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Luo Binghe was standing next to his father, who was sitting on the dragon throne. The young child was not truly sure what exactly was going on and why they were having some sort of fancy party, where he also had to dress up in his finest robes he had, but it was something about another kingdom having allied to his imperial father's empire. At least that is what people told him in very simple terms.

There were many of the officials and various royal families within the palace, many of which Luo Binghe somewhat knew. After all his Goushi always made sure that he learned all the names of the members of the allied kingdoms. However there were a few new ones, dressed just as fancy as all the other adults; the new allies. Luo Binghe was sure that they were humans for the most part, which caught his interest. Only because his mother was also a human and he rarely had the chance to interact with other humans other than her, due to living in the demon realm where the number of humans, even half-humans like him, was rather low.

“This humble one thanks the esteemed Junshang for welcoming us to his magnificent palace.” the one who Luo Binghe was sure was in charge, spoke up as the gathered humans all bowed to the royal family.

“We are also pleased to welcome you and are happy to have your Kingdom join our empire as an ally, with the hopes that peace and prosperity will come from this union.” Tianlang-Jun replied. Usually his father did not talk even closely as sophisticated as he did when he was on the throne, but would talk much more casually. However Luo Binghe's mother insisted on her husband to at least make a good front during official situations like these. Which was also the same for Luo Binghe, who had to stay on his best behaviour, even if truth to be told he was rather bored as the adults were talking.

So bored that, while he was not allowed to move from his father side, he let his eyes wander over the crowd of newcomers. Most of them were adults, so not much of interest of the child. The closest to his age he saw were the odd teenagers, probably the children of the noblemen that came to visit the palace, as such little chance for him to be able to maybe befriend them, which was a shame. Because truth to be told, Luo Binghe did not have many friends. Or any at all. Because he barely had contact to people in his age and the few he did meet, he struggled to really connect to. So he had been hoping to maybe get to meet someone his age he could befriend, but no luck as it seemed.

With how lost in thought Luo Binghe had been, he had missed most of the conversation between his parents and the guests. He only heard that apparently the guests had brought some gifts for the palace – nothing unusual – which had made the large doors open from the throne room as a group of humans of various ages walked in, their heads lowered deeply in submission before they kowtowed before the dais carrying the dragon throne with the royal family.

“These are the finest slaves my kingdom has to offer, all trained in various arts and skills that this humble one hopes will please the esteemed Junshang and his venerable family.” the guest said as they gestured at the large group people kowtowing on the ground, even showing a few of them off and talking about their various skills that stood out in particular.

Slaves. All of them were slaves.

Of course Luo Binghe knew about slaves. They were rather normal after all and most royals and nobles and even generally well-off people had them. Yet Luo Binghe could not help his shock, because among the group of slaves were also a few children of his age. He had not even known something like that existed and he did not know what to think about that. He could not pull his attention away from that one cluster of children among the group of slaves, all of them looking barely different from he himself in size and body, only dressed in less finery as him. His young mind could barely wrap around it.

But as he looked at them all, one of them peeked upwards, defying every rule of decorum as he looked up at his new masters in secret, refusing to truly submit as expected of a slave, and Luo Binghe found himself looking directly into a set of brilliant green eyes of a boy his age. Eyes that took Luo Binghe's breath away as they looked directly back at him, as if daring him to say anything. Which Luo Binghe did not do.

In the end the new palace slaves got taken along by the slave master of the palace to have them appointed to their new jobs and integrated into the palace. While Luo Binghe, still thinking about that one particular slave child, followed his parents to the following festivities.

***

Ever since that day, Luo Binghe had not seen that slave child again. He did occasionally see the new slaves running around, working along the rest of the palace servants, but the one in particular he had seen peeking up at the dragon throne he did not spot. So Luo Binghe guessed that this particular child was probably working in some other part of the palace he did not frequent that often. Not that it was in any way surprising, as the palace was massive and Luo Binghe usually stayed in the same areas; the courtyards of his parents, his own rooms, his classroom, and often also the kitchen, but that was about it.

That day he was in the classroom as every morning, taking lessons from his Goushi. She was a very sophisticated lady and highly knowledgeable in almost anything, picked out from the best scholars around to teach the crown prince everything he needed to know. And while Luo Binghe always tried to study hard like expected of him, he still often found himself getting distracted during lessons that were not his strong suit. Like music and arts, or poetry. Today's lesson was poetry and Luo Binghe struggled with keeping up with what his Goushi was talking about regarding rules of structure of various types of poems and which famous poet popularized what style. Luo Binghe could barely understand why he even needed to know about poetry when he one day was going to be Emperor, because how was poetry related to ruling? His imperial father never seemed to use poetry for his work and seemed to only consider it a hobby of his to pass his free time with as he read one ballad after the other.

Wondering about it Luo Binghe's eyes began to drift off and landed on the open window that was letting fresh air in. He would much rather be outside right now and maybe play a bit. Or at least practise his cultivation, something he was much better at than the scholarly studies. However it would still be hours until his lessons for the day would end.

However then he spotted something. A set of green eyes, that were secretly peeking in through the window, seemingly looking at the Goushi who was busy talking about poetry. It was the slave child again! But what was he doing peeking into the classroom in secret? Was he a spy? Could kids be spies? But why spy on a poetry lesson?

“Luo Taizi, are you listening?” Goushi suddenly asked, making Luo Binghe quickly turn back towards the scholar, while the slave child quickly ducked away from the window and vanished from view before he could be spotted.

“Sorry Goushi.” Luo Binghe replied with an embarrassed expression, not mentioning the other child that had been peeking into the classroom. He did not want to share that information yet, way too curious to find out about it himself.

“Please do listen to your lessons, Luo Taizi.” his Goushi gave him a small glare, “You will need to know these things if you want to take other your father's throne one day.”

With this being sad the lesson then continued. All without Luo Binghe spotting the child again.

At least until a few days after, where Luo Binghe once more was able to for a moment spot the other child peek into the classroom through the window, this time during art class. And once more a few days later, when he was studying maths. Every time Luo Binghe noticed the other child looking in through the window, he was left wondering what the child was trying to do by peeking into rooms, because it did not seem like a polite thing to do.

However he had gotten his answer after his calligraphy lesson one day, when after his lesson Luo Binghe went to the outside of the classroom window in the hopes to spot the other child. Because while he as per usual did not spot the green eyed child, he spotted something else. There were hanzi written in the dirt, probably with a stick. The very ones Luo Binghe had to copy that day during his calligraphy lesson. Where it finally clicked for Luo Binghe why the slave child was constantly doing peeking into the classroom in secret.

He was listening in and try to learn as well.

For a moment Luo Binghe was wondering why the other child did not go to a teacher normally, instead of doing something that could get them into trouble like peeking into rooms all the time. But he then realised that in the entire palace there was only one single teacher, who exclusively taught Luo Binghe. So who would even teach the few slave children that had recently arrived in the palace? Can slaves even go to school? Luo Binghe was not sure. However he felt like the answer was probably no. Which he felt was unfair, especially when someone seemed to really want to learn. Yes, school was often no fun, but both his parents and his Goushi always told him how important it was to study, so should not everyone at least get the chance?

However he felt like he knew the answer. And it was an answer that he did not like, but knew he could probably not change that easily as he was now.

So instead Luo Binghe made a decision that day.

It took a lot of preparations and working ahead. Luo Binghe had a foolproof plan and he was sure it was going to work. Since the last evening he was pretending to not feel all too good, especially during his lessons, feigning a tummy ache and that he was feeling slightly nauseas, but not actually saying anything. And it was working well, as his Goushi kept on giving him looks as he slouched at his little desk, pretending to be unable to keep his attention and constantly subtly rubbing his stomach as if he had eaten something bad.

Until finally his Goushi approached him, talking with a more quiet voice filled with concern. “Are you not feeling well, Luo Taizi?” she asked him, looking him over, “If not, we can stop the lessons earlier today.”

Luo Binghe was glad that adults often spoke more quiet to people who fell unwell, since that way it would be harder for anyone outside to actually hear what she was saying. And he also talked more quiet, “I don't feel so good today... Sorry Goushi...”

“Oh, that is alright.” she replied with a sympathetic voice, “Come, how about we stop today and you go to bed and rest? This one can also summon the palace doctor for you.”

Luo Binghe knew that, while he did not need the doctor, he would not be able to avoid seeing them without seeming suspicious. So he just nodded, “Thank you, Goushi.”

“You are welcome, Luo Taizi.” she replied, “Do you want me to bring you to your room?” she then offered.

However this time he shook his head, “I am fine Goushi, but thank you.”

With this both of them then got up and while Goushi moved to firstly pack all the equipment from the day's lessons up, before leaving to summon the doctor and probably also let Luo Binghe's parent know that he was 'feeling unwell', Luo Binghe left the classroom quietly.

However instead of making his way to his bedroom, Luo Binghe then however quickly made his way outside. Just in time for Luo Binghe to see the slave child, climbing down from the ledge he must have always been standing on when peeking into the room.

“Hey.” Luo Binghe quietly called out to the other child.

Which however almost made the child stumble from how he jumped, as he whipped his head towards Luo Binghe, looking at him like a startled cat with wide eyes. Where it quickly became clear that the child was ready to just bolt and run away, now that he had gotten caught red-handed.

Which was why Luo Binghe quickly moved to grab the other child, who looked maybe a year or two older than him, by the wrist. “Please don't run away. I will not tell anyone you are here.”

