UCTOOT CH138: Extra

◎ Sharing the Royal Bed ◎

—Continuing the plot after jumping off the cliff in the ancient world:

The river was freezing. Shi Shu, his body completely drained of strength and his consciousness blurring, was supported by a force and carried to the shore.

Shi Shu had no strength left and only wanted to sink into a deep sleep. Seeing Xin Bin and numerous guards rushing over, he allowed himself to be carried on someone’s back. Shi Shu asked, “Where is Xie Wuchi? Where is my brother…?”

Xin Bin replied, “His Majesty is guarding right beside you.”

“That’s good…”

Upon hearing this, Shi Shu fainted. The words spoken from earlier until now echoed repeatedly in his mind: System, going home, the spark of civilization, hidden achievements, and Xie Wuchi saying, “To have been loved by you is my happiness”… It was all a chaotic mess, making his head feel like it was about to explode.

Shi Shu felt alternating waves of cold and heat, his insides burning as if roasted by fire and ice simultaneously. This wasn’t the first time Shi Shu had been sick since coming to ancient times—he’d had toothaches and occasional anemia—but this was the first time it had been this painful.

In his daze, he heard chaotic voices around him: “His Highness fought with Yin Kun at Hedong Academy last night, immediately rode a horse back to the Eastern Capital without a moment’s rest, and then fell into the river…”

“His pulse is now floating and scattered, the heart muscle is ischemic, and his mental energy is exhausted. He needs to recuperate properly…”

Shi Shu’s hand was gripped tightly; the palm was very hot.

The carriage rode smoothly, and Shi Shu was taken back to a place. He was being carried on someone’s back, walking up step by step. Shi Shu asked, “Where is Lai Fu?”

Xie Wuchi: “At your feet.”

“Woof~” Lai Fu barked softly.

“Mn…” Shi Shu was pulled into another world by heavy drowsiness. His body felt soft as he was placed in a bed. Then, his clothes were stripped off completely, and a warm towel wiped his skin and hair inch by inch before he was tucked into the quilt.

Shi Shu had never been this seriously ill before. He shivered all over, his teeth chattering loudly, his face as pale as paper. Xie Wuchi sat by the heated brick bed, holding a snow-white medicine bowl to feed him soup. Shi Shu could barely drink the medicinal soup; his head tilted, and the liquid flowed to the corner of his lips. Then, his lips were gently pried open.

He was kissed gently. Warm lips opened his teeth, delivering the nutritious broth into his mouth bit by bit. Shi Shu felt cold all over and suddenly clenched his teeth tight.

The kiss retreated, leaving a faint taste of blood between his teeth. Xie Wuchi lowered his eyes, then pinched his chin again, feeding him gently.

Silence reigned all around. Shi Shu was freezing, feeling scenes flash before his eyes like fleeting lights and shadows. What system… spark of civilization… the lake on the plateau… Niujiao Station… Amidst the chaos, Shi Shu only murmured one name: “Xie, Xie Wuchi…”

As if searching.

Xie Wuchi: “I’m here, what’s wrong?”

A scene from a dream appeared before Shi Shu’s eyes, and his voice was hoarse: ” The sun… the sunset on the beach in Qin Village, I used to watch it often…”

Xie Wuchi stopped the spoon: “Qin Village, that fishing village by the sea? The place you went with Zihan.”

Shi Shu: “Mn… I, I thought that was the end of the world.”

Moisture spread at the corners of Shi Shu’s eyes.

“Justice… wasn’t found…”

But… at the end of the world, I still missed Xie Wuchi.

“I miss you…” When people are physically fragile, they have nightmares. Shi Shu’s only nightmare turned out to be the time he left Xie Wuchi. His brows twitched slightly, and Shi Shu spoke while gasping and sobbing: “Where are you? Can we still meet again…?”

Xie Wuchi felt a myriad of complex emotions, but only said, “I am by your side.”

“Don’t go.”

“I won’t go. I will stay with you, life after life, I won’t go anywhere.”

Shi Shu received a satisfactory answer and quieted down, speaking no more.

He fell into a feverish slumber, very quiet.

Outside the door, layers of robed figures stood respectfully and solemnly, holding lacquer trays, waiting for Xie Wuchi to review the letters of surrender from the civil and military nobles of the capital.

“Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present…”

The Eastern Capital had been captured, the Emperor had abdicated. Of the remnants of the old dynasty, some died for their country, while others tried to curry favor with Xie Wuchi. Now was the time for the redistribution of interests. The wealth and honor of the aristocratic families across the city hinged on a single thought from Xie Wuchi.

The room was silent. Shi Shu was asleep. Xie Wuchi waved his hand, and a mute servant entered lightly, placing the letters on a table.

The mute servant gestured to his neck. Xie Wuchi’s neck was wrapped in gauze, the bleeding stopped. He said, “Go.”

The room returned to silence. Xie Wuchi took off his shoes and socks and got onto the bed. He sat beside Shi Shu, one hand gently gathering his feverish boyfriend into his arms, while leaning against the couch to flip through the roster with the other.

Shi Shu did not wake up after falling asleep; he slept as if to replenish his exhausted strength. Xie Wuchi didn’t sleep all night. He reviewed the roster, annotating, “The Chu clan’s descendants, confiscate all treasury assets; discuss those of high prestige later.” He took the list, led the army, and went to raid homes door to door.

After finishing the roster, Xie Wuchi also lay down on his side to sleep. The autumn wind was cold. Xie Wuchi gently stroked Shi Shu’s face. Shi Shu was afraid of ghosts and gods; when traveling on business with him, he wanted to share a bed with Xie Wuchi; when sleeping in the same bed, he wanted to sleep on the inside.

Last night, he had galloped all the way from Changyang County.

A glint flashed in Xie Wuchi’s eyes as he reached out and pulled him into his arms. Shi Shu buried his face in his neck, legs still curled up in a self-protective posture, until he was held securely. Accustomed to Xie Wuchi’s embrace, his breathing was very light.

Xie Wuchi was exhausted and closed his eyes. Time passed; the wind mourned in the high trees, leaves falling in desolation. The room, however, was warmer. Shi Shu felt like he was leaning against a stove, his body hot, throat dry. When he finally opened his eyes, his throat felt like it was on fire, and he prepared to sit up.

Shi Shu saw Xie Wuchi wearing plain, simple clothes, a kettle with scorch marks dangling from his finger, an Eight Immortals table against the wall, a narrow but tidy room… He couldn’t help but ask, “Where is this?”

“Want some water?” Xie Wuchi turned around. “Xiangnan Temple. The concubines and princes in the palace haven’t been completely evicted yet. The Konghe Army is temporarily stationed in the temple, so we came back to stay for a while.”

Shi Shu: “That meditation room of yours?”

Xie Wuchi: “Yes, the meditation room where you looked for me. That night you ran thirty miles in the rain to come to me. The place where everything started.”

Shi Shu finished the water and looked up to see the white gauze on Xie Wuchi’s neck, faintly emitting the smell of medicine and redness. Memories surged back, and Shi Shu felt a lingering fear: “Don’t do that again next time, Xie Wuchi. Seeing you cut your neck with a knife… I know you wanted to let me go home, but stabbing yourself bloody in front of me… I will never forget that scene for the rest of my life. Xie Wuchi, you—”

Shi Shu’s voice was weak but firm: “I don’t want anyone to be good to me based on wishful thinking.”

Xie Wuchi was quiet, fingers pinching the handle of the kettle.

His voice was very hoarse: “Mn, teach me more in the future.”

Shi Shu was starving. He wolfed down half a bowl of hot porridge in a sorry state and recovered a bit of spirit, but he was still very sleepy. He lay back under the quilt, his jet-black hair sticking to his fair ears: “I want to sleep a bit more.”

Xie Wuchi: “Sleep. Everything has been handled. You can do whatever you want now. Catch up on your sleep.”

“You sleep with me too,” Shi Shu lay down and looked around, as if returning to the past. “This room and quilt… I slept very comfortably here back then, much better than at the Zhou Family Village. I didn’t know anyone at the Zhou Family Village; it was cold at night, and I was always lonely. It’s also better than wandering around, sleeping in wild graves and mass burial mounds.”

Xie Wuchi: “Compared to Liushui Nunnery?”

Shi Shu: “Both are good. Liushui Nunnery was gloomy and haunted, but sleeping in the same bed as you was very comfortable.”

