UCTOOT CH68

Shi Shu returned to the courtyard and took off his shoes.

He was very happy to have met Song Sinan and his group here. He had originally thought the bitter cold of the border army would be too chilling, but this was just right.

In the following days, Shi Shu’s life continued in this manner.

One day, after a long day of work, Shi Shu had just taken off his shoes and was sitting down to rest when Xie Wuchi brought over hot water, preparing to wash his feet for him.

“…”

Shi Shu quietly glanced at Du Zihan next to him, then stared at the person approaching him, a strange feeling rising within him. He took the basin of water. “Alright, alright, that’s enough. I can do it myself.”

Xie Wuchi: “You’ve been working outside a lot lately. I’m afraid you’re tired.”

Shi Shu: “I’ll still do it myself. I don’t have a preference for others practicing the ‘three obediences and four virtues’ on me.”

Shi Shu took the wooden basin and asked, “And Xie Wuchi, how did you become like this?”

Can you go back to looking at me like I’m a dog? This is really killing the vibe.

Xie Wuchi smiled slowly, staring at him. “What version of me do you like?”

I don’t know, but this gentle and considerate version is just too unfamiliar. The thought made Shi Shu feel silently awkward. He knew Xie Wuchi liked him.

Didn’t he say before that he would absolutely not change himself?

Xie Wuchi: “I don’t seem to be a very aggressive person.”

Shi Shu didn’t engage, lest he get talked in circles. “It has nothing to do with me. I’m going to soak my feet first.”

Just as Shi Shu started soaking his feet, Xie Wuchi poured him a cup of hot tea. Shi Shu said his thanks and observed him covertly. After finishing his tasks, Xie Wuchi sat down beside him.

Shi Shu was quiet for a moment before realizing, “Xie Wuchi, what are you looking at?”

Xie Wuchi: “Your feet are very beautiful.”

“…” Shi Shu rarely paid attention to his own feet. Hearing Xie Wuchi say that, he said, “Don’t be like that, it feels a bit like sexual harassment. I’m not used to it.”

Xie Wuchi let out a soft laugh.

“…………”

No, this is weird, weird. Shi Shu pursed his lips. He tended to be at a loss for words when nervous. After a moment, the water for his feet grew cold. Just as Shi Shu was about to get up, he asked, “Where are my shoes?”

Before his voice had faded, a hand suddenly went under the bend of his knees, and he was abruptly swept up into a princess carry. Shi Shu let out a surprised “Hey!”, clutching tightly to his shoulders. He was placed on a fur blanket by the fire, enveloped in warmth.

Shi Shu: …

Folks, I’ve officially become a man’s wife.

Shi Shu: “No, brother. Why are you like this?”

Shi Shu felt like there was more to be said. Du Zihan was playing dead the whole time, frantically shoveling rice into his mouth, trying to finish quickly and flee the scene.

Just as Shi Shu opened his mouth, Xie Wuchi leaned down, cupped his face with both hands, and without any regard for Du Zihan’s life or death, tilted his head and kissed him.

Shi Shu: “?”

Shi Shu flailed his limbs. Du Zihan, holding his rice bowl, happened to look back and, with an “the sky is falling” expression, fled the main hall in large strides.

Shi Shu’s fingers grasped at empty air. He was about to say, “Hey! What are you doing!” when Xie Wuchi sucked on the tip of his lips. He was about to turn his face away, but his jaw was held by a large hand and turned back.

Xie Wuchi’s dark eyes looked at him, his thumb gently stroking his face. He said, “I don’t know how to do these things. If you want something, you can tell me.”

Shi Shu: “Huh?!”

To be honest, Shi Shu knew that Xie Wuchi liked him, but up until now, he still couldn’t figure him out. Is he changing himself, accommodating me? Or? What does this sentence mean?

He was being kissed on the lips. To be honest, he had gotten used to it and didn’t find it particularly hard to accept, but this was in the courtyard with the doors wide open at dusk. Shi Shu squeezed his wrists, trying to pull them down. “Don’t…”

Xie Wuchi’s wrist bones were large, lean, and very strong. As Shi Shu gripped him, his mouth was held by Xie Wuchi, who bit and licked his lips and tongue. His tongue moved fiercely, sweeping the inside of his mouth.

