UCTOOT CH86

That night, things were chaotic.

Early in the morning, while Shi Shu was still fast asleep, Xie Wuchi got up, allowed the servants to dress him in his vermillion official robes with wide sleeves, and quietly left the room.

Shi Shu woke up, hurriedly ate breakfast, and went to find Lin Yangchun. Lin Yangchun had set up his medicine stall under an old tree in the market, taking pulses and seeing patients. The moment he saw Shi Shu, he said, “Did you indulge excessively last night?”

Shi Shu: “Huh? Old Lin, you know they say there’s no privacy before a doctor, but aren’t your eyes a bit too sharp—”

Lin Yangchun: “Your tear troughs are dark, completely different from your usual spirit. I am a doctor; to me, some things are obvious.”

Shi Shu felt like he had been struck by lightning. After a moment of silence, he threw himself into work. Lin Yangchun’s words had quite an impact; last night was indeed overly heated. Not knowing where the stimulation point of the term “boyfriend” lay, in short, Shi Shu kissed him for a long time, the roof of his mouth went numb, and he kept playing with the thing in his hand. Moreover, it was Shi Shu’s first time touching him like that.

Xie Wuchi was really intense. Whether being touched by him or touching him, once tainted with lust, reason would vanish in an instant.

The rules in Shi Shu’s mind were blurring, while luck on the other side was growing. The mission the system talked about… how come Shi Shu was completely disorganized with Xie Wuchi, his mind full of messing around.

The early summer sunlight shone on Shi Shu’s fair and handsome eyebrows. If this continued… Shi Shu lowered his head to chop herbs, grabbing medicine and collecting money smoothly.

Inside the Yanzhou camp, preparations for war were underway to support Feng Chongshan. Xie Wuchi rode a fast horse, leading the generals out of the city, temporarily residing in the military camp to check grain and baggage, discuss state affairs, and didn’t return for the next few days.

Not seeing him for two or three days in a row, Shi Shu couldn’t help but have some thoughts. While grinding medicine powder, he pondered that “boyfriend” seemed to be empty talk; indeed, there was no feeling at all.

“Why does it feel like I haven’t fallen in love like others? As soon as we have this title, we become lovey-dovey immediately?”

“Why does confirming the relationship feel no different from not confirming it…”

While Shi Shu was muttering, his back was suddenly patted: “Shi Shu!”

It was actually Du Zihan. He was sitting on a donkey cart with several bamboo baskets on it. The baskets were filled with colorful fruits and vegetables, their skins bright and oily in the sunlight. And Du Zihan, wearing a conical hat, was a shade darker from the sun.

“Why is it you!”

“I brought you vegetables! I look like a villager carrying vegetables into the city to visit relatives now. A shack against the wall in Baijia Village was demolished, and many vines of melons and fruits withered. We picked a pile of melons, thinking we couldn’t finish them, so we brought them to you.” Du Zihan’s eyes were teary: “Haven’t seen you for almost ten days.”

“I missed you too, Zihan.” Shi Shu patted his back and turned to look for Lin Yangchun: “Old Lin, let me introduce you. This is another fellow villager of mine, called Du Zihan.”

Du Zihan exclaimed directly: “Is this the Imperial Physician Lin you used the banner to sell medicine for? Disrespect, disrespect!”

Shi Shu: “…”

Lin Yangchun stroked his beard, nodded slightly, and continued to diagnose pulses.sohu​

“Going back tonight?” Shi Shu drove the donkey to the roadside and tied it under the tree root. The little donkey kept wanting to eat the fruits and vegetables in the basket and stomped its feet unhappily. Shi Shu picked a small bok choy and fed it to its mouth, turning back to ask Du Zihan, “It’s already afternoon, can you make it back to Baijia Village? Why not rest here.”

Du Zihan: “I don’t want to go back. I came specifically to play with you for a few days.”

“Good, you came just in time,” Shi Shu grinned, “Imperial Physician Lin is short of hands here. Once this medicine is wrapped, you deliver it to the alley opposite. There are vicious dogs in that alley, you must be careful!”