Shi Shu tugged at a corner of the quilt. Seeing Xie Wuchi take off the outer robe draped over his shoulders and lift the corner of the quilt with his hand, memories seemed to replay countless times. Shi Shu blinked and looked at him.

Until Xie Wuchi gently lay down beside him, arranged his hair, and extended his arm to pull Shi Shu into his embrace. Shi Shu’s body temperature rose instantly as he entangled his legs with Xie Wuchi’s, hugging him tightly.

“This is too warm.” Being held in his arms, it felt like all pain was squeezed out. Home is a haven from the wind, and Xie Wuchi sheltered him from the wind and rain.

“Warm is good. Have a good sleep. No more fighting, and no need to rush you to look after patients anymore.”

With all kinds of memories settling into dust, Shi Shu, whose wounds still throbbed faintly, fell into a deep sleep.

The transition of power must be washed clean with blood.

Xie Wuchi had already ascended the throne; next was the purge of the old dynasty’s officials and forces.

Shi Shu had been recuperating in Xiangnan Temple. The whole city was under martial law. Sickly, he went out wanting to see the prosperity of the former Xiangnan Temple market. The fresh voices and laughter, the fleeting joy in tea houses, the chicken, duck, and goose vendors under the overlapping eaves. But he heard the market was closed, desolate, and no one was allowed to open without the new Emperor’s order.

The city was under lockdown; only the army could move. Large groups of high officials and nobles from the previous dynasty, wearing snow-white prison uniforms and shackles on their wrists, were being exiled to the borders with their families.

Xie Wuchi issued orders but still stayed behind closed doors in Xiangnan Temple every day, waiting to move into the Imperial Palace after the ritual at the Temple of Heaven. Politics came from him; killing and arson were left to the generals under him. He was leisurely and idle.

Creak, creak— The carriage traveled through the road, heading for the Imperial Palace. Along the way, urgent military reports came in from time to time.

“Your Majesty, the edict of abdication has been sent nationwide. The city guard of Xiliang Prefecture has organized an army, combined with the fleeing Taman tribe, declared himself king, looting the common people along the way, killing until rivers run red with blood, and is coming towards the Eastern Capital with dust and smoke.”

Xie Wuchi: “In chaotic times, heroes vie for the throne. Besides him, how many others refuse to submit?”

“Xiliang Prefecture raised troops, Guangnan Prefecture also raised troops, and a small town in Xunyang also rebelled. These rising rebels loot the people along the way and commit all kinds of crimes.”

Xie Wuchi said coldly: “Just as well. I was just thinking that the borders of the New Zheng are not clear enough, and the stone tablets meant to restrain generals have long been worn away. Since they are unconvinced and harming the people, let Miao Yuanliang lead the army to attack like wolves and guard the Northwest.”

“Yes!”

“Xi Xin will lead the army to quell the rebellion and guard the Southwest. Ping Yichun will control the North-Central region, guarding these key passes to stabilize the world.”

“Yes!”

The new Emperor ascended the throne. If they didn’t submit, beat them until they did.

Shi Shu hadn’t fully recovered yet and was in a weak state. Just as one person left, another came to report.

Head of the Ministry of Rites: “Your Majesty, the above is the roster for promotions and titles for the New Zheng Dynasty. There are many considerations, and I hope Your Majesty will deliberate.”

For the merit of supporting the dragon, generals were made Marquises, civil officials were made Dukes. On a separate page was the title for the new Emperor’s only younger brother.

“Regarding the Eastern and Western Palaces, according to the precedents of the previous dynasty, His Royal Highness the Imperial Brother should be granted a separate residence, and the two Kings should not meet,” said the Head of the Ministry of Rites. “I have listed the luxury residences in the Eastern Capital below. Please make a decision, Your Majesty. Which residence should His Royal Highness the Imperial Brother move into?”

Shi Shu had a pile of rules. The rules in the Imperial Palace were quite strict. Even with strong military power, one had to be constrained by the rituals and music of the civil officials. If following these officials’ rules, he indeed couldn’t live in the palace and had to move to his own residence.

Xie Wuchi spoke up: “No need to leave the palace. We only have this one younger brother, raised with care since childhood. Let him live in the palace with Us.”

Head of the Ministry of Rites: “If in the Imperial Palace, could His Highness live in the Southern Palace?”

