Chapter 9: Autumn Hunting Accompaniment

Recently, the imperial city had seen constant rain.

Lin Xiaoque slowly woke to the sound of rainfall. The window had been left slightly open for ventilation, and droplets splashed in along the sill.

Still curled beneath the blankets, he quietly watched the rain through the narrow gap. Outside, the soft pattering sounded like ten thousand pearls falling into a shallow stream.

He did not know why he liked rain so much. Perhaps he liked the feeling of everything being washed clean, or perhaps he simply liked the damp stillness.

His head felt heavy and muddled. Lying there beneath the covers, his thoughts spread like a spider’s web—scattered threads unable to catch prey. Sometimes they tangled around himself; sometimes they simply drifted, floating and sinking like something lost in a lake, suffocating and resting all at once as they wandered away with the wind.

Shanxiu’s cheeks were still slightly swollen. The servants below all assumed he had been slapped by the Crown Prince’s attendants. Both the Crown Prince and his imperial father were somewhat arrogant people; they rarely punished servants personally and usually left such things to others.

After seeing even Shanxiu disciplined, the people of Yong’an Palace became even more cautious and fearful in their duties, terrified of making mistakes and being sent off to the Laundry Bureau or some other miserable place.

Shanxiu helped Lin Xiaoque sit up, washed his face, brushed his teeth. Lin Xiaoque obediently played the role of a porcelain doll, allowing Shanxiu to clean him up thoroughly.

At times like this, Shanxiu was like rain, and he was like a plant—no matter how the rain fell, the plant could only remain rooted in place.

Shanxiu asked whether he hurt anywhere or felt uncomfortable.

With lowered eyes, Lin Xiaoque merely said he felt exhausted and had no strength.

Shanxiu fed him some food and medicine before finally settling him back into bed.

Lin Xiaoque closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but could not, so he coaxed Shanxiu into telling him a story.

Shanxiu told a tale about mountain spirits and demons. Listening with growing interest, Lin Xiaoque softly said, “If spirits were truly as beautiful as in stories, maybe I’d be lured away too.”

Smiling faintly, he added, “Then after I’m eaten flesh and bone, poor Shanxiu would have to gather up my remains so the dogs don’t gnaw on them.”

Shanxiu immediately spat several times in succession, as if trying to spit away the bad luck in Lin Xiaoque’s words. “Children shouldn’t speak carelessly! Heaven mustn’t hear that.”

Lin Xiaoque said he was no child anymore.

Shanxiu replied, “Master hasn’t even come of age yet. That still makes you a child.”

Unable to argue with him, Lin Xiaoque suddenly remembered the fleeting glimpse he had once had of Xie Zhichi. Even from afar inside the carriage, the protagonist shou’s elegance had been enough to enchant people.

Like bamboo, like a mountain valley—quiet, refined, and full of integrity.

He sighed. “If spirits truly took human form, they would surely look like Scholar Xie.”

For a brief instant, jealousy flashed through Shanxiu’s heart. “In this servant’s eyes, if Scholar Xie is some spirit, then Master must be a mountain god. How could Scholar Xie possibly devour you? He’d probably flee from you instead.”

Shanxiu gazed at Lin Xiaoque’s features. They were cold and distant in beauty, yet the corners of his eyes were tinged with weary red from illness—more alluring than rouge itself. Even his sickliness carried a sort of elegant charm.

His lips were pale and faintly colored, making one want to touch them, redden them, test their softness—snow melting into plum blossoms, rain glimmering with gold. At once ethereal beauty and ultimate temptation.

A mountain god by day, a seductive ghost by night, occasionally still carrying traces of childish innocence—how could such a master ever be seduced by spirits? The spirits themselves would rush to take the bait.

Hearing this, sorrow colored Lin Xiaoque’s expression. “You’re right. He naturally distanced himself from me and returned home to marry a wife.”

Shanxiu’s heart trembled at the sight of his master like this. “Scholar Xie simply failed to recognize your worth. That’s why he treasures ordinary things like a precious meal.”

Lin Xiaoque lightly glared at him. “How can you compare people to ordinary meals? The feelings between him and his childhood sweetheart are not something outsiders like us could understand.”

“But Scholar Xie truly never knew me. From beginning to end, it was only my own one-sided feelings.”

After acting out his role a little, Lin Xiaoque felt even more tired.

Outside, the rain continued to fall with a clear, soothing sound. Lin Xiaoque wanted to recover quickly so he could go wandering around once he was better.

