UCTOOT CH85.1

Du Zihan and Song Sinan stayed at the military farming colony to plant vegetables. Shi Shu had nothing to do for the moment and thought: They’re being punished for three months, probably from June to September—summer vacation?

During this time, Xie Wuchi traveled daily between the government office and the residence. Shi Shu would pick him up from work every afternoon, his schedule leisurely.

However, Shi Shu’s summer vacation didn’t last many days. When he encountered a familiar figure, his heart sank—

Damn it, time to get a summer job.

The person wore coarse cloth clothing, carried a medical box on his back, held a bamboo pole in one hand, and had a simple, robust, and vigorous air. A water flask hung at his waist. He walked through the long dust, his eyes seeing through the common people.

Shi Shu was eating watermelon by a wooden bridge, waiting for Xie Wuchi to leave the government office. After seeing this person, he paid and said: “Pick another one with thin skin and sweet flesh, thanks!”

Shi Shu carried the watermelon, grinning as he followed behind this person. He saw Lin Yangchun looking around in the crowd, a contemplative observation, finally setting up a stall in the marketplace, placing many bottles of ointment for sale.

When Shi Shu approached, he was organizing his medicine box. Shi Shu casually picked up a bottle: “Master, is this golden wound medicine for stopping bleeding?”

“Yes, two hundred wen per bottle.”

“Your banner says Lin Yangchun? Could it be that Divine Doctor Lin Yangchun from the Imperial Medical Academy?”

Lin Yangchun was still taking out medicine: “I don’t change my name when I travel, nor my surname when I sit. It’s me.”

Shi Shu: “How have I seen this formula before? Probably last year I met two refugees who said they were direct disciples of Imperial Medical Academy’s Lin Yangchun. I bought a bottle of medicine, but the bruise never healed.”

“Impossible!” Lin Yangchun looked up. “You’ve been scammed!”

Seeing the youth’s fair smiling face, Shi Shu held a watermelon in one arm, smiling at him, making even the sunlight gentler. Lin Yangchun’s face showed slight joy: “Why is it you, Young Master Xie?”

Shi Shu put down the medicine bottle: “I should ask you that! The heir became emperor, you’re the chief of the Imperial Medical Academy again, why suffer needlessly when you could enjoy fortune?”

Lin Yangchun snorted: “I’m a donkey. What I like comes uninvited. What I don’t like is useless no matter what.”

Shi Shu: “I admire you, truly.”

“Still setting up a stall? Come on, let me treat you to a meal.” Shi Shu tugged at his sleeve.

“No, the stall is important. Let me sell a few bottles first to save up travel expenses.” Lin Yangchun said, “What you just mentioned—I was about to ask you. I was wondering why people have been selling fake medicine under my banner along the way, causing me to be exposed as fake several times. You—”

Shi Shu: “Ah! Not me! I only sold real medicine under your name!”

Lin Yangchun: “Hmph, I’ll believe you once.”

Shi Shu sat behind him, cut the watermelon with a knife and gave a piece to Lin Yangchun. The two sat selling medicine. They sold until four or five o’clock when Lin Yangchun packed up. Shi Shu said: “My brother will be returning to the residence soon. Do you want to meet him?”

Lin Yangchun: “No need. Lin has traveled from the Eastern Capital as a wandering doctor, aiming to join the army. For nobles and commoners, mouths, noses, eyes, ears, and throats are all the same. Lin only comes to see patients, not nobles.”

Shi Shu couldn’t help but laugh: “Who said you’re here to curry favor with him? Meet as friends.”

Lin Yangchun: “That works too.”

Shi Shu and Lin Yangchun arrived at the Commander-in-Chief’s government office together. Coincidentally, a servant also came back with a message: “Second Young Master, the Pacification Commissioner is hosting a banquet tonight. The lord has gone to attend and will probably return late.”

Shi Shu: “Perfect. Tell him I met Lin Yangchun and will also return late from drinking.”

