After Pretending to be an Idiot, I Was Targeted by the Cold-Blooded Zhangyin - Chapter 39

For several consecutive days thereafter, Xie Changsheng did not see Gu Feiyi.

According to the idle chatter of Yang Luo and the others, it was because he was busy hosting envoys from various countries and several imperial princes. Every day, he was running between different traveling palaces, socializing with various people.

Xie Chengjing, Xie Hemiao, and Fang Ling, along with several sought-after officials in court, were in the same boat. According to Yang Luo, the number of people paying visits to them was nearly enough to trample their doorsteps into dust.

Because there were so many visitors and things were so hectic, Xie Chengjing’s old illness even relapsed, causing him to cough severely. Xie Hemiao’s leg also seemed to be more lame than usual.

Only Xie Changsheng’s Yuling Palace remained quiet and deserted, with very few visitors.

A little palace maid stamped her foot in anger: “This bunch of snobs, all of them bully the weak and fear the strong! Where is our Little Highness inferior to the others? They won’t even come over to say a single auspicious word for the New Year? Truly… truly…”

Yang Luo hurried to cover the maid’s mouth: “Shh, shh, shh! Don’t go talking nonsense. If this gets out, we’ll only be fit for coffins. I don’t want to die during the New Year festival.”

Xie Changsheng listened as he rolled around on the bed with Suisui, laughing: “Good, good! Between three shorts and one long, pick the longest! Between three longs and one short, pick the shortest!”

Yang Luo stopped talking and looked at Xie Changsheng with concern: “…Sometimes I really don’t know if the Little Highness’s condition has gotten worse again…”

Xie Changsheng just kept laughing. He was indeed happy—the fewer people who came to visit him, the more successful his act of being a fool was proved to be. He was enjoying the peace.

Once he had laughed enough, Xie Changsheng leaped up and rushed to the table. He grabbed paper and brush, scrawling crookedly: “Big Brother, come here.” Then he took another sheet and wrote: “Second Brother, come.”

He handed these two papers to Yang Luo and had her deliver them to Xie Chengjing and Xie Hemiao.

Two hours later, Xie Chengjing arrived. He covered his lips with a handkerchief: “Cough… Changsheng… Cough, you were looking for your brother?”

Xie Changsheng: “Yes!”

Seeing him smile, a smile couldn’t help but appear on Xie Chengjing’s face as well. He asked, “What did you need? Is there something you want? Books? Food? Toys? Or do you want me to play a game? It’s so cold out, I doubt we can sculpt mud men.”

Xie Changsheng shook his head: “None of those.”

He dragged Xie Chengjing to the soft couch and made him lie down. Before Xie Chengjing could even ask a question, he stuffed an orange segment into his mouth. Then, Xie Changsheng picked up Suisui, who was standing curiously by the couch wanting to watch the fun, and tucked the puppy into Xie Chengjing’s arms: “Big Brother, health not good, must sleep.”

Xie Chengjing was first stunned, then broke into a laugh: “Changsheng, you called me here just to make me sleep?”

Xie Changsheng nodded with a silly grin and pulled a quilt over Xie Chengjing. When Xie Chengjing coughed and tried to sit up, Xie Changsheng pressed him down firmly: “Sleep! Big Brother, sleep!”

Xie Chengjing argued with him for a long time, telling him he wasn’t sleepy and that there were still matters to attend to at his estate. But Xie Changsheng only had one line: “If the moon doesn’t sleep, you don’t sleep; find a bed in the ICU. On the crowdfunding page, you’ll be the most expensive.”

Xie Chengjing: “…”

He didn’t understand. But somehow, it felt very logical. Helpless, he had to compromise: “Then, I’ll sleep for the time of one incense stick. Remember to wake me.”

Xie Changsheng blinked: “Okay.”

