Chapter 28 Part 1

In the Tianming 17th Year, early spring, the twenty-third day of the first lunar month, the spring rain murmured softly. Beneath the eastern window of the main hall, a strikingly handsome young man sat studying to the point of exasperation.

He flipped through a medical text, muttering the properties of various medicines under his breath. When the memorization made him restless, he couldn’t help but scratch the back of his head. After reciting three or four pages this way, he had scratched five or six times, leaving his hair bun in complete disarray.

Engrossed in his study, a soft call came from behind him. “Cousin Young Master.”

“Mm!”

Seventeen-year-old Gu Xiaodeng turned his head. His hair bun was askew, the hair at his temples scattered. His eyes were bright and moist. The unblemished skin of his face, neck, and hands shone with a translucent, pale luster. In disarray, it was a disheveled beauty; when proper, it was a proper beauty. He was at that age bursting with youth; even the strands of hair broken and tangled between his fingers shimmered with vitality.

“Did you call me? Is there something good to eat?” Gu Xiaodeng’s eyes lit up the moment he saw Feng’en carrying a food container.

“Sent over from the Bamboo Courtyard.” Feng’en set the container on the dining table. He had barely lifted half the lid when Gu Xiaodeng abandoned his book in favor of the food, scampering over at once to see what delicious treat awaited.

Feng’en was about to announce the name of the pastries when he heard Gu Xiaodeng’s cheerful laugh: “So plump and cute, looks delicious at first glance.”

He happily picked up a silver skewer and ate a piece. He didn’t register it until the sweet pastry was already stuffed in his mouth. Puffing out his cheek, he asked in surprise, “Wait, from the Bamboo Courtyard? Did Young Master Su come?”

Feng’en looked at him, a little exasperated.

It had been years, yet Gu Xiaodeng still frequently forgot to tidy his appearance and maintain proper bearing. He always ended up looking as silly as he did now.

No wonder others often sneered behind his back, calling him vulgar and dull. Even when forced to admit he was good-looking, they’d declare it with a thud: gaudy and common.

Over these years, under various physical training and discipline, he hadn’t grown crooked by a single inch. His good looks had only become more dazzling with each passing year.

The only flaw was that his temperament remained flighty. Sometimes reckless, sometimes rough, sometimes climbing roofs to tear off tiles, sometimes leaping and bounding about. He was always flashing a mouthful of perfect teeth in foolish delight, showing off those sweet dimples. He truly didn’t resemble a noble young master… although, in status, he wasn’t one. But not even putting on airs was truly a bit demeaning.

In these past few years, Feng’en had broken into a cold sweat for him countless times, always afraid that the Su family’s Eldest Young Master in the Bamboo Courtyard would find him rude and unseemly, grow tired of him one day, and cast him back to the Ge family or the Guan family. He would have been bullied to the bone then.

Thank goodness Young Master Su had such patience.

And thank goodness Gu Xiaodeng had such a good face.

Feng’en sighed with a smile, unsure if it was relief or a prayer of gratitude. “Yes, Young Master Su arrived at noon. He’ll be staying here for three days before returning to the Su residence.”

“Oh!”

Gu Xiaodeng nodded and continued eating the pastries with a look of blissful gluttony.

He quickly finished the exquisite but sparse snacks, dusted off his hands, and turned back to his medical text.

Feng’en’s smile immediately turned wry. He could only pack away the food container and go over to advise him. “Cousin Young Master, it has been some time since you last saw Young Master Su. Won’t you go visit the Bamboo Courtyard now?”

“No need.” Gu Xiaodeng smiled, flipping a page. “Young Master Su must be very busy. New Year and the Lantern Festival haven’t been over long, and soon it will be his birthday again. The Su family has many people to socialize with. Coming to the Gu family now is probably just for maintaining connections. I’m also very busy, so I won’t bother him.”

Feng’en couldn’t tell for a moment if he was genuinely thinking of Su Mingya’s needs, or if the temper he’d thrown during the New Year’s period hadn’t subsided yet.

Thinking of that incident, Feng’en felt like sighing again.

