UCTOOT CH88

Before Shi Shu finished speaking, through the overlapping eaves and clouds in front of him, he heard a burst of urged scolding from not far away.

“Go! Why aren’t you going yet!”

“Stay alert! Don’t blame me for not reminding you if you’re seen. Lanxian City is now full of high officials walking around. If something goes wrong, you’ll suffer!”

“Quick, quick, quick! Don’t delay, the Little Marquis is still waiting!”

Lanxian Town was a small city near Yunzhou, geographically located right behind it, often becoming a military command post. In reality, it was just a small city under the sun with yellow sand filling the sky and overlapping eaves, where military horses constantly entered and exited rapidly, holding urgent military intelligence with feathers, raising rolling dust clouds as they galloped.

Shi Shu looked carefully and saw several luxurious carriages. The curtains on the carriages were lifted, wafts of fragrance and rouge overflowing. Sitting inside were some beautiful singing and dancing girls, all born with fair skin, slender waists, red lips, and white teeth, with pipa and huqin placed beside them.

Shi Shu understood at a glance: pimps. However, he unintentionally discovered that among the beauties, someone had deep and elegant eyebrows, with an appearance different from the children of Great Jing. Seeing him looking, the driver beside him hurriedly said: “What are you looking at? Look again and I’ll dig your eyes out!”

Shi Shu pointed at his own eyes: “Come.”

Dig.

It wasn’t like he looked intentionally.

“Whose brat is this!”

“What do you want?”

Behind Shi Shu, several soldiers jumped off the carriage and glared at the opposite side:

“What? Want to go head-to-head?”

Someone nearby saw the clues and smoothed things over: “Forget it, forget it. Let’s be careful too. Now Lanxian County is full of hidden tigers and dragons. Less trouble is better. Calm down, calm down. Let’s go, let’s go, don’t delay the proper business.”

“Damn his father!”

The man cursed and urged the carriages towards the city.

When Shi Shu turned his face, he asked the guard behind him: “The military situation in Yunzhou is now like fire, at a critical moment. Why is someone still sending singing and dancing girls into the city?”

“Don’t know who it is. Probably that group of rich idlers from the Eastern Capital! Can’t leave without reciting wind and moon, enjoying wealth and honor, and drilling under beauties’ skirts.”

Lin Yangchun got off the carriage and walked to the city wall of Lanxian together. Since they were on official duty, they went through the main gate and needed to show documents. Shi Shu paid extra attention—the carriage carrying beauties entered through the side gate and gave some benefits to the soldiers guarding the city.

When Shi Shu walked to the city gate, he suddenly heard an earth-shaking cannon sound and looked north: “What’s that noise?”

The soldier said: “Yunzhou is still under siege. Probably movements like catapults.”

Shi Shu: “Lanxian is only tens of miles away from it. Is it safe here?”

“Safe or not, hard to say. Temporarily some peace, better than Yunzhou where soldiers are at the city gates and lives are devastated right now.”

Significant contrast.

Shi Shu had nothing to say and entered the city with Lin Yangchun to see Xie Wuchi first. A main road in Lanxian City led straight to the government office, which temporarily acted as the military command post. With wooden buildings and gray tiles, the residents in the city had long fled, leaving only a very few bold ones who stayed, peeking out. Other residential houses were full of soldiers.

People on the street transported fruits, vegetables, and military supplies, coming and going endlessly with urgent military intelligence. Shi Shu was brushed past by people beside him from time to time.

…About to meet Xie Wuchi soon.

Shi Shu walked to the Commander’s main gate, looking around. A person suddenly rolled out from inside the door!

“…”

Then, before lying flat properly, he knelt on the ground begging for mercy: “My Lord, this lowly one will go urge immediately!”

Shi Shu looked towards the outside of the public office gate. A figure wearing a vermillion round-collared robe, with a leather belt around the waist, stood under the gate tower like a crane. His arms and calves were wrapped in silver fish-scale armor. Having just kicked someone, the guards beside him were being careful lest he had any mishaps.

Xie Wuchi.

