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linzihong · 7 years

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FIC: Follow The Trail [Completed] by confused_duck

Ship: Xiao Jingyan & Mei Changsu AU: Werewolf

Words: 9,187 // Chapters: 5

Summary: The Xiao family has a secret: they come from a line of werewolves. To protect the dignity of the imperial family, only members of the Xiao family know about this. Needless to say, Xiao Jingyan is also a werewolf and has the perks that come with being one.

Read on AO3 at http://archiveofourown.org/works/8243875 OR read below:

Xiao Jingyan is confused.

He looks at the man in front of him up and down -- the man who claims to be a Mei Changsu, who claims to be the most powerful man in the pugilist world, who wears a completely unfamiliar face.

Yet he smells… Exactly like Lin Shu.

There are two secrets that Xiao Jingyan never told Lin Shu.

Xiao Jingyan was born a normal and adorable baby. He had chubby arms and cheeks because his mother was a physician and his aunt, Imperial Consort Chen, made sure no harm was done to Jingyan. Jingyan grew to be a quiet child, and playing in his mother’s garden of herbs everyday was his greatest joy.

But one day, just when he turned five, he transformed into a wolf with dark gray fur and a snowy white belly. When his mother found him, he was rolling on his back with his little paw sticking out, waving at a butterfly.

Next thing Jingyan knew, he was transferred to a hidden court temporarily with his mother. The norm for Great Liang’s royal family is this: whenever a prince or princess has their first transformation at around age five, they will be transferred to the Manjing Court with their mother to learn to control their lycanthropy. After generations of dealing with werewolves, the court has expanded so much so that there are specific physicians for young royals dealing with their inhuman side.

Thanks to Xiao Xuan killing most of his brothers in his ascension to the throne, Jingyan was the only prince in the court during his period of training. Although Concubine Jing wouldn’t tell anyone, she actually enjoyed taking care of the small puppy Jingyan much more than the human Jingyan, mostly because puppy Jingyan would curl up on her lap at night when she told him bedtime stories of her adventures before entering the court. He would wag his tail, and she would pet his soft and furry head.

Jingyan was only in Manjing Court for 18 months. He beat Xiao Jingyu by 2 months, but he was released 6 and 10 months earlier than Xiao Jinghuan and Xiao Jingxuan, respectively.

It was when Jingyan was six-and-a-half years old that he started remembering playing with his flamboyant little cousin, the then four-year-old Lin Shu.

*Princes are more likely to be born lycanthropes. Although it is a dominant gene, it is more likely to show up in the biology of male heirs.

*Manjing Court (曼菁宮): different characters for 蔓茎, literally Vine Stem

“Jingyan-gege!” Lin Shu pulled at Jingyan’s sleeve.

“What is it?” Jingyan patiently asked, turning to Xiao-Shu.

Lin Shu pouted. “Where did Auntie Jing go?”

Jingyan thought back to the months he spent in Manjing Court with his mother in solitude, and forgot to answer Lin Shu’s question for a moment.

“Jingyan-gege!” Lin Shu shouted, and swung Jingyan’s arm left and right to get his attention. “Where did Auntie Jing go!”

“I am right here.” Concubine Jing saved Jingyan, and lifted Lin Shu onto her lap from the floor. Jingyan looked awkwardly at his mother.. He didn’t like lying, but his mother told him repeatedly that he could not tell anyone about him being part wolf.

Lin Shu threw his arms up. “But you weren’t here the last time I came! Or the last time! Or the last time!” Xiao-Shu went on and on, but Concubine Jing and Imperial Consort Chen only laughed as the toddler threw a fit.

“Here,” Imperial Consort Chen extended her arm with a treat, “Does Xiao-Shu want a biscuit? Your Auntie Jing made them just for you.”

“Jingyan,” Xiao Jingyu called from the other side of the room, “Come here.”

Jingyan obediently left the scene of his mom and aunt affectionately feeding Lin Shu and walked up to his brother with his head down.

“What’s wrong?” Jingyu asked when his little brother didn’t look up at him. Little Jingyan kept looking down at his little clenched fists, and Jingyu bribed the child to look up with a piece of hazelnut biscuit. “Want one?”

Jingyan nodded, and thanked his brother before taking it from his hand.

Jingyu kneeled down from his chair to look at Jingyan. “What’s wrong?”

“Brother…” Jingyan hesitantly said as he chewed on the biscuit, “I don’t want to lie…”

“About the lycanthrophy?”

“Yes!” Jingyan exclaimed, happy that somebody finally understood him. “Mother said I should never lie, but she also said I should never tell anyone about being part wolf. How can I do both?”

“Well…” Jingyu patted Jingyan’s head and smiled, “Who said keeping a secret requires lying?”

“Brother means…” Jingyan gave his older brother a confused look.

“Don’t do anything suspicious, and nobody will ever question you. If nobody questions you, then you won’t ever have to lie about it.” Jingyu smiled at his little brother.

After a moment of thought, Jingyan nodded in agreement and smiled back. Just when he proceeded to continue eating his biscuit, Lin Shu came up behind him.

“Jingyan-gege! Jingyu-gege! What are you guys talking about!”

Jingyan panicked when he saw Lin Shu, and replied, “Nothing! We were just eating!”

“What are you eating?” Lin Shu asked, and his eyes glowed with curiosity.

Xiao Jingyu sat back in his chair to enjoy his osmanthus cakes and watched the two.

“Hazelnut biscuit,” Jingyan explained, and pointed at his half-eaten biscuit to reiterate. “It’s the most delicious snack. Do you want to try?”

Xiao-Shu’s mouth opened slightly in wonder. “Yes!”

That night, Concubine Jing watched her son sit at the doorsteps of her Zhiluo Court wagging his tail and worrying about Lin Shu.

Jingyan kept replaying the image of Lin Shu’s face turning red and falling on the ground as he breathed heavily.

“Gege is allergic to hazelnuts. Xiao-Shu must be too.” Imperial Consort Chen explained when Concubine Jing felt Xiao-Shu’s arm for a pulse and Grand Princess Jinyang ran her fingers through her son’s hair as she a few drops of tears ran down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” Jingyan kept repeating under his breath. Tears swelled in his eyes as he watched everyone rush to Lin Shu’s side.

