ISWTDB Ch42

Chapter 42: The Mute Prince vs. The Rakshasa General (7,8)

“Therefore, to cleanse the court, eliminate traitors, and preserve the peace for the people of Canglan, I entrust everything to you, Prime Minister.” After speaking, Ying Zhao bowed deeply to Prime Minister Yu.

Prime Minister Yu hurriedly helped him up, sighing, “It seems this brat is forcing this old man to take a side!”

Ying Zhao shook his head at Prime Minister Yu. “It’s not about taking sides; I just believe that the benevolent should rule the world.”

Hearing Ying Zhao’s words, Prime Minister Yu smiled with relief and nodded. The two then discussed the current situation and some plans in detail.

They discussed for a long time, and Ying Zhao returned to the Ying Mansion after having lunch at the restaurant. For the next few days, Ying Zhao visited Duanmu Yi’s courtyard every night.

Although he always appeared hesitant and reluctant when entering Duanmu Yi’s room, in his heart, Ying Zhao was overjoyed and wished he could go to his man immediately after court every day to be intimate.

However, all he could do was sneak a couple of kisses and hold Duanmu Yi’s hand when he pretended to be asleep at night.

Ying Zhao had ignored Bai Wenxuan for a few days, knowing that Bai Wenxuan’s intentions for coming to the Ying family were not pure. This cold treatment must have made Bai Wenxuan impatient by now.

So today, Ying Zhao, estimating that the time was right, wandered around the nearby streets after court before returning home. After resting in his room for a while, he went to Bai Wenxuan’s courtyard.

The courtyard where Bai Wenxuan lived was the best in the Ying family, except for the Old Madam Ying’s residence. Ying Jingning had always catered to Bai Wenxuan’s wishes, and this courtyard was chosen by Bai Wenxuan himself.

He usually ate and lived in the Ying family, with all his needs met with the best. Although he always appeared aloof in front of Ying Jingning, he actually enjoyed such indulgence.

Not only did he eat and live at the Ying family’s expense, but he also charged his purchases to the Ying family’s account. The Ying family had to pay a large sum for Bai Wenxuan’s expenses every month.

He lived off the Ying family but still maintained a facade of high morality.

Ying Zhao thought it was absurd that the original owner could fall for such a person and not see how he was being used.

The little servant Shumo, who always followed Bai Wenxuan, saw Ying Zhao coming and ran joyfully back into the house, shouting, “Young master! Young master! The General is here to see you!”

Soon, Bai Wenxuan came out smiling from the house. Seeing Ying Zhao, he affectionately took his hand and said with concern, “General, it’s been a while since court ended. Why are you back so late? I was just thinking of playing chess and drinking with you today!”

Ying Zhao’s eyes flashed upon hearing Bai Wenxuan’s words. The other party knew exactly when he returned. It seemed some servants in the General’s mansion had forgotten who their true master was!

However, he remained calm and nodded, saying, “I was delayed by something, so I came back late.”

Then, Ying Zhao took out an embroidered box from his bosom and handed it to Bai Wenxuan, saying, “I saw this jade pendant while passing by the jade shop. I thought it would go perfectly with your white attire, so I bought it for you. Do you like it?”

Bai Wenxuan picked up the jade pendant from the box and examined it. Seeing the jade’s smooth and translucent quality, he knew it was valuable. He immediately smiled with delight and nodded at Ying Zhao, saying, “I like anything the General gives me! General, the chessboard is already set up in the house. Please join me inside!”

Then, he gestured for Ying Zhao to enter. Ying Zhao did not refuse, and the two played chess and drank together in the room.

Bai Wenxuan did have some knowledge, but compared to Ying Zhao, who had lived for thousands of years, it was like showing off minor skills before an expert.

Ying Zhao watched Bai Wenxuan’s pretentious and self-righteous behavior with a mocking smile, occasionally praising him, which made Bai Wenxuan even more pleased with himself.

By evening, Bai Wenxuan invited Ying Zhao to stay for dinner, and Ying Zhao did not refuse. He knew that Bai Wenxuan’s biggest goal in trying to please him was to find the Ying family’s ancestral military strategy map.

Since this map was a secret passed down through generations, it was naturally well hidden and not easily found. Despite staying in the Ying family for a long time, Bai Wenxuan had found nothing.

Recently, Ying Zhao had become colder toward him, making Bai Wenxuan anxious. He wondered if Duanmu Yi, despite being mute, had some trick to win Ying Jingning’s favor.

