Chapter 4: The Little Husband
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Chapter 4: Eating Too Little is Bad for Having Children
Barbarian beds were different from those in the Xia Kingdom. They were more like wide platforms, much lower than a standard bed and surrounded by thick curtains. The mattress was a woven material, not particularly soft. As it was early autumn, it wasn't yet freezing, and the blankets weren't overly thick, though there were two.
When Xia Xi returned after disposing of the water and washing his hands, he saw Chu Lan already tucked under one of the quilts, watching him with bright, dark eyes that shone with a piercing light, like a wolf’s. Being watched so intensely made Xia Xi uneasy; his pace slowed, and he hesitated. He was still wearing three layers of outer clothing, fully buttoned. Despite his slow steps, the room wasn't that large, and he soon reached the bed. As he wavered, the boy spoke: "Are you not taking off your clothes?"
"Yes, I'm taking them off now," Xia Xi said quickly. He stepped away to a spot out of Chu Lan's sight, slowly undressing and undoing his braids. After a while, Chu Lan asked, "Are you finished?"
The boy's voice sounded tired. Xia Xi hurried, finally unraveling the last braid. He blew out the candle and climbed into bed as quietly as possible.
This was their wedding night.
It was much better than Xia Xi had imagined, but it didn't put his mind at ease. In this foreign land, he felt as though a blade were suspended over his neck, ready to strike at any moment. He curled up under his quilt, trying to steady his breathing, but sleep eluded him. The temperature in Yudu dropped drastically at night; his feet were freezing, but he didn't dare move for fear of waking the person sleeping soundly beside him.
Eventually, the boy rolled over and tumbled into Xia Xi’s quilt. His small arms and legs wrapped around Xia Xi, holding him tight. He rubbed his warm cheek against the crook of Xia Xi’s neck, found a comfortable spot, and went still.
Xia Xi’s body went rigid. He had very little experience sharing a bed with anyone. He had grown up in the shadows, a secret existence. Only occasionally had his younger sister napped with him. He used to think the greatest happiness would be to spend a night with his mother, but even that was rare. Now, he lay beside a stranger—his husband and a King.
Xia Xi thought he wouldn't sleep, but at some point, he drifted off. He slept remarkably well; his limbs were no longer cold, and he felt quite warm.
When he woke in the morning, the lamps were out, but there was enough light to see. Xia Xi dazed for a moment, his long lashes fluttering as he stared at the intricate patterns on the bed curtains, slowly remembering where he was. He soon felt a gaze upon him. Turning his head, he saw his young husband watching him with great interest.
They were still close together; Chu Lan hadn't even moved his leg from Xia Xi’s waist. Propping his head up, he asked in clumsy Han, "Are all people from the Xia Kingdom as beautiful as you?"
Xia Xi froze, then quickly replied, "Not all." He felt his heart race, terrified the boy would notice his "differences." He had an Adam's apple, though it wasn't prominent, and his chest was flat. Though his male anatomy was small, his trousers weren't very thick. Thankfully, Chu Lan didn't notice. The boy hopped out of bed and sat before a mirror, looking back at him. "You should get up, too."
Xia Xi knew his duties as Queen. Barbarian customs dictated that everyone except the King was his servant, meant to serve and obey him. While similar to the Xia Kingdom, their consorts never actually did manual labor for the Emperor. The barbarian population was smaller, and even the palace had fewer servants. As Queen, Xia Xi only had six maids, and they were responsible for cleaning, cooking, and weaving. Since his marriage, the King no longer had personal maids; the task of dressing him fell solely on the Queen.
Xia Xi scrambled up, threw on his outer robes, and—without time to wash or brush his own hair—began dressing and styling Chu Lan's hair. The clothing was easy, as it was simpler than Xia attire, but the hair was difficult. With no one to guide him, he tried to recreate what he remembered from the day before. As he braided, Chu Lan watched him in the mirror. "You should wake up even earlier tomorrow," the boy said, pouting slightly. "It's a bit late today. I woke up late too."
Panicking, Xia Xi instinctively knelt. "I... I was wrong. I will definitely... definitely wake up earlier from now on."
Chu Lan seemed surprised by the strong reaction. He turned to look at him. "Why are you kneeling? This is what's wrong with you Xia people, kneeling for everything. You can't do that here. You have to forget those old rules." He added, "Besides, I wasn't blaming you."
Heart still racing, Xia Xi stood up slowly. "Yes," he whispered, continuing to braid the boy's hair.
