After Pretending to be an Idiot, I Was Targeted by the Cold-Blooded Zhangyin - Chapter 26

Teach him to ride?

Xie Changsheng’s eyes brightened slightly. He proactively walked toward the black horse, reaching out to take the reins from Gu Feiyi’s hand.

Gu Feiyi arched his eyebrows in surprise. He rarely saw Xie Changsheng show initiative toward anything—except for sculpting mud men. Thus, he asked, “Does the Little Highness like horses?”

“That is a very difficult question for me to answer.”

Xie Changsheng began speaking that incomprehensible nonsense again: “Real horses are fine. ‘Uma Musume’ (Horse Girls), no. My hobbies haven’t reached that level of advanced yet.”

Gu Feiyi: “…”

He allowed Xie Changsheng to continue his babbling and ordered a new set of hunting gear brought over—the one Xie Changsheng was wearing was too filthy for him to bear. He helped Xie Changsheng change out of the dirty clothes, put on the new ones, and strapped protective gear onto his calves. He also gathered Xie Changsheng’s hair and tied it back into a style more suitable for movement.

Xie Changsheng had grown increasingly accustomed to Gu Feiyi dressing him like a doll, standing obediently as he was stripped and redressed.

However, the attendants and guards standing by were dumbfounded, exchanging bewildered glances. They had only ever known that the Palm Print and the Little Highness were on bad terms; they never expected to see the Palm Print proactively serving the Little Highness. Every one of them kept their eyes fixed firmly on the ground, terrified that Gu Feiyi might use the excuse of “seeing something they shouldn’t” to send them to meet their ancestors.

Paradoxically, Gu Feiyi insisted they look. He commanded them to raise their eyes to Xie Changsheng and asked, “Do you think the Little Highness is good-looking?”

It was a strange question, and even stranger to hear. The attendants couldn’t fathom Gu Feiyi’s thoughts and didn’t dare speak. Under the gaze of Gu Feiyi’s mocking, cold eyes, their teeth began to chatter.

Fortunately, Gu Feiyi soon withdrew his gaze. He offered his arm to Xie Changsheng, letting the boy rest his hand on his forearm as he led him to the black horse. He taught Xie Changsheng how to place his foot in the stirrup.

Xie Changsheng followed the instructions, but after several failed attempts to mount the horse, he was exhausted. He stood still to catch his breath, his expression wooden. Gu Feiyi misinterpreted this as a tantrum. “Is the Little Highness angry already?”

He reached out and pinched Xie Changsheng’s chin, his icy fingers sliding across the boy’s soft, smooth skin. “Quite the temper you have.”

…Wasn’t this just a case of accusing an innocent man?

Xie Changsheng was about to ask if Gu Feiyi knew the story of “Snow in June,” but Gu Feiyi let go. He mounted the horse with a swift, lithe movement and leaned down to scoop Xie Changsheng up by the waist.

Xie Changsheng felt himself suddenly hoisted into the air, his vision blurring for an instant. In the next second, he was sitting on the horse’s back. He instinctively turned around, but his forehead bumped into Gu Feiyi’s chin. He retreated slightly to create some space between them and clapped for Gu Feiyi. “Wow, you’re amazing! In your last life, you must have been a crane! A giant hoist!”

Gu Feiyi: “…”

What on earth is that? Why was it that every time Xie Changsheng praised him, he couldn’t understand it? Most importantly, why did every compliment feel like it wasn’t actually anything good?

Gu Feiyi let out a light tsk. He wrapped his arms around Xie Changsheng’s waist, hauling back the small distance the boy had just created. Xie Changsheng’s back was now pressed firmly against his chest, radiating a warm, cozy temperature. It felt as if he were holding a heater in his arms.

Gu Feiyi felt a sense of comfort, letting out a low exhale from his throat. He squeezed the horse’s flanks and set out. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to drop a command to the guards: “No need to follow.”

Once Gu Feiyi had ridden far away, the trembling attendants finally dared to look up. They exchanged glances, all of them looking like they had a lot to say. Finally, someone broke the silence.

“The Palm Print… has his temper improved?”

“…Has it? Why do I feel like he’s even more terrifying?”

“But the Palm Print has seemed to be in a very good mood lately.”

“Mm, that’s true.”

Suddenly, someone thought of something and took a horrified breath. “Hiss—do you think the Palm Print… could it be… could it be… that he has someone?!”

Because eunuchs lacked the two things a normal man had and lacked that particular “function,” they were usually more temperamental. Gu Feiyi had become increasingly unpredictable over the years, never showing his joy or anger. For him to be in such a visibly good mood that even a blind person could see it… perhaps he really did have someone.

