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Tiger Gate: Sequel
墨書 Inktalez
In the Lan Family, a young boy was growing up, learning to warm the bed.
Xiao Liu returned to the palace after court and saw Lan Xiaobao bouncing happily on his dragon bed. Rubbing his aching temples, he asked, "What are you doing?"
"Warming the bed," Lan Xiaobao replied matter-of-factly, continuing to bounce as he spoke. "Brother Seven, I can warm the bed too. You shouldn't go to the harem looking for those troublesome women or seductresses; it makes me unhappy."
That's not how you warm a bed, and besides, you're a boy; you can't warm a bed like that, Xiao Liu thought. He wanted to tell him but held back, furrowing his brow instead and asking, "Who taught you this?"
"The Storyteller said so," Lan Xiaobao replied, tiring from bouncing. He took a sip of water that Xiao Liu handed him, his dark eyes sparkling. "I went to listen to stories today; he talked about you and me. Oh, he scolded me—"
Lan Xiaoqing, the seductress, who left court and climbed onto the dragon bed, causing the emperor to miss morning court.
Remembering the Storyteller's words, Lan Xiaobao wrinkled his nose in slight grievance.
"But you did go to morning court."
"They're talking nonsense; don't pay attention to it."
Xiao Liu casually remarked, shifting his focus back to the memorials. After resting enough, Lan Xiaobao resumed his "bed warming" endeavors, bouncing and hopping with delight.
At just fifteen or sixteen years old, Lan Xiaobao was quite slender, with skin so delicate it seemed almost breakable—like a playful porcelain doll.
Such a person would likely just blink their clear eyes in confusion if faced with the world's murky waters.
Lan Xiaobao did not understand the differences between genders nor the complexities of love; after sixteen years, he remained as innocent as a blank slate. This version of Lan Xiaobao was shaped by Xiao Liu himself; he had no regrets but was uncertain how to proceed.
Lan Xiaobao was the only son of Tiger Gate and the Lan Family.
In his early years, Old Master Lan fought alongside the Founding Emperor, rising from a lowly soldier to a Valiant General Bestowed by the Emperor—his achievements were well-known. After finally reaching a time of peace and enjoying a life of comfort, Old Master Lan volunteered again to guard Border Defense at Desert City.
This duty ensured a century of peace for Xiao Kingdom and four generations of loyalty from the Lan Family.
Every generation of the Lan Family has perished in Desert City, a place perpetually engulfed by swirling yellow sands.
For a century, the Lan Family has guarded the Border Defense of Xiao Kingdom like an unyielding tiger, earning the title of Tiger Gate. Except for Lan Xiaobao, who merely watches as others criticize him.
Yet, from Tiger Gate emerged a failure.
Lan Xiaobao was also born in Desert City, but he was nurtured by the waters of Liu Yun Palace.
That year, Xiao Liu accompanied his father to Desert City to visit General Lan. Lan Xiaobao had just learned to walk and could barely speak. He hid behind the Nursemaid, peeking out with glistening eyes to watch Xiao Liu.
At just five years old, Xiao Liu stood tall, trying to appear mature, but couldn't help stealing a glance at Lan Xiaobao.
In that moment, he saw his own reflection in Lan Xiaobao's clear eyes—distinct and bright.
Xiao Liu quickly turned away to look at the ailing General Lan. The man had aged rapidly after spending so long on the frontier, and despite Lan Xiaobao being so small, General Lan had already withered into a frail old man, far from the robust figure he once was.
He trembled as he knelt down, and when he rose again, his breath was slightly labored.
General Lan grasped the Emperor's hand and asked, "Has the Snow Ear Flower bloomed in the capital?"
The Snow Ear Flower is unique to the capital. With tears in his eyes, the Emperor replied that it would bloom by the time he returned.
Yet General Lan did not live to see that day. He had visited the capital once with his father during his youth and had always remembered the trees laden with silver-white Snow Ear Flowers. But what he truly longed for was not just the flowers; it was for his youngest son to return home. The Lan Family had suffered too much in Desert City across four generations.
Lan Xiaobao returned to the capital with Xiao Liu, gazing up at him along the way and asking, "Where is Father?"
He did not yet understand that General Lan had passed away or why there were no familiar faces around him. He simply leaned against the window, watching Desert City fade into the distance until his eyes turned red and he began to quietly sob.
Xiao Liu held him close, and Lan Xiaobao looked up with tear-filled eyes and asked, "Why doesn’t Father want me?"
Xiao Liu tightened his grip on his arm and said, "I will accompany you; I want you."
From that moment on, Lan Xiaobao followed the Seventh Prince. Since he was one and a half years old, Xiao Liu had been by his side, and this companionship lasted for fifteen years.
The two had been close since childhood. To Lan Xiaobao, Xiao Liu was the person meant to be with him for a lifetime. But to Xiao Liu, what was Lan Xiaobao?
Outsiders called him Lan Xiaoqing, labeling him a disgrace from a noble family, a man who used his body to please others. Xiao Liu scoffed at their ignorance; they didn't understand that Lan Xiaobao was just a child, that innocent child he first met.
He had exerted so much effort to protect that purity, but inevitably, Lan Xiaobao would grow up and start asking questions.
" Brother Seven, you have me already; why do you still need a harem?"
In his world, companionship was meant to be one-on-one. If Xiao Liu was to accompany him, what would happen to those lonely girls? Xiao Liu couldn't explain; he had raised Lan Xiaobao this way—was he really going to shatter it all himself?
He felt a bit tired and tried not to think about it. Lan Xiaobao had warmed the bed and was now practicing a set of punches, exuding vigor.
While others spoke of him as indulgent and unruly, the truth was he worked hard and never forgot that he was from Tiger Gate. He studied military texts and practiced martial arts diligently, yet he seemed to lack talent; progress was slow. His hands were quite skillful, though—he could carve dolls and weave bamboo birds—but this was the palace; who cared for such things?
Xiao Liu quietly watched Lan Xiaobao. He turned around and smiled slightly, his lips red and teeth white, radiating brilliance. For a moment, there was an enchanting beauty that transcended gender. Just then, a eunuch's sharp voice broke the spell.
"Your Majesty, the Barbarians are invading!"
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