The person in his arms suddenly stiffened. Eyelashes trembled slightly, and red lips parted, yet no sound emerged.
Xiao Ci tightened his grip on the brush, his eyes darkening.
Scallding-hot breath fell against his neck. Qin Ziyu struggled to rise, but Xiao Ci held him down.
“Where is Your Highness running off to?”
His voice was hoarse and low; the hot air hitting Qin Ziyu’s face sent a wave of numbness from the back of his head all the way to his tailbone. Goosebumps rose on the back of his neck.
He forced himself to settle down, his fingers curling involuntarily as he grabbed the fabric of Xiao Ci’s sleeve.
Xiao Ci leaned forward until they were pressed tightly together. One hand still held the brush, while the other easily encircled Qin Ziyu’s waist.
“Has Your Highness not always wanted to throw yourself into my arms? Today, you have finally had your wish.”
He spoke very slowly, so slowly that it created the illusion of flirting.
“Why hide?”
Qin Ziyu’s heartbeat gradually stabilized. After the initial shock, acceptance was not difficult. After all, he had felt a sense of regret early on that a man like Xiao Ci was a eunuch.
“I am not hiding.”
Qin Ziyu leaned against Xiao Ci, hooking his arms around the man’s neck. A pair of peach-blossom eyes gazed over with deep affection. “If My Lord does not find me beneath him, I am naturally happy.”
Now it was Xiao Ci’s turn to fall silent. The joints of his hand holding the brush let out a series of audible cracks.
Xiao Ci pushed Qin Ziyu away and stood up from the chair. “Your Highness is hungry; have your meal first.”
He strode out. Behind his back, Qin Ziyu adjusted his clothes and let out a knowing smile.
The midday meal he’d had at the Hall of Chonghua had mostly been vomited back up, leaving Qin Ziyu’s stomach empty. Since the food prepared was all appetizing, he ate more than usual. Qing Kang arrived just then with the decocted medicine.
Smelling the sour, bitter scent of the medicine, Xiao Ci’s brow furrowed involuntarily. Qin Ziyu, however, did not change his expression, draining the bowl in one go before stuffing a preserved plum into his mouth to suppress the lingering taste.
“Does the Hall of Supreme Harmony burn incense daily just to mask the smell of medicine?” Xiao Ci suddenly asked.
Qin Ziyu nodded. “En. For the sake of warmth, I can only open windows for ventilation when I am away or when the weather is exceptionally fine. The smell of medicine is strong; I take it twice a day, so it never truly dissipates. Aside from incense, there is no other way.”
“Otherwise, the entire Eastern Palace would reek of medicine, and My Lord would be even less inclined to visit.”
Xiao Ci said nothing, avoiding Qin Ziyu’s gaze. The incense… was it for him?
The two returned to the main hall. Xiao Ci handled official business while Qin Ziyu read a book by his side. As he read, he drifted off to sleep; when he woke, the sky outside was turning dark.
He didn’t know when he had fallen asleep. He vaguely remembered being near Xiao Ci as his head grew heavier. He woke up on a daybed, covered by a thin quilt. The charcoal fire was burning high; he wasn’t cold at all.
His entire person felt warm.
Qin Ziyu gave a lazy yawn, rounded the screen, and pushed the door to the main hall open. The servants were lighting the lamps. Xiao Wenzi, Xiao Wuzi, and a few unfamiliar eunuchs were moving about, their footsteps and the sound of Xiao Ci turning pages nearly inaudible.
“Crown Prince.”
Seeing Qin Ziyu, the young eunuchs all knelt to pay their respects.
Qin Ziyu walked past them, the hem of his robe brushing against a young eunuch’s cap. The eunuch on the floor felt only a flurry of fragrant wind; he didn’t even hear Qin Ziyu telling them to rise until a companion nudged him. Only then did he scramble up in a daze.
“Why are the eunuchs here so dim-witted?” Qin Ziyu was amused by the man. Aside from the Xiao brothers he’d seen before, the others were new faces.
The young eunuchs felt a piercing gaze sweep over them and hurriedly withdrew.
Having just woken up, Qin Ziyu’s voice carried a hint of laziness. “Is My Lord still busy? Is it time for the evening meal?”