But if he did, who could it be? Who was the one sharing a “companion-spouse” relationship with the Palm Print? Someone from outside the palace, or someone within? A maid? A consort? Or even a princess?

The group looked at each other, shuddered, and didn’t dare guess further.

Under Gu Feiyi’s guidance, Xie Changsheng gradually learned how to control the horse: go straight, reverse, turn left, turn right, speed up, and stop.

Gu Feiyi said, “The Little Highness is not so stupid when it comes to learning things.”

Xie Changsheng replied modestly, “Thank you. It’s because I’ve passed my driver’s license test.”

Gu Feiyi asked, “Driver’s license? What is that?”

“It’s a veteran’s medal,” Xie Changsheng said. “A certificate of proof that one successfully survived the verbal abuse of a man.”

Gu Feiyi let out a low laugh. “Nonsense again.”

He wound a lock of Xie Changsheng’s hair around his finger, brought it to his nose, and lightly sniffed the fragrance. It was still his favorite scent of cold white plum. Ever since he first helped Xie Changsheng wash his hair, he had ordered all of the boy’s incense, hair creams, and face balms replaced with the ones he used. Now, his little pet radiated the same scent as he did.

This made Gu Feiyi very happy. Releasing the lock of hair, he noticed a few stray strands by Xie Changsheng’s temple. He reached out, caught the strand, and tucked it behind the boy’s ear. Suddenly, he really wanted to hear Xie Changsheng call him “Master” again.

He leaned close to Xie Changsheng’s ear. “Little Highness, call me ‘Master’ and let me hear it.”

Xie Changsheng complied quickly, adding a string of things he hadn’t been asked to say: “Master, can you get off? It’s a bit crowded. Let me play by myself for a bit, okay?”

Gu Feiyi: “…” He let out a light huff. “The Little Highness might want to ask around how many people currently dare to give me orders like that.”

But he got down anyway. Not because he wanted to, but because the Old Emperor had sent someone to find him. The messenger arrived in a flurry, saying the Emperor was enraged and was screaming about gouging out Master Xu’s eyes and cutting off Master Li’s head.

“Why?”

“I… I don’t know.”

Xie Changsheng heard Gu Feiyi let out a very faint tsk. He asked Xie Changsheng, “Little Highness, are you coming back with me?”

Xie Changsheng didn’t want to see the Old Emperor at all. He shook his head like a rattle, skillfully using multiple languages to refuse: “No, No, Yamete, Aigoo…”

Gu Feiyi didn’t force him. He dismounted and reached out to Xie Changsheng. “Come here.” He caught Xie Changsheng from the horse’s back and turned to call out: “Feng Wang, stay with the Little Highness.”

Feng Wang flickered out from nowhere like a shadow and answered. Xie Changsheng suddenly cheered and hopped onto Feng Wang’s back. “Uncle Feng Wang, carry me! Heh heh heh!”

Gu Feiyi’s gaze fixed on the two of them, then he said, “Get down.”

Xie Changsheng remained hanging on Feng Wang’s back, entirely unaware that Gu Feiyi was speaking to him. Fortunately, Feng Wang reacted quickly and hurried to put the boy down. Gu Feiyi’s cool gaze, like a snake, circled Xie Changsheng from head to toe before he turned and departed.

Xie Changsheng dragged Feng Wang into the field to play “mushroom” for a bit, then suddenly sighed. He had been having fun, but Gu Feiyi had been called away. He hadn’t had enough yet. He looked at Feng Wang with eyes full of expectation: “Uncle Feng Wang, I still want to ride.”

Feng Wang was much easier to talk to than Gu Feiyi. Seeing him ask, he immediately had someone bring over a gentle pony. He even thoughtfully provided a small stool, fearing the boy couldn’t climb up. Xie Changsheng mounted the pony with great joy.

He rode around for a long time until the sky grew dark and the officials returned to the front, at which point he also shuffled back. Princes, princesses, and officials presented their prey, and the protocol officer recorded them.

Xie Chengjing had caught five rabbits and a wolf. Xie Hemiao had somehow caught two deer—it was unclear if he hit them himself or if officials had given them to him to curry favor.

When it was Xie Changsheng’s turn, Xie Chengjing and Xie Hemiao stood on either side of him. Xie Chengjing lowered his voice: “Third Brother, I’ll give you a rabbit. Do you want it?”