After Jingyu escorted the Grand Princess and Lin Shu home, Imperial Consort Chen comforted Jingyan when Concubine Jing went to explain the situation to an imperial doctor that would follow the princess to the Lin manor. “Jingyan, it isn’t your fault. You didn’t know.”

“It was my fault,” Jingyan told himself repeatedly that night as he stared at the moon.

“From now on, I will treat Lin Shu better than anyone and everyone. I owe it to him,” Jingyan swore.

-----

Xiao Jingyan charged at Lin Shu, but the other boy was not going to let his opponent take him down so easy. After all, it was only the first move of their first match, and the red scarf was still in the air.

Jingyan lunged a punch towards Lin Shu’s abdomen, but both of them knew Lin Shu would dodge it with ease. Lin Shu shifted to his right a bit, and threw a weak punch on Jingyan’s left shoulder. The two stepped back to look at each other for a moment before jumping back in.

Instead of going for the boy, Jingyan jumped up and tried to grab at the scarf. Unfortunately, Lin Shu made it just in time to drag Jingyan down by the waist and pushed him onto the ground. Jingyan closed his feet around Lin Shu’s ankles, and pulled the boy down before he could even jump.

Jingyan pushed himself up and looked into the other boy’s eyes. They were practically face-to-face. The two watched each other’s movements tentatively, and before Jingyan sensed Lin Shu’s movements, he saw the other boy grin.

Next thing Jingyan knew, Lin Shu had put his hands on Jingyan’s shoulders and lifted himself up. Jingyan’s body responded before his brain did and he hit Lin Shu’s chest with his head and put the other boy flat on the ground.

Jingyan only looked up when he heard Xiao-Shu laughing triumphantly.

“Jingyan, I still got the scarf,” the other boy said amidst his laughter, “You lost to me again.”

Jingyan felt the rhythm of Lin Shu’s breath under him, and it was the first time Jingyan realized how good Lin Shu smells. He smelled like a combination of a fresh spring and leaves with morning dew, Xiao Jingyan knew that, but at that moment, Lin Shu also smelled like the beginning of a brand new day.

As Lin Shu continued to laugh and catch his breath, Jingyan just wanted to bury his face in Lin Shu’s chest and soak the scent in. Sadly, Lin Shu caught him.

“Jingyan, stop taking advantage of me. You have to go to Donghai some time today, you know.” Lin Shu lightly pushed at Jingyan’s shoulder, but had no intention of forcing the other boy up at all.

“I know,” Jingyan answered, and pushed himself up before giving Lin Shu a hand.

“Hey, you should bring me something from Donghai so you won’t forget me,” Lin Shu suggested as he got up with Jingyan’s help.

“What do you want?” Jingyan asked.

Xiao-Shu patted down his sleeves and shoved the scarf into his shirt. “Not sure yet, but I’ll come up with something before you leave.”

Jingyan opened his drawer and pulled out the pearl he had promised Lin Shu.

He stroked the smooth surface. When he found the pearl, it was jagged at some edges, but it was the biggest pearl of the batch, so he found a local pearl farmer to round off the edges for him. He had to make sure the pearl was perfect for the young marshall.

“I will tell him everything when I give him the pearl,” Jingyan swore to himself. What I am and how I feel.

Except it didn’t matter what he swore when he came back to Jinling. The young marshall had perished, as did his army and his family. As did Jingyan’s family. In just a few months, Jingyan lost all but one person that he loved. Those that died could never come back, and those that were left behind had no choice but to distant themselves from the tragedy. It seemed everything had already fallen apart by the time Jingyan came home, and he was left to pick up the pieces of his shattered heart alone. The blood had dried up, and everyone had moved on.

Three years after Meiling, when Jingyan was finally forced to marry, he realized how much he wished the girl wearing the red drapes and swearing to the heavens that she will be with him forever was Lin Shu.

Except it was too late.

If Xiao-Shu is alive, he would’ve came back to me by now, Jingyan thought to himself. He closed the box with the pearl neatly wrapped in a red scarf, and placed it back in his drawer.

“I choose you, Prince Jing,” Mei Changsu declares.

Xiao Jingyan does not respond, and Mei Changsu’s calm look falters for one moment in wonder of what the prince can possibly be hesitating about.

“Prince Jing?” Mei Changsu quietly says after an extended pause on Xiao Jingyan’s side.

“Yes?” Mei Changsu is slightly taken aback by Jingyan’s sudden respond, but he collects himself too quickly for Jingyan to notice a difference. “Mister Su was saying?”

“I was saying, since the Crowned…” Before Mei Changsu finishes his sentence, Prince Jing has already wandered to further thoughts.

How did I not notice him before? Must be all the scent mixed together, what with Nihuang and Tingsheng and the other eunuch boy. But how is it possible that he smells exactly like Xiao-Shu?

“So I choose you, Prince Jing,” Mei Changsu repeats. This time, he looks at Xiao Jingyan expectantly.

Jingyan laughs. He means to laugh at himself for thinking that Mei Changsu can be Lin Shu, but seeing Mei Changsu’s expectant look, he can only force himself to follow along in the conversation. “Why me? What is a neglected prince going to do for you?”

As Mei Changsu go on about fame and glory, Jingyan’s train of thought goes back to the other man’s identity. Maybe if I get a closer sniff…

Jingyan subtly walks two steps closer to Mei Changsu. “Since mister Su in interested, then so be it, but it won’t be my fault if things don’t go as you wish.” Jingyan has lost track of what he was saying and what the other man had said. He just hopes Mei Changsu doesn’t realize his odd behavior, but it is very unlikely that he didn’t, since Mei Changsu then bows to Prince Jing and excuses himself.

When Mei Changsu walks toward the door, Jingyan catches a whiff of the man, and the scent is undoubtedly Lin Shu.

“Mother,” Jingyan begins to say as he transforms into a wolf. Concubine Jing has ordered the servants away, and it is just the two of them in her court now. “I’ve decided to join the race to succeed the throne.” Jingyan curls his legs and places his head on his mother’s lap. Concubine Jing starts to pet him, and his ears shake as he gets used to the touch.