The other child looked warily at him, but otherwise did not attempt to run away any more.

So instead Luo Binghe gave him a little tug, trying to pull him along, “My Goushi is going to come out in a bit, so we should leave before she catches up.”

At this the other child nodded and finally followed Luo Binghe as they ducked behind a few bushes and trees. Just in time to see his Goushi leave the building.

Once they were safe and out of sight, Luo Binghe looked at the other child. This time, for the first time, actually up close and not just from the distance, where he could never actually properly see his face before. And he was really pretty, like a fairy. Luo Binghe wasn't sure if he had ever seen such a pretty person, with super soft and silky looking hair, very pale skin, and really pretty eyes.

He was in fact so in awe at how pretty the other child was, that Luo Binghe almost missed that he spoke up.

“Thank you for not telling on me, Taizi Dianxia.”

“Ah,” Luo Binghe quickly caught himself, “you are welcome.” He then smiled at the other child, “And you can call me Binghe, if you like.” he offered, wanting to be more familiar with the other child, “What is your name?”

“This one is Shen Jiu.” the kid introduced himself then in return, “I am one of the palace slave and have been trained in music and painting. But I also do other manual labour within the palace.”

“Nice to meet you, Shen Jiu.” Luo Binghe smiled brightly, being happy to finally have a name to the face.

However he then changed the topic, knowing he did not have much time until someone noticed that he was not in his room. “But say, why were you always peeking into the classroom?” he then asked with a curious expression, even if he already guessed the answer.

The question made Shen Jiu become a bit flustered, as peeking into rooms was very much not something that was usually allowed. At least Luo Binghe's mother always told him so.

“Well...” Shen Jiu looked unsure about what to answer, probably worried that he might get into trouble. But then he gave Luo Binghe a scrutinising looked, as if trying to figure out if he could reply safely or not, before seemingly coming to a decision. “I wanted to learn how to read and write and all of that, Taizi Dianxia.”

So Luo Binghe had been correct with his conclusion! Which filled him with some excitement, as he took Shen Jiu's hands into his and looked at him with determination, “I can teach you that, if you want.”

Shen Jiu looked mildly startled at the sudden situation, his eyes slightly widened, “What?”

“It must be hard to always have to peek into rooms without anyone catching you and you probably miss a lot of what Goushi is saying when always having to climb up and down.” Luo Binghe began to explain, “However I can teach you all of the things Goushi teaches me during lessons, after my classes. I can even show you my books and notes.”

Shen Jiu gave him a shocked expression, with some mild confusion as he looked Luo Binghe up and down, as if not daring to believe the offer. “You would do that for me? But why…?”

“Because you seem like you want to learn.” Luo Binghe replied the obvious fact.

However he was really running out of time, so he had to get up and quickly get to his room. “Meet me after my class here tomorrow, Shen Jiu.” With that being said and a final wave, Luo Binghe then quickly left to his room. Just in time before the palace doctor arrived to check up on him and conclude that the child had nothing alarming and just had a regular stomach ache.

All while Shen Jiu watched him go with a bewildered expression, unsure what even had happened just now.

***

Shen Jiu was not sure what had gotten into him that he actually had made his way to the little hide out to wait for the Crown Prince of all people. Because he could not imagine that the other would actually come. Because why would he? He was a rich brat and rich brats did not care for dirty slaves like him. Shen Jiu was sure that the Crown Prince was probably just making a joke about Shen Jiu's lack of access of any kind of education or at the very most was just feeling pity for the slave child and was trying to seem benevolent.

However Shen Jiu guessed he was desperate despite it all, as he had no other way to learn anything that would maybe one day help him be something more than just a slave living at the mercy of others.

Sitting in the grass among the trees and bushes that were concealing him, Shen Jiu let his eyes wander a bit. He guessed he was lucky that the Emperor and Empress did actually not have much use for extra staff in form of the slaves they had been gifted and thus he did have a surprising lot of free time for a slave to be able to have longer breaks between work; which was usually just helping with the cleaning and with the cooking, as while he was also trained in the guqin despite his age he was not yet asked to perform.

Picking up a leaf as he waited he tried to channel some qi into it, before throwing it at the tree closest to him. However while the leaf flew very fast, it did not manage to actually cut the tree, making Shen Jiu sigh. He had been training this move every day now whenever he had time – and was not peeking into the Crown Prince's classroom – but it was hard to teach himself cultivation when being stuck in the demon realm with little spiritual energy anywhere. Not that teaching himself reading and writing was much easier when having to learn it by himself.

Which made him wonder where the Crown Prince was. He may not have any way to actually tell the time from where he was, but he was sure that the lessons should be over by this point. Maybe he really was not going to come, just like Shen Jiu was expecting? Making Shen Jiu start to become annoyed as he picked up more leaves, trying to throw each one like a blade, cursing himself in his mind for being so stupid to have actually been somewhat hopeful and having come, since surely the damn prince was currently laughing about him somewhere else.

“What are you doing?” a chipper voice suddenly asked, making Shen Jiu almost jump in surprise and quickly turn around. To see the Crown Prince looking at him, holding a stack of books in his arms.

Shen Jiu was so taken off guard by the Crown Prince turning up after all, when he had truly not expected him any more, that it took a moment for him to actually react. At least until year long training that got beat into him acted automatically and he moved into a position to bow. “Ah, this humble one was not doing anything worth mentioning, Taizi Dianxia.”

“You really can call me Binghe. Taizi Dianxia always sounds so formal.” the Crown Prince replied as he knelt down next to where Shen Jiu was kneeling and placed the books he was carrying down between them, “Sorry for being late, but I went to pick up all my old school books, so that you can use them to study.”

Shen Jiu looked down at the books and recognized the calligraphy from the imperial teacher, meaning all these books must indeed be study books the imperial teacher had written for the prince.

“Thank you very much, eh…” Shen Jiu replied, but then looked unsure what to call the other, because every rule of decorum he had been taught told him to always call a higher ranking person by their title in an act of submission, yet the prince insisted that he should call him by his given name as if they were equal and close.

Which the Crown Prince seemed to notice, “I would really like it if you called my Binghe, because I hope that we can become friends.” he asked once again, “But if it helps you can still call me Taizi Dianxia when others are around. But please, just call me Binghe when we are alone, Jiu.” he looked at him with his ridiculously big dark eyes, that looked like they should belong to a puppy and not a fierce Heavenly Demon who could topple worlds in a few years time.

Shen Jiu bit his bottom lip, thinking about what the other was asking of him. On one hand it was such high disrespect to call a person of high rank, the imperial crown prince at that, by their given name. But on the other Shen Jiu could not deny any orders given to him. Also it was not as if they were close at all to use given names like that. However… Shen Jiu was lonely, even if he did not like admitting to it…

So after considering it for a bit, he came to a conclusion. “Okay, then this one will call you Binghe.” Shen Jiu decided, “After all, I am the older one!” he then huffed. If the Crown Prince, Luo Binghe, wanted to be familiar with him, then Shen Jiu would not play pretend with him like he had to with everyone else.

And it actually make Luo Binghe light up like the sun, “Shall I call you Jiu-Ge then, since you are older than me?”

Shen Jiu's eyes widened in astonishment for a moment, as he had always been the youngest among the slaves and thus had no one ever considering him as a senior before to call him Gege. Yet he did like the sound of it, “Yes, why not?” he nodded to himself. He was older, even if only by a year or so, so he should deserve the respect!

“Then I will call you Jiu-Ge, while you call me Binghe.” Luo Binghe smiled brightly at him.

However then the two children got to what they had come for in the first place as Luo Binghe then pulled forth one of the books, “I thought it would be a good idea to start with writing.” he stated, “At least Goushi had taught me that first, since a lot of other things involve having to read.”

Shen Jiu nodded along to this as he watched how Luo Binghe opened up the book that seemed to be about spelling.

“Is there anything that you can write?” he then asked him.

To which Shen Jiu nodded, “I can write one thing on my own.” He then picked up a random twig and wrote '九' into the dust. “That is my number; Jiu.” His name was nothing more than number that marked him as a slave, not even a real name. Yet it was the only thing that was his, so he still treasured it in a weird way.

“Oh.” Luo Binghe looked at the hanzi the other had written with genuine interest – at least it looked genuine, but Shen Jiu was not going to trust it that easily – before asking, “Can you write Shen as well?”

“Not that well.” Shen Jiu admitted in return, “But I know it's the character for 'liquid'.”

“Ah, I can write that.” Luo Binghe then stated and using a twig himself, he wrote the character for liquid right above where Shen Jiu had written the number 9, forming Shen Jiu's full name. “Try writing it, Jiu-Ge.”

Leaning over slightly Shen Jiu recalled the order and way Luo Binghe had written the strokes into the dust, before he copied it to write his full name as well. Before repeating it a few times until he felt confident that he got the hang of it.

“You writing is so pretty.” Luo Binghe gasped in astonishment. “When I started to learn writing, Goushi always reprimanded me that my calligraphy looks like chicken scratch.” he said, before pushing his bottom lip out, “She still does…”

At this Shen Jiu could not help a laugh, pointing at the open notebook Luo Binghe had brought along, full of his own writing attempts, “It does.” he grinned with a cheeky expression, “I only just started and mine already looks better.”

This made Luo Binghe pout, yet he could not actually say anything in defence, as it was true.

Time flew by in a flash as the two children sat together and practised writing with the help of Luo Binghe's study books. However eventually Shen Jiu had to get back to work, as he had to help with preparing dinner for all of the servants and afterwards help with the dishes. As such the two of them packed everything together that they had used that day.