So today, Bai Wenxuan, seeing Ying Zhao finally visit him, naturally tried his best to win Ying Zhao’s favor.

During dinner, Bai Wenxuan deliberately got Ying Zhao drunk, but Ying Zhao accepted all the drinks. Although Ying Zhao’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t the best, with the system Xiao Bai’s presence, no one could truly make him drunk if he didn’t want to be.

Seeing Ying Zhao’s slightly dazed eyes, Bai Wenxuan tentatively asked with some grievance, “General, why haven’t you come to see me recently and instead spend every night at Duanmu Yi’s place? Didn’t you say you had no feelings for that mute prince?”

Seeing Bai Wenxuan drop his aloof demeanor and act coy, Ying Zhao got goosebumps but had to humor him, saying, “I indeed have no feelings for him. Staying at his place every night is just to follow my grandmother’s orders. After all, she fell ill from being angered by me last time. She said if I didn’t treat Duanmu Yi well, she wouldn’t recognize me as her grandson. I’m just helpless. I’ve been sleeping in the side room of his courtyard, which is far less comfortable than my bed in my own courtyard.”

Hearing Ying Zhao’s words, Bai Wenxuan felt somewhat relieved. He patted Ying Zhao’s hand with a heartbroken expression and sighed, “It’s really hard on the General. The Old Madam doesn’t understand your true feelings at all!”

Hearing Bai Wenxuan’s subtle provocation, Ying Zhao just shook his head without responding. Bai Wenxuan then poured a few more drinks for Ying Zhao, seeing him wobble as he picked up the cup.

Then he leaned in closer, slightly opening his robe. Softly, he said to Ying Zhao, “General, I have always known that you have feelings for me. But since I am a man, I have always hesitated. I never thought that before I could sort out my feelings, you would be bestowed in marriage to Duanmu Yi. It was only when I saw you in your red wedding attire that I realized I actually have feelings for you too. General, can you understand my true feelings?”

As Bai Wenxuan spoke, he took Ying Zhao’s hand, wanting to place it on his own chest. Ying Zhao had always disliked being touched by anyone other than his own man. He was already repulsed when Bai Wenxuan held his hand earlier.

Seeing this, he immediately pulled his hand back without hesitation, then stood up with a slightly tipsy look, swaying as he said:

“Wenxuan! Hearing you say this, I am already satisfied! Come, let me toast you!”

As he spoke, Ying Zhao raised his wine cup towards Bai Wenxuan. Bai Wenxuan naturally drank it all in one gulp. However, for some reason, after drinking this cup of wine, he suddenly felt his mind becoming foggy.

Bai Wenxuan had a very good tolerance for alcohol and had also taken a sobriety pill before drinking, but suddenly the intoxication overwhelmed him, and he could hardly stand. Before long, he collapsed onto the table.

Naturally, Bai Wenxuan’s sudden drunkenness was thanks to Xiao Bai. Looking at Bai Wenxuan, who was now unconscious on the table, Ying Zhao’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

Then, he frowned and vigorously wiped the hand that had been touched by Bai Wenxuan on his robe. He then turned his head and looked around Bai Wenxuan’s room.

Without hesitation, he went to the bed, crouched down, and reached under the bed. After a while of feeling around the underside of the bed board, he found an embroidered box and pulled it out.

The system, Xiao Bai, in his mind, couldn’t help but exclaim to Ying Zhao, “Host, how did you know that Bai Wenxuan hid this under the bed board?”

Ying Zhao raised an eyebrow and nonchalantly replied to Xiao Bai, “Intuition.”

He then opened the box, took out the token inside, and glanced at it briefly. He rubbed some black ash onto the token, then took a piece of paper from the table and made rubbings of the patterns on both sides of the token.

After cleaning the token with a handkerchief, he placed it back into the box.

Xiao Bai, hearing Ying Zhao’s answer, was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously. He marveled in his heart that his host was indeed more remarkable than he had imagined.

After finishing the rubbings of the token, Ying Zhao ignored the thoroughly drunk Bai Wenxuan and left the room.

Bai Wenxuan had intended to seduce Ying Zhao today, so he had already dismissed everyone else. The whole courtyard was empty.

After leaving Bai Wenxuan’s courtyard, Ying Zhao looked at the now completely dark sky and naturally walked to Duanmu Yi’s courtyard.

Frowning as he smelled the alcohol on himself, Ying Zhao felt a bit guilty. But then, thinking of something, he smiled mischievously.

After all, his actions in this mansion could not be hidden from others. His man had probably already heard rumors that he went to drink with Bai Wenxuan, but no one should mind if a drunk person acted a little wild, right?

