Chapter 69

Chapter 69

"069"

That was a tiny, extremely blurry reflection.

It could also be a stain on the screen, or perhaps the shadow of some object outside the window. Judging from the layout, there was also a balcony beyond the window.

Xiao Lancui zoomed in further, but it was too blurry to make out anything at all, so he turned off the surveillance feed.

Whether someone was there or not, whether it was a person or an object, was not the current priority.

Xiao Lancui switched back to WeChat. Half an hour ago, Lu Ao had sent a message right on time: "I have plans tomorrow and won't be home, so I can't bring you bread, big brother. Sweet dreams! [Goodnight]"

Tomorrow—

Xiao Lancui glanced at the time. 12:56 AM.

It was already today.

Today was New Year's Eve, the day when every family gathered for a reunion dinner to welcome the new year together.

He knew Lu Ao wasn't going back to the Lu family for the holiday—he was simply unwilling to put Xiao Lancui in an awkward position, so he proactively attributed the reason they couldn't spend the new year together to himself.

Xiao Lancui set down his phone, leaving the bedside lamp on as he lay down. After a while, he opened his eyes again.

Back at the Xiao residence, he had reverted to his usual sleeplessness, and he was also thinking about Lu Ao.

He wouldn't be able to have the reunion dinner with Lu Ao today. Not because he had to stay with the Xiao family, but because tonight, a good show would unfold at the Imperial Garden.

He had to stay to raise the curtain on that performance.

Xiao Lancui turned on his side, his dark eyes quietly gazing at some point in the air within the dim orange light. After a long moment, he finally closed his eyes.

Inevitably, he recalled last year's New Year's Eve.

Since he had taken in that wolf, there had only been two New Year's Eves when he hadn't shared the reunion dinner with Lu Ao. The first was when Lu Ao had gone on his third campaign and was still fighting at the border on New Year's Eve. The other was last year.

The reason was simple—he hadn't been well. That morning, he had vomited blood several times, and by the afternoon there was no improvement. With a body in that condition attending the palace banquet, he risked committing a breach of decorum before the court. He had sent Sun Qinian to the palace to deliver a message, remaining alone at the residence for the new year.

Though "celebrating the new year" merely meant having the kitchen prepare two extra side dishes.

He didn't care for crowds, and there weren't many servants in the residence. During holidays, he would also let them go home, so after the kitchen delivered the meal, they left too, leaving only him in the residence.

Before dark, Xiao Lancui ate a few simple bites, read for a while until he lost the energy, and went to bed early.

During the Spring Festival, the capital did not prohibit firecrackers and fireworks. In his hazy sleep, he was awakened by the sound of fireworks and firecrackers.

He also heard a familiar, soft voice.

"Teacher."

Xiao Lancui recognized it as Lu Ao immediately. At this hour, the emperor should have been at the palace enjoying the fireworks.

He sat up, draped a robe over himself, and was about to move to his wheelchair to open the door when Lu Ao said from outside, "Don't move. I'll come in through the window."

The deafening sound of firecrackers filled the air, and Xiao Lancui wondered how Lu Ao had heard that he was awake. After a moment's thought, he decided to let it be.

After all, it was just the two of them. Lu Ao climbing through the window wouldn't exactly be a stain on imperial dignity.

He cleared his throat twice and replied, "Be careful, Your Majesty."

The window was pushed open from outside. In the dim candlelight, Lu Ao, dressed in black and gold casual attire, carried a food container and something else, and nimbly climbed through the window into the room.

He set the items down on the table as he passed, then quickly rounded the screen to the inner chamber. Familiar with the layout, he went straight to the bedside and brightened the candle.

The dim room grew much brighter. Lu Ao leaned down to look at Xiao Lancui. In just one day apart, the Chief Grand Secretary had grown noticeably thinner, his complexion pale with an unhealthy tinge of blue. Frowning, Lu Ao said, "I knew you weren't feeling well again."

Xiao Lancui asked him at the same time, "Why has Your Majesty come?"

Lu Ao replied, "Our Chief Grand Secretary isn't feeling well, so naturally I had to come check on him."

Xiao Lancui felt a warmth in his heart, yet he knew it was improper. It was tradition for the emperor to remain at the palace to light the fireworks, symbolizing a year of favorable weather ahead.

"Your Majesty shouldn't—" A surge of blood rose in his throat. He frowned and pressed his lips shut, trying to swallow it back. Lu Ao had already grabbed a pillow and propped it behind him, steadying him as he said, "I'll go get some water first. You can scold me after you drink."

