Chapter 45

Autumn, the sky high, the clouds pale.

Having experienced a bout of chaos, Zhu Yang County town had not yet regained its former tranquility, but the natural environment had already returned to its past peacefulness.

Cool winds swept past houses and streets. All around, birdsong was clear and melodious. By the river, the willow branches swayed gently, their soft tips dipping into the water. The damp greenery was vivid and lively.

"Your Excellency!"

Meng Zhao reported the results of the interrogation to Chao Yan, washed the blood from his hands, and walked with Ning Fu along the riverbank. Occasionally, prefectural soldiers passed by and saluted them.

Ning Fu waved his hand and said to Meng Zhao, "Sanlang, shall we go somewhere a bit more secluded to talk?"

"Very well," Meng Zhao said.

The two men descended from the riverbank and came to sit at the head of a haunted house rarely visited by anyone. Ning Fu asked, "Where did we leave off just now?"

Meng Zhao said, "We were just bringing up your injuries."

Ning Fu said, "They aren't serious. Much lighter than His Highness's injuries. We arrived just in time; otherwise, the consequences are truly unthinkable."

Meng Zhao nodded but seemed lost in thought.

"Sanlang?" Ning Fu looked at him, puzzled.

Meng Zhao asked, "What about the lady?"

Ning Fu said, "I didn't get a clear look."

Meng Zhao said, "I don't mean that meaning."

"You mean His Highness cares too much about the lady? What of it? Since ancient times, heroes cannot pass the trial of a beauty."

Meng Zhao chuckled wryly, shook his head, and said, "Others can be devoted to one, but His Highness cannot be devoted. It would signify that His Highness is not a qualified heir. Upon returning to the capital this time, I'm afraid many people will again stir their thoughts. Previously, it was said he followed the wishes of elders and didn't add anyone to his household before establishing a principal wife. Now that a precedent has been set, there will be plenty of troubles to come."

Ning Fu said, "There should have been a few people who know warmth and coldness in his quarters anyway. Furthermore, His Highness still doesn't have a single son or daughter to this day; that young gentleman already has children now. This situation with His Highness can't go on. It's fortunate His Majesty doesn't pay attention to this, or else others wouldn't dare to have these crooked thoughts about His Highness's personal affairs."

Meng Zhao said, "Han Zhu Niangzi's daughter is already thirteen. She has always been eyeing the position of His Highness's principal wife. It would be best if this lady did not become pregnant."

Ning Fu wrinkled his nose.

.

The first breath Gu Jun took upon regaining consciousness smelled the intensely bitter scent of medicine.

His mind took a moment to come back to him before he suddenly bolted upright. The movement was too sudden, pulling at the wound on his back. The pain made him involuntarily make a soft sound and grab onto something beside him.

A soft touch, accompanying the slowly subsiding pain, transmitted upwards.

Gu Jun lowered his eyes and saw a familiar old blanket, a worn blue color, the blanket cover bearing two somewhat irregular patches.

He paused, looking around.

The surrounding layout and objects were equally familiar.

He had returned to the rented house.

What was going on? Gu Jun felt somewhat dazed, even suspecting that last night's experience had merely been a dream. He pulled back the blanket, braced himself against the bed, wanting to get out of bed and go outside to see the situation.

A practical problem hindered his steps—there were no shoes beneath the bed, not even the pair he had worn.

Gu Jun only then realized. He lifted his clothes; fine white gauze was wrapped around his pale skin—the wound had already been bandaged. The intensely bitter medicinal smell came from here. At the same time, his clothes had also been changed.

His face instantly turned pale, and he began contemplating that crucial question.

Who had rescued him and brought him back?

In total, he knew only a few people, and none of them were close acquaintances...

Gu Jun thought: Could it be someone from the county office? But the county office was in turmoil; everyone was busy fending for themselves. How could they have gone to the north gate to rescue him? Given this, it was highly likely that...

An obvious answer surfaced. Gu Jun found it hard to continue deceiving himself. He froze for a few breaths, his breathing heavy, and sat back on the bed, lowering his head to look at the clothes on his body.

Silky, smooth fabric—it was actually silk.

Before joy could well up, negative emotions surged up first. He thought: If the other party changed him into such good clothes, did that mean they weren't angry?

Gu Jun thought hopefully, but a moment later, he felt he was indulging in wishful thinking. What kind of person would have such a magnanimous heart?

In all honesty, he himself would not immediately be so good to someone who had deceived him.

The various thoughts in Gu Jun's head nearly twisted into a fried dough twist, making him exceptionally uneasy, his heart almost shattering from the tremors.

Finally, the suspended blade fell. The door opened.

It was already afternoon. Dull yellow light poured in in sheets.

Gu Jun lifted his eyes to look. His cheap husband, carrying a medicine bowl, walked in.

It had only been one night since they'd last met, yet it felt like a lifetime apart.

Gu Jun stared directly at the other party, not even blinking once.

