Chapter Text
"We have a problem," Nuahar said.
Wu Xi looked up from his work. No one would interrupt him unless it was a real emergency, so he was immediately alert.
"What happened?"
"It's the prince. He's not hurt," Nuahar quickly added. "But he… It's hard to explain."
"Try, then."
Wu Xi's voice was cold, and Nuahar winced before replying.
"He's— younger. And he doesn't seem to know where he is. I left Ashinlae with him, in the courtyard. But we found him in your workshop."
"How much younger?" Wu Xi asked. He was already on the move as he spoke, Nuahar following him close behind.
"He's in his teens, I think. But he didn't recognize me or Ashinlae. He knows who he is, so it's not that his whole memory was messed up, but we're not sure what happened."
"And he doesn't know, either. Is that right?"
"… right." Nuahar sounded almost apologetic, as if this was his fault somehow. Nonsense. Wu Xi and Beiyuan were not children who needed to be watched over anymore. "He said he only remembers 'appearing' here all of a sudden. And I know this will sound strange, but I don't think he's lying."
Wu Xi was too concerned to be angry at Beiyuan right now, but he could feel it building up, anyway, in the back of his mind. Of course he'd gone and touched something he shouldn't have — that was the only possible explanation for this. Of course he'd got himself into the kind of trouble where he didn't know what he'd done, which meant that Wu Xi didn't know how to fix it.
Yet. Didn't know how to fix it yet.
He managed to soften his expression into something friendlier, or at least polite, by the time he arrived at the courtyard. Ashinlae looked more than relieved at the chance to run away from the problem. Both he and Nuahar quickly scurried out of the courtyard. Wu Xi couldn't blame them.
Beiyuan was sitting on a bench, swimming in his now oversized clothes. He couldn't be older than fifteen. As shocking as it was to see him like this, Wu Xi told himself that there were still advantages to his situation. This wasn't a bad age. He was not so young that he could not be reasoned with, he had a bit of experience with the world, and most importantly: by this time, Beiyuan considered him a friend already.
Or at least, that was what he'd thought. Wu Xi had expected surprise and confusion from him. He even had a speech half-prepared, promising to figure out what was wrong so they could solve it.
But Beiyuan didn't ask him about his apparent change in age. He acted as if he didn't recognize him at all. He held his head high, and his back was straight as a rod, but Wu Xi knew him well enough to see how tense he was. He changed his plans, then. It was better to be more comforting.
"Please, don't be afraid," he said, doing his best to hide his own confusion. "I know I've changed since you last saw me, but—"
"I've never seen you before."
Even though he had been warned about Beiyuan's memory being affected, that was still a shock.
"But you must have," he said. "We had already met, at this age. You were only ten years old when I first arrived in the Capital."
"That's not—"
"You were one of the first people I met there," he continued. "We lived in neighbouring estates. Beiyuan, do you really not know me?"
"You will address me as Prince Nan'ning," Beiyuan said, his sudden anger giving him confidence.
It was surprising, how much that stung. This was just a boy, Wu Xi reminded himself. He was a young boy and he was frightened and he didn't know him. He closed his eyes for a moment, just enough to steady himself.
"Prince," he said, "I am not lying to you."
"Do you really think you can deceive me?" Beiyuan insisted. "I am not an ignorant child who doesn't know what is happening in his own country. We defeated Nanjiang years ago."
"You did," Wu Xi conceded. He discovered that the words still left a bitter taste in his mouth, even after all these years. "That's why I was in the Capital. I was a hostage there."
"Really. And then you just left?"
"The ten years passed," he said. He did not go into detail. Keeping his calm was hard enough when faced with Beiyuan's disdain. He had never treated Wu Xi like this, not even as children.
"And still, somehow I am not yet twenty."
"You also did not travel here," Wu Xi said without missing a beat. "There is a curse at work."
"I don't believe in your superstitions," Beiyuan told him with a scoff. Once again, Wu Xi needed to close his eyes and breathe.
"Then tell me, Prince Nan'ning," he said. "How did you get here?"
