UCTOOT CH123

The lights were dim, and moments together were rare. Shi Shu was in such a good mood that he rolled twice on the bed. Xie Wuchi dried his raven-black hair, and when he turned around, Shi Shu’s eyes were as bright as stars, sparkling as he looked at him.

Xie Wuchi said, “I’ve taken less care of you these past few days.”

Shi Shu didn’t mind: “That’s nothing. Everyone has their own work to do; I’m very busy every day too.”

Xie Wuchi sat on the edge of the bed: “What have you been busy with?”

“A grassroots civil servant, serving at my post, doing everything with Lin Yangchun.”

Shi Shu mimicked Du Zihan’s tone: “—Grassroots civil servant Xiao Shu and his Central Secretary older brother~ They are short on medicinal herbs, so they asked me to find you and request you make a phone call to the frontline command post.”

Xie Wuchi smiled: “It seems you are very satisfied with your job.”

“Of course. Today I just rescued several large carts of rain-soaked herbs and an exhausted horse. Giving up physical labor for medicine was the right path. Who is as capable as me?”

Shi Shu was happy, lying on the bed with his handsome, clear, and fair face buried in the bedding, the corners of his lips quirked up.

Since deciding not to think about going home anymore, Shi Shu prepared to live well here. He had his own dreams and work, his own family, and very good friends; he was very happy. Thinking of this, Shi Shu looked up at this family member, who was also looking at him unblinkingly.

Shi Shu suddenly asked, “Xie Wuchi, what is our relationship now?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Are we boyfriends? Or what kind of relationship is it? We are going to spend our lives together. I don’t know how to love you, how to date you every day, and maintain a long-term relationship.”

Xie Wuchi: “Then are we… in a marital relationship?”

Shi Shu jumped up from the bed: “What thing? Husband and wife?”

“You have the right to participate in the other half of my life, to form a contract. If I betray you, I will pay the price in the future. Becoming husband and wife… perhaps that counts as a true family.”

Shi Shu rolled back into the sheets: “That’s too solemn a relationship. I don’t want it; it makes me embarrassed.”

Xie Wuchi looked at him: “Shi Shu, you are very cute.”

“…”

Shi Shu released the hand tugging at his sash and looked away. Xie Wuchi was still gazing at him, so he reached out to block his view.

But even blocked, the gaze still burned. Some thoughts stirred in Shi Shu’s heart. He leaped up, and with a soft swish of fabric, Xie Wuchi was pressed down onto the bed. Seemingly taking a heavy hit, he let out a soft gasp.

“Xie Wuchi…” Shi Shu leaned in close and pecked him on the lips. Then he looked up, ears turning red, meeting his gaze.

The corner of Xie Wuchi’s lips lifted. Shi Shu kissed down, hearing Xie Wuchi’s suppressed panting.

Shi Shu blushed: “Do you know, making that sound makes people excited…”

Xie Wuchi smiled and said, “I know.”

Blood rushed to the top of Shi Shu’s head. He reached under his clothes to touch his skin. Xie Wuchi propped himself up on the bed, allowing him to stroke gently, from the lines of his collarbone along his sun-tanned chest, gradually downwards, stroking his taut abdominal muscles, the dark, robust contours, and even lower.

Male model.

Shi Shu muttered to himself, “Xie Wuchi, you really act like a male model.”

Growing up so proper, behaving so wantonly!

Shi Shu moved closer to kiss him, following his heated body downwards, stopping at the hottest part. Faint mist clung beneath Xie Wuchi’s eyes as he waited for Shi Shu’s actions, lips tangling with his repeatedly. After a moment, a silver thread connected their parting lips.

Xie Wuchi panted hoarsely, meeting his gaze. His arms, toughened by years of training, gripped the back of Shi Shu’s neck, kissing him again, letting Shi Shu touch his abs and the powerful area below.

…A night in the rain.

Unable to distinguish if it was early morning or what time, Shi Shu slept in the warm bed. Outside the tent, people came and went, footsteps sounding. It seemed urgent; someone was loudly reporting guard duties amidst the sound of rain.

“Requesting to see the Commander-in-Chief!”

