WAYCAC Chapter 99

TL: Hua

Chapter 99: Minor illness – The new year is coming

Pei Xiting said he could write when he had time, but Zong Suiyang immediately said he had time right now.

The small, fine red lacquer brush was passed to Zong Suiyang’s hand. As their hands separated, Pei Xiting took the opportunity to touch his hand.

When Zong Suiyang looked over, Pei Xiting raised an eyebrow and smiled, “I didn’t mean to.”

“I’ll deal with you later.” Zong Suiyang glanced at Pei Xiting, then lowered his head to sign and make notes seriously.

Pei Xiting giggled, standing by and watching for a while. When Zong Suiyang dipped the brush in ink, he leaned over and rested on his shoulder. “I’m going to go wash up. I’ll get in bed and wait for you, okay?”

Zong Suiyang would naturally prefer Pei Xiting to stay with him. He looked at Pei Xiting and said, “Alright, go on.”

Pei Xiting rubbed Zong Suiyang’s face and then walked around the screen.

Pei Xiting washed his face and rinsed his mouth. A moment later, when Zong Suiyang came in, he was already lying by the bed, soaking his feet.

“You’re done writing so fast?” Pei Xiting put down his pre-sleep reading material and looked at Zong Suiyang.

“Yes. You can check it tomorrow,” Zong Suiyang leaned over, propping himself up on one arm on the bed. He looked at Pei Xiting’s eyes for a moment before asking, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Pei Xiting was taken aback. “Do you have different eyes than me?”

Of course, Zong Suiyang didn’t. It’s just that when two people live together for a long time, if they pay close attention, they won’t miss many details. For example, unless they were doing something serious, Pei Xiting always loved to stick to him.

“Normally, you’d stay with me and finish it together. Even if you weren’t supervising me, you’d be looking at books on the shelf or braiding my hair…” Zong Suiyang stroked Pei Xiting’s face. “What’s wrong?”

Since Zong Suiyang asked like that, Pei Xiting didn’t dare to hide it anymore. “For the past two days, I’ve been feeling sore all over. My back and shoulders hurt, and my wrists hurt a little, too…”

Zong Suiyang frowned slightly. Pei Xiting’s throat was hoarse, but he immediately took the initiative to get ahead, saying pitifully, “Don’t scold me.”

“…” Zong Suiyang’s thin lips tightened, and he finally just sighed softly. “You sat for a long time these past few days and drew so many pictures. You must have injured yourself.”

Back then, Zong Suiyang had told Pei Xiting every day not to just sit for so long and to not overwork his wrists. Pei Xiting would agree, but he would not move from his seat and would insist that Zong Suiyang was overthinking it. Once, he even got annoyed and lost his temper from being nagged. So, now that he was actually feeling a little unwell, he felt quite guilty.

“Where else does it hurt?” Zong Suiyang asked. “Tell me everything.”

“My throat hurts a little, just a tiny bit…” Pei Xiting’s voice trailed off under Zong Suiyang’s gaze. “I think I’ve caught a cold.”

Without turning his head, Zong Suiyang summoned a physician. He “interrogated” him: “Before the banquet, did your throat hurt?”

Pei Xiting said, “No.”

Zong Suiyang looked at him without saying anything.

“…” Okay, fine. Pei Xiting said, “I started feeling it this morning. But tonight was the banquet, and your birthday, and there was my favorite mutton hotpot. It would have been too cruel to make me drink plain porridge while you all ate.”

Zong Suiyang didn’t respond to him. He straightened up and leaned over to test the water temperature in the wooden tub. It had cooled down. He picked up a cloth, held Pei Xiting’s calf, and helped him wipe his feet clean. “Get into bed.”

Pei Xiting said “oh” and obediently burrowed under the blankets, leaving only his head exposed, his eyes wide open as he watched Zong Suiyang.

The palace servants carried out all the toiletries. Sensing the tense atmosphere in the room, they walked even more quietly.

The imperial physician on duty at the East Palace tonight arrived quickly. His surname was Xu, and he had taken Pei Xiting’s pulse once before, so he naturally knew the relationship between the Crown Prince and Pei-wenshu. He had been nervous the entire way, fearing that Pei-wenshu’s symptoms would be serious.

When Physician Xu was led into the bedchamber, he wondered if the young couple had overdone their lovemaking after they returned. Upon reaching the inner room, he was about to greet Zong Suiyang.

“No need,” Zong Suiyang interrupted, getting up from the edge of the bed. “Quickly, check on Xiting.”

