This was the first time Shen Xinian had ever carried out a plan entirely on his own.
It filled him with a fresh sense of wonder for every step, and he threw himself into it with utmost seriousness, striving for perfection.
Especially now…
Shen Xinian jogged forward a short way, then spread his arms and hopped along before taking a deep breath. In a touch of boyish whimsy, he even picked up a long, straight branch from the ground and waved it around like a sword.
Sui Ziming watched from the side, amused. “You’re acting just like I did as a kid on my first long trip.”
Shen Xinian puffed out his chest righteously. “Because it is my first time!”
Only those who had lost their freedom could truly appreciate how intoxicating this healthy, unbound liberty felt.
“Still, your influence in the Canlang Army is really something,” Shen Xinian said, turning to walk backward as he faced Sui Ziming.
Before they arrived, Shen Xinian had brainstormed all sorts of ways to persuade them—after all, two young pups like themselves showing up out of the blue to recruit help needed to show sincerity and prove they were reliable.
These weren’t just any mountain hunters; in these times, anyone who could bag game had surplus grain and coin at home. Pelts, meat, and herbs all fetched good prices and had ready markets.
But the moment they got there and Sui Ziming planted himself in front of them, Shen Xinian’s every proposal was met with instant agreement. The deal was struck with remarkable ease.
Sui Ziming shrugged. “That’s why I have to live so carefully.”
Shen Xinian let out a soft “Hm.”
From a few lines in the original story and the later plot developments, he had some vague idea of the Sui Family’s sway over the Canlang Army. But he hadn’t realized it was quite this… exaggerated.
Veterans who had been far from the Borderlands battlefield for years still treated Sui Ziming with such deference. No wonder two emperors in a row—whether they held real power or not—had refused to yield an inch when it came to the Sui Family.
Sui Ziming hooked his hand behind his head and strolled along leisurely. “I pretty much grew up in the army camps, dragged there every few days. I must’ve been five or so when I snuck out with the soldiers to swig Burning Knife. Hahaha!”
Back then, his father and mother were still alive, his older siblings just coming into their own. It was the Sui Family’s most carefree and glorious era.
Sui Ziming’s voice gradually softened. “They watched me grow up, so naturally, they treat me a bit differently.”
That singular favor stemmed from two generations of the Sui Family’s blood-soaked merits and loyalties.
“Besides, haven’t you noticed? Even at their age, none of them have taken a wife. Hunter life is unstable and dangerous—who knows when you might end up dead in the woods? No proper girl from a good family wants that kind of hand-to-mouth existence.”
Sui Ziming shifted tones, lightening up with a playful wink at Shen Xinian.
“The Escort Agency life means traveling far and wide, risking your neck, sure—but at least it’s a legitimate trade. If the worst happens… the family gets compensation, some real support.”
Truth be told, Shen Xinian had never truly known hardship.
In his previous life in the modern world, even as an orphan with tight finances, his parents had left him a house. With the rental income and student loans, in that era of peace and prosperity, he had stumbled through but still made it to university.
After his rebirth, his mother’s pampering and wealth had sheltered him. Even confined by his frail health and the world’s will, unable to step outside, he was undeniably a spoiled young master of a wealthy house.
He had never truly seen what life was like for the common folk in this era.
So he didn’t know that the government subsidies, military pensions, and everyday conveniences he had once taken for granted simply didn’t exist here.
Those belonged to mighty, thriving nations in eras of great peace.
The original story’s offhand mention of “hard times and an unstable court” meant little more than cautious maneuvering or opportunities for glory to the noble houses. The real suffering fell on the people at the bottom and the soldiers who truly died on the battlefields.
Shen Xinian walked quietly along the path, still clutching that long branch. His other hand occasionally brushed the roadside grass, plucking a blade here and there.
Sui Ziming raised his hand and gave a sharp whistle.
With its wings fully healed at last, A Sa—this time brought along for a good stretch—swooped down from the sky and landed steadily on Sui Ziming’s arm.
Shen Xinian pulled a strip of dried meat from his pouch and offered it to A Sa.
The majestic Haidongqing eyed Shen Xinian intently, even leaning in close for a sniff before letting out a low cry and snatching the meat from his hand.
Sui Ziming chuckled. “Besides what I give it, A Sa never used to eat from anyone else’s hand.”
The basics of falconry demanded absolute loyalty to the master, especially with such fierce, clever birds.
Yet Shen Xinian, playing the role of Little Bird, had somehow pried open a chink in that armor.
Shen Xinian kept his head lowered, diligently feeding A Sa the jerky while stroking the raptor’s feathers.
To make it easier for him, A Sa obligingly spread its wings—and one of them whacked Sui Ziming right in the face.
Sui Ziming: “…”
With a look of utter exasperation, he nudged the big wing aside with his chin. “A Sa, you’re breaking my heart here! Watch out, or I’ll go home tonight and sob all over you.”
Shen Xinian shot Sui Ziming an incredulous glance, then turned questioning eyes to A Sa.
—Wait, he actually cries?