"You're new," Chu Lan said. "If you can't wake up, you can sleep in. I won't blame you." His face suddenly reddened, and he added awkwardly, "After all, we are newly wed."
Xia Xi kept his expression neutral and gave a polite "Yes." His fingers were nimble, and he managed to secure the crown. Cai Huan entered with water, and Xia Xi used his cloth to wash Chu Lan's face again. Chu Lan frowned. "Do you Xia people always do this? Always washing your face?"
Xia Xi softened his touch. "Do you not like it?" he asked quietly.
Chu Lan stared at him. "When you do it, it's actually quite comfortable." He seemed to mean it, tilting his head back and closing his eyes to receive the cloth. Seeing his expectation, Xia Xi washed his face two more times. Afterward, a maid brought breakfast. Chu Lan insisted Xia Xi eat with him. "I... I haven't washed up yet..." Xia Xi murmured.
Chu Lan stood still. "Then wash. I'll wait." Everything Xia Xi did was a curiosity to him. He watched Xia Xi comb his hair and wash his face. When he saw Xia Xi take a strange object and start brushing it inside his mouth, he couldn't help but ask: "What are you doing?"
"Brushing my teeth," Xia Xi replied indistinctly. This was the first time in his life someone had stared at him while he performed this task; he felt flustered and shy, making his movements quicker than usual. Once his mouth was clean, he explained in detail, "This is a toothbrush, and this is tooth powder. Brushing morning and night is good for your teeth."
Chu Lan took the toothbrush from his hand, observing it closely for a while. He frowned. "We have no such thing in Yudu. We only rinse with saltwater in the morning. You Xia people are so much trouble." Despite his words, he looked eager to try, watching Xia Xi with anticipation. "Can I try?"
"Of course... of course you can," Xia Xi said. In the Xia Kingdom, toothbrushes and powder were luxuries reserved for the nobility. Xia Xi had brought a small supply. "I will fetch a new one for you. Please wait a moment."
Chu Lan looked puzzled. "Can I not use yours?"
Xia Xi froze. Chu Lan stared at him, his tone becoming firmer. "We are husband and wife. Can we not share?"
Unable to refuse, Xia Xi nodded gently. He applied the tooth powder to the brush and whispered, "Please open your mouth." The boy sat before him and opened wide. Chu Lan’s teeth were white and straight. Xia Xi reached into the boy’s mouth with gentle movements, brushing carefully along the teeth. Chu Lan seemed unaccustomed to the sensation, finding it both strange and amusing, but he sat still and let Xia Xi work. After finishing, Xia Xi handed him a cup of water. "Take a sip, and then—"
Before he could finish, Chu Lan snatched the cup, drained it in one go, and with a loud gulp, swallowed everything.
The two stared at each other, both stunned.
Xia Xi’s shock quickly turned to anxiety. "That... that was meant to be spit out," he whispered. "You shouldn't... shouldn't swallow it..."
Chu Lan puffed out his cheeks and glared. "You spoke too slowly! It tasted terrible!"
"I am sorry," Xia Xi said softly.
But clearly, the boy wasn't truly angry. He simply said, "In the future, you must brush my teeth for me," and then took Xia Xi’s hand to lead him to the dining table.
The barbarian diet consisted mostly of beef and mutton with very few vegetables. Even breakfast featured a large platter of meat, likely roasted, giving off a strong aroma. Chu Lan had a hearty appetite; he grabbed a piece of meat with his hands and shoved it into his mouth, then thoughtfully handed a piece to Xia Xi. "Eat."
Xia Xi noticed a trace of blood near the bone. Panicking, he instinctively shook his head. "I... I cannot eat meat in the morning..." He picked up a piece of naan bread. "Great King, may I eat this instead?"
Chu Lan looked confused but nodded, taking the meat back and eating it himself. The naan was toasted and fragrant, but Xia Xi’s appetite was poor; he ate in small bites and was full after half a piece. Chu Lan was clearly dissatisfied. "You eat too little," he remarked. "People say that women who eat so little cannot bear children."
Xia Xi felt a flash of alarm followed by a touch of irony. He didn't know if he could have children, but he certainly wouldn't be having any soon; his husband was so young he likely understood nothing of the "affairs of men and women." Still, he didn't argue. He only whispered, "I will try to eat more from now on."
Chu Lan seemed satisfied and nodded. In his good mood, he finished another half-plate of meat before announcing, "Later, I shall take you horse riding."
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