UCTOOT CH65.1

Shi Shu: “How did you know!?”

“When we first met, you said your birthday was in February.”

“You remembered it after I said it once?”

Xie Wuchi: “I make a point to memorize some important information.”

Shi Shu: “Wow, that’s amazing. I thought you could predict the future.”

Shi Shu didn’t actually remember his birthday very well; he would forget. But on that day, Ms. Bo Mo would place a bowl of longevity noodles in front of him, then take him out to play and buy things, so he didn’t need to remember it at all.

Shi Shu: “Oh, it looks like there are still a few days left. It’s not here yet? What about your birthday? Don’t be secretive, are you on guard?”

Xie Wuchi paused and said, “August.”

“August?” Shi Shu stepped on the rustling snow. “Was that when we met last year? Why did you secretly celebrate your birthday without telling me?”

Xie Wuchi: “We’ve been together all this time. Did you see me celebrate it?”

“…”

Last August, Xie Wuchi was in the Censorate’s prison, participating in a deadly gamble. If he won, he would enter the court in white robes; if he lost, his head would roll. Shi Shu suddenly understood and looked at him with a smile. “You have such a strong sense of time, you must have remembered it was your birthday? You remembered, but you were in prison. Wasn’t that very lonely?”

Xie Wuchi turned his face, saying flatly, “I don’t care.”

“You don’t care? You’re really a strong person.”

It seemed that no difficulty would truly affect him.

“Alright,” Shi Shu rubbed the slush off his boots, remembering the excitement he hadn’t finished watching in the afternoon. “How are Zhao Shirui and Feng Kuizhi? What was the result after their fight?”

“They went to the military government office in Yunzhou, where the troops are stationed, to reason with Feng Chongshan.”

Shi Shu still didn’t understand. “Why were they so angry?”

“It’s a matter of power struggle. One day, you realize that the good friend you spend your days and nights with is actually your biggest rival in your career. The friendship forged in battle will begin to twist and change,” Xie Wuchi seemed to find it interesting and smiled. “Until all feelings are gone, and only the pursuit of power remains.”

A chill ran down Shi Shu’s back. He heard this sentence as he stepped on the snow and turned to look at him.

Was there a hidden meaning in Xie Wuchi’s words? He always felt that his tone was sinister.

There was still some distance to Senzhou City. The three of them walked slowly in the snow. As dusk fell, Shi Shu pulled Zihan, who was hiding on the side, and put his arm around his shoulder. “What grudge do they have? Tell me, I’m bored on the road.”

Xie Wuchi looked at their touching hands and turned his gaze away. “Twenty-something years ago, the vassal state of Min under the rule of the Great Jing rebelled. The leader, Yuan Ge’er, was a man of extraordinary talent. He led the Min people to quickly conquer Chuituo, Dasheng, and Yong’an. At that time, everyone was terrified under the iron hooves. The emperor even planned to flee the Eastern Capital. The Zhao and Feng families had been guarding the border for generations. Zhao Shirui’s father, Zhao Heng, fought bravely and was defeated and killed in battle during a counterattack at the Tea River.”

Shi Shu recalled the scar on Zhao Shirui’s face. “Him?”

Xie Wuchi brushed the snow off his sleeves. “Yes. The wound on his face was from being slashed by the enemy at that time. Zhao Heng was originally the most powerful general in the border army. After his death, the court’s army was defeated like a landslide, and they no longer had the heart to fight. At this time, Feng Chongshan came out with a suggestion: to use the Tea River as a boundary and negotiate for peace.”

Shi Shu vaguely felt that something was wrong. “Why didn’t they resist stubbornly and instead negotiated for peace?”

Du Zihan gathered his courage and interjected, “That can only be a temporary peace, right?”

“Mm. You all saw it that day. Great Min is arrogant and brave, and from time to time, they cross the Tea River to make trouble and slaughter the remaining people. But the Great Jing’s soldiers are strictly forbidden from crossing the river to start a border conflict, and can only watch the other side kill.”

“Who can be at peace with this? No wonder…”

Shi Shu muttered to himself in his heart: No wonder Song Sinan and the others curse Feng Chongshan whenever he is mentioned. Negotiating for peace, in exchange for being a grandson for twenty years.