Shi Shu opened his eyes instantly, very familiar with the commotion of the night—urgent military affairs.

Shi Shu opened his eyes wide and sat up. Xie Wuchi hooked the clothes from the head of the bed with one hand and put them on. After thinking for a moment, he got up and walked out the door. The rainstorm was furious, swallowing the light of torches in the dark night. The messenger wearing a raincoat was drenched, kneeling as soon as he saw Xie Wuchi: “My Lord!”

Xie Wuchi: “What happened? Speak.”

“General Xi just sent an urgent dispatch. A Min army unit suddenly appeared north of the boundary river, burning, killing, and looting. They killed the common people in our villages and headed toward the deep hinterland. General Xi was furious, and several of his subordinate generals have dispatched troops to pursue and condemn the enemy army.”

It had begun; the tranquil facade was broken.

A jolt went through Shi Shu’s brain. How was it that just as Xie Wuchi and his group wanted to dispatch troops, an enemy unit happened to arrive, causing General Xi to cross the border in pursuit to kill them?

Shi Shu blinked. Not far away, the eunuch assigned by the Emperor to the main camp had also sensed something was wrong and hurried over in a panic. Covered in rain, he said anxiously, “Lord Xie, His Majesty has decreed that having just passed the turmoil in Yunzhou, we are recuperating. Do not lightly start border conflicts to avoid the disaster of defeat. Quickly order General Xi’s troops to return!”

Xie Wuchi raised his eyelids: “Naturally. This Xi Xin is too bold. Military orders are like mountains, and the matter is grave. If these few minor generals disturb the great affairs of the state, wouldn’t that be rash?”

Xi Xin’s messenger remained silent.

The eunuch vaguely knew something was wrong, his tone inevitably becoming shrill: “Lord Xie, speak less of such things. Quickly go and retrieve them… If a war starts because of this unit, my Lord will find it difficult to explain to His Majesty!”

Saying this, he was even more impatient than Xie Wuchi: “Go chase them, quickly!”

But the generals and soldiers surrounding Xie Wuchi stood like a silent iron curtain, motionless as mountains, not even glancing at him.

Xie Wuchi glanced at him: “The Northern Army is fierce, the soldiers brave. From the Envoy’s appearance, it seems you have been scared out of your wits by this unit. If the soldiers in the army see this, it will disturb morale.”

The eunuch was fearful and angry: “Lord Xie!”

Xie Wuchi smiled at him, seemingly very amiable: “Eunuch, please go rest. This Commander will chase them back immediately.”

After speaking, his expression shifted, his face instantly becoming extremely cold, making one’s legs go weak. He said, “Go!”

A guard beside him brought a horse. Xie Wuchi mounted, whip in hand. The horse’s sturdy hooves galloped swiftly into the misty autumn rain toward the border outpost where the fighting had started, disappearing into the night.

The eunuch was still uneasy, jumping up and down with anxiety, ordering the little eunuch beside him: “Go tell the Imperial Father-in-Law quickly! Go!”

Shi Shu wrapped a single garment around himself, watched this good show from the side, and still feeling exhausted, returned to lie on Xie Wuchi’s bed, sleeping straight until broad daylight.

Shi Shu didn’t sleep peacefully. While he lay inside the tent, people came to ask for an audience from time to time. The guards all said the Commander-in-Chief had gone out. Through the curtain door, there was chaos and the messy sounds of footsteps and weapons.

For the next few days, the main camp was filled with suspicion and divergent opinions. Some said fighting had broken out; others said it was strictly forbidden. A couple of days later, a comprehensive order was issued prohibiting rumors from disturbing people’s minds.

Xie Wuchi went to the front lines. Shi Shu followed Song Sinan’s Chou Army team these past few days, arranging for refugees to settle and farm everywhere. They returned to the barren mountain wilderness they had opened up before. By now, the houses were neatly built, the fields were hoed very level, and men, women, young, and old came and went farming, walking to and fro in the soil, a picture of happiness and harmony.

The agricultural official squatted in the field, smelling the soil.

“Smell this, everyone. The land here is fertile and suitable for farming. The soil hardly needs sifting for stones. Even when cultivated into farming soil, its inherent fertility is amazing.”

