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It was the day of the Shangyuan Festival. The streets were decked out jubilantly, lanterns hung around every corner, crowds of people all across the kingdom enjoying the festivities to their heart's content.
Feng Xin, however, was in the courtyard of the Xianle royal palace, sparring with Xie Lian. Feng Xin could hold his own in a fight, having done his fair share of training, and definitely having his own well-honed instincts and speed. But he was best with a bow and quiver of arrows, and he was no match for Xie Lian. With a sword in hand, Xie Lian was all lethal grace and smooth muscles. It was mesmerizing to watch him in action, and Xie Lian almost caught Feng Xin off guard a few times, for Feng Xin was becoming too distracted.
One of Xie Lian’s lunges broke through Feng Xin's guard, too swift for Feng Xin to dodge, and then the tip of Xie Lian’s sword touched Feng Xin’s armour before Feng Xin could parry.
Feng Xin slapped a hand to his head, bashfully admitting defeat. “Shit, Dianxia caught me off guard!”
Smiling, Xie Lian withdrew his sword. "Good work, Feng Xin!"
“Not as good as you, Taizi Dianxia."
Everyone knew the crown prince was the most talented of their generation, a martial arts prodigy already leaps ahead of his peers even at the age of fourteen. It was only a matter of time before he would be allowed to cultivate at the Royal Holy Pavillion, and then Feng Xin would follow him, training alongside him as his bodyguard.
"By the way, Feng Xin,” Xie Lian said as he sheathed his blade, “since today is the day of the Shangyuan Festival, I want to get away from the palace for a while, to see the celebrations on the streets. Do you want to come?"
"Of course!" Feng Xin answered immediately, pleased that Xie Lian had asked him.
Then he hesitated. "Taizi Dianxia, are you sneaking out? What if we get into trouble?"
Xie Lian gave a nonchalant wave of his hand, nonplussed.
“There’s no need to worry, we won't get in trouble. If anything happens, I'll say that I made you go along with me - they can't punish you for following my orders. Besides, we'll be back so fast no one would even notice.”
Xie Lian even winked for good measure, completely confident in his plan, and Feng Xin’s heart skipped a beat.
The prince’s smile was inviting, his brown eyes bright and assured. It was truthfully hard for Feng Xin to say no to that smile. He didn't need any more convincing, for he would have followed Taizi Dianxia anywhere if Dianxia so much as spoke the word.
“When should we go, Dianxia? Now?”
Xie Lian shook his head. “Hold on, we need a disguise. We can't risk being spotted in our regular robes, that would be a dead giveaway.”
They left the training grounds, dodging servants along the way to the servants’ quarters, where they found an empty room with a well-equipped wardrobe. Opening the wardrobe carefully to avoid a freak, they each chose a set of simple commoner’s robes.
Feng Xin ducked into a side chamber to give Xie Lian privacy as they changed out of their training clothes and into the servants’ tunics and leggings.
It didn't take long for Feng Xin to change, but he expected it to take longer than usual for Xie Lian - for there was usually a servant to help Xie Lian into his robes but this time he did not want anyone else to be implicated in their illicit getaway.
When Xie Lian finally announced that he was ready, Feng Xin walked back to rejoin Xie Lian - only to do a double take. It was the first time he had seen Xie Lian out of his regal golden crown prince silks - but even clad in plain brown tunics, there was no mistaking Xie Lian for a commoner or some merchant’s son.
He stood poised, elegant and dignified, back ramrod straight, eyebrows arching handsomely above bright eyes, as if painted by a single impeccable brush stroke. His long hair was pulled into a simple ponytail, still glossy even without its usual intricate golden hairpiece. Feng Xin felt remarkably plain standing next to him.
“Great, we’re both ready! Let's go.”
Xie Lian led the way out of the palace, the two of them occasionally ducking behind bushes and pillars to hide from servants.
Feng Xin was half-expecting to be caught before they could make it out of the palace, but the god of luck must have been shining upon them today, for they fortunately made it out of the back entrance of the palace without too many close calls with the guards.
Once they were outside the palace, there was a visible spring in Xie Lian’s step, an excited grin spreading across the prince’s face as if he had been waiting for the day when he could finally step out of the palace and see the world beyond those grand walls.
Pretending to be an ordinary pair of servants sent on an errand, the two made their way down the streets until they came to a street market, lined with vibrant stalls.
Feng Xin spotted one displaying all sorts of costumes and accessories, and pointed it out to Xie Lian excitedly. “Dianxia, look! That vendor is selling masks!”
Xie Lian smiled. “Perfect! With these, no one will recognize us.”
However, that prompted Feng Xin to slap a hand to his forehead. “Fuck, I forgot to bring money!"
“There is no need to worry, Feng Xin. I’ve got it.” Xie Lian lifted his sleeve to reveal the coin pouch hanging from it.
Feng Xin breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank the heavens for Taizi Dianxia’s quick thinking!”
