AEOGA CH35

Pingcheng, Ping’an Inn.

Although Pingcheng was not at the foot of the Emperor’s throne, it was the place closest to the imperial capital, so its prosperity and bustling activity went without saying. Ping’an Inn was the largest inn in Pingcheng. By evening, it was already teeming with people and packed to capacity.

A large establishment like this generally offered both food and lodging, unlike small country taverns that merely provided a resting spot where travelers had to bring their own rations.

As dusk settled, the main hall was filled with patrons having dinner. A diner speaking with a heavy regional accent praised effusively, “As expected of Pingcheng, it’s far more lively than the remote corner where I come from! The dishes in an ordinary inn here taste better than those at the most famous restaurant back home. Coming out this time has truly opened my eyes; all the finest things in the world are right here.”

Another patron chimed in, “That’s because you haven’t been to Yujing. Ever heard that line of poetry? ‘In the sky lies the White Jade Capital’—that is the true paradise on earth. If nothing else, the finest delicacy is at Yujing’s Huaman Pavilion.”

The moment these words were uttered, they instantly drew agreement from most of the diners.

“Who doesn’t know Huaman Pavilion’s signature dish, the Squirrel Mandarin Fish? ‘Such a flavor exists only in the heavens; how many times can one taste it in the mortal realm?’”

“Grand Commander Liu judged it as the world’s number one delicacy, and the current Emperor personally verified it, even inscribing a plaque for Huaman Pavilion! Its flavor surpasses even the imperial feasts of the palace.”

“Sweet without being greasy, fragrant, soft, and delicious—eat it once, and you won’t forget it for the rest of your life…”

Someone asked, “Every single one of you talks as if you know all about it, but has anyone actually eaten it? To be frank with you all, I traveled all the way from the Northern Marches just because I heard of this Squirrel Mandarin Fish. I came for its fame, hoping to taste the world’s number one delicacy.”

The patrons who had just been boasting and talking big suddenly fell quiet.

Clearly, none of them had eaten it; they had all merely heard of its grand reputation.

After a long pause, someone finally said, “Then, my good brother, you’re bound to return empty-handed. Squirrel Mandarin Fish is priceless and unavailable on the open market—you can’t get a taste just by having money, you must have power! Even the high officials and noble lords of Yujing have to scramble in line; common folk like us can’t join in that hustle and bustle.”

The diners quickly shifted the topic.

“Speaking of which, do you know that His Highness the Empress has been restored to his position?” a scholar-looking man asked.

“Did you crawl over from the border? That’s news from three months ago! His Majesty announced it to the whole world back then!”

“Stop scolding, stop scolding! Naturally, our news isn’t as prompt as you people living right by the imperial capital. Can’t we just be happy for His Highness the Empress?”

“Back when His Majesty deposed the Empress, everyone under heaven condemned him, and his actions after that… sigh, the less said, the better. Making a scene for three years, it turned out to be Yelang’s scheme all along. Truly, not a single person from Yelang is a good thing!”

The news that Xie Chongjin’s absurd behavior over the past three years had been orchestrated by Yelang had already spread throughout Changli under the push of the imperial family and noble clans, causing his public support to recover to a certain degree. The common people directed most of their hatred onto Yelang. However, if he wanted his reputation to reach its peak and gain the genuine love of the populace, he still needed to deliver concrete achievements.

After all, for a sovereign of a nation to fall under an enemy’s plot and be controlled for three years was an affair that severely damaged his prestige. Between public support and prestige, Xie Chongjin had chosen public support. Rather than having neither, he chose at least to raise one.

Nor was he afraid of Yelang finding out that they were shifting the blame onto them. The relationship between the two nations was already one of deadly enmity, so adding one more grudge made no difference. Even if the Yelang royal family tried to clarify that they hadn’t done it, let alone Changli, probably even Yelang’s own people wouldn’t believe them.

