The autumn sky was high and pale beneath thin drifting clouds.
Though Zhuyang County town had yet to recover its former tranquillity after the recent chaos, nature itself had already regained its old serenity.
A cool breeze swept through the houses and streets. Birdsong rang everywhere, clear and melodious. The willow branches beside the river swayed softly, tender green shoots drooping into the water, damp with vivid life.
“My lord!”
After reporting the interrogation results to Chao Yan and washing the blood from his hands, Meng Xuan walked beside the river with Ning Fu. From time to time, prefectural soldiers passed by and saluted the pair.
Ning Fu waved a hand and said to Meng Xuan, “San-lang, shall we find somewhere quieter to talk?”
“That works too,” Meng Xuan replied.
The two walked down from the riverside and sat before an abandoned haunted house rarely visited by others.
Ning Fu asked, “Where had we got to just now?”
Meng Xuan replied, “I was asking after your injuries.”
Ning Fu said, “They are not serious. Compared to Sir’s injuries, they are much lighter. We arrived just in time. Otherwise, the consequences truly do not bear thinking about.”
Meng Xuan nodded, though he seemed lost in thought.
“San-lang?” Ning Fu looked at him in confusion.
Meng Xuan asked, “How is the madam?”
Ning Fu replied, “I did not see clearly.”
“That is not what I meant.”
“You mean Sir cares too much about the madam? What of it? Since ancient times, heroes have always struggled to resist beauty.”
Meng Xuan laughed and shook his head.
“Others may devote themselves wholeheartedly, but Sir cannot. Otherwise, it would mean he is not a qualified heir. Once we return to the capital this time, I fear many people will begin entertaining thoughts again. Previously, it was said that he was following the wishes of his elders and would not take anyone else into his household before establishing a principal wife. Now that a precedent has been set, there will be endless trouble.”
Ning Fu said, “There ought to be a few people in his chambers to care for him properly. Besides, Sir still has no son or daughter, whereas that younger sir already has children. This cannot continue. It is merely because His Majesty does not pay attention to such matters that others dare scheme about Sir’s private affairs.”
Meng Xuan said, “Lady Hanzhu’s daughter is already thirteen. She has long had her eyes fixed upon the position of principal wife. This madam had best not become pregnant.”
Ning Fu wrinkled his nose.
…
The first thing Gu Yun smelled upon regaining consciousness was the strong bitterness of medicinal herbs.
His muddled mind took a while to recover. Then he suddenly sat upright. The abrupt movement tugged at the wound on his back, making him let out a faint sound of pain as he instinctively grabbed whatever was beside him.
A soft texture reached his fingertips as the pain slowly subsided.
Lowering his gaze, Gu Yun saw a familiar old quilt, faded blue in colour, with two uneven patches sewn onto the cover.
He froze for a moment and looked around. The room’s arrangement and objects were equally familiar. He had returned to the rented house.
What was going on?
Gu Yun felt dazed and almost suspected that last night’s experiences had merely been a dream. Throwing back the covers, he braced himself against the bed and attempted to get down and go outside to see what was happening.
Reality halted him at once.
There were no shoes beneath the bed. Even the pair he had originally been wearing was gone.
Only then did Gu Yun realise something was wrong. Lifting his clothing, he found fine white bandages wrapped around his pale skin. His wounds had already been dressed. The strong bitter medicinal smell came from there. At the same time, his clothes had also been changed.
His face immediately turned pale as he considered the crucial question. Who had rescued him?
Altogether, he only knew a handful of people, and none of them particularly well…
Could it have been someone from the county yamen? But the yamen itself had suffered disaster. Everyone there had barely been able to save themselves. Why would anyone have gone to the north gate to rescue him? Yet all signs pointed to one obvious possibility…
An unmistakable answer surfaced in his mind, and Gu Yun found it difficult to continue deceiving himself.
He sat frozen for several moments, his breathing sinking heavily, before sitting back onto the bed and lowering his head to look at the clothes on his body.
The fabric was smooth and slippery against the skin. It was silk.
Before joy could arise, negative emotions surged up first.
He thought: If he changed me into such fine clothes, does that mean he is not angry?
Gu Yun clung hopefully to the thought, but moments later he felt he was indulging in fantasy. What kind of person could possess such magnanimity?
