Chapter 9

Back then, he was a bright and cheerful youth, his eyes shining with a light that could illuminate the dark palace. But fate is ultimately unpredictable. A once highly favoured son of heaven had fallen into the dust in the blink of an eye.

The drawings that Ning Shiting had brought all slipped into the water. 

After much consideration, Gu Tingshuang let the little wolf carry them back. Fortunately, they were drawn on Xianzhou's finest Xuelang paper, which wouldn't dissolve in water and even the ink remained intact. 

The drawings were made by a sculptor, but the notes were written by Ning Shiting. 

For every modification, Ning Shiting wrote down his thoughts and suggestions. For instance, in a canal where wheelchairs couldn't easily ascend, the sculptor suggested dismantling and rebuilding a simple pavilion. However, Ning Shiting felt the original canal had beautiful scenery that the Shizi should also enjoy, so not every area needed to be altered for wheelchair accessibility, thus changing the original landscape's style would make the entire Qing Wang Palace "dotted with low, small hills and lacking in scenic rivers." 

"The mountains are beautiful, and the ridges won't disappear into the ground. Don't be disheartened because of a small setback. The Shizi’s spiritual roots are incomplete, making movement inconvenient, but don't lose heart because of this, let alone slack off."

The handwriting was elegant and light, much like the impression Ning Shiting gave. 

Under the sunlight, the young man wrung out the sheets of paper one by one and dried them in the sun, took them back, searched for many things that weren't suitable, and finally pressed them under his pillow. 

The stove was still boiling the medicine with a hūlū snoring sound. Gu Tingshuang slowly moved his wheelchair over and poured himself another bowl, letting it cool before drinking it. 

After finishing, the remaining medicine residue was applied to his wrists and palms. 

The dark green on his hands had faded considerably, but the Jiaoren's poison could still be seen deep in his bones. 

He spread out his five fingers towards the warm sun outside the window, and a warm yellow glow emanated from the pale edges of his skin. 

The little wolf came over, rubbed against him, and then jumped into his arms. Gu Tingshuang put the bowl back in its place and slowly drove towards the inner room. 

Actually, his bedroom was very tidy, unlike the outside which had never been cleaned up. He couldn't move on his own, couldn't change or wash, and could only throw away pillowcases and pillow-covers every few days; they got dirty and thrown away; in any case, someone would always bring them back. 

His mother was still there when she taught him that a man had to be clear, first of all, outside and in. He has always been mindful of this sentence, even when he was young. 

Gu Tingshuang wiped his body with difficulty and slowly climbed onto the bed. 

The little silver wolf ran straight to its own nest and lay down in a curl. 

That night was dreamless. 

The weather was good the next day, and the autumn was clear. 

Early in the morning, someone delivered food and put it in the Shizi’s mansion. Today, however, they even brought food for the little silver wolf. 

The dishes were to his taste, including White Sautéed Fairy Prawns and Sanxian Soup Cakes, with a few plates of meat and light vegetables and Crystal Jade Immortal Soup.(1) The little wolf was given a box of nine-coloured deer meat, and a box of toys sold in Xianzhou, especially for spirit beasts.

Gu Tingshuang slowly sipped half a bowl of soup, reached into the box, picked out a transparent and round ball, bowed and gave it to the little silver wolf to sniff. 

The little wolf was so happy that his tail wagged.

"It looks like he likes you very much. Here's something just for you to play with, ba”

Gu Tingshuang raised his arm, preparing to throw something, and spotted a nearby pool without any obstruction. Adjusting his strength, he gently released it onto the ground.

The little silver wolf dashed out joyfully, retrieving the retractable ball and placing it beside his knee. Eagerly, it gestured for him to throw it again, nudging him with its fluffy head.

Since being found in the backyard by Gu Tingshuang, the wolf cub had grown considerably. Its limbs had strengthened, capable of tearing through a vine chair.

"Too close?"

Gu Tingshuang leaned back, straightened his spine, glanced into the distance, and threw it even higher and farther this time. 

The wolf cub darted out like a silver arrow the moment it left his hand. Its trajectory surpassed sight, seemingly flung outside the courtyard. 

The wolf always obeyed his commands, never leaving the yard during the day and avoiding the bustling household. 

It hesitated at the courtyard gate, circled around a few times, and then turned back to find Gu Tingshuang. Its pale wolfish eyes seemed a bit forlorn, filled with supplication. 

It obediently placed its paws on Gu Tingshuang’s knees. 

This young wolf had recently learned to act cute, much like a dog. Perhaps it picked up the habit from Ning Shiting. 

Wolves couldn't bond with people. Once tamed, they only became house pets, inherently submissive. This too was all the fault of the Jiaoren. 

