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It was the eighth month of spring. There were so many official matters to deal with, the banquet of hundred officials, this year's spring festival. Seeing how tired Shen Zechuan was Xiao Chiye told him to rest and went to discuss these matters himself with various ministers. By the time the meeting was over it was already midnight. Braving the chilly wind of the night Xiao Chiye returned to his and Shen Zechuan's shared bedroom. But instead of Shen Zechuan's lithe softness lying underneath the blanket he found a tiny fluff ball crawling out of it. It was a little red fox cub. Xiao Chiye was extremely perplexed at first, brows furrowed in confusion. He thought his exhausted mind was playing tricks on him. But on seeing the red jade earring dangling from the fox's right ear everything became clear as day.
This... Lanzhou?!
Xiao Chiye hesitantly picked him up, weighing the little thing in his hands. He was the size of Xiao Chiye’s palm. Xiao Chiye was careful as he held him, fearing the fragile little one would break if he used even a little force. Xiao Chiye exclaimed in shock, "Lanzhou? How did you turn into a fox!?"
The little fox Lanzhou couldn't say anything, he just gazed at him with glassy eyes, looking all the more pitiful, the expression on his face pretty much spoke of, "I don't know either."
Xiao Chiye immediately summoned the imperial physicians, asking them what was wrong with him. But the physicians had never seen something like this before, a human turned into a fox?! How to even treat an ailment like this?!
When no physicians could come up with a proper explanation Xiao Chiye had Jiran summoned from bodhi mountain. Once Jiran checked him he said with certainty, “Your Lordship, his majesty had overworked himself, causing his inner qi to be weakened. Although it’s nothing major, I’m afraid his majesty won’t regain his original form until tomorrow dawn break.”
Hearing this relief washed over Xiao Chiye, his Lanzhou wasn’t lost, he will be back to his true self soon.
Xiao Chiye nuzzled his face against the little fluff ball and dropped a kiss on its head. He was worried in the beginning, but as he scrutinized little Lanzhou he thought inwardly.
Maybe this wouldn’t be too bad afterall.
He lifted Shen Zechuan high up in the air again.
Xiao Chiye broke into a grin. He threw him in the air before catching him. He repeated this action over and over again, looking all the more elated each time.
This was going to be so much fun! Xiao Chiye wondered. He could play with little Lanzhou all day. Cradle him however he wished, put him in his pocket and take him with him everywhere!
And once dawn breaks Lanzhou will be back to his original self again. Till then he could have as much fun as he wanted!
For the rest of the day Xiao Chiye spent his time playing with fox Lanzhou. He had the Directorate for Royal Clothing make a small dragon robe for him, even a little golden crown to fit him. It jingled each time Shen Zechuan hopped around. Right now they were playing with a ball. Shen Zechuan caught the ball Xiao Chiye tossed his way with his mouth, the ball slipped out of his mouth from time to time since he was so tiny but he still picked it up with difficulty and flung it in the direction of Xiao Chiye again.
They played for the entire day in the imperial garden like this, sometimes Xiao Chiye just simply played tag with him. Shen Zechuan was more energetic than usual in this little body, so he ran with all his might as Xiao Chiye chased after him. But even then he couldn’t run far from Xiao Chiye given that his large stature and long legs provided him with more advantage, so he was still caught. Xiao Chiye toppled over the flowerbed with him, laughing the entire time as Shen Zechuan angrily slapped at his face with his tiny paws in vengeance.
Next they played hide and seek. It’s time for revenge, Shen Zechuan thought inwardly. Shen Zechuan decided to use his small size to his advantage, hiding in such a cramped place that Xiao Chiye couldn’t find him at all. Until Shen Zechuan peeked at him from the corner of a small stone slab and just as Xiao Chiye noticed him he blended in one of the bushes again.
Shen Zechuan might be in the form of a little fox, but his consciousness was still there. As he played with Xiao Chiye he could clearly see how happy his beloved was. Xiao Chiye always loved having pets around him, be it horses or eagles, he’d cherish and take care of them like they were his own children. Shen Zechuan made a quick note to himself to buy some exquisite little fox cubs when he gets back to his original form.
Just like this their entire day was spent amidst the lively atmosphere of the imperial garden. Xiao Chiye now had another meeting to attend to. He put Shen Zechuan in his bosom, deciding to keep him close to him.
As the meeting progressed Shen Zechuan peeked at Xiao Chiye, his bottomless black eyes looking right at him, no one else but Xiao Chiye could see him from this angle. Shen Zechuan purred softly, nuzzling against Xiao Chiye. At that moment Xiao Chiye had this sudden urge to caress his head. But refrained from doing so in case someone noticed. Shen Zechuan couldn’t participate in the meeting, but he’d nod from time to time, or shake his head when he didn’t like any ideas. Even though he didn’t talk, Xiao Chiye could still understand his intentions and did as he gestured. As the meeting came to an end, Xiao Chiye felt the fox cub to be all too quiet, when he moved away the collar of his outer robe he saw that Lanzhou had already fallen into a deep sleep. Xiao Chiye’s eyes softened, he cooed, his Lanzhou was so adorable.