Shi Shu leaned in and sniffed: “Urgh—”

Du Zihan: “Urgh. Writing essays on the earth, but this land still needs transformation.”

Shi Shu rubbed the soil off his hands and stood up. Song Sinan said, “Let’s go further ahead.”

Shi Shu stepped on the path and walked forward: “Last time we came to reclaim land, there wasn’t even a road.”

“This time we came, everything is here.”

In front of them, the eaves of low wooden huts touched one another. Saplings were planted in front of the doors; in however many years, these trees would provide shade like canopies. Shi Shu walked around and ate lunch in this place. Local food was still relatively scarce; they liked to eat vegetable leaves, grass leaves, and tree leaves.

Shi Shu ate a kind of grass leaf, boiled once in clear soup, then put in a bowl to eat with chili dipping sauce. Shi Shu took two bites: “This way of eating—”

Du Zihan: “Isn’t this the way the Southwest F4 eat?”

“It’s delicious.” Shi Shu ate the vegetable leaves. The host family said that with autumn coming, the plants were getting old; they were probably eating the last crop of the year.

Shi Shu: “Although it’s autumn, it seems like all living things are reviving.”

After eating, Shi Shu walked outside the courtyard. There was a market in the village where people exchanged salt and goods. It wouldn’t take long for this barren land to completely turn into a land of fish and rice, with every family having ample granaries.

“To fully develop all these places will take at least hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of people, and the efforts of several generations,” Song Sinan said.

And Xie Wuchi happened to have the ability to organize so much manpower.

Not long after staying in these places, seeing the rain starting again, Song Sinan said, “Let’s go, let’s go, hurry!”

Shi Shu ran to the carriage, wiping the rain from his hair, before Song Sinan whispered, “Hey, has the fighting started or not? Recovering Yong’an Prefecture and Bu Prefecture.”

Shi Shu looked left and right: “This is a military matter. How could I tell you? I don’t know either.”

Song Sinan scoffed: “Damn his uncle, if those beasts really become family with us, how am I supposed to live? I might as well die.”

Shi Shu remembered the snowy mountain forest in Dasheng Prefecture, patted his shoulder, not knowing what to say.

The rain was too heavy, the road muddy all the way, and the carriage stopped from time to time. Shi Shu simply got off the carriage to walk. The sound of hooves echoed in the muddy pits. A messenger officer holding a seal spurred his horse to run wildly in the rainstorm, delivering military intelligence to generals stationed everywhere to maintain contact and get firsthand battle reports.

A messenger horse galloped past quickly, splashing up huge spots of mud. Shi Shu, Du Zihan, and Song Sinan stood by the roadside, getting splashed right in the face and all over their bodies. The three of them were instantly thrown into confusion, covering their faces.

There was also the little mud dog Lai Fu, who shook his body and flung mud on them again.

“Damn it!”

“That brother rides fast!” Shi Shu said, “Faster than the ones passing by just now.”

Du Zihan’s face was covered in mud: “No, what’s the situation?”

You messed with us, which is equivalent to messing with 0 people.

This was the Trash Trio.

Song Sinan had a relatively short temper and wanted to get angry, but Du Zihan hugged his waist: “Okay, Brother Song, calm down. He’s delivering military orders, be understanding.”

Shi Shu had been in a good mood, but upon returning to the main camp and passing the execution grounds, he saw a pile of freshly disposed bodies. Pools of blood dyed the muddy pits on the ground red, and soldiers were dragging away the beheaded corpses.

Shi Shu’s expression changed. He saw Xie Wuchi standing on the high platform with the eunuch, witnessing everything on the execution ground. Dressed in a general’s bright light armor, his face was indifferent: “The Min army came to provoke us. This Commander has already beheaded the subordinate generals who crossed the border to pursue and kill. Does the Eunuch have anything else to say?”

The eunuch was speechless, his face full of anxiety: “What’s the use of killing them! Have the troops on the front line stopped?! We can’t fight anymore!”