Shi Shu twisted his fingers, but it was useless. His face was held tightly by a large hand, caressed from the tip of his chin to behind his earlobe.

A scene like this, very much like passionate lovers at dusk or in the afternoon.

Shi Shu stared at Xie Wuchi’s half-closed eyes. His eyelashes were damp with moisture, gently brushing against his own. In a moment like this, Shi Shu could still silently think: This feels like an arranged marriage from a TV drama.

I feel like Xie Wuchi is a suitable person, so we got together.

Shi Shu was kissed until he was out of breath. He pursed his lips and asked, “Can’t we live together as friends?”

Xie Wuchi: “I don’t want to.”

Just as Shi Shu finished speaking, he was pulled into Xie Wuchi’s arms, held by the waist and back.

Shi Shu blinked, a little dazed, but he roughly guessed that accompanying him for three thousand miles of exile had changed the nature of their feelings. However, if he had a friend accompany him, it wouldn’t necessarily turn into love.

Shi Shu coughed and still said, “If it were Du Zihan—”

Just as he finished, his chin was bitten by Xie Wuchi.

A sharp pain.

This was the first time Shi Shu felt the undisguised, burning fire of Xie Wuchi’s jealousy. His voice was low and hoarse. “Don’t say it.”

Shi Shu was quiet for a while, momentarily silenced.

Forget it… I don’t have any need for a partner anyway. Xie Wuchi happens to like me. We can just make do and live with it.

Shi Shu’s hands and feet were roasted hot by the fire. He said, “I don’t want to warm myself by the fire anymore.”

As soon as he finished, Xie Wuchi was about to pick him up. Shi Shu quickly stopped him. “Xie Wuchi, this is a very bad habit of yours. I don’t like so much physical contact. I’m not a little baby either. I can walk by myself!”

Xie Wuchi stopped where he was. After a moment, he nodded. “I may have gotten a little carried away. I’m sorry.”

Shi Shu scratched his hair, went to the dining table to eat, then suddenly remembered something and shot out the door. “Zihan!”

Du Zihan, holding his bowl, looked weathered by the wind and snow. “No, brother… did you two just cross over from the ambiguous phase…”

Ambiguous? What a strange word.

Shi Shu held it in for a while, not knowing what to say, and could only manage, “Come in quickly, eat.”

He was absent-minded throughout the meal. Many dishes were added to Shi Shu’s bowl, all served by Xie Wuchi.

But isn’t Xie Wuchi a germaphobe? Don’t they eat separately in his home country? What does he mean by putting food in my bowl? Expressing intimacy and care?

Shi Shu turned his face. Xie Wuchi was eating quietly. This was probably the most peaceful and leisurely period for him since he transmigrated. The sense of alienation at Xiangnan Temple, the busyness at the Prince’s residence, the murderous aura, dignity, and sharpness during the new policy reforms, and the hasty, sickly state during the exile were all gone. The current Xie Wuchi, in his clean white robes, was too relaxed. Even his aggressiveness and high-and-mighty feeling had vanished.

Except for his devastatingly handsome face, his self-discipline and learning, and the noble demeanor of a young master from a wealthy family, maybe his temper had gotten a lot better, at least towards him.

As Shi Shu intentionally or unintentionally looked at him, Xie Wuchi didn’t look up but asked, “What is it?”

Shi Shu found a topic. “There’s always been snow in the courtyard. In a while, when the snow melts, can we plant vegetables?”

Xie Wuchi: “Yes. What do you want to plant?”

“Melons and beans. And bitter melon for you to eat.”

Xie Wuchi: “Okay.”

They didn’t talk for long before the meal was over. After his bath, Shi Shu stood in his room drying his hair. His collar was pulled open, revealing his fair collarbones. The sound of footsteps came from behind, and when he was embraced from behind, a tingling numbness of alarm shot up Shi Shu’s spine, but he tried hard to suppress it.

Xie Wuchi kissed his earlobe, then his face.

Shi Shu let him kiss him, his mind pondering whether it was necessary to proceed to another process: the process of dating.

After a moment, Shi Shu himself denied it: Forget it, no matter how we date, I’ll never like men. There’s no need to go through this process.

Shi Shu: “Time for bed. I’ve served for a few days, it was tiring but fulfilling. Tomorrow I’ll see what the officers call for, and I’ll go do it again. It’s actually quite fun—Ah!”