“Tidy up Ziwei Hall. The Imperial Brother shall live with Us in the left and right sleeping chambers. Do it immediately.”

Ziwei Hall, the Emperor’s bedchamber. The Head of the Ministry of Rites had never heard of an Emperor’s palace where two sovereigns lived in the east and west chambers! But he dared not object, nodding hastily to prepare the documents: “Yes!”

Shi Shu rolled his eyes and couldn’t help saying, “Who gets reincarnated a second time at eighteen?”

Xie Wuchi: “No good? Your sense of deservingness is a bit low.”

“…………………”

Shi Shu: “That’s not it.”

You even know about ‘sense of deservingness’?

Who else is like you, declaring ‘I am the Emperor’ all day long!

Being able to lie back and become the Emperor’s brother was indeed a bit beyond expectations. Shi Shu lay back in the chair and laughed: “Fine. A man’s power, a boyfriend’s honor.”

They entered the Imperial Palace, heavily guarded outside the palace gates. Xie Wuchi went to change clothes, and Shi Shu had to change into cumbersome robes as well. Everyone moved hurriedly, worthy of being worldly-wise people within the palace gates, instantly making the atmosphere solemn and serious.

Autumn wind, high altar, sacrifice. Tens of thousands of officials in neat robes looked towards the solitary, sharp dark figure on the altar amidst the solemn chill. The ascension ceremony officially began.

Ceremonial robe and crown, twelve tassels, twelve symbols. Dust-free shoes stepped on the white marble stairs. When he reached the highest peak, everyone under heaven prostrated at his feet, unable to look directly, unable to discuss.

Seeing from afar, Xie Wuchi stopped in his tracks.

Chu Wei, with collapsed shoulders, eyes lifeless and appearance haggard, knelt on the ground with the remaining civil and military officials of the Great Jing behind him. He held a document case in his hands, on top of which were placed the Imperial Jade Seal and the Edict of Abdication. The once ruler of a country now knelt on the ground.

“Please, Your Majesty, accept the abdication—”

A voice choked with vomit, announcing the destruction of the nation.

“Please, Your Majesty, accept the abdication!—”

The autumn wind was silent. Xie Wuchi’s eyes were obscured by the twelve tassels, casting a light shadow on his slightly cold brow. He reached out, touched the Imperial Jade Seal on the tray, and stared at it. Layers of clouds and mist passed through his eyes, flashing scene after scene.

It was the snowy night at Luntai, the iron horses and golden spears; it was also the glint of knives and shadows of swords, seeing red turn to green; white bones piled beneath the city walls, purple qi coming from the east winding around the Golden Throne Hall… Flying petals, bloody shadows of blades, thousands of troops and horses shouting in unison.

From the desolate temple where the plaque was worn away, he walked all the way to the position where the Nine Cauldrons stood.

Xie Wuchi reached out and grasped the Jade Seal in his hand.

“Mandated by Heaven, may you live long and prosper.”

Read out word by word.

His robes blew in the wind. From today onwards, it signified that the power over life and death of everyone under heaven, the supreme power of the world, belonged to the hands of Xie Wuchi, who held the Imperial Jade Seal tightly.

Beside him, gongs and drums thundered instantly. The shouts of countless subjects echoed between the dark and gloomy heaven and earth: “Welcome the new Emperor’s ascension! Change the era name and start anew!”

“Welcome the new Emperor’s ascension!”

“Long live our Emperor, long live, long live!”

“—”

Dong dong dong! The sound of elegant music came in waves, shaking the earth.

Not far away, Shi Shu stood by the steps. Seeing Xie Wuchi take the edict and announce it to the people with dignity and grace, a smile unconsciously appeared on his lips. After the conferring process, he turned and disappeared among the officials, leaving behind the overwhelming cheers.

Shi Shu hadn’t recovered yet, and the wind made the chill worse, so he left early. Huge red-lacquered pillars carved with dragons, countless corridors and courtyards, double-eaved roofs, garden after garden. Shi Shu strode towards Ziwei Hall, planning to familiarize himself with this huge imperial city, not in a rush.

He wandered around and slowly lost track of where he was.

From a distance, he saw a few palace maids, about fourteen or fifteen years old, standing by a well looking down. They threw a pebble in and immediately stepped back in fright.