Beiyuan had no answer for that. It was less satisfying than one would expect.
"Did you drug me?" Beiyuan asked at last. "The Emperor will have your head."
Wu Xi was starting to feel very tired. He sat down next to Beiyuan, ignoring his offended look. He'd have to get used to this situation sooner or later.
"I did not drug you," he told him. "And we did not take you prisoner. You were already here, but you were older, and I will find out what happened to you so I can fix it."
Beiyuan did not look at him, staring proudly ahead. It was becoming quite clear that this wasn't going to be something he could fix right now. He would need time — to figure out the details first, and then to work on a solution. But he couldn't do that with Beiyuan acting like this. At least he wasn't arguing anymore.
Wu Xi felt at a loss, something that had been very rare for him during the last couple of years. If Beiyuan had gone back to being the teenager he remembered, he was sure that he could have a better handle on things. But this… There were just too many unknowns. He couldn't see a clear path yet.
In the end, he realized there was something he could do to help in the meantime.
"I don't know why your memories don't match mine," Wu Xi had to admit. "But I do know someone you will trust."
* * *
It was blind luck, really, that Ping'An was nearby. If it had only been a few days earlier, or a few days later, his work would have taken him who knew where.
He should have known that his visit wasn't going to be a quiet one. When did things ever go smoothly, with his master involved? Still, something like this… It was too strange, even for people like them. If he hadn't known blunt, straight-talking Ashinlae for so many years he'd have thought this was some kind of practical joke.
He was led to a guest room, he noticed, not the prince's usual quarters. Ping'An thought he was prepared for what he would see inside. He wasn't.
It was like stepping into a memory. His master was lying on the daybed, looking bored — looking like a teenager. How these things worked, Ping'An had no idea. But he had to believe his own eyes. He couldn't hold back a shocked gasp at the sight. The prince noticed him, of course, and sat up looking just as surprised as he was.
"It's really you," the prince whispered. He was still staring at him, wide-eyed, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Ping'An couldn't blame him. He felt more or less the same way. "Why are you old?"
… ah, this was definitely his master. It's you who are too young, he wanted to say, but he decided to be helpful instead.
"We don't know what happened," he said. "But you shouldn't worry too much. The Great Shaman will solve it for sure."
That turned out not to be as reassuring as he had expected. The prince crossed his arms, frowning.
"I don't know this Shaman," he said. "He's the ruler of a rival country, and I'm a hostage in his land, so why should I trust him? And why are you here? Are you a prisoner?"
It was a bit heartwarming, Ping'An thought, that he hadn't thought for an instant that he might have betrayed him. Everything else was a lot more worrying.
"No, not at all! And neither are you, master, I promise. It's… it's a long story," he said, rubbing the back of his head with his hand. "But you are here by choice. Well. You will be, I suppose."
The prince became pale, as if he had just heard terrible news.
"That's impossible," he said.
"I guess it must be strange to think you'd end up all the way here," Ping'An admitted. "Still, is that so hard to believe? You always did want to leave the Capital."
"… no. I wouldn't leave—" He sounded agitated, now, enough for Ping'An to worry. He couldn't remember ever seeing him like this, even at this age. "How could you say these things?"
"Master," Ping'An said, at a loss, "I was the one buying properties for you outside the city. Do you really not remember anything?"
The prince stayed silent for a while, which was concerning enough on its own, let alone now that he looked like a baby.
"I really don't," he admitted at long last. "It feels like I'm going mad. There are no Nanjiang hostages at all. You should know that."
"Ah… I know this is not what you want to hear, but the Nanjiang warriors truly were there. The Great Shaman himself was a tiny little thing when he moved next to us." He sighed when he saw the prince's shocked face. "You know I wouldn't lie to you."
"I know," his master replied. He had turned away from Ping'An, now, and his voice was quiet. "That's why…"
He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence, but there was no need. Ping'An knew what he had been about to say. He was scared, and he didn't want to admit it. Ping'An didn't bring attention to it either.
"You are safe here, I can promise you that much," he said instead. "The Great Shaman will make sure of that."