However then Luo Binghe pushed his books into Shen Jiu's arms, “You can keep them to study on your own as well.” Luo Binghe told him, as Shen Jiu looked at him with confusion, “I have learned all that stuff already anyway and am not using these books any longer, so you can have them. Otherwise they will just collect dust in my room anyway.”

Shen Jiu looked at the books in astonishment, “You are really giving them to me?”

“Yes.” Luo Binghe nodded, “You can have them, if you want.”

Shen Jiu kept on looking at the books in his arms, his fingers running along the binding. “Thank you, Binghe.” He had never in his life possessed anything that was his, so even if these books were second-hand it was the first physical thing that Shen Jiu had that belong to him. Which was overwhelming for a slave like him and he could not help himself from looking away from Luo Binghe and refusing to meet his eye, “But don't think that this makes you special in my eyes or anything like that, just because you gave me your books!”

This only got him a small chuckle from Luo Binghe, “Jiu-Ge is cute.”

“I am not!” Shen Jiu hissed at him with a red face. Him? Cute? That was preposterous!!

However Luo Binghe only giggled more with childish innocence only a royal like him could have. “So, same time tomorrow, Jiu-Ge?” he then asked him.

Still feeling embarrassed for some reason, Shen Jiu huffed, “If you insist, I guess I can come again.”

“Okay, see you tomorrow then, Jiu-Ge.” Luo Binghe smiled happily and gave Shen Jiu a hug, which only made the older child tense up from the unexpected intimacy – not that he could have done much anyway, like hugging him back or shoving him away, with the books still occupying his hands.

With that Luo Binghe then took his leave with a big wave, while Shen Jiu watched him go and still tried to figure out what was up with this weird prince. As Shen Jiu had never met a noble child like him, as usually they were arrogant and would never even deem to talk to a slave beyond insults and demanding things. Was it maybe a demon thing?

But then Shen Jiu looked back down at the books in his arms and he guessed that whatever it was, he did not mind it as much. Before he then also left the little hide out to quickly go to his small servants quarters to put the books away; his books.

***

Luo Binghe would meet almost every day with Shen Jiu for him to teach the other the things he had been taught by his teacher. And Shen Jiu was a surprisingly quick study, catching on with everything with ease, despite being taught by another child. And Shen Jiu had in return also begun to help Luo Binghe with his music and art studies, as he had been taught in these things since his former slave traders had noticed his talents and decided to invest in them to make him worth more.

However on some days the two children would just together and talk or play little games, usually when the weather was too bad for them to sit in their hide out among the trees to study. Like they did that day, as they sat within the little woodshed at the far back of the palace grounds, as they watched the rain fall heavily down upon the shed, barely missing the pair huddled together within.

“Say Jiu-Ge, what do you want to be when you grow up?” Luo Binghe asked as he watched the rain.

Which made Shen Jiu raise an eyebrow at him, because did he forget that Shen Jiu was a slave? But then again, he was planning on gaining his freedom one day, something he made no secret about in front of Luo Binghe, and he already did have plans. “I want to become cultivator. Or a scholar. Or both.” he answered truthfully, “After all cultivators are really strong and no one can tell them what to do. And scholars are really clever and highly respected. And I want to be strong and respected by people, so that no one can look down upon me ever again.”

“That is so cool!” Luo Binghe looked at him with big eyes filled with awe, “Jiu-Ge would be such a good cultivator as well! And that Jiu-Ge is clever like a scholar, we both already know.” he giggled. He then looked back at the rain, “Both my A-Niang and also Goushi are also cultivators, so maybe I can try to teach you a few things as well. Though I am not so sure how well I would be with teaching you, as Master Meng Mo is also teaching me demonic cultivation at the same time and I'm not very good at balancing both yet. And my A-Niang said that demonic cultivation is dangerous for full humans and I don't want to accidentally hurt you…”

Shen Jiu guessed that it made sense. He had seen Luo Binghe train both on occasion with his teachers and thus had seen him getting scolded once or twice for having mixed up techniques. And as much as Shen Jiu would love to cultivate, he did not want to risk having a damaged core. Also it was not as if there was any spiritual energy in the demon realm. The only place that had any was within the Empress' palace and courtyard, as the Emperor had rare spiritual stones embedded into everything for her, but it was not as if Shen Jiu could just walk in there to cultivate in secret. It was already risky for him to spend time with the prince like this and could earn him a huge beating if he got caught, but sneaking into the Empress' palace might just get him killed on the spot.

But he would find some different way! Nothing would ever stop him from building his own future!

“What about you?” Shen Jiu then asked Luo Binghe in return, “If you weren't the throne heir, what would you want to be one day?”

A surprised expression found its way onto Luo Binghe's face, “I actually never thought about that.” Which was no surprise, Shen Jiu guessed, when being born into a future career like being the future Emperor, the most powerful person of all, of all things. Who would think much about alternatives then?

Luo Binghe considered the question for a bit, before finally coming up with a reply, “I would probably become a chef or maybe a farmer.”

For a moment Shen Jiu simply stared at him. Before having to laugh, “That is one hell of a career change from Emperor to farmer.” Surely Luo Binghe's heavenly ancestors must be turning in their graves at hearing that their youngest descendant and heir wanted to be a chef or a farmer.

Luo Binghe also had to giggle, even if his cheeks were tinged a light pink, “I know. But I really love to cook and even to clean since its super relaxing, and it sounds like fun getting to work with my hands every day and make something that helps everyone.” he admitted, “Is it weird?” he then asked.

Shen Jiu was still feeling incredibly amused, yet he shook his head, “No. I kinda could see you as a farmer, as well as an Emperor. It would suit you.” He then crooked his head at the other, “But I didn't know you liked to cook.” He did not even know that a prince would even know how to cook, because after all they had servants for that.

“Ah, yes.” Luo Binghe replied, “My nanny taught me and we used to cook together a lot.”

“You have a nanny?” Shen Jiu was mildly surprised at this information, as he had never seen a nanny anywhere.

“Had. But she sadly had died a bit over a year ago.” Luo Binghe told him, his eyes drifting into the distance. “When my A-Niang gave birth to me, she had gotten hurt by some bad guy and barely survived the birth thanks to my A-Die finding her in time. And she was too weak to take care of me and had to go into many seclusions, so my A-Die got an older human woman to help to raise me, so that my A-Niang could rest and recuperate, and she was like a second mother to me.” a soft and fond smile graced his lips as he thought back to her, “She used to work as a simple washerwoman before my A-Die hired her, as she had beforehand been the one to original find my A-Niang and kept her stable for long enough until my A-Die had come. So she had taught me all the manual chores usually done around the house, including cooking which we used to do together a lot. And I grew to really like these tasks, since they remind me of her.”

Shen Jiu was silent as he listened. He had heard from a few of the other servants that the Empress had almost died during the birth of the prince, due to some poison that had been meant for the unborn child that she herself had absorbed to protect her child. And it made a foul taste fill his mouth as he thought how lucky Luo Binghe was to not only have one but two loving mothers in his life, while he had no one. But he swallowed it down, because he liked the little lucky beast, “She sounds really nice.”

“She really was.” Luo Binghe said. Before he suddenly opened up the labels of his fancy robes, to pull out a jade pendant. “Right before her death, she gave me her pendant to protect me and I have been keeping it with me ever since.”

Shen Jiu looked at the pendant. It was a Guanyin made out of inexpensive jade, if it even was real jade, and was the type Shen Jiu used to see a lot on stalls and the type someone more poor like a former washerwoman would have had after saving up. It was nothing like the high grade jade that was all over the palace and the aristocracy and other rich people would often wear. Yet it seemed special with how Luo Binghe seemed to treasure it, with always keeping it close and hidden safely under his robes. “Then you have to make sure to always protect it and never letting anyone else take it away.” Shen Jiu stated with finality, “Things that are 'yours' have to always be protected, no matter what.” It was a philosophy the slave lived by, where he would be willing to fight anyone who dared to try and take away what was his, regardless of what it was.

For a moment Luo Binghe looked up at Shen Jiu with big eyes, before a bright smile formed on his soft features and he nodded enthusiastically, “I will! I promise!”

Finally the rain began to let off and all that was left of the heavy rain was the wet ground, allowing the two children to hop off the stacked wood and walk out of the little woodshed that they had used as shelter. Yet both were not quite in the mood to study, especially when looking at the muddy ground beneath their feet on which sitting and studying on would be unpleasant.

“You want to play something?” Luo Binghe then asked.

Making Shen Jiu think for a moment about it, before nodding. “We could, if you want.”

“Yes!” Luo Binghe cheered as he took Shen Jiu by the hand and pulled him along to play together for the rest of the evening.

***

Shen Jiu was getting incredibly good with his studies. In fact, ever since he figured out how to read he was able to study a lot on his own with Luo Binghe's books and was slowly getting better than Luo Binghe himself, allowing Shen Jiu to occasionally help Luo Binghe with his homework as well.

They were once more sitting in their hide out by the trees while Shen Jiu was practising his poetry, while also at the same time helping Luo Binghe with his maths homework.

“The way you are doing this is entirely wrong.” Shen Jiu said, as he looked up from his book that he was reading, “You have to subtract it from the other number, otherwise you will get it all wrong by the end and have to start over.” Placing his book aside he picked up one of the scrolls lying around and opening it up, to point at an equation written within. “You have to do it like this.” he pointed out as he snatched Luo Binghe's brush out of his hand to write the proper equation down on a different piece of scrap paper, that was already full with notes and corrections from Shen Jiu, “That way you get the correct sum.”

