Chapter 161

Chapter 161

Shen Qichi had always found Su Ying a bit childlike—his moods came and went like the wind, fast to blow in, fast to blow out. The Great Demon, used to centuries of straightforward, survival-of-the-fittest living, could never quite wrap his head around the human world's twists and turns.

So once they'd talked through what had been bugging him, he slipped right back into his old habits—calm on the surface, but his eyes darting around like a kid's. Shen Qichi gave him a tour of the mansion, introduced him to the staff, then led him to the storeroom.

There was no bookkeeper in the house now; aside from the silver Shen Qichi had set aside for the old servant to live on for life, everything else was locked up in the storeroom.

Sure, the place had seen better days, but the Shen family's century-old foundation meant they still had way more money than most folks. Not to mention the mansion itself—even one dusty trinket from that storeroom could set a regular person up for life.

Shen Qichi wandered around, spotted a smoky purple jade pendant on a shelf, and picked it up for a closer look.

He'd never cared much about stuff, but his father was the opposite—crazy about jade and knickknacks, collecting them from everywhere. The pendant was made of smooth, fine jade, carved with double lines into a twisting, lifelike snake—a piece his father had brought back from the Western Regions years ago.

Shen Qichi barely looked at it before turning and tying it onto Su Ying's belt.

"It suits you," he said.

Su Ying looked down and touched it, then heard Shen Qichi ask, "Is there anything else you like?"

Su Ying shook his head, his eyes locked on him.

Shen Qichi paused, then tapped his forehead. "You're something else…"

His lips were still swollen. Su Ying leaned in and gave him a quick, feather-light kiss, his fondness plain.

Shen Qichi's ears burned. He pushed Su Ying away and hurried a few steps, grabbed a pair of bronze tripods with beast designs and a gold-starred purple sandalwood deer paperweight, then left the storeroom.

Before bed, Su Ying was still nosing around Shen Qichi's old room, picking things up and checking them out, totally fascinated. Finally, he said, "This place is set up a lot like the one in Anmen Village."

Shen Qichi was propped up on the bed, reading. He'd just bathed, his hair loose and messy, the ends still wet. His robe was barely tied, showing off a big patch of pale, firm chest covered in red and purple marks.

Compared to the wooden tub in Anmen Village, the bath in the Shen mansion was way more spacious. Su Ying, who'd only ever been able to bathe with him as a tiny snake, had jumped at the chance to get in the big tub. He didn't stay still long; seeing Shen Qichi's cheeks all red from the steam, he couldn't help messing with him.

Shen Qichi was pretty tired, but figuring they hadn't been together in a while, he gave in.

Su Ying was gentle, so Shen Qichi wasn't uncomfortable—actually, he felt more awake.

"I'm used to it this way," Shen Qichi said, setting down his book. "Aren't you sleeping yet?"

Su Ying stared at him with adoration, then leaned in for a kiss. "Let's sleep."

*

The next day, Shen Qichi took Su Ying out.

The capital was packed, and all the street sights blew Su Ying's mind. He followed Shen Qichi through the streets until they stopped in front of a big, fancy gate. When Shen Qichi handed the gatekeeper a visiting card and the bronze stuff they'd picked from the storeroom, he asked, "Who are we meeting?"

"My teacher," Shen Qichi said.

Su Ying didn't really get what a teacher was, but he knew the kids in Anmen Village really looked up to Shen Qichi as their teacher. "Is he someone important?"

Shen Qichi nodded and instructed, "When we bow, do exactly what I do. Don't mess up."

Su Ying nodded. Shen Qichi turned to fix his collar, tucking a few stray hairs behind his back. "If you don't know what to say, just keep quiet and listen."

Seeing him so serious, Su Ying couldn't help getting nervous. He replied seriously, "Mm."

Shen Qichi gave a small smile and squeezed his fingers, then turned to face the courtyard and waited.

Before long, the gatekeeper hurried out, bowed to Shen Qichi, and waved him in. "Mr. Shen, the Grand Tutor is asking for you."

Grand Tutor Qiu Fangsheng's courtyard was all elegant and peaceful. Green bamboo and little streams were everywhere. Shen Qichi didn't say a word from the second he walked in. Su Ying followed quietly, glancing around each moon gate he passed, then looking away.