Xiao Chiye gently picked him, placed him on his shoulder and walked towards their shared bedroom. He softly placed him onto the plush pillow that he had newly sewed today. With a soft smile on his lips Xiao Chiye looked at him for one last time. The bout of hopping and jumping around today made him exhausted too, he soon plopped on the pillow beside and slipped away in dreamland.
The next morning Xiao Chiye was still in a state of drowsiness when he felt something soft grazing his cheek, he opened his bleary eyes with difficulty and looked to his left.
It was Lanzhou!
He was back in his original form.
“La- Lanzhou?!” Xiao Chiye held him haphazardly and pulled him in an embrace, “Lanzhou..”
“A-ye.” Shen Zechuan buried his face in Xiao Chiye’s neck, he chuckled softly, “Missed me?”
Xiao Chiye just held him by his waist tighter, “So much.”
He cupped Shen Zechuan’s cheek to take a good look at him, he nuzzled his nose against him, his voice had a teasing undertone as he said, “It’s just a pity that..”
“Hm?”
Xiao Chiye moved away his lustrous locks and caressed his earlobe, “It’s a pity that I can’t carry you and put you in my pocket like I did yesterday,” seeing Lanzhou’s lips forming into a pout he simply couldn’t resign himself to it and decided to tease him a little more. Xiao Chiye squeezed his cheek and said, “Also, fox Lanzhou is just way too cute for me to resist.”
“Oh?” Shen Zechuan slapped away his hand and threw the plush pillow on his face, clearly agitated, “Since you miss your fox Lanzhou so much watch me turn into one again-“
But before he could continue any further he was once again engulfed in Xiao Chiye’s arms as he held him tight. Remembering why Shen Zechuan turned into a fox in the first place Xiao Chiye said firmly, “Don’t.. don’t ever think of doing that.”
Shen Zechuan soothed him softly, “A-ye I know, I wouldn’t okay? I was just teasing you.”
After dropping a kiss on his forehead Shen Zechuan said, “Oh I almost forgot.”
Shen Zechuan made the latter sit up, his expression was that of amusement, a hint of playfulness could be seen in his eyes as he said, “A-ye, I have something to show you.”
Shen Zechuan walked to the imperial garden with him hand in hand. Xiao Chiye nudged at him, “Imperial garden? What are you planning to show me?”
Shen Zechuan swung their interlocked hands up and down, he said with a smile, “You will see.”
Just then Xiao Chiye’s eyes caught the slight disturbance at one of the bushes. Xiao Chiye said loudly, “Who is there?”
He had expected to see a trespasser, or an impudent palace maid hiding in there.
But to his utter surprise some little red fluff balls jumped out of the bush.
They were… fox cubs?!
Everyone turned into foxes!?!
No way.. was everyone being affected by the same ailment too?
Xiao Chiye turned his head to Shen Zechuan and said with all seriousness, “Lanzhou, we must put a stop to this. First it was you, now the other ministers are being affected by this too. Lanzhou, you mustn’t overwork yourself at all cost, also, I will summon Jiran again today to discuss a permanent solution of this, this-“
But before Xiao Chiye could speak any further he was shushed by Shen Zechuan as he kissed him. His soft pair of lips came in contact with his as he gently caressed his cheek. Shen Zechuan let go before saying, “A-ye, it’s not what you think it is at all. I bought them today, I saw how you were enjoying yourself yesterday. After some careful consideration, it seemed that some little foxes would indeed be a great addition to the imperial garden. We can raise them together.”
So that’s what it is!
Xiao Chiye smacked himself inwardly, why did he think of it like that in the first place!
Xiao Chiye scooped up the fox cubs, he nuzzled at them a little before handing one over to Shen Zechuan, “Such little bundles of joy would indeed bring some liveliness in the palace. Seems like Lang Tao Xue Jin and Meng have friends now.”
Shen Zechuan chuckled as he cradled the little one in his arms.
From then on Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan would always find themselves playing with the fox cubs after the morning court session, sometimes even during the afternoon. Meng and Lang Tao Xue Jin had bonded with those little fluff balls too. As Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan basked in each other's comforting embrace underneath the plum blossom tree they’d often see them communicating with each other in their own way.
Sometimes the foxes would accompany Shen Zechuan to morning court sessions too. While Shen Zechuan would be calmly discussing various matters with the ministers the little bundles of joy on his lap would happily paw at his dragon robe non stop, sometimes even roll around his robe as they’d purr from time to time. Their purrs would clearly disrupt the seriousness of the discussion sometimes but what could the ministers do? He was the Emperor, he could do whatever he liked. Thus they simply just put up with it and tried their best to ignore the noises.