Twin Lotus Blossoms

“After taking the antidote, you’ll be completely paralyzed and unable to move for half a day,” Fu Zhi said, passing the medicine bottle to Beigong Juechen with an expressionless face. Beigong Juechen raised an eyebrow, smiled faintly, and took the bottle without hesitation, drinking it down in one gulp. Tossing the bottle aside, he sneered, “I’m confined to your little tower anyway. Whether I can move or not makes no difference.”

Fu Zhi shook his head with an indifferent air. “We need to go to the courtyard. Within two hours of taking the antidote, sunlight is required. You’ve taken it too early; now I’ll have to carry you out myself.” The corner of Beigong Juechen’s eye twitched stiffly as he looked at Fu Zhi’s remarkably impassive face—and, unexpectedly, he couldn’t help but laugh.

So obviously delighted, yet insisting on acting so serious and proper—this cold-faced man is actually… rather adorable, Beigong Juechen mused, stretching out his arms languidly.

Fu Zhi frowned in confusion. Beigong Juechen gave him a lazy glance and drawled, “Didn’t you say you’d carry me out? What are you waiting for?” A suspicious flush appeared on Fu Zhi’s pale face. He lowered himself slowly, one arm sliding around Beigong Juechen’s shoulders, the other beneath his knees.

Sensing Fu Zhi’s stiffness, Beigong Juechen’s elusive smile widened. He casually rested his hand on Fu Zhi’s shoulder, half-amused, half-teasing. “If you keep dawdling, the sun will set.” Fu Zhi pressed his lips together, then abruptly scooped him up in his arms and strode quickly toward the courtyard below the little tower.

Beigong Juechen watched the blush on Fu Zhi’s pallid cheeks with amusement, then suddenly leaned closer. Fu Zhi’s hand trembled, yet he held him steadily. “What are you doing?” Beigong Juechen whispered, “Why didn’t I notice before that you blush so easily?” Their faces were barely a palm’s breadth apart; his warm breath caressed Fu Zhi’s cheek. Satisfied, Beigong Juechen saw that the blush deepened.

He couldn’t hold back a laugh. The days of suppressed anger and frustration seemed to lift. Fu Zhi simply stopped, then looked down at the man laughing in his arms—his face red, his tone brisk and cold: “Enough. If you don’t stop laughing, I’ll carry you back inside and leave you with the poison uncured.”

Beigong Juechen only laughed harder, his eyes bright with mischief. “You can try.” Fu Zhi’s brows furrowed. He stared at Beigong Juechen, seemingly mulling over his words, but Beigong Juechen’s bold laughter remained unchanged. After a moment, Fu Zhi sighed softly and continued on at a brisk pace.

This was his promise to Beigong Juechen, after all—one he could not break.

In the courtyard, a rocking chair had already been set up, thick brocade blankets layered atop it. Fu Zhi gently settled Beigong Juechen onto the chair, covering him with another light quilt, then sat down on an adjacent seat.

The wind was not strong today, but it was still cold. The afternoon sun was gentle, not burning but soothing. Beigong Juechen closed his eyes and chuckled quietly. “It’s been more than ten years since we’ve basked in the sun together like this.”

Yes, to bask in the sun. In their youth, the two of them would gather herbs, and when tired, lie in the grass under the sun. Back then, both were just teenagers—already bearing traces of aloofness and pride, but still, sometimes, they did childish things. Like basking in the sun.

Recalling the past, Fu Zhi’s chilly expression softened. He looked at Beigong Juechen’s peaceful, closed eyes. “Indeed,” he replied quietly.

Beigong Juechen fell silent, gently rocking the chair. The courtyard grew tranquil, with only the occasional whisper of wind.

Fu Zhi moved his chair closer, watching Beigong Juechen in silence. The perpetual chill in his features was replaced by a rare warmth. Beigong Juechen was beautiful—and proud; beauty and pride to their utmost form evoke longing, a longing that often contains reverence, as with Qi Yong.

Beigong Qiyi once said that his love was nothing but love. In truth, it was more complicated. His love was indeed pure affection, but from the start, it harbored the resolve to rather be shattered as jade than remain whole as tile; his love was not merely affection but also destruction.

Only Fu Zhi’s love was the purest—pure as blank paper. He didn’t wish to inscribe anything upon it; he simply, quietly loved Beigong Juechen. No reverence, no overwhelming possessiveness. His only selfishness was this one time: simply asking Beigong Juechen to accompany him for ten days.

His love was simple, yet weighty. Perhaps that was why Beigong Juechen could not refuse. He understood Fu Zhi’s loneliness, his nature, and thus, his love. Light as it was, it pressed heavily.

Beigong Juechen slowly opened his deep emerald eyes, and their gazes met unexpectedly. Fu Zhi’s expression remained calm, but in Beigong Juechen’s eyes, ripples stirred—a beauty that even someone as composed as Fu Zhi found mesmerizing, lowering his head in a daze.

