Work Text:
It was a warm spring evening, nearing summer, when Shen Yi carried the marquis of order back home bridal style.
The general knocked on the door of the marquis’s manor as quietly as he could to not wake up the man sleeping in his arms. But he couldn’t help whispering to himself, “This bastard dares to pass out drunk so that his best friend has to carry him home to the emperor himself…”
Not long after, the door was opened, and behind it stood the stressed-looking emperor Tai Shi.
“Good evening, your majesty, I’ve come to deliver your husband,” said Shen Yi in a joking manner.
“Thank you, General Shen,” said Chang Geng, taking the sleeping beauty into his arms.
“This is nobody’s fault by the way, Zixi is just very irresponsible,” Shen Yi said, trying to save himself just in case. He didn’t like taking any chances.
“I understand but if there’s a next time you should let me know he’s like this, I’ll come pick him up,” Chang Geng smiled, wanting to laugh a little at how polite they’re acting with each other despite being so familiar.
“Of course, of course. I’ll be going now then,” the general smiled, feeling the atmosphere get more awkward he was ready to turn on his heel, “oh and please remind Zixi that he owes me a few bottles of wine when you can,” Shen Yi remembered to add before finally leaving.
The relief that flooded over him as he finally left the marquis’s manor was indescribable, it was still hard to get used to retired Gu Yun and the fact that he was now married to the emperor was a little disturbing to him, knowing that he only used to be Chang Geng’s yifu.
Chang Geng closed the front door as he carried his husband inside the warm manor.
It was quite late so the servants had already gone to sleep which meant nobody might disturb them.
Gu Yun was carried into the master bedroom and carefully put down on the bed as well as undressed out of his outer robe.
Chang Geng tiptoed to the kitchen to boil some water for tranquilizing tea which had now become a daily ritual before going to sleep.
Though he had completely healed from the Bone of Impurity from taking the medicine doctor Qing Xu made him and following her instructions, tranquilizers were something both he and Gu Yun had gotten used to.
While the water was boiling Chang Geng was looking out of the big open window, admiring the beautiful scenery of the sun that had almost set completely, the orangey purple clear sky full of stars, and listening to the sounds of nature.
He felt a light warm breeze in his hair that was tied up into a high ponytail. Peaceful moments like this were the ones he was the most grateful for.
Court was exhausting, it took up so much of his time for pointless discussions with a bunch of foolish people. But there were still times when he could forget all about his worries, just stare into the landscape and be thankful for little things like the lush grass, flowers, the wind, the feeling of freedom, and the not-so-little stars and sky. Moments like this are the ones worth living for.
Chang Geng heard the kettle click, letting him know that the water had been boiled, snapping him out of his daydreaming.
While pouring the water into a cup he heard quiet footsteps approach him from behind and then felt a pair of strong arms wrap around his waist.
“Why’s xingan only making tea for himself?”
Chang Geng was surprised to hear Gu Yun’s low sleepy voice behind him, he hadn’t expected him to wake up but sleep soundly until the morning.
“I didn’t think yifu would wake up,” he answered, quickly reaching his hand out to grab another cup for Gu Yun, but being stopped by his husband’s cold hand grabbing his wrist.
“Can’t we share this one?” he offered and placed a kiss on Chang Geng’s temple.
Chang Geng could tell Gu Yun wasn’t completely sober, others might not notice it but when Gu Yun is drunk he gets more touchy and clingy with his husband, craving more attention than usual, though he wasn’t that drunk this time, after napping at least he sobered up a little bit and that calmed Chang Geng down a little.
“This single cup won’t be enough for the both of us,” Chang Geng answered, having to refuse the offer.
Gu Yun only hummed in reply, wearing a dissatisfied expression on his face but not stopping Chang Geng from making a second cup of tea this time.
The marquis watched Chang Geng take a small box from one corner of the counter then open it and put a few leaves into their cups and finally, the tea was finished.
The familiar smell of tranquilizer wafted through the manor, making one, especially Gu Yun (and only Gu Yun), want to curl up on the spot and fall asleep.
“I want to be the first to try it,” Gu Yun said.
Chang Geng handed Gu Yun his cup, making the shorter man let go of his waist, and turned around to head to the dining area with his teacup in hand.
Gu Yun quickly followed his husband, carefully blowing the steaming hot tea.
As they got to the dining area Chang Geng put down his cup on the table and opened the window to invite some fresh air in.
Gu Yun sat down by the table and took a sip of his tea while quietly admiring his lover’s handsome facial features through his blurry vision.
Chang Geng then sat down opposite him and also took a sip of the tea, “How is it?” he asked the man before him.
“Not bad. Could be less bitter,” Gu Yun answered, locking eyes with Chang Geng, “what do you think?”
“I quite like it,” he answered, taking Gu Yun’s hand and interlocking their fingers.
The two of them finished drinking the tea in a long comfortable silence.
The sun had long since set when Chang Geng got up and carried the now-empty tea cups back into the kitchen.
“Husband is sleepy?” Chang Geng asked when he came back empty-handed, seeing Gu Yun resting his head on his hand.
Gu Yun hummed in response, letting his husband carry him to bed by putting one arm on the backs of his knees and the other on his back, picking him up bridal style.
Chang Geng entered their bedroom with Gu Yun in his arms, put him down on their bed, and went to wash up and change into his sleeping robe.
When he came back he saw Gu Yun sitting up and turning the pages of a book he must’ve gotten from Chang Geng’s old room.
“What’s that?” he asked, walking up to Gu Yun and lying down beside him.
“An old book of yours,” he answered, turning to face the man who had asked this question.
Chang Geng was right that it was taken from his old bedroom, “How do you like it?” so he wanted to know what his husband thought of the book.
“I don’t know. It’s alright I guess,” Gu Yun closed the book, put it back on his desk, and then laid back down on Chang Geng’s chest.
“You had fun with General Shen?”
“Yes, it had been a little while since we could just talk over a glass of wine,” Gu Yun sighed, listening to his lover’s heartbeat and feeling his eyelids droop.
Chang Geng cupped Gu Yun’s cheek, brought their faces closer, and kissed him deeply.
They only pulled back when they were almost out of breath.
“Honestly, I was very worried that you’d have too much to drink. You still drank a lot, you even passed out, but I thought it would be way worse than only passing out,” Chang Geng shared his thoughts, stroking Gu Yun’s long beautiful locks and wrapping his free arm around his waist.
“I didn’t pass out, I was just tired so I fell asleep for a bit. You know, I’m getting so old,” Gu Yun said with a frown, suddenly having the energy to put up a fight.
Chang Geng sighed, “You do need to stop drinking though. This was the last time I let you have such freedom.”
“I’ve stopped drinking, this was just a special occasion that’s why I drank-”
Chang Geng was getting sleepy himself so he didn’t feel like arguing, instead, he just kissed his husband softly to shut him up and closed his eyes.
Gu Yun understood that his husband was tired, so he snuggled up to him more and stopped running his mouth.
“I almost forgot to tell you, you owe General Shen a bottle of wine.”
Gu Yun scoffed, “Jiping can’t even buy me anything without asking for my money and to think I’ve done so much stuff for such a person,” he said quietly but dramatically.
The quietness of the night and the feeling of being warm and loved were comforting and exactly what the two men needed the most.
Gu Yun and Chang Geng fell asleep in each other’s embrace, the aftertastes of the tranquility tea and their last kiss still lingering on their lips.
Just before dozing off Gu Yun thought that the sweetness of his lover’s lips cancelled out the bitterness of the tea perfectly.