TL: Hua
Extra 8: Snow Trek (1)
When Zong Suiyang opened his eyes, Pei Xiting was sleeping soundly on his shoulder, his face nestled on his shoulder, creating a small crease. He watched Pei Xiting’s peaceful sleep for a long time until the latter rubbed his head against his face. “Are you awake?” Pei Xiting didn’t open his eyes, his voice muffled.
Zong Suiyang came to his senses. “Mhm,” he said. “Sleep some more.”
Pei Xiting thought that was great. He turned over, nudged Zong Suiyang with his butt, rolled around in the bed, and then turned over again to hug him. Zong Suiyang said nothing, busy tucking the blanket around Pei Xiting, apparently used to the flurry of movements the man always made when he woke up.
After a little while, Pei Xiting slowly opened his eyes, lay on his pillow, and stretched his arms and legs, sighing contentedly. “I feel like I’m going to grow taller.”
Zong Suiyang said, “You’re only nineteen. There’s still a chance.”
Pei Xiting reached out and touched the top of his own head, then touched the top of Zong Suiyang’s head. He gestured for a bit and said with great ambition, “Do you think I have a chance to grow taller than you?”
“Yes.” Zong Suiyang was clearly a proponent of encouragement-based education.
“That would be so majestic, so majestic.” Pei Xiting imagined himself at one-meter-ninety-tall and felt incredibly handsome. He couldn’t help but grin foolishly.
The corners of Zong Suiyang’s mouth curved upward, but he didn’t show it. He just patted Pei Xiting’s waist. “Mhm, stretch a few more times, and you’ll have an even better chance.”
Pei Xiting had just woken up and was already groggy. His mind was further clouded by the handsome face so close and the faint scent of bamboo that warmed him. This one sentence made him lose his sense of direction. He immediately stretched his arms and legs and began to stretch.
“…” Zong Suiyang couldn’t help but laugh, propping himself up to watch Pei Xiting.
The little fox worked hard to extend his limbs under the covers, pushing his waist down and his butt up, like a flexible arch bridge.
As Zong Suiyang watched, his gaze deepened. Suddenly, Pei Xiting turned his eyes sharply toward him and, in a daze, said, “Are you deliberately making a fool of me?”
“Where’s the fool?” Zong Suiyang’s eyes were quick. He caught the fist Pei Xiting threw at him and, with a slight force of his large palm, enclosed it. He smiled. “I only see a little fox.”
“Then you admit you were deliberately fooling me?” Pei Xiting feigned anger. He pounced on Zong Suiyang like a blanket, pinning him down. He pinched Zong Suiyang’s cheeks and said in a menacing voice, “Apologize to me!”
“When did I admit it? You’re just slandering me.” Zong Suiyang tilted his head back slightly, his gaze falling on Pei Xiting’s face.
Pei Xiting thought for a moment. This guy really hadn’t admitted it. He met the eyes with a faint smile and felt that the mask of anger was a bit hard to maintain. So he immediately said, “I don’t care. I feel like you’re deliberately fooling me. You’ve hurt my self-esteem. You must apologize to me and compensate me.”
“Alright, I apologize.” Zong Suiyang reached out and wrapped his arm around Pei Xiting’s waist. He flipped him over, pinning him down. He rubbed his nose against his chin and said in a low voice, “I’ll make you comfortable as compensation. How about it?”
Pei Xiting’s face paled upon hearing this. He quickly said, “I forgive you!”
His butt desperately needed rest and recuperation for long-term development!
Zong Suiyang laughed. “Are you being sincere? I don’t want you to force yourself.”
“More sincere than pure gold,” Pei Xiting said through gritted teeth.
“Ah,” Zong Suiyang frowned slightly and said with concern, “Your tone doesn’t sound very sincere.”
Pei Xiting had no choice but to take a sip of the bitter tea. He immediately put on a perfect fake smile. “You must have gone deaf, darling. I’m truly sincere, darling.”
“‘Personal attack,’ that’s not nice,” Zong Suiyang said, pinching Pei Xiting’s side. Hearing him lightly hum, he couldn’t help but look at him twice before slowly saying, “I’m not deaf. I can hear your voice sounding so nice.”
Pei Xiting was so humiliated he became angry. “I didn’t make a sound.”