“Yujing wasn’t peaceful a few months ago. His Majesty killed so many corrupt officials that Yujing ran red with blood. It’s clear that without Yelang pulling strings behind the scenes, our Emperor is a wise ruler.”

“Who still remembers that before His Majesty ascended the throne, he was the most outstanding among the heirs of the four nations? Back then, how many major affairs did the Crown Prince and Crown Prince’s Consort accomplish together? Even the late Emperor, the Prime Minister, and Grand General Qin marveled that the youth were to be feared. No wonder Yelang was so wary of him that the first thing they did after planting the Gu was to depose the Empress and drive a wedge between His Majesty and His Highness…”

“Sigh, I only hope that now His Majesty and His Highness the Empress can reconcile as before, and not drift apart because of Yelang’s instigations…”

Downstairs, the patrons chattered incessantly, and the recent storm in Yujing had all become idle gossip over tea for the common folk.

In a guest room upstairs, Xie Chongjin was making the bed.

The two of them had requested a premium room. As soon as they entered, Xie Chongjin replaced all the bedsheets and quilts in the room with the ones they had brought along.

The lodging conditions at Ping’an Inn were not bad, and they had taken the best room available. While it couldn’t compare to the palace, it was considered top-tier within an inn.

However, no matter how good the items were, they had been used by others. Even if washed clean, personal items like bedsheets and quilts were things Lu Xuechao would never touch, nor would Xie Chongjin allow him to touch them.

—These were all lessons learned through blood and tears.

Lu Xuechao had been raised delicately since childhood, wearing fine silks and sleeping on silk pillows, using only the newest and finest things. Aside from the pain of his ailments, he had never suffered a bit of hardship. His entire being radiated two words—delicate and noble. In his youth, he had traveled with Xie Chongjin to assist with disaster relief and stayed overnight at a peasant household. That family lived in poor conditions, and their bedclothes were made of coarse cloth, a rough texture that chafed the skin—an environment children of noble families had never encountered. The two had grown up surrounded by luxury, but they did not consider themselves unable to endure hardship. With no other houses within ten li, they stayed there for the night and left a few taels of silver the next day before departing. Lu Xuechao had tossed and turned that night without sleeping well, yet he offered no complaints. With Xie Chongjin troubled by disaster affairs, how could he complain over such a minor matter?

He didn’t speak, but his exceedingly frail body spoke for him. Afterward, a rash broke out all over Lu Xuechao’s body, his snow-white skin turning bright red and uncomfortable all over, yet he still endured his delicate, ill frame to devise strategies and relieve Xie Chongjin’s worries. Xie Chongjin was filled with deep regret and kept the lesson firmly in mind. Ever since, whenever they went out, he would bring a full set of personal items, and even had the carriage modified so that one could sleep comfortably inside. If they truly couldn’t find suitable lodging outside, they would make do in the carriage.

When it came to taking care of Lu Xuechao, Xie Chongjin was not naturally adept either. Born as the Crown Prince, he originally didn’t know how to care for others. From initially only knowing how to order people around, to now personally making the bed and folding quilts for Lu Xuechao, it could be called an evolution.

Xie Chongjin swiftly finished replacing the entire set of bedding, his movements skillfully practiced to a heartbreaking degree. He never let Lu Xuechao do these chores; based on the sole fact that Lu Xuechao could cook meals, Xie Chongjin felt that all other tasks should be handled by him. Ordinarily in the palace, palace attendants would handle these matters, but now out on the road, it fell upon him to take care of him.

Lu Xuechao sat in a chair watching Xie Chongjin hustle back and forth, propping his head with a finger and slowly rubbing his temples. He was not as robust and energetic as Xie Chongjin after riding in a carriage for a day. No matter how comfortably decorated the carriage was, sitting for long periods still left him feeling dizzy.

After rubbing his temples for a while and letting the dizziness fade slightly, Lu Xuechao felt a bit thirsty, so he picked up the teapot to pour himself a cup of water.