Xie Wuchi lowered his eyes and said nothing. Ping Yichun said impatiently, “We can’t stop. This subordinate is a rough man and doesn’t understand big principles. I only know the enemy killed our kin, and we absolutely cannot sit idly by. These few men violated military orders by crossing the border, and have been handed over to the Eunuch for disposal. But north of the boundary river, the opponent is deploying for an attack. We must also defend immediately, and if necessary, break through the enemy’s city to defeat them! We absolutely cannot miss the opportunity for battle!”

The eunuch slapped his chair: “Without His Majesty’s decree, who dares to advance troops?!”

“If we don’t advance troops, are we to let the Min army conquer Changping and Xingu Prefectures? Will the Eunuch bear the responsibility for the crime of losing cities?”

Eunuch: “You!…”

Xie Wuchi took a sip of tea and said after a moment, “Stop arguing. Currently, defense is still the priority. Once there is an opportunity for battle, it won’t be too late to discuss. How long until the Imperial Father-in-Law’s army arrives?”

The eunuch swallowed his anger: “Fifty thousand troops, plus over a hundred thousand logistics personnel. Even marching urgently, it will take at least a month.”

Xie Wuchi showed no emotion on his face: “Is that so? The border conflict has begun, and the battle situation changes instantly. The follow-up is truly hard to predict. Please urge them more, Envoy.”

They parted on bad terms, the eunuch leaving full of worry. Shi Shu waited to meet Xie Wuchi in the tent. He was behind a screen, loosening his warrior’s battle robe, and said, “Those scapegoats were death row prisoners from the army. Beheaded to put on a show for him.”

Shi Shu’s psychological quality was a bit lacking, but thinking of the deaths in Yunzhou City, his mood returned to calm.

Xie Wuchi was changing clothes. The dim light reflected in the hollow of his collarbone. He looked down and scrutinized Shi Shu for a moment: “Negotiations with the King of Zhouchi’s people are settled; there won’t be big moves in the next few days. It just happens to be time for a break.”

Shi Shu: “Huh?”

Xie Wuchi: “Do you want me to take you out to play?”

Shi Shu: “For what? A date?”

Xie Wuchi: “Consider it a date.”

Shi Shu tilted his head back, thinking, when Xie Wuchi looked at him: “Or you take me?”

“…”

“You…” Shi Shu’s little boy soul ignited. There was no reason to refuse, so he said, “Sure. I actually have a place I want to go. I was wandering around the city a few days ago; it should be very suitable for a date.”

Xie Wuchi: “What place?”

“Haunted house?”

“…”

“…Are we going?”

On the stone-paved road after the rain, Yanzhou City was always crisp in autumn, the air drying quickly, though the ground was covered with a layer of damp water.

At dusk, people gathered in twos and threes at the bustling night market. Shi Shu bought a bag of fried skewers and crispy meat balls from a stall. Xie Wuchi had changed into simple attire, a proper long robe, his brows and eyes reflecting the faint, cold moonlight as he walked behind.

Shi Shu scratched the tips of his hair: “You’ve been very tired lately, right?”

Xie Wuchi: “Just a lot of affairs. Bought them? Let’s go to the temple.”

Shi Shu: “I guessed you were tired recently. We haven’t wandered around like this for a long time.”

Rare free time put Shi Shu in a good mood, walking backward as he spoke: “I heard that’s an evil temple worshiping an evil god. Previously, a family committed suicide in the temple. They say they were bewildered after locking eyes with the evil god. The man hacked his family to pieces, blood spraying on the walls… When the yamen found them, the room was full of skeletons, dried blood, and maggots crawling around…”

Shi Shu stopped halfway: “Ugh, I’m still eating.”

Xie Wuchi: “You like deserted temples in the wilderness?”

Shi Shu: “What else do you do on a date besides this? Since you’re bold, I dare to go anywhere with you.”

Xie Wuchi stopped by the steps where Buddhist niches were worn away. Branches swayed horizontally, collapsed walls were overturned, leaving broken bricks and tiles, some written with messy, disordered talismans adding a bit of horror to the atmosphere.

A flock of crows flew past in disorder. Shi Shu hid behind Xie Wuchi: “Ahhhhhh! Don’t say it, this atmosphere is killer.”

Shi Shu’s hand was held by Xie Wuchi, and they walked in together. Shi Shu actually quite liked holding his hand, but Xie Wuchi must have been too tired recently, keeping his eyelids lowered, very quiet.