“Mhm,” Zong Suiyang went along with it. “That hum was very nice.”
Did my hum make you all excited again? Pei Xiting sensed something. He looked up and glared at Zong Suiyang. “Let go of me quickly. If things get out of hand, I’m not responsible.”
“It seems it’s too late,” Zong Suiyang said, kissing Pei Xiting’s beautiful chin, coaxing him. “Xiting, help me.”
Pei Xiting said coldly, “No.”
“Why not? Did I offend you? How about I make it up to you? Forgive me.” Zong Suiyang continued to kiss and whisper coaxingly, “Are you really not going to help me? Don’t do this to me, Xiting.”
Pei Xiting was on the verge of collapsing from the consecutive “attacks” of the bitter tea. When he heard the last address, his eyes darted around, and he commanded in a low voice, “Say something nice, and I’ll help you.”
This was called “fighting magic with magic.” After all, Zong Suiyang also liked to say such things when he was on the attack in bed, often leaving Pei Xiting defeated.
Of course, Pei Xiting would never admit when he was awake that he was both ashamed and happy, that he enjoyed stripping away all his facades in front of Zong Suiyang and revealing his most primitive nature and desires.
“Oh, something nice,” Zong Suiyang pondered for a moment, then kissed Pei Xiting’s feverish cheek and returned the question. “I’ll say whatever you want me to say.”
The attitude was good, but this person was so scheming. Pei Xiting mumbled to himself. “Then call me ‘husband.'”
Husband?[mfn]老公 (lǎo gōng) means “husband,” while 公公 (gōnggong) is a respectful form of address for a senior eunuch. [/mfn]Zong Suiyang frowned slightly, looking at Pei Xiting with a lack of understanding. “That seems to be a term for a eunuch. Are you sure you want me to call you that?”
“In my hometown, ‘husband’ is a term between a married couple,” Pei Xiting pouted. “I’m giving you a chance. Don’t be ungrateful. You’re being choosy and even acting smug about it. That’s a person like you.”
Although Pei Xiting occasionally shared things about his hometown with Zong Suiyang, Zong Suiyang only knew a fraction of it, and the true meaning of “husband” was not among them. However, seeing Pei Xiting’s expectant look, he obediently said the word.
He knew it was a term between a married couple, so he said it with a solemn and affectionate tone. His gaze was also gentle and deep. With both combined, how could Pei Xiting resist? He immediately and ungracefully reached out, kissed the corner of his mouth, and said, “Technician No. 1, Xiao Pei, is here to serve you wholeheartedly.”
Zong Suiyang took his hand to the place it should go and said, “Xiao Pei’s skill is average. He cannot be called a ‘technician.'” You’re still being picky, you little brat. Pei Xiting’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he exerted force with his fingertips. Zong Suiyang lowered his head and pressed his forehead against Pei Xiting, groaning.
“By the sound of it, you’re quite experienced.” Pei Xiting’s smile was gentle. “Who are you comparing me to?”
Zong Suiyang held Pei Xiting’s wrist, gently rubbing it, and said coaxingly, “Alright, I spoke wrongly. Xiao Pei’s skill is exceptional and needs no comparison. I can appreciate the subtlety of it.”
“That’s a decent save,” Pei Xiting mumbled. “Hurry up.”
“I can’t hurry,” Zong Suiyang laughed. “If I really hurried, you’d truly get angry with me.”
Pei Xiting couldn’t argue with that. He endured the soreness in his hand and helped Zong Suiyang once. He was rewarded with a good review and a passionate kiss.
“You little demon,” Pei Xiting said after they had both washed up, sitting on the edge of the bed and staring at Zong Suiyang, who was changing behind the screen. His tone was domineering. “You’re playing with fire.”
Zong Suiyang gave him a cool look, like an unfeeling bastard who wouldn’t acknowledge you once he was out of bed. “Are you being abstract?”
Zong Suiyang had always believed that even though Pei Xiting had lost his deep connection to his hometown after his grandfather passed away, he still needed someone to speak the same “language” here. So he was determined to be Pei Xiting’s good student. Whenever a “hometown word” came out of Pei Xiting’s mouth, he would ask what it meant and write it down, preparing to apply it flexibly.
