Shen QuanLi was still gone. He was supposed to be back today. Lai XingXue excitedly waited for his master to be back the first hour of the day Shen QuanLi said he would return. Coming back at such a late time was in itself ridiculous, and the cultivator, in fact, didn’t arrive so early. Although it was expected, the ordeal was still disappointing. The prince had cleaned his master’s study every day, despite his absence, and dutifully tended to the garden as well.

Shen QuanLi grew grass and herbs near the river that ran through his pavilion. There were several species of plants, ranging from trees and shrubbery to lotus grass. All of which were meticulously organized and taken care of in the garden. Lai XingXue had seen just how much the immortal lovingly doted on the patch of land. Due to their excellent care, some of the plants, after absorbing qi, became rare ingredients that could aid in curing any illness.

As Lai XingXue watered the plants in his master’s absence, he only missed his master even more. He watched absentmindedly as a soft white rabbit hopped towards him. It nuzzled itself into his leg, almost as if it was a courteous greeting, before biting into the knotweed. Gold eyes stared at the rabbit, then at the weed, then back again at the rabbit. The second prince’s expression fell.

A knock on the sliding door drew away Lai XingXue’s attention.

“Shizun-” he gasped. The second prince decided most definitely, he was screwed. “Shizun… welcome back.”

“XingXue,” Shen QuanLi stepped onto the wooden deck outside of the study, before taking another step onto the grass. “You seem guilty.”

The rabbit, frightened by the immortal’s presence, squeaked and scuttled away. Lai XingXue didn’t get the chance to explain before cold green eyes pierced right through him.

“XingXue, what did I say about bringing these creatures into my garden?” His master’s voice was dry and unamused.

The prince recited, “Don’t do it…”

“Do I need to remind you twice?”

The rabbit hid under Lai XingXue’s robes as if it was convicting him. It didn’t belong to him as Shen QuanLi hated it when pests wander and ruin his garden. The youth wasn’t allowed to own one under the pavilion rules. But, despite everything, the second prince couldn’t hate the bunny even if it brought trouble. He scooped it up and set it over the fence that bordered the plants.

When he had brought a rabbit home the first time, his master had let him off easy. He thought Shen QuanLi would appreciate the affection of the soft creature, but instead, he recalled the awkward lecture he got. That time, the bunny hadn’t even done anything. This time, the audacious fur ball at his feet took a taste of the cultivated knotweed. Had Lai XingXue not quickly helped in its escape, his master would have asked him to turn it into rabbit stew.

The teen bowed his upper body, well ready to be disowned.

After a moment of contemplation, Shen QuanLi gave his punishment, “Copy the sect rules ten times and then kneel before Moon pavilion for the entire day.”

Graciously, Lai XingXue looked up at his master. The immortal had let him off with such a light punishment, completely opposite to his expectations. “This disciple understands.”

After he finished detailing the list of barely a hundred rules, Lai XingXue knelt in front of the stairs leading to Shuangyue Elder’s pavilion. The second prince couldn’t help but feel as if the punishment was wasted time when he could be catching up with his master.

Lai XingXue didn’t worry about appearance when other disciples of the sect passed by. There weren’t many considering the location of Shen QuanLi’s building, but there were intercrossing paths that led to it. After establishing a cultivation base a year ago, now with heightened senses, he could listen to the muttered conversations about him. It was the only entertainment he had.

According to the crowd, he was being punished too severely and too lightly for both a monumental and an incredibly small mistake. Gossip was gossip, but none of the disciples approached to talk to him or ask about the truth of the case. It wasn’t as though it was against the rules, it was just that no one wanted to talk to the second prince. It was around lunchtime when Shen QuanLi decided to drop by, and despite being the one who assigned the discipline, Lai XingXue looked at his mentor merrily.

Shen QuanLi never knew how to respond to Lai XingXue’s odd devotion and instead placed a steamed bun, wrapped in a handkerchief, in his disciple’s lap. “Don’t skip meals.” A brief pause, “I made it by hand, so it should be fine to eat.”

Lai XingXue eyed the simple, somewhat dopey, steamed red-bean bun as if it was a rare once-in-a-lifetime treasure. “Shizun, the disciple doesn’t deserve your generosity!”

“I see.” Shen QuanLi bent down to take the bun back. Lai XingXue gripped onto the cooked dough and, in return, an amused smile graced the senior’s lips. “Then contemplate on why you shouldn’t invite your strays to my gardens.” Shuangyue Elder turned to walk away. Lai XingXue reached out his hand before withdrawing it.

Lai XingXue admired the steamed bun before, eventually, eating it. As his knees grew sore from the kneeling, an interesting little red creature appeared. It snuck out from a shrub, trailing flower petals behind it. The creature was best described as… a minuscule noodle, somewhat like a newborn snake. But snakes didn't have tiny legs. It blitzed from shrub to shrub, it seemed like it was watching the teen.

The second prince had never encountered such an interesting animal before and happily invited the little reptile to his lap. Lai XingXue’s affinity to animals was quite high. He knew the ropes around taking care of any kind of animal and easily bonded with all types of creatures. Being the resident hermit of the royal palace gave him the time and he frequently used it to tend to the wildlife there.

The creature approached him hesitantly before adjusting itself into a comfortable position on his lap.

When it was sunset, the next moment of interest occurred. A shadow cast overhead and Lai XingXue watched as the unfamiliar person head towards the Moon pavilion. They were cloaked in orange and yellow robes, reminiscent of the dawning sun, which was neither the QianYan’lu uniform nor an elder’s robes that he recognized.

Curious, Lai XingXue attempted to get up, but after hours of sitting in the same condensed position, pins and needles stabbed into his legs whenever he tried to move. The prince flailed a little before he ended up back in the same kneeling position. The pathetic display did end up redirecting the attention of the guest, though so all was not in vain. Once he noticed that he had drawn the stranger’s attention, the second prince realized the legged noodle had vanished from his lap. But right now, the guest was his main concern.

In the year he had been under Shen QuanLi’s tutelage, he had never seen his mentor get a visitor from out of the sect. It was usually QianYan’lu’s elders or the occasional visit from his master’s physician friend. Some brave disciples, enraptured by Shuangyue Elder, would pay a visit, but would more or less be scolded by the immortal for slacking off and sneaking off into other’s pavilions.

A man in his mid-twenties looked down at the prince from the stairs before descending them and approaching him. “What are you doing, causing a scene in front of Moon pavilion?” The man crossed his arms and an almost teasing expression covered his face, “Aren’t you afraid that Shuangyue Elder would come out and give you fifty lashes?”

“Shuangyue Elder would never do such a thing.” Lai XingXue’s face scrunched up, as he fixed his legs in a more comfortable position.

“And what would you know?” Arrogance bled out of the guest’s tone. “You’re just a clueless fan.”

The second prince’s voice became whist, “Then who are you?”

“Sun Chenxi. Your Shuangyue Elder’s only disciple.”