Concubine Jing sighs, as if knowing all along that this was inevitable.

“There is one more thing,” Jingyan’s tail wags nervously, “Do you think that Xiao-Shu may still be alive?”

Concubine Jing is taken aback by the question. No one found Lin Shu’s body, at least not technically. Afterall, no one can know for sure who is who when there are seventy thousand burnt bodies in identical armor, especially when no one has bothered to look. Every one of the brave soldiers who once fought for the country were buried in a mass grave with no honor to their name, but they were labelled with the worst crime instead.

“Why do you ask?” Concubine Jing asks after a moment of silence.

“I-” Jingyan hesitates, and wags his tail even quicker, “I think I saw him today.”

“Saw him?” Concubine Jing knows that his son cannot possibly be so thick that he won’t recognize Lin Shu if he did see him.

“I mean, I smelled him,” Jingyan explains. “This man, Mei Changsu, came to me today and offered to aid me in my fight for the succession, but he smelled exactly like Xiao-Shu. Yet he looks nothing like Xiao-Shu.” Jingyan turns to look at his mother. “Xiao-Shu has the prettiest eyes that looked like stars, but Mei Changsu’s eyes are so cold that they can cut through stone.”

“Perhaps you’ve mistaken,” Concubine Jing reasons, but even she herself doesn’t believe such a thing can happen. Wolves may forget or mistake a scent, but not when it comes to the ones they love, especially not Jingyan.

“But how can two different people smell so alike?” Jingyan begins to tear up, and his paws are shifting uneasily against Concubine Jing’s leg.

Concubine Jing stays silent, not knowing what to say. She only responds by stroking his fur.

“Mother.” Jingyan turns his head back onto his mother’s lap and closes his eyes. “I miss Xiao-Shu,” he mutters as he nudges his mother’s stomach with the back of his head, as if he is finding the perfect spot to fall asleep.

10.

Xiao Jingyan has made it his mission to find out who Mei Changsu is, even if Mei Changsu is making it hard for him. It has been months since the two has been working together, and weeks since the underground path has been built, but Xiao Jingyan still hasn’t gathered enough information to make a decision about the man’s identity, especially when his sense of smell has been leaving him lately.

“Has mister Su heard of Chiyan army’s young marshall Lin Shu?” Jingyan asks one afternoon.

“I have heard of him,” Mei Changsu answers calmly.

In a warm room, Jingyan can usually smell everything, from people to plants. Now, only his ears aid him in identifying how many pages Mei Changsu has turned in his book. “He and I used to be best friends,” Jingyan says as he reads the scrolls, hiding the glances he takes at Mei Changsu.

The other man simply nods, and continues reading the scrolls, not paying Xiao Jingyan any particular attention.

“I think he is back,” Jingyan comments as if it is none of his business. He lowers his scroll and his head to try to avoid giving away anything with his expression.

Unfortunately, he also misses Mei Changsu looking up at him ever so slightly. Hiding his astonishment, Mei Changsu says, “Hasn’t young marshall Lin… passed away?”

“I think he is back in Jinling.” Jingyan continues to avoid eye contact with Mei Changsu.

Mei Changsu has no other choice but to look back at his scroll defeatedly. “Your Highness may have mistaken.”

“If Xiao-Shu is really back in Jinling, I will find him,” Jingyan declares.

Mei Changsu then proceeds to tell Jingyan why looking for a criminal that committed treason is a sure way to anger his father, but Jingyan only laments about another failed attempt to confirm Mei Changsu’s relation to Lin Shu.

------

11.

Consort Jing has been avoiding her son lately.

Ever since Jingyan has told her he smelled Lin Shu on Mei Changsu, she has known Mei Changsu’s identity. Jingyan may have doubts about his scent, but Consort Jing knows that a wolf can never mistake their one. Since then, she has made sure to deter Jingyan’s attention from equating Mei Changsu with Lin Shu. There has been many thoughtful afternoons when Consort Jing has had to tell her son blatant lies so he can steer clear of the truth.

Consort Jing has concluded that if Xiao-Shu does not want Jingyan to know the truth, then it is best if Jingyan does not know the truth, but it wasn’t until she figured the truth out for herself that she decided to help Xiao-Shu.

One quiet night, when she was told that the emperor has decided to spend the night at Zhaoren Court, she sewed under the dim candlelight and thought of all the possibilities why Xiao-Shu would push Jingyan away. When she finished the last petal of the plum blossom, she remembered an old medical miracle her mentor once told her.

“Animals are the most miraculous of remedies. Take the worms off the cliff of Meiling, for example. Those little things just eat at your skin and leave all their poison in you, but in the end, you would realize that they are the reason you are alive, even if you are cover in white hairs the next morning…”

When the sun came up, Consort Jing ordered a servant girl to find her a lot of Setaria viridis. It was said that the juice of the plant could dull one’s sense of smell.

Consort Jing sighs as she watches the flames of the oven dance. The smell of chrysanthemum begins to take over the scent of the grassy herb.

Author’s note: Setaria viridis does not actually dull human or werewolf senses and is likely that they are not edible. Please do not feed them to your son so he can’t smell his soulmate. Thank you.

12.

“I don’t know why, but Jingyan has been talking about Lin Shu so often lately.”

“Maybe he found out.” The other man fans himself as he mindlessly eats one pastry after another.

“That is impossible. Nothing I have done could have led him to that conclusion.”

“Maybe you left a trail.”

“He cannot possibly know anything that happened in the Langya Hall or in the Jiangzuo Alliance over the years.”

“Maybe his heart is connected to yours.”

Mei Changsu hesitates. “Lin Chen, stop eating the pastries that Auntie Jing made me.”

13.

Soon after Xie Yu has been banished, Lin Chen sends Mei Changsu a pigeon with a bamboo tube labelled “Gift.”

The letter explains the ancient rumor that one of the great kingdoms has a ruling family that is half-man and half-beast, and according to legends, those of half-beast descent will transform into their true form when caught off guard.

