Nights in late autumn came especially early.
This day, it wasn’t past 7 pm, and it was already getting dark. As the sundial gradually moved west, the sky gradually darkened. Daning Palace was enveloped in the dark night.
Qiu Yutong hid behind a cluster of osmanthus trees outside the palace walls, eavesdropping attentively.
He was waiting for someone.
Waiting for the eunuch to send food from the imperial kitchens.
Right now it was the time for the evening meal, but Qiu Yutong knew that Lu Xiao had a very stubborn habit——on the fifteenth of every month, after the evening meal, he would definitely eat two pieces of osmanthus cake, with a jug of Qiulubai*.
[T/N: It’s the name of a wine.]
And today was the fifteenth of the ninth month.
Qiu Yutong was a cultivator, but really indulged in human cuisine and especially liked sweets. A plate of soft, sticky and fragrant osmanthus cakes, paired with a jug of light Qiulubai made him unable to resist.
Because of this, he was mocked by his shixiongs in North Snow City.
Qiu Yutong, as the youngest disciple, didn’t mind that his shixiongs mocked him, but in front of Lu Xiao, he attempted to carry himself like a shizun. So, when he accepted Lu Xiao as a disciple, he withheld that indulgence for a long time. At most, he would buy some occasionally and secretly eat them.
This nearly stifled him to death.
Fortunately, Qiu Yutong quickly found out that Lu Xiao actually liked to eat sweet foods. Not just liking sweet foods, he even knew how to make them, especially so for osmanthus cakes; they were even better than the ones made by the well-known chefs in the capital. Snow-white, soft and flexible, sweet yet not greasy, easily making people want to swallow their tongues as well.
What made Qiu Yutong even more pleasantly surprised was that Lu Xiao didn’t just know how to make sweets, but he was also very fussy, unable to eat a lot every time.
After eating two pieces, Lu Xiao would frown, “Ai, this time’s not too good, it’s a little too sweet… Would Shizun like to try?”
Qiu Yutong would fake a reluctant appearance and said neutrally, “Okay.”
Over time, it became a habit——on the fifteenth of every month, Lu Xiao would always personally make a plate of osmanthus cake and pair it with a jug of Qiulubai; the pair of master and disciple would eat together.
This habit was maintained for many years regardless of rain or shine.
The time right before ascending the throne, in order to stabilise the court, Lu Xiao was busy every day until late. Even so, on the fifteenth of every month, he would till squeeze out some time and personally make a plate of osmanthus cakes and pair it with the palace’s best Qiulubai, then call Qiu Yutong to try it.
At that time, Qiu Yutong looked into his black eye circles and couldn’t help but say, “These days, don’t make these anymore.”
Lu Xiao, looking like he was completely unbothered, said, “This time’s osmanthus cake, I added some linden honer, so it’s stickier, with a light linden fragrance… does Shizun want to try?”
“Oh.”
……
Qiu Yutong crouched under the osmanthus tree, thinking about those far away things, and couldn’t help but sigh.
A few days ago, he had already asked around. Lu Xiao still really liked osmanthus cakes. In these years, on the fifteenth of every month, Dachen’s dynasty’s emperor would always personally make a plate of osmanthus cakes in the small kitchen in Jingxin Palace. Then, he would ask for a jug of Qiulubai to be sent from the imperial kitchens.
This was his only chance to get near Jingxin Palace.
As he was thinking, he suddenly heard footsteps coming from afar.
The footsteps sounded graceful but untrained, wearing the hard cloth soles; it should be a eunuch.
Qiu Yutong rose up in spirit——finally here!
At the instant the little eunuch turned a corner, Qiu Yutong suddenly scuttled out from behind the osmanthus tree, one hand tightly covering the little eunuch’s mouth, while the other hand, with incomparable accuracy, struck the yuzhen acupoint on the back of his head.
“Wu, wu…” The little eunuch struggled weakly before fainting.
Qiu Yutong dragged the eunuch into the undergrowth and wore the green gauze round neck eunuch uniform, then dug out the other’s pear blossom waist pendant, carefully and cautiously hanging it onto his waist.
He thought about it then wiped up some dust and messily wiped it across his face and neck. Only then did he pick up the food box, slowly walking out.
He was extremely careful, submissively hanging his head on the road; when he met someone he would differentially bend his waist and skirt back. Such an ordinary imperial kitchen eunuch would go unnoticed by everyone.