"What's wrong?" Chao Yan asked, setting down the medicine bowl and coming to the bedside. He brushed aside the hair on Gu Jun's forehead and pressed his palm to it. A normal temperature; the fever should have subsided.

He lowered his hand and picked up the medicine bowl, stirring the murky black liquid with a ceramic spoon. He said, "Drink the medicine. It's warm. I tasted it; it's not bitter."

Gu... down, and asked, "Don't you know?"

Chao... "What?"

In that instant, Gu Jun felt a hint of pressure. He felt the man before him had changed, but this change differed from what he had imagined. It was a change in bearing, as if from one person, he had transformed into another person similar to him.

He observed the other party carefully.

"Ding," on the table. The clash of the ceramic spoon against the ceramic bowl was exceptionally grating. Chao Yan sat on the edge of the bed. Gu... really. In the next moment, someone grabbed his arm, and along with the blanket, he was dragged into the young man's embrace.

The young man pinched his chin and said, "What have you hidden from me?"

Gu Jun said, "Don't you already know it all?"

Chao Yan's mouth curved into an extremely faint smile. He said, "I don't know. I'm listening to you tell me. Husband and wife are one body; you shouldn't hide things from me. The weather is fine today; it is just the time for a frank meeting."

Gu Jun looked at him for a moment, then suddenly displayed a smile and said, "I am very happy you did not die."

The strength in Chao Yan's hand loosened. The person in his arms, carrying joy, hugged his neck, lifted their head, and kissed the corner of his mouth.

After a pause, he pulled the other's hands down and held them in his own. He asked, "Is this the truth?"

Gu Jun hummed twice in affirmation.

Since the other party did not dislike his touch, that meant the other party had not discovered his lies. Although he didn't know why they hadn't been discovered, this was good news.

Frankly speaking, he was not yet prepared for the truth to come to light at this moment.

Because he had no job, because he was badly injured... He recalled those hard and bitter days, always unable to help considering himself. Settle down, settle down first; surely, there won't be a lack of this bit of time.

Playing the villain, vividly and realistically.

Chao Yan's smile receded slightly. He looked at the bright-eyed person before him, lowered his head to lean over. At a slightly skewed angle, the tip of his nose missed the other's nose tip and pressed against their soft cheek. He opened his mouth and bit the other's lips.

Gu Jun hissed in pain. The young man's tongue then entered his oral cavity.

This was an exceptionally frightening kiss. Gu Jun constantly felt as if he would be chewed up and swallowed by the other. His tongue was sucked numb, curling up slightly to hide.

Chao Yan lowered his eyelids. Even while kissing, his gaze was calm, extremely composed. With his free hand, he pushed aside the blanket at Gu Jun's waist, hooked up the hem of the clothes, and grasped that smooth, exquisite waist, grinding upwards.

Gu Jun was so startled he nearly bit down. He immediately grabbed the other's hand.

"Wait a moment..."

Chao Yan did not cease his movements. Gu Jun then went to bite the other's tongue. Just as his teeth were about to touch, the other party stopped moving.

Gu Jun hurriedly applied the brakes. To cover his own action, he even actively went to entangle the other's tongue.

At that very moment, he seemed to hear a cold scoff, very light and fast, flashing by in an instant. The other party squeezed his hand, changed the angle, and lingered with him. A moment later, the young man pulled back, pressing his face close. Warm breath scattered near his eyes.

Gu Jun couldn't help but close his eyes, his eyelashes trembling. He heard the other's voice come through lowly, saying, "I am also very happy you did not die. We are blessed by heaven's favor. Now we cannot separate; it seems the same will be true in the future."

Gu Jun had closed his eyes, so his other senses were sharper. He clearly perceived the other party's chest's rise and fall, the heartbeat, even the rhythm of breathing. Perhaps influenced by this, he always felt the latter part of that statement was somewhat peculiar.

Like in movies, after the protagonist's peaceful life is broken, a sentence summing up their life?

Cannot separate? How could they never separate? This was destined to end in separation.

Gu Jun quietly responded: "Whether or not we cannot separate isn't certain to be said now. Perhaps later, encountering some circumstances, separation will be unavoidable." While concealing the truth, he attempted to point out reality to the other.

Chao Yan, upon hearing this, did not accept his goodwill and said, "According to your words, nothing lasts forever."

Gu Jun said, "That is a fact."

Chao Yan said, "Then I will also speak facts with you. The fact is, since I kept my promise this time, then in the future, regardless of what circumstances arise, I also will not separate from you. Could it be your thoughts differ from mine?"

Gu Jun replied vaguely, "It is very good that you are this way."

Chao Yan said, "Your answer."

Gu Jun said, "If you act as you say you will, then why would I want to separate from you?" You are such a good person, what right do I have to break off with you? When you eventually learn the truth, if you are willing to be friends with me, then naturally it will be a lifetime, never parting.

Chao Yan said, "I will remember this." He replied with a smile, placing Gu Jun back in his original spot. He picked up the medicine bowl and tested the temperature. "It's cooled a bit. I'll go heat it." He got up and left the room.

