The next morning, the guards barred the way to the study. Liu Qingyuan looked at them silently, a mask of indifference back on his face. Before the guards could tremble from his overbearing aura, the king's chilly voice rang out from the study.
"You may retire until further notice. Don't come back here tomorrow. I'm busy, so leave quickly."
"This..." Inside, Eunuch Shuang looked at the king uncertaintly. "Your majesty, Liu gongzi is important. He is your bodyguard. Furthermore, he was selected by her majesty..." Jiang Zhilan glanced at him indifferently. "I beg your majesty to reconsider."
"No need," Jiang Zhilan said coldly. He didn't want to see him right now. The king raised his voice, "Chen gong gong* will see you out."
(*Gong gong - A form of address for court eunuchs)
For a fleeting moment, Liu Qingyuan hesitated, feeling uncertain. "Liu gongzi." A voice behind him said. He turned to find an elderly eunuch waiting. "This way." With stuttering steps, Liu Qingyuan glanced back once more and followed Eunuch Chen.
He immediately recognized the place they approached, but his mouth was set in a severe line. It was the kitchens. Although it was early morning, they were in the process of preparing breakfast so the whole place was lively. Eunuch Chen bowed. "His majesty has requested you keep watch over the kitchens as the banquet incident has weighed heavily on his mind. His majesty does not wish for anyone else to be harmed."
"..."
Liu Qingyuan knew that it was just an excuse, but he wasn't in a place to refute. Typically, as the king's personal bodyguard, such a position was entirely below him. But he didn't really care. It was just that he had been assigned this position for an unprecedented amount of time. How long would it be before he saw him again...
Liu Qingyuan clenched his hand into a fist, his nails digging sharply into his palm. 'Stop.' He scolded himself. 'Stop, stop, stop.'
"Young man, take this to kitchen three." Liu Qingyuan turned, only to find a basket of chicken eggs shoved into his arms. The ruddy-faced chef was already hurtling away to deal with something else. After a few seconds of pause, Liu Qingyuan started up the path that led to kitchen three, his face holding no expression. Inside, he set the basket down on an empty counter in the corner.
Liu Qingyuan observed the space around him, taking in the neat placement of the stations amidst the chaos currently swirling in the room. The working ovens pumped hot air into the space, requiring the doors and windows to be flung open. Despite this, all the workers had red faces and rolled up sleeves.
"You brat! Shoo!" A gleeful figure blurred away from the shout, tripped over a basket of vegetables and stumbled into Liu Qingyuan's back. The person in question stepped away automatically, reaching out when the culprit fell without his support. He found himself staring down into a familiar face.
The boy's eyes lit up. "Yuan ge!"
"Don't call me that," He said flatly, setting him back on his feet. The boy trembled in his shoes with excitement, his adoring eyes like that of a small puppy seeking praise. He stuffed a stolen bun into Liu Qingyuan's hands.
"Have one! What are you doing here?" He dragged him outside, away from the stifling heat of the kitchen. Liu Qingyuan let him.
"Be quiet. Don't ask so many questions."
"But-"
"Xiao Bo," Liu Qingyuan said warningly. Although the words didn't carry much venom, Xiao Bo still shut his mouth, quietly eating his bun and waiting for Liu Qingyuan to finish his. He stared at Liu Qingyuan the whole time, committing his cold, regal features to memory. His unsuspecting gaze unexpectedly made Liu Qingyuan soften. Unable to scold him further, he silently ate his bun, watching the activity in the courtyard.
"Xie xie*," he said quietly when he finished the bun. Xiao Bo perked up at those two casual words, beaming like it was the best day of his life.
(*Xie xie - Thank you)
"If you're here everyday, I can get you another one! The cook can't catch me!"
"Don't use your skills for bad things." The boy looked guilty.
"The uncle* doesn't actually mind. He's capable enough to catch any thief." Before Liu Qingyuan could retort, Xiao Bo burst out. "But! Since Yuan ge says so, I'll listen." Liu Qingyuan sighed internally. This boy's admiration wasn't budging no matter what.
(*Uncle - Used as a sign of respect (can be non-blood related))
"By the way, why is Yuan ge here? Captain says I need more experience first so he assigned me here." Xiao Bo pouted, but his sunny persona quickly emerged again. "What about you?"
"If I'm not welcome here, should I just leave?" He teased.
"NO!" Xiao Bo shouted. "I...didn't mean it like that..." He straightened. "But I know you're not here for the same reason as me. I've seen you practicing. Your moves are like water! Flowing and elegant but strong and precise like this," Xiao Bo pushed away from the wall to imitate some of the moves. Liu Qingyuan narrowed his eyes at the show. Though the moves were a bit sloppy, they were very similar.
"Yuan ge! Do you think you can teach me?" Liu Qingyuan looked at him silently. Coupled with his natural agility and speed, Xiao Bo could really be a top assassin. But looking at his expectant, naïve eyes, Liu Qingyuan suddenly saw himself when he was younger, kneeling and covered in bandages from frostbite injuries. He'd begged Mo Wu everyday until he'd finally accepted him as his disciple.