They made their way to the stall, curiously browsing the masks on sale. Some of the masks were shaped in the likeness of cute animals, others with fiercer features in the shape of dragons or tigers. Feng Xin was eyeing one of the wolf-shaped ones when Xie Lian’s voice beckoned from an aisle away.
“Feng Xin, look! This one looks like you!”
Feng Xin looked up to see his friend holding up a mask painted with features in the shape of an adorable puppy, adorned with soft folded ears and a small tongue lolling out of its mouth.
Scratching his head in confusion, Feng Xin made his way to Xie Lian’s side. He picked up the dog mask and turned it around in his hands, trying to figure out just where the resemblance was. “Huh…? How does it look like me, Dianxia?”
Feng Xin knew that Xie Lian could have a whimsical sense of humor, which often made Feng Xin burst into guffaws of laughter, but sometimes it simply left him bewildered, such as right then.
“You're loyal, dependable, and most of all, adorable, just like a puppy,” Xie Lian answered with a bright grin.
Huh? ‘Adorable’?
“What the fuck? I’m not a puppy?!”
Feng Xin's face was growing hotter by the moment. Flustered by such a choice of words, he protested indignantly, but Xie Lian was already giggling and handing over the coins to the craftsman, then turning back to Feng Xin to playfully fit the puppy mask onto the face of a spluttering Feng Xin.
“There. Perfect. It suits you ah, A-Xin.”
“W-what the fuck? What the actual fuck?!”
The addition of the affectionate nickname only made Feng Xin flush even harder. His heart was practically doing somersaults in his chest, but all he could do was splutter and flail his arms wildly as Xie Lian giggled into his sleeve.
Finally, after spluttering and cursing up a storm, Feng Xin calmed down, clearing his throat. “Alright, now I have a mask, but what will Dianxia wear?”
Xie Lian showed him a white mask painted in the likeness of a ferret, pulling it onto his own face.
“Oh! That suits you, Dianxia.”
Something in the expression of this ferret mask displayed an air of elegance, and yet simultaneously was simply adorable with a sense of innocence, just like the young prince.
With their disguises intact, they strolled through the marketplace, admiring the colorful items on display. There were candies, wooden swords, and all sorts of fun trinkets for sale. Feng Xin stared wide-eyed at everything, commenting to Xie Lian whenever he saw something particularly interesting.
He was particularly taken by a beautiful bow sold by a weaponsmith, which also attracted the interest of known weapon nerd Xie Lian.
“These blades are well-crafted!” Xie Lian clapped his hand in appreciation.
Feng Xin nodded. “And this bow is beautiful.”
“This young man, would you like to try them?” the weaponsmith smiled at them warmly.
She lifted the bow from its display and placed it in Feng Xin's hands.
“Ah, I couldn't possibly try such a magnificent bow, I was only browsing.”
He scratched his head, trying to explain that he was merely admiring the impressive collection of weapons on display, not intending to purchase them, but Xie Lian cut in.
“Why not purchase it, if you like it? Don't worry about the cost, it's on me.”
“But I can't possibly use Dianxia’s money!” Feng Xin protested.
“Why not?” Xie Lian looked genuinely puzzled, as if it was only natural for him to share his money - royal money! - with Feng Xin. “I made sure to bring a sufficient amount with me. You are my loyal, trusted bodyguard, as well as my dear friend. So just count this as my treat to you. Or even, an early birthday present from me to you.”
Feng Xin opened his mouth to retort, “Taizi Dianxia is too generous! I can't possibly accept - “ Belatedly, he realized that he had blurted out Xie Lian’s title, which could ruin the disguises they had so carefully donned. Slapping a hand over his mouth, he hurried to lower his voice to a whisper. “I can't possibly accept such a pricey gift from you!”
But Xie Lian was insistent, and refused to back down either. “There's no need to be so polite, Feng Xin, you know that you are practically family at this point. My mother thinks of you like a third son. This is only a small gift in return for all that you have done for me. Please take it!”
Feng Xin scratched his head bashfully. "Dianxia, still - "
Upon seeing his hesitation, Xie Lian hastily added, “And that's an order!”
And at that, Feng Xin finally fell silent. He could not directly disobey an order given by the crown prince himself - which, of course, was a fact that Xie Lian knew well and used rarely. In all the time that Feng Xin had been Xie Lian's bodyguard, Xie Lian had only used it a couple of times, such as to order Feng Xin to take a day off when Feng Xin was in ill health and yet was still pushing himself to carry out tasks or train with Xie Lian.
Feng Xin still felt guilty for using royal Xianle money, and accepting such an exorbitant gift felt way above his status as a bodyguard, but because Xie Lian had insisted, Feng Xin went on to test out the bow on a dartboard that the weaponsmith gestured him towards. The bow was smooth and sturdy, the arrow sailing through the air silently and yet ramrod straight.
As expected, the bow was just as high quality as it looked. Xie Lian smiled and paid for the bow, as well as a fine, gorgeous sword which Xie Lian picked out himself. The weaponsmith wrapped both weapons securely and Feng Xin carefully stored them away in the qiankun bag he carried on his back.