Du Zihan: “…”

Since it wasn’t a market day today, Lin Yangchun prepared to close the stall early and go have a meal with his master who sent a letter to the military camp to keep him as a military doctor. Shi Shu led the little donkey, the donkey pulled the cart, creaking all the way towards the Commander-in-Chief’s temporary residence. Shi Shu said: “Come with me, stay with me tonight.”

Du Zihan walked to the front of this high-gated mansion, looking up: “Really capable. Which modern person can mix to Xie Wuchi’s level? Truly calculating every mechanism and trick.”

Shi Shu laughed twice.

Du Zihan: “Any transmigrator following Xie Wuchi would enjoy blessings. This brother is really awesome. In a world where the weak are prey to the strong, it’s still best to have power and influence.”

Shi Shu led the donkey and took him in through the side door: “Zihan, I have something to tell you. Don’t be surprised or scream after I say it—I have a boyfriend.”

Du Zihan said “Ah?”, then was overjoyed: “It’s only been a few days, and you’re already dating? Who is it?”

Shi Shu: “Who else?”

Du Zihan: “…” His expression gradually changed, “No way, you followed him? You really don’t want to suffer any hardship!”

“………………”

Shi Shu led the donkey to the water trough in the yard, threw a loofah for it to chew, and called Du Zihan out to eat: “What you said makes sense too. Anyway, I’m dating him now, just notifying you first. After all, in this world, besides you, no one can understand him and me. Others think we are committing incest.”

Du Zihan: “Convinced.”

“Am I also a part of your play?”

Shi Shu was about to speak when he saw the butler running out in panic. Asking about it, there was chaos outside the mansion gate. Shi Shu and Du Zihan walked to the door and saw a galloping horse like an arrow on the thoroughfare. Behind him followed many guards, sleeves fluttering in the wind, hair blowing, heavy and rapid hooves kicking up dust.

Flags flew on the city wall, horses trampled inside the city. Xie Wuchi held the horsewhip in one hand, urging the horse to gallop, and stopped outside the temporary residence gate in an instant.

Du Zihan: “Your boyfriend is here.”

Tall horse, someone immediately came forward to hold the horse and stirrup. Xie Wuchi dismounted, adjusted his sleeves, his imposing manner unmatched. When his gaze swept over, he happened to see Shi Shu and Du Zihan at the side.

Shi Shu raised his hand and smiled awkwardly: “Back?”

Xie Wuchi: “Rest day tomorrow. I rushed to handle the official business of these two days and made time.”

Shi Shu: “Zihan and I were just about to go out for dinner and stroll around—do you want to join?”

Xie Wuchi: “Okay, let me change into casual clothes first.”

Xie Wuchi rushed back from the main camp. In the hot weather, he was covered in sweat. He went to change and wash clothes. Shi Shu and Du Zihan sat in the courtyard, and the two began to think.

Du Zihan: “Not to mention anything else, this one you’re dating really acts like a girlfriend.”

“…”

Shi Shu: “How is he like a girlfriend?”

Du Zihan: “Waiting for him to wash and dress up for an hour before going out, pampering and coaxing, loving beauty and precious.”

Shi Shu: “No way, why say that about him.”

“…”

They went to the same shop next to the temple. The branches of the big locust tree shaded it, sifting fine light and shadow onto the wooden beams and stairs. As summer heat approached, it was a good place to escape the heat. There weren’t many customers at this time, and few people in the crowd had seen the true face of the Commander-in-Chief. The guards wore plain clothes, and Xie Wuchi, in a plain-colored robe embroidered with dark patterns, followed behind Shi Shu.

Xie Wuchi’s relationship with Du Zihan was lukewarm now. One didn’t show killing intent, the other was afraid of provoking him. In short, they lived in peace.

Shi Shu went upstairs, repeatedly thinking about the term “boyfriend”. It was strange to reach this step with a man. Back in school, classmates yelled: Real men should do men… Men were also done by men.

Shi Shu went upstairs and chose a seat by the window. He glanced at Xie Wuchi and looked away awkwardly. The waiter came up and asked: “Three guests, what would you like to order?”

Shi Shu took the menu, gave it to Xie Wuchi first, then to Zihan, and finally looked at it himself and ordered two dishes.

Anyway, that’s how his dad ordered at home: order for mom, then Shi Shu ordered, and finally he ordered dishes.