If he examined his own conscience honestly, he knew he himself would never immediately treat someone so kindly after being deceived by them.
The thoughts in Gu Yun’s head twisted together into a tangled knot, leaving him deeply uneasy, his heart feeling as though it might shatter at any moment.
Finally, the sword hanging over him fell. The door opened.
It was already afternoon, and dull golden light poured in in thick sheets.
Gu Yun looked up to see his so-called husband walking in with a bowl of medicine.
Only a night apart, yet it felt like a lifetime. Gu Yun stared at him without blinking.
“What is it?” Chao Yan asked, setting the bowl down and coming to the bedside. He brushed the hair from Gu Yun’s forehead and placed his palm against it. The temperature was normal; the fever had likely gone down.
He withdrew his hand, picked up the bowl again, and stirred the dark medicinal liquid with a porcelain spoon. “Drink it while it’s warm. I’ve tasted it; it isn’t bitter.”
Gu Yun’s eyes moved stiffly. “You don’t know?”
Chao Yan replied evenly, “Know what?”
At that moment, Gu Yun felt a faint pressure in the air. The man in front of him had changed, but not in the way he had expected. It was a shift in temperament, as though he had become someone both unfamiliar and yet disturbingly similar.
He studied him closely. The other man met his gaze in return.
Clink. The porcelain bowl struck the table. The spoon rang sharply against the rim.
Chao Yan sat down on the edge of the bed. Gu Yun pulled the blanket up tightly to his waist. The next moment, his arm was seized and he was pulled, blanket and all, into the other man’s embrace.
Chao Yan lifted his chin. “What are you hiding from me?”
Gu Yun replied, “Don’t you already know?”
A faint smile appeared on Chao Yan’s lips. “I don’t. Tell me yourself. Husband and wife are one. You should not hide things from me. The weather is good today. It is a good day for honesty.”
Gu Yun looked at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “I am just glad you are not dead.”
Chao Yan’s grip loosened.
The person in his arms, bright with relief, wrapped his arms around his neck and kissed him briefly.
After a pause, Chao Yan pulled his hands down and held them. “Is that the truth?”
Gu Yun gave a small hum.
Since the other did not react badly, it seemed his lie had not been exposed. He did not know why, but that was at least good news.
Frankly speaking, he was not ready for the truth to come out yet.
He had no work, he was badly injured, and life had already been difficult enough. He needed time to settle down. There was no need to rush.
Chao Yan’s faint smile faded slightly. He looked at the bright-eyed man in front of him, then lowered his head and leaned in. His breath brushed Gu Yun’s face as he kissed him.
The kiss was intense enough to make Gu Yun panic. It carried a sense of dominance that made him feel as though he might be consumed. He struggled slightly, overwhelmed and unsteady.
Chao Yan remained calm throughout, almost coldly composed. With one hand, he tugged at the blanket and the edge of Gu Yun’s clothing, his grip on Gu Yun’s waist firm and unrelenting.
Gu Yun nearly bit him in reflex, but grabbed his hand instead.
“Wait…”
Chao Yan did not stop.
In the next instant, Gu Yun tried to resist more directly, and only then did the other pause.
Gu Yun quickly restrained himself, even attempting to respond in kind to cover his reaction.
At that moment, he thought he heard a faint, almost imperceptible laugh, gone in an instant.
Chao Yan shifted slightly, tightening his hold in a teasing manner. After a while, he pulled back a little, resting his forehead near Gu Yun’s, his warm breath lingering at the corner of his eyes.
Gu Yun’s lashes trembled as he closed his eyes.
“I am also glad you are not dead,” Chao Yan said quietly. “We are favoured by fortune. Since we are now together, it seems we will not be separated in future either.”
Gu Yun kept his eyes closed. His senses felt sharper than ever. He could clearly feel the rise and fall of the man’s chest, the steady beat of his heart, the rhythm of his breathing. For some reason, those words made him uneasy.
“Inseparable?” he murmured. “Nothing is truly inseparable. Something will happen one day, and people will still have to separate.”
Chao Yan replied, “By your logic, nothing lasts.”
Gu Yun said, “That is the truth.”