Shi Shu was lifted up. He suddenly cursed loudly, “Xie Wuchi! You’re a dog! Worse than a dog!”

Shi Shu’s legs were parted as he was suddenly lifted onto the bed. Xie Wuchi’s hand seemed to brush past the inside of his thigh, but it moved away, returning to Shi Shu’s jaw, gently pinching his neck.

Sure enough, this person, calm on the surface, his inherent sex addiction will never change!

Shi Shu fell onto the bed, his back resting on the bedding. One hand gripped the headboard tightly as Xie Wuchi leaned over, pecking at his face and lips.

His vision spun. Shi Shu immediately felt the heat of the body. Xie Wuchi’s body temperature was very high. He straddled him, stripping off all his clothes and, while he was at it, stripping off all of Shi Shu’s clothes as well.

Scalding hands, driving lust, dim vision, and the temperature and friction within the narrow confines of the bed.

Shi Shu lay on his side. The youth’s fair, healthy, and slender body was held in Xie Wuchi’s arms, his burning hands caressing him from head to toe.

Extremely intimate, legs entangled. Shi Shu’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he breathed in and out, grinding his back teeth and softly cursing “Damn,” before his entire body gave up resisting.

In the darkness, Xie Wuchi could sense Shi Shu’s relaxed attitude. He propped himself up and gently kissed his shoulder.

Shi Shu relaxed his arms. Xie Wuchi’s hand gently came up from his ribs, caressing over the smooth skin. As he vigorously caressed his chest, his palm roughly brushed against the soft pearl.

Shi Shu suddenly gasped, turning to grab Xie Wuchi’s hair. Unexpectedly, he became even more excited, panting as he buried himself down.

Shi Shu’s back was pressed tightly against Xie Wuchi’s chest, the hot muscles scalding him. He gritted his teeth and inexplicably started to fight with Xie Wuchi, pushing and pulling at his shoulders and arms, but not making a sound.

Until his strength was exhausted, and he collapsed into the pillow, his wrists pinned by him.

“Xie Wuchi, you have endless energy all day long!”

The snowstorm was raging, another snowy night. Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi were squeezed into the narrow bed, kissing fiercely. Shi Shu’s mind flashed with images of everything from when he first met him at Xiangnan Temple until now.

Finally, Xie Wuchi’s leg pushed between his. Shi Shu couldn’t help but say, “Isn’t this a bit too big of a leap? I’m not mentally prepared.”

His face was half-cupped by one of his hands, and he was kissed until his whole body went limp, his ears burning red. He gritted his teeth and looked down at him irritably.

Shi Shu’s fingers were pried open one by one by Xie Wuchi, completely exposed before him.

Shi Shu resignedly closed his eyes.

—It was at this moment that a frantic knocking sounded at the door.

“Knock knock knock! Knock knock knock! Knock knock knock!” The sound pierced through the wind and snow, accompanied by a rough voice. “Staff Officer Xie? Is Lord Xie in? My General Zhao requests your presence!”

Shi Shu instantly sobered up. The ambiguous heat in the quilt made him purse his lips slightly. The daze in Xie Wuchi’s eyes quickly cleared. It seemed to be something important. He reached out and grabbed his clothes from the headboard, covering his toned waist, shoulders, and neck. He said, “I’m going out for a bit, I’ll be back soon. You sleep first.”

“…”

Shi Shu sat up straight, looking at the mess on the bed, recalling the madness with Xie Wuchi just now. They had been on the verge of a misfire. He put on his clothes, piece by piece.

In any case, Xie Wuchi’s workaholic ambition meant he would leave immediately if something came up.

As Shi Shu lowered his head to get dressed, he didn’t notice a shadow fall over him again. Xie Wuchi had turned back at the door and caressed his face. “Baby.”

The Xie Wuchi before him, with his dark, thick eyebrows and handsome features, his expression had long since returned to clarity. And this word was said while his reason was in full control.

Strange, strange, so strange… Shi Shu scratched his fluffy hair. “Uh, well…”

Outside, the knocking and urging continued unabated, a loud shout. “Lord Xie! Lord Xie! My General Zhao requests your presence!”

It even startled Du Zihan, who pushed open his door and looked around.

