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The cold deep blue of the early year’s night sky was warded away by the warm glow of lanterns hung on stalls and houses, paper streamers attached to them, criss crossing each other from one side of the street to the other. Steam rose from a variety of street food stalls, and the streets were lively with banter and laughter.
The orange light almost neutralised the navy of Cui Buqu’s thick winter cloak as he walked through the streets, yet the same light highlighted his brown hair, making the thinner areas appear wispy and almost ethereal.
Yet the majority of people wouldn’t notice, due to the fact that walking alongside him was the most pompous, attention seeking peacock he’d ever met.
Feng Xiao pointed towards a nearby stall, “Ququ, do you want to share a bowl of tangyuan?” Said peacock asked shamelessly, body a little too close to his to be appropriate.
The summary so far went as such: Today was the Shangyuan festival, the 15th day of the first lunar month. Due to the rich cultural nature of the festival, many foreign envoys had been invited to the capital of the Kingdom in a well-mannered show of foreign relations.
Due to that however, the Shangyuan festival became a high profile target of rebel groups who opposed Emperor Yang’s rule. Those groups sought to destabilise the current political situation with targeted attacks while the envoys were on Sui territory, creating a sense of danger and uncertainty, and sowing discord between them and the current empire.
The Zuoyue Bureau had discovered two separate planned arson attacks so far. One intended to strike two locations several li apart at the same time, and the other was planned to take place in the city surrounding the imperial palace.
Cui Buqu had decided to allocate the majority of the Bureau’s available forces in preventing the former scheme, as it appeared to be more coordinated by a more skilled group, and the group would have to be split in half anyways to cover the two locations. This combined with the already understaffed nature of the Zuoyue Bureau, meant that he had left the task of thwarting the second plot solely to himself.
Thus, he had decided to take the Jiejian Bureau’s second commander along for manpower, in case he were to encounter any physical threats.
Another advantage to taking Feng Xiao would be the cover it would provide. As a non-cultivator omega, it would have been strange for Cui Buqu to be wandering the streets alone, which could raise suspicions and alert their targets. However, since it wasn’t uncommon for couples to attend the Shangyuan festival together, an alpha-omega pair wouldn’t be suspicious at all.
So eventually, Cui Buqu had decided that the benefits of taking along Feng Xiao outweighed the drawbacks of having to listen to him talk. Plus, he was rather easy on the eyes.
Cui Buqu wondered if Feng Xiao really believed that he simply wanted to go to the festival with him, or if the Jiejian bureau had also independently uncovered plans of the same plot, and Feng Xiao was going along with him in an attempt to take credit.
Simultaneously as he thought, Cui Buqu replied to Feng Xiao, “Your face looks weird when you eat.” He was lying, of course. Feng Xiao couldn’t look ugly if he tried.
Feng Xiao huffed. “A-Cui, you wound me so, how do you even have the heart to lie so uncaringly to me?” And then he pouted.
Cui Buqu ignored him. He was going through mental layout maps in his head, calculating the most likely routes and times the terrorists would take.
Just then they walked past a man ringing a bell at a stall. “Riddle contest! Riddle contest! Large prizes for winners!” He advertised, repeating the phrase every few seconds.
“Want to participate, Ququ?” The peacock asked, folded fan against his lips. “With your freakishly large brain, you’d definitely win.”
Cui Buqu shot him a glare and shook his head, giving him another mark in his book for that backhanded compliment. “The riddle’s are never good. It’s a waste of time.”
It wasn’t that he had any particular feelings about the riddle contest, but more that he suspected that Feng Xiao was aware of his mission and was attempting to distract him.
Feng Xiao gave a dramatic sigh. “Ah Ququ, what will I do then? You’re such a stick in the mud. Without riddles and sweets, what else even is there to do at a festival? Ooh shiny-” The peacock ran off towards a stall with hairpins and combs, easily distracted from the half-hearted words he had been saying.
Cui Buqu felt exasperated with this materialistic narcissist, but followed him regardless due to aforementioned reasons.