Having finished making the bed, Xie Chongjin turned around and saw Lu Xuechao holding the inn’s teacup, just about to drink. He immediately shouted, “Don’t drink!”

This sudden burst of volume startled Lu Xuechao so much that his hand trembled violently, splashing water out that wet his eyelashes.

“…” Lu Xuechao closed his eyes in forbearance, wiped the drops from his eyelashes with a fingertip, raised the cup to his nose to sniff lightly, and then looked toward Xie Chongjin, “It’s not poisoned.”

With their identities, they always had to guard against assassination, needing someone to test their food for poison three times a day. Whether out of status or safety, they would not use second-hand items. With Xie Chongjin’s shout, Lu Xuechao’s first reaction was that the tea was poisoned.

“It’s not poisoned, but others have used the cups in the inn.” Xie Chongjin pulled a brand-new tea set from the bundle, pouring water for him, “Brought from the palace, use this to drink.”

Lu Xuechao was rendered temporarily speechless: “…To think you prepared so thoroughly.”

He had wondered what was bulging inside the bundle; when Xie Chongjin pulled out an entire set of bedding, he hadn’t been surprised, but he hadn’t expected even a tea set to be prepared.

“When it comes to things you use, how could I dare be careless?” Xie Chongjin said casually.

As Lu Xuechao sipped his tea, a knock sounded at the door. Just as he raised his head, Xie Chongjin had already gone to open it. Outside stood the waiter delivering dinner.

The waiter took a glance and saw that the guest opening the door possessed a dragon’s aura and a tiger’s neck, handsome in appearance and extraordinary in bearing. Meanwhile, the white-robed young master sitting inside sipping tea was even more divine and ethereal. One glance over felt like a glance from a deity.

Just receiving such a glance felt as though one were being enlightened.

He spaced out for a moment. Having worked as a waiter for many years, he was accustomed to seeing all kinds of guests and had long cultivated sharp eyes. When the two guests in Heaven Room One had entered, they appeared extraordinary and spent money lavishly. Though their faces were covered by masks and veiled hats, one could still tell they came from an exceptional background. He hadn’t expected their true appearances to possess such magnificent grace; they were likely noble aristocrats from Yujing…

Regrettably, before he could sneak a second glance, the guest who opened the door had already completely blocked the white-robed young master’s figure from view.

Yet this guest’s appearance was excessively handsome as well. Having seen so many people, he had never seen such a good-looking husband and wife. No wonder they had to cover their faces when traveling…

A love for beauty was universal; men in Changli placed no less emphasis on appearance than on moral character, or else they wouldn’t have bothered creating a handsome men ranking list. If someone too good-looking walked on the street, they would be gawk-surrounded. Thus, many handsome men chose to wear masks or veiled hats when going out.

The waiter snapped back to reality, his face flushing red as he stammered, “Guest, the dinner you requested, I’ll bring it in for you.”

“No need.” Xie Chongjin took the tray and closed the door.

Xie Chongjin set the food on the table: “The dishes here can’t compare to what you make, just make do and eat a little.”

He then set aside the wooden chopsticks provided by the inn, pulled two pairs of brand-new silver chopsticks from the bundle, and handed one pair to Lu Xuechao.

Lu Xuechao held the silver chopsticks: “What else did you bring?”

He felt that even if Xie Chongjin pulled out a washbasin from the bundle, he wouldn’t be surprised anymore.

Xie Chongjin: “Shadow Guards.”

The window suddenly blew open without wind, and two Shadow Guards, carrying a brand-new bath barrel, placed it inside the room. After setting it down, they swiftly departed through the window, even thoughtfully shutting it tight.

Lu Xuechao: “…”

Fine, Huaiyun could always exceed his expectations.

The palace had an entire hot spring pool for him to bathe in, but it wasn’t as convenient outside. Although the inn provided bath barrels, they had been used by an unknown number of people, and neither of them was willing to use them.

In the muggy heat of midsummer, activity outside inevitably caused one to sweat. Although Lu Xuechao possessed a cool, sweatless, jade-like constitution, he couldn’t stand going a day without bathing in this weather.

