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Nan Heng groaned at the banging on the door, and buried his face deeper into his pillow. Or, rather, he tried to, but his pillow protested with a sharp jab of her knee to his stomach. Sputtering, he sat up and stared at his beloved wife.
“Go shut them up,” Song Yimeng said, rolling over, her eyes still closed. “Who the fuck is this loud this early in the morning?”
“Qi-ge!!!” came a shout from outside, and Nan Heng groaned. Song Yimeng’s scowl deepened.
“You shut him up,” Nan Heng said, flopping back down onto the bed. He was the emperor, he made the rules. “Or he’ll just go away, it can’t be a real emergency.”
“Qi-ge, I need your help!!”
“He’s your brother,” Song Yimeng argued. Her eyes were angry slits, still half closed in sleep, and there was the cutest little furrow in her brow. Nan Heng wanted to kiss it, so he did. She batted at him, and he would have kissed her again if it hadn’t been for another battery of knocks at the door. With a sigh, he rose and started to pull his robes on.
“Hurry back,” Song Yimeng said. He turned to look, and froze. The quilt had slipped down, showing exactly how little she had worn to bed the night before. From the twist of her lips, it wasn’t a coincidence. “Or I might get bored and have to start entertaining myself.” To drive the point home, she slid a hand over her chest and down towards her hips.
Nan Heng grabbed the offending hand and, with a snarled “Don’t you dare,” kissed her hard. Nan Rui was yelling again, but that mattered far, far less than the feeling of Song Yimeng beneath him. She was squirming, probably trying to convince him to go deal with Nan Rui so that she could go back to sleep. Well, if he wasn’t sleeping, neither was she.
He should have known better than to underestimate his wife. A moment later, her teeth dug into his lip, hard. Aggrevied, he sat up with an expression that, on a less dignified man, could have been called a pout. “That hurt!”
“Your didi is hurting my ears,” she retorted. “Go get rid of him.”
With a groan, Nan Heng rose. He didn’t look back at the temptress in his bed – he didn’t need to, when her smug pleasure was nearly audible.
“What do you want?” he demanded when he reached the door, closing it behind him so that Yimeng could at least get some quiet.
“Qi-ge!” Nan Rui cried. “You have to help me, I have no one else to turn to!”
“With what?”
“Ji Xiang is leaving me!”
Nan Heng blinked, then blinked again. “Your servant?”
“How am I meant to function without him?” Nan Rui said. “You know I’m useless, I need him to take care of me!”
“Hang on,” Nan Heng said. “Why would he leave?” Could he even leave? Surely he couldn’t just quit the prince’s service.
And beyond that – well. Anyone with eyes could see how devoted to Nan Rui he was. He’d had dozens of better offers over the years, for higher pay, more interesting work, even to serve some whose prestige rivaled the 18th prince. The man had never entertained a single alternative.
“He’s getting married,” Nan Rui wailed. “And he didn’t even tell me himself!”
“Then how did you find out?”
Nan Rui looked shifty, and Nan Heng could have strangled him. “I wasn’t spying!” Nan Rui said quickly. “I just – his birthday’s coming up, and I wanted to get him something nice! I was going to write to his mother and ask, but I needed to know her address, and, well, I saw his letter to her. I didn’t mean to read it! But he mentioned his spouse, and I know Ji Xiang isn’t married! But he was saying that his filial duties to his in-laws was keeping him in the capital for his birthday this year, but that he would definitely bring his spouse home to meet his mother next year! Qi-ge, he’s going to get married and leave me!”
Nan Heng ran a hand down his face. “And you’re sure you didn’t misread?”
“Of course not!” Nan Rui said, offended.
“Did you ask him about it?”
“How could I??? He obviously didn’t want me to know! I have to respect that!”
Then you shouldn’t have spied on him, Nan Heng wanted to say. But what was done was done, and so he simply said, “My people will look into it.”
Nan Rui threw himself into Nan Heng’s arms, making them both stumble. “Qi-ge! I knew you would help! You always – WERE YOU ATTACKED?”
Nan Heng winced at the sudden volume. “No? Why would you – ” Ah. Yes, he supposed that his torso did look a bit like he had been attacked. And, in a way, he had been, just by a very beautiful assailant. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, drawing his robes back over his chest. “And don’t you ever knock on my door this early again, you hear me? Song Yimeng is trying to sleep.”
Nan Rui gasped. “SORRY, SAOSAO!” Nan Heng glared at him, and he finally, finally went away.
~
His Highness the prince was acting strange. This, in and of itself, was not actually that unusual – Nan Rui was known throughout the capital to have strange moods. But it was strange that he hadn’t unburdened himself to Ji Xiang. Instead, he was being quieter than usual. He still talked plenty to others, and spent a good number of hours sequestered with His Majesty, but he had barely said anything to Ji Xiang in three days.