Xie Wuchi stood extremely steadily, wearing a long sword with bright yellow tassels at his waist. With his hand on the hilt, he walked down quickly to the courtyard and slightly drew the sword out of its sheath. The official kneeling on the ground shook like a sieve, shouting frantically: “My Lord, spare my life! My Lord, spare my life!”

Shi Shu saw him, blinked, and thought: So Xie Wuchi is doing official business…

Xie Wuchi’s eyelids flickered, and he saw him too. His vicious eyebrows seemed to lift slightly, the icy glare dissolving a bit. Shi Shu hurriedly turned his face to look elsewhere, not disturbing him.

Haven’t seen Xie Wuchi’s ferocious face for a long time.

His ears heard Xie Wuchi’s voice: “The Yunzhou frontline theoretically needs 500,000 piculs of grain. Now the military situation is like fire. There are hundreds of thousands of mouths in the city and along the line crying for food, waiting for life-saving grain and fodder. Do you know that delaying one day means soldiers starve for one day?”

The kneeling person: “This lower official knows his guilt… this lower official…”

“Usually delaying and prevaricating aside! Now at a time of national crisis, still making excuses and not sending grain and fodder! Military intelligence is like fire; delaying military intelligence is a capital crime! How many days limit left, speak!”

The kneeling person: “Ten days, My Lord, at most ten days, this lower official will definitely deliver the remaining 300,000 piculs of grain!”

“If not delivered, what then?”

“This lower official is willing to extend his neck for execution…”

“Ha, this official has been here from Yanzhou for over half a month. Time was given long ago. If it’s not transported again—”

Xie Wuchi drew the sword hilt, cold light radiating: “This sword is imperially bestowed by His Majesty, to execute dukes and marquises above, and corrupt officials below. You are an official of the court temple; this official shouldn’t treat you like this. But if due to delayed grain and fodder, leading to the great crime of losing Yunzhou city, this kick from this official is considered light! At that time, your head will be taken!”

The kneeling person: “Yes, yes, yes…”

Xie Wuchi reached out and supported him: “Go quickly.”

This person hurriedly stood up and ran out the door limping.

The troops stationed in the public office stood solemnly. Xie Wuchi took down the sword and handed it to Xin Bin beside him. Xin Bin knelt to receive it with both hands and sent it away. Xie Wuchi withdrew his gaze from this grain official and looked at Shi Shu and Lin Yangchun beside him.

Lin Yangchun twisted his beard: “Lord Xie has such a big pomp!”

Xie Wuchi: “Imperial Physician Lin, please.”

Lin Yangchun spoke of business: “How is the battle situation in Yunzhou now?”

Xie Wuchi’s gaze stopped on Shi Shu. Shi Shu scratched his chin, not knowing what to say. He moved his gaze away: “Lives devastated. I presume Imperial Physician Lin has heard. In scorching summer, one needs to guard against epidemics during war.”

Lin Yangchun: “I want to go up the city tower to see personally.”

Xie Wuchi didn’t object: “It is late today. You two rest early. Tomorrow I will escort Imperial Physician Lin into Yunzhou city.”

The two entered the door to talk business; Shi Shu listened on the side. Walking all the way was too hot; Xie Wuchi poured a cup of tea and handed it to Shi Shu. People came and went; many generals in the meeting hall were noisy. The two didn’t speak. Xie Wuchi was also expressionless, completely cold, maintaining his prestige in front of people.

Receiving Lin Yangchun only took a moment, then he was sent to the guest house to rest. Shi Shu followed along, looking at Xie Wuchi sitting at the head of the long table, watching the sand table demonstration. He wore official clothes, half civil and half military, collar slightly pulled open, dressed very abstinently, making Shi Shu’s heart roll too.

Dressed so nicely.

Xie Wuchi, do you dress like this for work every day?

In modern times, do you also look in the mirror for half a day before going to work every day?

Really dare not imagine your wardrobe.

Shi Shu prepared to leave.

Xie Wuchi raised his gaze, seemingly unwilling to look away.

What does that mean?

Shi Shu didn’t figure it out, turned his head, and left the meeting hall with Lin Yangchun to the annex. The person sending him was Xin Bin, sending them to the annex together. Lin Yangchun said: “Lin is just a practicing doctor, staying so well?”

Xin Bin smiled: “Go in. The rich households in the city fled, houses all requisitioned. This courtyard is deep and open; doctors stay here first.”