Luo Binghe watched intently and nodded along to what Shen Jiu was saying. Before copying it and working on from there, “Like this?”

Shen Jiu watched him work, before he nodded, “Yes, like that.” He once more picked up his book, “When you are finished, you can look over my spelling in return.”

“Okay.” Luo Binghe nodded happily, as he continued doing his homework, always looking at Shen Jiu's notes for reference.

But then suddenly another voice spoke up, making both children jolt in fright. “And this one has been wondering how the young master had suddenly made such leaps in his studies. It seems like he found himself another teacher.”

Looking up the two children were shocked to see none other than the imperial teacher standing there, looking at them and the spread out homework and books from over the bushes, a fan in hand that was concealing most of her face aside from her eyes.

Shen Jiu was frozen stiff from fright at being caught, unable to act or do anything at all out of worry of what kind of punishment might await him now for daring to be so casual with the Crown Prince and touch his belongings like this.

Luo Binghe was also heavily flustered and tried to somehow salvage the situation, “Please don't be angry Goushi. Jiu-Ge just helped me with a few things, as a thanks that I taught him reading and writing. This student would never replace or take another teacher than Goushi, and did not wish to seem unfilial.”

An elegant looking eyebrow raised itself on the imperial teacher's face as she looked at both of the children, then the open notes, many of which were written with a hand the teacher was not familiar with due to having been written by Shen Jiu, and then to the young slave that was sitting on the ground petrified.

Before finally speaking up after a beat, “You had the young prince teach you?”

This made Shen Jiu jolt out of his petrified state and quickly move into a kowtow, “That is true. Taizi Dianxia had offered this lowly slave to teach him how to read and write. This lowly slave had not meant any offence with his actions, but I will accept any punishment for my misgivings.” While he said these things, he was still struggling to suppress his trembling, hoping that he would get away with only a beating and not worse for having displayed such disrespect towards the royal prince with his casual behaviour and forgetting his own station next to the son of the heavens.

“He taught you how to read and write?” she sounded mildly surprised, once more looking at the notes lying around that Shen Jiu had written, some to help Luo Binghe and others as practise for himself, “And what is your name?”

“This lowly slave is Shen Jiu.” Shen Jiu replied, his forehead still touching the ground, “I have been gifted to the palace a few months ago to entertain with music.”

“Shen Jiu.” she repeated the name, her voice sounding thoughtful for a moment as she looked down upon the slave. Before she suddenly snapped her fan shut, “Shen Jiu, get up and come with me.” her voice was hard, not giving any room for argument.

Shen Jiu jolted once more at the sound of the fan snapping shut, reminding him of the sound of a whip slapping against skin. Yet he got up onto his legs, his eyes cast downwards demurely.

Luo Binghe also got up and quickly moved around the bushes towards his teacher, “Goushi, please do not be angry with Jiu-Ge. He is my friend and didn't do anything wrong.”

However the imperial teacher did not care for his words, “Taizi, do not speak out of line.” She then turned towards Shen Jiu, “Follow me, and bring all of this with you.” she pointed at the books and notes

With this she began walking, as Shen Jiu followed quietly with all the study notes in hand. Same as Luo Binghe followed along as well carrying his own things as well, wanting to protect his friend somehow even if he did not know how.

Together they walked into the main palace, making Shen Jiu even more nervous what was going to happen now. Yet when he found himself walking into the royal office of all places, where none other than the Emperor was sitting, he felt like he was going to faint. As he moved to kowtow before the emperor, he fell more to his knees than he lowered himself down, feeling pain from the impact that he yet barely registered out of fear. Was he going to get into trouble with the Emperor now, for having dared to be so casual with his heir and for being seen to having exploited a royal family member? Or for having clearly tried to get out of his station as a slave by learning in secret in the hopes to one day get away?

“Oh, how can I help you?” Tianlang-Jun looked incredibly interested in the very mismatched group that suddenly came into his office. All this paperwork was getting boring anyway, so this sudden visit peeked his interest.

Luo Binghe only managed to open his mouth to say something in Shen Jiu's defence and how it was all his doing towards his father, only for the imperial teacher to lift her hand to silence him before any words actually managed to leave him.

Instead she spoke up. “I want young Shen Jiu.”

This surprised everyone within the room. Even Shen Jiu was so surprised that he could not help but raise his head to look at the imperial teacher, despite the Emperor being within the room and not having given him the permission to raise his head.

Tianlang-Jun as well also looked incredibly interested by this request. “Why is that?” He neither sounded put off by the suddenly request, not like he was considering it either. His question was asked in an entirely neutral way.

“Because this young child is incredibly clever and has a marvellous foundation for cultivation as well, and as such it would be a waste of his talents to not foster his skills, by keeping him as a slave and having him scrub floors until the end of his life.” she said, as she took the notes Shen Jiu had written, “Apparently Junshang's son had taught him reading and writing in only a few months and it seems as if Shen Jiu had already long been helping your son with his homework in return.” she showed the notes to Tianlang-Jun for him to look at. “So I want to buy Shen Jiu's slave contract and adopt him and teach him. As I am sure that one day he would be a good choice for a future member of this court, once he has grown up and studied under this teacher.”

Tianlang-Jun looked at the notes with interest, “Quite impressive if he really only recently started, especially when his teacher was another kid.” He handed the notes back, before he gave a relaxed shrug, “You can have him. A-Xiyan and I have been trying to figure out what to do with all the extra slaves that we got anyway, since we really did not need more staff in the palace, so feel free to take and teach young Shen Jiu then. Especially as my wife had been worried about our son anyway, since he has no other kids to play with, so it would be a great win-win situation.”

“Then that is settled.” the imperial teacher bowed to the Emperor, before turning towards Shen Jiu, who was still staring at her with wide eyes. “You have heard everything, Shen Jiu. So what do you say, do you want to come with me and accept me as your Yifu from now on?”

Shen Jiu stared at her, unable to believe any of what was happening. He was sure that he was going to get punished severely, but instead the imperial teacher was offering to free him from his slave status and to take him under her wing. He felt overwhelmed with emotions that he could barely name with how foreign they were to him and all he could do was bow, “This one greets Yifu!”

After this everything went so fast for Shen Jiu that he could hardly keep up with the changes. He was moved out of his tiny servants quarters and moved into his Yifu's private dwellings, as he no longer was a slave but the imperial teacher's adopted son. His Yifu also bought him new robes, befitting of his new status and his own brushes and inks and even his own guqin to play with. And every day, instead of having to meet up in secret and study with Luo Binghe's notes from the day, Shen Jiu was sitting in the classroom together with Luo Binghe, studying together under the imperial teacher's tutelage. While also, while Luo Binghe was off studying demonic cultivation with Master Meng Mo, Shen Jiu got taken to the Empress' palace to study spiritual cultivation there together with no only his Yifu, but also the Empress herself.

It was all beyond anything Shen Jiu, who used to sleep on the streets and begged for spare change to buy himself something to eat, could have ever dreamed of in a million years. Where sometimes he would swear it all was just a dream and yet he woke up in his new, warm bed every morning, have breakfast with his Yifu, before meeting up with Luo Binghe to study together and later on play together, like equals. All thanks to Luo Binghe offering his help and unknowingly setting up these chain of events that would shape Shen Jiu's life for the better.

***

Years had passed by ever since Luo Binghe had first spotted the young slave child within the crowd. The two young children had long become teenagers, at the brink of adulthood with Shen Jiu now being 18 and Luo Binghe 17.

Many things had changed since then. Luo Binghe had begun joining his parents at court and taking much more active parts within the handling of the Empire. While Shen Jiu had officially become an imperial scholar after finishing the imperial exam, dominating all the other young scholars by coming out at the very top with ease despite his background as a former slave. Of course a few scholars born from noble families had tried to claim that Shen Jiu, or better now Shen Qingqiu, had used some underhanded tricks and must have cheated. Yet no one dared to say these things for long, when the heavenly demon crown prince always followed his childhood friend like a shadow and had no problems fighting anyone who dared to talk badly about his Jiu-Ge.

Luo Binghe was sitting on a bench by the outer entrance area of the palace, underneath the eaves of the roof, watching the sky. He had a book on his lap that he had taken to pass the time, yet could not find the attention in himself to actually read. Instead his eyes stayed within the sky, watching the snow slowly fall and cover the already white ground further in a soft blanket.

A thick and luxurious fur cloak was wrapped around his form, even if technically he did not need it as his cultivation kept him protected from the winter cold anyway. The cloak was made out of the fur of a rare breed of beast and had been a tribute from Mobei-Jun, after he had taken over the rule of his clan and the northern kingdom that was part of the Empire; it was truly a winter robe fit for a king from the price and rarity in its own. Not that it was needed, but it was comforting and warmer than anything Luo Binghe had ever owned.

The snow continued to fall, turning everything within the distance into a white haze.

Which was how he, despite his highly trained senses from both his demonic attributes and also cultivation training, had almost missed how two figures were approaching the palace with a rapid speed that no one could ever run. The two figures were dressed in light greens and whites, that almost had made them blend into the snowy backdrop that had overtaken the entire Empire. Yet for Luo Binghe it was impossible to ever not notice that one figure, too radiant and beautiful like the most rare and vibrant flowers, to ever fall into a backdrop no matter where he went.