His lips hovered an inch from those gentle, red lips, but he did not close the distance.

Because someone had arrived.

Beigong Qiyi watched coldly, hands clenched tight. “Master Fu Zhi,” he said icily, “I entrusted my brother to you, not for you to do such things.”

Fu Zhi’s brows drew together as he prepared to look up, but Beigong Juechen reached for his collar first. Though his body was weak and the action difficult, he managed it. Fu Zhi looked at him in surprise, but Beigong Juechen cast a sidelong glance at Beigong Qiyi, smiled coldly, and firmly pressed their lips together.

Beigong Qiyi’s expression changed drastically. He narrowed his eyes at their joined lips, a blood-red sheen flickering in his dark irises.

A withered leaf brushed past Fu Zhi’s hair. Beigong Juechen released him and turned to Beigong Qiyi, whose gaze remained cold—he didn’t even look at Beigong Juechen, only glared at Fu Zhi with reddened eyes, fists clenched tighter. Fu Zhi stood impassively, but in the next instant, he moved.

Because Beigong Qiyi moved as well. He leapt before Fu Zhi, soft sword slipping from his sleeve and flickering into a dozen blossoms in a breath, all aimed at Fu Zhi. His sword was fast, but Fu Zhi was faster; his white sleeves fluttered as he sidestepped behind Beigong Qiyi in a flash.

He struck Beigong Qiyi’s back with a palm. Beigong Qiyi could have dodged, but he stood unmoving. Fu Zhi’s brows furrowed in surprise, but he could not withdraw his hand.

His palm landed heavily on Beigong Qiyi’s back. Beigong Qiyi staggered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. To Fu Zhi’s astonishment, Beigong Juechen at the side also coughed up a mouthful of blood.

While Fu Zhi hesitated, Beigong Qiyi smiled faintly and, with a deft motion, stabbed his sword deep into Fu Zhi’s left side. The blade pierced through; Fu Zhi’s vision blurred as he closed his eyes tightly. When he reopened them, he saw Beigong Qiyi’s sword aimed at his chest.

He could not evade the strike; more precisely, he could no longer counter Beigong Qiyi’s attacks.

Yet the sword did not run him through. Just as the tip tore Fu Zhi’s robe, Beigong Juechen’s cold voice rang out: “Stop.” The sword halted instantly, not advancing an inch further.

Blood still stained both Beigong Juechen’s and Beigong Qiyi’s lips. The sword pressed to Fu Zhi’s chest. Beigong Juechen’s tone was indifferent: “Beigong Qiyi, what are you doing?”

Beigong Qiyi wiped his mouth, looking at Beigong Juechen with a slow, growing smile. “What am I doing? Brother, I’ve come to take you home. I’ve missed you terribly these days, but…” His expression shifted, the smile vanishing; his clenched hands twitched, dark blood seeping into Fu Zhi’s white robe. “I missed you so much, but you betrayed me!”

Beigong Juechen sneered coldly. “Betrayal, Beigong Qiyi? Between us, is that even a word that applies?”

Beigong Qiyi’s gaze grew even colder. He glanced at Fu Zhi, mocking. “First Qi Yong, now Fu Zhi—Brother, your allure is truly something. But…” He withdrew his sword suddenly, struck Fu Zhi’s acupoint, and strolled over to Beigong Juechen.

Beigong Juechen’s strength was gone; he closed his eyes, expressionless. Beigong Qiyi crouched down, gripping his chin forcefully. “Brother, you once said that without the Beigong name to shield me, I’d be defiled by thousands. So now I must ask: in the Palace of a Hundred Evils, or here, have you been with anyone else?”

Beigong Juechen’s eyes snapped open, icy emerald. He turned to Beigong Qiyi, a dangerous, alluring smile on his lips. Beigong Qiyi’s heart wavered, but Beigong Juechen’s next words made his face change drastically.

“If I said yes, what could you do? What’s done is done—what power do you have?”

“What did you say?” Beigong Qiyi demanded, voice low.

“I said, even if I have, what can you do about it?” Beigong Qiyi’s eyes were shot with blood as he stared at Beigong Juechen, laughing in rage.

“Well, Brother, truly remarkable. Who would have guessed you were such a shameless—” He bit off the insult, laughing cruelly. Beigong Juechen snorted derisively, closing his eyes, refusing even to look at him.

Beigong Qiyi turned to the side, gaze lingering on Fu Zhi, whose brows were tightly drawn and whose face was cold as iron. A vicious smile curled his lips. “Brother, I want everyone—and you yourself—to know exactly who you belong to.” As he spoke, he began deliberately removing Beigong Juechen’s clothing.

Author’s Note: Volume Three begins~

In fact, the elder brother already had feelings for the little maniac earlier. Volume Three will be a sweet, married life arc.