He then immediately pretended to be drunk, staggered, and pushed the door open. Walking into the room, he looked up and indeed saw Duanmu Yi sitting by the bed, holding a book and staring at the door.

Although it was already very late, Duanmu Yi was still not asleep, clearly waiting for him. Thinking of this, a warm feeling flowed through Ying Zhao’s heart.

Duanmu Yi had indeed been waiting for Ying Zhao. Earlier in the evening, some servants in the courtyard had mocked him, saying that the General was only interested in him temporarily and had gone to drink with Bai Wenxuan early in the day.

Especially the servant who had been reprimanded by Ying Zhao. Unable to vent his anger on Ying Zhao, he directed his resentment towards Duanmu Yi, naturally sneering at him.

Duanmu Yi, however, remained expressionless. Seeing no reaction after a long time, the servant left in frustration.

Other servants did not see Duanmu Yi as a true master and felt no need to serve him, leaving him alone in the courtyard.

Duanmu Yi did not care about having people to serve him, but internally he was not as calm as he appeared.

Hearing that Ying Zhao had gone to drink with Bai Wenxuan and would not come to see him, he felt a deep, indescribable bitterness.

So, in the General’s heart, Bai Wenxuan was the one he truly liked! Then what about all the words of affection he had said to me?

Unable to hold back, Duanmu Yi clenched his fists and sat by the bed, staring blankly at the door. Despite believing the servants’ words, he couldn’t help but wait silently.

He hoped Ying Zhao would still come to see him, even if not to stay, but just to say a few words to him.

Duanmu Yi couldn’t help but smile bitterly, feeling that waiting for his return was like a wife waiting for her husband.

But he was just a man, unable to bear children or even speak a complete sentence. How could he expect the young General to truly favor him?

He picked up a book, trying to distract himself. However, after a couple of hours, he just sat there, holding the book, staring at the door without moving.

It wasn’t until Ying Zhao pushed the door open that he snapped out of his daze, feeling an uncontrollable joy.

The little guy really came! My little General came to see me!

But immediately, a strong smell of alcohol made Duanmu Yi pause. It seemed the servants hadn’t lied; the little guy really did go drinking with Bai Wenxuan.

Duanmu Yi couldn’t hide his jealousy, with a hint of violent emotion bubbling within. However, he had to comfort himself, thinking it was enough that Ying Zhao was willing to come back, enough that he was now in front of him.

Seeing Duanmu Yi staring at him blankly, Ying Zhao curled his lips into a smile and sat straight down on a chair. Pointing directly at Duanmu Yi, he ordered without politeness, “Prepare water! I want a bath!”

Hearing this, Duanmu Yi blinked and immediately nodded, heading into the inner room. Without hesitation, he began the tasks of a servant, heating water and preparing the bath.

Once everything was ready, Duanmu Yi returned to the room. Seeing Ying Zhao slumped drunkenly over the table, he frowned and gently picked him up.

He wondered whether he should really help the little guy wash up or just carry him to bed.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he picked him up, the little guy seemed to wake up. Ying Zhao opened his eyes, moved, and jumped out of Duanmu Yi’s arms by holding onto his shoulder.

Patting his arm, Ying Zhao said, “What are you doing? Hurry up and help me to the bathroom, serve me while I bathe. Don’t forget your status, you are my wife!”

Saying this, Ying Zhao stumbled towards the bathroom, while Duanmu Yi, hearing Ying Zhao call him his wife, stared blankly at his back, feeling happy for the first time to be called his wife.

Yes! I am the little guy’s “wife”! They are a married couple, they have bowed to heaven and earth! So how could Bai Wenxuan be closer to the little guy than himself!

Thinking this, Duanmu Yi hurried to the bathroom, but as soon as he entered, he saw Ying Zhao unhesitatingly take off his outer robe in front of him. He stood there na-ked for a moment before leaping into the bath.

Even though the scene was brief, it still gave Duanmu Yi a huge visual impact, making him freeze in place, his face turning red.

He then saw Ying Zhao extend his hand, calling him, “Hey! What are you standing there for? Come over and scrub my back!”

Blushing, Duanmu Yi walked forward, trembling as he picked up the cloth and carefully began to scrub Ying Zhao’s back. However, seeing Ying Zhao’s body up close, all his romantic thoughts vanished.

Ying Zhao’s skin was not particularly fair, his body not tall but well-proportioned. His limbs were long and muscular, indicating he was built for speed on the battlefield.

