EHW Ch61part2

Expression stern, he said, “It’s a thank-you gift, Your Majesty. Don’t think too much of it.”

Pei Xin’s lips curved. “Mm.”

Gu Fangzhi fled toward the door in flustered steps.

Yang Luhai, waiting outside, jumped at the sight of him. “Lord Gu, why’s your face so red?”

Gu Fangzhi kept his deadpan expression. “Allergy. Guess I’ll never make a good Hannibal.”

Yang Luhai: “……?”

Hanni… what?

Without Pei Xin, the palace banquet soon devolved into a social gathering, nearly over anyway.

Gu Fangzhi went back, grabbed his outer robe, wrapped up two pastries, and took a carriage home early.

***
At home, the dumplings were boiling. He joined his family to eat, set off long strings of firecrackers, and stood shoulder to shoulder in the courtyard watching fireworks soar above the palace.

All in all, it was a good New Year’s Eve.

New Year’s Day, however, was less cheerful.

Before dawn, Gu Fangzhi rose, bathed, burned incense, and headed to the palace.

The officials for the ceremony were already assembled, their faces solemn in the golden glow of palace lanterns.

Pei Xin wore a dark robe embroidered with twelve golden dragons, a garment Gu Fangzhi had never seen before, and a ceremonial crown with twelve jade beads hanging over his brow.

They departed through the Meridian Gate and reached the imperial mausoleum at noon.

The altar was ready, the offerings freshly arranged. Pei Xin ascended the steps, placed three sticks of incense into the burner, and declared loudly:

“I, who bear the mandate of all under Heaven, now proclaim to the skies, O Sovereign Heaven-”

His voice echoed through the heavens and earth. Gu Fangzhi, who had never witnessed such a rite, stood dazed, once again struck by how impressive Pei Xin truly was.

When the ritual ended, a ceremonial officer read Gu Fangzhi’s name, he was to accompany Pei Xin into the tomb.

The other officials were taken aback, wondering if the emperor had changed his mind and would no longer enter alone. They craned their necks, waiting for their names to be called next.

None were.

A cool breeze swept by as Pei Xin and Gu Fangzhi entered the mausoleum, just the two of them.

The officials looked at one another, half confused, half enlightened. Their faces said we could comment, but maybe we shouldn’t.

Uh… well…

Inside, the mausoleum was colder than outside.

A long passage stretched ahead; even soft footsteps echoed.

Watching Pei Xin’s back, Gu Fangzhi suddenly had a strange thought.

Both of them in formal dress, alone together in this solemn quiet…

Was this, in some odd way, a date?

But… he pressed a hand to his forehead.

Who could have guessed his first “date” would be, in the tomb of Pei Xin’s father.

Pei Xin took a torch from the wall and asked, “Tell me, did the late emperor know of your… magic, Teacher?”

Gu Fangzhi blinked.

Oh, right. He’d almost forgotten, technically, he’d once been a servant of the late emperor.

So Pei Xin thought the former emperor had known about his rewind ability and assigned him for that reason?

Gu Fangzhi hesitated over how to answer, but Pei Xin shook his head. “He probably didn’t. If he had, with his temperament, he’d have chained you in an underground cell to use at will.”

Gu Fangzhi: “……”

All right, let’s stop there before this gets flagged for psychological horror.

Pei Xin continued, “When the late emperor met you, I was still stationed at Yanmen. He was a suspicious man, how did you earn his trust?”

“Uh… well…”

“Compared to me, he was surely more irritable.”

“Uh… well…”

If he kept asking, the truth really might slip out.

Not that revealing it would matter much…

But still, explaining soul transfer might be a bit much for the imperial mind to handle.

Thankfully, Pei Xin dropped the subject, raising the torch. “Look ahead.”

Gu Fangzhi looked up.

Along both sides of the corridor, lifelike statues of smiling children were mounted on the stone walls.

They served as eternal lamps, their joined hands emitting a faint, steady glow.

Even knowing they weren’t real, Gu Fangzhi’s knees nearly gave out.

It looked exactly like the set of Ghost Blows Out the Light.

The air around them seemed to grow colder.

Still, since this was the late emperor’s tomb, Gu Fangzhi couldn’t exactly admit he was scared, he only pulled his coat tighter around himself.

Suddenly, a hand covered the back of his own.

Gu Fangzhi nearly jumped, but when he felt the ring on that hand’s index finger, he exhaled in relief.

“The late emperor had… a unique taste-” Pei Xin said. “I’ll hold Teacher’s hand, no need to be afraid.”