The proud eagle let out a remarkably human sigh, folding its wings with clear resignation.
Sui Ziming paid no mind and happily reached out to stroke the base of A Sa’s wings.
Shen Xinian glanced around.
They were nearing the base of the mountain; in the distance, cooking smoke was already rising from the village as mealtime approached.
Shen Xinian gave Sui Ziming a light nudge with his elbow and whispered, “How’s your swimming?”
In that instant, Sui Ziming’s gaze sharpened, all traces of his usual carefree slouch vanishing. It was so piercing that Shen Xinian felt a shiver crawl up his scalp.
Shen Xinian cleared his throat awkwardly. “I was just asking—most folks who excel at mounted combat are landlubbers, right? Not great with water battles or anything…”
“I can swim.”
Sui Ziming’s reply was soft but firm.
“I can.”
He repeated it.
Shen Xinian’s eyes widened in surprise.
Though he was the one who had asked, his real intent had been a gentle hint that Sui Ziming might want to learn how to swim.
To his surprise, Sui Ziming—born in the Capital to a family of generals who guarded the northern Borderlands—not only knew how to swim but seemed to have studied it seriously, judging by his confident tone.
“I once apprenticed under the Deputy General of the Fujian Naval Division,” Sui Ziming said, his fingertip gently stroking A Sa’s wing feathers. “Even Cousin has no idea about that.”
“I’m no fool,” he continued. “I know I’ll never make it back to the Canlang Army. If there’s another path for me, even starting as a lowly foot soldier down south, I’d take it in a heartbeat.”
But such an opportunity would only come if the imperial court had descended into total chaos.
For instance, if Prince Wu launched a rebellion.
Shen Xinian knew the storyline, so he was certain Prince Wu would rebel—and he even knew the rough timing. Yet Sui Ziming had clearly made his own preparations too, which suggested the political situation was far more turbulent than it appeared on the surface.
Shen Xinian hesitated, words catching in his throat, but he finally couldn’t hold back. “Benefactor, he…”
He trailed off, but Sui Ziming understood immediately.
It was the kind of question too many people had asked him indirectly in the past.
But this time, it was Shen Xinian doing the asking.
Sui Ziming fell silent for a long moment before murmuring, “Anyone but Cousin.”
“He’s sworn an oath.”
With those two sentences, Shen Xinian and Sui Ziming tacitly moved past the subject and said no more.
After descending a ways down the mountain, Shen Xinian’s nose twitched. He caught the faint scent of osmanthus blossoms.
These were blooming remarkably early.
Sui Ziming smelled it too, and mischief lit his eyes. “Why don’t we pick some to take back? Have the kitchen make osmanthus cakes?”
“Or osmanthus wine, fermented glutinous rice with osmanthus, osmanthus-stuffed lotus root, osmanthus jelly—”
Shen Xinian huffed. “All you ever think about is food!”
Sui Ziming crossed his arms over his chest. “Then you tell me—what are you staring over there for if not to eat?”
Shen Xinian didn’t bother arguing with this thick-headed blockhead.
After all, the man’s brain was full of overwrought dramas like “A Sa ignored me today, which means it doesn’t love me anymore.”
Shen Xinian followed the fragrance and found that, in this whole osmanthus grove, not many trees were in full bloom.
Hm… and they were awfully tall.
Sui Ziming grinned. “Come on. If you need a hand, you’d better ask nicely—the guy who can actually climb trees.”
Shen Xinian was still lost in thought.
He wasn’t thinking about climbing trees. He was recalling the sensation of turning into a little bird the night before.
His ability to shift back and forth between human and bird forms had to be tied to Pei Du’s destiny. But the very first trigger that had turned him human? That absolutely couldn’t have been Benefactor secretly wishing for his little pocket bird to transform into a naked man he could hold close—especially not in the intimate seclusion of bed curtains.
So…
Not Benefactor. Then it had to be himself.
What had he been thinking? What had he done?
Shen Xinian tilted his head back, gazing thoughtfully at the clusters of osmanthus blooming on the branches overhead.
—He had been thinking how nice it would be if he could turn human.
—Then he could rub Benefactor’s aching stomach, warm him up a little.
In that case…
Shen Xinian’s slender, delicate frame was clearly unsuited for tree-climbing and flower-picking.
So Sui Ziming amused himself by poking Shen Xinian’s arm now and then, taking the chance to tease.
“Beg me nicely. Hand over your drumstick tonight, and I’ll pick enough to fill your whole lap… ?!”
Sui Ziming’s finger met empty air. The full-sized Shen Xinian who had been standing right in front of him vanished in an instant, leaving only a heap of empty clothes crumpled on the ground.
Sui Ziming guessed what had happened and squatted down beside the pile with an odd look on his face.
A Sa swooped down from the sky as well.
Man and eagle bent their heads together, staring solemnly at the pile of clothes on the ground.
The pitch-black Shen Jiujiu struggled and cursed his way out from under the fabric, poking his head free at last. “Cheep cheep cheep cheep! Cheep cheep cheep cheep!”
