Giving up on this plan, Qiu Yunru turned around and crouched down.
"How about you get on my back? I'll carry Li-shidi home."
Li Chenyuan face went red. He stepped forward, then stepped back, seeming unable to decide on what to do. In the end, he said with a tired voice:
"It's too improper. I can't..."
Qiu Yunru was at a loss.
"Then, what should I do...?"
"Why don't we stay an an inn?" Li Chenyuan suggested, his words slurring slightly with exhaustion. "I have money. There's no need for Qiu-ge to pay, so it shouldn't be a problem..."
"At an inn...?"
In his past life and this life, Qiu Yunru had always been one to be rather stingy with money. Unless it was videogames, he would always scrounge and avoid spending whenever possible. If he could walk to the store, he would walk instead of ride the subway. If he could teach himself to fix the toilet, he would teach himself instead of calling a plumber. If he could withstand a migraine, he would withstand it with all his might before going to the doctor on his own.
However, he didn't really have much of a choice here. He couldn't exactly drag this kid back to the mansion when he was falling over. How rude it would be!
What's more, wasn't it a little concerning that this kid was suddenly so exhausted. In all the months of mentoring Li Chenyuan, Qiu Yunru had never seen him become so tired so suddenly! Certainly something must be wrong?
"Li-shidi..." He said weakly. "Are you feeling ill? If you are, we should go and see a medic before getting a place to stay."
"No." Li Chenyuan's voice was suddenly sharp.
Qiu Yunru startled. Had he woken up properly suddenly, sounding so lucid?
But when he ducked down to look at this kid's face, his eyes were still drooping. Li Chenyuan yawned widely and went on:
"I don't feel ill. I just always get tired at festivals. I can't help it. Let's go to an inn; it's really no big deal."
Qiu Yunru sighed. What else could he do? "All right..."
So, then went and weaved through the crowds to the first decent-looking inn they could find.
It was a different inn than the one Qiu Yunru had stayed in during the entrance examination for the Jade Clouds Sect--and more luxurious, too. Three stories high, with lanterns lining the roof and a sweet cedar smell drifting from within, this place seemed fit to house a lower government official overnight!
"Ah...Isn't this a little too excessive?" Qiu Yunru said worriedly, still supporting Li Chenyuan. "How about we go and find somewhere a little cheaper?"
Li Chenyuan seemed annoyed suddenly. "Is Qiu-ge worried about the money? If so, he shouldn't be. It's really no problem."
When he saw that Qiu Yunru was still looking worriedly up and down at this lavish inn, he sighed and yawned heavily again.
"Anyways, I'm used to sleeping in good accommodations. I'll be more comfortable here."
This was true, Qiu Yunru thought. As a noble kid, even though he'd been beaten and abused, he had still lived in a lavish house all of his life, hadn't he? If he was exhausted to the point of falling over, he may not be able to rest properly in an inn for common folk. However, he still felt a little bad about the price.
He couldn't help it. He was the kind of person who felt extremely awkward when some bought him even a pastry from a bakery. How could he stand there and say nothing as someone younger than him bought him a whole room?
"All right, all right. What Li-shidi says makes sense. Let's go in, then. But how about we get one room? I'll sleep on the floor, and Li-shidi can sleep on the bed. That way, the price won't be too high."
To his surprise, Li Chenyuan was quick to agree.
"All right. But why doesn't Qiu-ge sleep on the bed as well? This is the Blue Peony Inn. The beds are large here; there's no need for Qiu-ge to sleep on the floor."
"Ah...haha," Qiu Yunru laughed awkwardly. Seeing that Li Chenyuan was serious, he coughed into his free hand.
This kid...he really didn't understand societal conventions!
"It's all right. It's considered a bit improper for two men to sleep in the same bed," He said gently, like a teacher guiding their student to the proper form. "So it's best if I sleep on the floor."
Hearing this, Li Chenyuan quickly turned his face away. His cheeks had flushed bright red, and there was an irritated look on his face, but he wouldn't look at Qiu Yunru.
"...I see," He muttered. "All right. We'll do as Qiu-ge says, then."
Having decided on their arrangements, they went into the inn to purchase a room.
To Qiu Yunru's surprise, there were many people sitting about and eating on the first floor of the inn. Lower-ranking officials, insignificant nobility, and merchants had all gathered here at the Blue Peony Inn for the Dragon Boat Festival, since it was the most luxurious inn available. At the front, the innkeeper was giving orders left and right to servants.
"Send those orders to the kitchen!"; "Check on the third room, the master there might need more blankets,"; "The tenth room might have a leak, go and make sure it's stopped..."
Soon enough, he caught sight of Qiu Yunru supporting a sleepy Li Chenyuan. Seeing the luster of their cultivator's robes, the innkeeper rushed forward jovially.
Two cultivators--surely they had good money to spend!
"Would the young masters like to purchase a room for the night?"
"Yes," Qiu Yunru said. "One room, please. If you have a mat for the floor, that may help..."
The innkeeper was visibly a bit disgruntled. They were cultivators, and yet they could only afford to buy out one room? How disappointing! Perhaps they weren't as rich as he'd thought! However, he still had good hosting manners, and smiled tightly at them, bowing his head.
"Certainly, young master."
After Li Chenyuan tiredly tossed a few gold coins to the innkeeper (Qiu Yunru wanted to bow his head in shame--even if you're sleepy, have some respect!), they were brought to their room upstairs.