Feng Xin and Mu Qing weren’t much help, so Xie Lian went to the next person who crossed his mind.
“A gift? Your Highness, you’ve come to the right person. There’s not a single rare treasure out there that the Wind Ma…that I’ve never laid eyes on!”
The two crouched on the side of the road. Enthusiasm ignited, the disheveled Shi Qingxuan gushed on and on. He was obviously an expert on this matter, and Xie Lian’s requests for advice grew even more humble.
“There definitely are precious treasures out there that haven’t been claimed, but you’ve got to put in an immense effort to get them,” Shi Qingxuan advised eagerly.
“That’s fine,” Xie Lian quickly assured him. “That suits me perfectly.”
More effort meant a more precious treasure—and wouldn’t that demonstrate his sincerity wonderfully? All the better if it was the treasure hardest to acquire in the whole world, one that no one had ever succeeded in obtaining. That way, it would make for an extraordinarily meaningful gift should he retrieve it for Hua Cheng. When he thought about how Hua Cheng would slightly arch one eyebrow and curl one corner of his lips upward, Xie Lian was seized by uncontrollable excitement—he couldn’t wait to jump into action.
Shi Qingxuan thought for a moment, then suggested, “The Starry Sky Flagon! You’ve heard of it before, right, Your Highness? That thing is a treasure, I tell you. Set it out under the night sky, and the fine wine in the flagon will reflect the sea of stars as it absorbs the essential spiritual energy of the heavens, the earth, the sun, and the moon. Not only is it a charming, elegant decorative piece, it’s also a great cultivation aid—”
However, as he listened, Xie Lian had a sinking feeling. “Wait.”
“What?”
“Qingxuan, are you talking about a small black jade flagon—about this big?” Xie Lian asked, gesturing a vague size. “With stardust encrusting the surface like fine gems?”
“Huh? How did Your Highness know? Have you seen it before?” Shi Qingxuan asked in amazement.
“…”
He hadn’t just seen it; last month, he broke it. He had wanted to pour himself some water and forgot he’d injured his arm, so his hand slipped.
At the time, Hua Cheng came over immediately to inquire about his injury. Xie Lian noticed that the flagon had been exceptionally unique and beautiful, so he asked Hua Cheng what to do about it and whether it could be repaired. However, Hua Cheng had simply assured him that it was okay—that it was nothing but a petty trinket. He didn’t spare it a single glance before calling for a subordinate to sweep up and toss out the pieces, then he whisked Xie Lian away to treat his arm.
Hearing Shi Qingxuan’s description, he had to think—could that shattered drinking vessel have been the rare Starry Sky Flagon?!
With a sinking heart, Xie Lian paused and said, “That one…might not be suitable. How about something different?”
“Oh.” Shi Qingxuan scratched his head, not quite understanding, but he racked his brain briefly and tried again. “Next one—the Eight Corners Brush! That brush is amazing, I tell you. The bristles were plucked from the tip of an ancient yao beast’s magic tail, and its shaft was wrought from a stalk that sprouted atop the head of a jade bamboo spirit. When not in use, it will grow—”
“Jade-green bamboo leaves?” Xie Lian cut in.
“Yeah! How did you know that, Your Highness? You’ve seen that one before too?” Shi Qingxuan asked.
How could Xie Lian not know it? That was the brush Hua Cheng used every day for writing practice, and he’d blame it when his writing came out ugly. He had chucked it to the floor time and time again, and sometimes it’d get kicked away to who knew where. After practice, Xie Lian often had to scour the room to find where the poor brush had gotten to, then pick it up, wipe it off, and put it away.
“…That might not be suitable either,” Xie Lian said. “Do you have any other ideas?”
Shi Qingxuan rattled off seven or eight treasures, one after the other. Xie Lian discovered that all the things most people considered the world’s rarest treasures sounded awfully familiar to him—and they were all in awfully tragic states. They were serving as Hua Cheng’s footstools and throw rugs; he either played with them like toys or had already lost interest and tossed them away!
