Bu Bu Jing Xin - Chapter 5
Title: Bu Bu Jing Xin (Startling By Each Step)
Pairings: Kyuhyun centric, there will be various pairing/friendships, main wonkyu though hankyu, eunkyu, kyumin, changkyu also present. Also Hanchul, Eunhae, Minsu, and so many others I can't actually remember them all.
Genre: Historical, humour, angst, romance
Rating: PG-13 (I looked it up!)
Warnings: There will be character death (near the end though), plus some characters will have really sad endings (for spoilers watch the drama!) and also will probably add smut sometime.
Summary: Kyuhyun gets hit by a car and wakes up not in the the body of a 25 year old computer analyst like he expected but in the body of a 16 year old noble boy in the Qing dynasty. Confused and annoyed he then ends up entangled in the lives of the Princes he had learnt about in history class, as well as one of the messiest battles for the throne in China's history.
A/N: This is a SuJu version of the drama Bu Bu Jing Xin. I don't know whether anyone has written one before, if they have let me know, I'd love to read it! I will be sticking to the plot quite closely, I am in no way amazing enough to think up all this, I will change some stuff and add side stories of some characters that I love to bits and wanted developing more. I have no idea why I decided to post this. I think my love for this drama and Kyuhyun one day decided to drive me crazy. Also this is betaed by my wonderful friend Miki.
A/N: Erm... I updated twice in one day on AFF due to me getting 50 subscribers so I updated here as well however I can't put this update on miracle til tomorrow due to their rules I think. I doubt anyone will read this til I post it on miracle anyway lol. Also LJ keeps saying this post is too large! How is that possible when this is 4,000-odd words when ch1 was 6,000+ words *idiotic LJ* Splitting it into two parts.
ZhouMi was ignoring Kyuhyun and Kyuhyun didn’t like it. Mi didn’t shout or get mad, he was passive aggressive at its worst. He walked out the room when Kyuhyun entered it and Kyuhyun couldn’t get mad because he deserved it. Mi spent his time at the altar praying and Kyuhyun couldn’t find it in his heart to disrupt the other to beg forgiveness, so he lurked nearby feeling forlorn. He embarrassed Mimi deeply, he had been given the task of planning and hosting the party and then most people will only remember it as the day Kyuhyun and Donghae got into a fight and Kyuhyun scared half the Princes with his fierceness. The servants avoided him as well; they seemed to think he breathed fire. He didn’t think he did anything that outrageous but then he remember he was in the Qing dynasty and also that gossip had probably exaggerated his misbehaviour.
Walking in the gardens after being ignored once again by his older brother, he sat down in the gazebo feeling morose. He wasn’t alone for long though as Eunhyuk and Sungmin approached him.
“Here’s Thirteenth brother’s death-seeking twin,” announced Sungmin as they stood before him.
“Look, he’s so fearless he doesn’t even greet royalty anymore,” pointed out Eunhyuk.
“I know, next he’ll be cursing our Imperial Father,” Sungmin teased.
“I’m not that crazy,” Kyuhyun finally spoke.
“Well, your reputation has spread far and wide, you have been dubbed death-seeking Thirteenth’s twin.” Sungmin poked the younger, causing Kyuhyun to rise and glare at his two friends.
“That’s just brilliant! Why does bad news travel faster than good news?!” He seethed.
“Well I’d say it’s well earned,” Eunhyuk said.
“What?! How could you say that?”
“I’m surprised tales of your strangeness haven’t already spread,” Eunhyuk elaborated while hiding behind Sungmin when Kyuhyun dived at him.
“I am not strange!”
“You are really building yourself a strong case while you shout at us,” Sungmin stated as he moved to reveal Eunhyuk. He pointed at the terrified looking eunuch that had appeared at the edge of the gazebo. The eunuch was beckoned forward and he turned to Kyuhyun, “My Lord would like to see you in his study.”