One complained: “There’s nothing inside.”

“I’m not lying. I saw a corpse fished out of the well just three days ago. It was a noble consort. She didn’t want to move out of the palace and was pushed into the water by the new Emperor’s men and drowned.”

“But this water looks so clear, not like someone drowned in it.”

“Of course it’s true. So many people have been killed in this palace. We were brought in by the old maid for training. We’re not allowed to open doors at night, nor prick up our ears to listen. They say the Konghe Army is killing people hall by hall… Early in the morning, when we got up, we saw eunuchs carrying water to wash the blood off the bricks.”

The little palace maid plucked a leaf and asked, “Are you new too?”

“I just came in. The original palace maids were all sent away. There are notices posted in the Imperial City recruiting maids and eunuchs. My family was begging in the Eastern Capital to escape the war, so they sent me in.”

Shi Shu stood under the eaves, watching the little maids talk nonsense and try to fish in the well again: “Didn’t you say her gold bracelet fell into the well? What if you really fish it out?”

“In this ghostly imperial city, if you really fish it out, the noble consort will climb out of the well at night to sleep with you.”

“Stop scaring people!”

“…”

They laughed and talked, then noticed the outsider and quickly stood in a row. Shi Shu didn’t intend to disturb anyone, waved his hand to show no malice, and hurriedly ran away, fleeing the scene.

“Everything is waiting to be rebuilt. The palace has been bloodwashed, the eunuchs and maids are all new…”

Shi Shu muttered in his heart and slipped back into the main hall.

The palace was full of strangers. The extravagance was temporarily simplified. People were rarely seen in the pavilions and towers; only the area around the Imperial Study was crowded, with people rushing back and forth, carrying out imperial edicts one by one. When Shi Shu walked in, he saw Xie Wuchi in a narrow-sleeved robe, sitting in a chair talking to officials.

The Head of the Ministry of Revenue said: “Your Majesty, the great war has just passed. It is time to start anew with the people and rest and recuperate. I am counting the surplus grain in the treasury to relieve the people.”

Xie Wuchi was reading a memorial: “After this war, in many places, only one in a hundred people survived, and cities are in a state of abandonment. Send officials to the cities to gather the people again. Within ten days, count the roster of living and dead citizens and submit it to the palace.”

The Head of the Ministry of Revenue said: “Yes, Your Majesty. Taiyin Prefecture is depopulated. People can be moved from Shaoxing Prefecture to restore farming. Such and such…”

Hearing this, Shi Shu understood they were dealing with the ruins after the war. Although the war was over, the number of people who died from the aftereffects—hunger, thirst, or plague—could not be underestimated. Needless to say, the next efforts would be spent on rebuilding homes for the people.

Shi Shu came in at dusk, walked to the chair beside him, sat down, and poured a cup of water.

When the officials from the Ministry of Revenue left, Shi Shu watched Xie Wuchi’s every move. He held a brush, marking and writing on paper, with stacks of books piled beside him.

Shi Shu sat down next to him: “With this workload, being an Emperor isn’t much different from being a lay monk at Xiangnan Temple or a Military Commissioner in Yanzhou, is it?”

Xie Wuchi pinched the center of his brow: “Can I say it?”

Shi Shu: “Say what?”

Xie Wuchi: “Becoming the founding Emperor has already proven my ability. I lack interest in being a wise ruler.”

Shi Shu was quiet for a moment, then said: “When I become Emperor later, I’ll also say I have no interest in being Emperor. When I become the richest man, I’ll also say I have no interest in making money, only enjoying the thrill of conquering the world.”

Xie Wuchi: “Life is just like that.”

Shi Shu looked at him for a while: “…Xie Wuchi, your words are still so unpleasant to hear.”

However, Shi Shu raised his eyebrows and smiled unconsciously: “But seeing you persist in being yourself, unchanged from beginning to end, makes me very happy too.”

After speaking, Shi Shu leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, sitting happily in the chair. His fingers toyed with Xie Wuchi’s sleeves and ribbons, winding them around in circles, creating little wrinkles in the solemn imperial casual wear, then smoothing them out into a meticulous, elegant, and upright appearance.