The prince still looked doubtful.
"How come you trust him so much?"
"If there's one thing I know, master, it's that that man will never hurt you." He hesitated, trying to figure out how to convince him without giving away too much. Surely, even though the prince had to be aware of his own inclinations by this age, he wouldn't want to hear that he was married to a foreign man. And one that he didn't seem to particularly like right now, at that. "He went to great risks to keep you safe," was what he settled for in the end.
"Why would he ever do that? I'm his enemy."
"The Great Qing is his enemy," Ping'An said. "You were his only friend for many years."
"I can't imagine that," the prince said quietly. "How would that even happen?"
"Well, at first, you were helping him get used to the Capital."
His master frowned, giving him a thoughtful look.
"And then… we became friends."
"Is it so hard to believe?" He shrugged. "You make friends easily. He doesn't, so…"
"So I was the only one," the prince mused. "And now I'm here, somehow."
"It's a really long story. I don't know if it's my place to tell."
"That's all right," he replied. "I don't know if I want to hear it."
Ping'An stayed silent for a moment, hoping to come up with something he could say that would be reassuring. He knew that being this quiet was unusual for him, or at least it had been all those years ago, so he tried not to take too long.
"If it helps any, master," he said at last, "you are very happy."
The look of disbelief on the prince's face was almost heartbreaking. But, in the end, he forced a smile.
"I hope you're right."
* * *
Ping'An had been a great help. Wu Xi didn't know exactly what he had told Beiyuan, or if seeing a familiar face had had an effect on its own. But Beiyuan was, if not quite calm yet, less worried about his immediate safety. It was a relief. Wu Xi didn't know what he would do if Beiyuan kept tensing around him as if he was in danger.
Right now, he was at least willing to hold a conversation with him.
"You think we can find out what happened?" Beiyuan asked. He sounded more surprised by those news than happy about them. It was almost rude, really. "How?"
"I will do it faster with your help," Wu Xi admitted. That got Beiyuan to stare at him.
"What kind of help?"
"I need to know everything you can tell me about how you arrived here," Wu Xi explained. "What it felt like, anything you noticed… whatever details you can think of. It will make it easier to figure out what caused it."
There was a long moment of silence, but Wu Xi didn't mind it. Beiyuan, frowning slightly, seemed to be thinking about his answer in earnest. Whatever else might be going on in his mind, it was clear that he wanted this to be over as soon as possible.
"I don't think I have anything useful to tell you," he said at last. "I was just… here, standing in that room where your men found me. It was as if I suddenly woke up."
"Do you remember anything else, no matter how small?" Wu Xi insisted. "Whether you were holding something, or at least what was around you?"
Beiyuan looked hesitant, but then — because even now he was his clever, reliable Beiyuan — he had an idea.
"I could show you where I was," he said.
That was a start. Wu Xi nodded at him, satisfied.
"Let's go, then. Just don't touch anything. We don't want to make this even more complicated."
"So you do have poisons there," Beiyuan said, narrowing his eyes at him.
"I have all kinds of things," Wu Xi replied. "Do you want an extra curse?"
Beiyuan had the good sense of not arguing anymore. He was still in a bad mood, however, and didn't try to hide it. As understandable as that was, it was strange. Wu Xi was too used to Beiyuan always being pleasant, even — no, especially — when a situation wasn't favorable. He wasn't sure what to make of this.
For the moment, he put that thought aside and focused on the task at hand. He led Beiyuan to his workshop to see what they could find out.
Nuahar and Ashinlae hadn't moved anything. Both of them knew very well that any hint of what may have happened would be important. Unfortunately, there was nothing obvious at first sight. It would have been too much to ask to find a conveniently open jar or dropped vial, Wu Xi supposed. Still, that was a clue in and of itself: whatever Beiyuan had touched, it didn't have an immediate effect, since he'd had the time to put it back.
"Do you remember where you were when you woke up?" he asked, for lack of a better term.
Beiyuan thought about it for a moment. He looked around, took a few steps, and then stopped in front of one of the shelves.
