Chapter 55: “Call Me Brother”
Han Min held the little Persian cat.
“System, do you want to see if you like it first, and then I’ll decide whether to buy it?”
The system, attached to the cat, nuzzled his face: “Please, I’ve followed you all these years, never asked for status, never asked for position, never asked for anything. I’ve never made a request.”
Han Min tilted his face to let it rub against him, teary-eyed—mostly moved by the price.
“System, it’s too expensive. Daddy can’t afford it.”
“Who’s daddy? You’re not buying me, I’ll find someone who can afford me to be my daddy.”
The little beauty clutched the cat, unwilling to let go, almost reenacting The Butterfly Lovers, a scene of life-and-death separation.
Fu Xun watched him, pressing the words “buy, buy ten” deep in his heart, only asking: “Do you want to buy it?”
Han Min looked up, eyes glistening: “Do I still have any salary?”
“Perhaps… a little.”
“Can the court allow part-time work? The kind where you get two salaries at once.”
Fu Xun remained silent. Han Min hugged the cat tightly: “Please.”
“Perhaps.”
“Then in my lifetime, if I do several jobs, I can definitely pay it back, right?”
“Yes.”
Han Min stood next to him, smiling: “Then I’ll buy it. Thank you.”
He had always loved fluffy animals, and now the system liked it too. They had agreed early on that once things settled, they would buy a cat for the system.
This Persian cat with heterochromatic eyes was rare. If missed, who knew when they’d see one again?
Moreover, Fu Xun, standing there offering an advance on salary, tempted him.
In the end, he did take an advance from Fu Xun and bought the cat.
Han Min left the Persian’s tent, cat in arms, completely satisfied.
The system was overjoyed, constantly praising him in his ear, nuzzling his face, even exposing its belly to be rubbed: “Han Min, you’re the best host in the world! I’m going to go back to the control center and show off!”
Han Min stroked the cat, smiling.
Turning to Fu Xun, even this little rival looked more agreeable—after all, he had paid for it.
Han Min held the cat in one hand, took Fu Xun’s hand with the other, and placed it on the cat’s back: “Do you want to pet it too?”
He guided Fu Xun’s hand over the fur.
Han Min instructed: “Pet along the fur, slowly. If you suddenly go against the direction—”
The system’s fur puffed up.
Han Min hurriedly corrected: “Along the fur, along the fur.”
The system settled obediently on Han Min’s arm, but Fu Xun noticed the cat’s gaze toward him was odd.
“Han Min, it…”
“What about it?”
The system turned back, wet-eyed, looking at Han Min with an innocent, cute gaze, giving a tiny mew.
Han Min didn’t care what Fu Xun wanted to say, exclaiming: “It’s too cute.”
He cuddled the cat, rubbing and stroking it.
Thinking he had imagined it, Fu Xun didn’t dwell on it.
Then Han Min let Fu Rang pet the cat too.
“Cute, right?”
The cat looked pitiful and adorable to Fu Rang.
But when it saw Fu Xun, its face fell.
Fu Xun found this strange, watching closely.
Then it kicked, trying to push Fu Xun away from Han Min.
Though the cat was small and its kicks harmless, Fu Xun frowned, brushing off his sleeve.
The cat kept meowing at Han Min, ignoring Fu Xun entirely.
Han Min had never been called like this before; Fu Xun was displeased.
He miscalculated—shouldn’t have bought it.
After strolling around, they returned to the small restaurant where they had eaten.
A waiter came out from behind the counter: “Oh, bought a cat?”
He examined it carefully: “The Persian from this street, right? She’s been selling it for days. It’s quite beautiful, but too expensive, so nobody bought it.”
Han Min smiled: “I borrowed money to buy it, have to pay it back.”
The cat meowed, and Han Min’s eyes teared: “Totally worth it.”
The waiter played with the cat for a while, then they went upstairs to find Duke of Yue.
The Duke of Yue was still at the window. The dancers spun a few more times and returned to the tent. The night was cooling; when they came out again, they were wrapped in clothes, ready to leave.
Seeing Han Min with the cat, Duke of Yue couldn’t help but pet it: “Very pretty. Who bought it?”
Han Min focused on the cat: “Fu Xun.”