Lu Xuechao ate his dinner unhurriedly. He ate slowly, and even after Xie Chongjin finished, he was still chewing gracefully.

Xie Chongjin called the waiter to bring some hot water, then propped his head on his hand and watched Lu Xuechao eat.

“Qingshu, take your time eating. Once you finish, I’ll serve you for your bath.”

Lu Xuechao suddenly choked violently: “Cough, cough!”

Xie Chongjin hurriedly patted his back, finding it amusing: “How did you choke? In the past, wasn’t it always me wiping you down? Haven’t you wiped me down as well?”

It was merely a very simple wipe-down.

Which imperial noble didn’t require someone to serve them while bathing? Yet Xie Chongjin and Lu Xuechao didn’t like being watched while bathing, so they had always done it themselves. After getting married, it became a matter of wiping each other down, which served as a bit of marital affection.

However, they rarely bathed together—first because Lu Xuechao was shy, and second because Xie Chongjin found it hard to restrain himself.

Lu Xuechao was reserved and easily embarrassed. Although Xie Chongjin was wild and uninhibited, thinking of all sorts of plays in his mind to try out with Lu Xuechao, he still respected him and would never do anything outside the bed. If improper thoughts accidentally arose during the wipe-down, he would carry him to the bed and wash Lu Xuechao clean afterward.

Since getting married, they had always been such a model couple, never unlocking locations outside the bed. Xie Chongjin could respect Lu Xuechao for a lifetime, always prioritizing Lu Xuechao’s wishes.

Lu Xuechao turned his head away without speaking.

Xie Chongjin thought for a moment and suddenly recalled a section of plot.

Lu Xuechao was also a Plot Consort; if one focused single-mindedly on courting him in the game, one could naturally trigger special events, which were the sweetest of all plots.

Because the special events for other consorts were purely wholesome, at most involving hand-holding and embracing, without even a single kissing CG illustration.

Lu Xuechao’s route, however, was exceptionally wild—the most ethereal character design possessing the most sensual plot. For this reason, besides the vast complaints from general players, a faction of players held high the Emperor-Empress banner, stanning only the Chong-Xue CP, which enjoyed considerable popularity in the community.

Among them, one iconic illustration revered by the fandom was an official CG: Mandarin Ducks Bathing Together.

In this special event, during the seventh year of uniquely favoring the Empress, the Emperor as usual served the Empress during his bath, but couldn’t help becoming overwhelmed with passion, intending to carry the Empress back to the bedchambers.

The Empress, usually as cold, reserved, and distant as an immortal, suddenly pulled the Emperor into the bath. His face was flushed pink like peach blossoms from the steam, water droplets trickling down his sideburns into his collarbone. Like a seductive demon clinging to the Emperor’s neck, he raised his eyes to meet his gaze, his red lips parting softly: “Has Your Majesty not always wanted it here?”

“Sometimes… Your Majesty need not respect me so much.”

…

And then Xie Chongjin couldn’t hold back and disrespectfully indulged himself with Lu Xuechao. From then on, a whole new world had been opened.

A PG game naturally lacked those explicit scenes, but both of their minds possessed them.

Those were things that had genuinely occurred between them.

Looking at Lu Xuechao turning his head away in silence, Xie Chongjin felt he had found the reason and sincerely apologized: “If you mind that special event, I’m sorry, Qingshu, I was wrong. I know you only acted that way because you were influenced by the plot, not that you genuinely liked it. In the future, I won’t do excessive things to you anymore.”

The specifics of those actions… were not controlled by the game, so he truly had been a bastard to defile the high-mountain flower to such an extent; he ought to apologize for it.

Lu Xuechao suddenly turned his head to look straight at him, looking as if he wanted to speak but hesitated, constrained by his nature to voice it.

In the end, he merely said in a calm, ambiguous tone: “Xie Huaiyun, you really have lived several lifetimes in vain.”