"I think it was here," he said. "I wasn't exactly paying attention to details at the time, you can imagine. I started moving right away."
Wu Xi nodded. That made sense, and even though he would have liked to have more reliable information, it was good to know that Beiyuan wasn't simply making things up.
"I can start with the ones here, then," he mused. "Were you holding something, perhaps?"
Beiyuan shook his head. He looked disappointed too, now. He must have been hoping for some grand revelation.
"I'm sorry," he said, and he sounded like he meant it. "I wish I could help more."
"It's still more than we knew this morning," Wu Xi replied. Then he pursed his lips, thoughtful. "There's another way to narrow it down more."
"What is it?"
"I can look for any other effects," he said. And now came the part where this might not work. "May I check your pulse?"
Beiyuan hesitated for long enough that Wu Xi almost thought he'd refuse. In the end, however, he stretched out his arm. Whether it was because he had decided to trust Wu Xi or because he believed he had no choice, Wu Xi didn't know. He wasn't sure he wanted to.
Very gently, he pulled back Beiyuan's sleeve. The boy's pale arm was stick-thin. Wu Xi frowned. It felt wrong, somehow. Beiyuan had always been thin enough to worry him, but this seemed too much. Was it really different, however? Or was he just so used to Beiyuan's improved health by now that he had forgotten how he used to look like?
"What's wrong?" Beiyuan asked.
Wu Xi realized he had been staring. He shook his head and finally placed his fingers on his pulse. Soon enough, his uncertainty turned into concern.
"You've been under a lot of stress," he said.
Beiyuan raised his eyebrows at him, unimpressed. He was lucky that Wu Xi was used to him. Most people wouldn't have gotten away with that.
"I don't mean right now," Wu Xi explained, with much more patience than he would have shown anyone else. "You must have been overworking yourself for a long time already. I know you think you have no choice, but this will only hurt you in the long term."
"It's true," Beiyuan said. He was serious again, now. "I don't have a choice."
"Well," Wu Xi told him, "you don't have one now, either. There is nothing you can do while you are here. So have some rest."
"I don't know how you can expect me to stop worrying."
"I did not say that," Wu Xi replied. "I said you should rest. You need to get regular sleep and healthy meals. Even if it's only for a few days, it will help you."
"Days?" Beiyuan repeated. He couldn't hide the dismay in his voice.
"I don't want to give you false hope," Wu Xi told him. "I still need to discover how this happened, and then how to fix it. I can promise you I will give it my best effort. But I can't promise it will be quick."
Beiyuan looked like he wanted to sigh, but he managed not to. He even straightened up a bit.
"I understand," he said. He still looked dejected, however. "I'll try to help. If I remember something—"
"You need to rest," Wu Xi reminded him. "Don't worry about anything. We've already prepared you a room, so you can have privacy if that's what you want."
"Why?" Beiyuan asked. Wu Xi realized his own slip too late. The boy was already staring at him, with an expression that he knew perfectly well. His thoughts must be going at full speed already. "Both you and Ping'An said that I've been here for a long time, and that I came here willingly. So why don't I have my own quarters already?"
"You do. But you share them with someone," Wu Xi said. It almost hurt to say that aloud, and the next part he needed to say was even worse. "I believe you'll prefer to be on your own while this lasts."
Beiyuan was still looking at him, suspicious. Surprisingly, he did not insist. Perhaps he was saving his questions for later, or perhaps he simply did not believe he would get an answer. In any case, Wu Xi took the out.
"If you want anything else, you need only ask."
"I know," Beiyuan said, not quite cutting him off but close enough. He bowed at him, an uncomfortable sight. "I appreciate your hospitality."
Wu Xi, for the first time in many years, didn't know how to react to him. In the end, he only nodded, his face blank.
"You should make yourself comfortable. I will start my research right away," he said, and that was that.
* * *
It was a nice room, Jing Beiyuan had to admit that. Well, not out loud — but at least to himself. It was obviously meant for important guests, so he supposed he could feel satisfied on that regard. He tried not to wonder too much about who exactly this alleged older version of himself was sharing his quarters with. From the way the Great Shaman had looked when he said that, he suspected he wouldn't like the answer.