After speaking, Shi Shu pushed Lin Yangchun away: “Let’s eat! Where are you staying tonight? Want to stay at the Commander-in-Chief’s residence?”

Lin Yangchun: “Taking someone’s hand makes one soft; eating someone’s mouth makes one short. Lin will find an inn to rest.”

Shi Shu laughed uproariously: “Are you that afraid of being forcibly recruited into my brother’s staff?”

Lin Yangchun: “Your brother is a person with a gloomy temperament. His heart disease will eventually collapse. Lin doesn’t want to be forcibly employed!”

Shi Shu’s smile paused. He patted him: “I know, I know. You still want to go to the battlefield to save thousands of troops.”

Winding east and west, they stopped in the marketplace beside the Yuanji Temple, a street-facing restaurant. Pushing open the window revealed the marketplace below, people coming and going. Shi Shu asked the waiter to serve food. Lin Yangchun put down his medical box, finally relaxing.

From that autumn when he accompanied Xie Wuchi’s exile to today, it had been nearly two years since he’d seen Lin Yangchun. Shi Shu told him a lot, including leaving Dasheng Prefecture, traveling through Great Jing, drifting to a fishing village by the sea, and reuniting with his brother at Changping Prefecture.

After listening, Lin Yangchun only asked about local conditions and whether there were medicinal herbs, finally asking: “You and Lord Xie—Lin long ago saw through that you’re not brothers. Are you lovers?”

Shi Shu’s vision went dark: “What?”

Lin Yangchun took out another bundle from his box: “There are some ointments and sheep intestines inside. I’ll give them to you first. If you need more in the future, find Lin again. According to the patients Lin has seen, men with men easily damage their bodies.”

Coincidentally, the waiter brought the dishes to the table. Shi Shu spat out a mouthful of buckwheat tea: “Doctor Lin, you truly have the heart of a healer!”

The ordered dishes were local specialties. The food in the residence was also delicious, but Xie Wuchi’s taste was bland, which was too mild for Shi Shu. The small shop loaded up on chili and spices, and Shi Shu ate with great relish. Lin Yangchun also said: “Although it’s not health-preserving, it is indeed delicious.”

Shi Shu: “Eat up. After eating, I’ll take you to the night market!”

Shi Shu suddenly remembered: “You came alone. How will you get to the military camp?”

Lin Yangchun took out a letter: “I have a friend who now works as a secretary under the Commander-in-Chief’s advisor. He wrote me a letter saying that as long as I come, he’ll guarantee to arrange for me to enter the army and treat patients.”

Shi Shu: “Good, then I’m relieved. When will you go?”

Lin Yangchun: “I’ll practice medicine in the city for a few days, then go. No rush.”

The two ate and drank heartily. Lin Yangchun was a widower in his forties. His wife was his childhood sweetheart, but she died young. Since then, he has been alone, with a solitary and rigid personality. Shi Shu took him out to stroll the streets. Lin Yangchun, with his lean figure and hands behind his back, had a serious expression full of righteousness. But when Shi Shu ate stinky tofu skewers, he would frown and try some.

There was a lantern festival for Dragon Boat Festival, and the city was even more lively these days. Shi Shu walked with him under the willow tree shadows and asked: “You go to Pei Wenqing’s grave every year, right?”

Lin Yangchun: “I know so many dead people. Where do I have time to visit every grave? I’m busy treating the living.”

Shi Shu: “So individualistic? Oh, you’ve been treating patients in the Imperial Medical Academy for so many years. Your heart has become as cold as that file.”

Rafts lined the river, bridges crowded with bridges. Besides painted boats, many people crowded under pavilions drinking. Shi Shu said: “Drink, Old Lin?”

Lin Yangchun was silent: “Let’s drink. You’re young but already old.”