Xie Hemiao used his fan to cover his mouth. “One rabbit? Big Brother, don’t you feel embarrassed saying that?” He asked Xie Changsheng, “Second Brother has two small foxes here, specifically caught for you to cheat with. Want them?”

Xie Changsheng was very grateful that his two brothers were willing to help him cheat. But he waved them off and refused, saying he didn’t need them.

When it came time to register, under the curious gazes of his brothers, he said, “I caught fifty peacocks, fifty wild boars, and a hundred deer. Don’t ask me why I caught so many, because I am a man who dares to talk absolute nonsense.”

The crowd: “…”

Xie Chengjing gave a helpless smile, and Xie Hemiao burst out with a “Ha!” Xie Changsheng heard whispers of “madman” and “truly a fool” from the crowd. He straightened his chest and lifted his chin.

In the evening, the Emperor held a grand banquet as usual. Recalling the Emperor’s sudden rage in the afternoon, Xie Changsheng looked up to observe him. He saw the Emperor slumped in his seat, embracing yet another beauty Xie Changsheng had never seen, laughing while pouring wine into her mouth. There was no trace of his earlier anger.

He didn’t know if those two officials were alright. But with Gu Feiyi handling it, it should be resolved smoothly… right?

Thinking of Gu Feiyi, Xie Changsheng looked to the Emperor’s side. Gu Feiyi was holding chopsticks, arranging food for the Emperor. Withdrawing his gaze, Xie Changsheng lowered his head to eat. Riding was more taxing than he had imagined; he felt hungry enough to eat a whole cow.

As he was wolfing down his food, Xie Chengjing said, “Third Brother, eat slower.”

On the other side, Xie Hemiao took the opposite stance just to defy Xie Chengjing: “Eating in big mouthfuls is the only way it tastes good!”

“What you’re discussing is boring,” Xie Changsheng said. “Big Brother, Second Brother, if you’re going to fight, fight about something intense. Why don’t you debate whether tofu pudding should be sweet or salty? Or, do you think the weather in the South is colder, or the North?”

—He was a professional at inciting conflict.

Xie Chengjing: “…” Xie Hemiao: “…”

Xie Changsheng giggled, patted his backside, and stood up, planning to go to the latrine. Once there, he unfastened his trousers and was stunned. The skin on the inside of his thighs was completely red. Several places were raw and broken; some were bleeding, while others had already scabbed over. It was a miserable sight, looking quite terrifying.

Xie Changsheng stared for a while before realizing this was caused by the friction of riding. He had been so focused and the weather was so cold that he hadn’t felt it. Now that he saw it, the pain finally caught up to him.

After finishing his business, he endured the pain and shuffled his way back. An icy hand reached out from behind, grabbing his wrist and startling him. He turned and saw Gu Feiyi. Gu Feiyi was leaning in the shadows behind a door, deliberately hiding his presence.

Gu Feiyi pulled Xie Changsheng close, standing with him in the dark where they wouldn’t be easily noticed. He reached out to stroke the top of Xie’s head, then the falling strands of hair, and finally pinched the soft flesh of Xie’s cheek. Finally, he picked up Xie’s hand, holding it in his palm, and used his thumb and middle finger to turn the white jade ring on the boy’s finger.

When he finally finished playing, Gu Feiyi asked, “The Little Highness was staring at this servant for quite a while just now. Why?”

“Me? Looking at you?” Xie Changsheng thought for a long time with his dazed face before slowly saying, “Oh, you misunderstood, Gu Feiyi. I might just have some astigmatism.”

Gu Feiyi gave a half-smile but didn’t speak. His fingers continued to turn the white jade ring. An official walked out from the inner court to wash his hands. Seeing Gu Feiyi and Xie Changsheng, he was startled and hurried to salute: “Palm Print, Little Highness.”

Gu Feiyi waved him off. Once the official was gone, Gu Feiyi released Xie’s hand, turned around, and said, “Get on.”

“Get on… where?”

Gu Feiyi’s voice grew impatient: “Get on this servant’s back.”

Only then did Xie Changsheng realize Gu Feiyi wanted to carry him. He gave an “Oh.” Gu Feiyi said he would carry him, but he didn’t seem to know how; he remained standing perfectly straight without bending his back at all. Xie Changsheng had to grab the clothes at Gu Feiyi’s shoulders and hop up. Gu Feiyi’s hands reached back to support his thighs, but they touched his injuries.

Xie Changsheng let out a sharp hiss of pain.

Gu Feiyi’s voice came from in front: “What is it?”

Xie Changsheng grimaced. “Legs… legs hurt.”

“Legs?” Gu Feiyi asked. “What’s wrong with your legs?”