Kyuhyun stiffened, fear suddenly striking him, the only reason Hangeng would want to see him was to punish him for his behaviour at the party. Eunhyuk and Sungmin looked worriedly at their friend. Eunhyuk spoke first, “We’ll go with you. We can speak up in your defence.”
“Sure, Eighth brother is fair so he will listen to us,” Sungmin added, trying to reassure the pale Kyuhyun. Seeing that the other wasn’t going to move, he grabbed his hand and started to drag the incredibly reluctant Kyuhyun towards the Eighth’s quarters, followed by Eunhyuk and letting the eunuch scuttle before him to let his master know that they were on their way.
When he got there, Hangeng ignored Kyuhyun completely. The younger stood in the middle of the room before the desk, waiting for his brother-in-law to say something; however, Hangeng didn’t even acknowledge his presence as he started to talk to Eunhyuk and Sungmin. Kyuhyun silently cursed them as they didn’t say a word in his defence like they promised they would. “Maybe they didn’t promise but a man is only as good as his word.” Kyuhyun thought to himself. He couldn’t leave or say anything until the Prince said so. His so called friends were just occasionally looking at him, vaguely concerned as his legs started to ache.
After several hours of standing while Hangeng purposefully ignored him, Kyuhyun was ready to collapse. He didn’t even know what his real punishment would be, but standing, not being able to move an inch, should be punishment enough. He didn’t like the amount of people who thought that ignoring someone was a good punishment. He would prefer to be yelled at. He wasn’t paying attention to the conversation that Eunhyuk and Sungmin were having with Hangeng, it mostly involved politics and matter of the court.
“It’s late, will you stay for dinner?” Hangeng asked of his two younger brothers.
“Of course gege,” Sungmin agreed with Eunhyuk nodding his head.
“Go ahead, I will meet you at Heechul’s,” Hangeng rose along with his brothers, gaining Kyuhyun’s attention which had not been on the princes. He stood straighter as his friends smiled weakly at him and exited the room. Hangeng walked towards him, before stopping just in from of Kyuhyun. Kyuhyun could feel the heat coming off of the elder and averted his gaze towards the floor. “Look at me.”
Kyuhyun blinked when he looked into Hangeng’s eyes, shocked by how close the other was to him. Hangeng laughed in amusement at Kyuhyun’s fearful expression, “Am I that scary?” He continued laughing as he walked towards the door, “You are excused. Take him back,” he told a servant before he left, heading towards Heechul’s wing, leaving a confused but thankful Kyuhyun to be assisted back.
The next day his legs were cramping and he hobbled into breakfast feeling very sorry for himself. ZhouMi looked up in surprise, assessing Kyuhyun for the first time in a few days, “Sunny, take Kyuhyun to the baths and massage his legs for him.”
Kyuhyun smiled in happiness that ZhouMi was recognising him for the first time in days. He reach forward to grasp Mi, wanting to get a hug when the older shook him off and walked out the room, clearly still upset. He sighed and let Sunny help him up, “When do you think he will forgive me?”
“When he’s ready Miss,” Sunny assured. “He was very disappointed, especially since you promised that you would be on your best behaviour.”
“But I didn’t mean to get mad, I know I shouldn’t have.” Kyuhyun started to cry as he ran after his brother, wanting the older to talk to him. Sunny followed behind as Kyuhyun entered Mi’s private chamber. “Gege, please scold me. Please tell me off, yell or shout. Just say something to me, please.” Kyuhyun fell on his knees before the bench on which Mi was sitting. “You are the only family I have, the only person I can turn to. No one else protects me, guides me, looks after me. You are the person I care about the most, what you think of me matters the most. I can deal with anger but I can’t deal with this avoidance. Please speak to me.” Kyuhyun’s tears were falling heavily but Kyuhyun’s hands were grasping ZhouMi’s preventing him from leaving.
