After Exile, I Married the Amnesiac General [Rebirth] Chapter 83

After Li Chanxiu boiled the hot water, he ladled a scoop for Pei Zhen. Before long, the sound of “thud thud thud” chopping chicken rang out in the small courtyard, full of killing intent, as if he had a grudge against that little rooster.

Li Chanxiu: “……”

He turned and released the golden eagle that had been shut in. As soon as the eagle was free and smelled meat, its two long feathery legs immediately began stepping forward, its body swaying as it rushed straight toward Pei Zhen.

Pei Zhen had just finished chopping the rooster. Sensing it approach, he turned with the blade in hand, his gaze cold as he looked over.

The golden eagle screeched and abruptly stopped, then began pacing at the side, not daring to step forward.

Pei Zhen let out an indistinct snort, picked out two pieces of deboned meat, and tossed them to it.

The eagle quickly swallowed the meat in two bites, its round eyes still fixed on him. Seeing that he really wasn’t giving any more, it had no choice but to flap its wings and go out to hunt for food itself in grievance.

Only then was Pei Zhen satisfied. Carrying the chopped chicken, he turned around, only to meet Li Chanxiu’s probing gaze. He couldn’t help coughing lightly and said: “Little Black’s injuries are healed. It should go out to hunt occasionally, otherwise it will forget how to hunt.”

He spoke seriously and properly. As for the little rooster, naturally it would be stewed together with wild mushrooms for him and his wife to eat.

In addition, perhaps stimulated by what Gu Heng had said, dinner was cooked by him personally, and he didn’t even let Li Chanxiu help with tending the fire.

Li Chanxiu was helpless, so he lit the charcoal fire and helped warm the wine he had brought back.

That night, the two of them sat together by the charcoal fire eating. Li Chanxiu generally didn’t drink. After pouring a cup for Pei Zhen, he set down the wine pot and curiously asked why he had returned so early today.

Pei Zhen naturally couldn’t say that he had gone to the wounded soldiers’ camp to look for him, and upon hearing he had gone home, had immediately come back as well.

“There wasn’t much happening in the camp. General Chen also said I’ve been working hard leading troops recently and told me to come back early to rest today,” he said, making an excuse, then lifted his cup to drink and cover it up.

Pei Zhen didn’t usually drink much, but perhaps because this morning he had heard Li Chanxiu rebuke Gu Heng with those heartfelt words confessing his feelings, or perhaps because at noon when he held his wife to comfort him, they had finally talked things through and understood each other…

In any case, Pei Zhen had been in an inexplicably good mood all day. Combined with the cold winter night, sitting with his wife by the charcoal fire, the atmosphere warm, and his wife personally pouring him wine, without realizing it, he drank more than usual.

Li Chanxiu had been thinking about other matters. Only when he came back to himself did he realize he had poured quite a few times, and couldn’t help regretting it.

Their relationship with Pei Er was already ambiguous, and yet without noticing, he had kept pouring him wine, was he trying to get him drunk? If he really got drunk, wouldn’t he be the one in trouble?

And Pei Er was also foolish, he drank whenever he was poured wine, not even knowing to refuse.

Li Chanxiu rubbed his forehead in headache. Seeing Pei Zhen looking at him with a faint smile, seeming somewhat drunk, and raising his cup again, he quickly pressed down his hand and said: “Don’t drink anymore.”

Pei Zhen paused. His slightly drunken gaze fell on the fair fingers pressing the back of his hand. His expression flickered under the lamplight, gradually deepening.

Li Chanxiu felt as if his fingertips had been burned and suddenly withdrew them, his face growing warm.

Pei Zhen suddenly smiled, set down the cup, and said softly: “I’ll listen to my wife.”

His voice at this moment was low and hoarse, as if carrying a bit more magnetism than usual. His gaze rested lightly on Li Chanxiu’s face, dark and unreadable.

Li Chanxiu only felt his face grow hotter. He suddenly stood up and said: “I’m done eating, I’ll go out first.”

After speaking, as if avoiding something, he hurried out with quick, slightly unsteady steps.

Once outside, he let out a soft breath. A gust of cold wind blew past, and his mind gradually cleared, but his body suddenly felt cold, and he couldn’t help shivering.

Pei Zhen followed out almost immediately. Seeing this, he quickly took off his outer robe and draped it over him, saying: “It’s cold, don’t stand outside for long.”

Li Chanxiu wanted to refuse the robe, but before he could push it off, he sneezed twice in succession, and his body felt even colder.

He quickly realized something, because his cold poison was about to flare up, he had once again become especially sensitive to the cold.

Seeing him shivering uncontrollably, Pei Zhen quickly pulled the robe tighter around him and asked with a frown: “What’s wrong? Did you catch a chill?”

After a moment of daze, Li Chanxiu suddenly felt a surge of joy. Right, he could pretend to have caught a cold.