Physician Xu didn’t dare to delay. He immediately went to the bed, asked Pei Xiting to extend his wrist from under the covers, and began to take his pulse while asking him what was wrong. When Pei-wenshu spoke softly, he couldn’t help but sigh in relief. It wasn’t serious.

Physician Xu cautiously asked Pei-wenshu to sit up from under the covers. Enduring the strong, watchful gaze from behind him, he placed his hands on Pei-wenshu’s shoulders and expertly kneaded them a couple of times, probing for the sore spots.

He felt the Crown Prince’s gaze sweeping over his hands repeatedly, sometimes light, sometimes heavy. In any case, it was an expression of displeasure that couldn’t be voiced.

After the examination, Physician Xu asked Pei Xiting to get back under the covers. He then turned to Zong Suiyang, cupped his hands, and said, “Your Highness, rest assured. Pei-wenshu’s symptoms are not very serious. The discomfort in his body is caused by muscle soreness and stiffness from sitting for long periods and overexertion in a short amount of time. I will have some ointment sent over soon, and I will come again tomorrow to give Pei-wenshu acupuncture. The sore throat from catching a cold can be treated with a medicinal soup. He just needs to be careful with his diet and rest well.”

Zong Suiyang looked at Pei Xiting, who indeed had a hesitant look on his face. He had originally planned to teach him a lesson, but seeing this, he said, “Can you make it into pills?”

Physician Xu said, “Of course.”

Zong Suiyang called a servant outside the door and instructed him to see Physician Xu off and retrieve the ointment.

The servant agreed and escorted Physician Xu out. Physician Xu bowed respectfully and quietly withdrew.

Zong Suiyang looked at Pei Xiting and went to wash up first. When he returned, Pei Xiting still had that “I’m watching you” expression. He paused, then patted Pei Xiting’s stomach through the blanket. “Move over.”

“I want to sleep on the outside tonight,” Pei Xiting said.

“What’s wrong?” Zong Suiyang asked. “Are you trying to run away again?”

Zong Suiyang had once said that he would settle the score with Pei Xiting later, and he was a man of his word. He brought up this old grudge and settled it at least two out of three times. Pei Xiting’s mouth twitched. “Where would I run in the middle of winter? You sleep on the inside.”

Zong Suiyang looked at him for a moment and said nothing else. He put down the blanket, climbed into bed from the foot, and went to the inside.

As soon as Zong Suiyang lay down, Pei Xiting wrapped himself around him like a blanket and said, “You’re not getting out of bed without my permission.”

“You sleep like a little pig; don’t talk so big,” Zong Suiyang said, raising his hand to press on his waist and massage him.

Pei Xiting let out a couple of satisfied pig-like grunts.

Zong Suiyang smiled, but he didn’t let Pei Xiting see it, maintaining his calm expression.

Pei Xiting couldn’t stand this. He lay on Zong Suiyang’s face pretending to be pitiful, “I’m sick, and my heart is extra fragile. Yet you’re giving me the silent treatment.”

“How am I giving you the silent treatment?” Zong Suiyang lightly spanked his buttocks and continued the massage.

Pei Xiting huffed and said, “The way you’re looking at me is colder than the snow outside.”

Zong Suiyang accepted the accusation. “Mhm.”

“You…” Pei Xiting looked up, staring at Zong Suiyang with a very sad expression, his lips trembling. Finally, he let out a sound and fell back dramatically.

Not “dead” for even two seconds, Pei Xiting came back to life. He hugged Zong Suiyang’s head and rubbed against it. “Talk to me, talk to me.”

Zong Suiyang was annoyed by all the rubbing. “Get off me.”

Pei Xiting firmly refused, holding his head tightly like a ball. Then he attacked him with a wronged and pitiful expression.

Zong Suiyang’s defenses crumbled in a single blow. He looked at Pei Xiting and said only one thing: “If you’re sick, you have to tell me right away, do you understand?”

“Mhm,” Pei Xiting said.

Zong Suiyang asked again, “Do you understand?”

Pei Xiting whispered, “I understand.”

“Your Highness,” the servant said, bringing in the medicinal paste. “Physician Xu said that making the pills will take time. This is a general-purpose one, for now.”

Zong Suiyang sat up, holding Pei Xiting, and took the ointment. The servant went to pour water. He applied the ointment to Pei Xiting’s wrists, shoulders, and lower back one by one. “Does it hurt?”

Pei Xiting shook his head. “It feels warm.”

“If you don’t feel well, tell me right away.” Zong Suiyang opened the medicine bottle, had Pei Xiting take a pill, and took the warm water from the servant to give to Pei Xiting.

