The King's Dancer

Chapter 26

"How do I look?", Hua Cheng asked, after he got dressed in commoner's robes.

"Precious", Xie Lian giggled.

It was true. No matter how Hua Cheng dressed, he had that air about him that only powerful people could have. There was an easy confidence just oozing off of him, and it absolutely didn't fit the modest clothing. Apart from that, he'd taken off his leather eyepatch, and exchanged it for simple white cloth bandages. In order to fasten them, he'd put his hair up in a ponytail, and somehow it made him look much more youthful.

Hearing that he sounded precious, Hua Cheng got a complicated look on his face, and Xie Lian couldn't help but laugh out right when it eventually turned into a pout.

"What about me?", Xie Lian asked quickly, before his alpha could complain.

"Hot", Hua Cheng said and paused, giving Xie Lian time to feel rather stunned, before he proceeded. "I think taking the outer robe off would be better. Don't underestimate the sun, gege. Last time you were protected by the palanquin, but we'll be walking this time."

Xie Lian blushed, but had to admit that Hua Cheng had a point, and eventually took his outer layer off again. While he did that, he noticed Hua Cheng getting a somewhat weird glint in his eye.

"What?", he asked suspiciously.

"Gege, how would you feel about wearing a straw hat? I think I have one around here...", he said, and started searching through his things.

"So you want me to play the part of a farmer?", Xie Lian asked, feeling somewhat amused now.

"Why not? I think it would suit gege", he said, and seemed to have found what he was looking for, given his triumphant exclamation.

The straw hat he was holding up looked old, and rather battered, however it fit their goal of wanting to blend in with the crowd outside.

After Xie Lian had emptied out his heart to his alpha, Hua Cheng had been relieved, but also apologised quite a lot for not having made it clear from the very beginning that Xie Lian wasn't being held captive in the palace, and asked him if there was something he could do to make it up to Xie Lian.

Of course, Xie Lian had denied any need for that at first, but then he thought better of it, and forced the king to explore the outside city together with him. Last time had been nice, but surely it would be a much better experience if Hua Cheng was to accompany him. Not only that, he wanted to spend time at the market and exploring the city like a normal citizen, which was why they were trying to dress up accordingly right now. After all, they wouldn't take any guards with them, so it was better to blend in. Hua Cheng had assured him that it was unnecessary, but Xie Lian simply had too much fun seeing the king dressed up like this.

When they eventually left the palace, Hua Cheng wasn't wearing his signature red and black robes; instead he was wearing sandy colours, light brown and off white, with no patterns sewn in. They were a bit torn and ruggy, and if he was honest, Hua Cheng looked rather like a beggar more than a commoner. As for Xie Lian, he also wore completely different colours than his usual white ones. He was wearing light and dark green robes. They were pretty, but Xie Lian didn't really think they suited him. However, he did rather like the straw hat Hua Cheng had found for him.

When they passed by the guards outside the palace walls, they looked exceedingly confused, and seemed to be unsure if it was their king who was leaving, or someone they didn't remember walking into the palace, who resembled the king quite a bit. Some of them made to bow despite their confusion, but of course Hua Cheng saw, and stopped them.

"No need. Don't blow our cover", he muttered under his breath, and the guards straightened up immediately, not looking any less confused.

The whole scene reminded Xie Lian a lot of the time when he was young, and tried to sneak out of the palace without having his parents know about it. He wasn't always successful, but it had always been a fun and thrilling game for him to find out if he could fool the guards on duty.