There were dark circles under Xie Chengjing’s eyes; he must have been truly exhausted, as he soon fell asleep with steady breathing. Xie Changsheng sat beside him, tugging at the tassels of the jade pendant hanging from his waist. By the time he had pulled all the threads loose, Xie Hemiao arrived.

Before he even reached the room, he raised his voice to call out: “Little fool, what is it? Sending such a piece of trash calligraphy, I nearly went blind looking at it…”

Xie Changsheng put a finger to his lips and gestured at him vigorously. Xie Hemiao arched an eyebrow and saw Xie Chengjing sleeping on the couch, clutching Suisui. Just as he was about to ask what was going on, Xie Changsheng beckoned him over mysteriously.

He walked over: “Little fool…”

Before he could finish, Xie Changsheng stuffed something into his hand. He looked down and said strangely, “Window paper?” And it was shredded?

He saw that Xie Changsheng was holding a stack of red shredded window paper. After dipping it in some cold tea on the table, the boy carefully stuck them onto Xie Chengjing’s face.

Xie Hemiao: “…”

He suppressed a sudden urge to laugh out loud and stepped forward enthusiastically, following Xie Changsheng’s lead by sticking window paper all over Xie Chengjing’s face and body.

When Xie Chengjing woke from his deep sleep, he was greeted by the mischievous grins of Xie Changsheng and Xie Hemiao.

“What…” He sat up in confusion, and red paper immediately drifted down from his face and body like snowflakes.

Xie Chengjing froze. Xie Changsheng held up a bronze mirror, and only then did Xie Chengjing see his current appearance—his face and head were covered in tiny scraps of window paper, leaving red imprints all over.

“This… this is…”

Just as Xie Chengjing was about to ask, Xie Hemiao interrupted: “Big Brother was sleeping quite soundly. I suppose those old geezers haven’t stopped nagging you lately?”

Xie Chengjing shook his head with a smile.

The two accompanied Xie Changsheng for a few pastries. Both said they had matters to attend to and had to take their leave. This time, Xie Changsheng didn’t stop them; he simply reached out his hand: “Red envelope.”

Xie Hemiao tapped Xie Changsheng’s hand back with his pipe: “You won’t miss out, little fool. I’ll give it to you on New Year’s Eve.”

As the two left Xie Changsheng’s palace, they exchanged a look. Xie Hemiao, for once, didn’t use his poisonous tongue to prick anyone. Instead, he said, “This fool probably heard somewhere that we’ve been busy lately, so he specifically called us here to slack off.”

He laughed: “Stealing half a day of leisure. Does the little fool spend every day in such a relaxed manner? Truly carefree; I’m starting to feel a bit envious…”

Xie Chengjing pursed his lips. When he spoke, he didn’t address Xie Hemiao’s comment, but said instead: “Second Brother, are you interested in the throne?”

Xie Hemiao froze. He thought Xie Chengjing must be insane; how could he dare say such a thing out in the open? Xie Hemiao could never admit to it, so he immediately gave a formal bow: “This younger brother has never entertained such thoughts; I only wish to assist Imperial Father and the Crown Prince…”

Before he could finish, Xie Chengjing added: “Actually, I have no interest.”

Xie Hemiao looked up at Xie Chengjing, not quite sure what he was trying to say.

Xie Chengjing coughed, wiping a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief. He looked at Xie Hemiao and sighed: “The people have suffered enough. If there is more war…”

Xie Hemiao understood. Xie Chengjing knew about his visit to the prison to see Huyan Liao and thought he was going to ally with a foreign tribe; this was his warning.

Xie Hemiao resumed his drunken expression: “This brother understands.”

Two more days passed, and it was the 29th day of the 12th lunar month.

The Old Emperor held a banquet for the entire day, with wine, food, and dancing never-ending—he acted as if he would carry the revelry straight through to New Year’s Eve.

Xie Changsheng took a look. Seeing only beauties around the Emperor but missing that figure in the python robe, he realized he hadn’t seen Gu Feiyi for several days.

