Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Chapter Seven

A small red clay stove warmed a pot of rice wine. A small mat lay under the eaves, beside a plum tree in full, gorgeous bloom.

Fang Zhihe held a hand warmer, sitting upright by the low table. On the table sat a plate of snow, and Qi Guan stood behind him, staring blankly at the snow.

"When I was young, I first saw him..." Fang Zhihe exhaled a soft breath, squinting at the mist that spread out. "He was even shorter than five-year-old Xiaoyuan, yet he was already seven. He looked like a bean sprout, sallow-faced, pitiful to look at."

"Father said he was a kid found at the foot of the city wall. His whole family died from the plague. Taking pity, he brought him into the manor as a servant, just to give him something to eat."

"He was a very good kid. Father told him to follow me, so he followed me all day. Studying or training, he was always there. He'd follow along when I played with Changlin. I knew that, compared to being with me, he preferred playing with Changlin."

"I've always been sickly, stubborn, and jealous. I didn't like him getting too close to anyone else... It makes sense he liked Changlin."

Fang Zhihe let out a soft laugh, lowered his eyes, and fell silent for a moment.

"I always thought he got me, the way I got him..."

"Turns out, I was just being wishful."

Qi Guan, worried he might catch cold, swallowed the bitterness in his throat and said, "Your Majesty, please go inside... They won't arrive until the hour of You. Why do you have to wait here all this time?"

Fang Zhihe was quiet for a moment, then out of nowhere asked, "Why don't you even call me Huaishu anymore?"

Qi Guan looked down at him in astonishment. "...You are His Majesty."

Fang Zhihe gave a mocking laugh. "His Majesty? What Majesty? A Majesty no one loves? Or... a pitiful loser?"

Qi Guan dropped to his knees with a thud, with tears in his eyes, clutching Fang Zhihe's sleeve and said in a mournful voice, "You are the master of this world. How could no one love you? That guy doesn't love you because he's blind. He isn't worthy of your love."

"...Love?" Fang Zhihe looked up at the red plum tree, the one he had planted on a snowy night five years ago. "Changlin said love is the most selfish thing—you can only trade one heart for one kind of love. He doesn't love me. So where should I put this heart of mine?"

Qi Guan felt the chill seeping into him. He hesitated a moment, then got serious. "Huaishu, you are the master of this realm. You bear the responsibility of family and country. What's the point in obsessing over love every day?"

Fang Zhihe glanced at him. "Finally telling me the truth?"

Qi Guan lowered his head. "If you can't have it, don't chase it. That's a principle you taught me years ago."

Fang Zhihe couldn't help but laugh. "Lanning, I couldn't even do that. I just said it to fool you."

Qi Guan was stunned. Fang Zhihe reached out a finger and poked his furrowed brow. "If love could be controlled—love when you say, stop when you say, chase when you say, give up when you say—how lucky would everyone be?"

"Too bad, even becoming emperor was all because of him."

Fang Zhihe gazed into the distance, staring at the horizon, and murmured softly, "...He said he was willing to be with me."

When Lu Wuyou carried Lu Yuan into Wanshou Palace, Xiaoyun was sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard. Seeing the little prince arriving, he quickly bowed. Lu Yuan looked at him and asked in a small voice, "Is Father still angry with me?"

Xiaoyun glanced at Lu Wuyou, who was holding him, then lowered his head and replied, "Your Highness, His Majesty is not angry with you. He just missed you and wanted you to dine with him."

Lu Yuan let out a light sigh and patted his chest. "Oh, that scared me! I thought Father was going to summon me again to quiz me on Laozi and Zhuangzi. Last time I made him so angry that he was ill for quite a while... Ah."

Lu Wuyou found him utterly adorable. He rubbed his cheek against the boy's and said warmly, "Xiaoyuan, your father has the worst temper. Don't mind him."

Beside them, Xiaoyun flinched and bowed his head even lower.

Lu Yuan pursed his lips. "Father isn't in good health. I mustn't anger him. Two years ago, he got upset and was bedridden for two full months before he could get up... Qi Guan told me not to anger Father anymore."

Lu Wuyou paused for a moment, then said casually, "Who would dare to make him angry?"

Lu Yuan clung to his shoulder and whispered, "I heard it from the Grand Tutor. He said General Yuhong's letters were full of disrespect, and they made Father so mad he spat blood in the throne room..."

Lu Wuyou held Lu Yuan a little tighter but said nothing.

Lu Yuan wiggled his butt. "I don't know who this General is. When I ask, nobody tells me. When I asked Father, he almost smacked my hands raw..."

Lu Wuyou patted his butt playfully and teased, "I don't know who he is either. It must be that your father has a bad temper. He spits blood over the smallest things."

He carried Lu Yuan under the eaves, glanced at the red clay stove, then sat cross-legged on a cushion with Lu Yuan in his lap.

Xiaoyun stepped forward to knock on the door. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and Lord Lu have arrived."

From inside came a series of urgent coughs. After a long moment, a voice replied, "Mm."

Lu Wuyou handed the food box he had brought to Xiaoyun. Then Fang Zhihe pushed the door open and came out. His face was ghastly pale, wrapped in a crane-feathered cloak that made him look thin and sickly. But his eyes were fierce, as if he wanted to devour Lu Wuyou whole, bones and all.

Xiaoyun arranged the three dishes from the food box on the table: a plate of hibiscus meat, a plate of stir-fried shrimp, and a plate of steamed rice cakes. They were still warm. Fang Zhihe sat down cross-legged and almost eagerly picked up his chopsticks to take a piece of hibiscus meat.

Lu Wuyou glanced at him but said nothing.

Lu Yuan was stunned. His father always liked light, vegetarian food and was never in a hurry about anything. But he'd never seen his father so eager for food. Such eagerness... totally stunned him.

Only after the food hit his stomach did Fang Zhihe finally feel better. In high spirits, he picked up his chopsticks, looked at Lu Wuyou and Lu Yuan, and asked in confusion, "Not hungry?"

Lu Yuan shook his head. Lu Wuyou smirked. "Your Majesty, mind your manners."

Fang Zhihe paused. His pale face went a little red. He mumbled something and reached for a shrimp. "Your cooking... got better, hm."

Lu Yuan also picked up his bowl to eat. Lu Wuyou gently stroked his head, served him some food, and filled his rice bowl, saying softly, "Xiaoyuan, tell me what you like to eat, and I'll make it next time and bring it over."

Fang Zhihe quickly chimed in, "Longjing shrimp, Dongpo pork, mixed eight-treasure rice, eggplant boxes, golden crispy fish..."

Lu Wuyou choked. He glared at the emperor and said coldly, "I didn't say I'd cook for you."

Fang Zhihe didn't mind at all and continued reciting dishes, "And that Buddha Jumps Over the Wall from the book!"

Lu Wuyou stared at him blankly. "Make it yourself."

Fang Zhihe finally pouted, weakly grabbed his chopsticks, and started eating.

Lu Yuan interjected, "Father's cooking is terrible!"

Fang Zhihe gave him a look. Lu Yuan quickly added, "Then Daddy should make all those dishes! Xiaoyuan loves them!"

Lu Wuyou: "..."

Fang Zhihe: "A thousand days of raising a son, one moment of using him—totally worth it!"

Lu Wuyou glared at him. "Shut it."