Because of that sudden courtship incident, the atmosphere between Shen Jiujiu and Pei Du grew subtly awkward afterward.
The little bird nestled on Pei Du’s shoulder, not daring to meet his eyes.
The little bird weighed next to nothing, leaving Pei Du’s palm uncharacteristically empty as he walked back to the rear courtyard. He felt strangely off-balance.
But regardless, that night, man and bird would still have to share the same pillow and bed.
“Xinian…”
“Chirp…”
Pei Du and Shen Jiujiu spoke at the same time.
Shen Jiujiu shifted his position, spread his wings, and carefully brushed Pei Du’s earlobe with the tip of one wing, signaling him to go first.
Pei Du cleared his throat and spoke as calmly as he could. “The courtship period is a perfectly normal thing for little birds.”
“Xinian, we both know you’re no ordinary little bird, so there’s no need to take it too much to heart.”
Shen Jiujiu fidgeted awkwardly with his wings.
At a time like this, don’t go calling my name so seriously…
His heart had stirred for the first time, only for him to run into this bizarre twist of turning into a little bird—and then clumsily courting his beloved right to his face. If a hole in the ground had opened up just then, Shen Jiujiu would have dived straight in.
“…Chirp.”
…Mm-hmm.
Shen Jiujiu steeled himself, feigning utter nonchalance with a soft chirp.
Pei Du, unusually lost for words, paused in front of the screen partition. His Adam’s apple bobbed slowly. “Then… shall I change?”
Shen Jiujiu made no sound. He flapped his wings and flew onto the bed, silently drawing the bed curtains closed.
Pei Du pursed his lips for a moment before tugging the silk cord at the bedside.
Servants entered with water to attend to Pei Du’s washing and changing. Shen Jiujiu huddled behind the bed curtains, his cheeks burning hot. He lifted his wings to cover his head, oblivious to his plump little bird rear sticking out.
Pei Du’s movements stalled inexplicably just before parting the curtains. He steadied his breathing, then casually drew them aside as if nothing were amiss.
There, on the bedding, protruded a small gray-white lump.
Pei Du: “…”
Lord Pei, ever proper, averted his gaze and gave a light cough.
Shen Jiujiu shot into the air, circling several loops inside the curtains.
Pei Du rubbed his temples, forcing the inexplicable awkwardness from his mind. He sat on the edge of the bed, palm turned upward, and curved his lips in a helpless smile. “Why has everything gotten so awkward?”
Shen Jiujiu hesitated before alighting in Pei Du’s palm, wings tucked neatly behind him.
Sigh. Benefactor just didn’t understand the little bird’s heart.
Little bird… well.
This must be what they called timidity on the eve of reunion with one’s beloved.
No matter!
Coaxing Benefactor to sleep and tending to his illness properly came first.
Shen Jiujiu fluttered from Pei Du’s palm once more, landing beside the pillow. He spread his wings in earnest, solemnly gesturing for Pei Du to lie down and sleep like a good boy.
The little bird’s moods shifted like passing clouds—sunny one moment, stormy the next. Lately, Pei Du found him impossible to read.
Pei Du lay down, considered for a moment, then asked, “Tomorrow, would you like to rise early with me and head out?”
No more letting Sui Ziming take Jiujiu anywhere.
Shen Jiujiu cocked his head. “Chirp chirp?”
Out tomorrow?
Pei Du nodded. “Mm. Court convenes tomorrow.”
Shen Jiujiu: “…Chirp chirp.”
…Pass.
Pei Du blinked in surprise. “Would you rather go out playing with Ziming? That’s fine, but skip that alley. From the restaurant’s private room, it was all too obvious.”
Shen Jiujiu didn’t reply.
The little bird hopped onto the pillow and gestured. The height wasn’t quite right, so summoning his courage, he spread his wings, tucked in his claws, and gently settled on Pei Du’s forehead.
Pei Du went still.
Shen Jiujiu stretched his wings wide to cover Pei Du’s eyes. “Chirp chirp!”
Sleep!
Early court tomorrow, and here you were, burning the midnight oil under the flowers and moon!
Dragging a little bird to court?
Such a solemn affair—getting caught would mean a brutal impeachment for indulging in trifles and losing your drive.
