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Gaoshun didn’t suppose he knew everything. But when it came to the royal family, it could be said that their reputation was more polished than it had been in past years.
The emperor was fair and just, the empress dowager led the empire in innovation, and the empress was bright and politically influential.
And the Moon Prince was all three.
Though there was something that the court would never see, something that was only ever kept behind closed doors. Not because it was inherently bad, though nor was it something the imperials particularly enjoyed showing off.
It was simply familiarity.
Something the Moon Prince was rarely given, and something only his most trusted confidants knew he wanted desperately to keep safe.
Not because he didn’t want to show it off to all who strayed near. No, if given the chance, Gaoshun was sure the Moon Prince would sing it from the rooftops. But rather because there were people out there who would want to take this comfort from him, and he couldn’t have that.
No, the Moon Prince had already gone through more than he could have imagined, had already fought for his loved ones more than enough. He deserved to be able to relax, to be able to close his eyes at night without worrying whether someone he cared for would be taken out from under him.
It was a small thing, perhaps, to be allowed such peace.
But Gaoshun knew better than most how precious small things could become when one had spent a lifetime without them.
He soon arrived at the private courtyard, one off limits to most military officials except for a trusted few—and perhaps a certain cat as well. It was a large space, enough for a fair few people, though it was rarely used to its fullest potential, otherwise hidden away behind high walls and greenery from any prying eyes.
The sounds of clashing swords filled the space, traveling sharply through the morning air as loud grunts and huffs followed. Two figures moved across the stone floor, their feet falling into a synchronised dance of practised elegance.
While Basen powered forward, his arms swinging the shining sword down atop his opponent, the Moon Prince remained patient, dodging each strike with a quick sidestep and a cheeky smile that seemed only to irritate his opponent further.
The two had grown up together, had been raised together and taught the art of the sword together. It wasn’t unlikely that their battle would go on for some time, particularly when neither seemed willing to concede even the smallest victory.
Gaoshun watched them for another moment before his gaze drifted from the two milk brothers towards the outskirts of the courtyard, where a small pavilion rested against the fence and cast a comfortable patch of shade across the stone.
A military officer, Lihaku, rested against the outside, leaning against the fence as he watched the ongoing spar with an easy smile.
And then… Xiaomao.
She sat casually atop the fence beside him, swinging her legs over the edge, seeming more carefree than Gaoshun had seen her in a long while. The morning breeze caught at the loose strands of her hair, stirring them around her cheeks as her eyes traced over each of the Moon Prince’s movements.
Her lips curled upwards each time he landed a hit, the expression almost smug despite the fact she had absolutely nothing to do with his success, all the while conversing easily with an equally relaxed Lihaku.
It was nice to see everyone in such high spirits.
There was no court here. No titles beyond those spoken from habit, no officials watching for weakness or waiting for some small misstep to twist into gossip. There was only Basen becoming increasingly irritated, the Moon Prince looking far too pleased with himself, Lihaku lounging where he probably shouldn’t, and Maomao perched upon a fence as though she were truly the cat they had all taken to calling her.
Perhaps this was what familiarity looked like for people such as them. Something quiet and ordinary and safe.
Maomao soon caught sight of him, her eyes flicking away from the sparring men and towards the courtyard entrance. Recognition immediately brightened her expression, and she waved him over happily, her lips still curled into a smile usually reserved for a particularly interesting poison.
Gaoshun couldn’t help the small smile that answered her own.
He made his way over, his eyes flickering between the two parties, still watching the sparring match even as he drew closer to the pair. Lihaku sent him a small nod and a smile, one that he returned easily.
Then his gaze returned to Maomao and the way her legs still dangled excitedly over the edge. She was dressed in simple clothing, not her usual medical assistant attire, though he still recognised it as something the Moon Prince had gifted her a few weeks ago.
“Xiaomao.” He inclined his head, a warm smile colouring his face. “Good morning. It’s good to see you.”
She shifted just a little, enough to make more room for him against the fence as she gave him a small bow. “You too, Master Gaoshun.” Her gaze briefly wandered towards the clear sky above them. “It’s a nice morning, isn’t it? The weather’s lovely.”
“That it is.” He settled against the fence beside her, following her gaze for a moment before it inevitably returned to the sparring pair.