Harassed by him, Xie Wuchi acted as if nothing happened, spreading his fingers to clasp Shi Shu’s hand tightly: “Wait for me a little longer, we’ll go back to the bedchamber together.”

Shi Shu kissed his ear and neck again: “Xie Wuchi, is your sex addiction cured?”

While flipping through the book, Xie Wuchi said: “Not cured, can’t be cured. Now that I’m young and energetic, it’s really hard on you at night.”

Shi Shu’s ears felt hot: “Will it never be cured in this lifetime?”

Xie Wuchi: “Can’t be cured, at least not before impotence.”

Shi Shu gritted his teeth and endured, waiting until Xie Wuchi finally closed the yellow book and stood up to return to the bedchamber together. As soon as they entered the changing room, Shi Shu couldn’t help but jump on Xie Wuchi’s back, messing up his clothes while hugging him, revealing snow-white teeth for a biting spree.

“I’ll bite you to death, bite, bite…”

Xie Wuchi took a step back, leaned against a stool, and simply sat down. He pulled Shi Shu into his arms. While Shi Shu bit him, he nonchalantly stripped off Shi Shu’s clothes and dressed him in casual wear for resting.

While Shi Shu bit him, he also nonchalantly took off his own clothes. Once truly stripped, Shi Shu didn’t dare bite anymore. He waited for Xie Wuchi to put on his clothes before pouncing again, being carried out of the changing room by Xie Wuchi with one arm.

Shi Shu got onto the dragon bed and tugged at Xie Wuchi’s clothes: “I’ll bite you to death.”

Sure enough, Xie Wuchi didn’t even blink: “I’ll fuck you to death.”

“Ah! Try it if you have the ability!” Shi Shu almost jumped off the bed, but he had already rolled into the layers of cotton quilts embroidered with golden dragons, taking Xie Wuchi with him.

Three months later, a desolate and remote path.

Heavy snow sealed the mountains. At the end of the winding road, the imperial mausoleum in Linjiang Prefecture of the New Zheng Dynasty connected to the road to the Eastern Capital. Because Linjiang Prefecture had suffered from the ravages of war, it had not yet recovered. For ten miles along the road, there were deserted villages, devoid of human habitation, with only a few jackdaws flying overhead.

The passing deserted village was strewn with blackened skeletons, buried by falling snow, deathly silent. An old man over eighty sat in a courtyard, a stove beside him, cooking rice.

Knock knock. The door was suddenly knocked. The old man looked towards the courtyard gate, where two tall and extraordinary figures stood. One was taller, with a cold and handsome face, bearing a chill like ice and snow, wearing snow-white clothes embroidered with revered dark patterns. The other was slightly slimmer, with a smile on his brow, very sunny and cheerful.

“Grandpa, can we have a sip of hot water? This weather is too cold.” The one speaking was Shi Shu.

Winter had arrived, the end of the year was approaching, and farming tasks had eased slightly. Du Zihan was buried in the imperial mausoleum in Linjiang Prefecture, titled a King as a sworn brother. They had just decided to travel incognito, bringing some personal guards, planning to visit him.

However, on the mountain road ahead, heavy snow sealed the mountain, and carriages and horses couldn’t pass. The guards had to stop and go to the county town to borrow snow gear. Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi were bored waiting and, hearing that the riverbank snow scenery of this passing county town was superb, decided to walk around together first.

The old man hurriedly got up: “Sure, sure, sure, want hot water? Old man will boil a pot for you.”

Shi Shu walked into the courtyard. It was a large courtyard, but only this old man and a small local dog lived there. The small dog barked woof woof upon seeing Lai Fu, scared into a ball.

Shi Shu immediately understood that the people in this village had all died in the war, leaving only this old man. Shi Shu said, “Why are you sitting in the yard? Aren’t you cold, Grandpa?”

The old man chuckled and said, “Haven’t seen people in a long time. Wanted to sit in the yard, talk if I saw someone.”

Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi stood in the courtyard. Under the shed, newly chopped firewood was piled neatly. The wood stubble was green, looking like it had been chopped not long ago.

The old man scooped snow into the kettle, smiling as he said, “Plenty of wood! The officials from the city came to the village to count heads. Seeing that the old man’s sons all joined the army and now I’m just a bag of old bones, they chopped wood for me to make a fire for the winter so I wouldn’t freeze to death!”