After a few twists and turns, they passed a rock garden and saw a tea room.

—It was more like a big square pavilion with bamboo blinds on all sides.

At this point, the gatekeeper stopped, stepped aside, bowed slightly, and withdrew. Shen Qichi halted, and Su Ying stopped with him. He quickly glanced up and saw that the two bamboo blinds facing him were rolled up. Inside the tea room, a low table similar to the one in Shen Qichi's study was set up, and behind it sat an old man with white hair and a straight back, his eyes full of years.

Su Ying thought he was being sneaky, but right as he was about to look down, the old man turned and stared at him. Their eyes met. Su Ying was startled, then saw the old man's brow furrow almost imperceptibly before he looked away.

At that moment, Shen Qichi stepped inside. Su Ying followed a beat behind and stopped three paces from the old man.

Shen Qichi knelt.

Maybe he was paying attention on purpose, but Su Ying noticed Shen Qichi knelt with great care: first his left knee, then his right, toes pointing back, butt resting on his heels, back straight. Then he put his hands on the ground, bent forward, and touched his forehead to the floor.

Su Ying copied him exactly, not daring to mess up. He followed Shen Qichi in three prostrations, then pushed himself up with his hands and smoothly lifted his legs. After rising, he kept a slight bow, cupping his hands in salute before the old man.

The room fell silent.

Su Ying kept his eyes down, enduring the stillness without moving.

After a moment, it was Shen Qichi who spoke, his tone seemingly helpless: "Teacher."

The old man snorted coldly. "Sit."

Two cushions were placed opposite the old man. As Su Ying walked over, he stole a glance but met the old man's eyes again. The latter was frowning hard, his sharp gaze sizing Su Ying up.

Su Ying felt a flicker of annoyance but, mindful of Shen Qichi, didn't show it. He knelt quietly to Shen Qichi's left.

Amber tea poured from the spout of a purple clay teapot, arcing into a white porcelain cup, stirring up wisps of tea smoke. Su Ying stared at Shen Qichi's hand holding the pot, sensing that the gaze on him had shifted away.

Shen Qichi gently pushed the first cup of tea toward Qiu Fangsheng. "Teacher, how have you been lately?"

"Thanks to you, my troublesome student, I dare not be unwell," Qiu Fangsheng replied. Su Ying felt that heavy gaze fall on him again, sweeping from his hair to his toes, making him straighten his back even more. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

Su Ying stole a glance at Shen Qichi, who gave him a reassuring look.

"This is a close friend I've made in recent years, named Yu Ying. He's a few years younger than me, and like me, he's alone in the world, so we often keep each other company. On this trip to the capital, I was lucky to have his company and care; otherwise, my health might not have held up. He's new here and doesn't know the capital. As you know, teacher, my mansion's situation is such that if I'm not there, there's no proper way to host a guest. So I took the liberty of bringing him along. I hope you won't mind."

Qiu Fangsheng snorted again, but his gaze toward Su Ying softened a lot. He looked at Su Ying a few times before turning back to his student. Seeing that though Shen Qichi was lean, his face wasn't bad—in fact, it was rosy and his eyes were clear, not like someone sick—the heavy weight in his heart finally lifted. He asked, "How did you end up in the southern barbarian lands?"

Over the past four years, Shen Qichi had sent letters regularly to ease his worries, but he never said where he was. The letters had passed through many hands on their way north and south; tracing them would've been simple—just the trouble of checking. But since the student didn't want to say, the teacher didn't want to pry.

Last winter, when he got Shen Qichi's letter, he was startled, because Shen Qichi had used an official pouch embroidered with the Shen family's secret pattern. He thought something urgent had happened, even feared his prized student might be dying in a foreign land. But when he opened it, he found that Shen Qichi had, for the first time, revealed his whereabouts and said he'd return to the capital for a visit.

"I found the place agreeable."

Qiu Fangsheng thought of something. "That makes sense." He paused, then suddenly realized something was off. Frowning, he asked, "Did you enter the capital on your own?"

"Yes. Why?"

"You didn't run into anyone from His Majesty's retinue?"

Shen Qichi was taken aback. "His Majesty?"

Seeing that Shen Qichi really didn't know, Qiu Fangsheng said, "When your letter came saying you were coming back, I was delighted. His Majesty noticed and asked me. Once I told him, he was pleased too. Worried your journey back might be tough and dangerous, he sent a small squad of imperial guards and eunuchs to escort you. I figured the couriers would be slower than the guards, so I just had them carry the message."

