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“Gods in heaven if I have to see that man’s stupid face anymore today I’ll…” Nie Huaisang complained as he and Nie Zong Hui stepped out of the great hall. Nie Huaisang was tired of being cooped up in that room with the elders, especially Elder Yabin. That man just loved to torture him with long winded explanations. He was so frustrated that he couldn’t even find comfort in his fan. Nie Huaisang sighed giving up. He closed the silk fan and stuffed it back beneath his belt.
“...let the man be for now so that when Senior Meng returns he can smooth everything over.” Nie Zong Hui finished for him before Nie Huaisang started on a tangent. He admired his young master but one of his biggest flaws was his ability to whine.
“Fine, fine.” Nie Huaisang caved with a wave of his hand. Despite the smile on his face now at the thought of Meng Yao running verbal circles around the old bag he was still irritated. But, he knew the perfect cure for it.
“I’m going to see my husband.” Nie Huaisang announced, “And I don’t want to do disturbed.”
“He’s currently in his garden.” Nie Zong Hui stated, a small smile at seeing that his young master was happy with his marriage.
“Of course he is.” Nie Huaisang mused as he made his way towards his quarters. Each step closer made him feel better. He loved how Mo Xuanyu’s presence calmed him. He entered their rooms and walked towards the garden. The garden was actually a redesigned courtyard that now included a pool to swim among the flowers that Mo Xuanyu nurtured. It was a gem inside Qinghe.
He leaned against the open doorway spotting his husband. Mo Xuanyu wasn’t too far from the pool. The taller man was laying on his stomach on top of his dark green inner robe with his head on top of his forearms. His hair was still down shifting in the breeze on his bare back where he’d only put on his trousers after swimming in the pool.
Nie Huaisang traced the lines of his husband’s back and an idea came to him as the other lay among the flowers in the garden. He’d done this several times before and it always made his husband smile. So, quietly he went back to their bedroom to change into something less official and grab his paintbrush and paints.
“A-Sang.” Mo Xuanyu called sleepily, trying to open his eyes as he felt his hair being pushed over his shoulder.
“It’s alright, I just want to paint.” Nie Huaisang replied, softly, in his ear. Mo Xuanyu nodded as he shifted a bit to get comfortable again. A smile blooming on his face as he feels a kiss being pressed on his shoulder before he’s lulled once again to sleep.
The next time he wakes, it’s to the feel of Nie Huaisang lightly blowing air on the dip of his back trying to get the paint to dry. Nie Huaisang smiled seeing the slight shiver from his husband. His eyes trailing up his back. Mo Xuanyu’s back is a work of art. His beautiful sun kissed skin splattered with freckles and a couple of scars, was the perfect canvas to show off his paints. The colors remained vibrant. Nie Huaisang had drawn a tree with beautiful golden trimmed peach blossoms as if they were blowing in the wind.
“Are you done?” Mo Xuanyu asks when he feels the slight tickle of his husband’s paintbrush touch his back.
“Almost.” Nie Huaisang replies before leaning down to blow on the gold paint he used to finish the last blossom.
“What am I today?” Mo Xuanyu asks, a teasing smile on his face when Nie Huaisang moves his supplies around to lay beside him.
“A peach blossom tree.” Nie Huaisang answers happily with a matching smile.
“Ah, needing some strength?” Mo Xuanyu asked, reaching out to brush back Nie Huaisang’s bangs. Nie Huaisang didn’t have to tell him what the issue was, though he guessed it was probably Yanbin. His husband rarely complained about anyone else in Qinghe.
“Always.” Nie Huaisang replied, gently taking his husband’s hand, pressing the lightest kiss to Mo Xuanyu’s palm, then he started to lightly pepper kisses over each finger. A sweet gesture that spoke volumes to how much he loved his husband and that his presence always gave him comfort. Mo Xuanyu let out a shaky breath before closing his eyes once more soaking in the feeling of being loved.