The servant put the blanket away, placed the medicine bottle on the sandalwood cabinet, gently lowered the bed curtains, and left.

Zong Suiyang put his arm around Pei Xiting and lay down, tucking him in. His eyes met a pair of moist eyes that were staring straight at him.

Zong Suiyang reached out and tucked the stray hairs on Pei Xiting’s face behind his ear. “Any other commands?”

“Yes,” Pei Xiting said. “You haven’t kissed me.”

Zong Suiyang smiled, kissed his pouty lips, and said, “Open your mouth.”

Pei Xiting obediently opened his mouth, and they kissed for a while until he was dazed. Zong Suiyang then pulled him into his arms.

“There,” Zong Suiyang patted Pei Xiting’s back. “Go to sleep.”

Pei Xiting mumbled, “Do I stink?”

“A little,” Zong Suiyang said.

Pei Xiting squeezed even closer to him.

Zong Suiyang chuckled. “I’ll sleep in a little longer with you tomorrow morning.”

“Alright,” Pei Xiting poked Zong Suiyang’s face. “Goodnight.”

Zong Suiyang tilted his head and kissed the tip of his nose, saying, “Good night, sleep.”

Pei Xiting held Zong Suiyang’s right hand and fell asleep contentedly. When he woke up the next day, he sleepily patted his hand, and it was gently held by another.

Pei Xiting opened one eye. Before him was a magnified version of Zong Suiyang’s face, with long eyelashes, phoenix eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. It was a serious test for a civil servant so early in the morning.

“You woke up earlier than I expected,” Zong Suiyang said.

Pei Xiting said proudly, “I’m not a sleepyhead. What time is it now?”

“Just past noon,” Zong Suiyang said.

Pei Xiting’s expression broke. “You’re teasing me.”

“How so?” Zong Suiyang chuckled. “I thought you’d sleep past lunchtime. Compared to that, this is considered early.”

Pei Xiting had no comeback. “You said last night you’d let me sleep in, but I thought you’d wake me up for breakfast.”

“You were snoring so soundly, I didn’t want to wake you,” Zong Suiyang said. “Little King snuck in earlier and wanted you to play ball with it. I told it to find Lu’er instead.”

Pei Xiting still had an acupuncture session, so he really didn’t have time to play with Little King. Hearing this, he said, “Then let’s get up.”

Zong Suiyang nodded and got up to wash first. By the time Pei Xiting had slowly finished his own wash, Zong Suiyang brought over a small bowl of throat-soothing soup and told him to gulp it down.

“We’ll do the acupuncture first. Afterward, it’ll be about time for lunch,” Zong Suiyang said, taking the empty bowl.

Pei Xiting said he would listen to his leader.

Soon, Imperial Physician Xu arrived with his medicine box. As per routine, he first asked if Pei Xiting’s symptoms had changed, then had him lie down and began the acupuncture.

Zong Suiyang had already had the memorial moved over. Seeing this, he ordered the doors to be closed to prevent any drafts from coming in.

A clear incense burned in the room. It was extremely quiet. Zong Suiyang sat in a lounge chair by the bed, reading a memorial. His eyes fell on the dense black characters, which somehow began to blur. He was lost in thought, looking up at the person lying on the bed, naked from the waist up, with a long, snow-white body.

Pei Xiting, sensing the gaze, didn’t say anything because Imperial Physician Xu was there. The gaze brazenly swept back and forth over his body, lingering especially on his waist. For some reason, his mind wandered, and he inexplicably recalled Zong Suiyang holding his waist during their intense intimate moments.

Imperial Physician Xu, with his sharp eyes, noticed that Pei-wenshu’s face was getting redder and redder. Could he have a fever? he thought to himself. He immediately took his pulse, and… My goodness, why is his heart beating so fast?

Suddenly, a flash of insight hit Imperial Physician Xu. He realized what was going on, and his hand trembled, causing him to place Pei Xiting’s wrist back in its original position.

Ah, young love! So restless!

Imperial Physician Xu didn’t dare to look or think any further. He pretended to be both blind and deaf, diligently completing his professional duties while in the middle of the young couple. After he was done, he bowed and excused himself.

Zong Suiyang got up and walked to the bed, helping Pei Xiting put on his inner garment and wrap himself in his outer robe. Since they weren’t going out today, Pei Xiting put on a pair of cloth shoes. He stood up and pressed his weight onto Zong Suiyang’s back, saying, “Take off.”

Zong Suiyang carried him outside and set him down beside a round table. The palace servants immediately laid out the meal—dishes and snacks, with no sign of anything spicy.