Even worse were the few things he had said. “I’ll have to learn to do it myself at some point,” when Ji Xiang had reached to undress him as usual. “Don’t worry about it,” when Ji Xiang asked him about the travel they were planning for next year. And once, horrifyingly, “Get out!” in tones that Ji Xiang hadn’t heard from him since the days just after the empress’s death.
Ji Xiang had served Nan Rui since childhood – over twenty years, now. Nobody knew the 18th prince as well as he did, and Nan Rui had never kept any secrets from him. Why would he? Ji Xiang was all but an extension of him. Everyone knew he was the prince’s man, heart, body, and soul.
And yet, there was something that His Highness did not feel comfortable sharing with Ji Xiang. Something that he could speak to his brother about, but not to his closest companion.
Not to his husband.
Even thinking the words still gave Ji Xiang a thrill, all these years later. It had been only practical, at the time. The foreign princess had refused to take no for an answer, and Nan Rui had been genuinely terrified that his brother would be forced to marry him off. The empress had found a different solution, but in the meantime, Ji Xiang had filed the paperwork, just in case. Nan Rui had signed it instantly, the way he signed anything Ji Xiang gave him.
Could Nan Rui want an annulment? He had been happy enough at the time, and had seemed happy ever since. But things could change. Perhaps he’d found someone else – but no. Who could he have met, without Ji Xiang knowing? And for all his flaws, the prince was not cruel. If he wanted to annul their marriage, he would simply tell Ji Xiang.
Wouldn’t he?
~
“This is what you two have been so worked up about all week?” Song Yimeng demanded. “Nan Rui, I know it’s a big anniversary, but – ”
“What anniversary?” Nan Rui asked.
“What anniversary?” she repeated. “You forgot, didn’t you! MEN, why are you always like this, absolutely useless.”
“I never forget an anniversary!” Nan Rui protested. Song Yimeng rolled her eyes. Ji Xiang never forgot an anniversary, more like. That poor man had to take care of everything. “Don’t you dare call me useless, I’ve never forgotten an anniversary in my life! Song Yimeng, you take that back!”
“Enough,” Nan Heng said, and Nan Rui subsided. Song Yimeng barely managed to refrain from sticking her tongue out at him. Nan Hang, when she turned back to him, had his serious face on. “Empress,” oh shit he really was serious then, “what anniversary are you referring to?”
Song Yimeng rolled her eyes. “Ji Xiang’s wedding anniversary, obviously.”
Both men gaped at her.
“Ji Xiang’s – impossible! I would have known – there’s no way!”
“His anniversary? When was the wedding?”
Song Yimeng sighed. Absolutely useless, both of them. “There was no wedding,” she reminded them. “We agreed we should keep it quiet.”
“Who agreed?” Nan Rui demanded. “I won’t have it! A forthright person does not do things in the darkness!”
Nan Heng looked similarly upset, which was absurd. Hypocritical, in the first place, given how many secrets he’d kept from her, but more importantly – how dare he look hurt, when he was the one acting like an utter fool?
“We all agreed,” she said. “And clearly it’s a good thing we did, if neither of you can even remember the conversation. Ji Xiang deserves better – find him a good gift, or let him go.”
She stood to go, but Nan Heng caught her sleeve. “Get out,” he said to Nan Rui. The subtext of “I’ll handle her” couldn’t have been clearer. Well, fuck that!
“Wife,” Nan Heng said before she could disentangle herself and stomp off. “My Empress. Won’t you tell me what’s going on?”
Ugh, that face of his was simply too cute. Truly this was the compelling gaze of the male lead!
“I don’t know why we have to be involved,” Song Yimeng said, letting him pull her into his lap. “It’s Nan Rui’s problem, anyway. You don’t ask him for advice about what to get me for our anniversary, do you?” A new fear struck. “Do you?!?!”
“Of course not, of course not,” Nan Heng said quickly. “But it’s different for him – he didn’t even know Ji Xiang was married, and now he has to worry about presents on top of finding a replacement.”
What?
“What?”
“What?” her beloved husband asked. Song Yimeng grabbed his chin and made him look at her.
“What do you mean, Nan Rui didn’t know Ji Xiang was married? How stupid can one man be?”
“That’s my didi!” Nan Heng objected.
“Next you’ll say you didn’t know they were married!”
“Why would I know who Ji Xiang is married to?”
“You signed the marriage edict yourself,” Song Yimeng started to say, and then paused. He hadn’t, actually. She had signed it, while he was still in negotiations. That period was such a blur, but surely he remembered his own brother’s marriage?
Surely she had told him?
She turned back to him slowly, feeling a sheepish smile form.