Shi Shu glanced at Xie Wuchi and turned his gaze away: “Zihan, how are you and Song Sinan in Baijia Village? Did you reflect well?”

Du Zihan: “It’s okay. The vegetables planted have sprouted. That little sister turned out to be called Xiao Dong. Song Sinan let her mix with a group of little boys, learning martial arts and practicing swords every day. Average people can’t beat her.”

Shi Shu: “I didn’t see wrong; I knew she was teachable material.”

Du Zihan: “What about you? What have you been doing in Yanzhou these days?”

Shi Shu took a sip of tea: “I just stroll around every day and pick him up from work on time.”

Du Zihan: “…”

As Shi Shu spoke, his ears felt hot: “Actually.”

Three modern people, it seemed unnecessary to talk about ancient things. Du Zihan asked: “Are you two considered together or reconciled?”

Shi Shu: “…”

Shi Shu started moving his hands and feet non-stop, scratching chopsticks for a while, scratching the bowl, then looking at the weather: “Ah, no.”

So awkward, who understands! Heat rushed straight to the top of his head! If not sitting by the window, Shi Shu definitely wouldn’t want to face it, run away immediately, just like when confessed to in middle and high school.

“Reconciled, right? When leaving, I said ex-boyfriend, and you denied it.” Du Zihan looked around.

Shi Shu rubbed his fluffy hair with one hand, rubbing it into a dandelion. The young man’s back of hand was thin and clean, veins emerging, fingers fair and slender.

Du Zihan realized: “Shi Shu, you were playing me, right? Did you already have feelings when you ran?”

Shi Shu glanced at Xie Wuchi. Xie Wuchi sat upright. Then turned his gaze away: “Can you change the topic? Just saying embarrassing things.”

Shi Shu couldn’t say the thing about climbing into bed, just tough-mouthed in his heart.

Du Zihan: “Saw long ago you two were a couple.”

Shi Shu’s ears were red. When he just started college, when someone in class dated, it was the same teasing. Shi Shu was usually the one watching the fun and laughing on the side; now it was his turn.

Shi Shu turned his face to peek at Xie Wuchi. This relationship was confirmed rather hastily, and he didn’t understand Xie Wuchi’s mood. Xie Wuchi adjusted his clothes reservedly, his fingers holding the tea cup slender, not saying much.

What.

This counts as a boyfriend?

Xie Wuchi, give some living reaction.

A table full of dishes was ordered, big fish and meat. Shi Shu and Zihan chatted slowly: “Is Baijia Village better or Qin Village?”

Zihan: “Qin Village, of course. What place is better than Qin Village, sunbathing on the beach every day, picking up shells, big fish and meat. But Baijia Village is also very good, many people, not so lonely.”

Shi Shu picked up a piece of steamed sea bass with chopsticks, removed the bones, and put it in Xie Wuchi’s bowl: “I think Baijia Village is not bad either, at least better than traveling? That half year, basically no good place to sleep.”

The two understood tacitly. Du Zihan said: “When catching refugees back then, we didn’t want to go, slept in the mass grave in the wilderness for three days. You woke up from a nightmare in the middle of the night, shouting in the dream: ‘Xie Wuchi save me!'”

“………………”

Shi Shu originally had a smile on his face. Hearing this, he suddenly grabbed a steamed bun and put it in his bowl: “Can’t stop your mouth?”

Xie Wuchi’s chopsticks were picking up fish meat; hearing this, he paused. Du Zihan rolled his eyes and gnawed on the bun.

During the more than a year of separation, of course Shi Shu thought of Xie Wuchi, and always thought of him, becoming much more reticent. Later, feeling it affected his mood too much, he stopped letting himself think. During that time, Du Zihan was surprised: “Is this how you normal friends are? Ending a friendship is like a breakup?”

How could he not think of Xie Wuchi? He was the first person he knew in this world, slept in the same bed for a whole year, kisses and hugs were expressions of intimacy. Xie Wuchi always kissed and hugged him; Shi Shu also got used to it, treating him as a brother. Only after separating did he realize that Xie Wuchi took great pains not to part ways with Shi Shu back then. Being with him was very safe; no matter what danger they encountered, it was Xie Wuchi protecting him.