Shi Shu: “That’s very good.”

The old man was eager to talk to people: “They also sent me rice, put it in the house. I hid it well. The Big Emperor and the Second Emperor are good people—”

Shi Shu poked the fire in the stove: “Grandpa, no need to hide it. There won’t be soldiers or bandits entering the village to burn, kill, and loot anymore. They won’t snatch your rice.”

The old man’s wrinkled face showed a smile. He patted the small dog’s head and asked with a smile, “Where are you from?”

Shi Shu: “We came from the Eastern Capital.”

“Good, good.”

Shi Shu chatted with him. When the water in the stove boiled, he filled the water skins they carried. Shi Shu thanked him and walked out of the courtyard gate with Xie Wuchi. Even from far away, the old man in this deserted village was still standing at the village entrance, looking out lonely at the whole road.

Shi Shu felt emotional inside. The water skin was hot, the snowy ground icy cold: “All things revive, it will get better slowly.”

Xie Wuchi walked slowly behind him: “Irreparable scars, only time can heal.”

Shi Shu climbed up the hillside. Hearing hurried sounds, Xin Bin and Song Sinan were running over with large strides against the biting cold wind, complaining: “Hey… took our eyes off for just a moment, where did the two masters go?”

Shi Shu raised the water skin: “I went to get water.” He threw the other one to Song Sinan. “Sinan, catch!”

Song Sinan caught it, hung it at his waist, holding snow-shoveling tools in his hand: “Thank you, Your Highness. We borrowed snow gear. The snow has been too heavy these past few days, sealing the mountain. The county town also sent people to clear the snow and open the road. Estimate another hour.”

Someone else would arrange things. Seeing them shovel snow on the road, Shi Shu wanted to help too. Song Sinan quietly walked behind him: “Your Highness, Imperial Physician Lin instructed me not to let you do these back-straining tasks.”

Shi Shu shouted hoarsely: “Imperial Physician Lin?! What did he say to you?!”

Song Sinan: “Why are you so agitated? Imperial Physician Lin said you are recuperating and shouldn’t do heavy work, just those few words. Don’t shovel snow. If His Majesty sees, he’ll exile me to the village to farm.”

Shi Shu had to back down: “Old Lin, oh Old Lin, my lifetime reputation… I’ll settle this with you after I finish visiting Zihan and go back—”

Shi Shu returned to Xie Wuchi’s side, standing idly: “What do we do now?”

Withered yellow mountain forest, dark blue sky crossed with sparse branches. Xie Wuchi said: “I heard the pheasants in this county town are famous. The meat is firm and delicious, bone marrow fragrant. Whether stewed or roasted, the taste is very good.”

Shi Shu: “It’s winter, where are there wild pheasants? Are we going to hunt?”

Xie Wuchi: “We can. This is the mountains. Pheasants don’t appear often in winter, but we can find their nests.”

“Let’s go then!”

Shi Shu excitedly asked Xin Bin for a bow, carrying a quiver on his back. He and Xie Wuchi, one after the other, bypassed the main road and turned towards the snow-covered barren ridge. Xin Bin couldn’t stop them and had to bring a few guards to follow behind.

One deep step, one shallow step. The snow in the barren forest was like cotton, with decaying withered leaves mixed in the cold white snow. Lai Fu ran at the very front wagging its tail, little dog paws printing plum blossoms; Shi Shu ran behind Lai Fu, little dog paws also printing footprints.

Shi Shu chased Lai Fu running with ahhh ahhh shouts, then Lai Fu chased him running for a while. Xie Wuchi, in pure white snow clothes, followed slowly behind, watching these incredibly familiar scenes one after another, holding the water skins ready.

Finally, they saw a pheasant’s nest. Startled by humans, it immediately flapped its wings to fly out, but was shot in the neck by an arrow, ceasing to breathe in an instant.

Shi Shu ran until his head was sweating, squatting like a little mushroom in front of Xie Wuchi, white mist escaping from his lips. He watched him clean the pheasant with snow, setting it between two wooden sticks to roast as the fire lit up.

The guards nearby met Xin Bin’s gaze. Xin Bin was rushing over and saw the two roasting a pheasant under a tree.

