Chapter Text
Timing, fate, luck.
Xue Xiuzhuo was still drilling over those words when the sound of fatal coughing came muffled through the door.
The winner and the loser of this game were supposedly determined, and yet he still held Yao Wenyu's life in his grasp.
The thick ring on his second finger felt particularly restraining, and lost in thought, he started to turn it slowly.
The creak of the opening door followed a loud thud and he looked up to see a white-clad figure standing in the darkness.
His lips curled to smile.
‘And here I thought you wouldn't come ...’
With a glint of evil intent in his eyes, Shen Zechuan slowly emerged from the shade, his stunning face hardly retaining its regular calm.
It was obvious what the man had come for.
‘Before you sate your rage with my death, at least let me honourably concede my defeat.’ Xue Xiuzhuo said slowly.
Timing, fate, luck.
A dry chuckle left his lips as he slid that ring off. It was Yao Wenyu who was fated to climb the highest after all ...
Taking a measured step closer, Shen Zechuan never averted his frosty eyes from him.
On the contrary to his regular thought-out behaviour, Shen Zechuan had come here on a spur of a moment, for the sole purpose of inflicting unmeasurable pain on the man behind Yuanzhuo's moribund state.
Xue Xiuzhuo was sitting close to the bars. He only had to reach out to slowly place the diaphanous ring on the dirty cold floor beyond them.
It was pure luck that this ring hadn't been broken in the fervent battle and that it hadn’t been taken away from him when he was captured.
Shen Zechuan's upturned eyes finally lifted from the ring to its owner, measuring the possibility of it being a trap.
‘Speak.’ he then frostily commanded, voice unusually raspy.
There was a challenge in Xue Xiuzhuo's gaze, a feeling of superiority that could not be concealed by that calm countenance of his.
‘When I had Yuanzhuo poisoned, I didn't want him killed immediately.' he started absent-mindedly.
'The feeling of having his life in my hold, it’s been my greatest indulgence.’
Shen Zechuan’s fists clenched, but he let the man continue.
Xue Xiuzhuo's emotionless voice wasn't loud as he immersed in his thoughts. He wanted to toy with his ring, but then he found his finger empty.
It was now on the other side of the bars, but still within his reach.
In a split of a moment, Shen Zechuan realized the importance of that small fragile item.
With a crushing feeling of blooming hope, he blindly took the risk, leaping over and snatching it from the ground like the most precious thing in the world.
Even in the dim light of the cell, the liquid inside could clearly be noticed, and in a moment of hesitation, Shen Zechuan turned his distrustful gaze to the man sitting on the ground.
‘Go.’ Xue Xiuzhuo didn't look at Shen Zechuan when he lifted his hand, blood already trailing down the corner of his lips.
‘Time… the time must be right. Give it to him ... at the most critical moment.’
Only a quick glance around the cell was enough to notice the remnants of another ring, a way darker shade to the one Shen Zechuan was securely holding.
The Prefectural Lord's lips tightened at his men's negligence.
In silence, he took a loud step closer to the bars, his voice terrifyingly quiet and collected.
‘Your Jin-ge'er is in my grasp now. Should it be anything other than an antidote, and your cowardly demise shall guarantee the misery of his life to the end of times.’
Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Xue Xiuzhuo momentarily lost his poised stance.
Consumed by the poison, he looked up and his eyes finally showed ferocious rage, the mask of detachment from the world entirely falling.
‘Then go!’ Xue Xiuzhuo hollered, first bloody tears leaving his eyes.
‘Dissolve it with water and pour it in him shortly before he heaves his last. Once he wakes up, he'll be in great pain for a period of time but do not let it deceive you. When served in the very last stage, the antidote converts the poison into Wine and Blood.’
Shen Zechuan didn't stay any longer.
Rushing out, he ran past the fallen wheelchair, ignoring everything and everyone on his way.
Yuanzhuo's chambers were gloomy with a blanket of pending doom hovering above it.
Shen Zechuan hastily poured out the concoction standing on the table and secured the ring in a gauze before smashing it inside it.
The liquid in it wasn't ample and yet diluted with water, it remained its exquisite dark colour.
Yao Wenyu's cough was not ceasing when Shen Zechuan entered, his handkerchief seeped all through.
‘I've sent for Jiran and Songyue, let's wait for them together.’ he said rather calmly, putting the precious bowl a safe distance away.
Yao Wenyu only swept his wane eyes over the bowl, knowing no medicine could help him at that point.