Getting up from where he was sitting, Luo Binghe approached the slender figure as they came to a halt within the courtyard. Stopping next to one of the figures Luo Binghe then held out his hand into which another slender hand found its way into, as a set of petite feet, clad in white boots, stepped off the blade of an elegant looking sword, and landed in the snow in such a soft way it did not even seem to disturb the snow.

“Jiu-Ge, Goushi, welcome back.” Luo Binghe smiled brightly, before pulling Shen Qingqiu into his arms for a hug, “I missed you so much.” Only to notice how cold the white cloak the other man was wearing was cold to the touch, as it was covered with a light layer of snow, “Oh, you must be freezing. Here, take this.” Without a second thought he took off his own expensive cloak and wrapped it around Shen Qingqiu's slender form.

“I am a cultivator, you little beast. I do not get cold and you know it.” Shen Qingqiu huffed. Yet he did not remove the cloak from his shoulders and instead subtly tried to hide the light dusting of pink on his cheeks within the thick black fur. But Luo Binghe had seen it, despite the attempt. “Also how unfilial of you to greet me first, over Yifu.” Shen Qingqiu then nagged at him, “Have you never learned decorum. You are supposed to greet and assist and elder first, little beast!”

However a light laugh filled the air as the imperial teacher approached them, while sheathing her own sword after having stepped off from it. “Do not worry about it, Jiu-Er.” she looked at the pair with an amused expression, “After all, how could I ever compete with my little Nappa Cabbage, especially when it's over Taizi's attention?” she pinched Shen Qingqiu's cheeks for extra measure, which made her adopted son only blush more.

“Now come along the two of you and let us get out of his snow.” the imperial teacher said, as she began walking, “I still have to make my report to the Junshang, now that we are back.”

The two scholarly cultivators had went out to give assistance in a matter with a few angered spirits that had went on a rampage within an area of the Empire, that the locals had been unable to handle on their own. So after sending a memorial to the Junshang through the responsible minister, Tianlang-Jun had asked the imperial teacher and her adopted son to please help out.

“And, how did the mission go, Jiu-Ge?” Luo Binghe asked Shen Qingqiu, as both also walked into the palace together, following the imperial teacher. “Did you encounter any problems?” Originally Luo Binghe had begged his father to also let him go and help, but sadly Luo Binghe had to do work in the court and thus had to stay behind.

“No.” Shen Qingqiu replied, “As it turned out some local lord had illegally cut down one of the spirits' trees, as he wanted to extend his property, which of course had enraged the spirits. So Yifu and I had the lord make up for his misgivings and do the proper rituals to atone.”

Luo Binghe listened intently to the story. Where he could already imagine that his Jiu-Ge probably personally made sure that the lord would learn his lesson and never again step out of line. Shen Qingqiu was one who taught hard lessons that would not be easily forgotten and it made him very popular among the demon kind. And it was something Luo Binghe greatly admired about him.

As the imperial teacher went on her own to give her report, it allowed Luo Binghe and Shen Qingqiu to have time for themselves.

Making Luo Binghe speak up, “Jiu-Ge, I was about to make some dinner soon.” he mentioned, “So if you haven't eaten yet, do you want to join me?” Luo Binghe in fact knew that Shen Qingqiu had not yet eaten, as the other would rarely eat when outside of the palace ever since he had mastered inedia. In fact he only ate if it was Luo Binghe who cooked, which filled him with endless pride. Which was why Luo Binghe also only really cooked food if Shen Qingqiu was there, as he wanted to cook for him and have him eat and enjoy the food Luo Binghe made for him.

“I guess this one could be convinced to join you sticky little beast.” Shen Qingqiu mused, “However first this one wants to freshen up after my travel.”

“Of course.” Luo Binghe beamed at having the other agree – even if his Jiu-Ge had yet to say no to his offer to make him any kind of food, “Just come to my courtyard when you are finished, while I go and prepare us something.”

With this the two then parted ways for now, Shen Qingqiu going to the dwelling he shared with his adoptive parent, while Luo Binghe went to his own courtyard.

Luo Binghe wanted to make them both something special, which was why he had went shopping earlier to get fresh ingredients, all of Shen Qingqiu's favourites. He even had a few things that usually were impossible to get at this time of year, but which he had Mobei-Jun fetch for him from the deep south with his teleportation powers.

Cutting the ingredients, while some of the food was already cooking on the fire, Luo Binghe hummed a tune to himself, one which his Jiu-Ge would often play on his guqin when he was playing more leisurely, where he then heard the door of his little private kitchen opening as someone stepped into the room. However even without turning around Luo Binghe knew that it was not his Jiu-Ge, whom he had invited over. He after all knew his childhood friend well and thus knew that the other was probably currently taking a bath to wash off the travel dirt, as Shen Qingqiu took a high importance on being clean. Also the smell was nothing like Shen Qingqiu's, that always had that distinct trace of bamboo to it from all the bamboo that surrounded the imperial teacher's dwelling.

“Oh, are you cooking something?” Tianlang-Jun walked up towards him as he sniffed the fragrant air, “Can I have some?”

“No.” Luo Binghe instantly replied to his father, not even batting an eyelid at the unfilial dismissal. That food was only for Jiu-Ge and himself.

Tianlang-Jun did not care for his son's rejection, as it was by far not the first time he was denied something by him. Instead he actually laughed in amusement, “My poor old heart is wounded over getting rejected for a younger man.”

Luo Binghe only rolled his eyes, as he moved to taste test the broth, adding some more spice to it to adjust the taste. “Is there anything father needs of this son?” he asked, even as he slapped his father's hand away as the older demon tried to steal one of the fruit Luo Binghe had bought for dessert.

“Not really.” Tianlang-Jun shrugged as he sat down at the small table within the little kitchen. “I just got a meeting in a bit and have to pass the time. And what better way to pass the time than to tease my son?”

“Why? Is cousin not available to tease?” Luo Binghe asked, looking over his shoulder. His father always took the greatest joy out of teasing either Luo Binghe himself or his older cousin Zhuzhi-Lang, whom his father had raised after the passing of Luo Binghe's aunt years before Luo Binghe's parents had even met, let alone had him.

“No.” Tianlang-Jun pouted, “Zhuzhi-Lang is curled up and fast asleep.” Usually Tianlang-Jun liked to tease his nephew much more than his son, as Zhuzhi-Lang was much more prone to becoming flustered than Luo Binghe was. However being half-snake demon, Zhuzhi-Lang always got incredibly sleepy during the winter months and would often rest. Leaving Tianlang-Jun bored and come to bother his son instead.

Luo Binghe continued cooking the food, as Tianlang-Jun sat in a relaxed manner and watched.

However eventually the silence clearly got too boring for the eccentric demon, as he once more spoke up in a casual manner. “You know, these days young Jiu-Er really reminds me of your mother when I first met her.”

Humming in reply, Luo Binghe guessed he could see that. Both his mother Su Xiyan and Shen Qingqiu were both incredibly proud and strong willed people, who refused to ever bow their heads to anyone and had no qualms of even crushing much more powerful people under their boot that it was almost sadistic in nature. Making it no wonder that Su Xiyan was deeply loved and respected as Empress by the demon kind, despite being a human, same as more and more demons came to appreciate the young scholar who was making a name for himself far and wide with his sharp tongue and wit.

Using his son's momentarily distraction, Tianlang-Jun snatched up one of the slices of fruit and looked at it in contemplation. “Do you think young Jiu-Er would like the idea of becoming this one's concubine?”

In less than the blink of an eye the kitchen knife Luo Binghe was using to cut the ingredients was pushed against his father's throat hard enough to have a trickle of blood run down from where it cut the pale flesh, as Luo Binghe glared his father down, his eyes and demon mark glowing a burning red. “Do not dare to touch or even look at my Jiu-Ge or I will end your reign as Emperor right now.”

Tianlang-Jun was hardly bothered by the threat and leisurely plopped the fruit cut into his mouth, chewing it before swallowing it, having no care in the world that the act of swallowing caused the knife to cut even deeper into his throat. “I am just joking, Binghe.” Tianlang-Jun had a smug grin filled with endless amusement, “I do not want or need anyone else than A-Xiyan and I think everyone knows just how much you like young Jiu-Er, since you clearly share the same taste as your old man.” he said, before shrugging, “Well, everyone but Jiu-Er himself knows it.”

Luo Binghe glared for a moment longer at this father, before retracting the knife and putting it to be washed as he was not risking even the smallest drop of his father's blood to end up in the food he was going to serve Shen Qingqiu. All while the cut on Tianlang-Jun's throat instantly healed as if it never had been there to begin with.

“Are you going to leave now?” Luo Binghe then asked, as he pulled out a new knife with mild annoyance in his voice, “Because this son can not promise his imperial father that this knife might not end up inside of his skull if he makes another joke.”

“Not quite.” Tianlang-Jun replied, still not having a single care about his son's threats. “It's just that your mother and I have recently been talking about how you are in the age to start looking for partners and we agree that we are happy for as long as you find someone who makes you happy. And both of us agree that we certainly would not mind having Jiu-Er as a son-in-law.”

Truth to be told, Luo Binghe was glad to hear this from his father. Not that it mattered, as he would have not cared if his parents had been against it and would have fought them if needed be, but it was still nice to hear it.

