UCTOOT CH16

Shi Shu had long felt that Xie Wuchi’s appearance was filled with desire.

His expression was calm, his emotions stable… but the desire in his eyes was hard to hide. It wasn’t the empty listlessness of a prince whose desires had been sated, but the ambitious, energetic, and proactive eyes of desire.

Such a person was charismatic, but also terrifying.

Shi Shu asked, “Now that we’re going back, what are we going to do?”

“Pack our things. The ordination certificate has been taken away, so I can’t be a monk anymore. We can’t stay at Xiangnan Temple either. We’ll leave in a few days.”

Shi Shu: “Where to?”

Xie Wuchi glanced at him. “What, reluctant to leave?”

“No.”

They were going to a new place, drifting without a fixed home. Shi Shu inexplicably thought of the Zhou Family Village. “I wonder how Xiao Xi, Xiao Mei, and Xiao Nuan are doing. Those are the sheep I raised with my own hands. Only Laifu has stayed with me.”

Before leaving, he looked for a rope to leash the dog but couldn’t find one. He had to cut up his ruined monastic robes and tie them into a rope, making a simple collar for Laifu.

As he was leashing the dog, a torch appeared by the dark wall. Shi Shu initially thought it was the yamen runners and soldiers coming down the mountain. But upon closer inspection, it was a group of people with well-organized armored soldiers. Someone was being protected at the head of the group, and they were heading straight for this courtyard.

“His Highness the Crown Prince arrives!”

Xie Wuchi threw down the clothes in his hand, a thoughtful expression in his eyes, his face instantly darkening. “This idiot.”

However, the second before the person stepped through the door, the grimness on Xie Wuchi’s face vanished completely. He went to the door with an emotionless expression. “Your Highness.”

Chu Wei had specially come to display his respect for the talented. “Good, good, good! Everything is under control. I have just sent someone to inform His Majesty that you provided the knife and incited the monks to rebellion. Well done, Wuchi, this is your merit!”

Xie Wuchi’s face was in shadow, his emotions hard to read. “Your Highness, this disciple has done nothing. The book was discovered by Your Highness, the lecherous monk was also chanced upon by Your Highness, and tonight’s move was due to Your Highness’s proper command. This disciple has contributed nothing.”

Well now, humble, and even willing to give up credit.

The Crown Prince was visibly pleased. He glanced around the meditation room. “Such a simple little room. A golden fish is not a creature of a small pond. Your ordination certificate has been taken, so you can’t be a monk anymore. Staying at Xiangnan Temple would be a disaster. If you have nowhere to go, why not come stay at the Crown Prince’s residence? There will be a use for you.”

So Xie Wuchi had said they would leave in a few days because he had already anticipated this.

Shi Shu wanted to applaud. Well played, Xie Wuchi.

Xie Wuchi: “This disciple has one request.”

The Crown Prince yawned. “What is it?”

“Can we depart immediately?”

There seemed to be a tense atmosphere in the air.

The Crown Prince glanced at him, and an officer whispered in his ear. “It’s possible, but the Flowing Water Nunnery in the residence has been deserted for a long time and hasn’t been cleaned yet—”

Xie Wuchi: “This disciple will clean it himself.”

“Fine,” the Crown Prince said, scratching his chin as he went out. “Order someone to open the gates at once, prepare a carriage, and send Master Wuchi and his brother over. A reward of one hundred taels of silver and ten of gold.”

The imperial noble arrived and left with a swagger, but his visit stirred up a storm in the courtyard. The other monks began to whisper among themselves, casting sidelong glances at this room.

Shi Shu: “So you were the one behind all this.”

Xie Wuchi: “I did very little, just for self-preservation. Let’s go first. This idiot actually came to find me in front of everyone, at a time when I’m most hated by the monks.”

Shi Shu: “You—”

“I’ll explain on the way. Let’s leave Xiangnan Temple first.”

With only a few old clothes, Shi Shu led Laifu out into the dead of night, stepping onto the soft soil and smelling the lingering scent of incense oil and candle smoke from the temple.

The carriage wheels creaked as they rolled over the road.

