Chapter Twenty-Nine
Qi Xiao entered the bedchamber and, glancing around, found no sign of Bai Ren. One of the serving maids hurried to explain, "The Young Lord went to the back garden to see the snow. Fearing he might catch cold, we had him wear Your Highness's fox fur coat, and we also prepared a hand warmer and snow umbrella before letting him go."
Qi Xiao paused, then smiled. "Right, he grew up in Lingnan—he's probably never seen snow before..."
Without removing his outer garments or letting anyone accompany him, Qi Xiao took an umbrella and went out into the snow to find Bai Ren.
The prince's residence was beautifully constructed. The back garden featured pavilions, towers, and pavilions beyond count, with exotic flowers and rare plants in endless variety. When the estate was originally built, living water had been channeled in from outside—beneath the gallery past the three-tiered main hall, a stream wound its way, eventually converging into the Emerald Wave Pool. On the pool stood a lakeside pavilion, and from afar, Qi Xiao could see two maids standing inside it. On the adjacent walkway, someone was half-crouching—surely that was Bai Ren.
Qi Xiao drew his cloak tighter and, umbrella in hand, trudged through the snow. As he approached the lakeside pavilion, the two maids spotted him from a distance and moved to bow, but Qi Xiao waved them silent. Understanding, the maids withdrew respectfully to a distance. Qi Xiao slowly ascended the pavilion. The snow on the ground had already accumulated three inches deep, the soft white snow muffling his footsteps entirely. Yet even as Qi Xiao walked right up behind Bai Ren, the latter showed no awareness.
Bai Ren had been standing outside the pavilion all along, and snowflakes had already settled on his clothing. Qi Xiao shifted his umbrella to shield Bai Ren as well, amused at heart. He's been crouching here this whole time—could he be writing characters in the snow?
Curiosity sparked, Qi Xiao took another step forward, only to startle Bai Ren. The latter turned instinctively and, seeing Qi Xiao, was startled. "Your... Your Highness? When did you return?"
"I've been back for a while. I heard from the servants that you came to enjoy the snow, so I came to find you. What are you doing?" Qi Xiao glanced sideways, then couldn't hold back his laughter. Bai Ren had been crouched there all this time, making a small snowman.
Whether from the cold or from embarrassment, Bai Ren's face was flushed. He forced a laugh. "Before... I heard people talk about how it snows in the north during winter, but I've never actually seen it..."
Bai Ren wore Qi Xiao's fox fur coat, which didn't quite fit him properly, making him seem even more youthful. Crouching there forming snowballs, he looked utterly endearing. Though not young in years, Bai Ren rarely showed such childlike moments. Qi Xiao's heart filled with fondness, and he asked with a smile, "Is it finished?"
Bai Ren shook his head. "Still need eyes..."
Bai Ren stood up to look for some pebbles, but having crouched for so long, his legs had gone numb. As he rose, he stumbled. Qi Xiao quickly steadied him, then laughed. "The whole ground is covered in snow—where will you find pebbles?"
Qi Xiao looked down at Bai Ren's reddened hands and frowned. "You played in the snow with bare hands? What if you get frostbite?"
Bai Ren looked somewhat sheepish and said quietly, "It's not that cold... I'll just soak them in hot water for a bit."
Qi Xiao couldn't help but laugh. "Hot water after getting this frozen? Are you trying to punish yourself? Never mind... Let's go back first."
Bai Ren turned to look at his little snowman, eyes full of reluctance. Qi Xiao shook his head with a mixture of exasperation and amusement, bent down to pick up the snowman, and smiled. "Go back. I'll place it on the corridor outside the window for you."
Bai Ren couldn't help but smile and obediently followed Qi Xiao back to the bedchamber.
True to his word, Qi Xiao placed the small snowman beneath the window of the warm quarters. He then casually took two pieces of jade gravel—used as soil in a large coral pot by the corridor—and pressed them onto the snowman's head as eyes. The verdant green jade against the white snow created quite a charming scene. Qi Xiao looked up at Bai Ren, who was peering out from inside the window, and smiled. "Will that do?"
Bai Ren smiled and nodded. Qi Xiao entered the room and wiped his hands. "I heard that Lingnan occasionally gets snow too. You never saw any?"
"I think it snowed once when I was little, but I can barely remember." Bai Ren thought for a moment and shook his head. "But it definitely wasn't this big."
It was the first time Qi Xiao had seen Bai Ren like this. He chuckled softly. "You call this big? Wait until you get through this winter. Give me your hand..."
Qi Xiao took a painted small bottle from a gold-traced six-panel cabinet by the couch. He looked at Bai Ren's slender, reddened fingers and clicked his tongue. "Does it hurt?"
Bai Ren hesitated, then nodded honestly. He managed a wry smile. "I didn't feel it before, but now... my whole hands feel swollen, and there's this itchy sensation in the gaps between my bones. It's unbearable."
"That's the numbness wearing off..." Qi Xiao uncapped the small medicine bottle, poured some medicated oil into his palm, and gently massaged Bai Ren's hands. The medicated oil had a faint, pleasant fragrance. Within moments, Bai Ren's hands felt much more comfortable, and he couldn't help but smile. "It doesn't hurt anymore..."
Qi Xiao smiled. "Even though it doesn't hurt, I need to keep massaging for a while, otherwise frostbite might still set in..."
Warmth spread through Bai Ren's heart. He lowered his head and said nothing more. After a while, Qi Xiao glanced outside and laughed. "Such lovely weather—we should eat something grilled. Jiang Deqing..."
Jiang Deqing, who had been standing in the outer room, quickly responded. "Yes, my lord. Those items were already taken out of storage at the beginning of winter and prepared. I'll have the kitchen start getting things ready."