Soon, Qiu Yutong reached the doors of Jingxin Palace’s courtyard.
Outside the doors stood two Jinwu Imperial guards who were carrying swords, surveying the surroundings, looking majestic.
A tall dark-faced guard reached out a hand and stopped Qiu Yutong, “What are you doing?”
Qiu Yutong lowered his voice and mumbled, “I… This one is from the imperial kitchen. Today is the fifteenth, as a matter of fact, I’m sending Qiulubai over, according to the usual practice.”
He lifted up the food box and uncovered it.
Instantly, the smell of alcohol permeated the air and penetrated deeply into the heart.
The dark-faced imperial guard couldn’t help breathing in deeply, then exclaimed in admiration, “Good wine. However, you, this eunuch, looks very unfamiliar… Where’s your waist pendant? Let me take a look.”
“Oh,” Qiu Yutong pursed his lips and could only take off his waist pendant and hand it over to the imperial guard.
Imperial kitchen’s Xu An, yellow face with no facial hair…” the dark-faced imperial guard read the words as he sized Qiu Yutong up. “You’re Xu An? Looking at your face, it’s not yellow.”
Qiu Yutong was helpless and could only casually spout nonsense, “I’ve recently been on night duty and became white.”
The dark-faced guard knitted his brows, seeming like he wanted to say something, but the guard beside him interrupted, “Old Zhao, that’s about enough. These are all palace people, what’s the need for the checking. Did you forget what happened to the person who delayed His Majesty’s matters…”
The dark-faced guard shivered and quickly waved his hand, “Fine, fine, hurry up and go in.”
Qiu Yutong breathed a sigh of relief, quickly carrying in the food box.
Inside the courtyard, circumventing the study in the front of the palace hall were the rear court and Qin Palace. It was completely quiet, without a single eunuch or palace maid.
Five years ago, Qiu Yutong and Lu Xiao once lived in Jingxin Palace for 3 months, so regarding the rear courtyard, Qin Palace, he could be said to be very familiar.
Lu Xiao’s bedroom was in the west wing of Qin Palace, while Qiu Yutong’s was in the east wing.
Behind Lu Xiao’s bedroom was a small round bathhouse. Every time after Lu Xiao had been in the kitchen, he would always take a simple bath in the bathhouse before calling Qiu Yutong to dine together.
So, according to Lu Xiao’s habit, Qiu Yutong concocted a plan to steal the sword.
The first step, pretend to be an imperial kitchen eunuch, and infiltrate Jingxin palace using the wine as an excuse; second, when Lu Xiao was bathing, he couldn’t have Night Rain with him, which he most likely hung in his room. Using that chance, he could steal Night Rain.
Qiu Yutong tiptoed into the bedroom; there was the indistinct sound of water coming from the back as well as the faint smell of incense. As expected, Lu Xiao was bathing.
He put the food box lightly on the table. As he was about to look for Night Rain, he suddenly paused.
There was a plate of osmanthus cake on the table.
A plate of snow-white, covered in sesame seed and icing sugar osmanthus cakes, looking extremely tasty.
He hadn’t had these for so long.
Qu Yutong stared at the incomparable attractive plate of osmanthus cakes and silently gulped.
Just one piece should be fine… but…
He endured and endured, but in the end, he still couldn’t take it, softly picking an unremarkable piece of osmanthus cake at the edge of the plate, carefully and cautiously putting it in his mouth.
This taste… was exactly the same as five years ago.
Soft and sticky and melts in the mouth.
It was simply too delicious.
Qiu Yutong licked his lips and really wanted to eat another piece, but he had not finished his task so he could only forcefully restrain his desire for food and quietly look around.
Lu Xiao’s bedroom was not big and there weren’t a lot of items. Besides a bed with a decorative framework, there were only tables and chairs as well as a screen, there wasn’t even a cabinet, looking desolate. But Qiu Yutong rummaged for half a day, even flipping over the mattress, but not even a shadow could be found.
Gradually, Qiu Yutong started to feel anxious.
Where could Lu Xiao have put Night Rain?
It wasn’t in the bedroom, could it be that it was in the study room? But Lu Xiao always had the habit of hanging his sword in the bedroom, he wouldn’t put it so far…
As he was painstakingly thinking, the sound of water from the back suddenly stopped.
Lu Xiao seemed like he had heard something moving and said sternly, “Who?!”
The bedroom was silent.
“Bang!”