He watched as the Moon Prince landed yet another hit, forcing Basen to retreat just slightly, enough to recover before advancing once again. “I’m surprised to see you here, Xiaomao. Aren’t you working this morning?”
She laughed at his words, her eyes still trailing over the fight. “Not this morning, no. Master Jinshi invited me to come watch him train.” Her eyes narrowed slightly as she watched him dodge another strike. “Though I also wanted to make sure his injury is healing properly. The one from last week’s campaign.”
That was right. Gaoshun had heard the report on the small campaign, that the Moon Prince had sustained a minor injury to his abdomen. As his personal doctor, it made sense that she would be particularly invested in how well he was recovering, and whether he was pushing himself harder than he should.
“That’s right.” His lips curled into a grin as his gaze returned to the spar. “And how is the injury progressing?”
“It would be better if he listened to me!” she said suddenly, turning away from the fight for only a moment, irritation flashing across her face. “We all know he pushes himself too much.”
“He allows you to advise him on political matters, but draws the line at his injuries?” Gaoshun all but laughed. It was quite funny how the two of them could be so incredibly stubborn, though apparently about entirely different things.
She turned back to the fight with a small huff, her eyes scanning over the Moon Prince as he moved across the courtyard, no doubt searching for any sign that his injury was bothering him.
Beside her, Lihaku watched on in amusement, clearly entertained by her frustration.
She rested her head in her hands, almost looking as though she wanted to pull at her own hair. “You’d think, as his personal doctor, I’d have more say when it comes to his injuries.”
She lifted her head to watch him again, and this time her face softened into something far more familiar, the frustration slowly fading from her expression as Jinshi laughed at something Basen said.
“But…” Her lips curled into a small smile. “I do enjoy seeing him like this. He’s clearly enjoying himself.”
There was a quiet fondness to her words that made Gaoshun’s own expression soften. For all her complaining, she certainly looked happy to see him happy. It was a look she had only just allowed herself to show others, an expression that she usually only wore in private.
He couldn't remember the last time he had seen her so easily happy. Away from the poisons and medicines and herbs. She didn't glare as she once had, a scowl she used to wear so often now replaced with a small grin.
An easy silence overtook the three of them, their conversation slowly trailing off with the cool morning breeze. They watched as Jinshi sidestepped one of Basen’s more obvious advances, knocking him with the blunt end of his sword as he moved to trip the man who seemed to possess twice his strength despite also being twice as clumsy.
Basen fell with a loud thud against the stone, only to turn and find the end of the Moon Prince’s sword hovering at his throat. His hands immediately raised in surrender.
Jinshi’s lips curled into a victorious grin before he lowered his sword and reached down, grasping Basen by the arm and pulling him back to his feet, signaling the end of the fight.
The courtyard seemed to settle with them, the sharp clash of swords disappearing and leaving only their heavy breathing behind.
Gaoshun watched them converse for a moment, no doubt Basen congratulating his master and the Moon Prince saying something similar to him in turn. Their brotherhood was always something to watch to anyone who knew them.
The pair walked over to the three of them, their heavy breathing filling the now too-quiet air as they wiped the sweat from their bodies, though the morning breeze already seemed to be cooling them off.
Lihaku clapped, a wide smile spreading across his face as he slapped Basen on the shoulder. “Looks like His Highness beat you again, buddy! You’ve got to up your game!”
Basen swatted him off with a half-hearted glare, while the Moon Prince merely smiled at the exchange. Maomao laughed quietly behind a raised hand, clearly amused by Basen’s growing irritation.
She remained seated atop the fence, her legs still dangling lazily over the edge. And Gaoshun watched as Jinshi approached, they parted slightly without thought, making just enough room for him to step between them.
He did so just as naturally. His hands came to rest upon her waist, settling there with an ease that suggested he had done it a hundred times before, while Maomao hardly seemed to notice the gesture at all.
Her hands braced lightly against his chest, and he sent her a suggestive smirk, clearly forgetting for a moment that the rest of them were still there.
“Did you enjoy what you saw?”
“Mhm, very.” She watched him with quiet amusement, the corners of her lips curling upwards before her hands trailed down from his chest towards his stomach, her attention shifting almost immediately to something more practical. “How was your injury? It wasn’t too painful, was it?”
Jinshi’s smirk faltered ever so slightly at the sudden change in direction, though he made no move to stop her from checking. “It was fine. Barely any pain.”