Shi Shu sat down to drink. The shadows of vines swayed into the wine cup, his thoughts inevitably stirring: “I wonder what Zihan is doing. He’s with Song Sinan, definitely planting melons under the mulberry shade, swimming in the river to cool off when it gets dark, bringing Laifu along. He doesn’t need to worry.”

Shi Shu muttered to himself: “What is Xie Wuchi doing? The scenery here is quite nice. If I brought him…”

His voice trailed off.

Part of happiness is probably after exhaustion, being with a few friends, in groups of three or five, idly wandering with nothing to do.

Shi Shu stared at the koi fish under the pavilion. At this moment, when fish food was scattered, large fish mouths leaped out of the water, colorful tails swimming in diverse shapes, a scene of joyous celebration. Shi Shu withdrew his gaze and muttered: “Gotta bring Xie Wuchi.”

Lin Yangchun shook his head and drank another cup.

They played until after nine o’clock, then set off back. Lin Yangchun stayed at an inn. Guards had been following not far behind Shi Shu. After seeing him off, Shi Shu casually asked: “Has the lord returned to the residence?”

“Seems not yet.”

Shi Shu breathed a sigh of relief: “Let’s go, wait for him.”

Although Shi Shu picking him up was useless, it served to adjust the atmosphere. When he went out, his parents usually handled the pickup. When he went to training camp, his dad had to pick him up. If he wanted to show goodwill, was picking Xie Wuchi up from work a necessary thing?

The Pacification Commissioner’s residence gate was filled with carriages and sedan chairs. In the bright lights, canopies covered canopies, curtains connected to curtains, servants in groups. Shi Shu boredly picked at his hands. After a while, he heard the sound of singing and music. A crowd escorted Xie Wuchi out.

People by the sedan immediately prepared to greet him. The Pacification Commissioner personally saw him off, wearing rich silk, his face full of red light and smiles. Xie Wuchi walked to the sedan and only then saw Shi Shu, his eyes turning: “You—”

Shi Shu: “It’s fine, on the way, on the way! I was just strolling nearby, heard you were still here, came over to take a look. Didn’t expect you’d come out just then, so let’s go back together.”

Xie Wuchi: “I’m not taking the sedan. Let’s walk together.”

The two walked ahead, a group of guards and servants following behind. Shi Shu didn’t know why he felt awkward seeing Xie Wuchi in front of people, as if they weren’t familiar.

Xie Wuchi: “I heard from the guards that Lin Yangchun came to Yanzhou?”

Shi Shu “mmh”ed, hiding the lubricant and sheep intestines Lin Yangchun gave him even more casually, one hand starting to scratch his fluffy hair: “He said he wants to come to the army to treat people. Twenty years ago he was a young man who encountered war but his medical skills weren’t refined. But now he’s a divine doctor and wants to go to the battlefield to save people.”

Xie Wuchi: “You talked about these things with him?”

Shi Shu: “We also ate by Yuanji Temple and strolled around East Tomb Garden.”

“East Tomb Garden is several miles from here.”

Shi Shu: “Uh, not bad. I walked there in a blink.”

Xie Wuchi lowered his head, faint shadows under his eyelashes. Shi Shu couldn’t ignore the group of attendants following behind. Xie Wuchi himself came from a noble family, accustomed to being served by others. But Shi Shu found it hard to adapt. He couldn’t help looking back as they walked.

A waning moon by the bridge, they walked onto the bridge. Xie Wuchi said: “Before long, I will go to Yunzhou.”

Shi Shu: “Yunzhou? Why?”

“Yunzhou is currently besieged by the Min army. Times are different now. Northern Min’s siege methods have greatly improved, not comparable to twenty years ago. Although Yunzhou’s terrain is easy to defend and hard to attack, the area outside the city has already been scorched. The city is surrounded on three sides. The grain, weapons, and soldiers inside will eventually be exhausted. Feng Chongshan cannot withstand such an offensive, especially with the power struggles among various court factions behind him. When His Majesty issues an imperial edict, the relief army must go. It’s just a matter of time.”