Xie Wuchi smiled. “I suddenly don’t want to go.”

Shi Shu’s heart skipped a beat, alarm bells ringing. He looked down, the youth’s face fair and handsome.

Xie Wuchi still turned and went out. The wind and snow were raging at night. If one were to call someone out of their warm bed, it would probably be a murderous act. Xie Wuchi put on his snow cloak and conical hat, opened the courtyard gate, and the fierce wind and snow quickly blew against his face. His expression was calm.

“What is it?”

The guard said, “General Zhao has returned from Yunzhou and has urgent military matters to discuss with Lord Xie! There can be no delay, so we had to disturb you in the middle of the night!”

A contemplative look appeared on Xie Wuchi’s face.

But it was a different kind of understanding. He spoke emotionlessly, a hint of coldness in his voice, “Let’s go.”

Shi Shu stood on the steps at the entrance, tiptoeing to look out. He watched as Xie Wuchi’s figure disappeared into the vast snow, until there was no trace left.

Shi Shu stood for a moment. Du Zihan, rubbing his hands and stomping his feet, chuckled. “Can’t bear to see your boyfriend go to work in the middle of the night?”

“…………”

Wh-what!

Shi Shu was so stunned by the word that he felt dizzy and light-headed. Only the words “the sky is falling” were in his mind. “What did you say?”

Du Zihan said, “Boyfriend. The way you two were just now, that counts as making it official, right?”

Shi Shu: “No, no, no, no, no, no!”

Du Zihan: “Then why didn’t you dodge? That kind of half-pushing, half-yielding, what’s the difference from having a boyfriend? Admit it! You’re gay!”

Shi Shu fought a desperate last stand. “No, we haven’t confessed anything to each other. We absolutely cannot be considered boyfriends!”

Du Zihan: “Then what are you two? Partners living together? An arranged marriage?”

Shi Shu was at a loss for words for a moment. He looked up, staring at the roaring wind and snow outside the courtyard gate.

But… that moment on the bed just now, Shi Shu had thought about spending a lifetime with Xie Wuchi, even in this ambiguous relationship.

“Off I go!” Du Zihan finished watching the show. “Let’s go to bed. Still have work to do tomorrow!”

Hearing this, Shi Shu agreed. His mind was still replaying the momentary murderous aura from Xie Wuchi. He didn’t understand. After all, every time Xie Wuchi was about to kill someone, he had that kind of expression. Now, on this winter night of wind and snow, what was he being called out to do?

Lost in thought, Shi Shu returned to his bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Winter grew colder and colder. Every morning, he had to melt new ice and snow to boil hot water. After washing up in the chaos, he would put on layer after layer of clothes and go out.

After getting up, Shi Shu looked around the courtyard and asked Du Zihan, “Where’s Xie Wuchi?”

Du Zihan: “Huh? He didn’t come back?”

Shi Shu pondered, “He said he would be back soon, but why isn’t he back by morning? Did that workaholic spend the whole night discussing matters with Zhao Shirui at the yamen?”

Shi Shu and Du Zihan ate their meal, waiting for the soldiers to knock on the door to gather everyone for labor. But strangely, no one came to knock today.

Shi Shu simply opened the courtyard gate himself. The common people were not at home, and the road was already clean. Did Xie Wuchi speak to the yamen and relieve us of our labor duties?

Du Zihan was putting on his snow clothes and asked, “What’s going on?”

Shi Shu lowered his eyes and said, “Let’s go out and see.”

The two of them walked out together. The ground was frozen solid, with crisscrossing icicles. If one wasn’t careful, one could slip and fall on their butt. Shi Shu bought another hot bun and walked along the narrow, ice-free path under the eaves, eating as he went.

Soldiers were stationed on the city walls. In winter, their armor was as hard as ice. Shi Shu couldn’t help but say, “No matter how many times I go out, I’m always filled with admiration when I see these soldiers.”

Du Zihan walked behind him. “That’s right. If we stood on the watchtower, the wind would be even stronger. Our whole bodies would freeze.”

Shi Shu couldn’t help but ask, “Why do humans have wars?”

Du Zihan laughed a couple of times. “Guess which came first, civilization or war?”

Shi Shu: “War came first?”