Over the years, as a bystander, no matter how he looked at it, he knew Gu Xiaodeng’s continued ability to be so carefree and lighthearted was directly linked to Su Mingya’s overt and covert indulgence. To put it harshly, if not for this young master of the Chancellor’s residence’s various favors, Gu Xiaodeng probably couldn’t even participate in the Gu family’s various banquets; instead, he’d be a frequent visitor to the confinement room.

Among his generation, only Su Mingya had the means to treat him with such magnanimity and generosity. It was likely precisely because of this overt and covert pampering that Gu Xiaodeng could even throw tantrums, “climbing up one’s nose to one’s face.”

Around the New Year’s period last year, Gu Xiaodeng had heard some nasty rumors about himself. So furious he could barely see straight, he went door-to-door through the student dormitories before the academy closed for the holidays, questioning them one by one. Su Mingya also learned of the matter and sent a servant to bring him to the Bamboo Courtyard to cool off. Gu Xiaodeng didn’t exactly “tattle” to him, but he did mention one thing that displeased him: someone was privately calling him “Su Shanqing.”

Gu Xiaodeng’s fur bristled. Su Mingya smoothed him down, responding that it was harmless and not improper. As a result, Gu Xiaodeng’s fur bristled even more, puffing up like a pufferfish before running back.

It had been like this until now, nearly a month, and the two hadn’t seen each other.

According to Feng’en’s observation, it was normal for the Bamboo Courtyard to ignore Gu Xiaodeng for long periods, but it was rather abnormal for Gu Xiaodeng, that clingy thing, that creature who feared solitude, to go so long without mentioning a single word about Su Mingya. In past years, he rarely managed to hold out this long. He liked being close to people, especially Su Mingya; anyone could see it.

Now, he had been buried in intense study for a full month. If he wasn’t reading, he was out practicing martial arts. No clinging. This was somewhat ridiculous.

Having finished the pastries without any reaction, Gu Xiaodeng went back to scratching his head and reciting his texts, minding his own business. Feng’en had no choice but to pack the food container, ready to head out and make a trip to the Bamboo Courtyard on his behalf. Who knew that as soon as he stepped out, he’d find Su’s servants still waiting, immediately feeling both surprised and awkward.

They’d probably been waiting to hold an umbrella for Gu Xiaodeng and escort him to the Bamboo Courtyard.

The servant saw only Feng’en coming out and his expression turned rather sour, but there was nothing to be done. He could only take the empty container back.

When Feng’en returned inside, Feng Huan was also peeking from the outer hall, a worried look on his face. He ran over to whisper, “Brother, do you think Young Master Su will be angry with Young Master?”

Feng’en said helplessly, “If he’s angry, he’s angry. Nothing we can do about it.”

Feng Huan craned his neck to glance at Gu Xiaodeng reciting in a rhythmic cadence. “Should I go talk to Young Master?”

Feng’en rubbed his head. “The Cousin Young Master is as stubborn as a mule. What could you possibly say to him? Tonight, make some unpalatable dinner. That might be more effective.”

Feng Huan followed the advice. As it turned out, at dinner, Gu Xiaodeng just looked at him quizzically, asking if he was angry or unwell today. Upon receiving a negative reply, he continued wolfing down his food, eating his entire portion completely clean.

Outside the Bamboo Courtyard, his food and portions within the Gu family were regulated. If he had the expectation of finding it hard to adjust from luxury to frugality, he should have reason to cling more to the Bamboo Courtyard. Su Mingya basically indulged him in everything.

But evidently, he wasn’t picky. He was easy to raise. Still didn’t complain or act out… well, less so now.

After devouring his meal, Gu Xiaodeng went out for a stroll. Feng’en and Feng Huan watched him leave hopefully, but after an incense stick’s worth of time, he returned, stretching lazily. A yawn moistened his eyes, making his gaze suddenly seem full of sentiment, drifting back into the room like a spring rain.

Feng Huan was just softening, thinking how beautiful and alluring his young master was, when he heard an “Ah-da!” from the inner room: “You can do it! Memorize two more pages, aaaah!”

Gu Xiaodeng’s impression on him instantly shifted from a fox spirit to a little farm dog.

Feng’en and Feng Huan exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of despair.

They thought the night would pass just like this, peaceful and helpless. Who knew that as the night deepened, the spring rain outside thinning, and Gu Xiaodeng’s recitation voice growing softer, the door was gently knocked. Entering was the Su family’s eldest young master, his boots slightly damp.