Summer passed, and autumn arrived. As was customary, the imperial family would soon travel to Luobei for the autumn hunt.

Along with accompanying officials and several palace consorts, eunuch Zhang Shu asked whether Xie Zhichi should also be brought along. The Punishment Pavilion, he reported, had already shown preliminary “results” and awaited His Majesty’s inspection.

Emperor Xiao Juan approved it. Zhang Shu was about to leave and make arrangements when the emperor suddenly stopped him.

After a long silence, the emperor finally said, “Bring Qieyunu along too. Staying cooped up in bed all day—what kind of behavior is that?”

This year, the Crown Prince would remain behind in Yejing while the Empress accompanied the emperor.

In previous years, because of Lin Xiaoque’s frail health, he rarely even left the palace gates, much less attended the Luobei hunt.

But since the emperor had personally named him, there was naturally no room for refusal.

After Zhang Shu delivered the imperial decree and Shanxiu respectfully saw him off, worry filled his heart.

His master was weak. Traveling such a long distance to Luobei, unable to draw a bow or shoot an arrow, exposed to wind all day—what if he fell ill again?

Lin Xiaoque said, “The palace is suffocating. It’ll be nice to see somewhere different. I heard many people are going this time—princes, princesses, sons of ministers, even many military generals.”

Taking Shanxiu’s hand, he reassured him, “I’m only going to watch the excitement. I won’t participate. I won’t get hurt.”

On the day of departure—

After bidding farewell to his imperial father and mother, Crown Prince Xiao Futu came to Lin Xiaoque’s carriage and repeated warning after warning.

Lin Xiaoque nearly fell asleep listening. Nodding repeatedly, he said, “Your Highness, I understand. I definitely won’t fool around, won’t join the hunt, and won’t go anywhere dangerous.”

Seeing that Lin Xiaoque had grown tired of listening, Xiao Futu went off to sternly warn the accompanying servants instead. Before leaving, however, he hesitated for a long moment and finally spoke.

“And another thing, Qieyunu—you should stay far away from Father Emperor.”

Though some time had passed since that earlier incident, and though the emperor had not sought Lin Xiaoque out again—as though he had completely forgotten the person existed—Xiao Futu still felt uneasy.

Hearing this, Lin Xiaoque immediately became alert, his sleepy eyes snapping open as he remembered being forced to bow for ages, punished to kneel, and publicly humiliated.

“Of course I’ll stay far away from His Majesty! I don’t have some masochistic hobby. If I get punished to kneel again in front of all those noble young masters, I’ll die of embarrassment.”

Xiao Futu laughed and pinched his cheek. “Who would dare make you lose face? You’re perfectly fine right here. Whoever dares touch you, I’ll execute them.”

Lin Xiaoque slapped his hand away. “What did Your Highness eat today to be so fierce? You definitely pinched my face red.”

It was precisely because he could not have what he wanted that his temper was so fierce.

Looking at the utterly oblivious Lin Xiaoque, Xiao Futu said, “How could I have pinched you red? Once you leave, it’ll be at least a month before you return. Don’t go attracting bees and butterflies everywhere. If you get stung all over, don’t come crying to me when you return.”

“Even if I were a flower, all the medicine I drink has probably pickled me by now. Any bee or butterfly that comes near me must be blind,” Lin Xiaoque replied. “You, on the other hand—you’re almost of age. Better start dressing yourself up properly. If none of the girls or ge’er in Yejing fancy Your Highness by then, don’t come crying to me.”

Xiao Futu burst out laughing. After laughing for a while, he said, “Enough teasing. Remember what I said—”

“Mhm mhm mhm,” Lin Xiaoque interrupted quickly. “Don’t trust strangers, don’t run around, don’t play with fire, don’t enter dense forests—I know already. Your Highness can stop worrying. I’m not a child. I’m not that easy to hurt.”

Seeing he had truly memorized everything and no longer wanted to hear more, Xiao Futu stopped nagging.

It was time for the caravan to depart.

Standing outside the carriage, Xiao Futu said softly, “Qieyu, I’ll wait for your return.”

Lin Xiaoque did not understand why Xiao Futu suddenly sounded sad again when he had been smiling just moments ago.

Lowering his eyes and avoiding Xiao Futu’s gaze, he quietly answered, “Mm.”

Xiao Futu stepped aside and allowed the carriages to move forward.

The carriage wheels rumbled onward. Xiao Futu retreated step by step, finally standing still to watch the carriage disappear farther and farther into the distance until it vanished completely from sight.

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