They continued on their way, passing by stalls selling delectable savoury delights, which drew loud grumbles from Feng Xin’s stomach, to his utter mortification.
Xie Lian, however, merely chuckled and purchased some chicken drumsticks and tanghulu, one for each of them. Feng Xin bit into his with gusto, grateful for the fuel to fill his empty stomach.
Soon, they reached the end of the stalls, where there were families and couples alike lighting sky lanterns by the riverbank. The soft glow of the lanterns was reflected across the surface of the water, washing everything in hues of amber and gold.
Xie Lian gazed around, admiring the scenery, his face lighting up. “I've always wanted to light sky lanterns! Let's do it, Feng Xin.”
“Alright!”
Xie Lian purchased two sky lanterns made of paper and wax candles, as well as calligraphy brushes to write with and a match to light the candles with.
Brushes in hand, they found a good spot to sit down by the riverbank so they could write their wishes on the paper surfaces of the lanterns before sending them up to the heavens.
Feng Xin chewed on the end of his brush thoughtfully as he stared at his sky lantern, but he didn't need to think for long before he began scrawling.
“I wish for father and mother to remain in good health, and to follow Taizi Dianxia forever.”
He wanted to be able to be with his prince forever, to never be separated. He would never leave Dianxia, as long as Dianxia would have him by his side.
When Feng Xin was done, he dusted off his hands, turning to glance at Xie Lian.
“Dianxia, what did you wish for?”
Knowing Xie Lian, he probably wrote “world peace” or something else noble like that.
Xie Lian smiled, and showed Feng Xin the words painted on his lantern.
Sure enough, Feng Xin saw, printed in Xie Lian’s, neat, elegant calligraphy: I wish to save the common people.
Then Xie Lian rotated the lantern, and Feng Xin saw on the second and third faces of the lantern: For Father and Mother to be in good health. and For the common people to prosper, and Xianle to thrive.
“Ah, as expected of Taizi Dianxia.”
Xie Lian’s noble heart was large and cherished the world, so it wasn't surprising that he wrote multiple wishes, thinking not of himself alone but also the common folk and the kingdom as a whole.
“What did you wish for, Feng Xin?”
Feng Xin scratched his head, suddenly feeling embarrassed. Compared to Xie Lian’s wishes, his was truly simplistic. “Nothing much.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to laugh at you. We’re best friends, aren’t we?” Xie Lian gave him a reassuring smile. “I won’t laugh even if you wrote something like, ‘I wish for a pretty girlfriend.’ ”
He spoke the last part teasingly, but Feng Xin still almost choked.
“What the fuck?” Feng Xin spluttered. “Wh-Why would I write that?”
“Lots of people write things like that on their lanterns! Lu-shixiong told me.”
“Well, I don’t!” Feng Xin interjected quickly.
Sure, girls were pretty, but they weren’t exactly what occupied his mind these days. That was grown-up stuff. Feng Xin mostly cared for archery, as well as his prince. He thought that Xie Lian must understand, what with the prince’s intense tunnel vision for cultivation and little regard for anything else. Despite how long and hard the various children of nobles pined after him, hanging onto his every word, simpering and generally getting on Feng Xin’s nerves, Xie Lian hardly seemed to register them at all.
“Well, what did you write then?” Xie Lian raised an eyebrow quizzically.
“It’s just… Alright, fine.” Feng Xin gave in and angled his lantern toward Xie Lian.
The prince peered over Feng Xin’s shoulder to get a better look. When he did, his frown brightened up.
"Why were you ashamed of that, Feng Xin? I wished for the same thing!"
Xie Lian tilted his lantern around, and written on the fourth side of the lantern that had been hidden from Feng Xin's vision earlier were the words: “I wish for Feng Xin and I to always be the best of friends.”
A warmth skin to a hearth's fire spread through Feng Xin's chest. The corners of his mouth tilted up of their own accord, and he found himself grinning.
"Of course we're always going to be best friends, Taizi Dianxia! There's no need to spend your last wish on that. You should have saved it for something else."
Xie Lian grinned back and shook his head. "I did. I saved it for something important."
Something important…
Feng Xin wasn't sure why his heart skipped a beat all of a sudden, but abruptly he found it hard to maintain eye contact anymore, and seemed to develop an interest in clearing his throat, which was unusually dry.
He busied himself with lighting their lanterns instead, striking a match against the candle underneath the lantern while Xie Lian held it steady. As the edges of the lantern paper began to flutter and rise into the air, Xie Lian let go - and their lanterns soared into the sky, side by side.
They stood shoulder to shoulder, watching their lanterns float towards the heavens, two licks of vermilion flame against the deep blue velvet of the night sky, surrounded by hundreds of other sky lanterns.
Xie Lian leaned his head against Feng Xin's shoulder, the sweet scent of his hair filling Feng Xin’s lungs, and Feng Xin’s heart fluttered. Xie Lian was a warm weight pressed against him, and it made him brave enough to put his arm around his prince, holding him safe and close. Feng Xin closed his eyes to make another wish silently whispered to the gods above, that Dianxia could be safe and by Feng Xin's side forever.