Liu Mingyun gave him a smile, thoughts imperceptible as he brushed the pad of his thumb over Li Xinyuan’s knuckles and then pulled his hand away.
"This is why This Prince said that it was fate," he drolled, his expression a strange mix of amusent and delight as Li Xinyuan pursed his lips, refraining from saying anything. "If years ago soone had told This Prince that his intended would be the master of the halberd created from the monster he had slain, This Prince would have laughed and ordered the guards to drag them away."
Li Xinyuan held the halberd tighter. It felt nice to hold it.
After a pause, the Crown Prince added, looking at Li Xinyuan then at Master Zuo. "You can go, Master Zuo. You shall be rewarded appropriately for your assistance."
The blacksmith bowed deeply, murmuring his words of gratitude as he turned around and walked out of the Imperial Armoury.
After the old man was gone, Li Xinyuan straightened up, knocking the end of the halberd on the ground, he tossed it from one hand to another as he tested it out, pure delight — almost childish in nature — shone in his ethereal golden eyes.
Liu Mingyun watched him from a safe distance, seeing the surgeon playing with his newly acquired halberd, he couldn’t help the small smile that crawled on his lips, satisfaction bubbling in his heart at Li Xinyuan’s delight.
It felt fulfilling to see the surgeon so happy with his new weapon, unlike the sword that didn’t suit him all that well, this halberd seed to shine in all its silver, crystalline glory in his hands.
A few monts later, when Li Xinyuan cald down, he held the halberd and turned to look at the Crown Prince, a big grin tucked on his lips. The smile made the latter’s heart skip a beat as a pleasant numbness spread throughout his body.
"Your Highness," the surgeon who always seed so incredibly mature sounded breathless right now. "Thank you so much."
Liu Mingyun’s heart skipped another beat, resisting the urge to rest his hand on his chest, the Crown Prince gave the surgeon a smile and strode towards him, shaking his head slightly.
"I just fulfilled my promise, Xin’er." He paused, taking in the sight of Li Xinyuan’s delighted face. "You needn’t thank ."
Li Xinyuan canted his head to the side, his fingertips gently brushed against the axe of the halberd as he looked at the deadly weapon with so much affection.
"Still." He insisted, unrelenting. Liu Mingyun bowed his head, his eyes fluttered close as a smile tugged on his lips, a soft chuckle rumbling in his chest.
"Very well, I shall accept Xin’er’s gratitude."
Li Xinyuan humd, fascinated as he tore his eyes away from the halberd to look at Liu Mingyun instead.
As he glanced between the Crown Prince and the weapon, a thoughtful frown settled between his brows.
"My Liege..." he drawled, contemplatively.
"Yes, Xinyuan?"
"What is the na given to this halberd?"
Liu Mingyun blinked, montarily stumped as he looked at the beautifully crafted weapon. With a thoughtful hum, he replied. "I do not think this particular beauty was ever given a na, else it would’ve been engraved on it."
Li Xinyuan looked at the halberd, cursory glance searching all over as he nodded in agreent. "Indeed, no na is engraved on it."
"Why don’t you give it a na then, Xin’er?"
Li Xinyuan slowly turned his head to look at Liu Mingyun, baffled. Pointing at himself with uncertainty on his handso features, he asked. "?"
"Yes," Liu Mingyun confird, amused at the display. "Indeed, you should give it a na as its master, Xin’er."
Li Xinyuan thought for a mont, looking slightly unconvinced as he handed Liu Mingyun the halberd and smiled sweetly.
Too sweetly.
"Why doesn’t My Liege give it a suitable na in my stead?" He suggested, the cadence of his voice was gentle. So gentle that one might think that he was saying so lovely things.
Anyone would probably agree in a heartbeat if he were to ask with such a handso face and gentle tone. Anyone but Liu Mingyun, that is.
Liu Mingyun looked at the halberd that was handed to him, then looked down at the surgeon, keeping his head bowed to et his eyes. His face was utterly impassive as opposed to the saccharine, shaless smile plastered on Li Xinyuan’s breathtaking face.