Shi Shu remembered all kinds of things from the past, and the road Xie Wuchi walked carrying him on his back, his heart instantly filled with mixed flavors.

The deception was real, the hate was real, and the affection was also real.

Shi Shu: “Why keep talking about that year? Eat more, my treat tonight. Helped Lin Yangchun work for three days, now I have money in my pocket.”

Du Zihan didn’t care, but he cared about another thing. He toasted Xie Wuchi with a glass of wine: “Brother Xie, I really have no thoughts about Shi Shu, just good friends. Let me go from now on; I will absolutely not hinder you.”

Xie Wuchi raised his wine glass and clinked with him.

Du Zihan: “Let’s talk about modern times. What were your situations?”

Shi Shu: “My mom is a politics teacher, my dad is a university PE teacher, that’s it.”

Du Zihan: “Do you know how hard I worked to get into graduate school? Even passing CET-4 was hard for me, but I rushed to seventy points for the postgraduate entrance exam. If I knew I would travel through time, I wouldn’t have worked hard back then.”

It’s been almost three years since traveling through time; bringing this up now still makes him angry.

Shi Shu turned to look at Xie Wuchi: “What about you?”

Xie Wuchi said: “I like it here very much.”

“…”

Xie Wuchi: “No developed communication, the crowd is also ignorant. If you are unhappy with someone, you can kill them with a move of your finger. Inverting black and white, covering the sky with one hand, no one disobeys your will, treating you as a god. Unpleasant words can’t reach your ears; very good.”

Shi Shu: “…Xie Wuchi, you.”

The dining table was quiet for a while.

Du Zihan whispered: “Brother, what did you do in modern times?”

Xie Wuchi: “Didn’t do anything, just played around.”

Du Zihan propped his forehead: “We had a rich guy in our dorm. You rich guys give exactly the same feeling. Appearing very well-bred on the surface but actually very self-centered.”

Shi Shu put another piece of fish meat into Xie Wuchi’s bowl. No third person in this world would know about Xie Wuchi cutting his wrist in self-harm, saying he loved him while crying.

At least in anyone’s eyes, Xie Wuchi was arrogant, conceited, and tough. Only Shi Shu knew that shadow that was indulgent and fragile towards him.

Shi Shu scratched his clean chin. The meat of the fish belly was the softest. He picked it up, dipped it in the sauce in the saucer, and put it in Xie Wuchi’s bowl. Du Zihan was already chatting about something else: “Don’t know why Brother Xie looks a bit familiar. Maybe I saw him when reading cutting-edge technology usually.”

Plates were messy. After eating, the sky was just cool. Shi Shu rushed to pay the bill, and the three went downstairs together. It was summer now; wooden clogs clattered on the slate, showing coolness.

When Shi Shu ran to the East Mausoleum Garden, many people were enjoying the cool air. A row of people drinking tea and gambling under the flower vines. Shi Shu took Xie Wuchi to see goldfish, then flowers and grass.

Du Zihan was pleasantly surprised: “This fish is too beautiful! Hundreds of birds paying homage to the phoenix! Shi Shu, how did you find it? You really have taste!”

Shi Shu: “Just okay, just okay. There are a few kingfishers here; you two come and see.”

Du Zihan: “So beautiful, absolutely beautiful! How did its beak grow like that? Got any snacks? I’ll feed it a few bites.”

Shi Shu: “Someone also raised a pile of pigeons, guarded by a monkey. If you pass by, it pulls your sleeve asking for nuts—”

Du Zihan: “Ahhh don’t touch me! I’m afraid of monkeys!”

“…”

Shi Shu laughed heartily. Seeing Du Zihan led by the little monkey to buy peanuts, he looked back and found Xie Wuchi walking slowly, his plain white robe reflected in the flower branch shadows, looking lonely. He stared intently at Shi Shu, but withdrew his gaze when Shi Shu looked back.

Shi Shu understood immediately, walking backward to him: “What’s wrong?”

Xie Wuchi: “You are happy with him, don’t mind me.”

Ripples rose in Shi Shu’s heart. He reached under his sleeve and gently scratched the back of his hand: “Unhappy.”

Shi Shu wasn’t that narcissistic, narcissistic enough to ask the other party, are you jealous. But taking advantage of the few people around, he reached out and held his hand.

