Work Text:
“Good morning Qing-er!” Xie Lian greeted cheerfully, opening the door for Mu Qing.
“Good morning, Your Highness.” He replied, his head down as he helped Xie Lian into his robes.
“Would you like to train with me today?” Dianxia asked, slipping on his shoes. “I think a saber would suit you well!”
Mu Qing thought about it for a moment, letting Xie Lian walk around the room towards a mirror.
He wanted to, but Feng Xin would be there, and while he wanted to at least somewhat befriend him, Feng Xin would rather break all the bones in his body than do that. “Will Feng Xin be there?”
Xie Lian glanced at him from the reflection, “are you worried he will make fun of you?”
Mu Qing flushed, while it was true, it sounded embarrassing to hear. “Maybe.”
Dianxia walked back to Mu Qing, holding his shoulders.
“Don’t worry about A-Xin, I’ll take care of him, only if you want to train.”
“I want to train with you, Your Highness.” He murmured, keepin his eyes casted downwards.
Xie Lian beamed at him, smiling as he finished getting ready for the day. “Have your breakfast and we’ll meet in the training area in two hours, alright?”
Mu Qing nodded, about to leave the room, but Xie Lian caught his arm, “eat with me today, I enjoy your company.”
His eyes snapped up, looking at the prince’s eyes looking for a hint of humor or teasing, but only found earnesty and genuine thought.
Yes. He wanted to say, yes of course Your Highness.
“Don’t you eat with Feng Xin?” He said instead.
His Highness tilted his head, “I do,” he said, “but I want to spend time with someone other than Xin-er.”
He let out a peal of laughter, a pale hand raised to cover his mouth, and Mu Qing felt himself flush. “And don’t worry about him, I’ll tell him to keep himself in line. No one deserves to be treated so rudely.”
Before Mu Qing could utter a reply, the door slammed open, “Your Highness!”
Mu Qing sighed in his head, looking up to see an annoyed Feng Xin, who took Xie Lian’s hand in his and brushed the pale knuckles of his hand against his lips.
Mu Qing briefly recalled the gossip that would happen around the palace and even through the townspeople, they would whisper and murmur rumors that the Crown Prince would allow Feng Xin into his chambers late at night when they thought no one was awake, and based off what was happening before him, Mu Qing would not be surprised if they were true.
Xie Lian giggled softly, his face flushed as Feng Xin smiled at him with love.
Feng Xin turned, glancing at Mu Qing with a look of disgrace, “you can leave now.”
The Prince sighed, letting go of Feng Xin’s hands to hit him gently on the arm, “Feng Xin!” He reprimanded, “just because you’re of noble blood doesn’t mean you can treat servants or anyone for that matter, rudely!”
“It’s alright, Your Highness,” Mu Qing murmured, about to leave.
“See! He doesn’t care!” Feng Xin huffed, rubbing the area where Xie Lian slapped him.
“Nonsense!” He replied, “Come with us to breakfast, Qing-er!”
Feng Xin gasped in disbelief, “But—!” Dianxia was quick to silence him.
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“Good!” Feng Xin barked, “let’s go, Your Highness!”
Xie Lian sighed, “alright, I’ll leave a basket of fruits in your chambers, bring it to your dear mother, and let me know if she needs any medicine, I’ll be glad to help.” He said, smiling gently over his shoulder at Mu Qing as Feng Xin took his arm and pulled him away.
“Oh! If you still want to train with us later, the offer still stands! You would work well with a saber but other weapons of your choice would work too!” He added, before letting himself be dragged away by his guard.
Mu Qing’s eyes widened, “thank you.” He whispered, a wave of happiness washed over him as the pair walked away, the sound of the prince scolding his guard for being cold.
——
“Your Highness,” Feng Xin said, his arm interwoven with Xie Lian’s. “Why did you invite Mu Qing to breakfast and to train?”
Xie Lian paused as Feng Xin reached to open the door to the eating area, “Why not?”
Feng Xin led him towards his seat, “he’s only a servant,” he said, pulling the chair for Xie Lian before taking a seat beside him.
“So? He deserves a chance to learn how to fight. Perhaps even cultivate, I’ll have to ask him to join me someday,” The prince replied, looking at his guard.
He racked his brain trying to think of a retort as to why Mu Qing should not be so close to His Highness. He thought of nothing, and simply sighed as the prince smirked at him, knowing damn well he was right.
——
“He’s late.” Feng Xin huffed as Mu Qing showed up ten minutes after their supposed meet up. “You should be grateful His Highness even gave you this opportunity.”
“Xin-er! Don’t be so rude! He probably had work to do!” Xie Lian replied, elbowing the guard.
“I’m sorry.” Mu Qing said faintly, “one of the dishwashers called in sick so I had to work extra today…” His voice trailing off as he noticed a beautiful saber behind the prince.
Feng Xin was about to hiss out another insult, but Xie Lian glared at him, quick to silence him.
“It’s alright! I’ll send a physician to check on them as well!” Xie Lian smiled, he turned to pick up the saber Mu Qing had been eyeing. “This would suit you, I think, but if you want to try another weapon, you can train with them too!”
Feng Xin scoffed, but bit back any rude comments.
“I like the saber.” Mu Qing murmured, stepping forward.
“Bet you can’t even carry it.” Feng Xin hissed under his breath, too quiet for Xie Lian to hear but loud enough for Mu Qing.
“Here,” Xie Lian handed the saber to him, “careful, it’s rather heavy.”
Mu Qing took a hold of the hilt, expecting his arm to strain with weight, but was surprised to find it was not as heavy as he expected.
Xie Lian beamed at him, and then to Feng Xin, “see! I told you he would be suited with the saber!”
Mu Qing looked down at the blade in his hands, looking at the engravings on the metal.
“How can you even carry that?” Feng Xin huffed.
“I carry a lot of things as a servant.” Was all Mu Qing replied with, it was true, especially back home where there weren’t many of them.
The prince smiled again, “consider this a gift for your service to us, people often overlook servants, don’t you think?”
The servant stared at him, eyes beginning to water, “thank you, Your Highness.”
That day, he realized how kind the prince truly was, and Mu Qing swore to guard and fight for the prince.