‘My Songyue …’ he then smiled weakly, glancing at the coloured silk ball hanging at the window.
‘I sent him to Mount Bodhi to plant a tree there to wait for me ...’
With another fit of bloody cough, Yao Wenyu's eyes went blurry.
‘I won't make it to see it bloom.’ He continued with great strain and sincerity.
‘Lanzhou, do apologise to him on my behalf–’
Holding Yuanzhuo’s cold hand tightly, Shen Zechuan's eyes were stinging with tears when he watched the latter struggle for breath, a gulp in his throat impossible to dispose of.
‘The census registers–’ Yao Wenyu continued, too weakened to raise his hand and hold back the blood any longer.
Shen Zechuan didn't let him finish, squeezing his cold fingers tightly.
‘Speak not, there's plenty of time to discuss those matters later.’ he said with a shuddering conviction.
There was still no guarantee that rat Xiuzhuo told the truth and it was not certain how Yao Wenyu would react to the origins of the antidote. If Yuanzhuo refused the help of the person who put him in this miserable state in the first place, it would all be a lost cause.
‘Here I have something for you.’ Shen Zechuan said carefully, turning to the bowl.
Yao Wenyu smiled softly. Even with a shadow of death above him, his countenance was calm and gentle.
‘If it's to shorten my suffering, then I must refuse. I might have sent Songyue away so as to spare him more grief,’ coughing interrupted him for w while before he finished,
‘... and yet I cannot use this opportunity to deliberately end my life.’
Adjusting nervously, Shen Zechuan decided it was time to reveal the truth.
Yao Wenyu looked like the least shocking news could have him draw his last, therefore Shen Zechuan couldn't just blurt it out the moment he had come here.
‘The antidote in this bowl is said to cause immense suffering for a long period of time before its miraculous effects begin. Are you willing to go through this?’
His body drenched in sweat, Yao Wenyu rested his tired gaze on the mysterious liquid. Amused even on his deathbed, he whispered with humour,
‘My lord has truly secured a bowl of Blood and Wine for me …
The phrase – secure a bowl of Blood and Wine for someone – was the same as going to the greatest lengths for another person's sake.
After all, the cure's effects were so unbelievable it was one not studied in medical books but in the section of myths and legends. Even Xiao Chiye never thought of searching it for his Lanzhou.
Seeing Shen Zechuan's solemn expression, Yao Wenyu stopped smiling.
‘It's impossible…’ he rasped, tears taking shape in his dark eyes.
This expression of his was the most heartbreaking this far, as it carried something he had rejected a long time ago – hope.
Choking on the bile of blood up his throat, Yao Wenyu abruptly coughed it out, his lungs quite audibly on their last stretch.
His face was enough to tell it was the time.
Trying to compose his shaken emotions, Shen Zechuan carefully lifted the latter's frail frame and settled him in his arms to help him swallow every bit of the antidote, not allowing any of it to spill out.
Yao Wenyu tried to hold back from coughing but it was impossible at that point and Shen Zechuan apologised as he gently but firmly held Yao Wenyu's mouth closed.
Once it was consumed, Yao Wenyu's body sagged in Shen Zechuan's arms, as if resigned with the strenuous battle.
‘Were it to work, I don't… want my Songyue …’ Yuanzhuo whispered dimly, eyes all full of tears.
‘.. to witness my ordeal. Please...'
Holding him in his embrace, Shen Zechuan was already crying as he nodded, swaying them left and right gently.
‘He won't.’ he said determinedly, his voice raspy
‘I promise.’
~~~
With a deep sense of foreboding, Qiao Tianya rushed his mount onto the snowy courtyard, leaping onto the ground, falling to his knees, scrambling up while pushing everyone away.
He walked, but the light in the room he was heading to was off.
Qiao Tianya didn't know when he fell down again.
Shocked that the thing everyone expected had already happened, Fei Sheng followed suit, aiming to put a hand on Qiao Tianya’s shoulder.
A heart-breaking yell coming from the deepest part of Qiao Tianya’s soul had everyone still.
He retracted his hand, never before seeing his companion in such grief.
‘Qiao-’ Fei Sheng said urgently, but it was too late, Qiao Tianya's once precious zither had already been crushed into pieces.
No-one said anything anymore while Qiao Tianya cursed the heavens, wickedly laughing only to cry uncontrollably.
Then, submerged in vehemest sorrow, he held his head in his arms,
arms that were meant to hold his Yuanzhuo.
It was a while before Jiran set his feet on the creaking floor.
Fei Sheng tried to stop him, but once Qiao Tianya arose, he was determined.
