After Pretending to be an Idiot, I Was Targeted by the Cold-Blooded Zhangyin - Chapter 28

Once the medicine had been applied, Gu Feiyi fed Xie Changsheng his meal. He watched with satisfaction as the boy swallowed every bite before finally standing up.

Gu Feiyi said, “The Little Highness should rest well these next few days. Focus on healing and eating. Unless necessary, do not walk around, and do not bathe for the time being.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Gu Feiyi realized he was being a bit too wordy. Paradoxically, the person he was lecturing gave no reaction at all; he was focused on pulling out mud figurines he had hidden in the crevices of the bed and lining them up on his pillow.

Gu Feiyi looked at the row of ugly things and then at the blissfully happy Xie Changsheng, letting out a light tsk. He reached out to pinch Xie Changsheng’s chin, forcing him to look up. “Did the Little Highness record what this servant just said?”

Xie Changsheng nodded. “Recorded.”

“Repeat it.”

Xie Changsheng answered obediently: “The Little Highness should bathe well these next few days, walk around as he pleases, and unless necessary, do not eat.”

Gu Feiyi: “…”

Gu Feiyi stared intently at Xie Changsheng, about to say something, but as he opened his mouth, he was actually angered into a laugh. He massaged his aching temple, not wanting to say another word to Xie Changsheng, and turned to leave.

Xie Changsheng’s sleep that night was a torment. He was a side-sleeper and usually liked to tuck a blanket between his legs. Every time he was on the verge of drifting off, he would roll over and lift a leg, only to pull at the wounds on his thighs.

After tossing and turning for most of the night, it was only as the sky turned grey that he finally fell into a heavy slumber. He hadn’t been asleep for long when he heard a commotion outside.

Listening for a while, he realized that Xie Chengjing and Xie Hemiao had heard of his injury and come to visit. When the officials heard the two princes were there, they immediately followed under the guise of visiting the Little Highness to flatter the elder brothers. As the crowd grew, it became increasingly noisy.

Hearing the ruckus, Xie Changsheng suddenly felt an urge to crawl out with his hair disheveled to scare them. But he wasn’t wearing trousers.

Xie Changsheng weighed his options for a long time but ultimately gave up. Being embarrassed was fine, but letting that many people see him naked and take advantage of the view was out of the question.

As the old proverb goes—if it weren’t for so many people suddenly barging into his life, he wouldn’t have known he possessed such high ‘male virtue’.

Sighing, Xie Changsheng was trying to think of another way to act the fool, but before he could decide, he heard Xie Hemiao’s voice from outside. His voice always seemed to carry a hint of drunkenness and mockery: “Gentlemen, lower your voices. Didn’t you hear Yang Luo say Third Brother is still sleeping?”

Another gentle voice echoed: “Gentlemen, please return to visit later. Let Third Brother rest for now.” It was Xie Chengjing.

Seeing that the two had no interest in small talk, the officials made a few polite remarks and tactfully departed. Once there was no more noise outside, Xie Changsheng raised his voice: “Big Brother! Second Brother!”

The two walked in one after the other. Xie Chengjing coughed a few times. “Changsheng, how are your legs? Is the injury serious?”

Xie Hemiao added, “Little fool, you’re far too weak. How can you manage to injure yourself just by riding a horse?”

Xie Changsheng didn’t answer. Instead, he said in wonder, “Big Brother and Second Brother actually came together! You guys have such a good relationship!”

Xie Hemiao laughed, pulling out his pipe to tap Xie Changsheng’s head. “Big Brother and I only ran into each other on the way.”

Xie Chengjing reached out and stroked the top of Xie Changsheng’s head. “I brought you some medicine. I’ve already taught Yang Luo how to use it; remember to apply it later.”

Xie Changsheng grinned. “Big Brother is so good.”

Xie Hemiao let out a scoff at the sight. He suddenly called out, “Little fool.”

When Xie Changsheng looked over, Xie Hemiao clapped his hands together with a loud smack. Then, he spread his hands wide to the left and right. Following his movement, a handkerchief suddenly appeared between his palms. Xie Hemiao rubbed his hands together again, and when he opened them, the handkerchief had vanished.