But what truly shocked Duanmu Yi were the many scars covering Ying Zhao’s body, marks from battles fought.

Unconsciously, Duanmu Yi reached out, gently touching the scars, feeling his throat tighten with an indescribable heartache.

The little guy he faced every day was so petite, with such a cute face, yet he had gone through so many bloody battles.

He fought on the battlefield, leading tens of thousands of troops to defend the nation, bleeding for the peace of the people. At this moment, Duanmu Yi truly recognized the remarkable person in front of him.

Holding the cloth, he softly scrubbed Ying Zhao’s body. Though the scars were old, he still didn’t dare apply pressure, afraid of causing pain.

While Duanmu Yi cherished and was careful, Ying Zhao turned his head, grumbling, “Why are you scrubbing so lightly? You can’t even scrub a back, what an idiot.”

With a somewhat fuzzy expression, Ying Zhao extended his finger and poked Duanmu Yi’s forehead, saying, “I don’t need you to scrub, I’ll wash myself!”

After saying that, Ying Zhao took the cloth, looked around, then glared at Duanmu Yi, scolding, “How could you not bring in the underclothes I need to change into? So incompetent!”

Then he pointed at the white underclothes Duanmu Yi was wearing and said unceremoniously, “You, take off your underclothes right now and give them to me, then get out, immediately!”

Hearing Ying Zhao’s order, Duanmu Yi was stunned for a moment. He bit his lip, took off his outer robe, then his underclothes, and handed them to Ying Zhao before turning to leave.

Ying Zhao craned his neck to check the door, confirming that his reserved man was indeed peeking at him from outside. He smirked mischievously, then clumsily got out of the bath.

He quickly dried himself with the cloth, removed his mask, and hugged Duanmu Yi’s underclothes with a somewhat silly smile.

He buried his face in the clothes, inhaled deeply, then draped them over himself. Ying Zhao liked the scent of his lover and blushed at the thought of his lover watching him.

Meanwhile, Duanmu Yi, despite Ying Zhao’s order to leave, couldn’t help but stop and peek through the door.

Duanmu Yi felt guilty for peeking at the little general bathing, but he couldn’t control himself. Especially thinking about the little guy wearing his underclothes after bathing, Duanmu Yi felt a warm sensation in his heart.

He didn’t expect that staying would let him see what came next. After he left, the little guy, though still stumbling, didn’t seem completely drunk.

He took off his mask, revealing an incredibly cute face. After drying himself and putting on Duanmu Yi’s underclothes, the little guy wore a silly smile and sniffed the scent on the clothes.

So, the little guy likes my scent? Duanmu Yi thought, feeling a tingling sensation in his heart.

Then, the little guy, blushing, pulled the collar of the underclothes to his nose, sniffing indulgently, while his other hand slowly moved downward. Duanmu Yi watched wide-eyed as Ying Zhao.

Seeing him leaning against the bath barrel, blushing and calling out his name softly with a dazed expression, Duanmu Yi felt his heart race uncontrollably. He suddenly turned around, leaning against the door, hearing the intermittent, somewhat sobbing sounds from inside, feeling as if he was about to catch fire.

The little guy must like him! Otherwise, why would he do such a thing! But if the little guy liked him, why didn’t he confess his feelings?

Duanmu Yi didn’t understand and didn’t want to understand. At this moment, he only wanted to rush in, hold the person in his arms, and kiss his lips fiercely.

Just as he managed to calm down a bit, catching his breath and ready to push the door open, Ying Zhao had already put on his mask and came out.

Seeing Duanmu Yi’s flushed face, Ying Zhao was clearly startled. Then, seeming somewhat uneasy, he clasped his hands together, not knowing what to say.

But soon, Ying Zhao returned to his drunken demeanor, snorting coldly at Duanmu Yi, “What are you doing here? Someone who can’t even scrub a back properly, don’t block the way!”

With that, he pushed Duanmu Yi aside, tightened the robe around himself, and stumbled back to the bedroom, falling directly onto the bed.

Duanmu Yi looked at Ying Zhao lying in bed under the covers, somewhat at a loss but with a helpless smile on his face, showing a fondness he hadn’t noticed himself.

He picked up the cloth in the room and walked over, pulling back a corner of the quilt, only to find Ying Zhao staring at him with wide eyes.

Duanmu Yi smiled, shook the cloth in his hand, and pointed to Ying Zhao’s hair. Ying Zhao knew that this was Duanmu Yi’s way of showing concern, not wanting him to sleep with wet hair.