Five nights later, Mei Changsu orders Li Gang and Zhen Ping to fill the secret room with non-poisonous snakes.

14.

Jingyan has hated snakes since he was little.

When he was three, he was playing in the Zhiluo Court garden when a snake suddenly coiled around his arm. At the time, Imperial Consort Chen caught the flu and his mother was busy taking care of her and did not have time to tend to her gardens. The servant girls did water the plants as they were ordered, but they did not weed or look out for potentially harmful animals hiding behind the bushes.

Anyway, when Concubine Jing did find her son, he was already in tears with the snake hissing painfully next to the young prince, lying immobile save for some sporadic twitches. Concubine Jing did not know if the snake scared her son more or the other way around, but one thing she knew for certain was that her son would not go near a snake or a place that may have a snake, ever since then.

But as usual, Jingyan’s little quirks made their way to Lin Shu’s ears through the network of mothers inside and outside the palace.

15.

Mei Changsu rings the bell at Prince Jing’s end of the room and finds himself a seat at the table. Although he knows the snakes are harmless, he finds himself restless at the table and picks up a book to help him settle down.

Xiao Jingyan appears in the doorway after a short moment and he naturally seats himself across from Mei Changsu.

“What made mister Su call?” Jingyan tugs at his own sleeve. He knows Mei Changsu would not have called at this hour if it isn’t an emergency, and if Mei Changsu considers it an emergency, it must be some emergency.

Changsu lightly kicks the edge of the table to wake up the snakes. “I wanted to tell Your Highness that I have news of young marshall Lin.”

Jingyan is very confused. “Xiao-Shu?”

“Yes.” Mei Changsu kicks the table harder, seeing that the snakes are unwilling to crawl towards their target. “One of my subordinates has reported a sighting.”

Jingyan squints his eyes at the other man. “And what did your subordinate say?” He is also starting to notice Mei Changsu’s periodic kicks at the table.

“He only reported seeing him, but I have sent some of my men to track him down. I hope that if my men finds young marshall Lin, his return won’t pose a problem for our plan,” Mei Changsu lies. He glances at the floor for a second, and is happy to see that some snakes are making their way towards Xiao Jingyan.

Jingyan, oblivious to the animals making their way to his leg, is stunned by Mei Changsu’s news. “How are you so sure it is Xiao-Shu?”

Mei Changsu begins to pour himself and Prince Jing a cup of tea. It gives Jingyan the impression that Mei Changsu is going to make up a grand story about how his subordinates has seen Lin Shu before, but Mei Changsu just wants to stall some time before the snakes make their way to the prince.

As Changsu opens his mouth to speak, Xiao Jingyan interrupts with a horrified scream. Next thing Mei Changsu knows, the dauntless prince has jumped five feet away to the opposite side of the room and is shooing the snakes away with useless hand gestures.

To Mei Changsu’s disappointment, Xiao Jingyan remains as human-like as ever, but it is amusing to watch Jingyan scream and act so antsy, especially as a grown man.

Stifling a giggle, Changsu calls out, “Li Gang! Zhen Ping!”

The two men comes into the room and bows to their chief, dutifully ignoring Prince Jing’s scene at the other side of the room.

“Take care of the snakes,” Mei Changsu orders.

He quietly sighs as he watches his subordinates chase the snakes away, and has already began planning another test for Xiao Jingyan.

-----

16.

In the dark room, a silhouette patiently waits and silently pours a small cup of a half empty bottle of Dukang wine in the cup opposite from him. In the shadows, the man’s soft breaths is the only sign that he is not a ghost.

Just as Mei Changsu lifts his arm to cover a cough, the secret doorway hidden in Prince Jing’s manor opens and Xiao Jingyan walks in, his robes still cold from the unexpected snow in the spring.

Xiao Jingyan gently sniffs the air as he sits across from Mei Changsu. It has become his habit now to try and smell any reminder of Lin Shu on the man, but nothing. To be honest, Xiao Jingyan’s smell has gotten worse in general. He thinks back to his burned kitchen from a month before, and how shameful it felt to not notice a burning kitchen when nearly all his servants were screaming outside. In his defense, Mei Changsu’s annotated Xiangdi Records is a very interesting read.

Mei Changsu smiles and nods slightly to greet the prince. Jingyan hates that smile -- his lips curls calmly, but his heart has no intention of displaying any affection to the other person. Xiao Jingyan likes his other smile better, the one that the Chief of Jiangzuo only shows in front of Feiliu and Tingsheng. Today, though, his smile does seem to give him a reddish glow. Perhaps it is just the yellow candlelight.

The man gestures at the small porcelain cup in front of Jingyan. “Your Highness must have made a harsh journey. Here, have some wine to warm up your stomach.”

Xiao Jingyan’s eyebrow twitches at the offer, but he graciously accepts and swallows the warmed wine. “Mister Su said there is an emergency?”

Mei Changsu coughs quietly. His throat refuses his efforts to keep the peace and quiet in the room. “Yes. There is something that you must hear.”

Jingyan can’t help but notice that Mei Changsu keeps looking down today. “Is it about Wei Zheng? Or my mother?” Mei Changsu remains silent. “I assumed mister Su knows what is happening since I got the news only after I have almost made my journey back to Jinling.”

“Withholding the news from you was my misjudgement, but you must not act impulsively at this moment.” With Mei Changsu’s every word, he seems as if he can fall into a long slumber right after he says it. That or he has just woken from a long slumber.

“How else can I act at this moment then? My mother is locked up, and so is the last remaining person who may know about what happened to Xiao-Shu.” Xiao Jingyan’s face seems to redden up a bit, but it can’t be from the Dukang, since Mei Changsu knows Jingyan can drink more from a childhood bet.

Remembering that, the sluggish man reaches out to pour the prince another cup of wine. “Your Highness, it is unwise to set yourself up and lose your future over this.” After he has poured the cup full, he folds his hands back onto the iron hand warmer in his lap. He coughs again, this time more uncontrollably.