Pei Xiting smiled faintly but said nothing, picking up a spoon to eat some fish soup.

Zong Suiyang glanced at Pei Xiting and said, “I’m going out later. You stay home and don’t go out in the wind.”

“Oh,” Pei Xiting said casually. “Where are you going?”

Zong Suiyang said, “King Ning’s mansion.”

Pei Xiting’s eyes lifted upon hearing this. They had initially thought that besides Huo Yue, Zong An was also connected to another group of rebels, but Li Buyan denied it after being imprisoned.

Now, Li Buyan and Zong An had no way out, so there was no reason for him to lie. Since there was nothing more to dig up behind Zong An, there was no need to keep him around as bait.

No wonder Zong An was absent from the palace banquet last night.

Zong Suiyang saw that Pei Xiting was lost in thought and asked, “What’s wrong? You don’t think it’s right?”

“No,” Pei Xiting answered subconsciously. When he met Zong Suiyang’s examining gaze, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Zong An and I have barely spoken. I don’t care about him.”

Zong An had sent people to spy on Pei Xiting several times. Although he hadn’t done anything, it was clear that he was very interested in Pei Xiting. Zong Suiyang’s eyes fell slightly. “I’m going to visit Queen Ning. She couldn’t handle the truth and fainted.”

Did that mean Zong An had already been dealt with? Pei Xiting was taken aback but didn’t feel anything.

Although conflict among brothers wasn’t uncommon, Zong An was King Ning’s son, and his colluding with rebels to harm the heir apparent would be extremely embarrassing for King Ning’s residence if it got out. Zong Suiyang handling this discreetly was a way of showing respect to King Ning’s family, protecting their reputation, and making sure the matter ended with Zong An.

“After all, Zong An was raised by her. It’s only natural for her not to be able to accept that her adopted son would want to kill her biological son, especially when she was the one who brought them together.” Pei Xiting placed a piece of fish in Zong Suiyang’s bowl and said softly, “Let’s eat first before the food gets cold.”

Zong Suiyang hummed in agreement and said nothing more, eating in silence.

Little King ran in and went to Pei Xiting’s leg, placing a small orange flower it had bitten off from who-knows-where onto his leg.

It often did this. One time, it even broke a precious red camellia that Pei Xiting had carefully planted. After being roughly scolded by Pei Xiting, it seemed to understand that it couldn’t bite plants randomly and never ruined Pei Xiting’s flowers again, only ruining others’ instead.

Pei Xiting picked up the little flower, trimmed the stem with scissors, and casually tucked it behind his ear. He leaned in and asked Little King, “Does it look good?”

Little King took the opportunity to rub against his face, then slyly turned its head to look at Zong Suiyang, meeting Zong Suiyang’s silent gaze.

“!” Little King made an immediate U-turn and bolted out, almost colliding with Yu Shaoyun, who was walking into the corridor.

Yu Shaoyun did a backflip to dodge it, then turned around and saw that Little King had crashed into the snowman he had built that morning, scattering it into pieces. He couldn’t help but sigh in disappointment.

After lunch, Zong Suiyang tidied himself up and was about to leave. Pei Xiting held the cape for him, saying, “Come back early.”

Zong Suiyang stroked his face, turned, and left.

Pei Xiting stretched. He didn’t dare to paint today or go out. Instead, he chose a travelogue from Zong Suiyang’s bookshelf to read.

The book looked old, but it had Zong Suiyang’s annotations in it—some in agreement with the author, and some in disagreement. The words were concise, and he even found the very unrefined word “bullshit” written in there by Zong Suiyang.

Pei Xiting read with great interest. Eventually, he wasn’t reading the travelogue itself but Zong Suiyang’s annotations.

In the evening, the sky was overcast. Zong Suiyang took off his cloak outside the door, washed his hands and face with hot water, and changed his boots before quietly entering the hall.

Pei Xiting had fallen asleep in the lounge chair, wrapped in a blanket. Little King was napping on a blanket nearby. Zong Suiyang carefully walked to the chair. Little King was already awake. Seeing that it was him, it lay back down in peace.

Zong Suiyang carefully picked up the book on Pei Xiting’s chest, went to the bookshelf, and placed a bookmark between the two pages before closing the book and putting it back. He walked back to the chair, leaned down, picked up Pei Xiting, and carried him to the bed.

Pei Xiting, feeling the familiar touch, sleepily rubbed his face against his and mumbled, “You’re back…”

Zong Suiyang knew that Pei Xiting had already had his dinner and medicine, so he didn’t wake him up. He just hummed in reply and said, “I’m back,” before putting him into the quilt and patting his back until he fell asleep again.