“But you better actually say something to Jiu-Er soon, since quite a few seem to have their eyes on him as well. And I rather not have you go and kill people in my palace, because its way too much boring paperwork for me and demons and humans alike crying at me for wanting revenge.” Tianlang-Jun told him, before giving his son a curious look, “Do you maybe need some help with winning Jiu-Er over? If yes, your old man can certainly give you some tips and help out. I can also borrow you some of my books for references if you like-” The knife Luo Binghe had been holding, embedded itself deep into the wall right next to Tianlang-Jun's face after Luo Binghe threw it. “Fine, I get the hint, you want to do it yourself.” he laughed as he got up, pulling the knife out in the process and handing it back to his son, “But if you need any help, feel free to come to me.” With a final infuriating wink to his son, Tianlang-Jun then finally left his son's courtyard to go to whatever meeting he had mentioned earlier.

It was not too much longer after that once more someone entered Luo Binghe's private palace. However this time it was Shen Qingqiu, who was freshly dressed in elegant robes in light colours, that stood in contrast to the dark colours of Luo Binghe's private dwelling and making the cultivator stand out beautifully as he caught all the attention around him.

Luo Binghe just placed the food onto the table, as he then looked up in joy. “Jiu-Ge.” he walked up towards him, “Come on in and take a seat. I just finished dinner, so it's still all nice and hot.”

“Thank you, Binghe.” Shen Qingqiu let the other take his cloak he put on to keep the falling snow off his body as he had made his way over to the crown prince's palace, before sitting down at the table as if he owned the place. Just like Luo Binghe wanted it, as what was his was also Shen Qingqiu's and he wanted him to always feel at home around him.

After hanging up the cloak, Luo Binghe joined him at the table and personally served them both the food, while mentioning the dishes and also the dessert he had made for them. Feeling delighted as he watched the other's usually passive face light up for the smallest moment at hearing multiple of his favourite dishes having been made.

“You are the crown prince, yet are serving this one food. Shouldn't this one or at least a servant do these manual tasks?” Shen Qingqiu asked him, a fan that he had gotten from his Yifu when passing his exam in his hand as he fanned himself leisurely with it, showing no intention of actually helping. He had the air of an aristocrat to him, making him seem otherworldly in his manners, with no hint of his actual lowly background anywhere in his demeanour.

Knowing that the other was just being sarcastic and teasing, Luo Binghe smiled at him, “This one doesn't need a servant for something so simple, regardless of if I am a crown prince and future emperor or the poorest of paupers, as I have my own two hands that function perfectly well.” he then looked up at Shen Qingqiu, their eyes meeting, “And especially why would I give away a task that gives me joy, like serving my Jiu-Ge some food I made? I would be a fool to do so, do you not agree?”

Once more a light blush formed on Shen Qingqiu's face that he quickly hid behind his fan, “You are a fool either way, little beast.”

“If it's for my Jiu-Ge, this little beast is gladly a fool.”

Shen Qingqiu did not deem this line worthy a reply, but Luo Binghe could just see how his lower eyelids bend in a secret smile that was hidden by the fan.

Together the two of them shared the food that Luo Binghe had made, while they casually chatted about the latest book Shen Qingqiu had read, the latest court meetings Luo Binghe had attended, the sights Shen Qingqiu had seen while being outside of the palace, and whatever else came to mind. And it was perfect. This was exactly how things were supposed to be, him and his Jiu-Ge sitting together, sharing a meal, and talking about their day in the most domestic way there was.

“Ah yeah, before this one forgets. On our way back Yifu told me that the local school had requested if I were willing to teach there and she suggested that I should accept the offer as practise.” Shen Qingqiu told him as he nibbled on his dessert, “At least until your father eventually decides to retire and you take over the throne. Since then this one will after all work in the palace for you, maybe as your advisor or maybe I will inherit Yifu's title as imperial teacher and teach any little brats that you will have at some point and make sure that they grow up into proper gentlemen and ladies you can stand their ground among their demon kin.”

Shen Qingqiu spoke with an air of finality and he had every right to do so, as he had been specifically trained to one day join Luo Binghe's court and support him. Something Luo Binghe was fully supportive of, as he indeed wanted him by his side.

However truth to be told, Luo Binghe wanted Shen Qingqiu in a different position than as simply his advisor or as the imperial teacher who taught his royal children. He wanted Shen Qingqiu as his Empress, who ruled by his side and – if his Jiu-Ge was willing – be the one Luo Binghe had children with. Although Luo Binghe guessed that Shen Qingqiu could also at the same time be the imperial teacher, if he wanted to. “Jiu-Ge can do whatever he likes in my future court, because this one knows that this Empire will prosper with Jiu-Ge's help.”

“Of course it will.” Shen Qingqiu huffed, but the amusement was evident in his voice.

Eventually however Shen Qingqiu had to leave for the evening, as he still had to help his adoptive mother with some work. So Luo Binghe saw him out, with the promise that they would see each other again in the morning like every day, before he went to clean up everything from dinner.

Which included the knife he had used against his father, which he washed off. And he could not help but think back to what his father had said about courting Shen Qingqiu. Because as much as he did not want to admit it, his old man was right. He should really, finally, begin to properly court his Jiu-Ge, like he always had wanted to do.

With a smile on his face, a decision was then made. He was going to make his Jiu-Ge finally his and treat him just like he deserved.

***

Shen Qingqiu ended up taking the position at the school on his Yifu's recommendation and went to the local school close to the palace regularly to teach the children there, most of which were demons but quite a few were also human or at least part human. Truth to be told, most of the children were arrogant brats from rich parents and many of the adults, mainly the men, were annoying brutes who thought highly of themselves. But they were all easily enough brought to heel, as demon society after all always respected strength and poisonous tongues, and Shen Qingqiu had enough of both after living in a palace filled to the brim with demons for most of his life after an entire childhood spend surviving on the streets as a child slave. At least the female teachers working alongside him were very kind and Shen Qingqiu got along with them very well, but he always got along well with women anyway.

But at least the job was indeed fulfilling in its own way and he indeed got quite a lot of first hand experience at teaching himself, as after all his Yifu was hoping to make him her successor as the imperial teacher and he admittedly did quite like the idea. And while his future position was of course dependent on Luo Binghe hiring him once he became Emperor, Shen Qingqiu trusted his little beast and his word enough to know the position was safe for as long Shen Qingqiu wanted it. And he did, because sue him, he liked the feeling of power, especially after a childhood of slavery and abuse at the hands of people more powerful than him.

Yet in the end Shen Qingqiu was always glad when he finished his work for the day and could return to the palace that he called his home. Where every day his little beast would wait and welcome him like some overly sticky dog with attachment issues. Which was endearing in its own way.

Just like he was doing that day as well.

Luo Binghe was waiting by the entrance of the palace, smiling brightly the moment he spotted Shen Qingqiu approaching on his sword.

“You are going to ruin your robes, if you keep on waiting for me in the snow every day.” Shen Qingqiu said as he landed and as per usual let the other help him off his sword, even if it truly was not necessary at all. “Also are these your court robes?” he looked him up and down, taking in the ornate robes the other was wearing, “Are you supposed to be in court, little beast?”

Luo Binghe was dressed in elegant robes befitting of his standing as crown prince, with detailed embroidery that showed off his status to the world and he made for a truly handsome figure. If only there wasn't a light layer of snow on his shoulders and the top of his head. “Ah, only in a bit. But even if, they can wait for me, because welcoming my Jiu-Ge back is much more important.”

This however only earned him a light whack on the head with Shen Qingqiu's fan. “How arrogant of you.” Before he reached up to dust some of the snow off from the other's body and making sure the guan holding the otherwise wild locks in a neat high ponytail was straight, “You better get your hide into the throne room, before I whip you bloody and you have to crawl there for your impudent behaviour towards your imperial father the Emperor and the many ministers.”

“Oh, my imperial father will understand.” Luo Binghe replied, the most stupid smile on his face as he let Shen Qingqiu clean him up and push him inside towards the throne room.

“This one does not care if the Emperor will understand or not.” Shen Qingqiu gave him another smack for that. Even if he by this point knew what a huge eccentric the Emperor was, who truly did not care much for decorum, but it was no reason to use it as an excuse to be some arrogant slob. “However it is important that as the heir you show at least some decorum, to gain the respect of the ministers outside of just being stronger than them. You are not some brainless brute after all.”

“Jiu-Ge is right.” Luo Binghe finally agreed. Yet he still did not really make much effort to actually go to the throne room and instead looked at Shen Qingqiu, “However first I wanted to give you something.” he suddenly said, taking Shen Qingqiu off guard.

“What?” Shen Qingqiu raised in eyebrow at him, “You are risking being late for court, because you wanted to give me something? Surely that could have waited until afterwards.”

“No, because nothing is more important than my Jiu-Ge.” Luo Binghe had absolutely no hint of any shame in him, as he instead pulled out a little box and held it out towards Shen Qingqiu. “Here, this is for you.”

Shen Qingqiu looked at the box held out towards him with wide eyes, before narrowing them at the other, “If I accept this, will you go to court, little beast?”

“Yes, this Binghe promises.” Luo Binghe nodded eagerly.

“Fine, since I do not want to be made responsible for you being tardy, I guess I have to accept this.” Shen Qingqiu huffed as he snatched up the box, “Don't think that I am flattered, just because you bought me a random gift, little beast.”

However as he opened the box, Shen Qingqiu found himself for a moment stunned as he revealed a highly integrate hair pin made out of jade of the highest quality. While the centre piece were the decorative flowers that had been embedded into their hairpiece with the skills of a master jewel maker, as every single flower had been cut from rare spiritual stones where each were probably worth more than Shen Qingqiu's monthly salary.