Even a furious Xiao Jingyan must know something is wrong with his strategist now. “If mister Su does not wish to help, I think it is best for you to get some rest for the night.” Jingyan then turns to leave, almost knocking over the little cup of wine on the table. On his way up the steps to the hidden doorway, he realizes Mei Changsu has not said anything back to his remark.

The prince looks over his shoulder, and sees that the Jiangzuo’s Chief has dozed off in his seat, nodding his head as if he is trying to keep himself awake.

Jingyan remembers when Lin Shu would always nod off when they were studying, and since they always sat next to each other, Lin Shu would somehow end up drooling on Jingyan’s shoulders by the end of the afternoon. After a while, Jingyan started looking forward to these study sessions with Lin Shu -- it was the only time when he could be himself around Lin Shu. Not many people know this, but it takes concentration to hide their wolf traits. After their first transformation, the lycanthropes’ natural form become their human form, a pair of wolf ears, and a long wolf tail. It is learning how to conceal their half-form that takes the royals the longest in the Manjing Court. Whenever Lin Shu starts to breathe steadily against his shoulder, Jingyan would let his ears and tail slip out as he reads the words from the scrolls to the rhythm of the other boy’s breathing. Sometimes, Jingyan would discover that he remembered Lin Shu’s breathing more than the words on the scrolls.

17.

Mei Changsu begins coughing in his sleep, but this time, he does so without waking himself up. Perhaps it is the wine, perhaps it is doctor Yan’s medicine, or perhaps it is the warm fuzzy thing covering him. Either way, Mei Changsu does not want to open his eyes yet.

As Mei Changsu’s coughing calms he shifts into a more comfortable position for his sleep. Xiao Jingyan finds that Changsu has nuzzled his head closer to Jingyan’s neck. Jingyan’s tail awkwardly readjusts itself in Mei Changsu’s lap. Lin Shu used to grab Xiao Jingyan’s sleeve in his sleep, and now Mei Changsu grabs Xiao Jingyan’s tail in his sleep.

When his tail has finally settled as Mei Changsu’s replacement hand warmer, Xiao Jingyan begins to readjust his breathing to match Mei Changsu’s. The prince carefully watches his hands, resting right on Mei Changsu’s lap, rise up and down with the other man’s breath. For a moment, Jingyan is so focused that he forgets how close Changsu’s forehead is to his lips, how his legs are also falling asleep, and how his back is starting to ache.

When he does eventually remember, he just watches the way the most powerful man of the pugilist world sleep. His ears drop, and he watches the man breathe to the rhythm of the candlelight’s dance.

“Jingyan,” Changsu whispers so low that his words are lost after said, “Do my homework for me.”

*Werewolves’ ears drop only when they are completely relaxed.

18.

Jingyan turns his head immediately as the hidden pathway open behind him and Mei Changsu. He hides his ears and tail, and when he takes his tail away, Changsu shifted his in arms from the suddenly lack of warmth.

“Water-” Feiliu points at the scene, and Jingyan hushes him with a finger on his own mouth and gestures the boy to come closer.

The boy does not object, and he begins to hug Mei Changsu into his arms as Xiao Jingyan slides the man off his. Feiliu looks smaller than Mei Changsu, but Mei Changsu is oddly frail and Feiliu is oddly strong, so the two make quite the pair.

Xiao Jingyan gets up, stretches with one hand and hits his own back with the other. As he walks towards the doorway, he remembers that he has to go back to the army -- because “Prince Jing” is still in his tent, contemplating how to train the “lazy and incompetent” troops -- before the next sunrise. He is upset that he has gotten no answer about his mother and Wei Zheng’s status from Mei Changsu, but it seems that the man is too sick to help anyway.

Before he shuts the stone door behind him, he looks at Feiliu and says one last thing. “Feiliu, tell your Su-gege to… That I… Just say that he should rest.”

19.

In some way, Mei Changsu is happy with the results of his experiment. For example, he has confirmed that the Great Liang’s royal descendants are in fact, wolves. However, he is not that happy with the execution of the experiment.

“Didn’t Chief do that to himself?” Li Gang whispers to Zhen Ping the next morning.

“Technically, yes. Actually, definitely yes. But you can’t look at it this way. You see, Chief is very particular about every step of his plans, and he didn’t actually plan to get drunk. But you know, doctor Yan puts things that help him with sleep in his medicine all the time, so you would think he knows not to drink that with alcohol,” Zhen Ping analyzes.

The pair sighs.

Back in his room, Mei Changsu flips through pages of a random book mindlessly. It is less because he has read the book already, but more because he cannot remember anything about that night except a blurred image of Xiao Jingyan and his very, very, very fluffy tail.

Author’s note: “10/10 would touch again.” -- Mei Changsu, actual quote

20.

Xiao Jingyan has had a long couple of days.

He rode back to Jinling at Mei Changsu’s notice three days ago at the break of dawn, ordering Lie Zhanying to stand in as him in his tent. He also ordered every soldier that weren’t directly under him to stay away from his tent, reason being that he is devising a plan for their training. Of course, the soldiers stayed away obediently, what with Prince Jing’s reputation of being a strict military leader.

“It has been two weeks, and Prince Jing is just now reforming our training. He must think we are incompetent,” one soldier whispered to another.

After the night he spent in the secret tunnel, he started riding back just as the sky had started to turn blue. By the time he had gotten back to his camp, it was already nightfall. He changed out of his riding gear and into his light armor to come up with a new training regime for the troops. Thankfully, he had gotten bored on his way back to camp and thought of some innovative ways that may work on these troops.

The next day, he talked to the troops’ leaders at the main tent about the change, and oppositions kept him busy from returning to camp the whole day. The only break Jingyan had was when the marshals went to feast with the soldiers and he nodded off right after he told Zhanying to grab a bite.

That night, Jingyan ate some of the dried food Zhanying put on his table when he was asleep, but he continued to revise the plan and nod off at odd intervals, keeping his mind full of the matter in front of him.

That was how Lie Zhanying found him the next day. Prince Jing was in the exact same place the boy left him the night before: sleeping peacefully with his left fist against his left cheek and his right hand holding a brush. The only evidence of passage of time was the plate of biscuits he left the night before becoming empty.

“Your Highness,” Lie Zhanying whispered. The man did not reply.