A middle aged, kindly looking lady sat behind the stall. Her hands were rough, showing the key signs of a hardworking life, but her build wasn’t too muscular, and her hands didn’t move with the precision required for jeweling.Since the area was in the capital, farmers were uncommon and the area was mostly industrialised.
She was a beta, which made sense, as omega females were often married off at a young age by their families to richer or higher stature men, and her rough linen robes were the quality of a common worker. This also crossed-out the possibility that she was a merchant.
With all that, Cui Buqu quickly profiled this woman as the main chore operator of her house. She likely had a relative or husband that was a blacksmith, and sold trinkets as a hobby to make money on the side. She was working on a festival day, meaning that she likely either had no children, or her children were already grown up and had left the nest.
As he approached, Feng Xiao was already chatting with her, likely fishing for compliments that she’d easily give in the hopes of making a sale.
“Anything catch your eye, A-Cui?” He asked.
Cui Buqu blushed, eyes going wide for a moment before looking downwards bashfully. “T-these are really too nice, A-Cui doesn’t deserve any of them.” He said demurely, perfectly complementing the scent of sweet orange blossoms from the perfume he’d put on earlier, once again in an effort to disguise himself.
Feng Xiao seemed taken aback for a split second at Cui Buqu’s performance, but went along with it anyways. “Of course you do! Whatever you want, I’ll buy it for you.”
The old lady chuckled. “Oh you two really are a cute couple!” And then she turned to Cui Buqu. “You remind me of my daughter when she first met my son-in-law. Bless her, the poor thing, she was so shy whenever he’d try to talk to her.. Trust me, you should let him spoil you a little, make him work for you!” She encouraged, clearly trying to make a sale.
“M-mhm, okay…” Cui Buqu said, face still a cute shade of pink. “Ummm, I can’t decide, Er-Lang can pick whatever he thinks looks best…”
“...Alright.” Feng Xiao said, looking over the selection on the table. There were hair accessories made of a variety of metals and woods, laid over a red cloth.
He looked at Cui Buqu, who had changed his entire body language from his usual cold and standoffish, to a nervous blushing omega on a first date. It was a little unsettling. Despite that, Feng Xiao thought about what he would actually like. Anything metal would be too heavy for someone like Cui Buqu, or feel cold against his already easily chilled skin. Wood could cause splinters, so Feng Xiao looked for something polished and smooth.
Cui Buqu would want something he could actually use, instead of something decorative. Ququ never wore pins, preferring to tie his hair in a half up half down style with a ribbon. Feng Xiao’s eyes settled on two wooden combs, they were made of hardwood, so they wouldn’t be easily worn down. Ququ would probably prefer the one with the simpler style, but Feng Xiao couldn’t allow that!
Eventually he settled on a wooden comb with peach blossom engravings. “I think this one would suit you best, A-Cui.” He said, holding it up.
The lady at the stall would not give up on a sale so close. “What a brilliant choice! Why don’t you try putting it on your partner there.”
Feng Xiao touched the back of Cui Buqu’s hair, making the other give a soft surprised “Ah!” sound and freeze up. He slid the wooden teeth into his half bun, stepping back to smile.
“You look good.” He said, barely resisting the urge to add But not as good as me. onto the end.
“R-Really?” The other replied, reaching up a slender hand to touch his hair.
Feng Xiao paid the old lady, who spoke again, “You know, I also do palm readings, they’re only a few coin each. I’ll even do the two of you for the price of one!” She advertised.
Despite his knowledge as a cultivator that palm readings were not real, Feng Xiao was curious, so he agreed. “Please don’t touch me.” He added as he held out his hand.
The lady wasn’t too offended due to the fact that she was being paid. “Hmm, I can tell that you are an independent and an original thinker; you don’t just accept what people tell you to believe. You’re also more of a leader than a follower.”
“And what about my future?”
“I see wealth and prosperity and, oh congratulations! A long and happy marriage. Your spouse will be well matched for you. A kind and gentle person… who appears to be standing next to you.” She smiled, looking up.
Feng Xiao drew back his hand and looked towards Cui Buqu, grinning, but not for the reasons the old lady probably thought. Kind and gentle my ass!! He laughed to himself.
