FENG XIAO DEFTLY unhooked his foot from the branch and righted himself as he jumped back down to the ground. He was again the graceful and carefree Deputy Chief Feng, as if what Cui Buqu had just seen had been an illusion.
"I never knew Deputy Chief Feng had the vulgar habit of eavesdropping," said Cui Buqu coldly. "If you're discharged from the Jiejian Bureau someday, you can become a cat burglar and go around clambering over roofs and walls. I trust you'd be extraordinarily rich and comfortable."
"But I wasn't eavesdropping," said Feng Xiao with a look of surprise. "I was listening openly, it's just that neither of you happened to notice. That can't be called eavesdropping. And I never imagined you cared so much about me. You've even given thought to my future livelihood! How about this: When you find the treasure, share half with me and I'll pretend it never happened."
Cui Buqu coughed. "When I find the treasure, I'll report it to the court and surrender it to the national treasury. You can ask His Majesty for half yourself."
Feng Xiao rapped his fan against his palm. "Now I understand. When you told me about your past and mentioned Yuan Sansi, you were hoping I'd drop my guard. That way I wouldn't question how you and Yuan Sansi knew each other, and you could keep the treasure hidden from me."
Cui Buqu was expressionless. "Yes."
"What a lie!" Feng Xiao smiled and took Cui Buqu by the shoulder, ignoring his look of cold rejection as he pulled him forward. "You just wanted someone to talk to. No matter how high one climbs, one can't escape loneliness. In your eyes, I was the man most qualified to listen. Say no more! I understand completely!"
Speechless, Cui Buqu lifted his eyes to the sky. Perhaps his voice had been too quiet and Feng-er hadn't heard him. Or perhaps there was something wrong with that man's ears, that he only heard what he wanted to hear.
After his long conversation with Yuan Sansi, his head had begun to throb again. He didn't bother to reply but turned and made his way back to the carriage so he could lie down for a while. Yet just as he was about to step up, someone darted in ahead of him.
Cui Buqu's expression turned ugly.
Feng Xiao massaged his leg and sighed. "You two talked for so long. I waited in that tree until my legs were sore. What are you standing there for? Come on, don't make the coachman wait! He's been standing there half the day, and it's hard on him too. Daoist Master Cui should show him some consideration!"
Cui Buqu glanced at the coachman's fearful expression. His mouth twitched; slowly, he began to climb into the carriage.
Feng Xiao smiled and reached to pull him up, only to receive a hard slap to the side of the head. He gave an exaggerated yelp of pain. "Why do I even try? I was only worried you'd fall."
It'd have been better if Feng Xiao had said nothing at all. Now that he had, it was like a jinx. Last night's rain had made the ground slippery, and as Cui Buqu pulled himself up, he stumbled. Fortunately, he grabbed the side of the carriage just in time to avoid falling flat on his face.
Feng Xiao burst out laughing.
Now Cui Buqu was even less inclined to talk. But even if he didn't, he couldn't stop Feng Xiao. Unless the man's mouth was sewn shut, his annoying blather would never cease. "When you said you were going to Boling, I saw how serious Qiao Xian's injuries were, and that Zhangsun had to remain to oversee things in the capital. I knew you had no one dependable to accompany you, so I came myself to ensure your safety…"
"Did you get Yuyin?" Cui Buqu cut in.
Feng Xiao was in high spirits. "And more! Your grandfather offered me his granddaughter as a concubine."
"Congratulations, Deputy Chief Feng," Cui Buqu said gloomily. "Apparently good things come in twos."
Feng Xiao leaned in closer. "Considering how desperate Cui Yong was and the way he was clutching at me like a lifeline, I daresay he'd have agreed even if I asked to marry his wife."
Cui Buqu couldn't suppress the twitch of his mouth, and Feng Xiao spotted it immediately. "If you want to laugh," he said modestly, "you should laugh. No one's stopping you. Why hold back?"