The Duke of Yue looked at Fu Xun, hearing Han Min add: “I borrowed the money. I’ll pay it back.”
“Oh, fine. Then go back. It’s late.”
Fu Xun noticed the cat was also gentle and friendly toward Duke of Yue.
Duke of Yue and Fu Rang often strolled together, coming and leaving together.
Han Min rode with Fu Xun, who sent him back.
In the carriage, Han Min was tired, leaning against the wall.
The cat lay on his lap, facing Fu Xun. When Fu Xun looked at Han Min, the cat’s gem-like eyes glared at him, wary and defensive.
Fu Xun realized the cat only acted hostile toward him, especially when he approached Han Min, letting out a low growl as if ready to claw him away.
“What exactly did you buy for Han Min?”
Fu Xun grabbed the scruff and lifted it.
Han Min panicked: “Hey, be careful, it’s too small.”
Too small? It seemed nearly mystical.
Fu Xun smirked at its eyes.
The cat stared back without fear; sparks seemed to fly.
Han Min, confused, whispered to the system: “What are you doing?”
The system’s electronic voice sounded aggrieved: “You saw it too—he grabbed me first!”
“Did you accidentally offend him?”
“I didn’t.”
Han Min sat beside Fu Xun, tentatively asking: “Is something wrong with this cat?”
Fu Xun: “It’s… unusual.”
“Unusual how?”
“Quite intelligent, seems almost… magical.”
“Ah?”
Though Fu Xun didn’t usually believe in these things—even while copying sutras at Jianguo Temple—he said this seriously.
Han Min froze, alarm bells ringing.
The system attached to the cat… was essentially a spirit-cat!
Fu Xun had such sharp eyes, he could tell immediately.
“System, come out for a moment.”
Once the system detached, the cat returned to an innocent, kitten-like expression around Fu Xun.
Han Min: “Isn’t this normal? Maybe you saw wrong.”
He rescued the cat from Fu Xun and cuddled it.
Fu Xun: “It… toward me?”
Han Min placed it in front of him: “What about it?”
Fu Xun frowned, feeling odd.
Han Min nudged it against him: “It’s fine, so cute.”
Without the system, the cat wasn’t as distinctly loving or hating, but still refused Fu Xun, climbing only onto Han Min.
The system hovered, praising: “Good, very clever, knows how to protect its master.”
The cat clawed at Han Min’s shoulder strap, trying to bite it, but Fu Xun pushed it away.
Han Min scolded: “That’s my hair tie, behave!”
He held the cat tightly to prevent further moves.
After a pause, Fu Xun asked: “What’s its name?”
“System.”
A quirky name, but Han Min liked it.
Han Min scratched its chin, lifting its round head: “See? It hasn’t become mystical.”
“Hmm.”
“Even if it did, His Majesty’s dragon aura is here.”
Fu Xun lightly chuckled, stroking Han Min’s hair—along the fur.
The system screamed: “Stop it!”
—
Before long, the carriage arrived at the gate of the Liu residence.
Han Min picked up the cat and was about to leave. Before leaving, he turned back to Fu Xun and said, “Regarding the money I owe His Majesty, could His Majesty have someone write down the bill for me in a few days?”
“Okay.”
“If there are any part-time or assignments, please consider me first, Your Majesty.”
“Sure.”
Han Min jumped off the carriage and waved to him from where he stood: “Your Majesty, please take care.”
He grasped the cat’s paw and waved it at him, saying, “Come, tell His Majesty to take care.”
Fu Xun couldn’t help but add, “Don’t play with the cat all the time.”
Han Min nodded in agreement, and the carriage then departed.
“System, you can come back now. He has a sharp eye; if he’s around in the future, you’d better not come in.”
The system lazily lifted its foot: “Why don’t you just avoid seeing him?”
“Why can’t I see him? He’s the boss, and I owe him money.”
“Why don’t you just avoid meeting him in private? You’re on duty and you want to bring your cat with you? Look at Chu Yu and Wen Yan, they never meet him in private. They always talk things out in Zichen Palace and Funing Palace.”
Han Min suddenly realized, “That seems to be the case.”
The system scoffed, “Listen to me, you won’t go wrong.”
Before the control center gives a definite answer, the system feels that Han Min should not see him at all.