Pei Xiting didn’t say too much about this, but Zong Suiyang could sense that Pei Xiting was using his hometown language more and more often and habitually explaining what it meant. He was a responsible and good teacher.
“My man, you have successfully attracted my attention.” Pei Xiting got up and walked over to Zong Suiyang. He looked him up and down, then reached out and smacked him on the butt, smiling. “A perky, tender butt.”
Zong Suiyang expressionlessly took off the belt he had just tied.
Pei Xiting immediately and fearfully helped him re-tie it, indicating that he would never be a pervert again. He barely managed to get the Crown Prince’s forgiveness, and the safety of his butt was secured.
At breakfast, Little King strutted elegantly and regally into the hall. It politely greeted its master, then went to Pei Xiting’s legs to seek attention.
Pei Xiting was struggling with a crab-roe-filled steamed bun. He looked down at Little King. “Aiyo, baby, where have you been messing around? Your butt is all dusty.”
Little King didn’t understand what he was saying, but Zong Suiyang did. He looked at Pei Xiting, who was leaning down and intimately bonding with Little King.
Yu Shaoyun passed by the hall and, sensing something, immediately whistled and lured Little King out of the hall, telling Bai Tang to take it for a walk and play.
You little one, besides me, who else cares about your future?
Everyone in the palace knew that even though His Highness had no rivals in matters of love, as long as someone was even slightly intimate with Pei-wenshu, he automatically considered them an enemy.
Zong Suiyang was unaware of Yu Shaoyun’s thoughts. If he had known, he would have been unfazed. He served a bowl of plum blossom porridge to Pei Xiting and said, “Eat well. Don’t stare at it.”
“Oh, is there vinegar in this plum blossom porridge?” Pei Xiting teased.
Zong Suiyang placed the spoon in Pei Xiting’s bowl and said coolly, “No.”
Oh, oh, oh. Pei Xiting loved this side of the Crown Prince. He moved his chair over to Zong Suiyang’s, squeezing tightly against him. Being a little mischievous, he deliberately nudged his arm with his elbow. “You’re so cold, Your Highness.”
Zong Suiyang took a sip of his porridge and, without looking at the little teasing fox, said, “You can’t handle me when I’m passionate.”
That was true. Pei Xiting smiled and put a fish dumpling in Zong Suiyang’s bowl, coaxing him, “Aiya, don’t be so sour. My son and I have a genuine brotherhood. We’re different species, so it’s impossible.”
“Oh,” Zong Suiyang mused. “So the only reason you didn’t become a couple was because you’re different species?”
Damn it, I said the wrong thing. Pei Xiting lightly smacked his mouth, then took Zong Suiyang’s haughty face and gave it a loud kiss. After savoring the moment, he said, “Mhm, it’s sweet. Not sour anymore.”
“…” Zong Suiyang didn’t know what to do with him. “Sit properly and eat.”
“Where am I not sitting properly?” Pei Xiting adopted the posture of a diligent student in class, staring innocently at Zong Suiyang with a good attitude. “Teacher, please guide me.”
Zong Suiyang said nothing, only reaching out and pinching the back of his neck. “Eat.”
Pei Xiting smiled, picked up his spoon, and took a sip of porridge. He evaluated it, saying, “Mhm, the fragrance is stronger today, and the sweetness is just right.”
“Then I’ll have the kitchen make it this way from now on,” Zong Suiyang said.
Pei Xiting “mhm-mhm’d” and nodded. He and Zong Suiyang ate their breakfast with their arms pressed together. After washing up and tidying themselves, they were ready to head out.
The carriage was perfumed with the scent of plum blossom agarwood sent by Pei Qinghe, making it tranquil and pleasant. A sandalwood box inlaid with white jade sat on the table. Pei Xiting opened it and saw that it contained warmed plum blossom wine, a variety of dishes, and fruits.
“Mhm, not bad, not bad.” Pei Xiting closed the box and sat down next to Zong Suiyang. “Let’s go on a trip.”
Zong Suiyang felt that Pei Xiting’s tone was like he was talking to Little King or Zong Lu, like he was coaxing a child. However, he didn’t feel there was anything wrong with it. It was actually inappropriate that those two received the same treatment as him, if it weren’t for Pei Xiting’s doting nature…
Pei Xiting was unaware of the Crown Prince’s thoughts. He opened the carriage window and looked at the palace gate. “Where’s Little King?”