After a few of these movements, Xie Hemiao saw with satisfaction the look of shock on Xie Changsheng’s face. Xie Changsheng pulled on his sleeve with novelty, looking inside and asking repeatedly where the cloth had gone and if he had eaten it.

Xie Hemiao let Xie Changsheng rummage through his sleeves, then looked back at Xie Chengjing and smiled. “Big Brother, when it comes to coaxing children, you’re a bit worse than me.”

Xie Chengjing smiled helplessly. The two had already made plans with others at the hunting ground and didn’t have much time. After being dragged by Xie Changsheng to play a “mud man wrestling” game whose rules they didn’t understand at all, they departed one after the other.

Shortly after they left, Fang Ling arrived. Unlike the officials from earlier, Fang Ling hadn’t come for the elder princes; he was truly just there to visit Xie Changsheng. He had brought plenty of things: freshly picked wild fruits and freshly caught game.

Fang Ling frowned as he looked at Xie Changsheng. “I saw you from a distance yesterday, riding a small pony and circling around. How did you get injured today? Is it serious?”

Xie Changsheng said, “It’s a little serious, but not that serious. But to say it’s not serious, it is a little serious. However, in the end, regarding whether it is serious or not, everyone has a scale in their heart…”

Fang Ling: “…”

He reached into his bag, pulled out a small red sand-apple, and stuffed it into Xie Changsheng’s mouth. “Stop. Your rambling is giving me a headache.”

Xie Changsheng took the fruit out of his mouth, wiped it with his sleeve, and took a cautious bite. He was amazed: “It’s actually sweet.”

It would have been fine if he hadn’t said that. Once he did, Fang Ling remembered the incident where the boy had soured his teeth with an orange. He huffed, “You think I’m like you?”

“Me? What’s wrong with me?” Xie Changsheng crunched on the fruit. “I’m smart and good-looking.”

Fang Ling scoffed. Smart? Good-looking? He couldn’t see it at all. Xie Changsheng’s current image in his mind was exactly like his three-and-a-half-year-old younger brother. Both rambled nonsense, both were heartless and carefree. Furthermore, his brother had lost his mother, and Xie Changsheng had hit his head. Both were equally pitiable.

Fang Ling kept a stiff face, about to speak, when Xie Changsheng blinked. “…Do you want to hear a secret?”

Fang Ling looked at him, his heart tightening. “What secret?”

Xie Changsheng lowered his voice conspiratorially: “The bigger the fruit, the bigger the fruit’s skin.”

Fang Ling: “…”

He stared at Xie Changsheng’s face and muttered, “I must be insane to think you’re pitiable.” He stood up and headed for the door, leaving one last sentence: “Heal well. Once your legs are better, I’ll teach you to ride.”

The next day.

The Old Emperor held a banquet as usual, inviting the ministers to revel. At tonight’s banquet, Xie Hemiao presented two illusionists to the Emperor. Their tricks were rare, even managing to make a dead tree bloom with flowers out of thin air.

The weather was cold today, so the Emperor wanted a hot pot; in addition to the pot, he ordered roasted meat.

Gu Feiyi arranged dishes for the Emperor. Seeing the mutton tumbling in the pot and the venison roasting on the grill until it was glistening and fragrant, he suddenly thought of Xie Changsheng. After feeding him a few times, Gu Feiyi noticed his little pet was just like a real cat or dog—he much preferred meat.

The food at tonight’s banquet was all things Xie Changsheng liked. If the boy were here, he would surely be burying his head and eating one big mouthful after another. Thinking of Xie Changsheng’s eating habits, Gu Feiyi’s Adam’s apple rolled slightly.

He straightened up and walked a few steps to the side. “Feng Wang.”

Feng Wang stepped out from the shadows, bowing for orders. But Gu Feiyi didn’t speak for a long time. He had intended to have Feng Wang call Xie Changsheng to attend the banquet. But he remembered the boy’s legs were still injured.

He would just go feed him personally. He was about to tell Feng Wang to set aside a portion of venison when he saw a blue figure at the palace entrance.

It was Xie Changsheng.

Xie Changsheng was lean and slender, like an inconspicuous shadow of a tree. Yet the ministers, Xie Chengjing, and Xie Hemiao all noticed him. The Old Emperor followed their gaze, staring through drunken eyes for a long while before letting go of the Western beauty in his arms. “Changsheng, why have you come?”