Every time they met, Fu Xun would get handsy, and Han Min didn’t realize it, which always made the system anxious and frustrated.
Returning from the side gate of the Liu residence, Han Min hadn’t even opened the door when he heard the rumble of carriage wheels behind him.
He turned around and saw that it was the Liu family’s carriage.
Liu Ting lifted the carriage curtain: “Minmin, you’re so late too? I just saw a carriage bringing you back, was it Zhuoshi?”
Han Min shook his head: “It’s a carriage from the palace.”
Liu Ting stopped the car and said to the people inside, “Give me the book.”
The person inside handed him a stack of books, which Liu Ting took. The person inside said, “No need, I’ll take the rest.”
That was Jiang Huan’s voice.
Han Min asked, “Senior Brother Jiang?”
Liu Ting stepped back from the carriage and stood beside him, explaining, “The academy is on holiday tomorrow. I usually bring books from home to read there and have also lent some to the students. Today, when I went to retrieve them, I realized I had taken out so many. I can’t carry them all by myself, so please help me, Shibing.”
Han Min nodded, holding the cat in one hand and helping his senior brother with some things in the other.
The system was leaning against his arm. Liu Ting saw it, leaned closer to take a look, and said, “Meow—”
At this moment, Jiang Huan also got off the carriage carrying two stacks of books: “Let’s go back.”
The three of them lived in the same courtyard and walked together on the veranda.
Han Min said, “The academy is closed tomorrow, so you can sleep in a little later, senior brother.”
Jiang Huan walked behind and said leisurely, “He’s not you.”
Han Min retorted, “I go to bed late at night, Senior Brother!”
When Liu Ting was called upon, he smiled and changed the subject: “When is Min-Min going to Tongzhou? Your senior brother will go with you.”
Han Min thought for a moment and said, “At the beginning of the month, I’m writing a leave request.”
Jiang Huan added, “Even going out requires your senior brother to accompany you; Jiaojiao is truly delicate.”
Han Min pouted, and Liu Ting patted his head, saying to Jiang Huan, “Don’t be like that. I just wanted to go see my older sister and Pei’er first.”
After moving the scrolls to Liu Ting’s room, Han Min returned to his own room.
Sitting at the desk grinding ink, the system, possessing a white cat, lay beside the desk, its tail swishing back and forth.
He was going to Tongzhou in early May and might not be able to submit his storybooks then, so he planned to finish writing two books this month and submit them together.
One of them is “The Third-Rank Scholar”. A few days ago, after Chu Yu discovered that he had written the storybook, Chu Yu ordered him to finish “The Third-Rank Scholar” within the length of one book.
Therefore, the novel “The Third Scholar” is already in its final stages.
There’s another book; he hasn’t decided yet who to pair with the Emperor, and he’s propping his head up in thought.
Fifth Prince Fu Rang?
No, he’s so silly. He’s also my good friend. If he finds out, he’ll definitely cry and shout that he wants to break off our friendship.
General Wei Gui?
No, that won’t work either. He’s quite skilled in martial arts. If he finds out, I’ll get beaten up, and he’ll be much more formidable than Wen Yan and Chu Yu.
Brother Liu Ting?
This is absolutely unacceptable! This is his beloved senior brother; he cannot let Fu Xun benefit from him.
Han Min thought of everyone he knew, and when he looked up, the window in the room was open, and directly opposite was Jiang Huan’s room, which was still lit.
Han Min had a sudden inspiration: “Senior Brother Jiang!”
There’s just one male character they’re missing here. Jiang Huan even teased him earlier, trying to get his attention.
He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote a line of large characters on the paper—
“A Few Things Between the Emperor and the Chancellor”
A cold and aloof Chancellor Jiang and a decisive emperor clash.
Han Min rubbed his hands together. “Not bad, not bad. This book will definitely achieve even greater success and reach new heights.”
However, he didn’t often see Fu Xun and Jiang Huan together, and there was no real-world situation for him to refer to.
But that’s alright, the charm of literary creation lies in fiction.
Having found the direction to move forward, the long night continued, and the poet, Pine Smoke Ink Guest, wrote furiously.
—
Before we knew it, it was mid-April.
Early in the morning, Han Min let out a long yawn and put down his pen.
