Liang Ze's POV

  Liang Ze woke up to something wet.

  And sticky.

  And disturbingly enthusiastic.

  He frowned, still half-asleep.

  "…Miao Miao," he muttered, gently pushing the creature away from his face. "Stop it. Don't do this."

  He paused.

  Miao Miao would never do this.

  Miao Miao was a cat. A dignified, emotionally unavailable cat.

  This thing was drooling like it had a hydration problem.

  Liang Ze slowly opened one eye.

  Wrinkled face.

  Heavy breathing.

  Thick jowls.

  "…That is not my cat."

  He shot upright immediately.

  "Xiao Tian! Take your dog away from my face!"

  No response.

  Annoyed, he grabbed the dog and lifted it in front of him. The creature blinked lazily, tongue hanging out, saliva still dripping.

  "…Why is it built like this?"

  Three seconds later, realization struck.

  "This is a freaking English bulldog."

  Which explained everything.

  Xiao Tian's dog was a Jack Russell Terrier.

  Small. Athletic. Civilized.

  This thing looked like it came with its own humidity system.

  Liang Ze carefully placed the bulldog aside and finally looked around.

  Wooden carved walls.

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  Ancient folding screens.

  Silk curtains.

  Traditional lantern light.

  He screamed.

  "JIN—!"

  The doors burst open instantly.

  A guard rushed in with a knife drawn.

  "My lord!"

  Liang Ze stared at the blade. "Who the hell are you? And what's with the knife?!"

  The man bowed calmly. "This humble servant is Attendant Ke. The knife is normal, my lord."

  Normal?!

  Liang Ze's analytical brain — usually razor-sharp — stalled.

  Ancient architecture.

  Ancient clothing.

  Armed guard.

  No electricity.

  He felt irritation bubbling under his skin.

  This is not logical.

  This is not scientifically possible.

  Then instinct kicked in.

  Breathe.

  Recompose.

  Years of idol training. Media crises. Unexpected interviews. Scandals that required careful wording.

  He discreetly pinched himself.

  Hard.

  Pain.

  Not a dream.

  Conclusion: Unknown phenomenon. Panic unproductive.

  Fine.

  If he was trapped in historical nonsense, he would outthink it.

  He stood up calmly.

  Attendant Ke interpreted that as readiness and immediately dressed him in elegant robes. Liang Ze didn't resist.

  In fact—

  He rather enjoyed the service.

  Then—

  He heard it.

  Faint.

  Familiar.

  Despite the waterfall, wind, and distant palace sounds—

  He heard a voice

  Clear. Distinct.

  His heart skipped.

  No matter how noisy the world becomes, two familiar heartbeats will find each other.

  Without thinking, Liang Ze ran toward the back of the residence, tracing along the palace walls.

  "My lord?!" Attendant Ke hurried after him.

  "What's behind this wall?" Liang Ze demanded.

  "A small alley, my lord. Beyond it stands Prince Tian Rui's residence."

  Liang Ze's breath caught.

  "Did you hear a voice?"

  "No, my lord."

  He didn't care.

  And then—

  He screamed.

  Not just screamed.

  He started rapping loudly.

  One of Xing Yu's songs.

  Clear rhythm. Sharp tone.

  Attendant Ke stood beside him, praying this was simply one of Prince Ze Liang's usual unpredictable moods.

  ?

  Xiao Tian's POV

  Xiao Tian woke up with confusion, headache, and fear at the unfamiliar ancient surroundings.

  But unlike the others, his voice remained soft.

  Gentle.

  Steady.

  Attendant Xixi simply assumed Prince Tian Rui was slightly disoriented from last night's drinking.

  After all, Prince Tian Rui rarely drank.

  And couldn't hold his alcohol well.

  But last night had been different.

  It was brotherhood night.

  All five princes together.

  As Xiao Tian chased a cat through the courtyard — apparently his cat now — he reached the back of his residence.

  He paused.

  "…Anyone there?"

  Then—

  He heard it.

  A rap rhythm.

  Familiar.

  His eyes sparkled instantly.

  He turned to Attendant Xixi.

  "What is behind this wall?"

  Attendant Xixi replied calmly, "Beyond this wall is a small alley, my lord. On the other side stands Prince Ze Liang's residence."

  Prince Ze Liang.

  Liang Ze.

  The rap echoed again.

  Xiao Tian's heart pounded.

  "Take me there."

  "I cannot, my lord."

  Throne politics.

  Self-safety.

  Unspoken rules.

  Xiao Tian looked down.

  One large dog holes.

  On his side.

  He didn't hesitate.

  ?

  At the same moment—

  Liang Ze had spotted the same thing.

  Without discussion.

  Without dignity.

  They crouched—

  And crawled.

  Dust. Dirt. Royal reputation destroyed.

  When their heads emerged on opposite sides—

  They froze.

  Then tears fell instantly.

  "You're real."

  "You're here."

  They stood and hugged tightly, jumping in the narrow alley like children reunited after years apart.

  Attendant Ke and Attendant Xixi stood stunned.

  Never in their lives—

  Never—

  Had they seen princes crawl through dog holes.

  The celebration was cut short by a palace maid's urgent voice from behind Tian Rui's wall.

  "Attendant Xixi!"

  She called out quickly.

  "I just received instructions from the Emperor's palace! His Majesty requests all five princes for dinner tonight. Six sharp!"

  Silence.

  Liang Ze and Xiao Tian exchanged a look.

  Dinner.

  All five.

  The Emperor.

  Attendant Ke and Attendant Xixi immediately separated them, gently but firmly pulling them back toward their respective residences. They were allowed to touch the princes — they had grown up together.

  As Liang Ze was led away, his mind raced again.

  Five princes.

  Brotherhood night.

  Red moon.

  Imperial summons.

  This was not coincidence.

  This was strategy.

  Somewhere else in Tie Shan Gong—

  Crown Prince Jin.

  Prince Wu Chen.

  Prince Huang Rui.

  Were likely thinking the same thing.

  Tonight—

  All five members of Xing Yu would sit at the same imperial table.

  And none of them knew what the Golden Dragon wanted.