This was the first time Su Mingya had personally come to Gu Xiaodeng’s place.

Both Feng’en and Feng Huan’s minds went blank for several moments. They simultaneously speculated: Could it be that Su’s eldest young master made a special trip back to the Gu residence for three days just to see Gu Xiaodeng? After all, the Su family was truly busy at this time. Snapping back to their senses, the two hurried to the inner room to call him, only to find Gu Xiaodeng sprawled on his medical book, fast asleep.

Feng’en, Feng Huan: “…”

They were just thinking of waking their little farm dog of a young master when a soft “Shh” came from behind them.

Su Mingya stepped into the inner room. The spring night carried a sharp chill. The hem of his cloak brushed the air with a faint sound like tearing silk, so he slowed his steps.

Feng’en and Feng Huan withdrew from the inner room, heads lowered, stealing glance after glance. They saw Su Mingya unfasten his cloak; a Su family servant received it with both hands, then also retreated.

The door to the inner room slowly closed. Within, the immortal-like Eldest Young Master Su stood tall and graceful, a small wine pot hooked on his fingertip, quietly lingering by the eastern window.

Like a night rain that had ceased, then began again.

~

Once Gu Xiaodeng fell asleep, he slept soundly and deeply. During the day, he’d memorized so much awkward, hard-to-remember knowledge that his mind was tired, making him sleep even deeper. But somehow, tonight he had a bizarre dream.

In the dream, he felt cold, and he also felt drunk. He seemed to have turned into a drunken rabbit, skewered on a stick, with a blurry silver-white wolf gnawing at him relentlessly.

Terrified he’d be eaten skin, fur, and bone, he flicked his ears and kicked his legs, wanting to run, but his tail was caught. Such a short stub of a tail, yet it was held so firmly. Gu Xiaodeng panicked in his drowsiness, thinking, what’s with this wolf? Its paws are so nimble?

Those nimble paws pressed down on his spine. The wolf came to grip him by the neck. The rabbit Gu Xiaodeng was gnawed senseless, feeling dizzy. He had no choice but to reason with the wolf, telling it to eat grass like him, to reduce its killing karma, to accumulate more virtue.

But the wolf said it didn’t want virtue; it just wanted to eat rabbit.

Rabbit Gu Xiaodeng was even more shocked. The wolf could talk!

The wolf flipped him over with its paw and replied, Aren’t you, a rabbit, also chattering away happily? We’re both cultivated into spirits; what are you pretending to be stupid and ignorant for?

Rabbit Gu Xiaodeng tried to reason again: once cultivated into spirits, one is practically human; one cannot still drink blood and eat raw flesh. You mustn’t, you mustn’t.

The wolf stopped listening. It held him down with its paw, bared its fangs, and gnawed at him again and again, biting shallow and deep.

The next morning, Gu Xiaodeng woke up in a daze, feeling lightheaded and heavy-limbed, staring at the ceiling in bewilderment, wondering why he kept having strange dreams.

The strangest part was that the wolf in the dream eating him was one thing, but mid-meal, it even used its paw to scratch his belly, absurdly threatening him to produce a litter of bunnies, promising to release him if he did.

But he was a male rabbit!

His head full of question marks, Gu Xiaodeng climbed up, suspecting this was some twisted absurd erotic dream. Honestly, he pulled down his pants to check. No, it wasn’t. Nothing there. He could only pat his head and get up. As soon as he moved, he started sneezing, his nose running. Touching his forehead, it was a bit hot. Clearly, he’d caught a cold.

He put on clothes, sniffled, and asked Feng’en, who had come to attend him: “Feng’en, I’ve caught a cold. Did I fall asleep on my desk last night and get rained on?”

Feng’en could only tell half the truth, and even that was his speculation: “Yes… You were probably dressed too thinly and exposed to the cold wind and damp rain. I’m sorry, I should have noticed you’d fallen asleep earlier.”

That way, you could have properly spoken with the angry eldest Young Master Su, instead of being fed wine and pressed against the eastern window.

Gu Xiaodeng got out of bed, kicked his legs about, wiped his nose, and waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine. I’ve been cooped up in the room for days anyway. I should go out and move my body today. I’ll sweat it out, and it’ll be fine.”