Gu Tingshuang stroked its head and looked toward the courtyard gate, contemplative. 

Then, driving the wheelchair, he slowly moved towards the courtyard. 

This was the first time in four years he had ventured out during the day. 

Gu Ting Shuang carried his long sword and, upon stepping out, turned around and found the retractable ball under a nearby tree. 

With a flick of the long sword, it was back in his hand. 

He grasped it, wanting to call the wolf over, only to find the silver-haired creature had already run off. 

Perhaps seeing him leave, the little silver wolf assumed it had permission and had long since bounded off. It frolicked joyfully, rolled down a slope, and leapt into the pool, scattering a school of fish.

Two servants approached from a distance, one was named Hulu and the other was Lingjiao. They were a pair of brothers who looked like matching thin gourds.(2)

They murmured as they walked, "This Gongzi looks so refined. I wonder how he'll take over Xizhou for the Wangye in the future. I heard people saying that our Gongzi was slighted by the Su family yesterday when waiting for him to hand over the Xizhou Chronicles, and he kept them waiting in the tearoom for two hours."

"What happened after that?"

“Ai, that is… Aiyo, Shi, Shi, … Shi, Shizi—respectful greetings!” The one named Hulu suddenly spotted Gu Ting Shuang, seemingly unresponsive at first, before quickly bowing respectfully.

The young lord in the wheelchair wore all black, his brows and eyes as gloomy and unpredictable as the rumours had said, appearing changeable and capricious.

It had been eight hundred years since the young master had left the palace gate during the day, and today he unexpectedly emerged, inevitably causing a stir.

The one called Lingjiao was also frozen and at a loss, but quickly followed suit. "Hoping Shizi is in good health, this one gives his respectful greetings.”

Gu Ting Shuang looked at them for a while and lazily said, "Get up, ba."

Both brothers smiled broadly, seeming to believe he had no other instructions for them, and prepared to continue with their task of delivering things.

Before they could take another step, however, they heard the young man in the wheelchair suddenly open his mouth to say, "Go on."

The two brothers jumped in unison, eager to stand at attention and follow the Shizi’s order, “What?”

Gu Ting Shuang continued leisurely, "That Jiaoren, drinking other people's tea all afternoon—did he get the Xizhou Chronicles?"

"Ai, Dianxia, indeed, he did. Yesterday, Gongzi was in the study all afternoon, and no one was allowed to disturb him. However, how he got it, he didn't say."

"Alright, you can go, ba."

Lingjiao bravely looked up at him and saw the expressionless young man in the wheelchair, his eyes still filled with detached indifference, as if nothing in the world had to do with him.

These days, the servants had all heard the rumours. 

It was said that the pair of guards who died earlier were not actually killed by the Gongzi but it had been the Shizi who first laid his hands on them, and that the Gongzi later covered it up. 

The two brothers had been in the household for a long time. They had seen Gu Tingshuang when the Wangfei was still alive four years ago. 

Back then, he was a bright and cheerful youth, his eyes shining with a light that could illuminate the dark palace. But fate is ultimately unpredictable. A once highly favoured son of heaven had fallen into the dust in the blink of an eye. 

Hulu tugged at Lingjiao's sleeve, signalling him to retreat together. Before leaving, he urged, "Dianxia, the Gongzi recently mentioned renovating Dianxia’s mansion. Some paths are uneven, and there is no guardrail by the pond. If you need assistance, just call us. We usually clean this path and take care of the lotus pond."

Gu Tingshuang nodded slightly. 

Without a word, the two were about to leave when the young man suddenly said, "Wait a moment."

The brothers simultaneously shivered, standing at attention. "At your command, Shizi." 

"Where is that Jiaoren staying now? Take me to him."

.𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟.

The Qing Wang’s Mansion was in an uproar. 

As Gu Ting Shuang made his way over, servants tried their best to sneak glances at him. Most of them had never seen the Shizi before, as they had joined the household after the Wangfei’s death. 

A few old servants had not seen him since he was ten years old. 

Behind Gu Tingshuang, Hulu carefully pushed his wheelchair, while Lingjiao, trembling and stiff, carried a heavy silver wolf, scared to tears, his heart nearly leaping out of his throat. 

Occasionally, a maid would comment, "Is that the Shizi? It turns out that the Shizi is so handsome..." 

"What're you thinking? Don’t you know how handsome the Wangye is? The Shizi is certainly not inferior. In my view… the indigo extracted is bluer than the plant itself!”(3)

"I don't care, I still think the Gongzi is more attractive." 

"What good is that? I ask you, have you seen the Gongzi’s face?" 

These discussions, whether well-intentioned or not, laughter or anger, praise or criticism, all reached his keen senses. 

