Chapter 106
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As the troops rushed back from the northern border to the capital, they happened to pass by a relay station where the palace had sent flowers to the north.
The flower delivery personnel were pleasantly surprised to encounter such a coincidence. Upon hearing what they were delivering, Xue Yuan, who was usually expressionless, was stunned. He quickly dismounted and walked briskly to the flower delivery team.
It took longer than Tian Fusheng had anticipated to handle the thousands of flower petals. It wasn’t until the end of January that these petals were finally packed into wooden boxes and rushed to the northern border by the relay station.
With one side advancing and the other retreating, if they hadn’t met at the relay station, they might have missed each other entirely!
Xue Yuan still wore gloves made of duck down from the northern people. The rough gloves on his hands were stretched into a slender shape by his slightly longer-than-average fingers.
As the duck down brushed against the wooden box, Xue Yuan’s gaze remained fixed on it without moving. “Was this sent to me by His Majesty?”
The relay station officer replied, “Yes. The flowers in this wooden box were all picked and sun-dried by His Majesty’s people. Each plant is highly praised and valued at a high price. It took a full twenty days to process them into their current state.”
Xue Yuan’s fingers moved from the edge of the wooden box to the lock, and with a click, he lifted the lid.
A gentle floral fragrance wafted with the breeze, and the colorful petals remained vibrant and soft. Xue Yuan took off his gloves, picked up one and examined it, then smiled, “Famous flowers, have they been blessed by His Majesty?”
The closer he got to the capital, the more Xue Yuan’s innate rogue nature couldn’t be suppressed, wanting to say lewd words to Gu Yuanbai, wanting to do something bad to him.
One bad idea followed another, and the restless thoughts continued unabated.
After the relay station officer finished speaking, Xue Yuan smiled, then put a petal in his mouth, rolling and sucking on it with his tongue before swallowing it with a gulp.
His mouth was full of floral fragrance.
He wiped off the flower residue from his fingertips, closed the wooden box, picked it up, and walked away. With his cloak fluttering, he swiftly mounted his horse, clean and neat.
The wooden box containing thousands of famous flowers was not small; when laid horizontally on the horse’s back, it covered Xue Yuan’s lower abdomen. The relay station officer asked, “Lord Xue, shall I have my men take it back for you?”
“No need.” With a flick of the reins, a large group of cavalry kicked up dust as they followed Xue Yuan galloping away. He chuckled softly, his voice low, “I need to take it with me. When I get to the capital, I’ll have to find a way to scatter these dried flowers in His Majesty’s bath.”
Then eat them all.
***
A dozen days later, amid the crisp cold, the soldiers from the northern border returned to the capital.
Upon hearing the news, the Xue household sent servants to the city gates daily to wait. It had been five months since the eldest son left the house in September. Old Madam Xue missed him, Madam Xue missed him, and the anxious servants, worried about the lack of a male heir to take charge, also awaited him eagerly.
However, as soon as the eldest son of the Xue family returned to the capital, his first stop was directly to the palace. Hurrying along, he asked the palace attendants guiding him, “Has His Majesty been ill these days?”
“His Majesty caught a slight cold a few days ago,” the palace attendant replied, choosing his words carefully, “but with the new kang beds installed this year, His Majesty rested for a few days and recovered.”
“Kang beds?” Xue Yuan repeated, “What are those?”
“Lord Xue, it’s understandable that you wouldn’t know. His Majesty had them made this year,” the palace attendant explained with a smile. “They look like regular beds on the outside, but they have hollow spaces inside. It’s like having a stove warming you from beneath every day, keeping the room warm. His Majesty hardly feels cold anymore this year.”
Xue Yuan smirked and said, “Is that so?”
As if casually, he asked, “Does His Majesty like this thing?”
“He does. His Majesty used to feel cold, but with the heated beds, he can sleep soundly. How could he not like it?”
Xue Yuan responded with a smile.
The Xuanzheng Hall was right in front of them, and without realizing it, Xue Yuan quickened his pace. The palace attendants beside him had to jog to keep up, while the officers following behind reminded him in hushed tones, “General, slow down.”
Xue Yuan took a deep breath and said, “Alright.”
But he continued to speed up, the heavy thud of his boots on the ground echoing loudly. Inside the Hall, Gu Yuanbai seemed to sense something and glanced outside the hall.
When Xue Yuan approached, he saw the glance Gu Yuanbai cast his way.
His breath caught.
The Emperor wore a bright yellow robe, the hall was warm, and he hadn’t put on a coat, the vibrant color contrasting with his face, radiating vitality brighter than the spring sun.
His black hair was tied up, his jade crown gleaming, a barely perceptible smile playing at his lips, fingers holding a memorial, eyes sharp, gazing at the dust-covered Xue Yuan.
Xue Yuan felt like he was struck by lightning, his whole body numb. He just stood there, staring blankly at the young emperor.