The little bird refused to tarnish Benefactor’s reputation.
Sleep now, build up your strength, and shine at court tomorrow.
Shen Jiujiu perched on Pei Du’s forehead, wings splayed flat over his eyes.
The little bird’s feathers were whisper-soft and feather-light, carrying the damp freshness of moonlit lake water mingled with the sweet scent of dried fruits and meat floss. Warmth radiated from him.
His wing feathers weren’t the only softness—the fuzzy belly pressed to Pei Du’s forehead was toasty too.
Pei Du had more to say, thoughts and words churning in his mind, but they faded as he slipped unaware into deep, sweet slumber.
Sensing Pei Du’s breaths grow soft and even, Shen Jiujiu peeked from beneath one wing.
Seeing no sign of waking, he eased off.
Wingbeats might disturb Pei Du in the dark, so Shen Jiujiu held his pose and silently slid down from the temple, tail cocked.
The little bird yearned for a more dashing, dignified dismount instead of this belly-flop indignity. But his tiny frame and stubby wings could barely cover one eye at a stretch, leaving him no choice but the perfect avian sleep mask.
With his claws, he smoothed Pei Du’s stray hairs. Exhausted from the day’s adventures, Shen Jiujiu pattered across the pillow to a cozy nook, nestled against Pei Du’s cheek, and drifted off.
~~~
Exhaustion from the day before must have caught up, for when Shen Jiujiu awoke next morning, his wings lay sprawled wide across the pillow.
The bed curtains hung at the bed’s edge, enclosing a private haven. Pei Du’s faint medicinal scent lingered on pillow and sheets.
Shen Jiujiu poked half his little head past the curtain edge.
Back to the bed, Pei Du had finished washing and was donning his court robes.
Dawn had yet to break. Candlelight played over the Prime Minister’s crimson robes, the crane patch gleaming with imperial gravitas.
Shen Jiujiu watched, transfixed.
An idea bubbled up, itching to break free.
Having straightened his sash, Pei Du caught the faint rustle and turned—just in time to glimpse Shen Jiujiu ducking back behind the curtain.
Pei Du arched a brow, dismissed the attendants with a wave, and parted the curtains to check on his newly awakened little bird dumpling.
Light spilled in. Meeting Pei Du’s gaze, Shen Jiujiu huddled adorably at the bed’s edge, the picture of someone just rousing properly.
Pei Du wasn’t so easily fooled. He watched Shen Jiujiu at his leisure, clearly seeing the little scheme hidden behind those eyes.
Shen Jiujiu knew full well that his benefactor’s sharp mind was the sort that could send chills down one’s spine with a moment’s reflection. And so Little Bird flapped his wings and flew right onto Pei Du’s shoulder, nestling obediently against the side of his neck.
“Jiujiu~”
Good morning.
Benefactor looks so handsome in his court robes.
He kept that last thought to himself.
Pei Du smiled as well. “It’s still early. Are you sure you don’t want to sleep a little longer?”
Shen Jiujiu shook out his feathers, brimming with energy. “Chirp!”
No more sleep!
Little Bird’s going to collect some gold today!
Pei Du figured Shen Jiujiu must have his own plans and didn’t press the issue. He carried Little Bird toward the front courtyard.
Perched specially on Pei Du’s shoulder that day, Shen Jiujiu stole a glance at him. With careful movements, he pecked a single small feather free from between his tail feathers, clamped it gently in his beak, and stealthily slipped it along the edge of the round-collared robe into Pei Du’s collar.
Shen Jiujiu wasn’t truly just a little bird, after all, so this courtship ritual of gifting a feather wasn’t some deeply solemn declaration of love for him.
But that morning, when he saw Pei Du dressed in his court robes—noble and imposing, yet unable to fully mask that underlying loneliness—a sudden impulse had surged up from the depths of his heart.
Shen Jiujiu gazed out at the courtyard tiles still shrouded in the pre-dawn gloom, stretched his neck, and gently rubbed his head against Pei Du’s cheek.
If he couldn’t bring Little Bird to court, then at least he could bring along one of Little Bird’s feathers.
Jiujiu will always be with you.
Nuzzle nuzzle~