‘Since there's no Yuanzhuo in this world anymore, Qiao Tianya of it is dead as well.’ he announced with closed eyes before he disappeared in the raging snow.
~~~
Shen Zechuan didn't show a hint of emotion when he was examining Yao Wenyu's strained face.
Paler than ever, it bore clear signs of torment, beads of sweat forming on the line of his long hair.
‘Only because I understand that I consented to keep it from Songyue.’ Shen Zechuan muttered softly, squeezing the handkerchief in lukewarm water and wiping the sweat off Yao Wenyu's forehead and neck.
This state had already lasted for several days and the Prefectural Lord personally assisted him, looking after Yao Wenyu from dusk till dawn.
All the terrible cries and sobs whenever Yuanzhuo was awake were numbed by the rising hope.
In those rare moments when Yao Wenyu was asleep, Shen Zechuan talked to him.
‘Since you insisted that my taking the throne was of utmost importance, I decided it's best not to wait for my husband’s return.’
Yao Wenyu's lips twitched, and Shen Zechuan put the handkerchief aside to hoist him up and try pouring some warm nutritious broth in his mouth.
‘I wish you all were here that day, however you’re right. The state needs the emperor as soon as possible lest another bug gets an idea to take over.’
Once Yao Wenyu had dazedly swallowed some, Shen Zechuan gently put him down on the bed.
‘Yuanzhuo, you once mentioned you strived to reunite with your teacher but we still need you. Fight for Songyue and Hunu, for me. You will prevail.'
Not knowing if he wanted to convince Yao Wenyu or himself, Shen Zechuan meticulously adjusted the pillow under the elder's head.
‘Your majesty.’
Shen Zechuan stood up to receive his respects and the letter. He didn't bother correcting the soldier about the inappropriate form of address. He wasn't crowned yet after all.
Reading the letter aloud was not a perfect idea, Shen Zechuan strode away with a crease on his forehead and a guilty pout on his pretty lips.
Qiao Tianya disappeared into thin air.
~~~
When Yaeo Wenyu woke up, feeling like he had stepped into the abyss.
The terrrible burning sensation spreading in his body couldn't be comforted even by the feeling of a familiar ball of fur rubbing against his cheek.
Hunu got startled and jumped off the bed when Yao Wenyu's body caught up with the pain. Another day of struggling for life.
Though he could not think clearly, he knew he had to prevail, that all the suffering had a greater purpose. He could couldn't do anything about the reaction of his faulty body, and usually it was only his hand warmed up by someone keeping watch on him.
But this time it was different.
This person immediately rushed into the room and sat by his bed, holding his head in gentle arms, kissing his temple as he gathered him whole in his embrace.
Long strands of Yao Wenyu's black hair were pulled gently in the process, he continued jerking in those familiar arms until he melted completely.
‘My Yuanzhuo… your husband has arrived…’
Upon hearing that shaky voice and those delightful words, the pain subsided some, and Yao Wenyu regained full consciousness for the first time in weeks.
A small slint opened the world before him, and he took a look at his chambers.
‘I've been craving for you so...’ came Yao Wenyu's quiet sigh, and Qiao Tianya moved his whole body closer to hear him.
So nice it was to find himself in that embrace … Despite the surging pain in his entire body, Yuanzhuo smiled dreamly.
‘Songyue ... kiss me…’ he demanded softly.
His wish was immediately granted, cold lips kissed plentifully, as if one wasn’t enough.
Their lips were gradually more and more wet, and only after a moment did Yao Wenyu realise Qiao Tianya was crying.
Kissing him properly one more time, Songyue embraced him tightly, securing Yuanzhuo’s head against his shoulder.
‘My sweetheart, you cannot scare me like this anymore … You haven’t even tested the finest wine I promised to treat you to.’
Remembering that promise, Yao Wenyu had to hide his smile in the crook of the latter’s neck.
‘What about… gift money…?’
Confused for a moment, Qiao Tianya chuckled, his tense shoulders easing some.
‘I thought I’d collected enough,’ he answered with a serious countenance.
‘... but when I offered it, Hunu walked away in disapproval.’ he ended dejectedly.
'I must admit him right, no amount can be equal the worth of your hand in marriage.'
A soft breathy chuckle left Yao Wenyu’s lips. Oh how he wanted to raise his arms and embrace that lovely person of his…
He found no strength to do so.
'But I approve …’ Yao Wenyu managed to whisper before all the strain took its toll and he slipped into the unconscious again.