The morning light was bright. Xie Chengyun wanted to get up, but his sleeve was tightly gripped by Zhu Yunyin. He tugged at it, but the young Emperor still refused to let go. Xie Chengyun had no choice but to lie back down.
It was Gu Minsheng who, seeing that they had not yet risen, came in to wake them. Looking at Zhu Yunyin, who was dazed and rubbing his eyes while lying on the bed, he asked, “Your Majesty, why are you in Xie’s room?”
Children are thin-skinned. Xie Chengyun waved his hand and shooed Gu Minsheng away.
For the entire day, Zhu Yunyin stuck to Xie Chengyun like a dog afraid of being abandoned. Xie Chengyun did not mind and began playing pitch-pot with Gu Minsheng.
“We agreed: one arrow each. Whoever loses has to wash the dishes.”
Old Master Xie expressed his refusal; he was willing to cook, but he would rather die than wash dishes.
As the two were deadlocked, Zhu Yunyin spoke up: “I can wash the dishes for Brother Yun.”
“You little brat, showing no respect for your elders,” Xie Chengyun muttered, feeling that the young boy was making him sound old. He rolled his eyes and said, “Come here, little Yunyin, call me ‘Brother’ and let me hear it.”
Zhu Yunyin followed suit obediently and called, “Brother.”
Xie Chengyun was momentarily dazed by the young Emperor’s smile. It wasn’t his fault; the face was simply too beautiful. Zhu Yunyin’s mother had been the greatest beauty of Shangliang and the older sister of Zhou Bijiji. In his youth, Xie Chengyun had watched her from afar at the Zhou residence and even secretly admired her.
And Zhu Yunyin looked exactly like his mother.
Xie Chengyun looked at Zhu Yunyin’s face and shook his head. No, Zhu Yunyin was even more beautiful than his mother.
The young Emperor saw Xie Chengyun observing him closely and could not help but feel a little panicked. He usually loathed this feminine face, but at this moment, he hated himself for not being even more beautiful. If he were more beautiful, would Xie Chengyun love no, like him more?
“Hey, hey, hey, why have you both suddenly gone into a daze?” Gu Minsheng waved his hands in front of them, looking completely bewildered.
Xie Chengyun regained his senses and sighed, “Time really spares no one. His Majesty has grown so much now, and he looks more and more like the late Empress.”
Zhu Yunyin’s face darkened.
Gu Minsheng picked up an arrow and replied, “Indeed. Back then, didn’t you like the late Empress? If it weren’t for the twists of fate that led Lady Zhou into the deep palace, perhaps His Majesty would be your own son.”
Xie Chengyun glanced at Zhu Yunyin and, seeing that he was unhappy, said, “Let’s not talk about that. Let’s continue, let’s continue.”
“One turn each. Whoever loses washes the dishes.”
“Impossible.”
“Hey, why are you being such a rogue? You already agreed not to do the cooking, and now you won’t wash the dishes either.”
Xie Chengyun revealed a fox-like smile and said, “How about this: if you lose, you let me slap you once. What’s the point of washing dishes? This is more fun.”
“And if you lose?”
“I cannot lose.”
Gu Minsheng was unconvinced. “How can a person never lose even once!”
“If I lose, I will grant any request you make.”
“Anything?”
“Anything.”
Gu Minsheng was still too young. Xie Chengyun smiled broadly and rolled up his sleeves. “Are you ready? Stick your face over here.”
Gu Minsheng widened his eyes. Twenty times in a row how could anyone manage not to lose even once!
“Hey, why are you backing away? We agreed: one loss, one slap.”
Gu Minsheng had to tearfully offer his cheek, cowering as he said, “Hit me lightly; I still have to go out later.”
“Don’t worry about my technique.”
Xie Chengyun smiled and raised his hand. “Smack!”
Startled, the swallows on the rafters took flight. Gu Minsheng shouted, “Damn it, Xie Chengyun, do you even have a heart?”
“Bring your face over here. There are still nineteen to go.”
After nineteen slaps were finished, Gu Minsheng felt as if his face had lost all sensation. Old Master Xie was just about to stroll away when Gu Minsheng grabbed him. “Don’t go yet, let’s keep going.”
“You’re already like this, and you still want to play?”