Xiao Ci: “…”
Eat and sleep, sleep and eat.
“I thought Your Highness would first ask about the Hall of Chonghua upon waking.”
Qin Ziyu nodded. “I did want to ask. How is Father?”
“There is no news yet,” Xiao Ci said. “Your Highness does not look like a person worried about the Emperor.”
“And what should I do?” Qin Ziyu asked. “Stay by Father’s bedside without undressing to care for him? Or go to the Hall of Supreme Splendor to pray for divine protection, vowing not to rise until Father wakes?”
“Or perhaps go mad at the Imperial Academy of Medicine, declaring that if they cannot cure Father, I will have the entire Academy buried with him?”
Xiao Ci was once again speechless.
If Qin Ziyu were at the Hall of Chonghua, it was unclear whether he would be caring for the Emperor or requiring the unconscious Emperor to care for him. Praying at the Hall of Supreme Splendor was even further out of the question; it was a place for offerings and incense and could not be too lavish. There would be at most two charcoal braziers. Given how much Qin Ziyu feared the cold, kneeling there for several hours would certainly result in a severe illness.
As for causing a scene at the Imperial Academy, it wasn’t even worth mentioning.
Qin Ziyu sat in the chair next to Xiao Ci. “Physician Ji said Father might develop a fever tonight. Several Ladies are keeping watch there; it is inconvenient for me to go. Lord Xiao, if you have the time, could you take a look on my behalf?”
“I shall go tonight,” Xiao Ci said. He wasn’t going for Qin Ziyu’s sake, but as the Emperor’s confidant, he could not be absent at such a time. During the day he could claim to be busy, but no matter how busy he was, nothing was more important than the Emperor’s health.
“I want to eat dumplings,” Qin Ziyu said. “I have no family to accompany me today; My Lord, please join me.”
When he was younger, Qin Ziyu had strongly disliked holidays Winter Solstice, New Year, Lantern Festival he had reached a point of hating them. As he grew older and his mind matured, he finally understood the meaning of holidays.
The main reason was having Lu Moyun by his side.
Thinking of Lu Moyun, Qin Ziyu’s mood soured. On past Winter Solstices, the two would decline all social invitations to stay home and wrap dumplings themselves. They would prepare a few dishes and drink wine while watching movies—a rare and leisurely time.
Lu Moyun had many relatives, yet he had always stayed with him. Those times could never return.
Qin Ziyu looked at Xiao Ci, and Xiao Ci happened to be looking at him. Qin Ziyu’s eyelids flickered, and he slowly let out a smile.
Xiao Ci’s dark eyes were bottomless. “What was Your Highness thinking just now?”
“Thinking of you, of course, My Lord,” Qin Ziyu replied.
Xiao Ci knew he was lying but did not press further. When the steaming dumplings were served, Qin Ziyu remembered something else.
“Lady Wen prepared for many days; now it has all gone to waste.”
Xiao Ci: “It is not a waste. It can be used for the New Year.”
Qin Ziyu nodded. “True.”
The two finished their dumplings while chatting idly and then went their separate ways. Qin Ziyu returned to the Eastern Palace to rest, while Xiao Ci went to the Hall of Chonghua to deal with the various imperial concubines as well as Prince Chun and Prince Jing.
The wind was even stronger at night. Qin Ziyu did not sleep soundly. In his dreams, he returned to his childhood: a woman’s resolute departing back, a child’s heart-wrenching cries. Darkness crushed a man’s chest; he suddenly transformed into a hideous ghost, chasing the child’s undeveloped body.
The child was quickly caught by the man and dragged toward a corner. Thunder mingled with the sounds of hitting and scolding, sinking into the cold, rainy night.
The next day, Qin Ziyu opened his eyes. Qing An came to report that Lord Lu requested an audience.
The sun had just climbed to the treetops, its dappled reflection hitting the red walls and green tiles.
Qin Ziyu rubbed his brow, washed up, and changed his clothes. “Let him in.”
In front of outsiders, the two maintained their formal, distant etiquette. Once Lu Moyun rose, Qin Ziyu sent Qing An to fetch breakfast and instructed two young palace maids to go and inquire for news from the Hall of Chonghua.