Xie Wuchi looked calm. Shi Shu’s eyes shone with happiness: “Xie Wuchi, you’re amazing, you even know how to roast chicken.”

Xie Wuchi turned the wooden stick: “There’s a lot more I know. We’ll try them all along the way.”

Shi Shu: “Mn mn mn!”

Xie Wuchi roasted the chicken, Shi Shu reached out to warm his hands by the fire, the firelight warming his red fingers.

When the chicken was thoroughly cooked, Shi Shu couldn’t sit still and wandered around the snowfield. Seeing a deep red plum blossom by a broken bridge, he broke off a branch and ran back to Xie Wuchi excitedly holding the flowers: “I saw flowers, picked a few for you.”

Xie Wuchi: “Giving me flowers?”

Shi Shu felt a bit shy again and put them in his arms: “Do you want more? I can climb trees, can climb very high.”

Xie Wuchi placed the plum blossoms beside him and said, “Enough.”

Just after speaking, Xie Wuchi wanted to say the next sentence, “Stay here and keep me company,” but when he looked up, Shi Shu had long taken Lai Fu and was scrambling all over the snowy ground, rolling around everywhere, running off to who knows where again.

Xie Wuchi lowered his head to turn and roast the chicken meat. Shi Shu would disappear from time to time and reappear from time to time, each time holding a handful of random stuff, simultaneously sweating profusely from exhaustion, panting heavily.

Xie Wuchi raised his eyes: “Are you a retriever?”

Shi Shu: “Huh?”

Xie Wuchi: “Wash your hands, it’ll be ready soon.”

“Oh,” Shi Shu scrubbed his hands clean with fine snow and sat beside Xie Wuchi, eating the roast chicken meat he sliced off with a small knife. The oil temperature was scorching; piece after piece of fatty meat sizzling with oil flowers was fed into Shi Shu’s mouth.

“How does it taste?”

Shi Shu: “It’s cooked. Although there’s no salt, this chicken meat itself is fragrant. I like it.”

Shi Shu sat on the ground waiting to be fed. He rarely ate like this, so it was very novel, and Xie Wuchi was happy feeding him. Xie Wuchi also tasted some, cleaned the meat off leaving the skeleton. Lai Fu had long been eager for action; handed to it, it carried the pheasant in its mouth and hurriedly pawed at it to gnaw.

The cold wind howled. Xie Wuchi cleaned up the mess on the ground and extinguished the fire with snow: “Let’s go back. The mountain road is probably cleared. We need to travel.”

Shi Shu followed behind him: “So nice, eating such a roast pheasant on a snowy day. Won’t go hungry following you.”

Shi Shu ran and skipped along the way, very lively, but didn’t expect a snow pit by the roadside. With an “Ouch,” he twisted his ankle and abruptly reached out to grab Xie Wuchi’s sleeve: “Xie Wuchi, save me! Why is there a pit here!”

Xie Wuchi held him with his right hand, holding the red plum blossom branch he gave in his left: “Hold on tight.”

Shi Shu held his hand, not daring to jump around anymore. Stepping on the snow covering the ground with Xie Wuchi, walking across the wasteland, stepping on withered branches and decaying leaves, moving forward all the way: “Xie Wuchi, on the road ahead, can we still play like this?”

Xie Wuchi: “We can. Along the county towns and villages, there are many delicacies and famous products, as well as scenery of snowy mountain villages. Since we are visiting Zihan these few days, we’ll walk through them all.”

Shi Shu: “After walking this road, what about later?”

The snow crunched. The wilderness was vast and white, with only two figures in snow clothes, accompanied by a yellow dog, walking in the snow.

Xie Wuchi: “Tired of the road to the Imperial Mausoleum. In another two years, when the world is revived, I’ll take you on a private tour in disguise.”

Xie Wuchi walked fast but deliberately slowed down to let Shi Shu keep up. Shi Shu trotted two steps, shoulder to shoulder with him: “Go anywhere? Go to Qin Village?”

Xie Wuchi: “Go there too.”

The wind and snow were at their peak. Shi Shu’s eyes were blown dry, his vision blurred, unable to see the road clearly. But when he closed his eyes, he still walked forward; his palm was very warm.

When Shi Shu opened his eyes again, snowflakes were fluttering. In a daze, he saw that he and Xie Wuchi had already walked a very long way.

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