Chao Yan answered, “Then I will speak of truth too. The truth is that since I have kept my promise this time, I will not separate from you in future, no matter what happens. Do you disagree?”
Gu Yun hesitated. “That is good.”
Chao Yan said, “Answer me properly.”
Gu Yun quickly replied, “If you say so, why would I want to separate from you? You are a good person. What right do I have to break with you? If you truly keep your word, then we can remain friends for life.”
“I remember that,” Chao Yan said with a smile, placing him back on the bed. He picked up the medicine bowl, checked its temperature, then stood. “It has cooled. I will heat it again.”
He left the room.
Gu Yun rubbed his lips absentmindedly. They were slightly swollen. He stopped after a moment. It was pointless anyway.
Outside, Chao Yan handed the bowl to a servant to reheat it. He stood by the window, looking in through the crack in the curtains. His expression in the daylight was unreadable.
After a while, the medicine was brought back. This time it tasted oddly sweet and sour, difficult to describe. Gu Yun drank it in one go and returned the bowl.
Chao Yan stood by the bed, took it, and set it aside. He returned shortly after, leaving the door open, and sat at the table reading.
Gu Yun noticed the faint white bandage peeking from his sleeve and asked quickly, “Are you seriously injured?”
“Yes,” Chao Yan replied.
Gu Yun shifted closer on the bed. “Then come and rest.”
Chao Yan looked at him, then closed his book and lay down beside him after removing his outer robe.
Gu Yun closed his eyes. The next moment, he was pulled into an embrace.
Startled, he moved slightly, but Chao Yan’s voice came from behind him. “Should people not be responsible for their actions?”
“Yes,” Gu Yun answered, uneasy.
Before he could think further, the man continued, “Then take responsibility. Earlier, I saw you wiping your mouth. Did I disgust you?”
Gu Yun’s hand was guided backward. The unfamiliar contact made him tense for a moment before he steadied himself, lowering his head.
“I am not disgusted,” he said. “I just felt you kissed too fiercely.”
Chao Yan let out a quiet laugh, his chest shaking faintly against Gu Yun’s back.
“So you are not disgusted, but you found me disgusting.”
“I did not say that…”
“Insincere.”
“What sincerity do you want?”
“What do you think? How can anyone believe you without sincerity?”
Gu Yun turned, grabbed his collar, and kissed him back hesitantly, trying to imitate earlier. Chao Yan did not respond.
Gu Yun sighed. “What do you actually want?”
Chao Yan said, “You can use your hands.”
“Use… hands?” Gu Yun froze, then flushed deeply as he understood.
Chao Yan watched the colour rise to his face, his ears turning red as well. He lowered the blanket slightly, studying him with a faint pressure in his gaze. “Do not refuse. I do not want to hear it.”
Gu Yun bit his lip and did not move.
“Wife?” Chao Yan called softly.
After a long moment, Gu Yun slowly reached out, his body still trembling slightly. Chao Yan guided his hand, his touch controlled and deliberate.
“Forget it,” Chao Yan finally said. “Sleep.”
“I…”
But Chao Yan had already turned away and closed his eyes. Gu Yun looked at his back, conflicted, then eventually lay facing the wall and fell asleep.
…
“Sir.”
Meng Xuan and Fu Ning entered the courtyard and bowed.
Chao Yan nodded. “No need for formalities.”
A carriage was brought and stopped in front of the courtyard. He boarded it and gestured for them to follow.
Fu Ning said, “Sir, even if we stay only a day or two, you should not treat yourself so poorly. You should find a better place.”
Chao Yan replied, “There is no need. This place is not cheap either.”
Fu Ning hesitated.
Chao Yan continued, “Everyone else can stay here, why not me? San-lang has also sent supplies. It is already much better than before. When in a position of power, one must remember such things. Have the promised rewards to the gentry been delivered?”
“Yes,” Meng Xuan replied. “Also, the carriage you requested has been purchased. The horses are strong and the carriage sturdy. It will reach the capital without issue.”
“Good,” Chao Yan said.
Fu Ning said carefully, “Sir, are you truly bringing Madam back to the capital? That will cause considerable trouble.”
Chao Yan replied, “If I do not bring him back now, we will not be able to find him later. Do not worry. I have a plan.”
The carriage swayed as it rolled towards a villa within the city.