Held it for maybe a few seconds, Shi Shu blushed and let go, sitting in the pavilion with Xie Wuchi. Xie Wuchi said lightly: “I’m really bad, always unable to control possessiveness. Seeing you with others makes me unhappy, mood worsens. In a way, this is a psychological problem, lack of security. I don’t want you to go out and play happily, yet have to care about my expression.”

Shi Shu was originally looking at goldfish; hearing this sentence, he said “Ah?”.

Shi Shu: “What, who said anything about you?”

Xie Wuchi: “No one. I tend to think about these things. I always care; if I don’t become the focus of the crowd, I feel uncomfortable in my heart.”

Shi Shu: “…It doesn’t matter.”

After thinking, Shi Shu realized, is this a topic people in love discuss?

Xie Wuchi really changed. If it were before, he would probably pull a long face, or directly snatch Shi Shu to his side, displaying his arbitrariness and arrogance in possessing Shi Shu. A flash of inspiration crossed Shi Shu’s mind, and he added for no reason: “No one is more important than you.”

Shi Shu stood up but found Xie Wuchi sitting, not moving. So he sat back down. Xie Wuchi’s dark eyes were looking at him.

The moonlight was faint. When Shi Shu said this, he realized Xie Wuchi’s lips were pale. This person who was arrogant, conceited, with high self-esteem and narcissism to a somewhat morbid degree, how did he say that sentence back then, admitting utter defeat.

Everyone is more important than me.

Just as Shi Shu wanted to say something, Zihan came back with a handful of peanuts in his pocket, leading the monkey, peeling peanuts for it to eat.

Shi Shu grabbed a few peanuts from Du Zihan’s pocket, peeled them, and threw them into his mouth: “Braised flavor, you want some?”

He handed them to Xie Wuchi. Xie Wuchi: “No. Except for main meals, I don’t like eating other things.”

“…”

Young master temper.

Needs coaxing for everything.

Shi Shu clicked his tongue lightly. Luckily, he dated randomly in ancient times. With these conditions, he could only eat some rice and drink some wine. If it were in modern times, how hard would Xie Wuchi be to pursue? Rich family, wealthy manor, excellent family background, a bunch of top-quality handsome guys and beauties’ contacts in WeChat. How to pursue him?

Wouldn’t you have to fly a helicopter and drop roses?

Thinking of this, Shi Shu felt that the past few days were indeed hasty.

But never mind, dated first.

Shi Shu just sat there, not knowing what to say. Knowing Xie Wuchi was angry, he lowered his head and waited for him to be angry for a while before asking: “Leaving?”

Xie Wuchi stood up. The monkey was just full. Du Zihan grabbed all the peanuts in his pocket into its bib and rubbed its head: “Go play by yourself.”

The East Mausoleum Garden was said to be the tomb of a concubine from the previous dynasty. Now it became a park, gloomy. Once summer arrived, it became a summer resort. The three walked and talked, like strolling, walking into a bamboo forest. Du Zihan walked in front. When he looked back, Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi were already holding hands.

Du Zihan wiped his face: Annoying.

Stinky couple.

Shi Shu was also a bit confused. He held hands for a while and let go. Xie Wuchi’s hand was too hot, prone to sweating, not very comfortable.

Just as soon as he let go, the person seemed unhappy again.

Young master.

Shi Shu was immediately happy after leaving him behind, darting around in the bamboo forest, bringing back some messy things in a while. He and Du Zihan ran around, running to a high hillside.

Xie Wuchi: “Come back, that’s someone else’s grave.”

Shi Shu ran down. Du Zihan screamed in fright.

However, Shi Shu was very obedient. Every time he ran for a while, he would return to Xie Wuchi’s side, sweat dripping from his fair nose tip, lips red and teeth white, saying a few words to him and running away again.

“Only dogs need to be tested for obedience, humans don’t.”

When Xie Wuchi stopped in place, memories surfaced in his voice.

“You clearly hate your family the most, but in the end, you became the same person. Trampling on those you don’t love, controlling those you love, testing, judging whether the other party is obedient. If not obedient, train repeatedly.”

“You can train an obedient dog, but you can’t train an obedient person.”

“Love is controlling you. You suffered enough, yet use it to control others.”