He hurried out to fetch water.

Xiao Lancui still couldn't swallow the blood back. He grabbed a handkerchief, covered his mouth, and silently vomited blood into it. The pristine white handkerchief quickly bloomed with a patch of crimson.

Lu Ao would be back soon. He quickly wiped his lips and tucked the bloodstained handkerchief into his sleeve.

When Lu Ao returned, he didn't hand Xiao Lancui the cup. Instead, he lifted his robe, sat sideways on the edge of the bed, and brought the cup to Xiao Lancui's lips to feed him.

Such intimate gestures had become rare since Qi Ying's death. Though improper, Xiao Lancui silently acquiesced, lowering his head to take a small sip.

It wasn't water—it was pear soup. A faint, refreshing sweetness of snow pear, at just the right temperature, similar to warm water.

The pear soup soothed his throat considerably. He took a few more sips before raising his face to say, "That's enough. I'll drink more later."

Lu Ao's arms were long. He reached back and set the cup on the small table. His gaze never left Xiao Lancui. Perhaps because of the warm drink, Xiao Lancui's complexion had improved noticeably. Lu Ao smiled and said, "Alright, go ahead and scold me, Teacher."

The sound of fireworks and firecrackers outside gradually subsided. Xiao Lancui naturally couldn't bring himself to scold him now. Somewhat helpless, he changed the question, "Has Your Majesty come to see me on urgent business?"

"Yes, extremely urgent." Lu Ao curled his lips. "Should I help you get dressed, Teacher? We need to leave right away."

Xiao Lancui knew every expression of Lu Ao's too well—this was a joke. But he also couldn't guess what Lu Ao had actually come for, so he turned it back on him: "Is Your Majesty implying that your subject's disabled legs make him incapable of dressing himself properly?"

Lu Ao backed down as expected. "I'll step out. Call me when you're dressed, Teacher."

He rose and left through the screen.

Xiao Lancui dressed himself but didn't call for Lu Ao. He moved from the bed to his wheelchair with practiced ease, turning the wooden wheels to go out.

"Let's go, Your Majesty."

Lu Ao quickly came over to take hold of the wheelchair, preempting Xiao Lancui's words: "Our dynasty reveres teachers and respects their wisdom. Your Majesty wouldn't abandon his teacher, would he?"

Xiao Lancui thought to himself that since it was just him and Lu Ao in the residence, he didn't refuse. "Thank you for your trouble, Your Majesty."

Lu Ao pushed Xiao Lancui out of the room. They didn't go far—just to the small garden in the courtyard.

The weather was dry and not cold. Lu Ao stopped the wheelchair, pulled a carefully wrapped oil-paper package from his sleeve—the same thing he had brought along with the food container.

Lu Ao crouched in front of the wheelchair and handed it to Xiao Lancui, looking up at him with a smile. "You open it."

Xiao Lancui was genuinely a bit curious. He carefully unwrapped the oil paper and saw—

Xiao Lancui was startled. "Sparklers?"

"It's New Year's Eve, so of course we gotta light up some sparklers to ring in the new year." Lu Ao pulled a flint from his sleeve, blew on it until it sparked, and handed it to Xiao Lancui with a smile. "Here, light 'em yourself, so all the good luck ends up right in your hands."

A slight smile curled at the corner of Xiao Lancui's mouth. "Where'd Your Majesty hear a story like that?"

"Let me think." Lu Ao grinned, pretending to think it over, then said after a beat, "From the best person in the whole world."

Xiao Lancui dropped his eyes to the flickering flame in his hand. He hadn't forgotten—this was the story he'd told the first year he went to the cold palace to spend New Year's with Lu Ao, teaching him to light sparklers.

It wasn't totally made up—he'd read it in some random book and just spruced it up a little.

He never thought the kid he'd once used it to charm would now be using it to charm him back.

Xiao Lancui leaned in, gave the flame two soft puffs, and it flared back to life. He focused on lighting one sparkler.

One after another, the courtyard lit up like a tree of fire and silver blossoms, crackling and glowing for most of the night.

Xiao Lancui slowly dozed off. When he opened his eyes again, it was already bright outside.

He glanced at the clock—ten a.m.

He'd never slept that deeply before, and the rest was surprisingly good. After washing up, he headed downstairs. The kitchen was already buzzing.