Shi Shu: “You’re going to war? Good, is there already a letter…”

“No, I cannot rashly mobilize troops to rescue. But seeing His Majesty’s decree, it’s better to prepare in advance. Great Jing’s city defenses are backward. Northern Min can win, but we cannot let them gain too much momentum, otherwise they’ll become a climate, and it will be hard to topple them later.”

Shi Shu: “Understood.”

When Xie Wuchi goes to war, Shi Shu most likely cannot accompany him. He doesn’t know how many months it will be. Since reuniting, they’ve been together less and apart more. Xie Wuchi goes to the government office daily to handle military and political affairs. Shi Shu is embarrassed to enter others’ workplaces, so he can only find a tea stall to listen to storytellers while waiting for him to get off work.

Somehow, Shi Shu pursed his teeth, feeling the plan was very difficult. But Shi Shu didn’t voice his opinion, separating to sleep with Xie Wuchi at the residence.

At first, Shi Shu slept in the same bed with him once. That night’s excuse could still be a hasty night, brothers meeting. Now that they’ve been in this residence for almost a week, how could they sleep in one room again?

Shi Shu turned his face to rub his head, his expression blank.

What to do.

A huge bodhi tree was planted in the courtyard. Shi Shu’s courtyard was adjacent to Xie Wuchi’s, separated only by a wall. The courtyard was spacious, with rockeries, flowers, birds, and window views inside. The room was furnished with antiques, calligraphy, paintings, and valuable decorations. But Shi Shu always found it gloomy and uncomfortable living alone.

Shi Shu entered and lit the lamp, pouring out the ointment and sheep intestines Lin Yangchun gave him. The ointment was in a jade-white container. When opened, it could be touched, slippery and oily on the fingertips, with a faint fragrance.

“What is this for? Why do men with men need to use this stuff?” Shi Shu half-understood. He took out the sheep intestines again to look. Washed and dried with salt water, he understood the use from the shape. His hand burned and he threw it away: “Damn!”

Is Lin Yangchun promoting scientific contraception in ancient times?

Even discovered the secrets of human heredity. Doctor Lin, where is your limit?

Shi Shu put the things away. But the ointment container was small, similar to face cream people use in winter to prevent skin cracking. Shi Shu first put it in his pocket. Lying on the bed, he couldn’t sleep at all.

Restless, restless. Shi Shu thought of Xie Wuchi in the Baijia Colony tower—noble and proper by day, but at night with clothes in disarray, his whole person coming alive with color. Shi Shu’s fair face flushed with heat. He got up awkwardly and busied himself.

What to do.

Shi Shu sat in the courtyard looking at the night sky. Was Xie Wuchi writing in his diary, reading? If he went to Yunzhou, would they not see each other for a long time?

Maybe I should take action.

Shi Shu jumped over the wall into the next courtyard.

In the dim night, moonlight against faint starlight, eaves hidden in the night, rockeries jagged, strange rocks jutting disorderly. Xie Wuchi’s courtyard was backed by a viewing forest at the rear. The forest had sinister tree shadows, dense cypress leaves, giving a feeling that someone had been hanged there.

Shi Shu ran forward, muttering in his heart: How long will you be in Yunzhou…

Shi Shu ran urgently, weaving through in three or five steps. Unexpectedly, before him was a hot spring bathing pool, steam swirling above it. Hearing the sound of splashing water, moonlight shining in the misty white fog, Shi Shu saw a familiar figure.

Xie Wuchi sat in the pool water, one hand supporting his forehead, black hair hanging down from his body. He seemed to be bathing with his eyes closed to nourish himself. Hearing the sound of shoe soles stepping on broken branches, he opened his eyes, dark pupils covered with a faint mist.

Shi Shu “Ah!”ed, unable to stop and run back, so he simply smiled and stepped forward: “I came to find you, didn’t expect you were here soaking in the hot spring. I haven’t tried this spring water yet.”

