A Taste of Summer, a Taste of Salt

by Feng_Huli

Summary:

Jin Xuan tastes the salt of tears after a conflict with his emperor. To distract him, Jin Yan offers something sweeter.

Notes:

Just a note that Xiao Ruojin didn't drug Yi Wenjun in the novel, and the vibe of their relationship in this fic is somewhat more in line with that version of events. I figured it was worth mentioning here, since such a sinister action having happened between them would greatly affect the subtext.

His Majesty’s robes glowed in the evening sun, golden sleeves wrapping around Jin Xuan’s deep purple.

“Finally,” Xiao Ruojin muttered against his lips, “I have a moment alone with you.” One hand settled on the small of his back. “Hm, more than a moment.”

Jin Xuan closed the distance before responsibility could force him to speak. Perhaps he wouldn’t need to. Perhaps he could allow his emperor to neglect the one small matter left for the day. When was the last time Jin Xuan had allowed himself to be selfish?

There was salt on Xiao Ruojin’s lips. Not from Jin Xuan’s tears, as had often been the case of late, but from the meal he shared with the Grand Preceptor. Now that the old fellow was gone, Jin Xuan could taste it himself.

The kisses he offered his emperor were usually soft enough that they wouldn’t disturb a feather. This one was a winter gale, bold enough to blow a hawk off course; he wouldn’t dare to say a dragon.

His emperor smiled against him before frowning slightly. “I feel like I’m forgetting something.”

Jin Xuan sighed. “It’s Consort Xuan’s birthday.”

The slightest sting of betrayal showed in his emperor’s eyes, worse than any anger. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You haven’t visited her in years. I didn’t think today would be any different.”

His Majesty stepped back, ending their embrace. “Jin Xuan, did you plan to keep this from me?”

“It wasn’t my plan.”

“But it became your intention, didn’t it?”

“Bixia—”

“Enough. We’ll talk in the morning.”

Jin Xuan frowned. “His Majesty intends to stay the night?”

“We’ll talk in the morning,” he repeated, turning away with a wretched cough.

“Understood, bixia.”

The salt Jin Xuan tasted was no longer from Xiao Ruojin’s lips.

Even if His Majesty wouldn’t be sleeping in his bed, it was of course essential that Jin Xuan ensure no poisons or other hidden threats entered the room. Thinking of Dark River’s spiders, his skin crawled.

Prince Chi had mentioned possibly asking them to come to the city, and Jin Xuan feared he had only temporarily talked him out of such foolishness. They were nothing but trouble, but that was the very thing the young prince needed most to create. Jin Xuan understood this, but he also understood that they would be incredibly difficult to control—they couldn’t fully join hands with Dark River until they were ready.

With a sigh, Jin Xuan sat on the edge of the bed, gold like the sleeves that had embraced him. There was nothing he could find, and nothing to do. And the things that could have been done wouldn’t be done tonight.

He should have told him, could have gone with him…

Hadn’t Jin Xuan wanted to tell Consort Xuan he wished her a happy birthday? He even prepared an extra gift, in case Xiao Ruojin hadn’t remembered to send one. Jin Xuan was going to visit her after his emperor’s meeting with the Grand Preceptor was over. What had he been thinking, taking that moment to enjoy Xiao Ruojin himself?

His Majesty was surely visiting without a gift in hand. He hadn’t even remembered the day—surely Jin Xuan could bring over his gift, crediting him with the selection. But Xiao Ruojin was upset with him; he had made himself clear.

Jin Xuan sighed again. There was nothing for him to do.  

Fights with His Majesty were rare, and even rarer was it for Jin Xuan to wish for company afterward. Tonight, however, he desired a distraction, and he could think of no one more suitable for that task than Jin Yan.

Jin Yan was loudly licking the juices off his fingers when Jin Xuan entered his hall, but immediately set down the half-eaten rib when he noticed him. “Director,” he greeted with a grin, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Jin Xuan sighed, taking a seat across from him. “His Majesty is visiting with Consort Xuan tonight.”

Eyes glinting with hunger, Jin Yan’s tongue flashed across his teeth. “The whole night?”

“Yes,” he answered shortly, reaching for the wine.

“No, Director, not that one. I’ll get something better for you.”

“Better?”

Jin Yan held up a finger before scurrying off.

Frowning, Jin Xuan glanced at the scattered stones of an unfinished Go game. He could have tripped on the board when he had crossed the scroll-strewn floor, had he not been accustomed to its unusual placement. 

Today’s position was particularly thought-provoking. The white stones were in danger of having a small group captured, but overall seemed to control more territory. To figure out which side had the advantage required more calculation than Jin Xuan cared for at that moment.

Jin Yan returned, this time bearing two wine jugs. “For you,” he said, placing them before him with a flourish.

Jin Xuan scoffed coldly. “I don’t need so much.”

“We’ll see,” Jin Yan said, pouring a cup for him.