He chose to look around, instead, and see what his life here seemed to be like. Aside from the basic necessities, Ping'An had brought several books, and writing implements. There were also a few fans, which he appreciated for their practical use right now, in this hot, humid place.
Ping'An had brought him some more clothes, too. Strangely enough, they were part of what convinced him that perhaps there was some truth to everyone's story. They did very much look like the kind of clothes Jing Beiyuan would wear, but all of them were slightly too big for him. He had grown — would grow? — taller. The idea of putting on some muscle sounded ridiculous to him right now, but his robes were a bit loose around the shoulders.
He was still poking around the place when he thought he'd seen a quick movement right outside the entrance. He tensed, but made an effort not to show that he'd noticed it. If there was an assassin out there, reacting would only make them act. As calm as he could manage, he turned towards the door, pretending he was still just curious about his surroundings.
There was someone at the entrance. It was a little boy, about seven or eight years old, trying to hide behind the frame. Jing Beiyuan finally breathed free. He was sure that, even in Nanjiang, they didn't have assassins this young.
"Hello," he said.
The child didn't look embarrassed at all when he stood out in the open. It was almost as if he wasn't trying to stay hidden, but looking for an excuse to be 'discovered'. Jing Beiyuan found it very endearing, almost in spite of himself. He could understand curiosity. Before he could say anything else, however, the boy bowed politely and introduced himself.
"It's nice to meet you, Prince Nan'ning. I'm the Shamanet of Nanjiang."
"The Great Shaman's apprentice?" Jing Beiyuan mused. The kid nodded. "Should I call you Shamanet, then?"
"My name is Lu Ta," he said. "You can call me that."
"All right, Lu Ta, then." Jing Beiyuan sat down on the daybed and patted the spot beside him. The kid went to sit there, without any hesitation left, and then he looked up at him with wide eyes for an unnervingly long time.
"… is this the first time you've met a foreigner?" he asked after a while.
"No," said Lu Ta. Then he seemed to realize what he'd just been doing. "Oh! Sorry."
He turned away from Jing Beiyuan and stared at his own hands, fidgeting. He looked adorable. It was hard not to let one's heart feel warmth, even for someone as hardened as Jing Beiyuan considered himself to be.
"It's all right," he said. "I don't mind."
"I didn't mean to be rude. It's just…" Lu Ta trailed off, and it didn't seem like he was going to finish that thought at all. It probably wasn't his fault. Jing Beiyuan was almost certain that the boy had been told very strictly what kind of things he could and couldn't say in front of him.
"I shouldn't be here," Jing Beiyuan said. "I know. I've talked to the Great Shaman already."
"It's not that we don't want you here," the boy told him, painfully earnest. "It was just a surprise."
"They think I'm cursed," muttered Jing Beiyuan. Lu Ta tilted his head, considering it.
"You probably are," he said. Jing Beiyuan didn't know what his own expression looked like, but it can't have been good, because the boy immediately tried to sound helpful. "That doesn't mean anything bad about you! It's just… a thing that can happen to people."
"Really," he sighed. "Does that happen a lot around here?"
"Not that much," said Lu Ta. "But it does happen."
"I must be very unlucky, then."
Lu Ta looked at him for a few moments, full of honest concern.
"It's all right," he said, squeezing Jing Beiyuan's hand. "Teacher will fix it. He can fix anything."
"You all seem very convinced about that."
"Because it's true!" Lu Ta assured him. He did sound very enthusiastic. "He's very, very smart, and he knows a lot, and he can solve every problem." He paused, thoughtful. "You just have to give him a little time so he can figure out what the problem is."
Jing Beiyuan raised his eyebrows.
"I would think the problem is quite obvious."
"I mean, what exactly happened to you," the boy explained, blissfully unaware of Jing Beiyuan's tone. "It could be a lot of things. But once he finds out, he'll know what to do."
