Wolf King And His Fox Consort

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With such an inauspicious start to his day, it was understandable that Chu Yun would be in a bad mood. 

He shooed Xiao Zai back to his old quarters so that he could get dressed alone, with only the servants to hoover around him, instead of Xiao Zai and his constant concern.

"Are you sure you're well enough to attend the ceremony?" he asked, halfway out the door already. "We don't need to go if you aren't well."

Chu Yun pushed him out the doorway the rest of the way and closed the door in his face.

Hua Nanyi, who had been watching all this from the corner of the room let out a loud laugh. "My, what could have happened to turn his Highness into such a conscientious husband?"

Chu Yun had no patience for her jeering, but soon other servants filed into the room and she could say no more as everyone descended on him like magpies who instead of absconding with glittering trinkets bestowed them upon the unsuspecting.

---

Hours later, Chu Yun still felt a little nauseous but at least he was dressed and his hair was done. He was sticking to the light colour-scheme he'd been favouring since marrying Xiao Zai, but this time his robes were a little more yellow toned, like the first bloom of spring across freshly thawed grass. It wouldn't do to attend a wedding wearing robes so light they could pass off for mourning attire. His white rabbit fur cloak was staying, though.

Once again, he opted for tasteful but discreet jade ornaments instead of eye-catching gold ones, in the hopes of disappearing in with all the other finely dressed guests.

By the time he walked into the courtyard, Xiao Zai was already waiting for him beside their carriage. He was wearing the deep purple robes Chu Yun suggested, with a silver haircrown and matching hairpin. A bearskin cloak across his shoulders made his figure stand out even more imposingly amidst the blanket of snow at his feet.

He smiled when he saw Chu Yun approaching but his smile faltered as soon as their eyes met. "Is everything okay?" he reached for Chu Yun, as if afraid he would fall.

Chu Yun ignored his proferred hand and climbed into the carriage on his own. "I'm fine."

"You look very pale," he grumbled, climbing in after him. He turned to Hua Nanyi as soon as she joined them inside, carrying a hand-warming brazier for Chu Yun in her hands. "Did he get sick again?"

"Don't answer that," Chu Yun said, shooting her a glare before she could open her mouth. He pried the brazier out of her fingers, and stuck his head outside the carriage's window. "We're ready, let's go."

The carriage jostled into motion immediately after. 

Chu Yun just wanted to get this day over with. He was already annoyed that they couldn't have garnered the support he wanted before Xiao Yuan's wedding, he didn't want to have to deal with an illness and Xiao Zai's overblown concern on top of it all.

---

There was something going on with Chu Yun. Xiao Zai couldn't shake off that feeling all through the mindless rounds of pleasantries with the other guests.

They were all bidding their time until the auspicious hour to perform the ceremony arrived. In the meantime, everyone was gathered in the Peony courtyard, pretending not to be observing each other like hawks. The entertainment was lacklustre, other than some pipa players sprinkled through the courtyard, so most people preferred to stave off boredom by talking with the other guests.

Xiao Zai had several issues with this. The first of all being that he despised almost everyone gathered around. Chu Yun usually had no problem being perfectly pleasant and charming in social situations, so the fact that he was standing at Xiao Zai's side, unusually taciturn, was a little concerning.

"Are you sure you're feeling well?" 

Chu Yun cut him a glare from beneath his curling lashes. "I'm about to stop being if you don't shut up."

Despite the vitriol in his words, Xiao Zai could tell he wasn't as fine as he kept insisting. There was a pallor to his skin, and yet despite it, faint traces of perspiration gathered on his upper lip and neck.

Just as he was about to suggest he get Chu Yun some warm water his dam appeared at their side.

"Lovely day for a wedding, isn't it?" he said pleasantly, his hands folded behind his back in oddly formal posture he usually favoured.

Chu Yun smiled at him politely and flicked his fan open in front of his face. "Indeed, maybe unseasonably warm." 

Xiao Zai frowned. He failed to see how the weather could get much colder short of a blizzard.

"It's always a pleasure seeing father-in-law, but if you'll excuse me, I think I see Concubine Min waving at me."

He disappeared in the crowd without another word, leaving Xiao Zai alone with his dam.

Gu Wei clicked his tongue. "He still doesn't like me."

Xiao Zai chuckled. "I think you make him uncomfortable, and he's not used to it."

His dam shook his head with a sigh, but his expression remained pleasant. "Concubine Min talks very fondly of him. I'm glad he's keeping her company, the other concubines like making things hard for her."

He and his dam knew all about that. Not long ago it was them suffering the burnt of the harem's schemes. These days Gu Wei kept to himself when it came to internal harem affairs, enjoying the modicum of leeway they had won in the last few years -- hard to come by as it was, his dam was still in no position to intercede with the King on anyone's behalf.

"Yun-er is very kind, he just doesn't like showing it," Xiao Zai said, trying to track Chu Yun's white rabbit fur cloak through the crowd.

Gu Wei hummed. "I couldn't help noticing he looked a little peaked."

"He's been feeling nauseous lately, he even got sick this morning," Xiao Zai sighed. "He's too stubborn to consult a physician, keeps insisting it was something he ate."

Gu Wei made another noncommittal sound.. "Yes, it could also be that."

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