Warily, he accepted what was offered and raised it to his lips. Exasperating and untrustworthy as Jin Yan could be to others, the fear and desire—the devotion—Jin Xuan had cultivated in him were so great that there was not sufficient reason to suspect poison. Still, he carefully watched Jin Yan’s expression as he slowly tilted the cup up to his lips.

“Wait!” Jin Yan’s hand hovered over his wrist, fingers twitching to grab it.

“What is it?”

“May Jin Yan drink some first? To prove that it’s safe?”

Jin Xuan savored the earnestness in Jin Yan’s eyes. So rare, and shown only for him.

Regardless, Jin Xuan took a sip. Plum wine, strong and sweet. Heady warmth, like the summers of decades past, rose pleasantly in his throat as he swallowed.

He closed his eyes, remembering the candied plums he would feed Jin Yan in their youth. Remembering how Jin Yan would lick the sugar from his fingers before sharing the sweetness with a kiss.

It wasn’t long before one jug was done. Jin Xuan hadn’t bothered using a cup with the second, finishing half before the lip of the jug was replaced with Jin Yan’s.

Jin Xuan frowned slowly, waiting for those lips to leave.

“Thank you for letting me try some, Director,” Jin Yan said with a smile before brushing their lips together again. “No one is as generous as you are.”    

Yes, the plum wine was sweet, but Jin Yan’s lips were sweeter. Too sweet, and too bold.

Taking control of his wrist, Jin Xuan pulled him closer. “Then have some more.”

Giggling, Jin Yan slinked into his lap. “Of you, or the wine?”

“The wine.” 

Jin Xuan had already drunk far too much. The audaciousness Jin Yan was showing made it clear that equalizing the situation was a necessity.

Jin Yan drank heartily before letting him smell the sweet alcohol on his breath. It was almost enough to get drunk on, if Jin Xuan wasn’t already. 

“Have the rest, Director,” Jin Yan offered, pouring what was left down his throat. After swallowing, Jin Xuan laughed. He was certainly drunk.

And Jin Yan’s lips were on his once more. Perhaps the alcohol hadn’t slowed him down. Not like how it slowed Jin Xuan. There was tongue, this time. Invading his mouth, tasting what had already been tasted. A useless exercise, but Jin Yan seemed to savor it. Pulling him closer, reaching into his robes.

“Director, allow me to do something for you,” he was whispering.

Jin Xuan frowned, unsure how to respond. Jin Yan had never been so fearless.

“You’ve done so much for me,” Jin Yan continued, finger circling his nipple.

A quiet moan escaped him. It was the sort of sound he only offered Xiao Ruojin, but His Majesty was not here.

Soft kisses along his neck. “ Please , let me do something for you.”

Jin Xuan blinked slowly, finally finding his words. “Very well.” 

Jin Yan led him to his bed, both of them stumbling. Jin Xuan more than he. There were many reasons Jin Xuan rarely drank. He particularly didn’t care for stumbling.

Jin Yan was kissing him again.

Reminded of the warmth of summers past, Jin Xuan relaxed under him.

When Jin Xuan awoke, it was far past morning. His robes were in place and Jin Yan was gone, so there was nothing delaying him from sliding into his shoes and flying out of the hall. His Majesty would be waiting for him, and he refused to let the throbbing of his head stop him from meeting him.

“What happened to you?” Xiao Ruojin asked as he landed in the garden.

Jin Xuan could have guessed that he wasn’t entirely composed. In his urgency, he hadn’t attended his appearance as much as he might have. “Jin Yan treated me to some wine,” he answered. “How was Consort Xuan?”

“She wouldn’t have wanted to see me. I picked out a gift and had it sent to her.”

“I see. I didn’t mean to—”

“I know. You have a deeper relationship with her than I do.”

“I wouldn’t claim that.”

“I know you wouldn’t. That doesn’t mean it isn’t true.”

“Then…is His Majesty still upset with me?”

Xiao Ruojin embraced him. “How could I be? All you wanted was a moment with me.”

“Bixia…”

“Jin Xuan, I expect you to be truthful.”

“I know.” He gave him a feather-light kiss, not daring for anything more.

“Plum,” his emperor noted. “So sweet. More to Jin Yan’s taste than yours, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Jin Xuan admitted. “But he thought I would like it.”

“Did you?”

He frowned softly. “He gave me too much.”

“You don’t usually like to drink, even during feasts.”

“It affects me too easily, but I…I wanted to be affected last night.”

“Jin Xuan,” Xiao Ruojin murmured, kissing him. “I didn’t wish to hurt you so.”

“Neither did I,” Jin Xuan whispered, blinking away tears.

His emperor coughed a little. “Let us forget about what happened yesterday. We only have so many more tomorrows together, and I don’t want them shadowed by this little conflict.”

“Bixia, don’t say that. I’ll find a way to heal you. I—”

Xiao Ruojin lifted his hands and kissed them, lips warm and soft as a summer breeze. “No matter how much time I have left, I want us to be together.”

Jin Xuan tasted salt again. Without a word, he shared it with his emperor.  

Notes:

Thanks for reading!