“Taking a walk with Bai Tang. They’re both gone,” Yuan Fang said from outside the window.
“Ignore it,” Zong Suiyang said.
Pei Xiting was a little worried. “What if it comes back and finds out we left it behind to go have fun? Will it be upset?”
“When it was taking Bai Tang for a walk, did it think of bringing you along?” Zong Suiyang asked.
Pei Xiting felt there was a slight logical flaw in this, but he didn’t know how to refute it and was left speechless.
“Alright, it’s not a little tiger anymore. Let it arrange its own leisure plans,” Zong Suiyang declared. Yu Shaoyun, in cooperation, went forward and closed the carriage window. He and Yuan Fang sat in the driver’s seat and drove away. They were heading to the Plum Valley in the west of the city. As the name suggested, it was a good place to enjoy the snow and plum blossoms. Pei Xiting had been hesitant at first because it wasn’t a “secluded spot,” and they would certainly run into other people. But Zong Suiyang said it was fine; they would enjoy their own flowers and wouldn’t bother anyone else.
Pei Xiting naturally had no objections and decided on this route for the day.
The bustling sounds of the street entered the carriage. When passing by the candied haws stall, Pei Xiting had Yu Shaoyun stop the carriage, opened the window, and asked for a string of candied haws with grape cores.
The vendor had his two children with him today. Both were wearing simple red cotton jackets and were slim. The little boy handed him the candied haws. Pei Xiting gave him a piece of silver and, as he pulled back his hand, touched the boy’s chapped face. “Thank you. Keep the change.”
The vendor heard him and came over with two strings of copper coins, bowing. “How can I do that? Sir, you’ve bought from me many times, and you never let me give you change. I just finished making two skewers today. I’ll give them to you both.”
“Two strings of heavy copper coins would be so inconvenient for me to carry,” Pei Xiting smiled. “Take them and buy some snacks for the children. Li’s shop down the street has a special today: big lamb legs. There’s a long line at the door. You’ll be late if you don’t go now.”
The vendor did business in Yejing. Candied haws was not a valuable item; it was a business for common people, so this customer in front of him was special.
The carriage parked in front of them could buy enough food and clothing for his family of four for a lifetime. The person inside was, of course, of a status too wealthy to even imagine, yet this fairy-like gentleman never cared whether the food ingredients were clean or suitable for his status. He just ate for pleasure. His every move was beautiful and elegant, but he never put on airs in front of the vendors and common folk. The vendor had seen him help up a fallen woman once, not minding at all that the mud from the woman’s hands stained his expensive robe. He had also seen him having fun with noble sons like Young Marquis Mei, leaning on the railing on the second floor of Yuanying Pavilion, watching his peers ride horses and fight chickens with a sense of superiority.
The vendor couldn’t say what kind of person he was. Hearing his words, he no longer insisted on giving him the money back. He smiled and sent his children to line up to buy lamb legs. He then took out another skewer, this one with kumquats, for Pei Xiting. “The snowy roads are slippery. Take care, sir, and have a prosperous New Year.”
Pei Xiting accepted it and nodded. “May your business flourish.”
He closed the carriage window, and Yu Shaoyun drove away.
“Want some?” Pei Xiting dangled the two skewers of candied haws in front of Zong Suiyang. Seeing him shake his head, he leaned toward the door and opened it. “Who wants some?”
Yu Shaoyun didn’t like sweets much. Yuan Fang reached out and took the kumquat skewer. Pei Xiting closed the door and returned to sit next to Zong Suiyang. He unwrapped the paper on the skewer and fed one to Zong Suiyang. “I’ve tried a dozen candied haw shops in Yejing. This one is the best, and the fruit is the roundest.”
Zong Suiyang reached out and poked his bulging right cheek. “With such good craftsmanship, the vendor’s business will always flourish.”
Pei Xiting nodded and flattered him. “The Crown Prince’s words carry a lot of weight. Want another one?”
A skewer of candied haws usually had four or five fruits, depending on the size. Every time Pei Xiting bought a skewer, Zong Suiyang would help him eat one or two.