The candlelight in the bedroom was too bright. Zong Suiyang drew the curtains, extinguished the two nearest candles, and lit some calming incense before quietly going to the outer room to wash up. He only came back after he was done.

Little King peeked at its owner. It didn’t want to leave, completely unaware that its actions were so obvious. Zong Suiyang stroked it as he passed by and didn’t make it leave, so Little King lay down again contentedly.

Zong Suiyang gently pulled up the quilt and lay down, turning his head to look at the sleeping Pei Xiting. He reached out and gently stroked Pei Xiting’s eyebrows, nose, and lips, as if outlining a beautiful painting. Then, he propped himself up and used his warm lips to give it color.

Pei Xiting was completely unaware. He slept soundly and peacefully, without a single dream.

—

Imperial Physician Xu gave Pei Xiting acupuncture for three consecutive days. At night, Zong Suiyang massaged him on time. Finally, Pei Xiting was back to his lively self.

The next day was the Lunar New Year. Pei Xiting, wrapped in a cape, called the palace servants to hang colorful lanterns and paste window decorations, decorating the East Palace to look almost identical to the main palace. Even the three small snowmen and one small snow tiger in front of the bedroom door were wearing their own little red flowers and small couplets.

The stewards of the storehouse and the silver treasury came. Pei Xiting sat at the table, checking the ledgers with a brush, choosing red envelopes and rewards for the palace servants for the New Year. The rewards came from the storehouse, and each person received two red envelopes: one from the silver treasury, a reward from the Crown Prince, and one from his own small private fund, from him personally.

“By the way, I heard Steward Li has a new baby,” Pei Xiting said to the steward of the silver treasury with a smile. “This is a double blessing.”

Steward Li cupped his hands and said with a smile, “Thank you for your thoughts, Pei-wenshu. We just had a baby girl and gave her the nickname ‘Niannian’ to celebrate the festival.”

“A new baby for the new year, she’s a lucky baby,” Pei Xiting said, calling for a servant. “The Crown Prince and I had a pair of longevity locks made. They’re small and exquisite. If you don’t mind, please take them as our blessing.”

Steward Li was taken aback for a moment. He quickly reached out and took the small wooden box the servant handed to him. He bowed to Pei Xiting. “Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Pei-wenshu. My daughter and I humbly accept.”

“These two red envelopes are extra for your wife and little girl,” Pei Xiting interrupted before Steward Li could speak. “No need to be polite. Take them back.”

Steward Li gave a happy sound and took the two thick red envelopes, thanking him again.

Zong Suiyang returned from a meeting at Mingzheng Hall. He saw that the ledger in front of Pei Xiting was full of red marks. He flipped through it and said, “Thank you for your hard work, Pei-wenshu.”

“I serve for my salary and am loyal to my master,” Pei Xiting said, cupping his hands. “It’s my duty, my duty.”

He gave a few more instructions, then closed the ledger and handed it, along with a small abacus, to the storehouse steward. “That’s all for now. You two can go back.”

The two stewards bowed together and left.

Pei Xiting stretched and moved his body. “I’m going to the kitchen to check on tomorrow’s meal plan for the East Palace.”

Without waiting for Zong Suiyang to say anything, he left.

“…” Pei-wenshu was truly diligent and busy. Zong Suiyang shook his head with a laugh and followed him out.

“Hey, why are you following me?” Pei Xiting heard footsteps and spun around, backing up to walk alongside Zong Suiyang.

“To accompany you,” Zong Suiyang said.

Pei Xiting chuckled. “Luckily my throat is almost better. Otherwise, I’d have to drink thin porridge tomorrow.”

Zong Suiyang had made Pei Xiting’s mouth and stomach suffer these past few days. He comforted him, “It will be lively outside tomorrow. I’ll take you out to buy good food. You can eat whatever you want.”

“Great, great! They’ll definitely be selling new clothes outside for the new year. I want to buy all the good-looking ones,” Pei Xiting said. “Remember to bring enough money. I’m broke again.”

Zong Suiyang said, “You are so generous.”

“It’s New Year’s, of course, there have to be red envelopes,” Pei Xiting said. “I’m the head of your East Palace. I’m the boss. I have to show my appreciation.”

Zong Suiyang asked, “What are you?”

Pei Xiting didn’t back down. He put his hands on his hips and said, “I’m the boss!”

Zong Suiyang’s eyes were filled with a smile. “Yes, you are.”