Du Zihan said, “I read in a book that civilization came first, then war. People think that a lack of civilization leads to war. But actually, it’s because people understood concepts like tribes and city-states that they started wars. If you have to blame something, blame people’s endless desires.”

Usually, it was Xie Wuchi who answered these kinds of questions for him. Now it was Du Zihan’s turn. Shi Shu swallowed the last bite of his bun. In front of him, a person running wildly suddenly fell to the ground, getting a mouthful of snow and a swollen face.

Shi Shu walked closer and helped him up. “There’s ice on the ground. Walk slowly, don’t fall again.”

But the person had a terrified expression. “Can’t be slow, can’t be slow. I, I have to hurry back and move!”

Shi Shu: “What’s wrong?”

The person was in a hurry and said, “There’s, there’s going to be a war!”

Shi Shu was confused. The person shook off his hand and ran off in the snow, in a panic. Speaking of which, Shi Shu did indeed feel a faint sense of unease in Senzhou.

Shi Shu turned to look at Du Zihan. “What’s going on?”

Du Zihan: “I’m not sure either.”

Shi Shu walked to the edge of the Senzhou city gate and went out. He saw horses galloping back and forth outside the city, carrying feathered letters. It was indeed more urgent than usual. The horsewhips were cracking sharply on the horses’ rumps. Everyone passing by was shouting in a rough voice, “Urgent military business! Make way for the vehicles and horses!” “Get out of the way!” “Urgent military intelligence!”, as well as the shouts and calls of a 吆喝 (yāohē) – hawker controlling the horses.

Shi Shu walked out of the city gate. The temperature these past few days had been extremely cold. The sky was filled with thick, reddish-yellow clouds, with heavy snow falling, almost blocking one’s vision, making it turbid and difficult to distinguish things.

Shi Shu and Du Zihan discussed it for a moment, and the two of them walked in the direction of the supply route. Unexpectedly, they ran into Song Sinan as soon as they arrived.

As soon as he saw Shi Shu, he made a “wrestling fall” gesture. Shi Shu immediately fell into the snow, then got up laughing. “What are you guys doing?”

Song Sinan was in a good mood. “Guarding the supply route every day, what else can we do? The snow is so heavy today, what are you guys doing here?”

Shi Shu: “Us? We were originally laborers.”

“Oh, but Lord Xie said you don’t have to come anymore. It’s so cold, he’s afraid his precious little brother will freeze.”

Shi Shu: “You’ve seen my brother?”

Song Sinan pointed behind him and gave him a look. “Your brother, my brother, and General Zhao were discussing matters together early on. I asked him where you were, and he said you were weak and shouldn’t go out in the wind and cold anymore. Also, your brother is truly a rare beauty in this world.”

Shi Shu: “Him…”

Du Zihan couldn’t help but laugh and turned his face away.

It made Shi Shu quite embarrassed.

Song Sinan threw some military equipment onto a supply cart and asked again, “Did you study the weapon I gave you yesterday? That thing, if you tie a rope to it on the battlefield, you can use it to capture a great general. Throw it around his neck and he won’t dare to struggle. The more he struggles, the tighter and more painful it gets. It hurts so much—”

Shi Shu: “How painful?”

“Anyway, it’s very painful, hard to describe.”

As they were bragging, Shi Shu looked up. Three figures emerged from the wind and snow. One was wearing armor, with a steady and powerful posture. Another was also in armor but much leaner and more capable. The other was wearing the dark cyan robe from when he left the bed last night, his crane-feather cloak flapping fiercely in the wind, looking proper and noble.

Xie Wuchi.

Shi Shu’s eyelids lifted. He was suddenly reminded of last night’s events and Du Zihan’s “boyfriend” comment. A chill ran down his back. The group walked slowly.

Zhao Shirui seemed to still be saying something, the lines of his features rough and hard. Someone brought over three horses for them. They were about to go somewhere else.

Shi Shu didn’t speak. Xie Wuchi noticed him first.

Shi Shu was standing with the youths. In the wind and snow, he raised his hand and made a gesture to go home, then mounted his horse.

Several horses galloped away, heading in the direction of the Cha River front line. Shi Shu lightly pressed his tongue against his cheek and asked, “What are they going to do?”