You’re just gonna stand there watching instead of helping me dig out?!
A Sa let out a soft coo and gently nudged Little Black Coal Ball with its beak.
Shen Jiujiu wrapped his wings around A Sa’s beak and cheeped loudly in response.
No complaints about A Sa—A Sa was good. Little Bird snuggle time!
A Sa nudged Little Bird Dumpling once more.
Sui Ziming stayed crouched in place, holding back for as long as he could before bursting into laughter.
“Oh my god, when did you turn into a little black chirpy? Hahaha! And so perfectly even—hahahaha!”
Shen Jiujiu clamped his beak shut, stomping his feet in fury. He hopped back and forth across the clothes, itching to land a couple of little bird punches on Sui Ziming.
He knew it!
If this guy saw his current feather color, he’d laugh his head off!
Damn it!
The more he stewed in place, the angrier he got. Shen Jiujiu launched into the air like a black cannonball, slamming precisely into Sui Ziming’s forehead and stamping a perfect bird-claw print right in the center.
Hmph!
Take that, bird-foot forehead!
The tsundere little bird wheeled away and soared high, landing lightly on an osmanthus branch to begin his careful selection.
Picking the flowers was easy; plucking them was hard. Shen Jiujiu’s beak was still too small, lacking the strength.
So the little black bird stood on the branch, bending it slightly with his weight to highlight his chosen cluster, then cheeped to summon A Sa.
The majestic female eagle spread her wings and soared up, folding them neatly as she alighted on the osmanthus limb.
A Sa pointed at the branch where Shen Jiujiu perched with its beak. “Coo?”
This one?
Surrounded by a halo of golden osmanthus, Shen Jiujiu nodded vigorously. “Cheep!”
Yes!
A Sa opened its beak wide and chomped down hard on the branch.
Sui Ziming listened to the commotion overhead. He’d started out with hands on hips, waiting for Shen Jiujiu and A Sa to finish playing so they could all head home together. But as he waited, a little black ball appeared, clutching a twig of osmanthus in its beak and circling the air in utter excitement.
Then it flapped its wings at the earthbound human below.
Sui Ziming: “?”
Fine, whatever.
Sui Ziming called up from the base of the tree. “You coming for dinner tonight or what?”
Shen Jiujiu’s beak was stretched wide around the osmanthus branch. He waggled determinedly back and forth in midair a couple times, then flapped his wings and flew off.
Sui Ziming: “Tch!”
No need to guess where he was headed.
There was only one person this clingy little chirp stuck to like glue.
Sui Ziming quickly bundled up the clothes Shen Xinian had left behind. Just then, he heard the sound of A Sa flapping its wings.
He looked up—and suddenly, a branch of golden osmanthus hovered right in front of his face.
A Sa stuffed the flower branch into Sui Ziming’s hand, then flew up into the high air, hovering there and chirping as if asking Sui Ziming whether he wanted more.
Sui Ziming’s heart stirred. He immediately improvised on the spot, spreading out Shen Xinian’s clothes beneath the tree as he stood there. “Good A Sa, bring more!”
~~~
After the morning court session came the cabinet meeting. If the Emperor decided to act up, Pei Du would still have to handle it openly, patiently explaining the memorial of greetings to the baffled sovereign who couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
Pei Du, a faint weariness showing between his brows, walked slowly out through the palace gates and arrived at the dismounting stone.
His household’s carriage had been waiting there for quite some time.
As Pei Du drew near, a faint osmanthus fragrance wafted toward him.
He lifted his gaze and scanned the surroundings. No osmanthus trees grew near the palace walls. This scent…
His fingers parted the carriage curtain, and Pei Du peered inside, amusement sparkling in his eyes.
A single osmanthus branch lay quietly on the low table within the carriage.
A pitch-black little bird dumpling was busily pecking at scattered osmanthus petals nearby, arranging them beside the branch. Its tail feathers stuck up behind it, swaying rhythmically to reveal the little bird’s buoyant mood.
Put it here?
No, here would be better.
No, no, that would be too obvious.
Better to put it right here!
At the sound of the curtain being lifted, Shen Jiujiu whipped his head around.
Seeing Pei Du approach the carriage, stooping low in his crimson court robes, the little bird’s eyes lit up. Shen Jiujiu hopped hurriedly to the perfect spot he had planned earlier, nestling amid the fragrant osmanthus blooms to showcase the cutest little bird imaginable. Then he dipped his head and picked up one flawless petal he had selected before.
Shen Jiujiu puffed out his chest and let out a proud “Chirp!” before gliding elegantly toward Pei Du. With great poise, he alighted on Pei Du’s outstretched finger and gently deposited the little osmanthus petal into his palm.
Even after placing the flower, he remembered to give his beloved’s palm a tender peck with his beak.
“Chirp!”
Little Bird thought the osmanthus flowers were so pretty.
So Little Bird picked one to give you.
Tilting his head up to meet Pei Du’s gaze, Shen Jiujiu flashed his Benefactor a special-edition wink from his little black bird self.
Little Bird came to pick you up from work.
Be happy~
