At noon, Yan Si followed Xiao Yi to a pavilion in the Imperial Garden for the meal, yet matters were not as he had imagined.
Here, there was not only RongCheng but also the Male Imperial Consort, the two of them seated quite close to each other.
Upon seeing them, Yan Si immediately felt flustered and wished to turn back, but Xiao Yi blocked his way. RongCheng smiled and said, "A-Si, come sit down quickly and partake of the meal."
Xiao Yi was quick to pull out a seat: "Master, please sit here."
Forced into this situation, Yan Si nodded and slowly sat down, but he knew not what to say; with the other person present, he felt ill at ease.
At this moment, RongCheng waved his hand, signaling Xiao Yi to withdraw, and said, "Since returning, so many events have occurred that we have not had an opportunity to dine together. On this occasion, I wished to..."
It turned out this was the purpose of the meal: RongCheng wished for him and Shan Yuan to have a chance to grow closer, for to this day, the two had never formally conversed.
Shan Yuan looked at Yan Si and smiled, saying, "I have heard that you have saved His Highness and myself multiple times, yet we have not yet had a proper occasion to repay you."
Hearing this, Yan Si replied softly, "The Imperial Consort need not speak so. Elder Brother has also saved my life many times."
Seeing the two conversing somewhat distantly, RongCheng suddenly chuckled and said, "Now, why do you still address him as Imperial Consort? He is my wife; should you not address him as..."
...Elder Sister-in-Law... he should address him as Elder Sister-in-Law! Yet, before RongCheng could finish his sentence, he was immediately stomped hard upon the foot by Shan Yuan. The Consort then smiled and proposed: "Though we have not formally become sworn siblings, you have already acknowledged him as Elder Brother; would you accept me as your Second Brother?"
"Second Brother?" Yan Si had not expected so many elder brothers to suddenly appear! Pondering this for a long while, Yan Si finally nodded: "That is also acceptable, if you do not find me wanting."
Shan Yuan smiled and shook his head: "Little Brother is truly foolish. How could I ever find you wanting?"
RongCheng naturally agreed to this matter as well. He smiled and pointed toward the dishes on the table, saying, "Enough! Enough! Quickly eat your meal before it cools."
Yan Si gently nodded, concentrating entirely on eating his rice.
Seeing that the boy seemed ill at ease, Shan Yuan proactively placed some food into his bowl, saying, "You need not be shy. You should also serve yourself some food. You must eat a little more to regain your strength."
Yan Si had not expected Shan Yuan to act thus; he looked toward RongCheng with a slight embarrassment. The latter merely smiled and said, "That is right, you should try to eat more."
Afterward, RongCheng also served food into Shan Yuan's bowl, saying, "You as well."
What manner of tableau was this? Though the behavior was entirely normal, it inadvertently caused confusion. Both Yan Si and Shan Yuan sensed the oddity, but only RongCheng remained oblivious.
It seemed Shan Yuan had discerned Yan Si's envy at RongCheng's action.
Yan Si hesitantly said in a low voice: "I... I also wish for Elder Brother to serve me some food..."
"Is that so? Very well." Hearing this, RongCheng simply laughed heartily and indulged him.
At this moment, Shan Yuan began to feel somewhat uneasy, wanting to speak but knowing not how to phrase it.
Clearly, when Yan Si was served food by him, the boy appeared surprised, and even his attitude suggested complete dislike. Conversely, when indulged by RongCheng, he immediately brightened, looking utterly satisfied.
What Shan Yuan suspected was not wrong. Yan Si was currently very pleased to be pampered by RongCheng who served him food. It made him feel that he was not lacking too much compared to the other person, at least in terms of affection.
The noon meal passed. Yan Si was now much happier. On the way back, he told Xiao Yi: "I have decided from this day forth."
"Huh?" Xiao Yi was somewhat curious and asked, "What has Master decided?"
Thinking of a bright future, Yan Si spoke with great determination: "From now on, I shall strive harder; I shall eat a great deal."
"Truly, Master?" Hearing this, Xiao Yi was overjoyed, almost moved to tears: "Then let us both strive! This servant shall assist you!"
Yan Si nodded, secretly resolving that he must live better from now on, so that his Elder Brother would not lose face.
At the same time, Shan Yuan followed RongCheng back to the Zi Xuan Palace, his heart filled with unease. After walking for a while, he suddenly stopped and called out, "Cheng..."
Hearing his name called with such gravity, RongCheng paused and turned to look at him, asking, "What is it?"
After a moment of contemplation, Shan Yuan hesitantly asked, "That... sworn brother... Do you not find something very strange about him?"
Being prompted, RongCheng began to ponder: "There... there is a little strangeness, but why?"
Shan Yuan suddenly sighed: "I feel that the gaze he directs toward you..."
He truly did not know how to express it, but it was not the way a sworn brother usually looks at his elder: "...and the manner in which he seeks your attention... is truly quite unnatural."
Seeing the situation grow tense, RongCheng silently observed Shan Yuan. After a moment, he suddenly burst into laughter and teased him, asking: "Now, it seems you are jealous... Are you jealous?"
Shan Yuan's face abruptly turned red, and he immediately spun away in annoyance: "No... I am not... Who... who is jealous of you?"
Seeing that the person was clearly blushing deeply, RongCheng still followed, teasing him: "If you are not jealous, why are you acting thus? Quickly tell me, A-Yuan, are you jealous?"
Shan Yuan remained insistent in his denial: "I am not... I am not..."
"But your face is completely red! Are you still denying it?"
"It is... the heat of the sun."
"Is that so? Why do I not feel the same?"
He did not understand why the situation had turned out this way. In the end, Shan Yuan's concern had unexpectedly become RongCheng's subject for jest. This truly left the consort exasperated.