“Barely any—so there was pain!?” She looked up at his face with a glare, her hands still resting carefully against his stomach. “I would slap you right now, but you’d probably enjoy it too much.”
He didn’t deny it.
If anything, the sheepish smile that spread across his face only seemed to prove her point.
Maomao sighed and pouted, clearly deciding there was little use arguing with him now. “Well, either way, I was planning on giving you another check-up before you returned to work.”
“Of course, Doctor.” The sweetness in his voice only made her eyes narrow further.
“Alright.” Lihaku interrupted, finally seeming unable to hold himself back any longer. “Since you two are far too busy”—he gestured wildly between them—“with whatever this is, Basen and I are going to get cleaned up. Is that alright, sir?”
Jinshi looked almost embarrassed, as though he had genuinely forgotten they weren’t alone. His hands even loosened slightly around Maomao’s waist.
“Yes, that’s fine.” He cleared his throat, attempting to regain some of his composure. “Basen, why don’t you take today off? I’ll have Maomao tend to me today.”
Maomao tilted her head, raising an eyebrow at his words, but didn’t fight him on it. Gaoshun had always found her reactions to his master incredibly amusing, even if he probably wasn’t supposed to.
“Are you sure, sir?” Basen asked. “Really, it’s fine. I can stay.”
Maomao sent him a soft look. “Really,” she reassured him. “Why don’t you go back to Lishu? I’m sure she’s missing you.”
The former could be so very clingy when she wanted to be, and Basen only seemed to turn a brighter shade of red at Maomao’s words.
“I’m sure she’s perfectly fine,” he muttered. Lihaku’s grin widened beside him which certainly didn’t help the colour of Basen’s face.
“Basen.” Gaoshun sent his son a stern look. “Why don’t you listen to the Moon Prince? Take the rest of the day off.”
It was a phrase he found himself saying surprisingly often. Despite having raised both boys, Gaoshun sometimes wondered how his own son had somehow turned out so much denser than the Moon Prince.
How could he possibly not understand what was going on here?
Basen, however, only gave him a dumbfounded look before eventually nodding, clearly deciding it was better not to argue.
Maomao laughed quietly at the exchange as she tilted her head to rest against Jinshi’s shoulder, settling there comfortably while his arm remained around her waist. She had always found it amusing how Basen never seemed to understand these things, even now when he had a relationship of his own.
Some things, apparently, would never change.
Lihaku and Basen left a moment later, Lihaku’s voice travelling back to their ears long after the pair had left the courtyard and pavilion to get cleaned up. Gaoshun looked back just in time to see the Moon Prince press a small kiss to Maomao’s cheek.
“Thank you, Gaoshun.” He gave him a grateful nod before turning his attention straight back to his cat. “I was thinking we could do something fun today.”
“Something your work will actually allow?” she asked, tucking herself a little closer to his side, a small smile playing on her face.
“I’ll have you know that my workload has been rather small this week.” He pouted at her. “I have some extra time.”
She rolled her eyes, even as his hands tightened around her waist and he lifted her gently from the fence, setting her back onto the ground. “Well then, Mister ‘I have no work,’ I’d be happy to.”
She began to walk away before he had even properly released her, leaving Jinshi to scramble after her with a comical little run. “I was thinking we could have a picnic?” he called as he caught up.
Maomao waved a hand dismissively, though Gaoshun could still see the smile lingering on her face. “Whatever you say.”
Jinshi seemed perfectly content with that answer, falling easily into step beside her, turning back quickly to offer Gaoshun a small wave and smile before pressing a quick kiss to Maomao's hair and leaving the courtyard all together.
Gaoshun was grateful that the Moon Prince had finally found someone he could place such care and trust into. And he was equally grateful that Maomao had stuck by his master through it all, able to take care of herself and, no matter what happened, somehow find her way back to them.
They had both been through enough. More than enough, really. Perhaps that was why something as simple as watching them walk away together felt so precious.
There was nothing particularly remarkable about it. No grand declarations, no duties or titles. Just the Moon Prince walking alongside the woman he loved, their quiet voices disappearing down the corridor as they planned how to spend an unexpectedly free day together.
And as Gaoshun watched them leave the courtyard, he found himself simply happy to see them happy.
They deserved something ordinary.