Xie Wuchi’s gaze stopped. He remembered that in that gorgeous manor, carefully selected carpets, the woman sat on the sofa waving to him. Perhaps countless days and nights, when called by his mother every day, his palms would tremble, in a stress state.

Love mom the most?

Sometimes the boy felt he loved the nanny who ate and slept with him the most, putting on socks and clothes for him every day, feeding him, carrying his schoolbag to send him to school, and picking him up. The language spoken at school was different from home; he could converse, but there were too many idiots at school, and someone always looked sideways at him. So he hated stupid people very much.

Sometimes the boy was unhappy after school. The nanny carried him into the extended luxury car, made him laugh, fed him milk, took off his shoes. After returning home, then called interest class teachers in one by one for other lessons.

The boy told the nanny everything. Later, when his mom asked who he loved, he said he loved the mother who accompanied him the most. The result need not be said again; nannies changed frequently, careful to keep a distance from him. From that time on, because he was too young, standing in front of the sofa every night, waiting for that greeting, he would feel uneasy.

In childhood, he resisted a few times slightly. The outcome was usually the woman suddenly scolding him hysterically, beating him, cold violence, crying, throwing him into a small dark room to starve for three days. After having self-esteem, he said no every day. There was a summer vacation where he was locked up every night, attended class normally during the day. The nanny wouldn’t give him food; even if he asked, the answer was hesitant and cold.

Love is conditional. Obedience brings love; disobedience brings none.

Later he found that lying could easily avoid these conflicts. After speaking up, it became smoother and smoother. Later he habitually lied. With his intelligence, it was simple. He also saw through what his family wanted in his teens.

Anyway, after he lied, the family calmed down temporarily. Xie Wuchi indeed picked up many bad habits. He observed what the family opposed, so much so that he completely became a male homosexual. Unlike the dull family atmosphere, he indulged in stimulation, boldness, lust, intemperance, and depravity.

But at least in terms of desire for control, he thought it wouldn’t be that strong.

But those inexplicable emotions surged up. Xie Wuchi found himself still too subconscious, ignoring psychological defense mechanisms.

Leaves rustled in the bamboo forest. Xie Wuchi stood in place, shadows covering his face. The summer night had a coolness of its own. Many people’s behaviors are controlled by the subconscious, but some can realize it, while others cannot. This is the trace of the human heart. Self-reflection avoids doing things inexplicable in others’ eyes.

Not long after, Shi Shu trotted back: “What are you thinking? Spaced out?”

Xie Wuchi lowered his hands and said: “I want to go back.”

“Let’s go, it’s quite late. Du Zihan!”

Du Zihan: “Not playing anymore?”

“It’s quite late, talk tomorrow.”

The group walked in the mausoleum garden, heading back to the Commander-in-Chief’s temporary residence. Entering the door, Du Zihan went to stay in Shi Shu’s courtyard. Shi Shu thought for a moment and entered the same door with Xie Wuchi.

Deep in the night, Shi Shu remembered the ambiguous affair the night before. He hadn’t seen Xie Wuchi for a few days since that night; they hadn’t seemed intimate yet.

Shi Shu entered the door, summoned courage, and hugged Xie Wuchi from behind.

But unexpectedly, there was chaos inside the door. Someone was waiting. Lin Yan hurriedly held up a letter: “My Lord, a secret letter from Eunuch Xu!”

Eunuch Xu was the attendant eunuch beside the current Emperor.

Shi Shu acted as if nothing happened. Xie Wuchi opened the letter under the light, glanced at it, and burned it to ashes over the lamp.

“Sharpen the knife.”

——In the eyes of the people, Xie Wuchi was a gentleman of new policies, a capable minister of virtue, guarding the frontier. But in officialdom, he had another name: Living Yama, Corpse Collector. Hard bones others couldn’t chop clean were given to him to chop; people others couldn’t kill were given to him to kill. The reason was none other than ruthlessness, brilliant means, and decisiveness.

Xie Wuchi looked at this letter, a shadow under his eyes, seeming to be thinking.

Shi Shu waited for him to get into bed: “What’s wrong?”

Xie Wuchi: “His Majesty asked me to go on official business, to Yunzhou to kill a few people.”

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