Xie Wuchi nodded slowly and said, “Feng Chongshan also relied on this proposal to connect with Great Min, and at the age of forty, he became the first military commissioner of the Great Jing to be enfeoffed while still alive.”

What kind of official position was a military commissioner? He controlled the military, civil, and financial power of several prefectures, no less than the later provincial governors.

Shi Shu pursed his lips and said out of intuition, “A military commissioner negotiated out of a peace treaty. Zihan, what do you say?”

Du Zihan: “It’s hard to comment. Anyway, in novels, they are usually villains.”

Xie Wuchi walked forward against the wind and snow. “Mm. Zhao Heng died in battle, and Feng Chongshan negotiated for peace. Zhao Shirui grew up with Feng Chongshan and still trained in the border army. Twenty years have passed, and Feng Chongshan is slowly aging. The power is about to change. Now, the pillars of the border army are about to become this group of young and vigorous newcomers. Feng Kuizhi and Zhao Shirui are the most powerful contenders for the next leader of the border army.”

Shi Shu suddenly understood. “Power, power, power. They’re starting to fight again, aren’t they?”

Shi Shu thought of something. “This Feng Kuizhi, could it be that he deliberately took the grain road of Senzhou to show off his power? The two of them are competing, a group of people got whipped, and a male pet was sent to the army…”

Shi Shu kicked the snow on the ground. The city gate of Senzhou was close at hand. He didn’t hear him speak. When he turned his head, Xie Wuchi had a pensive expression.

“What are you thinking? Xie Wuchi.”

Shi Shu always felt that since coming to Senzhou, Xie Wuchi seemed to be brewing something, and it had been for a long time.

“I’m thinking about how to replace the ‘old’ with the ‘new’.”

Shi Shu didn’t pay attention to his feet and suddenly fell flat on his face. He scrambled up in a sorry state. Behind him, Xie Wuchi’s hand supported him. “Are you alright?”

Shi Shu felt the heat on his hand. “How did you find out that Zhao Shirui and Feng Kuizhi were fighting over this as soon as you came?”

Xie Wuchi patted the snow off his body, and after checking carefully, he stood up straight and said, “This is the process of human progress. The old faction is aging, but they hold a lot of power and are unwilling to hand it over. The new faction is already mature and wants space to show off their skills. So the ‘new’ and the ‘old’ fight, snatch, and then become the new ‘old,’ creating a new ‘new.’ Everyone, because of different interests, will intentionally or unintentionally stand on the side of the ‘new’ or the ‘old.’ No one can escape this law.”

Power.

After Xie Wuchi said it softly, he looked up. “It’s not just about power. Human civilization also evolves in such struggles.”

The hair on Shi Shu’s forehead was blown open by the wind. His skin was fair, and the tip of his nose was red from the wind. He silently memorized these words and held back for a long time before answering, “There are just too many sacrificial victims who are eliminated.”

They talked as they walked and reached the courtyard.

Shi Shu was exhausted. As soon as he entered the door, he lay down on a chair. He wondered how much longer he would have to spend his life on this border. Would he have to go out to serve his sentence every day and then return in the wind and snow? Or would things get better after winter passed?

The person hired to cook for them was a relative of a local military household. After finishing his work, he bolted the door and left.

With the addition of Du Zihan, the relationship between the three of them changed. For example, Shi Shu used to accompany Xie Wuchi while he wrote his diary, but now that Du Zihan was here, Shi Shu would look at the cats with Du Zihan, search the woodshed for cats, discuss what to eat tomorrow, or play.

The situation changed from polarization to a superpower with many strong powers.

It wasn’t that he didn’t look for Xie Wuchi. Shi Shu would always look for him, but he wouldn’t look for him for some insignificant small matters.

After Shi Shu had eaten, he called Du Zihan sneakily, “Let’s go, let’s go see the cats.”

Just as Shi Shu finished speaking, he was suddenly hugged from behind. Before he could cry out, he was picked up by Xie Wuchi. “Ah! Help me! Zihan, help me!”

Du Zihan: “Me, me?”

Shi Shu was carried into the door, and the door was also closed. He was pulled all the way into the house. A dim lamp was lit. Xie Wuchi’s letter was half-written.

Shi Shu was placed on a small stool on the side. Xie Wuchi said, “Sit properly. Stay with me.”