Gu Minsheng gritted his teeth. “Continue!”
A man who does not seek revenge for this is not a gentleman.
Swish.
Gu Minsheng made his shot. Xie Chengyun picked up an arrow and tossed it forward. Just then, a gust of wind blew by, and the arrow grazed the rim of the pot and missed.
Xie Chengyun was dumbfounded. Gu Minsheng let out a laugh as if the heavens had eyes. Thinking of those twenty slaps, Xie Chengyun felt a chill run down his back; he should have gone easier on him.
He stubbornly maintained, “That was because of the wind, it doesn’t count.”
“You are so shameless, breaking the rules again.”
Xie Chengyun had nothing to say and could only reply, “Then what do you want me to do? Let’s be clear first: nothing too excessive. Something like washing dishes for a month is absolutely impossible.”
Like every feudal patriarch, Old Master Xie was willing to solve your problems, but refused all housework. Especially washing dishes and cooking.
“That won’t happen,” and just as Xie Chengyun breathed a sigh of relief, Gu Minsheng continued, “That would be letting you off too easily.”
“Then what do you want?”
The next moment, Xie Chengyun appeared on the street carrying a basket of grass. Beside him stood a large wooden board with white characters on a black background—Gu Minsheng’s Defeated Opponent.
Xie Chengyun skillfully wove grass horses, while Zhu Yunyin squatted to the side, accompanying him. One by one, the horses were completed. The two of them one beautiful, the other cold and handsome attracted countless gazes.
His head was covered by a shadow. “Hey, you said you sell horses. Are these your horses?”
Xie Chengyun looked up: “How can grass horses not be horses?”
“That makes sense.”
A maid carried a basket, while her young mistress covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed happily. “I haven’t thanked you for last time. Are you from Suizhou? Where do you live?”
Xie Chengyun remained silent. Zhu Yunyin’s eyes were full of vigilance as he tugged on his sleeve. “Father, who are they?”
The little maid widened her eyes. “Father?”
Xie Chengyun had no choice but to explain helplessly: “He is the son of an old friend.”
The young lady picked up a grass horse. “Your hands are so skillful; this horse is truly beautiful.” Just as Zhu Yunyin wanted to take it back, the lady said, “Cuier, pay him.”
Unexpectedly, there was a pleasant surprise. Xie Chengyun happily accepted the silver; he could finally go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion to buy wine.
The young lady looked at Xie Chengyun. “May I ask where you live, sir? I will definitely come to visit and thank you another day.”
“A mere trifle, not worth mentioning.”
At this, the lady could only curtsy and say, “If there is any way I can be of service, I would go through fire and water for you.”
After she spoke, she turned to leave. The maid stuffed something into Xie Chengyun’s hand before she quickly followed her mistress’s pace.
After the people had left, Xie Chengyun examined the token in his hand. Zhu Yunyin rested his chin on Xie Chengyun’s shoulder and asked, “What is this?”
“Suizhou is truly filled with hidden talents; she is the daughter of the Tiangong Workshop master.”
Xie Chengyun stuffed the wooden token into Zhu Yunyin’s hand. “Your Majesty, keep this safe. When we return to the capital, the Tiangong Workshop will be able to assist you.”
After closing the stall and returning home, Xie Chengyun detoured to the restaurant to buy some Meng Huangliang wine. In the courtyard, a low table was set. As a cool breeze blew, Gu Minsheng was in the kitchen carrying bowls. Zhu Yunyin carried the grass basket, wearing a grass horse, watching as Xie Chengyun sat before the table holding the wine.
The aroma of the mellow wine drifted out. Xie Chengyun peeled off the red seal; it was truly worthy of being called Meng Huangliang.
Gu Minsheng came out with a bowl. “I smelled the fragrance even in the kitchen. Quickly, pour me a cup, too.”
Seeing a patch of raised red dots on Gu Minsheng’s arm, Xie Chengyun couldn’t help but ask, “What happened to your arm?”
“It’s probably an allergy or an insect bite; it’s nothing. Come, keep drinking!”
“Drink!”
With a few small side dishes and a cup of clear wine, the two of them became heavily intoxicated. Gu Minsheng collapsed onto the table, while a swaying Xie Chengyun insisted on climbing a tree. Zhu Yunyin followed closely behind him, terrified he would fall.