“I hope Jiu-Ge likes it and will wear it.” Luo Binghe said, “I have gathered the stones myself and commissioned the hairpin for you.”

However before Shen Qingqiu got the chance to actually say anything, a question as for why or a thanks or anything, Luo Binghe then began to jog off, “However this Binghe really has to go now or I will really be late. Let's talk later then, Jiu-Ge.”

He was then gone, leaving Shen Qingqiu standing there with the delicate hair pin in his hand, unsure what to do with it or what to say. However as the other was not there any more to say anything to anyway, as Luo Binghe had vanished within the throne room for court, Shen Qingqiu decided to simply not say anything about it. And about what to do with it – if he began to wear it the next day, then it was no one's business anyway. After all, it was impolite as well to not at least use a gift occasionally.

After that first gift, the gifts also kept on coming. While some of them were of the same luxurious level as the hair pin, like new robes made from rare silks or some finely crafted jewellery, some were much more simple but personal, like self-made snacks and a self-made hand-painted fan to add to Shen Qingqiu's collection.

Admittedly Shen Qingqiu had gotten gifts from Luo Binghe many times during their many years of friendship since their youth, yet they had never been this excessive and high in number. And Shen Qingqiu was not entirely sure what to think about it. As what Luo Binghe was doing almost looked like he was trying to court him – at least in a more human way of doing it. However he could not imagine this to actually be the case, since why would anyone do that with him? Especially when so many women were already swooning and sighing over the handsome crown prince all over. The demon Saintress Sha Hualing had already attempted to kill Luo Binghe three times in her attempt to gain his approval and attention, like it was custom among demons. Not to mention all the young ladies who constantly turned up to bat their eyelashes at the crown prince, much to Shen Qingqiu's endless annoyance when he was trying to spend time with his childhood friend and was not exactly known for liking to share.

Shen Qingqiu was sitting in his and his Yifu's shared home, playing his guqin in a relaxed manner. He was not specifically playing any songs or even truly practising anything either, but was just playing random tunes that came to his mind. It always calmed him immensely getting to play, even back when he was still a slave and his former masters allowed him to learn how to play after realising his talent for music.

“No one plays as beautiful as Jiu-Ge.” Luo Binghe's voice sounded out as the other walked up and sat down opposite from Shen Qingqiu, listening to him play.

“Maybe if you had practised more, like Yifu always told you to, you would be decent as well.” Shen Qingqiu replied, as his fingers continued gliding over the strings, plucking them and creating a tender melody.

“Maybe.” Luo Binghe chuckled, before leaning his head against his arm, that was propped up by his leg, and looking at Shen Qingqiu as he played the guqin, “But even if I had practised every day for a hundred years, I would probably still not ever be as good as Jiu-Ge is.”

The little beast always knew how to stroke Shen Qingqiu's ego. However as a gentleman he of course did not offer that sentence a reply. Instead he continued playing, while Luo Binghe listened. It was calm and it was nice. It was what Shen Qingqiu had always wanted.

Eventually Shen Qingqiu plucked the last note, before slowly silencing his guqin.

“I will never tire of listening to you play, Jiu-Ge.” Luo Binghe said after a beat of comfortable silence.

“Always so much flattery from you, little beast.” Shen Qingqiu replied, as he carefully placed the instrument by side, “It would be wise if you were to not to throw so many compliments to everyone all the time or they might think you are some scoundrel of a playboy.”

“I have no worries about that, as the only one this one compliments like that is my Jiu-Ge.” Luo Binghe replied, his voice as smooth as butter, “After all, who could ever compare to you?”

There it was again, leaving Shen Qingqiu flustered and pulling out his fan to hide his reaction. Where he then looked at the other from over his fan, “Binghe should begin to consider his words and actions towards this humble one more.”

“Why is that?” Luo Binghe asks, crooking his head slightly. He looked almost like some dog with that gesture, all dumb and innocent. Yet Shen Qingqiu knew that the other was anything but that.

“Do not play dumb with me.” Shen Qingqiu huffed at this.

Yet Luo Binghe, that infuriating little beast, kept up the ruse. “This one is too stupid and does not understand what Jiu-Ge is talking about. So please enlighten this one.”

Shen Qingqiu grumbled from behind his fan, considering to just drop the conversation and to kick the other out. However he could not let this go on either, because problems could arise for the both of them. So after a moment of consideration, he gave in, “This one is talking about all the gifts and the endless compliments you give me.”

“What about them?” Luo Binghe asked, his confusion much more genuine this time around, “Are they not to Jiu-Ge's liking?” he asked, as his eyes went to the hair pin Luo Binghe had gifted him that Shen Qingqiu was currently using to keep his hair in place and the fan Luo Binghe had made for him that Shen Qingqiu was currently holding in his hand.

“That is not it.” Shen Qingqiu huffed, “What this one means is that you are already long in the right age to find yourself a wife. So you constantly showering me with all these gifts and compliments might make people misunderstand things.” While Shen Qingqiu was not one to often admit it, he still deeply cared for Luo Binghe and did not want to risk his reputation being smeared by some misunderstandings. Misunderstandings that already seem to be spreading, considering the looks Shen Qingqiu was getting lately from some people within the palace, including the Emperor and Empress.

Luo Binghe looked at him and even straightened up into a much more serious position. “And what if they are not misunderstanding anything, but are understanding my intentions entirely correct?”

“What?” Shen Qingqiu's eyes widened and he looked at Luo Binghe with bewilderment, feeling heat pool in his face and wanting to hide even further behind his fan.

Only that Luo Binghe did not let him, as he leaned forward and reached out, to push the fan further down and revealing Shen Qingqiu's flustered face further. “What if my intention is indeed to win Jiu-Ge's affection? And what if I had always wanted Jiu-Ge by my side and to be mine, and have only waited until we were both old enough? What is then?” his hand left the top of the fan, to instead wrap around Shen Qingqiu's hand holding it, “What if I always wanted you to be my wife?”

Heat filled Shen Qingqiu's face and he tried to look away, “You can not be serious. Your parents would never approve of you taking a former slave, and a man who can not bear you children at that, as your wife.”

But Luo Binghe did not let him look away and instead turned his face back towards himself, “My parents already approve and even encourage it. And even if, I would not care at all if they were against it.” Luo Binghe said with absolutely honesty in his voice, “And there are enough ways in the demon realm to have children between two men and adoption is also a possibility. And if it is that you do not wish for children at all, then this one is glad to accept it as well. Because all I want is you, Jiu-Ge.”

Shen Qingqiu could not believe his words, because how could anyone mean such things about him? Yet he could also not see a single hint of a lie on the other's face. Which left him overwhelmed and unsure how to react. But he felt his heart pound within his chest, because… because… he may have also wanted this and had wanted this for a long time as well.

“Please let me prove my devotion to you.” Luo Binghe then practically begged, “Let me take you out tomorrow. Just the two of us.”

Shen Qingqiu bit his lip, unsure what to answer. He struggled so much to believe the sincerity, having been burned to many times in his past as a slave. But yet, when he looked into the other's deep black eyes, he knew he was defeated. “Fine. This one will give you one chance to prove it.” he huffed out and looked away once more, closing his eyes tightly for extra measure.

“Thank you, Jiu-Ge!” Luo Binghe pulled him into a tight hug, “I will take you on the best date ever, I swear.” Letting go of him, he looked at Shen Qingqiu once more, with the most radiant smile ever, “I have to prepare everything then for tomorrow. Will you meet me then by our hide out tomorrow, same time as always?”

“I guess this one can manage to be there.” Shen Qingqiu mumbled in reply, still unable to look at the other. Having Luo Binghe hug him once more, he then took his leave for the day to prepare everything. All while Shen Qingqiu stayed seated and hid his face in his hands to hide his blush from the world.

***

If Shen Qingqiu had spend much longer than usual to get dressed for the day, then no one could prove it. It was not as if he was excited about going out with Luo Binghe and had spend much more time on choosing his outfit and doing his hair. After all they had went out together many times over the years they had known each other. It was just that this time the nature of them spending time together was of a different nature; of a romantic one. But it certainly did not affect Shen Qingqiu!

Checking himself over in the large bronze mirror for a final time that day, making sure he looked presentable as expected of a sophisticated scholar like him, Shen Qingqiu then left his little house for the day.

Winter was still reigning within the Empire and the entire palace he called his home for years now was still covered in a thick layer of snow, as more snow flakes were slowly falling. Pulling his cloak closer around his body, mainly for comfort as he did not freeze easily, Shen Qingqiu then made his way over the massive palace grounds.

The hide out still looked exactly as it had done when he had first arrived here as a child. Luo Binghe had become oddly protective of this spot and as such the palace gardeners were not allowed to alter anything about this area, other than keeping it clean.

It was still a bit of time for when Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe had agreed to meet, that being right after where in the past their morning lessons would have ended and the pair would retreat here to study, do homework, or just play. Walking around the many bushes and trees, Shen Qingqiu walked into the little clearing of their hide out. It always looked so much bigger when he had still been a child, allowing him and the little beast to easily hide behind it and stay unseen to anyone. These days however it certainly would be a tight fight for the both of them to try and hide here like in the past. Not that it had ever stopped them from meeting here all the time, even these days. They just tried to hide much less than back then, where it was a fun little game as they got lost in their own little world here.