Next door were two larger annexes. Shi Shu entered the door, saw several carriages driving out from the gate, and suddenly realized: “Those singing and dancing girls were sent in here?”

Lin Yangchun said: “Care less about these rich people. Rest first; tomorrow you have to follow me to Yunzhou.”

“Fine, luckily my horoscope is tough, strolling with you every day.” Shi Shu just discovered he had all kinds of vaccinations since childhood, so ordinary infectious diseases couldn’t get close. With protective measures then, he wasn’t that nervous. They entered the door, and someone prepared food.

Shi Shu thought of Xie Wuchi’s gaze when leaving. What did it mean?

Looked a few more times because you dressed so handsomely, what about it?

I prescribe heatstroke medicine for people in the military camp, and you dress so nicely wandering around every day.

Shi Shu thought for a while and felt his attention drifted, seemingly focusing on the wrong point.

He remembered another thing, touched his pocket; didn’t bring lubricant or sheep intestines.

Shi Shu and Lin Yangchun finished eating, then looked through medicinal materials, preparing to sleep early. Shi Shu lay on the warm bed, hearing rumbling noises. Horses were galloping deep in the night, reporting the latest military intelligence everywhere.

He could sleep peacefully, but people in war couldn’t.

Summer heat, almost the hottest time of summer, tossing and turning in bed unable to sleep. Shi Shu had a separate bedroom, so he took off all his clothes, wearing an extremely thin outer shirt. Half asleep and half awake, the door suddenly creaked open, then closed. Shi Shu heard footsteps, just sat up, when temperature and breath flooded right in front of him.

“Shi Shu.”

Somehow, sounds at night were more lingering. Shi Shu immediately thought of Qian’an Prefecture two years ago. He tossed and turned until dawn to fall asleep, only to be woken up by Xie Wuchi as soon as he slept, leading him to walk the night road.

Shi Shu: “Xie Wuchi, why are you here?”

“Mm.”

It was a bit dark at night, only a blurred human figure. Shi Shu reached forward and touched his pulled-open official robe collar, cotton texture, and the cold, sharp fish-scale bright light armor on his forearm. Very cool, touched a couple more times. Breath close at hand, Shi Shu actively raised his chin and touched lips. Instantly became uncontrollable.

Xie Wuchi sat on the bed. Shi Shu was held sitting on his lap, lips and teeth entangled. Shi Shu initially just kissed pressing against his lips. Xie Wuchi’s jaw went down, lips and teeth opened, instantly seducing the shallow kiss into one full of desire.

Shi Shu kissed his lips without much feeling, but Xie Wuchi seemed to be seeking his scent and temperature, hand gently holding Shi Shu’s face. The aggression wasn’t strong, moderate and gentle, but full of seduction.

When Shi Shu wet kissed him, his hand was still on Xie Wuchi’s clothes. inexplicably a bit caring, he stripped his clothes, pulling the collar open to reveal collarbones, revealing the healthy skin color of broad and full muscles. He touched the collarbones a few times; the skin color darkened, and Xie Wuchi sucked him enjoyably.

Shi Shu turned his face away in confusion: “You…”

But fingertips stroked his earlobe. Shi Shu turned his face back, tongue tip entangling with Xie Wuchi. The sultry summer night, a dreamlike lightness. Once seeing Xie Wuchi, the interaction relationship would become like this.

Shi Shu kissed him, their body temperatures rising. Xie Wuchi got hot, but Shi Shu was okay, separating and smiling: “How have you been during this time? I read all those letters carefully. Although I only wrote ‘Read’, don’t underestimate my feelings~”

Xie Wuchi was panting. Shi Shu had changed the topic. He sat in place adjusting his messy collar and hem, lowered his eyelids not wanting to talk much. The bridge of his nose was dyed with faint light penetrating from the window lattice, his whole body seemingly starting to cool down.

Under the robe, his reaction was still obvious, the tide of lust difficult to subside. Shi Shu blinked, suddenly thinking of Xie Wuchi’s problem. His demand for intimacy and thirst for lust were different from ordinary people.

“…”

Xie Wuchi at this moment seemed to still have craving.

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