So he feigned a few coughs and said with a nasal tone: “I think I’ve caught a cold. To avoid passing it to you, I’ll go stay at the infirmary tonight.”

After saying this, he felt relieved. Finally, he had found a suitable excuse to avoid sharing a bed with Pei Er.

Things were no longer like before, at noon, he had tacitly accepted that they were truly husband and wife. If they shared a bed tonight and Pei Er wanted… how could he refuse?

Li Chanxiu truly felt that one wrong step had led to more mistakes, but at this point, he could only continue the act.

But Pei Zhen frowned upon hearing this and said: “If you’ve caught a cold, all the more reason to stay at home. Even with a charcoal basin, how could the tent there be warmer than the heated kang at home?”

As he spoke, ignoring Li Chanxiu’s objections, he held him and led him into the bedroom.

“Sit still, I’ll bring you hot water to wash up and then make some ginger soup to dispel the cold.” He pressed Li Chanxiu down to sit at the edge of the kang and, without waiting for a response, turned and hurried out.

The heated kang had already been lit earlier while cooking, and was now warm.

Li Chanxiu pressed his fingers onto the warm quilt and blanked out for a moment. When he stood up to go out again, he ran right into Pei Zhen, who had returned carrying hot water.

Seeing that he was about to go out again, Pei Zhen set down the water, pulled him back to the edge of the kang, and pressed him down again, saying: “Don’t move.”

He frowned slightly, his tone even somewhat serious. Li Chanxiu was startled by this, and then saw him suddenly crouch down, carefully taking off his shoes and untying his socks for him.

Li Chanxiu was dumbfounded. His face suddenly flushed hot, and he hurriedly grabbed his trouser leg, saying in a flustered voice: “N-no need, I can do it myself.”

After saying that, he quickly pulled his leg back, took off his shoes and socks himself, and hastily put his feet into the hot water, afraid that if he was even a moment slower, the other would hold his feet and wash them, too strange.

The faint blush had not yet faded from his face, like a begonia flower soaked by rain, dazzlingly beautiful under the lamplight, yet his gaze was a bit at a loss.

As soon as his feet touched the hot water, he suddenly remembered that just now he had only been focused on refusing and not letting Pei Er wash them, now he truly couldn’t leave.

Thinking this, his long eyelashes lowered, casting a row of shadows beneath his eyes, trembling like a fan. His feet in the hot water were flushed red from the steam, his rounded toes tightly curled, rubbing lightly in unease.

Pei Zhen watched with darkened eyes, his throat slightly dry. After a moment, he suddenly pulled over a wooden stool, sat opposite Li Chanxiu, and under the other’s astonished gaze, also took off his shoes and socks and placed his feet into the basin.

Li Chanxiu stared wide-eyed. When he came back to his senses, he hurriedly tried to pull his feet out of the basin, but the other pressed down on his knee and gently pushed them back into the hot water. Then the other’s feet, like two nimble fish, pressed against his slender pale feet, sometimes lightly brushing the delicate skin on the tops of his feet, sometimes touching his fair ankles.

Li Chanxiu’s scalp tingled. He felt as though his feet had never been so sensitive before. Yet Pei Zhen looked at him with deep eyes, his tone completely normal as he said in a slightly hoarse voice: “Water is scarce in the northwest, washing like this saves some.”

Li Chanxiu: “……”

He pressed his lips tightly together, afraid that if he lost control even a little, a soft sound might escape.

Finally, when they were done washing, he let out a slight breath of relief, only to realize his back was covered in a thin layer of sweat.

Pei Zhen carried the water out, and before long returned with another basin of hot water for them to wash their faces and hands.

Li Chanxiu was already nearly numb. In this situation, there was no way he could leave. Fortunately, he had just told the other he had caught a cold, since he was sick, surely the other wouldn’t…

Just as he thought this, he suddenly heard two “plop” sounds.

He instinctively turned his head and saw Pei Zhen undressing. Three booklets had accidentally fallen from his chest.

Pei Zhen’s figure stiffened noticeably, then he quickly bent down to pick them up.

Because his back was turned, Li Chanxiu could only lean forward slightly and casually ask: “What books?”

Pei Zhen: “……”

He hurriedly picked up the booklets and carefully hid them among the clothes on the chest before coughing lightly and saying: “Military texts.”

Li Chanxiu: “……”

Even so… when he hid them, Li Chanxiu had still vaguely seen the words “ ” on the cover.

Li Chanxiu felt thoroughly embarrassed. His ears turned red as if stained with rouge, why was his eyesight so good? Even in such dim light, he could still see it.

He quickly pushed away the distracting thoughts, wanting to pretend he had seen nothing, and burrowed under the covers first.

But not thinking about it was impossible. Especially given their current situation, and Pei Er suddenly buying such books, was he perhaps intending…

The more Li Chanxiu thought, the more chaotic his mind became. He wished he could bury his entire head under the blanket.

