Work Text:
It was a normal day in the land of Liyue, and yet the Harbour wasn’t as busy as it could’ve been. Not that Jiaoqiu minded, it gave him a bit more of a free day than would usually be necessary, and he wasn’t exactly feeling the greatest that day anyways. The tiredness could be remedied with a soup created from Glaze Lilies, and the tickling feeling at the back of his throat could be lessened with a Qingxin-related remedy. What couldn’t be explained, however, was the sudden shortness of breath he’d recently developed, but he wasn’t too worried. He did wonder what he was coming down with, but his current symptoms were drawing up blanks.
Even Baizhu and Changsheng had no clue on what it could be. Changsheng had even jokingly suggested that he could’ve contracted whatever Baizhu had and she now had to deal with the both of them. Jiaoqiu smiled to himself. Whatever was affecting Baizhu, was also a mystery, but besides the slight coughs every so often, their symptoms were completely different and although Changsheng had been joking, she had sort of stared at him as if in thought. The snake did that sometimes, and sometimes she’d even name a diagnosis before he or Baizhu had even gotten a word in. Almost like the snake had a secret knowledge of ailments that she didn’t talk about all that often. But either way, she didn’t seem to have a clue on what was currently affecting him, and so he just decided to let that thought dissipate.
Jiaoqiu looked through the herbs stores. His eyes scanned over the various amounts of the various herbs, noticing the lack of Violetgrass, which was pretty typical. Since the Pharmacy sold them to weary Travelers, the ones that got fed up trying to harvest them, and Jiaoqiu couldn’t really blame them, he didn’t like harvesting them very much either, but it looked like he might have to go get them because of how low the stocks were. Then, his eyes glanced over the rest of the herbs and noticed their distinctly greener tone. His ears twitched at the sight of the Sumeran herbs, remembering the recent delivery they’d gotten from a certain… botanist-
Jiaoqiu’s chest suddenly seized up and he leaned on the table. He shook himself, and returned his attention to the Sumeru herbs. The sensation had been odd, but he shook it off for the time being, he’d just make himself the remedies later anyways. He then noticed that they had some Nilotpala lotuses in stock, though he couldn’t recall what they’d specifically be used for medicine wise, unless they were just used for flavouring like the Sumeru Rose? He stared at the lotuses for a while, trying to recall what the lotuses were for-
“They’re one of my favourite flowers. They’re not really used for anything, that I can recall, but they look nice. They also kind of match your eyes, which is fascinating.”
Jiaoqiu blinked. That was Tighnari’s voice that just entered his mind. The symptom he’d experienced earlier happened again, only this time it was accompanied by an incessant need to cough. Turning away from the herbs, he ran to the living chambers where by pure chance, Baizhu and Changsheng were just leaving. Baizhu blinked when he noticed him there and Changsheng also seemed vaguely intrigued. Jiaoqiu looked at the both of them and then smiled his signature smile. Baizhu’s expression grew concerned and Changsheng merely watched in curiosity.
“Hey, do you want me to go out and gather some Vi-“ Jiaoqiu had to pause to swallow down the need to cough. “-Ole…tgra…” Baizhu’s expression darkened and he walked over. Jiaoqiu swallowed down the need to cough again, but it refused to leave and he was struggling to hold it back.
“Jiaoqiu, what’s wrong?” Baizhu’s voice was soft with concern, and almost sounded like he was talking to a patient rather than a coworker. Changsheng’s eyes seemed piercing as well, as she was giving him one of those looks again, however, this time she seemed to be giving him a very particular look.
“I’m not… sure… I have this need to cough…” he forced out, causing Changsheng to suddenly narrow her gaze, harshly, and Jiaoqiu almost felt like he was a child about to be scolded. He smiled at her, but the snake’s expression didn’t change. She glanced between Baizhu and Jiaoqiu and then opened her mouth.
“Baizhu, get him inside, now. Unless you want the entirety of Khaenri’ah to break loose,” she instructed, sounding more serious than the two of them had ever heard her. Baizhu blinked but nodded and then guided Jiaoqiu into his living chamber. Changsheng then turned her attention on Jiaoqiu. “Let it out.”
“Huh?”
“Let yourself cough, I want to test something,” she instructed yet again, sounding extremely cryptic. Jiaoqiu tried to open his mouth and explain that he was perfectly fine, and that he truly didn’t know what was afflicting him really, but the cough had clearly decided it had been held back long enough and he started coughing. The coughing fit didn’t last all that long, but it was what Jiaoqiu had coughed up that gave them pause.