The officers behind him caught up, slightly out of breath. They straightened their robes and nudged Xue Yuan, “General, pay your respects.”
The eunuch inside the hall had just finished reporting to the Emperor. Suppressing a smile, he glanced at Xue Yuan and loudly said, “Please, generals, come in.”
Xue Yuan snapped out of his daze. Leading the way, he walked in, bowing to the Emperor along with the officers behind him.
Gu Yuanbai smiled gently. He had them sit down, served tea, and discussed border affairs with the generals.
Xue Yuan remained silent, seeming thirsty as he drank cup after cup of tea. Then, pretending to sip his tea, he stole glances at the Emperor under the cover of his sleeve.
He was being too secretive, and no one noticed Xue Yuan’s actions. But they couldn’t help but joke inwardly: If General Xue drank so much tea, wouldn’t it be embarrassing if he suddenly needed to go?
Gu Yuanbai also took a sip of tea, feeling a hot gaze on his lips. He moved slowly, lifting his eyes to glance at Xue Yuan.
Xue Yuan, with his head lowered, had his eyebrows and eyes covered by the steam from the hot tea, hiding the smile at the corners of his lips.
As if sensing the Emperor’s gaze, Xue Yuan raised his eyelids, revealing a smile to the Emperor.
Gu Yuanbai didn’t read anything from his expression and calmly looked away.
Although the Emperor stayed in the capital, he was well aware of the affairs in the north. The generals were informing him about the sudden death of the Khitan Great Chief. “His death was too coincidental. He had been ill for a long time, yet he managed to hold on for several years. Now, just as the tribes were preparing to unite, he suddenly died. The Khitan people are in chaos, and the Great Chief’s son, Yelu Zheng, believes that his father was murdered by traitors.”
The Emperor nodded, and after a while, seeing the fatigue on everyone’s faces, he smiled and said, “You’ve all traveled a long way back to the capital. You should rest for a day before coming to report to me properly. Today was a bit rushed, and it’s inevitable that you’re tired. Return to your residences early and rest. We’ll discuss the affairs of the north properly tomorrow after you’ve refreshed yourselves.”
No one objected, as they were indeed weary, especially after General Xue’s reckless rush. They hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in a long time.
One by one, they bid farewell, and Gu Yuanbai turned over a page of the memorial, casually saying, “General Xue, stay.”
So Xue Yuan stayed behind.
The palace hall was warm, but soon Xue Yuan was sweating profusely. He stood up respectfully and asked, “Your Majesty, may I remove my outer robe?”
Before the audience, their weapons and armor had already been removed by palace attendants. Gu Yuanbai looked at the sweat on his forehead and smiled slightly, “No need.”
Xue Yuan chuckled awkwardly, “Yes.”
The Emperor kept him behind without explaining why. Xue Yuan stood there obediently, slightly bent over, occasionally lifting his eyes, seemingly unintentionally scanning over the Emperor.
His long, fan-like eyes flickered, casting a dense shadow underneath.
The Emperor’s neck, face, and delicate hands, amidst the swirling dragon patterns, appeared translucently white.
The more he looked, the hotter he felt, feeling unsatisfied and beginning to feel anxious.
He stood like this for an hour and a half, until the sky outside darkened. Gu Yuanbai closed the memorial, rubbed his wrists, and, upon seeing Xue Yuan, pretended to be surprised, “General Xue, why are you still here?”
Xue Yuan grinned and took the initiative, “Without His Majesty’s command, I dare not leave.”
“In that case, accompany me for a walk,” Gu Yuanbai stood up and walked towards the door of the hall, casually asking, “Xue Jiuyao, it’s been a long time. How have you been lately?”
Xue Yuan was somewhat surprised by the favor, and he followed closely behind the Emperor, “Everything is fine, just missing Your Majesty more than ever.”
Gu Yuanbai smiled and shrugged, “When you returned from the Northern Border, was there still heavy snowfall there?”
“Yes, there was,” Xue Yuan recalled, “When I arrived, it was snowing heavily. The snow turned into water, and even though the fierce wind was fast, it couldn’t match the speed of the falling snow. When I looked back, everyone’s heads were covered in a layer of snow, like they had turned white overnight.”
Gu Yuanbai listened for a while and nodded, “It snowed in the capital too, but it couldn’t compare to the severity in the Northern Border.”
Xue Yuan replied, “I find joy in that.”
Gu Yuanbai smiled at his response, his eyes carrying deep meaning. But Xue Yuan was only captivated by his smile, losing his composure. After spending five months in the military camp, now even the crude jokes were on the tip of his tongue.
He cleared his throat, licked the dry skin off his lips, and pretended to accidentally step on a stone. In the midst of stumbling forward, he reached out and grabbed the Emperor’s hand, hurriedly wrapping his arm around the Emperor’s waist.