"Cui-dalang colluded with the Southern dynasty and committed the serious crime of treason. Even if His Majesty shows some lenience in deference to the Cui clan, Cui-dalang won't keep his position as the future head of the family. If he wants to save himself, he'll need to make some tough decisions. Meanwhile, Cui-san has taken innocent lives through this poisoning scheme; he won't escape a conviction of murder. The whole family's a heap of misfortune from top to bottom. Though Jiuniang is of the third line, she's still part of the main clan." Cui Buqu sneered. "What made Cui Yong believe she would be enough to buy your intercession?
"If a person sits at the top for too long," he continued, "guarding their little plot of land with no one to challenge them, their minds will inevitably narrow. Cui-da was full of lofty ambition, hoping to secure another path to glory for the main family and afford them centuries of continued prosperity. Unfortunately he went about it completely the wrong way."
Feng Xiao smiled and changed the topic. "I was sure Daoist Master Cui wouldn't travel thousands of miles to the Cui family just for revenge. It turned out you were investigating Cui-da's treason while secretly meeting Yuan Sansi and persuading him to hand over the treasure. You intentionally used Yuyin to distract me. All these layers of meticulous plotting—had I been a little less careful, I really might have foolishly walked down the path you paved for me."
Daoist Master Cui flashed him a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Didn't your lordship find another path in the end? Up a tree, no less!"
Feng Xiao was as thick-skinned as ever; he wasn't embarrassed in the least. "Looks like I understand you all too well. So why don't we do it again?"
Cui Buqu frowned. "Do what again?"
"Work together, of course. The hiding place of this treasure is sure to be filled with hidden traps. Even if you were the world's smartest man, you'd still have difficulty making your way through. But with me there, it's another story!"
Cui Buqu sighed. "Perhaps I might die in the traps without you. But if I bring you along, I expect you'll push me into them."
Feng Xiao laughed loudly. "How could I? I'd be so lonely without you!"
Cui Buqu's lip curled. "Before we met, how did your subordinates tolerate you?"
"You mean Pei Jingzhe?" Feng Xiao shrugged. "He's the one who travels with me most often. The boy's a bit thick. Eight out of ten times, he doesn't even react to my teasing. He's no fun at all."
So Feng Xiao had latched onto Cui Buqu because he was more fun? Cui Buqu's head throbbed violently. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "We can't stay with the Cui family now. I sent someone to look for an inn. I'll tidy up the case over the next two days and wait for someone from the capital to come take over. Then we can go look for the treasure."
Feng Xiao was surprised. "Cui-da is suspected of treason and Cui-san of murder, while Cui-er is long dead. Misfortune has befallen three of Cui Yong's four sons. As for the fourth, Cui Pei… Lady Yu entrusted you to this man on her deathbed, but he dared not disobey his father. To a degree, he's complicit in the attempts on your life. Are you going to let him go?"
Cui Buqu propped his head on his hand. "All debts have their debtors. He's only guilty of not doing his utmost; he never tried to harm me himself. Without that scrap of kindness from him twenty-some years ago, I'd have died many times over. I'll let him go this time; we're even. All this jostling is making me ill. I'm going to lie down for a bit; let me know when we arrive."
He lay down with his back to Feng Xiao. In the next moment, he felt the jade pin pulled from his dark hair, sending it scattering over his shoulders.
Cui Buqu was about to turn and glare, but a hand was already at his temple, pressing down and gently massaging the acupoint. The touch alternated between hard and soft, and internal energy became heat that streamed through his meridians into his scalp.
Qiao Xian had always been the one to do these things. Without her around, all he could do was clutch his head and wait for his migraines to pass. But now his eyes fluttered shut, and he forgot the harsh words that had been on the tip of his tongue.
Feng Xiao's disdainful voice rose behind him. "Did you even wash your hair yesterday? Ah, right. I used the carriage's bedding at the relay station. Once we get to this new inn, make sure you tell them to change it. I don't want to be using the same set when we leave the city. Really you should buy another set as backup…"
Forget it, Cui Buqu told himself. He'd let Feng Xiao make a racket if he got his head massage. May heavenly blessings be with you—Cui Buqu recited this calming mantra to himself over and over while pretending that Feng Xiao's voice was the chirping of birds outside, which lifted his mood quite a bit.