Zong Suiyang rarely ate such snacks before. At least in the first four or five years, he hadn’t eaten a single one. They were too sweet for him, and he saw no reason to eat them.
But Pei Xiting loved these small snacks. Whenever Pei Xiting found out about a good food vendor in Yejing, no matter what corner of the city, he would always find an opportunity to try it. Once he liked it, it would be added to “Young Master Pei’s List of Favored Vendors.” He would visit them whenever he had a chance, and in the process, Zong Suiyang also tried many small snacks.
Zong Suiyang watched Pei Xiting’s chewing face. He reached out and wiped the sugar residue from the corner of his mouth and poured him a cup of tea. “There’s a chestnut vendor up ahead. Do you want some?”
Pei Xiting shook his head. After taking a sip of tea, he said, “I’ve got some chestnut cakes ready. It’s not good; buy some.”
Zong Suiyang laughed and instructed Yu Shaoyun to stop the carriage in front of the chestnut shop and buy a hot portion.
Yuan Fang was the one who got out. He went into the shop and ordered a large portion and also bought a bag of candied melon seeds. As he was leaving, he glanced across the street and saw a person standing on the second floor of a teahouse: Shangguan Jie.
The man was staring intently at the carriage, his face ashen. He had clearly not given up hope.
After a quick thought, Yuan Fang decided it was better not to say anything so as not to change the mood inside the carriage.
He walked to the carriage window, handed the chestnuts to Pei Xiting, and said, “Eat them while they’re hot.”
Having just eaten the candied haws, Pei Xiting said sweetly, “Thanks, my Fang.”
Yuan Fang slammed the carriage window shut the moment Zong Suiyang looked over and returned to the driver’s seat.
Yu Shaoyun pulled his gaze away from the second floor of the teahouse, shook his head with an unreadable expression, and drove away.
The carriage continued its leisurely journey. The thick wooden planks blocked Shangguan Jie’s view. He turned his body, watching until the carriage disappeared from sight.
“Stop looking,” Mei Xiu said, holding a teacup and coming out from behind him. He leaned against the door frame and looked in the direction the carriage had gone. “During the New Year, the East Palace gave out gifts to all the officials. When the ladies of each family returned the gifts to Fengyi Palace to show their filial piety, many of them sent things that Xiting liked. Only those people received an extra special reward later. What does that mean?”
Mei Xiu smiled. “The Empress and the Crown Prince’s liking for Xiting is so obvious that they want everyone to know that this is the only way to curry favor with the Crown Prince. Conversely, it’s also a way to offend the Crown Prince.”
The affection between these two was now known to all. Even though Shangguan Jie was unwilling, there was no opportunity for him to step in. But he still said, “Men can have three wives and four concubines. Why can’t he?”
“Pfft!” Mei Xiu spit out a mouthful of tea. He stared at Shangguan Jie for a moment and said, “You want to be a concubine, but have you considered whether the main wife is willing to have that kind of tolerance?”
Zong Suiyang naturally did not have that kind of tolerance, nor did he need to. Although he got jealous of everything, regardless of species or life status, he understood in his heart that Pei Xiting’s heart had only one space, and he filled it completely.
As for people like Shangguan Jie and Zhao Fan, their affection was one-sided and not worth mentioning. Besides, these two pieces of “iron” were not a good match to begin with, and no matter how much they were hammered, they couldn’t produce any sparks in front of Pei Xiting. Thus, when they happened to run into Zhao Yi, who was invited to join them in the carriage and, in doing so, unsuitably broke up their time alone, Zong Suiyang was still able to maintain his composure. “It’s good that Sifan isn’t at home preparing for the spring imperial examinations next year and still has the leisure to go out and admire the flowers. This shows you are well-prepared and confident. I am sure you will come out on top next year.”
“?” Pei Xiting felt that the tone of these words was a little off. He couldn’t help but carefully consider them. When he turned his head to look, the Crown Prince’s expression was perfect, without any flaws.
Zhao Yi, the naive and silly guy, naturally didn’t understand the underlying meaning. He immediately cupped his hands and humbly said that his talent was meager and that his passing the autumn examination was just luck. He was not confident he could top the spring imperial examinations. But with His Highness’s words, he would do his best to live up to his expectations.
“…” Pei Xiting’s eyes shifted, and he did not participate in the conversation.