After a pause, his voice softened casually. “Does Teacher dislike this?”

Gu Fangzhi hesitated. “Mm… it’s fine.”

The hand holding his fingers tightened slightly.

A short while later, the corridor widened ahead. At the end stood a towering stone door that seemed to reach the heavens.

Pei Xin stopped.

So they weren’t actually going inside after all, Gu Fangzhi breathed out quietly.

Pei Xin recited the final part of the ritual and pointed to the star map and murals painted on the domed ceiling for Gu Fangzhi to see.

After lingering a moment longer, the two retraced their steps.

As they passed the child-shaped lanterns again, Pei Xin’s hand once more rested on the back of Gu Fangzhi’s.

Gu Fangzhi said, “Your Majesty, I’m not scared anymore.”

Pei Xin replied, “Oh. But I am.”

Gu Fangzhi: “……”

So he wasn’t even pretending anymore.

This relentless pursuit was hard to fend off; Gu Fangzhi’s heart felt a little unsteady.

***
After the first day of the new year came the official seven-day holiday.

Gu Fangzhi had planned to use the break to carefully think through his… relationship with Pei Xin.

But there were simply too many visitors, he barely had time to drink water, much less think about feelings.

Pei Xin, on the other hand, was having the time of his life.

He returned to the royal stables, properly trained that captured warhorse, brought it back to the palace to keep, and even went hunting.

By the time the break ended, he was still reluctant to stop.

He even sent Gu Fangzhi a note asking whether he could rewind these seven days, Gu Fangzhi was so exasperated he nearly ate the letter whole.

Perhaps his overexcitement brought bad luck: on the very first day back at court, Pei Xin came down with a fever.

Born and raised in the harsh northern winds, Pei Xin had always been strong; he rarely fell ill.

Yang Luhai panicked and summoned ten imperial physicians at once.

Pei Xin, annoyed, grumbled that ten old men had all taken turns holding his hand.

After finishing his ministry duties, Gu Fangzhi hurried to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

There he found Pei Xin leaning against his pillow reading memorials, while Snowball the dog was bouncing back and forth across the bed like Pei Xin was a piece of furniture.

“Your Majesty is actually sick?” Gu Fangzhi asked.

He looked perfectly lively.

“Truly ill,” Pei Xin said, smiling faintly. “If you don’t believe it, Teacher may check.”

Gu Fangzhi skeptically reached out to touch his forehead, indeed, it was burning hot.

He turned his hand, took away the memorial in Pei Xin’s grasp. “You should rest first.”

Pei Xin didn’t get angry at having it taken, merely murmured, “Teacher’s hands are so cool.”

Gu Fangzhi tucked him back under the blanket. “Sleep for a while, Your Majesty.”

He gently massaged Pei Xin’s temples, and the young emperor, truly unwell this time, soon drifted off.

When the physicians brought the freshly brewed medicine, Gu Fangzhi woke him.

Pei Xin lifted the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

Gu Fangzhi, watching, said, “It’s not bitter?”

Pei Xin lay back down, this time not on the pillow, but with his head tilted to rest on Gu Fangzhi’s lap.

From below, he looked up into Gu Fangzhi’s eyes. “It’s bitter. Should Teacher like to try?”

Gu Fangzhi: “……”

Of all times to flirt.

He gave a small laugh, then suddenly felt a hand press against the back of his neck.

That hand yanked him down sharply. Their noses collided hard, lips crashing together, Gu Fangzhi tasted the lingering bitterness of medicine.

“…Ow!”

He rubbed his aching nose for a long while, realizing belatedly that there were tiny beads of blood on his hand. When he pressed his lips together, he felt a sting, split open.

…Great.

He wouldn’t be able to show his face tomorrow.

So he simply reloaded a save.

Time jumped back to the moment right after Pei Xin finished his medicine and lay down again.

The boy’s expression instantly turned sulky.

“What’s the meaning of this, Teacher?”

He could tell Gu Fangzhi had grown gentler toward him, yet the moment he’d tried to kiss him again, Gu Fangzhi had chosen to rewind.

Pei Xin was indignant.

But Gu Fangzhi only said, “You always use too much force.”

He looked down, meeting Pei Xin’s disgruntled, glimmering eyes, a teasing smile in his own peach blossom gaze. “That’s not how you kiss, Your Majesty.”

As he spoke, he brushed a lock of hair from his own cheek and leaned down,

Carefully avoiding Pei Xin’s nose, one lying back and the other bending forward, Gu Fangzhi pressed his lips softly against Pei Xin’s.