Soon, Feng Xiao felt Cui Buqu's shoulders relax and his breathing slow and lengthen. He'd fallen asleep.
Feng Xiao withdrew his hand and studied the gentle curve of Cui Buqu's defenseless back. This man is cold to the core. Even his bones are cold and hard and pointy. He forgets he possesses a heart that's soft and warm.
***
Cui Buqu woke feeling more rested than he'd been in a long time. His headache had evaporated, and even the discomfort that'd plagued him the last few days had abated somewhat. All that remained was confusion about what day it was until he sat up and saw the decor. Suddenly he remembered—
"What time is it? Is this an inn?"
"What else would it be? You slept like a log. I had to carry you inside."
Feng Xiao was sitting at a nearby table enjoying a private feast. An array of piping-hot dishes were spread before him, their savory aroma permeating the entire room. Cui Buqu was sure it was the scent of the food that'd woken him. Cui Buqu stared at him. "Why aren't you eating in your own room?"
Feng Xiao didn't look up. "The smell gets into my blankets and pillows, and if any crumbs land on them, rats will come skulking around at night. All that can be avoided if I eat here."
Cui Buqu said nothing. Feng Xiao raised his head and regarded him with confusion. "Don't just lie there. Come and eat. If you're not hungry, I'll finish off the rest."
Finally Cui Buqu sighed and bent to pull on his boots. He took a seat opposite Feng Xiao.
"Cui Pei came to see you." Feng Xiao spoke with a sarcastic edge. "Apparently the Cui family hasn't quite given up on their fantasies."
"Did he come to plead for Cui-da?"
"No, they've gotten a bit wiser than that. They know Cui-da's crimes are unpardonable; there's nothing they can do to save him, and they dare not plead on his behalf. However, they want you to be merciful and let Cui Fei go."
Cui Buqu showed no surprise. "Oh? The eldest grandson, the one Cui Yong claims to be most outstanding?"
Feng Xiao smiled. "It's true he's the eldest grandson. But if you were willing to recognize your clan and ancestors, his most outstanding grandson would be you."
A faint smile crept over Cui Buqu's face. "So it's on this that they've placed their hopes."
"At this point, forget demanding Lady Yu be buried next to Cui-er. If you told them you wanted to be the next head of the Cui clan, they'd agree."
Cui Buqu gave a brittle laugh and didn't reply. It was clear from the sound alone that he had no interest in the Cui clan of Boling. In fact, he was probably coming up with more ways to torment them.
"Your laugh is scaring me." Feng Xiao rolled his eyes, then smiled brightly as he dropped a shiitake mushroom into Cui Buqu's bowl. "But now that I've heard the story of the chief of the Zuoyue Bureau, would you like me to even the score by telling you my own?"
"Not interested." Cui Buqu lowered his head and applied himself to his meal.
"Don't be like that. I really want to tell you. But it's true I have no tales from my youth about seeking revenge for bullying or other mistreatment. I was born to a wealthy family and lacked for nothing. I was an adorable child and fair as jade; everyone loved me, and when I walked down the street, countless young maidens would turn and stare at me. One time—"
"Shut up. I don't want to hear this."
Feng Xiao carried on as if he hadn't heard. "One time, I caught the eye of some kidnappers who trafficked in children. They took advantage of the massive crowds at the Lantern Festival to drug me—of course, I was only pretending to be unconscious because I wanted to see their hideout. As it turned out, when bystanders saw them attempt to abduct me, they came rushing to my rescue, and those young maidens' delicate fists beat those kidnappers to death. Hah! You see, when someone is handsome enough to shake the heavens and move the hearts of both gods and ghosts, they become truly invincible. There was another time…"
Cui Buqu couldn't choke down another bite. His heart was dark with despair. Oh how he wished lightning would crack down from the heavens and strike this oleander spirit dead!