“I’ve come?”

Xie Changsheng repeated dizzily, looking down at his feet. He suddenly took a step back, moving his foot out over the threshold. “I’ve gone.”

He took another step forward. “I’ve come again.” Another step back. “I’ve gone again.”

After repeating this several times, Xie Changsheng laughed loudly. “I am the Tathagata!” (A reference to Kung Fu Hustle / “I’ve come, I’ve gone” meme).

The crowd: “…”

In the silence, Fang Ling let out a long sigh. Xie Chengjing shook his head with a smile, while Xie Hemiao laughed so hard he collapsed onto the table, his whole body shaking.

Gu Feiyi pressed his temple. “…”

At the door, Xie Changsheng finally finished his game. “I’m hungry, here for food.”

The Emperor ordered a hot pot prepared for Xie Changsheng as well. Gu Feiyi watched as Xie Changsheng walked over, sat down, and picked up his chopsticks. From beginning to end, he waited for Xie Changsheng to look at him, but those dazed eyes never turned his way.

Tsk.

Gu Feiyi withdrew his gaze and looked at Feng Wang again. “It’s nothing. Withdraw.”

Gu Feiyi’s voice sounded so gentle and soft, yet for some reason, Feng Wang felt a violent shiver run through him. He bowed his head and quickly returned to his post, catching a glimpse of Gu Feiyi slowly turning the brass ring on his finger.

Xie Changsheng had indeed intended to rest and heal. But his injuries were mostly superficial abrasions; they only looked terrifying. He had a strong recovery ability, and combined with Gu Feiyi’s balm, the wounds had already scabbed over after a day and a night. He only felt a slight pain when walking.

So when he heard tonight’s banquet featured magic and hot pot, he came without hesitation. He hadn’t eaten dinner yet and joyfully scooped up a piece of mutton, blew on it, and put it in his mouth.

Fragrant, truly fragrant.

He was eating happily when he felt a sense of unease. Looking in the direction that made his heart skip, he met Gu Feiyi’s eyes, which were filled with a dark, murky smile. Seeing Xie Changsheng look over, Gu Feiyi smiled and withdrew his gaze.

After eating his fill, Xie Changsheng didn’t want to stay and shuffled back to his quarters. He asked Yang Luo to prepare hot water. Gu Feiyi had said the Jade Condensation Balm shouldn’t touch water, so Xie Changsheng planned to just do a quick sponge bath. But just as he took off his outer robe, he heard movement at the door.

Yang Luo’s voice: “Lord Palm Print.”

Xie Changsheng hurried to wrap his outer robe back around himself.

Gu Feiyi walked in, circled behind the screen, and found Xie Changsheng. “How are the Little Highness’s legs?”

“Already better,” Xie Changsheng said. “Rest a couple more days and I can be an Olympic athlete, participate in the running events, and bring glory to the nation.”

Gu Feiyi: “…”

He smiled, looking at Xie Changsheng. Suddenly, he said, “This servant will help the Little Highness wash his hair.”

Without waiting for a response, Gu Feiyi stood behind Xie Changsheng and unfastened his hair. Xie Changsheng had no choice but to tilt his head back. Having the experience of the last two times, the two were quite skilled in their coordination. Gu Feiyi quickly finished washing and dried the hair with a towel.

Once finished, Gu Feiyi took a fresh towel, soaked it in warm water, wrung it out, and reached out to lift Xie Changsheng’s chin. From his brow to his lips, he wiped him bit by bit. It was actually quite comfortable. Xie Changsheng squinted his eyes as Gu Feiyi cleaned his face.

Just as he was about to stand up, an icy hand pressed onto his shoulder. The heavy weight kept Xie Changsheng from rising. The warm towel moved from his jaw to his neck, wiping gently, and then delved toward his collarbone and chest.

It showed no sign of stopping.

Xie Changsheng quickly grabbed his collar. “—A sponge bath won’t be necessary, thank you.”

Gu Feiyi let out a light huff but didn’t speak. The towel circled Xie Changsheng’s collarbone; Xie Changsheng could even feel the ice-cold temperature of his fingers through the fabric.

He stared at Gu Feiyi with his dazed eyes for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Are you… angry?”