However, on reflection, Xie Lian considered that fairly logical. Was there a single rare treasure out there that Hua Cheng hadn’t seen or couldn’t get his hands on easily?
Thus, this line of thinking was another dead end, and the search for the ghost king’s birthday present continued.
✦ ✦ ✦
A drowning man will clutch at a straw; Xie Lian had asked pretty much everyone he knew, or at least everyone he had any hope of getting a decent answer from. Quan Yizhen only knew how to stuff gold bars into things, and Hua Cheng didn’t lack for money. Pei Ming only knew how to give presents to women and couldn’t come up with anything serious when asked what to give a man. As for Ling Wen…although she had escaped prison thanks to the many high-ranking heavenly officials who vouched for her—and because she was absolutely irreplaceable in the Upper Court—she was so thoroughly submerged in the sea of scrolls that had been thrown at her that she’d lost all sense. She knew nothing beyond working through reports at this point. Life in prison would’ve been much less stressful.
Without any workable ideas from anyone he’d asked, Xie Lian was out of options.
There were only two days until Hua Cheng’s birthday. Xie Lian lay awake with his eyes wide open and thought about it for an entire night. Finally, as he greeted the dawn with bloodshot eyes, he decided on what he would give.
With a clear goal in mind, he sat up quietly in bed, moving slowly. He glanced at Hua Cheng, who was sleeping soundly next to him.
Hua Cheng’s hair was luminously black like raven feathers, and his long eyelashes were as dark as ink. When his eyes were shut tightly, it wasn’t obvious that one of them was no longer there. His handsome features and the natural aggressiveness of his expression softened in sleep. Right now, he looked endlessly gentle.
Before Xie Lian could climb out of bed, he felt a sudden tightening around his waist, then a hand scooped him back.
“Gege, what are you doing up so early?” asked a lazy voice behind him.
Hua Cheng had woken up! His voice was low and a bit raspy, like he was still half-asleep.
Caught in the act and scooped back to bed, Xie Lian forced down his guilt and replied in a calm voice. “Oh, there’s a prayer to be answered.”
Hua Cheng shuffled closer and dropped a kiss by his ear. “The sky hasn’t lightened yet,” he said. “Who’s gone to pray at a temple so early in the morning? Are they looking to die?”
Perhaps it was his guilty conscience, but Xie Lian’s face was growing hotter and hotter as he listened to the voice at his ear.
“No, it didn’t just come in. I’ve been letting it sit for a while now…”
He tried to get up again as he spoke, as it was honestly difficult to speak normally in that position, but Hua Cheng followed him upright. He circled his arms around Xie Lian’s shoulders from behind and rested his head against the curve of his neck.
“Since you’ve been letting it sit, what does it matter if you let it keep sitting? Gege, you worked so hard last night. Why don’t you rest a bit more?”
As Xie Lian struggled to fend off his clingy arms and alluring voice, he said with immense reluctance, “I…I’ve already let it sit for too long. I can’t hold off on it any longer…”
“Oh,” Hua Cheng said. “Then shall I go with you?”
“No, it’s okay,” Xie Lian quickly declined. “It won’t take too long; I’ll be back very soon. You just rest!”
“Are you sure you don’t need me to come with you?” Hua Cheng confirmed.
“No!” Xie Lian exclaimed. “You can’t come. You absolutely mustn’t!”
Hua Cheng cracked his eye open a slit. “Why not?”
Xie Lian was stumped briefly, but then he whirled around and seized Hua Cheng by the shoulders. “You…must practice writing,” he commanded him sternly, looking him straight in the eye.
Hua Cheng looked at him with an innocent expression. He blinked.
“You must stay in the temple all day today to practice,” Xie Lian forced himself to say. “I’ll check your work when I return!”
As this order was issued, Hua Cheng’s expression only grew more innocent, and he tilted his head as he replied very obediently. “Okay.”
Now that the ghost king had been managed at last, Xie Lian scrambled away. Half reclining atop their altar bed, Hua Cheng smiled as he watched his fleeing back with a narrowed eye. He pillowed his arms behind his head and lay back down.