He was so convinced of it, he almost made Jing Beiyuan believe him in spite of all his pessimism. At least it was nice to have someone to talk to who wasn't worrying about everything. Which made him notice a not so small detail that he probably should have thought about earlier.
"May I ask you something?"
"Well… all right," Lu Ta said. "But I can't promise I'll be able to answer."
Jing Beiyuan had figured that much, so he didn't mind. It was worth a try.
"Everyone else said they lived in the capital for some time," he asked. "But how come you also know the language?"
Lu Ta looked down at his own hands again. The kid was definitely hiding something. He was a terrible liar.
"My dad is from the Great Qing," he said after a while.
Now, this was some information Jing Beiyuan could use.
"Really?" he asked. "Can I meet him?"
"He's…" Lu Ta looked, somehow, even more awkward. And he seemed a little worried, too. "He's not here right now."
Well, that was… a bit concerning. The boy didn't sound too scared, so his father was probably more or less fine, wherever he was. But it was something else he clearly wasn't allowed to talk about. Jing Beiyuan wondered what exactly they were hiding from him. It couldn't be anything good.
He didn't get the chance to try to find out more, however, because they were interrupted at that moment.
"Lu Ta."
The kid jumped a little, startled by the Shaman's voice calling from the entrance. Jing Beiyuan could not blame him. The man didn't look angry, not quite, but there was a severe line to his lips.
"Teacher!" said Lu Ta, jumping from the bed right away. "I'm sorry! I just—"
"I told you not come here," the Shaman said. "Go with Nuahar, and finish your duties for the day."
The boy nodded, visibly relieved by the lack of punishment, before he rushed out of the room without another word. The Shaman watched him go, and then he sighed, shaking his head a little before he sat down.
"He truly wasn't bothering me," Jing Beiyuan said. "Is he going to be in trouble because of this?"
"No," replied the Shaman. "He only wanted to see you."
"… he knows me. Doesn't he?"
"Yes." The Shaman didn't bother trying to hide or deny it, which was a good sign, he supposed. "You were living here. Everyone knows you."
That much was clear. But still, Lu Ta had been nervous. It was obvious that there was something he wasn't supposed to say. Jing Beiyuan didn't want to cause him trouble — but then he realized that the Great Shaman had heard their last bit of conversation, anyway. Surely it wouldn't hurt to bring that up.
"He says his father is from the Great Qing."
The Shaman kept the same unflappable expression. It was frustrating, how little Jing Beiyuan could read him. How was he supposed to find out anything like this?
"That's true."
"And that's all you will say about it?"
"The war is over," he replied. "It has been over for many years. We have opened the borders to trade. Ping'An himself comes and goes all the time."
"Yes, that makes sense," Jing Beiyuan had to admit.
Still, he didn't like it. The Great Shaman was laying all the pieces for him to assume that Lu Ta's father was merely traveling, perhaps for work, but wouldn't come out and say it. And if it was something so simple, Lu Ta himself wouldn't have hesitated to talk about it. But it was clear that asking about it wasn't going to lead anywhere.
It was frustrating. Everyone was telling him half-truths, and trying to end conversations without really saying anything at all. It wouldn't have surprised him, back home. He knew what to expect, there, and how to navigate the elaborate falsehoods in court. But what was all his cleverness good for here, where he didn't know what was going on? Even Ping'An wasn't telling him everything.
"I would like to rest for a while," he said, as polite as he could manage. Of course, it was obvious that what he meant was that he wanted to be left alone. But the Shaman's face was as unreadable as ever when he did so.
* * *
Jing Beiyuan was a bit surprised when Ping'An told him that he was expected to join the Great Shaman for his meal. It was then that he realized that, in spite of everything, he still had expected to be treated like a hostage: an important one that they would need to be careful with, but a hostage nonetheless. Instead, he truly was being treated as a honored guest. It was a relief.
Lu Ta beamed at him when he saw him arrive, and insisted that he should take the place next to him. Since the Shaman didn't object, Jing Beiyuan did so gladly. It turned out to be a learning experience for him. The boy would not stop talking, explaining everything about each one of the dishes in great detail, including how each of them would be good for Jing Beiyuan's health. Apparently he, too, was very concerned about that. It was quite endearing.