Shi Shu looked around, “Barren mountain, wild temple, and it’s a temple again. How many temples have we stayed in together?”

Xie Wuchi: “How many?”

Shi Shu: “Xiangnan Temple, we stayed in one on the way to Shukang Prefecture… oh, and on the way to the Min region, that small nunnery in the middle of nowhere, the door leaked wind, we could only sleep there.”

Shi Shu answered casually, but Xie Wuchi seemed to recall something and asked indifferently, “How long have you been with me?”

Shi Shu: “Counting from the hot spring? Four or five months.”

Xie Wuchi: “My birthday.”

Shi Shu: “818.” (August 18th)

“Height.”

“190.” Shi Shu: “I remember. What do you mean? Looking down on me? Speak, hater!”

Xie Wuchi: “I hope you remember every anniversary between us.”

“Hmph, I remember them all.” Shi Shu skipped up a few steps, “Brother Xie’s strict selection, because you don’t want lots and lots of money, you want lots and lots of love.”

The air was quiet for a moment. Xie Wuchi said frankly, “Of course. Because I don’t need anyone to provide me with value; I can achieve that through work. Aside from that, I care very much about my personal life, and I also care about wholehearted love.”

Shi Shu’s attention was drawn to a broken door. Kids used this place as an exploration base. Turning left and right after entering, walls pressed close, dust peeling off. He looked back and smiled: “I know.”

Xie Wuchi: “Do you think I’m troublesome? My demands for affection from you are limitless. I always want you to be good to me.”

Like a black hole devouring light to fill an endless void.

Walking side by side, Shi Shu raised an eyebrow nonchalantly: “Never thought you were troublesome. I have to work every day; what I do for you is a hundred times easier than working.”

Xie Wuchi seemed to smile: “Then what do you like about me?”

Shi Shu blushed, thought for a while: “You are very special.”

“Mn?”

“I’ve never met anyone like you in my life.”

Shi Shu really didn’t know how to confess further. Wild thoughts ran deep in his soul. He turned his head and ran forward shouting “Wah wah wah,” unexpectedly running into a dark red, dilapidated paper effigy standing silently in the middle of the road. With a scream, he darted back! He threw himself into Xie Wuchi’s arms, hugging his waist, hugging his back, his fluffy hair pressing against his jaw: “Xie Wuchi, I’m scared, scared the jump out of me! Holy crap what is that thing! Why is it wearing red, terrifying! It’s blocking the middle of the road, I don’t dare to go past!”

Shi Shu chattered away, held in Xie Wuchi’s arms: “Shall I carry you on my back?”

“If you carry me on your back, my back will feel cold, like there’s something lying on my shoulder.”

“You’re suited to write novels,” Xie Wuchi said. “Then shall I hold you?”

Before his voice fell, Shi Shu was scooped up by the legs, the other hand supporting his bottom, held entirely in his arms. “Ah—no—”

Shi Shu hurriedly hugged his shoulders. Just after speaking, he was gently kissed on the tip of his lips. Shi Shu’s momentary bristling subsided. With red ears, he buried his head, revealing dandelion-like hair.

Actually, Xie Wuchi’s hands were very steady; being held by him felt quite safe.

Xie Wuchi: “This paper effigy looks like a welcoming figure for an ancient wedding. Once we pass it, you won’t be scared.”

Shi Shu burrowed into his embrace, holding the meatballs, ears a bit hot, but there was no one around, and Xie Wuchi seemed to like holding him like this very much.

Buried in his arms, Shi Shu stepped into the temple. He climbed up along him, peeked out his eyes, and sat down quietly after arriving in the temple. Inside, there were only cobwebs, Buddha statues, collapsed beams, and fluttering ribbons—a scene of lifeless decay.

Shi Shu carefully held Xie Wuchi’s hand: “Why don’t I see bloodstains and knife marks?”

Xie Wuchi: “Some things get more mysterious as they spread. In reality, perhaps there was nothing.”

Shi Shu breathed a sigh of relief and sat down, seeing Xie Wuchi pinch the bridge of his nose, looking tired. Shi Shu realized: “Are you very tired recently?”

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