“Xiangnan Temple can be offended, but the people behind it cannot. At first, I just wanted the Crown Prince to discover it on his own, without it looking like a deliberate setup. I didn’t expect to get implicated myself.” Xie Wuchi got into the carriage. “Let’s stay at the Crown Prince’s residence for now, to avoid trouble.”

To stir up the situation without revealing his hand, to what degree of cleverness and self-preservation was this?

Shi Shu thought to himself, Dude, you’re really something. He was at a loss for words. Looking back at Xiangnan Temple in the night, it was now ablaze, with armored soldiers standing grimly outside the gates.

The disaster of ten thousand people was turned over by Xie Wuchi’s hand.

In the month of May, the nights were cold. The carriage rumbled along the main thoroughfare of the eastern capital until it stopped in front of a magnificent residence.

“This Crown Prince’s residence was once the mansion of the most favored Prince of Qi. But he was executed for rebellion and his house was confiscated. The Crown Prince bought it from His Majesty at a high price.”

The carriage driver said, “Tsk tsk tsk, my two masters, are you going in to enjoy life?”

Shi Shu recalled the Zhou Family Village and Xiangnan Temple. “Truly grand.”

“Grand? This is just the small gate. The main gate is even grander,” the driver said. “What can you do when your older brother is the emperor?”

Someone with a lantern was at the gate. “Please follow me, sirs.”

Walking through the winding corridors, the pavilions of the Crown Prince’s residence were intertwined. After a while, a silent peach blossom forest appeared before them, gloomy and dense, with weeds along the path taller than a person. The lantern bearer cursed as he walked, pulling at the weeds.

“Damn it, a spider web right in my face!”

“There aren’t any snakes in this grass, are there?”

Shi Shu, carrying his small bundle, followed closely behind. He hadn’t even entered the house, but he could already feel how dilapidated this place was.

Leaves brushed against his cheek, cool and damp. The peach blossoms had just fallen, and the stone path was covered in rotten flower mud. The lantern bearer suddenly cried out, “Aiyo!” and slid to the ground.

“Why are there traps all over this path?!”

Shi Shu held back his laughter. Xie Wuchi reached out and helped the man up.

In the dead of night, it was impossible to see the style of the courtyard clearly. They could only vaguely make out a small wall, a house, surrounded by the peach blossom forest, and occasionally hear the gurgling sound of flowing water.

“Someone used to live in this Flowing Water Nunnery. It was a young master from the Princess Consort’s maternal family, but he hanged himself in this forest three months ago, so the place has been empty since,” the lantern bearer said.

“My two masters, please make do for one night. Tomorrow, I will find servants to pull the weeds, clear the ground, and sweep the courtyard,” the lantern bearer said. “I’ll leave the lantern for you two. I’ll be going back now.”

After saying that, the man shivered and fled from the peach blossom forest.

In the courtyard, only Shi Shu, Xie Wuchi, and Laifu, who was running around, were left.

“A house where someone died?” Shi Shu said.

Xie Wuchi: “Where on this yellow earth is a person not buried?”

Shi Shu: “You’re still an atheist? But we’ve already transmigrated. Isn’t it normal to believe in ghosts and gods?”

Xie Wuchi entered the house. Suddenly, Shi Shu, standing in the courtyard, felt a chill, as if a ghost was stuck to his back.

“Ah! Xie Wuchi, wait for me!”

Dust was everywhere. The main hall had an altar for heaven, earth, ruler, parent, and teacher. There were a few chairs on either side. The light was extremely dim, and the dark red lacquered wooden tables and chairs were covered in thick dust. A touch left a handprint.

Xie Wuchi dropped his bundle, deep in thought. “So this is our new shelter.”

And the future seemed still unknown. But the more unknown the path, the more challenging it was. It was precisely this kind of strength.

The courtyard outside was deathly silent, with only the sounds of their own breathing.

Shi Shu wandered around the house. “There are two bedrooms. We don’t have to sleep in the same bed anymore.”

Xie Wuchi: “The east wing was the room where the ghost who threw himself into a well lived. The bed boards are all rotten. If you don’t mind, you can go sleep there.”

Shi Shu: “…”

“What do you mean, I still have to sleep with you?”

“At least until we buy a new bed, yes.”

Shi Shu heard him laugh. For some reason, this person clearly knew he was homophobic, so why did he keep teasing him?