After another sleepless night, he stretched, rubbed his eyes, and prepared to get up and wash his face, when he heard someone knocking on his door.
Little Jizi said, “Young master, are you up? It’s your turn to be on duty today.”
Han Min then suddenly woke up.
Another court attendant, Lord Yu, had switched shifts with him because his eldest grandson had gotten married a few days earlier.
So it’s his shift today.
He quickly tidied up the manuscript: “I’m up, come in.”
Little Jizi brought in hot water and a towel, pushed open the door, and saw that all the candles on the table had burned out.
“Young master, you didn’t sleep at all, did you?”
Han Min was extremely busy: “Stop talking, I’m almost running out of time.”
After washing up, he put on his official robes and began to tie his hair.
Little Jizi suggested, “How about we ask Lord Chu to substitute for the young master for a day?”
Han Min, holding a wooden comb, ran it through his hair: “No, I have to personally go to the palace today to deliver a memorial.”
“But young master didn’t sleep all night, isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”
Han Min leaned closer to the bronze mirror and carefully examined his face: “It’s nothing, I don’t have dark circles under my eyes. My face is very fair, you can’t tell.”
Little Jizi said helplessly, “I mean, this is bad for your health.”
“I’ll just take a nap in the carriage.”
“All right.”
Little Jizi brewed him a cup of refreshing tea, watched him finish it, and then saw him out.
The carriage headed towards the palace. Han Min leaned back in his seat and dozed off for a while, but before he could fall asleep, the carriage stopped.
He patted his face to make himself look more presentable, then got off the carriage carrying his official hat.
It was already quite late, and Han Min was exhausted, so he couldn’t run and could only walk quickly to the Funing Palace.
When he arrived, he happened to run into Fu Xun, who was about to leave.
I wasn’t late after all.
In early summer, the sun rises early, and it’s still quite early; there’s no sunrise yet.
But for the early-rising emperor, it was already too late.
Fu Xun gripped a long sword in his right hand and looked at him: “What’s your hurry?”
Han Min bowed and said, “Your subject is late.”
Fu Xun walked down the steps: “Have you had breakfast?”
Han Min held the paper and pen and nodded: “I’ve already used them.”
Fu Xun was used to getting up early to go to the martial arts field. Han Min, who had been his personal attendant for several days, knew this and followed behind him with paper and pen in hand.
Fu Xun was practicing martial arts not far away. He lowered his head and made a note, then stood there yawning.
Not daring to hit openly, he could only purse his lips and secretly yawn, several times in a row, his eyes glistening with tears.
He has made up his mind countless times that he will never stay up late again.
As the sun rose higher, it made Han Min a little dizzy, so he quietly moved to stand under the eaves to take a break.
Fu Xun caught a glimpse of him walking to the side, but didn’t point it out and let him be.
Han Min stood for a while, then sat down again.
As he sat there, he leaned against a pillar again.
As he leaned against it, he couldn’t keep his eyes open anymore.
He just held the paper and pen like that, nodding his head little by little, like a chick pecking at rice, dozing off.
Fu Xun sheathed his sword, tossed the longsword to the martial arts master standing beside him, and then walked toward Han Min.
The palace servants around him secretly felt a chill for Han Min, and mustered their courage to go forward and call him up, but Fu Xun waved them away.
Han Min didn’t sleep well, and the calligraphy brush he was holding in his arms had ink on the tip, which was pointing upwards, so it was easy to draw ink on his face.
He was half asleep, how could he have paid attention to these things?
Fu Xun stood before him, his tall shadow enveloping him. Seeing that he was still unconscious, he coughed.
Even the smooth wooden railing was too slippery to sit on. Startled, Han Min lost his balance and fell straight forward.
He nearly fell on Fu Xun’s lap, his head hitting between his legs.
Fu Xun held his hands and said with a forced smile, “There’s no need for such a grand gesture.”
Han Min was still half asleep. He looked up in a daze, and the pen he was holding drew a line on his cheek.
He was completely dazed: “Huh?”
Coming to his senses, he said, “Oh, I have to go. I’ll be going now…”
“No rush, I’m a little tired. I’ll rest for a while before I go. You can sit down too.”
As he spoke, Fu Xun sat down next to him.