Xiao Mian looked like he was just lounging on the couch gaming, but the second Xiao Lancui showed up, he dropped his phone and ran over. "Bro, Mom's making the New Year's Eve dinner herself today."

Xie Jingfang had never cooked a New Year's Eve dinner before, and everyone knew it was for Xiao Lancui.

"Yeah, your mom really loves you." Xiao Jingli also came out from the study.

Clearly, he'd been waiting for Xiao Lancui to come down too.

Xiao Lancui glanced at Xiao Jingli and said flatly, "When'd you get back?"

Xiao Jingli replied easily, "Last night. You guys went to bed early."

Just then, Xie Jingfang came out of the kitchen, smiling only at Xiao Lancui. "Oh, you're up. I made dumplings—want me to cook you a bowl?"

Xiao Lancui smiled faintly. "No thanks, I'm heading out for a bit. I'll be back this afternoon."

Xiao Mian jumped in first. "You're going out today? I'm coming too!"

Xie Jingfang nodded. "You weren't feeling well yesterday—have your brother go with you."

Xiao Lancui did need a driver—his had the day off, and buses and the subway would probably only run until noon today. He agreed.

Xiao Jingli quickly tacked on a fake show of concern. "Dong Dong, you're feeling sick again? Go early and come back soon—it's cold out, don't catch a cold."

Xiao Lancui gave a short nod and headed out.

Xiao Mian drove one of the staff's grocery cars, and Xiao Lancui told him to head to the supermarket. On New Year's Eve morning, most supermarkets were still open.

Xiao Mian pulled up to the nearest one. Xiao Lancui told him to stay in the car, got out, and walked in. He came back a few minutes later with a bag—

"Sparklers???" Xiao Mian's eyes nearly popped out of his head. It was normal for people to mess with fireworks around New Year's, but Xiao Lancui...

Especially sparklers!

Xiao Mian scratched the back of his neck and finally forced out, "Bro, you're not secretly seeing a girlfriend, are you?"

He felt bitter—first Lu Ao, now a girlfriend. Why were there always so many people around Xiao Lancui? So annoying!

Xiao Lancui didn't explain, just said the destination. "The imperial mausoleum."

It'd been almost two months since Xiao Lancui last came here.

The mausoleum was totally different now.

A huge crowd made Xiao Lancui frown—last time, there was no one.

Xiao Mian kept sneaking glances at Xiao Lancui, seizing the chance to say, "Bro, is your girlfriend coming here for a date?"

He tsked. "Doesn't she care about your health? With all these people fighting for air, doesn't she know your lungs still aren't fully healed?"

Xiao Lancui unbuckled his seatbelt, grabbed the sparklers, and got out. "I'll be back in an hour."

Xiao Mian wanted to ask, "Are you really going to see a girlfriend?" but Xiao Lancui had already shut the door. He hung his head and muttered.

"Is it really that serious... coming out for a date even on New Year's Eve?"

Xiao Lancui followed the crowd and reached the altar from last time half an hour later.

It wasn't empty anymore. This time, the table was loaded with snacks, medicine, and all kinds of alcohol.

There were also a lot more young women.

"According to the expert's analysis, Lu the dog was built like a tank—all that sudden death stuff was just a cover. He definitely killed himself out of love!"

"Exactly! Once the tech improves and we can get detection robots into the mausoleum, I bet that crazy psycho type like him would cling to his wife for eternity—chances are she's lying right beside him!"

"Please, let the tech come soon—I want to see Lu the dog's gorgeous wife!"

Xiao Lancui's long lashes flickered. Lu the dog? Lu Ao?

He looked over—a few very young women. One accidentally caught his eye and let out a little gasp, then turned excitedly to her friends. Within seconds, the whole group was staring at Xiao Lancui.

Xiao Lancui gave a short nod, set down the sparklers, and walked off.

A wave of excited chatter erupted behind him.

Xiao Lancui walked back against the crowd.

He replayed the conversation he'd just overheard.

It wasn't hard to guess who those girls were—history nerds. The wife of Lu Ao they were talking about... Qi Ying?

Died for love.

Lu Ao didn't want to live after Qi Ying died, so Lu Ao killed him, finally avenging Qi Ying, and then offed himself in a grand gesture of devotion?

It actually all added up.

Xiao Lancui suddenly stopped dead, fists clenched. After a minute, he turned back anyway.

In the distance, the little hut halfway up the mountain was still packed with people, lively as ever. His dark eyes sank, and he cursed two words in his heart.

"Pathetic!"