Nilotpala Lotus petals littered the floor, along with a few specks of blood
Changsheng let out an amused hiss and she slithered down Baizhu’s arm to the floor where the soggy petals lay. She eyed the one closest to herself and smiled. “Jussst asss, I expected,” she hummed, a content hissing tone coming out in her voice. “Hanahaki Dissssease. Early stage Hanahaki Disease, but sssstill the disease all the same. From the ancient times, but it still showssss up every so often. Though, it’s rare nowadays. Based on the afflicted’s often misguided view of their love’s opinion of them. No cure, except if the love is reciprocated.” She turned towards Jiaoqiu, an amused smile on her face. “Ssso, the little fox isss in love with someone?”
“Nilotpala Lotus, that’s a Sumeran flower,” Baizhu added with a curious tone. Jiaoqiu was also curious, more curious than worried at least. He picked up one of his saliva-covered petals and observed it. The lotus definitely shared his eye colour, as Tighnari had stated. Almost too well. However, the question was, why Nilotpala Lotuses? Of all plants he could’ve coughed up, it had to be a Sumeran one. The fact that plants could even grow in someone’s lungs also fascinated him. The petal he was currently looking at had been slightly marred by blood, turning the usual pristine yellow colour to a colour more resembling Amber. Above him, Changsheng once again slithered up Baizhu’s arm and took her place around his neck.
“So, Jiaoqiu coughed up a Sumeran plant,” Changsheng hummed. “That must mean his love is from Sumeru.” Jiaoqiu’s ears twitched at this statement, and a rush of embarrassment passed him over, causing him to sit up and eventually he stood up again, but a sudden weakness in his legs caused him to stumble before Baizhu caught him and helped steady himself. He then turned to Changsheng.
“You seem more knowledgeable on this disease than either of us,” said Baizhu, to a blank stare from the snake. “You said he’s in the early stages, so what’s the prognosis?” Changsheng glanced at where Jiaoqiu was leaning on Baizhu after stumbling.
“Judging by his current symptoms, he’s still very early on. We’d likely be able to administer a cure before it gets too bad. The only issue is, getting him to Sumeru. Another issue is that Hanahaki worsens extremely quickly. Specifically by witnessing the love without knowing how the other feels about them. And then an extra issue is figuring out who exactly Jiaoqiu is in love with. Or, he could figure that out himself.” Jiaoqiu’s found his eyes looking at the Nilotpala petals again.
He had some idea, or it was more like he already knew. There was only one person he knew who Nilotpala lotuses could possibly represent, even though they did also match his eyes.
The botanist from Gandharva Ville
Tighnari
“So there’s a chance he could be cured without it going past a point where it’s incurable?” Baizhu asked, a thinking expression on his face. Changsheng nodded, and Jiaoqiu could feel her gaze piercing through him.
“To think, the junior got interested in someone before you,” the snake joked to which Baizhu just rolled his eyes. “But, we should focus on figuring out who Jiaoqiu is interested in.” Jiaoqiu ignored the embarrassed blush running rampant on his face and simply smiled his signature smile.
“That… won’t be necessary. I can handle it myself, plus I don’t think he’d really like a talking snake stalking him around,” Jiaoqiu hummed. Changsheng looked slightly offended but she didn’t comment on the matter. “It’ll be fine.” Baizhu looked concerned, as Jiaoqiu started packing things away, seeing as they were in his chamber. “I’m sure you don’t want me coughing everywhere and on everything, getting considerably worse.”
“Baizhu is worse than you were,” Changsheng commented. “I’m sure it wouldn’t be anything new. You just seem to have a curable cough, unlike someone else I know.” Jiaoqiu looked at them. He’d forgotten about his symptoms in the time they were talking, but at the prospect of going to meet with Tighnari, knowing what he knew, caused his chest to tighten and let out a small petal-less cough. Changsheng immediately dropped her joking tone. “We have to move.”
“I can do it by myself, I’ll be fine.” Baizhu walked over to him.
“Jiaoqiu,” said the older man. “Let us come with you, so that if your Hanahaki acts up we can help you if need be.”
“I wouldn’t be much help,” Changsheng added. “Baizhu would be doing all the work.” Jiaoqiu smiled amusedly at the two of them.
“Only if you two promise to not tease me about it,” Jiaoqiu smiled with a wink.