Every time Lu Moyun came to the Eastern Palace, Qin Ziyu would keep him for breakfast. Over time, the servants had grown accustomed to it and were no longer curious.
Seeing his poor complexion, Lu Moyun asked, “Did you have nightmares again?”
Qin Ziyu nodded. “En.”
“It’s been a long time since I dreamed of that; it’s quite a rarity.”
Lu Moyun let out a nearly inaudible sigh, placed his hand on Qin Ziyu’s wrist, and his expression grew increasingly grave.
Qin Ziyu turned grave in response. “Am I about to drop dead?”
“Shut up!” Lu Moyun gave him an annoyed glare. “Do you want to die that badly?”
Qin Ziyu shook his head. “Of course not. It’s just that your face is so unsightly. If you really started crying in front of me…”
Lu Moyun was about to say that if he wanted to see him cry, he’d have to wait until next life, when he heard the second half of Qin Ziyu’s sentence.
“…I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from laughing out loud.”
Lu Moyun pulled his hand back. “I should just let you die.”
“Regarding your illness, you must avoid overthinking. You surely had nightmares because you’ve been taxing your mind and spirit lately.”
Qin Ziyu said, “I know. I’ve already been very careful, but dealing with Xiao Ci is not that simple. Prince Jing is even more deep-thinking and calculating; I suspect there is something wrong with his parentage.”
“Why have you suddenly started doubting his identity?” Lu Moyun frowned. “No matter what he does, it has nothing to do with you.”
“If only Nanny Jiang were still around,” Qin Ziyu said, pouring two cups of water and taking a sip of one to moisten his throat.
“Don’t act rashly. I will lead Xiao Ci to investigate; it’s more convenient for him and won’t arouse suspicion.”
Lu Moyun’s brow was locked tight, a trace of dissatisfaction showing in his eyes. He set his cup down with a loud thud, startling Qin Ziyu. “What are you doing?!”
“I was going to ask what you think you’re doing. Qin Ziyu, if you really don’t want to live, I’ll give you a bottle of poison right now so you can die without pain.” Lu Moyun gripped the teacup. “Do you even know that you aren’t like you were before? You can’t just squander yourself.”
Seeing that Lu Moyun was truly angry, Qin Ziyu surrendered. “Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you. I won’t interfere with anything; I’ll just be a wealthy man of leisure.”
He had already been very attentive practicing the Five Animal Frolics daily, trying to sleep and wake early, and avoiding cold or spicy foods. Yet he still couldn’t save himself; he could only blame the weak body the original host had left him a complete medicine jar.
Lu Moyun knew well that Qin Ziyu would not easily give up. Aside from anger, he felt mostly helpless.
“It’s not that I won’t let you interfere, but that you must distinguish between primary and secondary concerns. One Xiao Ci has already exhausted your mind; if you get involved with Prince Jing as well, are you going to drag in all those nobles and powerful families from outside and have them set up a formation to perform a ritual in front of you?”
“Speaking of Xiao Ci…”
Qin Ziyu remembered what he had felt yesterday. It was absolutely not an illusion.
“Are there any segments in the novel describing Xiao Ci’s castration?”
His topic shifted so fast that Lu Moyun had to concentrate for a moment before answering. “No.”
“It only wrote about the fire at Yiran Hall where Xiao Ci nearly perished. He isn’t the protagonist; they wouldn’t write in such detail.”
Qin Ziyu gave an “en.”
“I suspect he isn’t a eunuch.”
“How is that possible!” Lu Moyun blurted out. “Back then, it was you… the original host who personally sent him to Yiran Hall. Setting aside how fast those castrating eunuchs are, he wouldn’t be able to escape the annual mandatory inspections.”
Qin Ziyu: “Do you think I haven’t considered all that?”
“But he is the villain.”
“Villains and protagonists are both uniquely favored by heaven.”
Lu Moyun fell silent for a while. “What you say makes sense.”
“But how do you know he isn’t a eunuch? Have you… made a move?”
Qin Ziyu shook his head. “Not yet.”
Seeing Lu Moyun looking at him with a strange expression, Qin Ziyu gave him a kick. “You’re thinking of me as far too much of a rogue.”
“Are you not?” Lu Moyun countered.
Qin Ziyu: “…”