Shi Shu: “…”

Shi Shu said seriously, “Brother, do you think you’re respecting my freedom?”

“I’ve finished writing. I’ll go see the cats with you.”

Shi Shu still wanted to spray him, but the words were stuck in his throat. “Xie Wuchi, you’re too bossy and unreasonable. I’m not your property. I also have personal freedom and the right to play with whomever I want, humph.”

Xie Wuchi paused his pen. “Understood. You sit still.”

“…………”

“I’ll be with you right away.”

Shi Shu: “I don’t need you to accompany me.”

Shi Shu was bored. He stood up from the chair and sat on the table, reaching out to fiddle with the paper he was writing on. Only then did he notice, “You’re still in contact with the heir apparent?”

“He’s not the heir apparent anymore. He’s been enfeoffed as the Prince of Han. Mm, of course I’m in contact with him.”

Shi Shu picked up the letter and looked at it. “What for?”

Xie Wuchi let him look at the letter without stopping him. “It’s not strange for the border army and court officials to be in contact. It’s not strange for me to be in contact with the Prince of Han.”

Shi Shu could read it, but he was impatient. He roughly read out words like “Zhao Shirui… Feng Kuizhi has a rift… advocates for war…” and then directly asked him, “You read it to me.”

Xie Wuchi took the letter. “Zhao Shirui and Feng Kuizhi are at odds. Zhao Shirui holds a pro-war attitude towards the Jing-Min relationship.”

Only then did Shi Shu come back to his senses. “What does the heir apparent need to know this for?”

“He also has to decide whether he is for war or for peace. But the interests of the pro-peace faction have long been carved up. He will most likely be for war.” Xie Wuchi sealed the letter with sealing wax and placed it on the table. It would be sent back to the Eastern Capital in a few days.

Shi Shu’s calves dangled restlessly. “Xie Wuchi, you’re not pitifully exiled at all. you actually have a lot of things to do, right?”

“Mm.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Shu’s knee accidentally brushed against his clothes. He said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

Just as he finished speaking, Shi Shu was pulled forward by his leg. “Hey, hey, hey, hey?” Before he could finish, he was completely caught in his arms. His hands had nowhere to go and could only grab Xie Wuchi’s shoulders.

A shadow fell before his eyes. Xie Wuchi’s kiss landed on his lips, soft and warm. In the flickering light of the lamp, he kissed him for a while, one hand stroking Shi Shu’s earlobe, his posture somewhat tender.

Shi Shu looked up and rubbed the corner of his lips.

Why does it feel like I’ve directly entered the dating phase with Xie Wuchi?

Is this how other people date?!

Shi Shu: No, brother.

When Shi Shu reacted, Xie Wuchi said, “Let’s go, let’s go see the kittens.”

“…”

Shi Shu jumped off the table inexplicably. His hand was suddenly held by Xie Wuchi. At first, it was a little clumsy, but slowly it became a tight clasp of ten fingers, their hot hands held tightly together.

The doubtful voice in his heart grew louder.

Huh?

Shi Shu had never held hands with anyone, but his parents would occasionally hold hands when they went shopping. He was being led out by the hand by Xie Wuchi. According to Shi Shu’s memory, they had held hands before, but not to the point of ten fingers intertwined.

The sound of the wind and snow outside the door beat against the door, letting out a shrill roar. Shi Shu stumbled and squatted by the kittens’ wooden box. The residual warmth of the fire was on one side.

Shi Shu reached out and picked up these few little glutinous rice balls, placing them in his palm. He always felt that this scene was very much like a couple coming home for a moment of peace after a day’s work.

Xie Wuchi didn’t touch the cats. He tidied his clothes and squatted down, his features very light and proper. He turned his head to watch Shi Shu play with the cats. Shi Shu was originally very happily blowing air on the kittens, poking their heads, and pinching their paws. The more Xie Wuchi watched, the more rigid his movements became, until he couldn’t play anymore and put the cats in the box.

“…”

Xie Wuchi: “Have you seen enough?”

“Ahahahaha.”

After laughing a few times, Shi Shu was really puzzled in his heart. “When did Xie Wuchi become so gentle and clingy? His gaze is no longer like looking at a dog, and he’s willing to spend time with people. What does this mean? Has he really fallen for me? No way, brother, what is this?”

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