Shen Qingqiu moved underneath one of the trees to be shielded slightly from the falling snow as he waited, thinking that he should have probably taken an umbrella with him. He hoped that whatever Luo Binghe had planned for that day either involved them being inside of a building or that he would bring something for them to cover themselves with.

Which made Shen Qingqiu wonder for what felt like the millionth time what exactly the other might have planned for them to do. Shen Qingqiu knew vaguely that the local theatre had a new show scheduled at the moment that was supposed to be good, so maybe it was that. Or Luo Binghe was for once not going to be the one to cook for them and instead would take Shen Qingqiu out for dinner in that restaurant everyone was talking about. Or they might go on a nice walk with just the two of them, where no one else was that could bother them as they enjoyed each other's company.

There were many possible thing that Luo Binghe might have planned to do and Shen Qingqiu could not begin to guess what it might end up being that they were going to do together that day. So he could only wait until the other arrived.

Only that Luo Binghe did not come.

The moment they had agreed to meet up at passed by and there was still no sight of Luo Binghe. Shen Qingqiu knew that he did not misremember the time and he could not imagine that Luo Binghe mixed it up either, as they would meet up here at the same time all the time for over a decade now. However Shen Qingqiu gave him the benefit of the doubt, as after all the other only had a day to prepare a date, so maybe he was a bit late because of it.

So Shen Qingqiu continued waiting.

And he continued to wait a bit more.

And he still waited further.

Shen Qingqiu could not tell how long he had been waiting exactly. After all in the winter months it got dark very early, so the sun setting in the distance was not the biggest indication for time for him and there had been absolutely no one around this part of the garden the entire day for him to ask either. Although that by this point even his cultivation was struggling to keep him warm from the ever falling snow did indicate that at least a few hours must have passed of him simply standing here, waiting for someone he did not expect to come any more.

He vaguely wondered why he was even still standing here, alone in the cold, waiting and feeling the icy temperatures against his eyelids where tears welled that Shen Qingqiu refused to let fall.

Shen Qingqiu just began to consider to just give up and leave, when finally a familiar voice spoke up and he could he the sound of snow crunching under boots as another person approached. “Jiu-Ge, I'm so sorry.”

Shen Qingqiu stood with the back to the other person, neither wanting to turn around nor speak with him at all. So he just stood there, looking away and into the distance, refusing to let the beast see how miserable he felt.

Luo Binghe stopped a few steps away from him, not daring to come closer after leaving Shen Qingqiu standing for so long. “I am really sorry. I tried to come, but an emergency came up.” He sounded just as miserable as Shen Qingqiu felt, which only infuriated him even further. Because it was Shen Qingqiu who had been stood up like this and was left waiting in the cold, so how dare the other sound so miserable?!

But then Luo Binghe said something that shook Shen Qingqiu to the core. “I have to leave for the eastern borders tomorrow morning, because news had reached the palace today that the neighbouring lands have attacked our borders and are out for war.”

Steps moved closer towards Shen Qingqiu until he felt arms wrap around him from behind and a body, that radiated so much heat – making him realise just how cold he had run, from either the weather or the news – pressed against him, hiding his face in his shoulder. “I wanted to come to you, but as I was just about to leave I got dragged off to an emergency court meeting. And while I had told one of the eunuchs to send a servant out to tell you about it, the message seem to have never reached you. I am really sorry, Jiu-Ge.”

Shen Qingqiu was not sure what to say. He knew he could say that the safety of the empire of course had precedence, something he truly believed in as this was their home and everyone relied on the royal family to protect them. And the could say that he understood and was not angry at him if these are the circumstance, because even he could not be that resentful.

Yet all that left his mouth was, “How long will you be gone?”

“I don't know…” Luo Binghe answered honestly, his voice small, “But probably for a long while.”

Once more Shen Qingqiu was unsure how to reply to this. Ever since they had met, they had never been apart for more than a few days. And now his little beast, that little sticky thing that had been running after him like a lost duckling for year, was supposed to go to a war to fight there?

“However” Luo Binghe began to speak, snapping Shen Qingqiu out of his thoughts, “I will return to you as soon as I have settled the issue, I swear.” he said as he slowly loosened his hug. Where suddenly Shen Qingqiu felt a different weight around his neck, as Luo Binghe moved to turn him around. “Will you wait for me until then, Jiu-Ge?”

While he was asked a question, Shen Qingqiu's entire attention was at the weight around his neck as he looked downwards. To see Luo Binghe's necklace, the one he had been given from his late mother-at-heart and that he was always wearing no matter what, hanging from his neck instead.

Shen Qingqiu's heart was beating wildly, feeling too many clashing emotions at once. So all he could do was lift his head when he felt Luo Binghe's hand cup his cheek and tenderly make him look up, and to nod at him in silent agreement that he would wait, clasping his hand tightly around the necklace around his neck and feeling the smooth jade, warmed by Luo Binghe's body heat, against his chilled hand.

A small and bittersweet smile graced Luo Binghe's lips, “Thank you, Jiu-Ge.” he whispered. He then stepped closer, so close that once more their bodies touched and he could look into Shen Qingqiu's eyes. Where he got closer once more, their eyes never leaving each other, “Jiu-Ge, may I kiss you?” he asked, his voice low and hopeful.

Only for Shen Qingqiu to once more lift his fan up, gently pushing it against Luo Binghe's lips. “First come back safely, little beast.” If he had made him wait in the cold for almost an entire day, then he can make him wait as well.

Despite the rejection, Luo Binghe's eyes were filled with deep affection. “This Binghe promises. And I will hold you to it as well.”

As Luo Binghe and the troops had to prepare for their departure in the next morning, Luo Binghe had to leave shortly after. And the next time Shen Qingqiu had seen him, was when he was standing outside of the palace, together with Emperor and Empress and his Yifu, as they saw Crown Prince Lou Binghe and General Zhuzhi-Lang, together with the troops, off as they left for the borders.

Shen Qingqiu stood at the top of the wide stairs that let to the palace entrance, watching how the troops, led by Luo Binghe, vanished into the distance. Where with one hand he palmed the necklace that was hidden beneath his robes, while with the other he held his closed fan in hand. The very fan he had been holding the evening before, stopping the little beast from kissing him, which he gently touched against his own lips.

***

The campaign went on for much longer than anyone was hoping, as the seasons changed within the capital while the Crown Prince fought tirelessly to protect the Empire together with his troops.

Regular updates arrived in the palace, informing the court and the imperial rulers about the happenings at the border and discussing plans and actions over long distances.

However these were not the only things that arrived on the regular at the palace. As Luo Binghe regularly send Shen Qingqiu personal letters as well, telling him about how he himself was doing, the things he saw at the borders, the people he met, and also how much he missed him and wished to see him soon. And even if Shen Qingqiu would always tell him off for wasting resources to send personal letters to him all the time, that were supposed to be only for official correspondence between the front and the palace, he still kept every single letter safe, reading them over and over until the next letter would arrive.

In the end not only seasons passed by, but years. Until finally the news came that the enemy had surrendered to them and that the troops would return home once more after a long time.

Making Shen Qingqiu find himself at the top of the stairs in front of the palace once more, as again snow was falling like the last time he had been here, standing next to his Yifu, among the various ministers. As the troops after being away for so long, slowly approached the palace in cheers and celebrations from all around them.

Where at the very front, sitting atop of a magnificent black steed, rode an imposing figure clad in black and red, leading the troops all the way to the foot of the grand stone stairs. Where he got off from his horse and slowly climbed the stairs, where everyone was awaiting their Crown Prince after so long, celebrating his achievements for their Empire.

Only that he passed right by everyone to instead stop in front of Shen Qingqiu. Who looked up at him, taking him in after so many years.

His little beast was now much taller than him, with broad shoulders and a strong physique. His wild locks were hanging down loosely as well now, moving freely in the wind and framing his handsome face. If he was good looking before, he now had become earth-shattering handsome.

“This Binghe has left Jiu-Ge waiting for long enough.” Luo Binghe smiled down at him, his expression just as soft as when he had been nothing but that naïve child who had offered the young slave to teach him how to read and write and wanted to desperately become his friend.

“Indeed, that Binghe has.” Shen Qingqiu replied, looking up at him from over his fan.

“This Binghe also remembers that Jiu-Ge had promised me something, if I came back safely.” he then grinned, his eyes for a moment lowering themselves to look at where the other's lips were hidden by a fan.

“This one does not recall actually making it a promise.” Shen Qingqiu hummed, “But this one guesses that the little beast has earned himself a reward, even if he had left me waiting.” he then closed his fan.

To have a set of arms wrap around him and pull him close into a warm embrace, as soft lips found his own in a deep yet tender kiss. Which Shen Qingqiu reciprocated, leaning into the other's arms and melting into the kiss they shared after so many years of being by each other's side.

“I love you, Jiu-Ge.” Luo Binghe whispered against his lips, once their lips have parted.

“I guess I love you too, you little beast.” Shen Qingqiu replied, just as quietly. “But you should go now, since everyone else is waiting to greet you as well.”

Luo Binghe however only grinned as her per usual showed not a single hint of shame, “They can wait. After all, nothing is more important to me than my Jiu-Ge.” With this he once more pulled him into a kiss, with no intention of letting him go.

When Shen Qingqiu had been told all these years ago as a slave that he was going to be a gift to the demon Emperor and his family, he had been worried for his future and had wanted nothing more than to find a way to get away from the palace and the royal demon family. Yet he had never expected that a certain little demon prince spotting him peeking that day would change his fate so much.

And now he wanted to be nowhere else than by Luo Binghe's side.