Song Sinan was very excited, laughing as he pounded the side of the cart with his hand. “I don’t know either. Military secrets cannot be revealed. But something big should be happening next. Your brother’s map and strategies are exceptionally good.”

Shi Shu: “What big thing?”

“You’re not in the army, so I can’t tell you.”

Shi Shu chatted with him for a few more sentences, then turned around and walked with Du Zihan toward the Cha River line.

The severe winter had frozen the river surface, allowing people and horses to cross easily. On the other side of the river, the sheds were already beyond repair. In the watchtowers, one could vaguely see the Northern Min soldiers, but they were all huddled up and not sticking their heads out to look. It was hard for people not to be a little lazy in the cold.

Today was market day. A few scattered people walked across the river to the other side, with no one managing them.

Shi Shu stood by the Cha River, his mind replaying the scene when he first arrived in Senzhou, when Xie Wuchi taught him to ride a horse. They had stood here together, and Xie Wuchi had said:

—Military merit is the fastest way to get promoted.

Military merit, military merit.

Shi Shu pulled up his scarf to cover his handsome, fair jaw, and turned to ask Du Zihan, “The Northern Min on the other side are so arrogant. These watchtowers are barely monitoring anything. Do they just not take the Great Jing seriously?”

Du Zihan guessed, “Probably. After all, they won a decisive victory twenty years ago. Who wouldn’t be arrogant? They haven’t continued the war all these years. I heard the royal family on the other side is fighting for the top spot. Maybe the war will start once a winner emerges.”

Shi Shu: “So the Great Jing was able to use these twenty years to recuperate and train a new army?”

The two walked along the snow-covered ground. Shi Shu asked, “Can the Great Jing defeat the Northern Min now?”

Du Zihan: “I don’t know. It’s hard to say when it comes to war. I only know that the iron hooves of the Northern Min are unstoppable when they point their swords.”

Although he was a stranger to war, if a war were to break out, it would certainly be a scene of devastation and bloodshed. The horror of war was there for all to see.

Perhaps it was because the blizzard was too heavy, but Shi Shu felt a little down, pondering these questions.

At that moment, a column of cavalry approached from a distance and said, “Go back quickly! The snow is heavy and the wind is strong. Don’t linger in this place!”

“Roger…”

Shi Shu and Du Zihan nodded and turned to go back to Senzhou. The Senzhou city gate had also begun to be under martial law. It used to be unrestricted, but now they were about to close the city gate, not allowing people to enter or exit at will.

Shi Shu ran for it and said, “Me, me, me! I’m not in yet!”

“Hurry up!”

Rushing and hurrying, they finally made it into the city. Inside the city gate, people who had heard the rumors were already whispering. The urgent closing of the city gate was clearly to prevent the news from leaking.

Shi Shu glanced at Du Zihan. “What’s the process for a war anyway?”

Du Zihan: “I don’t know either.”

Shi Shu was truly puzzled. Following the principle of not causing trouble, he returned to the courtyard with Du Zihan.

“Nothing to do today. What should we do?” Du Zihan suggested, “Play cards?”

Shi Shu: “You still have cards?”

“Of course. I’ve always been nostalgic for the good old days.”

Shi Shu followed Du Zihan to his room and watched him rummage through his bundle. Unexpectedly, many things fell out of the bundle. Shi Shu: “Do you have a hoarding habit?”

Du Zihan: “What’s it to you if I, a graduate student, have a bit of a hoarding habit?”

Shi Shu: “Right.”

Shi Shu helped him put the things back into the bag. He didn’t notice at first, but then he saw a hairpin, wrapped in a piece of silk cloth, which had fallen out. Just as Shi Shu was about to put the hairpin back, he took a closer look, and all the blood in his body rushed to his head. “What is this?”

Seeing this, Du Zihan finally remembered. “This is a relic from the transmigrator I met.”

Shi Shu: “The one who committed suicide?”

Du Zihan said, “Yes.”

Shi Shu looked at him for a long time before saying, “Xie Wuchi has one too.”

Author’s Note:

They are about to be separated. I will give a warning in the title when it happens. For those who are saving up chapters to read together, please be careful not to click directly.
After they are separated and meet again, they will crawl into bed, hehehe (scratches head)
This period should be when Xie Wuchi’s mental state is at its gentlest.

Support me on Ko-fi