"If we just dine here in our room, we'll be wasting this wonderful snowy day." Qi Xiao turned to look at Bai Ren and smiled. "Especially for our Young Lord, who hardly ever gets to see snow."
Bai Ren looked somewhat embarrassed, but at Qi Xiao's suggestion, he felt a flutter of anticipation. Back in the Lingnan Wang residence, he had been watched every moment, constantly worried that others might find something to use against him. Thus, he had been careful in everything, always proper and restrained, grinding himself into this manner of being prematurely mature. But with Qi Xiao, he didn't need to worry about any of that. Though they could put on a good show in front of others, both clearly understood who the other really was in private, so there was no need for pretense—it was truly comfortable.
Qi Xiao thought for a moment, then smiled. "Let's go to the Listening to the Wind Pavilion. Close the three outer glass windows, but leave the south one open. Light a few more warming braziers, and that'll be enough."
Jiang Deqing nodded with a smile. "Excellent idea. Today the wind is from the north, so with the south window open, we won't get any drafts but can still enjoy the snow. I'll prepare everything right away."
Qi Xiao's gaze swept over the several scratch marks on Bai Ren's neck. "Also... the Young Lord's wounds haven't fully healed. Remind the kitchen to be careful."
Upon hearing this, Bai Ren pressed his lips together but said nothing. Jiang Deqing was a master at reading the room. Seeing this, he smiled apologetically. "The Young Lord's wounds have already scabbed over and are nearly healed. Didn't the imperial physician also say yesterday that he doesn't need to avoid any foods? The Young Lord has been on a vegetarian diet for many days. Today, this old servant takes the liberty of pleading his case—perhaps he doesn't need to be so strict with his diet?"
Qi Xiao looked at Bai Ren, and seeing the obvious longing in his eyes, smiled. "Fine then, one day off from the restrictions..."
The servants worked efficiently. Before long, the Listening to the Wind Pavilion was all set up. When both Qi Xiao and Bai Ren arrived, the senior maids placed the thinly sliced venison and mutton—dipped in sauce—neatly onto the silver wire grill that had been warming over silver frost charcoal for half a day. The sauce sizzled as it mixed with the rendered fat from the meat. Bai Ren had been abstaining from rich foods for days, and now the rich aroma made his heart feel like it was being scratched by a kitten. Qi Xiao watched Bai Ren without showing his amusement, then ordered someone to bring a hand warmer for Bai Ren before picking up his chopsticks. The two didn't ask for any service, cooking and eating by themselves—a rather interesting way to dine.
Seeing that Qi Xiao was in high spirits, Jiang Deqing specially went to the wine cellar to retrieve a jar of aged plum wine. The maids promptly warmed it and poured for the two men. The plum wine was fragrant and enticing, and paired wonderfully with the meat. Seeing Bai Ren down two cups in succession, Qi Xiao laughed. "It tastes sweet and the flavor isn't strong, but the kick is no less than other wines. Go easy, or you'll have a terrible headache tomorrow."
Bai Ren hadn't been this happy in a long time, and caught up in the moment, he shook his head with a smile. "Your Highness underestimates me. Even if it were much stronger, I'm not so easy to get drunk."
Qi Xiao had heard before that the old Lingnan King could drink a thousand cups without faltering. He thought to himself that the Dongling bloodline was indeed known for its capacity. Looking at Bai Ren's slender frame, he secretly marveled—he really was the grandson of the old Lingnan King. No matter how young, the man had an iron constitution that could drink anyone under the table.
Half an hour later, Qi Xiao looked at Bai Ren, who had collapsed drunk on the table, and closed his eyes. He had truly lost his mind earlier to have thought so highly of him.
Bai Ren was beyond waking. Sleeping in this pavilion would give him a cold. Qi Xiao took the cloak a maid handed him and wrapped it tightly around Bai Ren. The maid whispered试探ly, "Your Highness... should this servant have the women bring a sedan chair?"
Qi Xiao shook his head, then simply lifted Bai Ren into his arms and carried him directly back to the bedchamber. Along the way, the servants all respectfully stepped aside and bowed their heads, yet not one dared to discuss it privately. It was as if they saw nothing at all, continuing their duties without a word.
When the maids saw the two return, they hurried to attend to washing faces and hands. The servants who attended to Qi Xiao were all wise ones. They busied themselves only around Qi Xiao, and not one dared to approach Bai Ren. After helping Qi Xiao change into his sleeping clothes, they withdrew.
Qi Xiao straightened his sleeves, wrung out a cloth, and wiped Bai Ren's face. Bai Ren's face was flushed, and in his dream state, he was obedient and let Qi Xiao do as he pleased. Qi Xiao's gaze darkened slightly. With a soft laugh, he whispered, "Should we take off your clothes? You'll be uncomfortable sleeping like this."
Bai Ren nodded, letting Qi Xiao change him into sleeping clothes. Qi Xiao was far from a gentleman—while changing the clothes, he took a thorough look at Bai Ren from head to toe. Poor Bai Ren remained utterly unaware in his slumber,老老实实地任由祁骁摆布, raising his arms when told, turning over when told. Fearing he might get carried away, Qi Xiao finally relented after some intimate moments. Worried that Bai Ren might suffer from a hangover tomorrow, Qi Xiao then fed him some sobering soup, mouth to mouth. Qi Xiao lowered his head and kissed Bai Ren's warm lips, then laughed at himself. "I even let an opportunity like this slip by... How will you repay me someday, hm?"
Bai Ren, dazed and drunk, heard or didn't hear Qi Xiao's words. Either way, he snuggled deeper into Qi Xiao's embrace, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.