Shi Shu went to the west wing. Indeed, the east wing showed signs of inhabitation, but the west wing did not. For now, they could only temporarily squeeze into the west wing, but the only problem was—the bed was narrow.

The male servant who had accompanied the lantern bearer just now had brought a quilt. After shaking the dust off the mat, padding it with unwanted monastic robes, and placing the cotton quilt on top, he said, “Just make do for one night. We’ll come back to clean tomorrow morning. I’m really tired tonight.”

Shi Shu looked at the narrow bed repeatedly. “Xie Wuchi, have you never stayed up all night?”

“No. Although I don’t sleep much, I get sleepy every night.” Xie Wuchi’s tone was understanding. “Sorry, we have to sleep together tonight.”

Shi Shu: “…”

It was nothing at first, but his words made him feel uncomfortable.

However, in a strange place, a strange courtyard, two people huddling together for warmth seemed to be one of the few sources of it. Shi Shu lay down on the inner side of the bed. “Alright, let’s just sleep. I don’t stay up late either. I feel like I can still grow taller.”

Xie Wuchi stood at the foot of the bed, pressing the quilt onto the bed with one hand.

Shi Shu: “Aren’t you going to sleep at the foot of the bed?”

“This bed is too narrow, not comparable to the large kang at Xiangnan Temple. I don’t like facing people’s feet.”

“…”

Shi Shu clutched a corner of the quilt. Xie Wuchi’s shadow fell over him, his backlit features indistinct. He reached out and pulled at the collar of his undergarment. The blue veins on his well-defined arms stood out, his silhouette extremely untamed and wild.

Shi Shu swallowed. It was like getting scared on a roller coaster once, and every time you saw it afterwards, your legs would go weak. A sudden sense of panic arose.

And then Shi Shu, physiologically, freaked out!

“Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey… Xie Wuchi!”

His expression was obviously tense, his eyes darting, nervously licking his lips.

Xie Wuchi: “What’s wrong?”

Shi Shu: “This is so weird!”

Xie Wuchi: “What’s weird?”

“I don’t know. Watching you take off your clothes, I feel like I’m about to get fucked.”

“…”

Xie Wuchi’s hand on the mattress unconsciously tightened, staring at him intently. “Do you know what you’re saying?”

Shi Shu: “I know.”

Xie Wuchi’s fingers relaxed. He sat on the edge of the bed, his voice seemingly suppressed, yet calm. “I’m just normally taking off my clothes to go to bed. You’re overthinking it.”

Shi Shu: “But the way you take off your clothes is so seductive. It must be because you usually say so many flirtatious things. I can’t look at you straight now. It’s your problem.”

“…”

Xie Wuchi: “Then close your eyes.”

He closed his eyes. It was pitch black. Shi Shu’s heart tensed. He felt the bed beside him sink, a weight falling very close to him.

“Alright, open your eyes.”

Shi Shu jerked back. “You’re too close!”

Xie Wuchi’s face was suddenly right in front of him. The bed was narrow. His well-defined face was cast in dark shadows, his brow heavy over his eyes, a high-bridged nose, and lips whose texture was visible. So close it was incredibly clear, as if he could touch his skin, smell his high temperature.

Shi Shu rarely noticed other people’s body temperature, but Xie Wuchi was an exception. His entire body radiated a scorching heat of invasion and plunder, making one’s hair stand on end.

Shi Shu: “Back up.”

Xie Wuchi: “I’ll fall off the bed if I back up.”

Shi Shu clutched the quilt and bared his teeth. “Am I supposed to sleep facing your face all night? Your breath is on my face!”

Xie Wuchi: “Your breath is on my face too.”

Shi Shu instantly lightened his breathing, his eyes wide in the candlelight. Xie Wuchi’s features were like a carefully polished, heavy sword, handsome and sharp, his jawline clean. Especially when suddenly magnified before his eyes, it was incomparably vivid, making one’s breath catch.

Shi Shu: “…You’re actually quite handsome.”

Xie Wuchi: “You’re not bad either.”

Shi Shu: “A pity, you’re a man.”

“What’s there to be pitiful about? Aren’t you homophobic?” Xie Wuchi suddenly sneered. “Or did your mother play prenatal music for you every day when she was pregnant with you: Don’t talk to men, don’t get close to men. Cursing you that you’ll die if you fall in love with a man?”