There were also the sounds of others walking, the gentle bumping of fish in the pond, the distant sound of soup simmering in the small kitchen, and in the study, the rustling of paper under a paperweight. 

This was the world of the living, full of vibrant earthly breaths, far removed from his secluded courtyard in the Shizi’s residence. 

Hulu and Lingjiao respectfully knocked on the door and announced, "The Shizi is here to see the Gongzi." 

Ting Shu opened the door and was surprised to see Gu Tingshuang. 

Ning Shiting was not in today.

Ning Shiting had run out of spices, so after informing Ting Shu, he took those three cranes and went out to buy more. 

He could blend a hundred different fragrances by himself. In the past, when he had free time, he would make some scented sachets and mix some cosmetics. When he wasn't busy, he would disguise himself and go out to sell them, or he would give them as gifts to the wives and children of his colleagues.

Some people had laughed at him for being effeminate, but since they learnt that he was as good at using poison as he was at making fragrances, they kept quiet. 

His fragrance recipes were a closely guarded secret. Although Ting Shu liked to joke around with him, he knew his boundaries and never accompanied him on his fragrance-buying trips. So today, Ning Shiting went out alone.

"I'll wait for him here."

Gu Tingshuang entered through the door. 

Ting Shu, seeing his cold aura and sensing he wasn't a kind person, warily asked, "What does Shizi seek? If there is something, you can tell me first. The Gongzi may not return for some time, and I can convey your message." 

"If one wants to play stepmother, they should act like one. Why can he stay in this study, but I can't? Is he really kind, or pretending to be kind? Generous, or falsly generous?"

Gu Tingshuang squinted and glanced at Ting Shu.

Ting Shu hesitated, remembering Ning Shiting's previous instructions, and swallowed his retort. 

Reluctantly, he made a cup of tea for him, watching him closely, fearing this notoriously violent Shizi might set Ning Shiting's belongings on fire.

Gu Ting Shuang sat down quietly. 

He stopped by Ning Shiting's usual desk, glancing at the half-written letter and the Xizhou Chronicles pressed under the inkstone. 

The letter was addressed to Gu Feiyin, with only the salutation and closing written, the middle blank, as if he hadn't decided what to write. 

Even though he was already married into the family, his language was very respectful. He addressed Qing Wang as "Dianxia" and referred to himself as "this subject" or "servant." It was as if he was no different from an ordinary subordinate. 

This Jiaoren seemed to have a disease that made him obey propriety to a fault. Even after marrying in and becoming the master, someone with such means was still so hypocritical that it made one uncomfortable all over. 

Gu Ting Shuang picked up a popular magazine and began reading, casually tossing the obstructive items on the desk aside. 

When he saw the three characters, his movements paused slightly. 

The signature was his name.  

So, his name was Ning Shiting. 

The Author has Something to Say

Persimmon: I feel unwell after reading this pretentious letter

Ting Shu, the interpreter: The Shizi felt uncomfortable all over after reading the letter that the Gongzi was going to write to the Wangye

Persimmon: I’ll kill you (1)

(Starting tomorrow, updates will be stable every day at 12:00 noon. Thanks everyone~)

(1) He says 鲨 (shā) “shark”, (我鲨了你) “I’ll shark you,” which is a playful euphemism. To kill is “杀” (shā), so it’s sort of like saying “I’ll shark you” instead of “I’ll shank you” in English.

Foot Notes

1. 白灼仙虾仁 (báizhuó xiān xiārén) or "White Sautéed Fairy Prawns" is based on a real dish, just the prawns here are magical. The cooking technique, 白灼 (báizhuó), refers to the “White Sautée” method which involves searing the food in a small amount of white rice wine and water. This gives the prawns (or whatever else, usually vegetables) a better flavour than simply boiling them while allowing the dish to remain fresh and light.
   
   三鲜汤饼 (sānxiān tāngbǐng) or "Sanxian Soup Cakes", is not a real dish but a combination of real food. Sanxian ("Three Fresh”) is a soup, often made of lean meat and diced lotus root. Tangbing or “Soup Cake” is a type of noodle made for soup. So, this dish is likely noodles topped with lotus root and some lighter meat like poultry or pork loin.
   
   翡翠神仙汤 (fěicuì shénxiān tāng) or "Jade Immortal Soup" is probably based on 翡翠汤 “Jade Soup”. This soup is made with cat ear greens (a leafy green that resembles the cat ear mushroom), tomatoes, and cabbage.

2. 葫芦 (húlu) means “gourd” like the plant and 菱角 (língjiāo) means “water chestnut”.

3. 青出于蓝 (qīng chū yú lán) is an idiom that is close in meaning to “the student surpasses the teacher”.