While gnawing on a braised bone, he tried to recall the original plot. However, he had no recollection of what Gu Feiyi was supposed to be doing during this time.

After finishing the bone, under Xie Chengjing’s slightly widening eyes, Xie Changsheng casually wiped his hands on his backside and walked away. Without Gu Feiyi there to control the Emperor, the Old Man’s behavior was becoming increasingly excessive.

Halfway out, he was caught by Fang Ling. Seeing Xie Changsheng, he said, “I was looking for you. I brought you something.” He tossed something into Xie Changsheng’s hand.

Xie Changsheng opened his palm to find a string of sandalwood prayer beads.

Fang Ling said, “My mother and the others stayed at a temple for a few days. She got this for you while she was at it. It can make you smarter.”

Xie Changsheng hurried to stuff the beads back into Fang Ling’s hand: “I can’t take it! I can’t! I’m already very smart. If I get any smarter, I’ll scare you all to death!”

Fang Ling: “…” He said in a low voice, “Take it when I give it to you.” He gripped Xie Changsheng’s wrist and forced the beads back into his hand.

As he moved, his fingers brushed against Xie Changsheng’s palm. Xie Changsheng laughed: “It tickles.”

Fang Ling froze. He clenched his hand into a fist, placed it to his lips, and gave a dry cough. Xie Changsheng shook the beads at him: “Fine, then I shall ‘accept with a smile’ (xiàonà).”

Fang Ling lowered his hand, the veins on his forehead jumping twice as he resisted the urge to roll his eyes: “That’s not how you use the term ‘accept with a smile’… forget it. Wear them properly, don’t lose them. They were blessed by a high monk.”

After returning to Yuling Palace, the servants prepared bathwater for Xie Changsheng. It was steeped with mugwort, crown daisy, pomelo leaves, and orange leaves—signifying a “lucky and auspicious bath” to dispel evil and bring good fortune.

Xie Changsheng sat in the water, feeling like a topping in a cup of fruit tea—specifically, a limited-edition dark-style fruit tea. As he splashed the water and imagined the possibility of successfully starting a milk tea shop in ancient times, an icy hand suddenly pressed onto his shoulder.

Xie Changsheng nearly jumped out of the tub in fright, but halfway up he sat back down obediently—no matter the emergency, one must not lose their “male virtue.”

He turned his head and saw the person: “Gu Feiyi!”

Gu Feiyi looked as if he had just returned from outside. He was still wearing a white cloak, and there was un-melted snow on his hair and shoulders. He curled his lips, his gaze—like a snake or a predator eyeing its prey—circling Xie Changsheng’s wet face and exposed shoulders.

Xie Changsheng immediately shrank his shoulders back into the water, submerging the lower half of his face as well. He blew bubbles in the water and asked: “You… glug glug… are back? … glug glug… where did you go… glug glug… I’m going to drown… glug glug…”

Gu Feiyi: “…”

He looked at Xie Changsheng. The hand on the boy’s shoulder had been pulled into the water by his movement. But he didn’t let go; instead, he gripped tighter, drawing circles on Xie Changsheng’s smooth shoulder with his thumb. He was wearing a jade thumb ring, which was freezing after absorbing the winter air, sending a wave of goosebumps across Xie Changsheng’s skin.

Xie Changsheng tried to pull Gu Feiyi’s hand away, but Gu Feiyi seized his hand instead. He lifted Xie Changsheng’s right hand, looking at the long, clean fingers that bore no rings, and asked: “Is it this hand, Little Highness?”

Xie Changsheng blinked dizzily and let out an “Ah,” clearly not understanding what he was being asked.

Gu Feiyi asked more specifically: “Is it this hand that was touched by the Young Marquis? Is it this hand that accepted the prayer beads?”

Before Xie Changsheng could answer, Gu Feiyi smiled and asked in a soft voice: “Where are the prayer beads now? And where has the ring this servant gave you been tossed?”