Suddenly, the room darkened, Pei Zhen had blown out the lamp and was walking over. Sensing his approach, Li Chanxiu stiffened instantly, his body growing more and more tense.

Pei Zhen sat at the edge of the kang. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. Seeing that Li Chanxiu had once again separated the bedding and was only covering himself with one quilt, he let out a soft sigh. Then he picked up his own quilt, covered it over Li Chanxiu as well, lifted the edge of the blanket, and got in.

Just as he had gotten halfway in, Li Chanxiu suddenly startled as if frightened and moved sharply toward the wall, stammering: “I, I… I’m sick today, it’s not convenient.”

Pei Zhen froze, then couldn’t help but laugh softly. Holding him together with the quilt, he coaxed: “What are you thinking? You’re sick, how could I ignore your condition and only think of my own pleasure?”

After saying this, he lifted the blanket and lay down completely. After a pause, he pulled Li Chanxiu into his arms again, ignoring his struggle, and like soothing a startled little animal, gently coaxed: “Alright, sleep. You need more rest when you’re sick. Two people sleeping in one bedding, with two quilts, is warmer, and you’ll recover faster.”

Li Chanxiu still struggled: “But… it might be contagious…”

“It’s fine. I’m in good health, I’m not afraid,” he said, pressing his head back into his chest.

Li Chanxiu: “……”

He finally gave up struggling, fell silent, and only curled his legs up, knees pressed together in front of him, to prevent Pei Zhen from noticing anything.

Pei Zhen, however, felt that this was a very insecure sleeping posture, like a small cat curled into a ball. His heart softened even more, and he held him tighter, gently stroking his back to soothe him.

Li Chanxiu gradually relaxed. Just as he was about to fall asleep, he suddenly felt something was off, by his tightly pressed calves… something seemed to be pressing against them. He suddenly opened his eyes again. In the darkness, Pei Zhen was also looking at him with burning eyes, his breathing slightly heavy.

Li Chanxiu: “……”

He quickly closed his eyes again, pretending not to know. But Pei Zhen’s eyesight was just as good as his, he had already seen that he wasn’t asleep.

Perhaps it was because he had drunk too much that night, but not enough to be completely drunk. Or perhaps the heated kang was too warm, and the two quilts were simply too thick.

Pei Zhen closed his eyes, trying to endure it. But the body in his arms was too soft, the feeling of holding him too comfortable, and his mind kept recalling…

Finally, he opened his eyes again. Li Chanxiu in his arms also stiffened slightly. He hadn’t fallen asleep either, how could he not know? He was touching him.

Li Chanxiu stiffly pretended to sleep, trying to ignore the heat against his calves and the increasingly obvious breathing by his ear. Suddenly, he felt himself pulled tighter into the embrace, and heard Pei Zhen’s hoarse whisper by his ear: “Wife… could you… help me?”

Thinking of this, he braced himself and, in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum, asked with difficulty: “H-how do I help?”

Like that night at the stronghold? If so…

Before he could finish thinking, he suddenly felt his calf grasped by the other’s broad palm, gently pressed together. Li Chanxiu’s breathing stalled slightly, then his scalp tingled. His fingers unconsciously clenched the bedsheet tighter and tighter, his knuckles turning white from the force.

In the middle of the night, Pei Zhen went to the kitchen again to fetch hot water, carefully wiping clean Li Chanxiu’s calves and ankles bit by bit. Li Chanxiu shut his eyes tightly and buried his face in the blanket, only half of his flushed face showing, along with a few strands of slightly damp black hair sticking to his cheek. He wished he could, like Pei Er, also lose his memory once.

The next morning, Pei Zhen got up to go to the military camp. Li Chanxiu also got up and saw him off.

Outside the small courtyard, Pei Zhen turned around. His expression was as if brushed by a spring breeze, his brows and eyes filled with smiles. He quietly tightened his grip on Li Chanxiu’s hand and said: “You’re sick, rest at home today. I’ll just tell General Chen.”

Li Chanxiu nodded with a stiff face, awkwardly trying to pull his hand back.

But suddenly, Pei Zhen frowned, as if noticing something, and his gaze sharply turned behind him.

Li Chanxiu also looked over. Seeing the corner of clothing that Yi Xun hurriedly hid, his expression changed as well. He quickly raised his hand to turn Pei Zhen’s face back, looked at him gently, and softly said: “Then when you get to the camp, don’t work too hard. Take care of your health.”

Pei Zhen was momentarily stunned, then tightened his grip on his hand even more, his smile deepening. He lowered his head and lightly pressed a kiss to his forehead, his voice low with a gentle smile: “Mm.”

Li Chanxiu stiffened slightly, then seemed to think of something and gradually relaxed, looking up at him with eyes like water.

The two of them, like a newlywed couple, only separated “reluctantly” after a long while. Pei Zhen no longer looked toward that corner of the wall.

After he mounted his horse and rode far away, Li Chanxiu let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief, then frowned and turned toward the previous corner of the wall.

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