Han Min almost tripped and fell, and a commemorative document fell out of Han Min’s sleeve.
Fu Xun bent down and picked it up: “What is this?”
Han Min opened his eyes with difficulty and carefully examined them: “Oh, this is my leave request.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Your Majesty, I need to return to Tongzhou in early May to bring my family back. I humbly request your permission.”
Fu Xun opened the folded document and glanced at it.
Han Min wrote this in a simple way, following a common template.
He asked, “Is everything arranged here?”
“Everything is arranged.”
“Who will go with you?”
“Senior Brother Liu.”
“Anything else?”
“No, nothing else.”
Han Min was very tired. He answered each question with a single sentence, and had no interest in saying anything else.
Fu Xun closed the memorial: “Approved.”
Han Min then said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Are you that sleepy?”
“Hmm.” Han Min blinked hard, his almond-shaped eyes filled with mist, and looked at him sincerely. “No.”
“Didn’t you sleep last night?”
“I stayed up all night.”
“What did you do?”
Han Min did not answer, but asked only, “Your Majesty, will I be penalized if I ask for leave?”
“Maybe.”
“I’m just switching shifts with Zhuoshi and Lord Yu; I’ll make up for it later.”
“Then we’ll make it up to you later.”
“Are there any job openings lately? How about I work in the imperial kitchen when I get back?”
“No need, there is a suitable official position for you.”
“Well, I hope the pay isn’t too low.”
“The pay is good.”
“That’s good.”
Fu Xun thought for a moment and then said, “Take Yanzhi with you.”
Yanzhi is that eagle, Han Min’s Turnip Head, and Fu Xun calls it Yanzhi.
“Okay.”
“Write to me.”
“Okay”
“Is the cat going too?”
Han Min shook his head: “It’s too small and not suitable for long-distance travel. I plan to leave it with the teacher and Eunuch Yang to take care of for a few days.”
He had a sudden inspiration: “Why don’t I send it into the palace? Your Majesty, when you’re tired from reviewing memorials or practicing martial arts, you can pick it up and pet it. It’s very comforting.”
Fu Xun flatly refused: “No need.”
“I’ll bring it in as payment for my debt; could you reduce the amount?”
“Cannot.”
Han Min pursed his lips, lowered his head, and swung his feet.
Fu Xun would have agreed if Han Min had offered himself in exchange for the debt.
A cat? He doesn’t want a cat.
Fu Xun reached out and wiped his cheek, and Han Min turned to look at him.
Fu Xun then showed him the ink stains on his hand: “They’ve gotten on you.”
In a moment of confusion and foolishness, Han Min didn’t reach out to touch it himself. Instead, he raised his head, as if expecting Fu Xun to wipe it for him.
Fu Xun never expected that something like this would happen when he was confused.
Fu Xun rubbed his face with his thumb: “It can’t be wiped off, just wash it with water later.”
Han Min nodded.
After a moment of silence, Han Min closed his eyes and was about to fall asleep again.
When Fu Xun sat down, he sat between Han Min and the pillar, separating Han Min from the pillar.
If Han Min wanted to sleep, he couldn’t lean against the pillar; he had to lean against him.
Fu Xun sat upright with his back straight, hands on his knees, and even leaned his shoulder towards him.
As expected of the Emperor.
Seeing that Han Min was about to fall asleep, Fu Xun had an idea and called out in his ear, “Han Min”.
“Um?”
Call me ‘Third Brother’.
“What?”
Fu Xun taught him to say “Third Brother” slowly and deliberately.
Han Min didn’t want to talk to him, and lowered his head to go to sleep, trying to cover it up: “Don’t lie to me, I’m not asleep.”
Fu Xun repeated it to him several times, and Han Min, finding it noisy, finally opened his mouth and whispered, “…Brother.”
He even swallowed the first word. Fu Xun froze, suddenly unsure of what to do with his hands and feet, but he couldn’t help but grin foolishly, his lips curving upwards wildly.
The tiger in Fu Xun’s heart slipped and ran wildly.
Author’s Note:
Species Introduction:
Name: A Fierce Tiger
Location: Old Fu’s heart
Similar species: the fawn in a young girl’s heart, the little penguin in Min-Min’s heart
Likes: Compassion, and living off the cuteness of compassion.