“I’m sorry,” ZhouMi spoke, his own voice thick with sadness. “I shouldn’t have ignored you, I know we only have each other and I hurt you by doing this. I’m sorry Kyu.” He gently wiped the tears off his brothers face as he applied the baby nickname he had for the younger. He pulled Kyuhyun up into an embrace, letting their tears fall on the other’s shoulders. Kyuhyun gasped as he was pulled onto his feet, his calves still cramping from the previous day’s treatment. “Kyu,” Mi said, “You should go with Sunny now and have that bath.” He let go of the younger and Sunny rushed forward, her own eyes misty as she helped her master, happy that the brothers were talking again.
“I’ll be good from now on, I promise. I won’t get into any trouble,” Kyuhyun vowed as he was led out of the room by his maid.
On the way back, after being massaged into relaxation by Sunny’s talented hands, he spotted Eunhyuk and Sungmin. Deciding to guilt them he hobbled much like he had before his bath. Ignoring them, he limped made as if to limp past them.
“Stop!” Eunhyuk called, which caused Kyuhyun to turn and say his greeting with as little sincerity as possible. “You’re mad,” the prince winced at the glare his friend gave him.
“What happened to speaking up in my defence? Hmm.” Kyuhyun narrowed his gaze at the forlorn looking older boy.
“I’m sorry, it never seemed the right moment. Sungmin didn’t say anything either! Did you get a harsh punishment?” Eunhyuk quickly asked.
“Can’t you see me limping?” Growled his friend.
“Why is Sungmin not getting treated this way?” Eunhyuk asked indignantly.
“Because I know he’s fine,” Sungmin started to giggle.
“What?”
“He was already punished. The standing for a few hours was his punishment. Eighth would never punish Kyuhyun harshly so when I saw what Eighth brother was doing I realised I didn’t have to speak up, otherwise he could have made it worse, though I doubt it. Kyuhyun is probably exaggerating his anger and hurt because he’s annoyed at us.” Sungmin continued to laugh, now joined with Kyuhyun as Eunhyuk’s face twisted into outrage.
“Why didn’t you tell me?!” He nearly yelled at Sungmin.
“Watching you worry was hilarious.”
“You two aren’t good friends,” Eunhyuk huffed.
When Sungmin and Kyuhyun had calmed down and Eunhyuk was looking a little less peeved Sungmin turned to Kyuhyun, “Have you heard? You’ve been invited to the palace for the Autumn festival.”
“What? Why would I be invited? I probably wouldn’t go because I would just cause more trouble.” Kyuhyun shrugged, knowing that a visit to the palace wouldn’t pass without an incident of some kind.
“You can’t not go. You were personally invited. The Eighth was told to bring you by the Emperor himself.” Sungmin stated.
“The Emperor knows who I am?” Kyuhyun’s was shocked.
“Close your mouth, you look like a simpleton,” Sungmin laughed causing Kyuhyun to snap his mouth shut as Eunhyuk continued.
“Yes, the Emperor knows who you are. You better be on your best behaviour and learn all the proper protocols. You wouldn’t want to get in trouble in the palace; no one can protect you if you upset Imperial Father.”
“Be careful Kyuhyun, get ZhouMi to teach you everything you need to know. Memorise it until you dream of the protocols.” Sungmin warned, suddenly serious. “We let you get away with things that in the palace could get you punished.”
Kyuhyun was silent as he let the information sink in. He didn’t want to go to the palace, he knew he had to enter there in a few months and he was dreading the day. What would happen to him if he did something wrong? He was terrified of what could happen in the palace, especially since he would be there for several years. He was curious as to why the Emperor knew who he was and why he invited Kyuhyun. What was so special about him? He didn’t want to be noticed by people who could have him killed for saying the wrong thing. Maybe visiting before he entered would be good practice. He had no idea how to behave, he needed to get ZhouMi to teach him. He said his goodbyes and walked off in search of his gege, suddenly anxious about his future.
Part 2