Gu Jun watched him go, then pulled up his sleeve to wipe his moist lips; they were slightly swollen. After wiping haphazardly a few times, he stopped. He had already been kissed anyway; the saliva had also been swallowed.

What use could this wiping serve? Gu Jun thought silently in his heart.

Chao Yan handed the medicine bowl to his attendant, telling him to heat the medicine. He stood in front of the window, peering inside through the window crack.

Under the daylight, his expression was unreadable.

Gu Jun waited a while before Chao Yan brought the medicine back again. Compared to before, it was thicker. Upon entering the mouth, it was both sweet and sour, the taste hard to describe. He drank it all in one gulp and handed the bowl back to the other.

Chao Yan stood at the bedside, took the bowl, and set it down. He returned a moment later. The door was wide open. He sat at the table, flipping through a book. Gu Jun noticed the fine white gauze peeking from his sleeve and hurriedly asked, "Are you seriously injured?"

Chao Yan said, "Seriously."

Gu Jun had already lain down; he was still very sleepy. Upon hearing this, he shifted a little to the inside and said, "Then come quickly and rest."

Chao Yan glanced sideways at him, put down the book, walked to the bedside, untied his outer clothes, and lay down. Gu Jun saw him close his eyes and closed his own as well. Just as he closed them, he was pulled into the other's embrace. He startled, about to turn his head to look, when the other's voice slowly arose: "Should a person be responsible for their own actions?"

"Y... yes." Gu Jun's heart skipped a beat. Before suspicion could arise, he heard the other continue, "Since you also say so, then please be responsible for your actions. Earlier, I saw you wiping your mouth. What, do I disgust you? This way, will you be even more disgusted?"

Gu Jun's hand, which was resting on his chest, was pulled backward and downward by him, touching a different sensation. He curled his fingers, panicking for an instant before restoring calm. Lowering his head, revealing a patch of snow-white nape, he defended himself: "I am not disgusted. I am merely annoyed that you kissed me. You kissed too fiercely."

As his words fell, Gu Jun heard the other's laughter. The other's chest, pressed against his back, trembled slightly.

"I don't disgust you, yet you're the one disgusted."

"I explained, I'm not..."

"Sincerity."

"What sincerity?"

"What do you think? Without sincerity, how can one be believed?"

Gu Jun turned his body sideways, grasped the other's collar, pressed against his lips, lightly kissed a few times, licked open the other's lips and teeth, imitating his earlier actions, kissing clumsily. Chao Yan remained unmoved. Gu Jun deflated and said, "What do you want?"

This was clearly something the other party had wanted before.

Chao Yan said, "You can use your hands."

"What... hands?" Gu Jun didn't react at first. When he did, he burned from head to toe.

Chao Yan lowered his eyes, watching the person's face, even their ears, flush with the color of sunset clouds. He pulled down the blanket; the neck was also faintly flushed, perhaps the rest of the body as well. Chao Yan stroked the person's cheek before him, his ring finger pressing behind their ear, carrying a subtle pressure: "Don't say you can't. I don't want to hear it."

Gu Jun bit his lip, making no movement.

"Wife?"

Gu Jun slowly extended his hand. The temperature of his body receded slightly. Chao Yan gently rubbed the skin beneath his fingers—this face, along with its other parts, had been painstakingly wiped clean by him. He said, "Forget it. Sleep."

"I..."

Chao Yan let go, turned to his side, and closed his eyes.

Gu Jun looked at the back of his head, a mix of feelings welling up inside. He sighed softly and, facing the wall, fell asleep.

……

"Young gentleman."

Meng Zhao and Ning Fu came into the courtyard and bowed with cupped hands. Chao Yan nodded and said, "No need for excessive ceremony." An attendant led over a horse-drawn carriage and parked it in the courtyard.

Chao Yan boarded the carriage and gestured for them to come up as well.

Ning Fu came up and said, "Young gentleman, even if we are only staying here for another day or two, you should not endure such hardship. You should change to a better place to stay."

Chao Yan said, "No need. This place is not cheap either; over a few dozen wen a month."

"Young gentleman..."

Chao Yan said, "Everyone else can live here, but I cannot? Sanlang also sent over some things; it's much better than before. Residing in a high position, one must remember these feelings. Have the promised benefits to the gentry been given?"

"Young gentleman, rest assured. Additionally, the horse-drawn carriage you asked us to buy has also been purchased. The horses are robust, the carriage sturdy. Arriving at the capital will not be a problem," Meng Zhao replied.

Chao Yan said, "Good."

"Young gentleman, forgive my bluntness, but are you truly bringing the lady back to the capital? If you bring her back, there will be no small amount of trouble."

Chao Yan said, "If I don't bring her back this time, it will be impossible to find her later. There's no need to worry; I have a plan to deal with it."

The carriage swayed and rattled, arriving at a separate courtyard within the city.