“Prince Jing,” he whispered louder. The man stayed still.

“Prince Jing!” Lie Zhanying shouted, and immediately bowed as if nothing happened.

The prince woke up suddenly and looked to his left and right in confusion. He took in the sight of Lie Zhanying bowing to him with half-opened eyes and a red print on his left cheek. “Zhanying? What is it?”

Lie Zhanying nodded. “You should get some rest, Your Highness. You must be tired from all the travel.”

Xiao Jingyan refused, but Lie Zhanying went on persuading the prince to get some proper sleep in his own room, and then practically pushed Jingyan to his own tent.

That is where Xiao Jingyan is now: standing in his tent with light circles under his eyes. Just himself, Xiao Jingyan, the seventh prince, Prince Jing, of Great Liang, standing in his military tent, which is warm, cozy, all is quiet save for some chirping birds, and everything smells like Lin Shu.

Prince Jing walks up to the robes that he threw on his bed the night he got back to the camp -- the robes that Mei Changsu spent a good couple of hours sleeping on -- and brings it up to his chest. He clenches the clothes, and plants his head into it. His wolf ears trembles as he cries into the cloth.

Next thing Lie Zhanying knows, his Prince Jing has thrown him back into the general’s tent and ordered him to hide his absence from the troops again.

“I have something very important to do in Jinling,” Lie Zhanying remembers the prince saying.

-----

21.

Li Gang finally comes back to greet Prince Jing after reporting to his chief that the seventh prince has came to meet with him. The chief of Jiangzuo, who is presumably still fumbling to put on proper robes, has told his subordinate to stall Xiao Jingyan.

“Your Highness, this way please.” Li Gang bows and gestures the prince to follow him.

Xiao Jingyan contemplates whether he should pass Li Gang in their path since the other man is walking so slow, but he decides it would be inappropriate to walk in front of the host.

“But it’s Xiao-Shu’s house,” Jingyan bitterly thinks to himself. He obediently waits for Li Gang to tell Mei Changsu his presence and then steps into the warm room.

Jingyan moves out of Li Gang’s way to let him out the door. When he enters the room, he is overwhelmed with Xiao-Shu’s scent. The sense of smell is heightened in warmer environments, and he wonders how he has missed Xiao-Shu’s smell until now, especially when it is so painfully strong.

“Prince Jing.” Mei Changsu bows to him.

Jingyan pauses. “Mister Su,” he replies and bows back.

“Pardon me for being straightforward, but why did you return?” Mei Changsu asks.

Jingyan pauses for an uncomfortably long time. “I need to talk to you again.”

“Oh.” Changsu stares blankly at the prince, not knowing what to say for a moment. “Well, what is it that you would like to speak to me about?” Mei Changsu slowly completes his sentence.

“It’s about Lin Shu…” Jingyan pauses.

“It’s about Lin Shu and how you’re him and you smell exactly like him and I should’ve known all along but I didn’t and I’m so sorry but I know now so Xiao-Shu how are you why are you here and why didn’t you tell me you’re back how dare you not tell me and is that why you said I can’t save Wei Zheng oh my goodness Xiao-Shu how did you survive Meiling what happened in Meiling do you know how much I’ve missed you come here and let me hold you Xiao-Shu Xiao-Shu Xiao-Shu.”

Xiao Jingyan closes his eyes and decides to disregard his inner monologue. “It’s about Lin Shu’s lieutenant, Wei Zheng.”

Mei Changsu smiles tensely. “If it is about general Wei, you can rest assured that I have already devised a way to save him. As for Consort Jing, it would be best to keep quiet about her situation right now. If Consort Jing stays in hot waters, it is harder to pin you for rescuing Wei Zheng. I know it is very unfair to you and the consort, but it is to ensure everyone’s safety right now.” Mei Changsu looks down a little after he finishes explaining his plan.

Xiao Jingyan has already decided he will trust Mei Changsu’s decision in saving Wei Zheng and his mother on his way back. Mei Changsu is Xiao-Shu, so no harm will come to his mother or Wei Zheng.

Instead of listening to the other man, Jingyan begins to wonder why the brightest boy of Jinling looks down so much when he talks now. Jingyan recalls that Xiao-Shu used to talk with his head held high as if he is talking to the Heavens itself, but there is nothing pretentious about it. It was just Xiao-Shu, the way he has grown to love him as.

Back then, Xiao Jingyan loved being around Lin Shu during the winter. In his mind, Lin Shu is still the little boy on fire that won’t put on a cloak even if his auntie Jinyang is chasing him in the Lin manor.

Now, the pot of burning coal off to the side seems so out of place with Lin Shu. The man in front of Xiao Jingyan seems more like his Mei Changsu than his Lin Shu.

“Not my Mei Changsu,” Jingyan reminds himself.

“Prince Jing?” Mei Changsu leans in closer only a little bit to hear what Xiao Jingyan has said his name for, wondering if he actually heard “My Mei Changsu.”

Jingyan looks into his strategist’s eyes and blushes.

22.

To save Xiao Jingyan from the awkward silence, Mei Changsu suggests, “Prince Jing, would you care to have some water? You must be cold from the ride back.” The strategist then gestures toward the table to his side.

The prince pauses and then takes a seat. “Prince Jing,” Mei Changsu says as he takes a seat opposite to Jingyan, “You must understand that you cannot be involved in saving Wei Zheng.”

“What does mister Su mean by that?” Xiao Jingyan inquires.

Mei Changsu holds back his disappointment that Jingyan still can’t trust him and says, “If anything goes wrong and anyone under you is caught, you will doubtlessly be pined for the crime. However, if you let the Jiangzuo Alliance take care of this…”

“No!” Xiao Jingyan interrupts and sits up. Mei Changsu sits back, impulsively trying to distance himself from the other man. “I cannot let the people of Jiangzuo save Wei Zheng. Wei Zheng is… my business.”

Mei Changsu sighs and looks down at the steam rising from the teacups before looking at the prince again. “I understand, but saving Wei Zheng can seriously hinder or ruin the route to the throne. Are you really willing to risk everything for him?”