A loud sound, carelessly flung on a snow-white inner robe, then ferociously kicking open the back door, taking large strides into the bedroom.
He approached severely, surveying all corners, his pitch-black hair was still dripping. “Who’s being so sneaky?! Come out!”
“Meow~” Fatty came out from under the table, circling Lu Xiao’s legs.
Lu Xiao was stunned. “… It’s you.”
Qiu Yutong was on a ceiling beam in the study room and softly let out a breath. Fatty, good kitty, when we go back, I’ll definitely give you dried fish.
Just now under duress, he actually used a bit of energy and deftly flipped on top of a beam. It’s just that this body was too delicate; just this bit of movement and his arms hurt until he wanted to die.
On top of the beams were thick dust and spider webs, Qiu Yutong endured his hurting arm and carefully crouched, afraid that he would knock down some dust and be caught by Lu Xiao.
Lu Xiao smoothed out his dripping hair, carried Fatty and sat beside the table.
Qiu Yutong carefully looked out, inwardly he couldn’t help cursing——the Night Rain he had been painstakingly searching for was hanging from Lu Xiao’s waist!
No wonder he couldn’t find it; looks like when this brat is bathing, he also brought along this spiritual weapon to protect himself!
This youngster, no matter what, was still the disciple of himself, a genius sword cultivator, was his courage so small? When he sleeps at night does he press it down under his pillow?!
Naturally, Lu Xiao didn’t hear Qiu Yutong’s silent criticism. He gently caressed Fatty, staring dazedly at the plate of osmanthus cakes. After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly sighed softly, “You secretly ate it again.”
Qiu Yutong’s vision became black; he couldn’t be so unlucky right, he had only stolen an unremarkable and small piece and Lu Xiao found out?
Even though this youngster had always been attentive, but, this was too attentive! A extremely busy and strict emperor could actually notice that the plate had one less osmanthus cake!
What kind of illness… was this!
Getting caught stealing food, as a cultivator, it wasn’t something to be proud of. Qiu Yutong was a little embarrassed in his heart. Just as he was about to awkwardly give a light cough, and flip down from the ceiling beam, Fatty gave a low “meow”.
Lu Xiao shook his head, “Don’t act dumb. Since you pilfered food, no dry fish for you tomorrow.”
Fatty, who inexplicable was burdened with a black pot*, indignantly meowed continuously.
[T/N: A black pot is basically a black spot on your reputation.]
Qiu Yutong let out a breath.
Eh, this pot, just let Fatty carry it.
However, looks like Lu Xiao treated Fatty pretty well now. Previously, this youngster would just grab Fatty’s nape at the drop of a hat and disliked him to the point of wanting to throw him out, causing Fatty to hide when it saw him.
Lu Xiao sat beside the table, caressing Fatty as he stared at the plate of osmanthus cakes dully.
Qiu Yutong had crouched on top of the beam for a long time, his limbs were about to go numb and his heart couldn’t help but grumble. Lu Xiao kept sitting there so he obviously couldn’t go down, while he didn’t know how long this weak body could last.
Lu Xiao sat there dazedly for a long time before he suddenly reached out and poured himself a cup of Qiulubai, then draining the cup in one gulp.
Then, he poured another cup.
He kept pouring and drinking, drinking many cups in succession.
Even though Qiulubai wasn’t very alcoholic, the effects were strong; drinking so much on an empty stomach was not only extremely damaging to the body, but it was also easy to get drunk.
Qiu Yutong couldn’t help but frown.
Such a reckless way of drinking… did Lu Xiao encounter something unsatisfactory? Did something happen in court? Or was there trouble at the borders?
Lu Xiao poured and drank continuously, only until the jug was empty did he put down the cup.
He blankly shook the empty jug of wine and slowly opened his eyes, hazy eyes drunkenly staring at the plate of lonely osmanthus cakes.
Qiu Yutong let out a breath. That’s right, after drinking so much wine, people would get drunk and the stomach would feel uncomfortable; he should eat something.
Eating the osmanthus cakes, then taking off his clothes and removing the sword and take a good rest.
When Lu Xiao fell asleep, he could…
Lu Xiao stared unwaveringly at the osmanthus cakes for a long while until his eyes became red, then suddenly, he brushed out a sleeve!
“Crash!”
The sound of breakage, the snow-white osmanthus cakes tumbled to the ground, the delicate plate had also shattered.
Qiu Yutong blinked his eyes in bafflement.
Why was Lu Xiao throwing such a tantrum?