"Lu Ta, let him have his meal in peace," the Shaman said during one of the rare pauses when his student stopped to breathe. But he sounded more amused than strict.
"I don't mind. It's interesting," Jing Beiyuan said.
It was only partly out of politeness. He new very little about medicine, so everything Lu Ta was talking about was new to him. The boy looked quite pleased with himself to hear him say that, although he was too well-behaved to contradict his teacher.
In any case, there was no time for the meal to become awkward because of this. They were interrupted by a small furry creature showing up out of nowhere to rush across the table and then climb onto Jing Beiyuan's clothes. He froze, all too familiar with the tales of Nanjiang's venomous animals.
Before he could do or say anything, the Great Shaman grabbed the creature by its neck and put it on his own lap, not without shooting it an angry look.
"It won't hurt you," he said. It wasn't all that reassuring, given that he had taken it away from him in the first place. "It's your— well, it will be your pet someday."
Jing Beiyuan perked up at that.
"Really?" he asked. He stretched out his arms towards the Shaman. "Then… may I?"
Without a word — like most things he did — the man placed the animal in Jing Beiyuan's arms. It was a sable, he realized now that it had stopped squirming. And it did seem to know him. It kept trying to climb up his sleeves and onto his shoulders. Jing Beiyuan couldn't help but laugh, and he realized with some surprise that it was the first time he did so since he'd arrived here.
"Is it usual for pets to eat with their owners, here?" he asked. It was an earnest question, but the Shaman gave him a level look.
"No. You spoiled this one."
"Do you have pets back home?" Lu Ta asked, rescuing him from any further embarrassment.
"A few birds," he replied. Uncle Emperor had gifted him some, seeing how much Jing Beiyuan enjoyed bothering his own. "But nothing like this."
"Don't forget to finish your meals, you two," the Great Shaman interrupted them.
Just like earlier, he sounded mostly amused, but his voice was firm. Lu Ta obediently went back to his meal. Jing Beiyuan had a bit more trouble, with the sable trying very hard to distract him, but he did the best he could.
It wasn't long until they were finished and Jing Beiyuan retired to his quarters. He was tired, that night, and in a way that might actually lead to sleeping. Perhaps Lu Ta was right and the healthy meals did help. The strangest thing, however, was how calm he felt given his current situation. Not even this very morning, Jing Beiyuan wouldn't have considered it possible to feel comfortable enough in this place to be looking forward to a good night of sleep. Knowing that Ping'An was going to stay just next door helped, but that couldn't explain it all.
He did bring some sense of normalcy to his situation, however, that much couldn't be denied. He was as annoying as ever while he helped Jing Beiyuan prepare for the night.
"—and don't go running around on your own," he rambled. "The people aren't going to hurt you, but the Shaman keeps a lot of animals, and they aren't tamed. So even if you don't leave the estate, something could bite you."
"Stop worrying," Jing Beiyuan interrupted him before he could keep talking for another eternity. "I'm just going to bed."
Ping'An shook his head at him, but didn't argue. That was weird. He really was much more mature now, wasn't he…? He was about to put out the lights when Jing Beiyuan interrupted him.
"The Great Shaman told me you travel a lot," he said. "Were you supposed to be somewhere else now?"
He didn't outright ask whether he was staying just to take care of him, but Ping'An, as much as Jing Beiyuan liked to tease him, was no fool.
"Don't you worry about that, master," he replied. "I can stay for a while. I have my own employees now, they can take care of things."
Jing Beiyuan couldn't hold back a grin.
"You always did like bossing people around."
Ping'An's sudden annoyed pout made him look a lot closer to how Jing Beiyuan remembered him.
"You— I am twice your age now, you know," he said. "Show some respect to your elders."
He laughed, which was the opposite of respectful, but Ping'An didn't seem to mind.
"Go to sleep," he told him. "It's been a long day."
Strangely enough, Jing Beiyuan didn't feel like arguing.