Xie Wuchi leaned over: “You can come try it.”

“………………”

Shi Shu lowered his head and approached, sitting on a stone beside: “I’m not soaking, I just bathed. I just came over to talk to you.”

Xie Wuchi: “What’s wrong?”

Shi Shu: “These days I’m preparing to set up a stall with Lin Yangchun. He wants to set up a three-day clinic in the city. I’ll help him dispense medicine. These days I might not be able to pick you up from work on time.”

Xie Wuchi: “Is that so.”

Shi Shu quickly said: “Don’t worry, I can pretty much guarantee I’ll be there by the time you get off work. Don’t worry, I won’t abandon you because of Lin Yangchun.”

Xie Wuchi: “Good.”

Shi Shu’s face grew redder as he spoke: “I, uh, strolled around East Tomb Garden with him today. The goldfish in the pond were very beautiful. When do you have a day off? Can you go?”

Xie Wuchi: “Good, wait two more days.”

Shi Shu: “The weather is hot lately, be careful not to get heatstroke. I heard a storyteller at the tea stall today, someone got heatstroke.”

Shi Shu couldn’t help but want to grab his fluffy hair, his back teeth grinding. Such terrible lines…

Xie Wuchi was quiet for a moment. The wooden hairpin suddenly loosened, “ding dong” falling into the water. Xie Wuchi reached into the pool to feel for the hairpin. Shi Shu asked: “What’s wrong?”

“The hair tie fell.”

Shi Shu came forward to help look. The water temperature was just right. His hand fished in the water a few times, touching Xie Wuchi’s calf.

Shi Shu screamed and wanted to run, his handsome fair face turning scarlet, but his wrist was grabbed. Xie Wuchi’s misty eyes looked at him, saying three words: “Want to play?”

“………………”

Shi Shu had clearly come on his own initiative, but he felt his attempt to make conversation was clumsy. His mind was feverish, afraid his nasal mucosa would fail him again. His ears were scarlet, his calves trembling slightly.

Xie Wuchi asked in a low voice: “What part of me do you want to play with?”

All the blood in Shi Shu’s body rushed to his face. Dizzy, dazzled, entranced, he shook his head, gritting his teeth and thinking: Xie Wuchi, you’re quite quick on the uptake!

Shi Shu was frozen in place, his eyes wide open, his peach blossom eyes truly full of affection, but his soul had already shattered, his courage broken, his mind wandering beyond the heavens.

Xie Wuchi’s wet hand covered his, his voice light: “Want to play with me here?”

Shi Shu’s throat itched, his palm rubbing against hot skin with bulging veins. Xie Wuchi let out a soft sigh. Shi Shu’s five fingers closed, the hollow of the man’s shoulder and neck sinking, muscles and collarbones twisting into a sexy, wild shape, rising and falling.

Shi Shu’s mind was dizzy, dryly trying to guide the relationship. In his urgency, he suddenly thought of a solution and said: “Xie Wuchi, are we together?”

Xie Wuchi: “Hmm?”

Shi Shu: “Are we considered dating? If not, what is this?”

Xie Wuchi: “I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”

Shi Shu’s limited rationality said: “It’s, it’s—”

Xie Wuchi’s body rolled with water droplets, his eyelashes holding mist, looking at Shi Shu: “I respect your opinion.”

Shi Shu’s mind was completely chaotic. He had no experience, and the steps were completely disrupted. His mind was spinning rapidly. What… what exactly is the situation now?

Shi Shu always felt that continuing like this wasn’t a solution. He said: “Otherwise, let’s date?”

Xie Wuchi: “You can do whatever you want.”

Shi Shu: “Huh? But if we date…” Then climbing into his bed would be even more justified.

Shi Shu had done so much with Xie Wuchi, but this ceremony was completely stuck, and both seemed to have no ideas at all. What does having this status mean, and not having it mean? Nothing?

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