But it was fleeting. Gu Yuanbai felt a black shadow approaching, his waist tightened for a moment, and the next moment Xue Yuan was two steps away, bowing in apology.
Gu Yuanbai paused, not showing any anger, but instead smiled gently at Xue Yuan.
This gentle smile made Xue Yuan’s eyelids twitch.
After taking a stroll outside, dinner was already served.
Xue Yuan was left in the palace to dine, but instead of a delicious meal, a delicately crafted wooden box was placed in front of him.
Carved on the box were high mountains and flowing water, with five starfruit trees.
Xue Yuan opened it and saw the set of yushi he had hidden under his bed.
A palace attendant beside Gu Yuanbai presented him with silver chopsticks. After cleansing and drying his hands, the emperor took the silver chopsticks and gently smiled, saying, “Since Minister Xue likes this, let’s raise our chopsticks and dine.”
Xue Yuan stared at the yushis and said, “Your Majesty, even if I had iron teeth and bronze jaws, I couldn’t bite into these yushis.”
“No rush,” the Emperor smiled gently, looking at Xue Yuan with soft eyes, “Take your time.”
Xue Yuan picked up the chopsticks and asked tentatively, “Your Majesty, haven’t you read my letter?”
“Official Xue’s literary talent is outstanding,” Gu Yuanbai said slowly, “After reading your letters, I understood the purpose of this item and what it’s used for. It seems that what Changyu said was true. Official Xue, one cannot judge a book by its cover.”
Xue Yuan’s eyelids twitched violently, and he suddenly looked up at Gu Yuanbai in astonishment, “Didn’t Your Majesty get angry because of this thing?”
Gu Yuanbai raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”
Xue Yuan felt something was amiss. He thought over the situation repeatedly but couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Since the Emperor didn’t know about the yushi before, then, “I received a returned letter from Your Majesty to me while I was in the Northern Border.”
“It’s unrelated to this matter,” Gu Yuanbai immediately interrupted Xue Yuan, “I almost forgot about this item. It was your letter that reminded me. Thanks to you. Official Xue, let’s eat.”
I’ve ruined myself?
Xue Yuan’s expression changed constantly. While picking up the yushi, he thought, How could I be so stupid?
But he had written a thousand words in his letter to describe the results of his practice. Even he felt like giving himself a pat on the back. After the Emperor read it, didn’t he feel any excitement?
Xue Yuan had put in a lot of effort to please the Emperor.
His expression was too vivid, and Gu Yuanbai didn’t know what he was thinking. He thought Xue Yuan felt insulted and didn’t want to “eat” the yushis. Gu Yuanbai took a bite of his food, chewed slowly, rested his arm on the table, and watched Xue Yuan like he was watching a play.
The palace attendants in the hall remained silent, not making a sound or even glancing at Xue Yuan’s actions.
Even Tian Fusheng didn’t react, pretending not to see Xue Yuan’s movements.
Trying to pick up the heavier and more rounded jade pieces with a pair of smoothly polished silver chopsticks was truly challenging.
Xue Yuan tried several times but couldn’t pick them up. The only sound was the pleasant tinkling when the two collided. After the sound echoed for a while, the Emperor finally stood up, walked behind Xue Yuan, and reached out from his side, his arms enveloping Xue Yuan with the fragrance of sandalwood.
His ten fingers were like bamboo shoots, and his wrists were like white lotus roots.
The distinct knuckles on his hands, although slender, were not devoid of veins and bumps on the back of his hands. They were as clear as the lines drawn by the most skilled painter, depicting the most exquisite painting that could be drawn in a lifetime.
The scent of the Emperor’s fragrance permeated the air, a blend of sandalwood, agarwood, dragon brain incense, and musk. After settling down, it exuded the dignity and majesty that penetrated the hearts of men.
Gu Yuanbai’s hand gently touched each piece of jade in the wooden box, lightly tapping on each piece, and asked with a smile in Xue Yuan’s ear, “Official Xue, tell me, which one do you like to use the most in your daily life?”
With Xue Yuan nestled in his arms, the Emperor spoke softly yet firmly.
Xue Yuan suddenly felt something was strange.
The Emperor’s attitude towards him seemed to soften suddenly, yet at the same time, it seemed to add a few hints of coquetry and ambiguous flirtation to the demeanor of a strong individual towards his partner.
Although this coquetry was subtle, Xue Yuan, being sharp, captured it keenly, as if he had become the one being invaded and plundered by the Emperor.
After a moment of silence, unable to figure out the reason, he spoke the truth and pointed to a yushi about the size of the Emperor, the one he liked to use most for practice, “This one.”
Gu Yuanbai slowly picked up the jade object. His pampered fingers casually stroked the jade a few times, the sight of his pale hand against the white jade making Xue Yuan’s eyes burn with desire, his heart growing restless.
Gu Yuanbai chuckled a few times, leaned closer to Xue Yuan, and said leisurely, “Don’t rush, let me feed you.”
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