In a deadpan voice, the Crown Prince humd, murmuring very softly. "Xinyuan should na it. Or is he so bad at naming that he would shirk such a responsibility to , hm?"
"Think what you will, My Liege," Li Xinyuan continued smiling placidly. "But you should be the one to na it, absolutely."
Liu Mingyun returned his smile with one of his own, tight and half-hearted as he bowed his head and replied. "Xin’er is very clever."
Li Xinyuan just smiled, silent and calm.
Who didn’t know that weapons in this world were, for the lack of better words, picky or better yet, demanding, even particular about the nas they were given?
If, by any fluke, their master was to suggest a na that was not to their liking, they would make sure to make their displeasure known. One way or another, really.
Li Xinyuan didn’t want to suffer anymore. So why not shove his beloved betrothed under the — taphorical — bus?
He did exactly that.
Liu Mingyun saw his unwavering stance on the matter of naming the halberd and shook his head. "Very well. Since Xin’er insists so much, I shall do it."
Li Xinyuan cracked a slight grin.
Famous last words.
After a long ti passed, three burns and two shocks later, Liu Mingyun’s face was still rather placid, if a bit sullen. They were still standing in the sa spot inside the armoury as the surgeon watched the taller male struggling with a pleasant smile on his face.
"You’re enjoying this," Liu Mingyun remarked, his voice deep but faint as he looked down at Li Xinyuan. "Aren’t you, Xin’er?"
Li Xinyuan’s smile faded instantly as a serious look took over his face, his elegant brows drew together in a frown as he shook his head, replying in a low voice.
"How can this lowly servant enjoy seeing Your Highness suffer?" He asked, glancing at the halberd in the man’s hands. "Your Highness has not found a suitable na even after such a long ti." He comnted, smiling trembling at his lips. He was being petty, he knew that. But hey, he was having fun!
Liu Mingyun let out a soft snort, shifting the halberd from one hand to another, he gave the weapon a quick glare and answered, twisting his neck as he did so.
"What can I do, Xin’er? This halberd of yours is such a picky one."
Unable to contain his amusent, Li Xinyuan ended up letting out a short giggle as he covered his lips, eyes narrowing as he grinned behind his sleeve.
"Why doesn’t Your Highness admit it? Your Highness has a terrible naming sense!"
For so reason, every protagonist of so form of literature seed to share one singular trait—a terrible naming sense.
However, he wasn’t going to complain since he was enjoying it quite a bit.
Liu Mingyun scoffed. "No, I do not, Xin’er." Yet, he didn’t seem to lose his patience, even looking a bit amused.
"In that case," Li Xinyuan nodded in understanding as he tapped on his chin with his forefinger, pretending to think about sothing. "Your Highness can continue till Your Highness cos up with a suitable na for it—" he pointed at the beautiful halberd and then at the Crown Prince "—this lowly one can heal Your Highness’ burns forever."
As soon as the surgeon’s words fell into Liu Mingyun’s ears, the Crown Prince stilled, more than a teasing remark, it sounded like a promise.
Even if Li Xinyuan didn’t an it in the way Liu Mingyun thought he was, the words were still comforting to a degree.
"Alas," the Crown Prince began, thoroughly amused as he looked down at the halberd. "I do not plan to keep Xin’er occupied for now. So I’ll give this little ancestor a good na and be done with it."
Li Xinyuan nodded sagely as he crossed his arms on his chest and shifted from one foot to another. Regardless of the entertainnt he derived from watching the protagonist suffer, he was looking forward to his halberd having a good na.
Liu Mingyun closed his eyes and took a deep breath, the cogs in his head turned as he thought of various nas that wouldn’t displease the little ancestor in the form of a mute halberd.
When he opened his eyes again, the Crown Prince held the halberd at an eye level and glanced at Li Xinyuan before speaking, contemplatively.
"How about..." He paused, smiling faintly. "Sui Yue*?"
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