Xie Chengyun climbed the tree, clutching the branches. As the wind blew, the falling petals turned into rain. Ah Yun swung his legs, laughing as he looked at him. Zhu Yunyin also watched him from afar under the tree. The wind blew, and the more they watched, the drunker they became. As if in a dream, amidst the willow smoke, Xie Chengyun closed his eyes and fell from the tree.
Zhu Yunyin hurriedly caught him. Xie Chengyun fell drunk into his arms, his body fragrant with wine. Perhaps it was the intoxicating scent of the alcohol and the alluring night, but as Zhu Yunyin looked at his beloved in his arms, he could not resist interlacing his fingers with Xie Chengyun’s and pressing him beneath the peach tree to kiss him.
It was only until Xie Chengyun’s face turned bright red from lack of air that Zhu Yunyin let him go. A strand of transparent saliva, which he couldn’t swallow, flowed down his jaw to his collar, and Xie Chengyun gasped for air.
Zhu Yunyin caressed Xie Chengyun’s cheek and laughed. “Foster Father is so pure, and so pitiful. How can you not even know how to catch your breath?”
Just as he was about to lean in to kiss him again, the sound of a porcelain bowl shattering came from behind.
Zhu Yunyin looked back with a cold face. Gu Minsheng had been so frightened by the scene that he backed away repeatedly, shaking all over, his drunkenness more than half gone. “Your Majesty, he is your…”
“Is what of mine?”
Zhu Yunyin squinted his eyes, his entire body exuding a murderous aura.
Gu Minsheng dared not speak further, only saying, “This is an act of rebellion. If Minister Xie and the Marquis of Dingyuan found out…”
“That is why they will never know. Colonel Gu, you had best pray that they never know. Do not forget, I am the Emperor.”
Gu Minsheng knelt on the ground. Zhu Yunyin bent down to carry Xie Chengyun and walked toward the side chamber. As he walked past Gu Minsheng, he did not forget to lower his eyes and say, “Colonel Gu should know what to say and what not to say, correct?”
After he finished speaking, he flicked his sleeves, leaving only the pale-faced Gu Minsheng, who bowed his head heavily to the ground.
Back in the room, Zhu Yunyin once again pressed his body against Xie Chengyun, sucking on his neck. Xie Chengyun twisted about uncomfortably. Zhu Yunyin hovered by Xie Chengyun’s ear and whispered hoarsely, “Ah Yun, don’t move.”
How could a drunkard understand human speech? Xie Chengyun still furrowed his brows and tossed about. Zhu Yunyin’s lower abdomen felt increasingly scalding.
His foster father had drunk so much wine; he needed to change Xie Chengyun’s clothes. His white, lustrous skin was exposed to the air. The summer insect chirps were just like the restless secrets of a youth’s heart.
He whispered in a raspy voice, “Foster Father, bring your legs together.”
As his long, slender legs were pressed together, Xie Chengyun felt a painful sensation from being rubbed by the cloth. Does it really take this much effort to wipe someone down? he thought; the young Emperor must be abusing his power for personal revenge.
A voice sounded by his ear: “Ah Yun, say something. Just one word, just one word.”
Why is this person so annoying? Xie Chengyun reached out to hit him, but felt as if he had touched burning charcoal. He frowned and said, “Get lost.”
Zhu Yunyin felt as if a string in his brain had snapped. His entire body was drenched in sweat, and the air was filled with the scent of Shi Nan flowers. A moment later, he hurriedly got off the bed to fetch a basin of water to wipe down the drunkard and change his clothes.
At this time, Xie Chengyun was extremely obedient he did whatever he was told, making him exceptionally easy to look after. After tidying up his “old father” and tucking him into bed, Zhu Yunyin kissed Xie Chengyun again.
Only when his lips were red and swollen did Zhu Yunyin reluctantly leave. He drew a large bucket of water from the well in the backyard and soaked himself in it.
Gu Minsheng lay on his bed, his mind filled with the scene beneath the tree. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep, until finally, he coughed and coughed, unexpectedly spitting out a large mouthful of fresh blood. Having followed the Marquis of Dingyuan in wars since he was young, he assumed it was just from being overly anxious and did not take it to heart. He wiped away the bloodstains and lay back down.