“Yes,” the prince answers with no hesitation, “He is Lin Shu’s lieutenant and I will risk anything for him, and I will save him.”

“I understand.” Mei Changsu begins rubbing his sleeve, a nervous habit he has picked up since he was little. “Which is why I said the Jiangzuo Alliance will save…”

“No, you can’t save him.” Xiao Jingyan stares determinedly at Mei Changsu.

“Your Highness, I must. If you want to save him, using the Jiangzuo is your best bet.”

“No, neither you nor Jiangzuo can be involved in this.”

Mei Changsu breathes in loudly to calm his impatience. “Prince Jing, do you want to recreate what happened to Prince Qi?” -- Mei Changsu continues despite the prince’s widened eyes -- “Was the blood shed from the Qi manor not enough for you?”

Xiao Jingyan shifts in his seat before replying, “No matter what, I do not wish to add Jiangzuo’s blood to the Chiyan case.” He stands up and continues, “I will go and form a plan with my men. As for mister Su, please do not worry yourself over this anymore.”

Mei Changsu stops play with his sleeve and clenches his fist as Jingyan turns to leave. “Xiao Jingyan, you have the hearts but why don’t you have the brains!”

Prince Jing pauses in his track. Without turning, he utters, “Lin Shu, you protect everyone but why don’t you think of yourself!”

23.

Xiao Jingyan finally turns after moments of silence, but Mei Changsu still looks mortified at what he has said.

Prince Jing sighs. “I will not let you be involved in this. So what if I get on this sinking ship? I can’t risk you, Xiao-Shu.”

At the sound of “Xiao-Shu,” Mei Changsu seems to be waken up from a daydream and looks down to his own lap. “Your Highness has mistaken, I am not young marshall Lin.”

Xiao Jingyan’s eyes redden again. “Why are you still lying to me?”

Mei Changsu does not respond, but he does not look up at Xiao Jingyan either.

Jingyan’s tears begin to swell in his eyes as he asks again, “Why did you have to lie to me?”

When Mei Changsu has finally gathered the courage to look up, he sees Xiao Jingyan’s tears quietly run down his cheeks. That’s how Jingyan always have been; he’s so quiet even when he is in pain that nobody notices.

Changsu pushes himself up and walks past the table as he reaches into his sleeve for a handkerchief that he keeps for Feiliu. Jingyan watches the man as he walks up to him, and he does not move one bit when the man starts to wipe his tears away.

“How many times have I told you crying won’t help anything?” Mei Changsu whispers gently. His fingers feel Jingyan’s hot tears through the thin cloth, and every tear burns him.

“Three times,” Xiao Jingyan responds. “First, when I was by your bedside when you ate a hazelnut biscuit. The second time was on our third military expedition and you got an arrow in your abdomen. And now.”

Mei Changsu’s eyes redden as well. “And this time nothing will happen to me either.”

Xiao Jingyan suddenly wraps his arms around Mei Changsu. He covers himself with Mei Changsu’s thick scarf and scent. “Xiao-Shu, I don’t want to lose you again.”

Mei Changsu holds Prince Jing back. He quietly comforts, “Jingyan, don’t be afraid.”

24.

Xiao Jingyan storms into the Su manor. His thoughts are no longer coherent, and they have not been since he realized Xia Jiang has captured him and jailed him in the Xuanjing Bureau. He rushes to see his strategist because Meng Zhi has told him Xia Jiang fed him poison during his stay, and even Xia Dong does not know where the antidote is.

“Prince Jing,” Li Gang rushes to the prince’s side, but Jingyan walks past him towards Mei Changsu’s room despite his efforts. “Prince Jing, Doctor Yan said no one can see the chief right now, so please wait outside.”

Xiao Jingyan pauses, but slowly starts to walk again. “If I must see him, what can Doctor Yan do?”

Li Gang pauses in his way, unable to answer the prince’s question. Hearing his silence, Xiao Jingyan turns around to look at the man. Li Gang looks down, not urging the prince to go or leave anymore. “I thought so,” Jingyan says and turns toward Mei Changsu’s room again.

Jingyan closes his eyes for a moment, and then opens the door to Mei Changsu.

The room is warm as always, and the room is full of Lin Shu’s scent mixed with the bitter herbs that is inseparable from Mei Changsu.

Prince Jing walks into the room and immediately rushes towards Mei Changsu’s bed. He takes his cloak off and warms himself at the fire before walking up to Changsu with the cold air still lingering on him, and Li Gang closes the door behind him.

Mei Changsu seems to notice Xiao Jingyan’s sudden presence and coughs in his sleep. Hearing that, Jingyan rushes to Changsu’s side and helps the man sit up on his bed.

Mei Changsu opens his eyes and realizes that he is leaning on Prince Jing. He sighs, “Your Highness, you really should not be here right after the scandal.”

“How can I be anywhere else when you are in this kind of situation?” the prince simply asks.

“I am fine,” Mei Changsu says as Jingyan starts to fill up a teacup with water. “Xia Jiang did not do anything to me in the Xuanjing Bureau. The only thing he did was put me in the same situation as anyone else who gets locked up there. The only differences is I am weak.”

“Mister Su willingly sacrificed himself just to help me save Wei Zheng. That is not something that a weak person can do,” Jingyan answers as he lifts the cup to Mei Changsu’s lips and Mei Changsu obediently drinks the water when the prince tips the cup.

“Now that Your Highness knows that I am well, you really should return to the Jing manor. The last thing we want is to have Jinling talking about how Your Highness got to the position you are at now with the help of an insidious strategist.”

“Mister Su is far from an insidious strategist,” Jingyan quickly rebutted.

Mei Changsu pauses, then shifts his body weight off of the prince. He mumbles just loud enough for Jingyan to hear, “Doctor Yan told me to get more sleep. I better get on that.” He slides himself off of Prince Jing’s shoulder and back onto his bed, and Jingyan watches as the other man pulls the thick blanket over himself and closes his eyes merrily.

Suddenly, an idea crosses Jingyan’s mind.

“Mister Su, perhaps I should warm your blanket for you.”