Shi Shu: “…………”

In the darkness, it was quiet for a while. Neither of them spoke.

A moment later, a sigh from Shi Shu was heard. “I’m homesick.”

“Hmph…” The end of the sound was cloying.

Shi Shu slowly pulled the quilt over his head.

The next morning, many servants and maids came, pulling the weeds in the courtyard, cleaning up the waste, and washing the mud from the stone path with water.

Shi Shu used the sunlight to get a clear view of the entire courtyard. Behind the high stone wall were two small houses. One was the main house where he and Xie Wuchi had slept last night, and the other was the kitchen, slightly smaller and nestled closely against the main house.

There was a well near the gate of the courtyard, and a male servant was drawing up a bucket of water to wipe off the dust. Shi Shu rolled up his sleeves and trouser legs to help.

A steady stream of people came, some carrying silver, some carrying basins and cloth, and some carrying two baskets of vegetables, meat, and bowls.

“This was all ordered by the Crown Prince to the steward, who ordered us to deliver it. Please enjoy, my two masters.”

“Masters, if you need anything, just let us know!”

There were also some maids, secretly peeking from under the peach blossom branches. When Shi Shu looked over, they would giggle and walk away.

There were also scholars wearing square scarves and colorful shirts who came to greet them. “Brothers, where are you from?”

Xie Wuchi stood under the green branches of a peach tree, talking to him.

The news of the night siege of Xiangnan Temple had spread like wildfire. Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi were also the people the Crown Prince had invited back to his residence overnight, so naturally, people were curious.

“And what about this brother? With his handsome appearance and quick wit, he must also be a great talent, right?” The scholarly man, named Zeng Xingxiu, looked at Shi Shu with anticipation.

Xie Wuchi: “He is my younger brother, Xie Shishu.”

“…” Shi Shu didn’t refute.

He had a sweet smile on his face, thinking of a funny meme. Back in the day, I, Liu Adou, and Zhao Zilong went in and out of Changbanpo seven times. If I, Adou, hadn’t provided a counterweight on Zhao Zilong’s arm, could his spear have been wielded so freely? He and Xie Wuchi were probably something like that now.

Zeng Xingxiu smiled. “May I ask Brother Xie’s age?”

Xie Wuchi: “Thirty.”

“…” Shi Shu didn’t speak.

Zeng Xingxiu: “Oh, Brother Xie looks really young.”

“Yes, I take after my mother, so I look a bit younger,” Xie Wuchi said. “I wanted to invite Brother Zeng in for tea, but the courtyard is messy and there isn’t even a pot of hot water. It’s really difficult.”

“No need, no need.” Zeng Xingxiu understood it was time to leave. “Another day, I will bring tea to visit you.”

The man strolled away. Shi Shu looked over with curiosity. “What are these people here for? Are we that popular?”

“They are retainers in the Crown Prince’s residence. It might be easier to understand if you think of them as advisors.”

“Advisors? So impressive,” Shi Shu said. “But I still don’t understand why you said you were thirty.”

“In traditional Chinese medicine, the older the better. Is it not the same for a strategist? In your twenties, people will only think you are young and impetuous, not up to the task. An older age gives more credibility.”

Xie Wuchi: “Besides, I am thirty.”

Shi Shu’s eyes widened. “Xie Wuchi, you’re even on guard against me?!”

“Don’t be so familiar. After sleeping with you, I’ve been infected. I’ve become a misandrist too.”

“…………”

“Hey, Xie Wuchi, you—”

Shi Shu followed behind him. The sun was just right, shining on the courtyard.

Xie Wuchi went to the kitchen and saw that the pots and stove had been washed, and the vegetable basket was placed aside. “Is there any dish you like? I’ll cook for you.”

Shi Shu: “You can cook?”

“Learning things, maintaining self-discipline, can help one regain a sense of control over life. My psychologist suggested this to me before.”

Xie Wuchi: “What do you want to eat? Aren’t you homesick?”

“…”

Shi Shu’s heart suddenly trembled, a strange feeling growing inside.

He was stunned for a second, then his fair face nodded. “I want to eat braised pork.”