Shen Qichi was stunned for a moment before saying, "There was no need for such a big fuss."

Qiu Fangsheng gave him a thoughtful look, then changed the subject, asking about Shen Qichi's recent circumstances. Upon learning that he had been working as a village schoolteacher for some time, he was surprised.

The tea in front of the snake demon had stopped steaming. Shen Qichi stealthily lowered one hand and poked his thigh under the table, earning a confused look from the demon. Shen Qichi quickly glanced at his teacup while continuing to answer Qiu Fangsheng, not noticing his mentor's telling pause.

A moment later, it suddenly dawned on Su Ying, and he took a shallow sip from the untouched porcelain cup. After that, he obligingly took over pouring tea for the two engrossed in conversation.

The teacher and student chatted back and forth for nearly an hour, changing the tea several times. During this, Shen Qichi, worried that Su Ying might get bored and doze off as usual, kept glancing at him worriedly. Fortunately, though the latter couldn't join the conversation, he sat upright, listening intently.

As the sun reached its zenith, Shen Qichi proposed taking his leave. Qiu Fangsheng, still eager to continue, invited him to stay for a meal. When refused, his disappointment was obvious.

Shen Qichi naturally wanted to dine with his mentor, but not today. The Great Demon had been around too many new people and things lately, and though he hadn't said so, Shen Qichi could tell he was uncomfortable. After paying respects to his teacher as etiquette demanded, Shen Qichi wanted to take him home for a day or two.

Just as they were about to take their leave, a servant hurried in and whispered something to Qiu Fangsheng. The latter's smile faded slightly, and he cast a sidelong glance at Shen Qichi before speaking: "Alright, don't leave. The emperor has summoned us—come with me to the palace."

Shen Qichi glanced at Su Ying. "...The emperor hasn't summoned me."

Qiu Fangsheng caught every nuance of his reaction. "The emperor sent people to escort you. You should have entered the palace directly upon arriving in the capital. Since you've come on your own, how can you not go pay your respects right away? Besides," he gave Shen Qichi a deep look and said slowly, "you're not the impatient type. If it weren't urgent, why couldn't you wait for a reply? Something that needs to be done back in the capital, but you were vague about it in your letter—it has to involve either me or His Majesty. You've talked with me for half a day without touching on the matter, so clearly, your request concerns His Majesty."

Shen Qichi was speechless, then conceded with admiration: "You know me well, teacher."

Qiu Fangsheng snorted. "Wait here a moment." With that, he left to change clothes.

Once he was gone, Su Ying relaxed, propping his chin on his hand as he lazily eyed Shen Qichi, teasing him: "Your teacher's got some presence—reminds me of how you lecture."

"Other way around," Shen Qichi couldn't help but laugh. "No teacher resembles a student. I'm going to the palace soon. Will you go back first?"

From their exchange, Su Ying gathered that he was going to see the human emperor. Even with little knowledge of human affairs, he knew that wasn't a place he could casually follow. Still, reluctance welled up inside him. "Can't you just hide me on you?"

He truly couldn't bear to be apart from Shen Qichi for even a moment. And Shen Qichi felt the same, but the palace was no place for a demon to trespass. He dared not take such a risk, so he shook his head in refusal.

He took out some silver and gave it to Su Ying, telling him to buy whatever caught his eye on the way back. Glancing at the leftover tea in his cup, he added gently, "Finish the tea—it's a matter of guest etiquette."

Su Ying gave an "oh," raised the cup, and downed it in one gulp, then looked at Shen Qichi as if seeking praise. He had drunk too hastily, leaving a few tea leaves at the corner of his mouth. A hint of a smile crept onto Shen Qichi's brow as he took out a handkerchief and wiped away the residue.

Su Ying's eyes were full of affection as he took Shen Qichi's hand and opened his mouth to speak, when suddenly a heavy cough rang out.

Shen Qichi yanked his hand away and turned to face the doorway. "Teacher."

Su Ying followed his gaze and saw Qiu Fangsheng standing there with a deeply conflicted expression.

"...Yunzhuo, let's go." After a long pause, Qiu Fangsheng said stiffly.