“Your turn.” The lady addressed Cui Buqu, who nervously shuffled before holding out his palm, fingers delicately curled a little.
“You are a naturally thoughtful and modest person, but you often struggle to assert yourself or voice your thoughts. You have a dislike of violence, and strive to be kind to all.”
Feng Xiao had to fight himself from bursting into laughter. He had no idea how Cui Buqu was keeping an innocent and slightly surprised expression.
“As for your future, you will marry well, with someone well matched for you. And hmm, yes, I see many children in your future. Congratulations to the two of you!” She continued.
“C-Children!” Cui Buqu acted flustered, holding his fists against his chest.
“Do you not want children, A-Cui?” Feng Xiao couldn’t pass up this opportunity to tease him.
“I-I guess I do…” He said, and then, “Um, Ma’am, if it’s okay, I’ve been trying to learn a bit of palm reading too. Would it be okay if I practised on you?”
The lady was pleasantly surprised, completely convinced by Cui Buqu’s cute act. “Oh of course sweetheart, here you go.” She held out her hand.
Cui Buqu pretended to focus intensely on it for a few moments. “You weren’t born in this city, but moved here in pursuit of a better life. You married a blacksmith when you were still rather young, you believed you loved him then, but you didn’t know what love meant at the time. Your household can’t afford any servants, so you take care of all the housework. But you resent the fact that you gave up your freedom so young. You day-dream about making it big on your own, but it’s too late for you now, so instead you lived vicariously through your children. But they’re all grown up now, and you often have days where you feel an emptiness in your life.”
The stall lady’s face grew paler and paler with every line, until she just froze there, gaping like a fish.
“O-Or something like that!” Cui Buqu laughed nervously. “Please forgive A-Cui if I’ve behaved presumptuously..”
Feng Xiao grabbed him and started walking. “Ququ, let's leave before you traumatise the poor old lady even more.”
Cui Buqu finally dropped his act, giving a cold smirk. “It was funny.”
“Did you really play the whole ‘cute and helpless’ act just to make fun of her palm reading?”
He shrugged. “I was bored. What did you think of my act?”
“Creepy. And weird.” Feng Xiao replied honestly. “Never do that one again.”
“It’s not like I’ve never acted as your lover before.”
“But all those times you were either mad at me for sleeping with your sister, or mad at me because I impregnated you and left. The sweet act just doesn’t suit you.” He replied, using his fan to block the smoke of a nearby fire from drifting across his face.
Cui Buqu raised his eyebrows. “Are you a masochist?”
But Feng Xiao wasn’t listening, Feng Xiao was purchasing a stick of tanghulu from a stall.
“Here.” He said as he returned, offering the stick to Cui Buqu. “Hawthorn for a Hawthorn.”
Cui Buqu was surprised that Feng Xiao was able to identify his natural scent. Even beneath the carefully curated layers of perfume he wore, there lay the scent of strong bitter medical herbs, clinging to his body and clothes. He supposed it was due to the other’s heightened senses from cultivation.
He ended up taking the stick of candied hawthorn to put in his mouth, just so he could have an excuse not to respond to whatever Feng Xiao was about to say.
Feng Xiao watched with keen interest as the shiny red fruit slipped between the other’s lips, leaving a candied sheen behind on the usually pale and cracked skin. He couldn’t help but place his hand around Cui Buqu’s, drawing the candy back out of his mouth, placing his hand under his chin and drawing loops with his thumb on those shiny lips.
“What.” Cui Buqu said, annoyed.
Feng Xiao kissed him. It was sweet. It didn’t last long though, because Ququ quickly pushed him off.
“You’re a terrible kisser.” He said.
“Well at least I put in the effort!” Feng Xiao shot back.
Cui Buqu rolled his eyes, beginning to walk away when Feng Xiao caught him from behind, pressing his nose into the shorter’s neck.
“Stop wearing so much perfume, I can barely smell you.” He whined.
“Get a better nose.”
“I’m already a cultivator!”
“Cultivate harder.” Cui Buqu slipped out of his arms, walking with more purpose this time.
Motherfucker, he’d almost completely distracted him from the arson plot he was supposed to be stopping!