“Well…”
~
Enough was enough. If Qi-sao wasn’t going to help, so be it! Ji Xiang was Nan Rui’s business anyway. His servant, his confidant, his…
Friend?
No, that wasn’t the right word. Friends could come and go – Ji Xiang had sworn to stay by Nan Rui’s side forever.
So why had he married some unknown and probably inferior person and not even told Nan Rui???
With a huff, Nan Rui knocked on the door that led from his bedroom to Ji Xiang’s. There was no response, so he knocked again, and again. Ji Xiang didn’t answer. Probably out spending time with his spouse!
Well, he still worked for Nan Rui. He’d have to come back sometime, no matter if he wanted to celebarte his secret anniversary. Nan Rui settled on the floor against the door, and prepared to wait.
It took Ji Xiang hours to come back. By then, Nan Rui had passed from annoyed to worried to furious, and would have given up and gone to bed in a heartbeat. But, well, the floor was hard and he wasn’t as young as he used to be! Not everyone could be like Nan Heng, jumping on and off of horses all day. Nan Rui’s talents laid elsewhere.
“Your highness?”
“Ji Xiang!” Instinctively, Nan Rui brightened, before remembering he was mad. “Where have you been! Help me up, how could you leave me here by myself all day?”
“Were you not with his majesty?” Ji Xiang asked, easily lifting Nan Rui to his feet.
“Never mind that,” Nan Rui said. This close, with their arms still clasped, he could see Ji Xiang’s eyes so clearly. He looked as serenely beautiful as ever, but there was a little tiny pinch of tension in his face. Was he getting tired of Nan Rui’s antics? Was he missing his spouse? What did they have that Nan Rui didn’t, anyway?
“Your highness?” Ji Xiang said after a moment. Nan Rui shook himself. It was time.
“Ji Xiang,” he started, then had to pause to detangle their arms. This was not a conversation to have in such close quarters. “Ji Xiang, you’d tell me if you’re unhappy, wouldn’t you?”
Ji Xiang’s eyes widened, just a little. Ha – it was rare for him to look so surprised! Nan Rui had guessed right, then. He almost wished he hadn’t.
“You should go, then,” he made himself say, taking a step back. “Spend more time with your family.”
“Your highness.” Ji Xiang’s voice was uncompromising. His hands, when they settled on Nan Rui’s arms, were even more so. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m not unhappy. I’d tell you if I was.”
Nan Rui shook his head. “You’re too good to me. I can’t – I won’t let you deny yourself happiness just because you swore an oath to me.”
“What other happiness could I want?” Ji Xiang said. “What denial? Your highness, nothing has brought me more happiness than the oaths I swore to you.”
“Not even your marriage vows?” Nan Rui said, and froze. He had sworn he wouldn’t ask! He could let Ji Xiang go and make peace with never knowing what vulgar person had stolen him away.
Ji Xiang, when Nan Rui dared to look at him, had a strange expression on his face. Soft, almost, in a way that he never was with anyone but Nan Rui. “My marriage vows have brought me the most happiness,” he said, “second only to when I swore to serve you the first time.”
“Well, that’s hardly fair to your spouse!” Nan Rui said. It would be nice if it were true, but Ji Xiang should be more loving. Who wants to be second to their husband’s master?
“Your highness,” Ji Xiang said, “who do you think my spouse is?”
“How should I know?” Nan Rui demanded. He tugged his arms, desperate for a little distance, but Ji Xiang’s hold was tight. “You don’t have to tell me, but at least don’t lie to me anymore!”
“Your highness,” Ji Xiang said again. There was a brightness in his eyes that Nan Rui had only ever seen when Ji Xiang was smiling, but that couldn’t be right. Why would he be smiling at a time like this? “Your highness.”
“What?” Nan Rui snapped, and Ji Xiang kissed him.
Several long moments later, Nan Rui remembered himself enough to push Ji Xiang away. “You – ” he spluttered, “what – ”
“Your highness,” Ji Xiang said, and those absolutely were his smiling eyes. “We have been married for ten years this month.”
“We? You mean – me? And you? We?”
Ji Xiang nodded.
“But – how? When? Why?” Though, on second thought – “Nevermind that. You’re not leaving me, then?”
“Never,” Ji Xiang said.
“You don’t want the marriage annulled?”
“No.”
“Even when I’m foolish?”
“Especially when you’re foolish.” Nan Rui yelped in protest, but got distracted by the way Ji Xiang’s mouth ticked up into a small smile.
“Okay, then,” he said. “Husband.”
Ji Xiang’s smile grew. “Husband,” he agreed.
“We should have a ceremony, though,” Nan Rui said. “A banquet, at least, to celebrate ten years. Oh! And – ”
The rest of his brilliant ideas were swallowed by Ji Xiang’s kiss. But that was okay – they had plenty of time to sort out the details later. A whole lifetime, even.