the pretty faces that snuck out to look out at him, but stayed stone-faced. He would not fool around before war, although some men do believe it was tradition to have fun before such a life-threatening battle. Wei Jiang heard a creak and stepped back, hand at the hilt of his sword.

A beautiful girl was startled and jumped back.

"I'm sorry," she said breathlessly, and Wei Jiang immediately shook his head and led out a hand.

"Excuse me for my rudeness, I am too used to drawing swords in fear of spies."

The girl's eyes were like the sunlight itself, when light shone into it the brown became hazel and almost like gems. He was enchanted.

"You're such a funny man." Her voice was so pleasant to the ears, calm and sweet. "Are you here to visit someone on the second floor?"

"No, I must leave soon." Wei Jiang was a man of few words. The girl giggled to herself. Even her giggle was charming.

"Come next time you have time, sir. Ask for the girls on the third floor, I'm Lady Ju Hua."

It meant Chrysanthemums.

But more importantly, all third floor girls were for the Cruel Prince.

"Sure," Wei Jiang said softly, afraid of refusing upright. He will simply never step into Peony Palace again.

"I see your companion is here, I'll be leaving. Keep this a secret, please, sir" she said quickly. With a turn, she ran up with her fluttering green robes.

It was truly like seeing a goddess. So it was true ladies of Peony Palace had a certain spell, even greater than the inner court of scheming women trying to be the next Empress or Dowager. Or ones who try to use their son as a puppet—Wei Jiang's mind was going blank as Kai Yin walked to him, obviously having had a great meeting on his side, too.

"Shui Lian is as adorable as ever," Kai Yin laughed cheerfully. "I got the farewell and promised reward, now I think I can get through this winter without issues."

As the two left Peony Palace Wei Jiang couldn't stop his own blush. He hated the thought of falling for a person at first sight, but now he understood that peculiar look of her eyes. It wasn't honey, stars, or anything, her eyes were simply the color of chrysanthemum tea.