Mei Changsu opens his eyes and makes a noise of confusion, but before he says anything Jingyan has already began taking his coats off.

“Your Highness, you should really go home,” Mei Changsu weakly says, staring at the ceiling with no other intention but to not watch the prince undress.

“It’s fine,” the prince says as he slips under Mei Changsu’s blanket, “I’m only warming your blanket.”

25.

“So how did Mister Su escape the Xuanjing Bureau unharmed?” Xiao Jingyan asks, breaking the silence that took over the room after he has gotten on Mei Changsu’s bed.

Mei Changsu clears his throat, pulling himself back from the thought of how odd it is to lie next to Jingyan in silence. “If I knew Xia Jiang would feed me a Wujin Pill and I let him, then I would not be fit to be Prince Jing’s strategist.”

Xiao Jingyan stays quiet. Mei Changsu goes back to his thoughts as the silence grows longer. We used to sleep like this too. Except we would face each other. And we would talk so much. What is there to talk about now, and what is there to look at? Hasn’t everything changed?

“No wonder you have always been the brightest man of Jinling,” Xiao Jingyan suddenly breaks the silence. Jingyan’s comment takes Mei Changsu off guard and he jerks his head to look at the other man.

Jingyan doesn’t seem to realize and continues to stare at the ceiling. “It took me so long to realize. I wanted it to be true so bad that it took me so long to realize. I wanted it to be true so bad that I was afraid if I let it be said, let it be anything past suspicion, it would shatter and my last bit of hope would die too.”

Mei Changsu watches as tears ran down from the corner of Jingyan’s eye to his ear, but the other man doesn’t seem to realize. He just says things that tear my heart apart and doesn’t seem to realize. Changsu reaches out to wipe the tear from Jingyan’s face, but Jingyan grabs his wrist.

Xiao Jingyan finally turns to face Mei Changsu, and the prince holds the freezing hand against his other cheek. The cold hand draws Jingyan’s breath away for a moment, but he gathers himself and continues, “I called you all those things. I called you all those things and you just accepted it. You came back to avenge Chiyan, avenge Prince Qi, but I accused you of being… Of being a…”

The hand that is resting on Xiao Jingyan’s face seems to get scorched whenever the prince’s hot tears touch it, burning Mei Changsu more than the fires of Meiling did. But that warmth draws Mei Changsu closer, and he places his other hand on Jingyan’s other cheek, wiping away his tears.

“Jingyan…” Mei Changsu hesitates. “Jingyan… Jingyan… Jingyan…” The prince’s crying dies down as Mei Changsu calls his name. As Changsu wipes the last tear away and draws his hands back, he quietly says, “Jingyan, I’m back.”

Xiao Jingyan’s red eyes seem like they will start crying again. Mei Changsu smiles and says, “So stop crying.”

Jingyan sniffles again and wipes his tears away with the back of his hand. After a moment of staring at each other with nothing to say, Jingyan inches forward and holds Changsu in a tight embrace.

“Xiao-Shu, I’ve missed you,” Jingyan whispers above Changsu’s forehead.

“I’ve missed you too,” Changsu mumbles into Jingyan’s chest.

“Xiao-Shu, never leave me again, okay?” Jingyan asks and holds Changsu and little tighter.

“I won’t.” Changsu shakes his head in Jingyan’s embrace. Jingyan sniffles lightly at the sensation of Changsu’s hair brushing against his chin.

“Xiao-Shu, I love you.” Jingyan closes his eyes.

Changsu opens his clenched fist and places it against Jingyan’s chest. “I love you too.”

“Xiao-Shu…” Jingyan places a long kiss on Changsu’s forehead.

Special:

“Jingyan…” Changsu buries his face further into Jingyan’s chest after the man withdraws his kiss. Changsu quietly asks, “Can I touch your tail…”

Mei Changsu misses the blush on Xiao Jingyan’s face after hearing the question, but the prince reverts to his half-form for his strategist nonetheless.

To save Changsu the trouble, Jingyan loosens his embrace and moves his tail up the blanket to his chest, where Changsu’s hands are, unknowingly stroking half of Changsu’s body with his tail.

Mei Changsu brushes off the feeling of a strange furry thing sliding up his body and brushes Jingyan’s tail with his fingers instead. He looks up at the other man and asks, “Jingyan, is this how you used to keep me warm when I nap doing homework?”

“Yes…” Jingyan answers hesitantly, trying to hide his blush from Changsu.

However, Mei Changsu seems to not notice the man’s reddened face but notices his ears. “You have fluffy ears too,” Changsu seems to have forgotten about any formalities and reaches to touch Jingyan’s wolf ears.

“Yes… But Xiao-Shu… this is kind of inappropriate…” Jingyan hesitantly says.

Changsu withdraws his hand and smiles at Jingyan before leaning in for a kiss. Jingyan is surprised at Changsu’s sudden approach, so his tail suddenly retreats from his chest to his legs. After Changsu pulls away from the kiss, he smiles at Jingyan and says, “I’ve read that lycanthropes can also turn into full wolf forms. Jingyan, can you?”

Jingyan hesitantly nods, not sure what may follow such a question.

“Jingyan, it would be very nice to sleep next to a very cuddly and fluffy wolf…” Mei Changsu smiles as Jingyan’s face reddens even more. “If Prince Jing is not willing to do that then please accept Changsu’s apology. Changsu should not even dream to have the honor of sleeping by Prince Jing’s side…”

Xiao Jingyan’s face turns pale. That means I either turn into my wolf form right now or I never come onto your bed again...

Jingyan retreats from their embrace and Changsu widens his eyes in shock that Jingyan will actually leave him. In the next second, though, Jingyan turns from an ordinary man to a large wolf. The doe eyes stare at Changsu for a moment as he search for words, then gives up when the highest ranked gongzi on the Langya Charts remains silent in shock. Jingyan simply buries his face into Changsu’s chest and wraps his tail around Changsu’s waist. Mei Changsu’s hand automatically starts stroking Jingyan’s back and Jingyan’s breath starts to slow.

Mei Changsu’s heart melts when Jingyan nudges his chin as he falls asleep.

#nirvana in fire #myfic

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