Surprisingly, Liu Qingyuan found himself wondering how the relationship between himself and the king would have progressed if he wasn't Gongzhuan's assassin but instead, an ordinary citizen. He shook the thought from his head. Perhaps they wouldn't even have met.
Liu Qingyuan turned his head away. "No." Xiao Bo was dejected. He was quickly distracted with guessing about the reason Liu Qingyuan was here.
"Are you here to collect the king's breakfast? Ah, you're really loyal! No wonder the king picked you as his personal bodyguard," he said cheekily. Liu Qingyuan didn't say anything, only looking down gloomily. "I wonder if I'll get to serve the imperial family..." The conversation gradually faded out and the pair stood side by side, silently watching the yard.
Some time later, several servants headed for the courtyard, carrying several large food baskets. "You, be careful!" A sweating chef shouted from the doorway of kitchen two. "If you spill even a drop of his majesty's breakfast, I'll have your head!!"
Xiao Bo looked expectantly at Liu Qingyuan. Didn't he come to collect his majesty's breakfast? However, Liu Qingyuan didn't move an inch. He'd guessed Xiao Bo's puzzled thoughts but he made no move to explain. Eventually, Xiao Bo looked away with a furrowed brow, pursed lips and a confused look in his eyes.
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In his study, Jiang Zhilan picked through his breakfast, feeling like the dishes were unusually bland and tasteless. "Did the chef change?" He asked, slightly annoyed. Eunuch Shuang bowed.
"No, your majesty. Do you no like it? It is the same breakfast you have everyday."
After a couple more bites, Jiang Zhilan threw down his chopsticks and got up to move to his desk. "Your majesty," Eunuch Shuang said hesitatingly. "Please eat a little more."
"Not hungry," he grumbled, feeling irritated for no reason. The king sat down, picking up a half finished report to revise.
"Would you like the kitchen to remake it?"
"No need."
"Your majesty,"
"What!" Eunuch Shuang immediately kneeled.
"Please be calm, your majesty."
"I- nevermind," he sighed. It was only just morning but Jiang Zhilan felt like crawling back into his bed and hiding from the world. He felt restless and couldn't figure out why.
"The autumn hunt is upcoming." Jiang Zhilan paused then nodded, scrupuously glancing out the window. "The weather is colder this year," Eunuch Shuang continued, "The first snowfall may come earlier. The mountains...can be dangerous."
Jiang Zhilan set down the bamboo slip in his hands. "Move the date up by two weeks." Eunuch Shuang bowed.
"Yes, your majesty." Jiang Zhilan turned away, burying himself in texts to simultaneously bury his thoughts.
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Before they knew it, a month passed and the autumn hunt arrived. Jiang Zhilan was very excited. He couldn't wait to get out o the palace and relax for once. The rooms, halls and courtyards has felt like they'd been slowly closing in on him. Jiang Zhilan got up early and Eunuch Shuang brought a basin of water for washing, watching as the king cheerfully washed his face. This was the happiest he'd seen him be, ever since the guard, Liu Qingyuan, had been reassigned.
"Your majesty..."
"Hmm?"
"It has been a month since Liu gongzi was sent away. And the mountains can be dangerous..."
Jiang Zhilan went quiet, his mouth flattening into a straight line. Eunuch Shuang discretely smacked his own mouth and hurried to save the situation. "This servant was just saying useless things. It doesn't matter, your majesty. Let's hurry, the hunt will be exciting."
"What's the rush? Invite him along." Jiang Zhilan said suddenly. He'd be lying if he said he didn't think about him often. The liveliness that'd brightened his life had left. To make it worse, Eunuch Shuang had become more cautious around him. He knew he cared about him but eventually one would get tired of everyone tip-toeing around them, careful not to say or do the wrong thing. Liu Qingyuan had been like a breath of spring air, chasing away the old and inviting the new.
Jiang Zhilan quickly shook that thought away. "Should I give him back his post?"Â Jiang Zhilan nodded briefly and stood up, turning his face away from Eunuch Shuang.
'Go and inform him later."
"Your majesty won't be telling him in person?" Jiang Zhilan sent him a look and Eunuch Shuang receded. Jiang Zhilan turned away. If he was honest, he was afraid. He still remembered their argument a month ago and the chilly expression on Liu Qingyuan's face. He also remembered the kiss they'd shared. He couldn't bear it if it had truly been all an act in order to obtain the hairpin. A soft breath escaped his lips. He was in deeper than he thought.
Eunuch Shuang didn't speak further. He helped the king change, slipping off his sleeping robe and taking the fitted riding robes. He turned back, gaze landing on the king's porcelain back. On his soft jade skin, the image of a majestic phoenix was etched in flaming red-gold. The lines shifted with the rise and fall of his breaths, seeming like flowing rivers of fire. It was truly an incredible sight.
Though he didn't dare touch the king's precious body, Eunuch Shuang squinted his eyes for a better look, He'd dressed the king thousands of times and seen the phoenix tattoo just as many, yet something seemed off about it. It was like a spot-the-difference but harder, the fiery lines dazzling the eyes.
"Eunuch Shuang?" Jiang Zhilan looked quizzically over his shoulder. Eunuch Shuang bowed.
"Apologies, it's nothing, your majesty." Maybe his eyes were just getting bad.