Chapter 107
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It became even more peculiar.
In the past, it was always Xue Yuan who wanted to take advantage of the Emperor, and the Emperor was the one who punished Xue Yuan. But when the Emperor spoke those words, Xue Yuan, looking at the jade pieces in his hand, even if his heart was burning with desire, his face showed a hint of confusion.
Seeing Xue Yuan’s expression, Gu Yuanbai couldn’t help but chuckle.
He picked up the yushis for a moment and then put them down, laughing too hard. But he forgot his own weakness and couldn’t straighten up, lying weakly on Xue Yuan’s back.
Xue Yuan was confused for a moment before he came to his senses. His handsome face was serious, but he couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed, “Your Majesty, how am I reacting?”
“Very well,” Gu Yuanbai’s voice trembled with laughter, “Official Xue, no one is better at cooperating with me than you.”
Xue Yuan couldn’t help but turn around to look at him, pulling the Emperor, who was laughing weakly, into his arms, sitting him on his lap, and soothing him. He originally wanted to say, “Why are you fooling with me?” but when the words reached his lips, he ended up muttering, “Your Majesty, it’s been three months since we last met. I miss you so much.”
Gu Yuanbai held onto his clothes, trying to control his breath, and weakly said, “General Xue, still had the strength to gallop back to the capital from the Northern Border, saying it’s for me, but actually just to satisfy your own desires.”
He had read Xue Yuan’s letter.
Xue Yuan, such a proud person, had continuously practiced serving him just for Gu Yuanbai. The words “I am useful, my skills are good” in the letter were both laughable and heartbreaking.
Regardless of whether he liked it or not, Gu Yuanbai respected his heart.
Tian Fusheng had once told Gu Yuanbai that Lord Xue was prepared to bear favor. Gu Yuanbai couldn’t help but laugh when he heard that. Lord Xue looked at him with eyes like a wolf, wishing to devour him. Such a person, if he couldn’t have him, wouldn’t be at ease.
But because of Tian Fusheng’s words, Gu Yuanbai gained some interest in a new perspective. Xue Yuan’s feelings were like fire, always aggressive. But if Gu Yuanbai were to flirt back, what expression would Xue Yuan have?
Now he knew. It was a stunned expression.
Amusing.
Gu Yuanbai chuckled again, resting his face on Xue Yuan’s neck, his body trembling. Xue Yuan smelled the fragrance in his hair and gently stroked his back, “Desiring you is missing you. Dreaming of you every night is common for me now. When I heard in the Northern Border that you were going to marry a consort, do you know how I felt at that moment?”
He murmured to himself, “Your Majesty, I was afraid of being too slow, and everything would be too late.”
Gu Yuanbai regained his strength, got up from Xue Yuan’s body, and Xue Yuan also got up to follow him.
But as soon as he stood up, the place where the Emperor had sat also brightened up.
Brightly, Gu Yuanbai glanced over and was stunned. Xue Yuan looked serious, “Your Majesty, I drank too much tea and need to relieve myself.”
The palace attendants wanted to take Xue Yuan to the restroom, but Xue Yuan calmly refused and remained by the Emperor’s side.
“The people in the palace said that Your Majesty made a kang bed,” hinting in his words, “I’ve never seen such a thing and I’m very curious. I wonder if I can stay in the palace tonight and try this heating device?”
Gu Yuanbai sat down and slowly drank his soup. Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, Xue Yuan changed the topic again.
“I received the box of flowers rewarded by Your Majesty,” Xue Yuan’s mouth couldn’t help but lift, his heart and mouth felt sweet, “I haven’t dared to eat much along the way. The flowers are sweet, and the fragrance lingers for a long time.”
“Then, Official Xue, take your time eating,” Gu Yuanbai glanced at him, “Are you anxious if you don’t eat? Then eat a little more every day.”
Xue Yuan smiled, “Yes, I’ll remember that.”
While they were talking, the two wolves brought out to be fed had already come over. They smelled Xue Yuan’s scent from afar, and when they got closer, they struggled to break free from the palace attendants and ran towards Xue Yuan, howling.
Xue Yuan frowned, lifted his foot, and kicked them aside, “Are they like this to Your Majesty when I’m not around?”
“Not so enthusiastic,” Gu Yuanbai put down the soup and stretched out his hand towards the wolves, “Come here.”
The two wolves, whimpering from being kicked by Xue Yuan, instantly forgot their former master and ran over to the Emperor, fawning and licking his hand.
It was as if they were licking a piece of tender bone meat, and their tongues from the palm to the fingertips, the crimson tongue could easily wrap around two or three slender fingers and pull them into their mouths.
Xue Yuan’s brow furrowed, feeling displeased.
“Next month is the martial arts competition,” Gu Yuanbai didn’t see his expression, and said slowly, “If you’re free, you can also come and see if there are any good candidates.”
“Yes,” Xue Yuan stared at the tongues of the two wolves, “Has Your Majesty been in the palace these days?”
Gu Yuanbai thought for a moment, “I plan to go out in a few days. If I remember correctly, isn’t the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of State Affairs going to hold a cuju match?”
Tian Fusheng quickly replied, “That’s right. Some time ago, the Assistant Minister of State Affairs even mentioned that the Ministry of Revenue officials had been clamoring against the Ministry of State Affairs for a long time. The Assistant Minister of State Affairs is holding a grudge and is determined to lead the officials well in the cuju match.”
“What spirit!” Gu Yuanbai smiled.
“The two lords have set the date of the cuju match on the day of rest, just two days from now,” Tian Fusheng asked, “Your Majesty, do you want to go and see?”
“I’ll go,” Gu Yuanbai nodded, “No need to make a big fuss, just go quietly.”
Tian Fusheng responded, and Gu Yuanbai looked at the sky outside, saying to Xue Yuan, “Let’s go back, Official Xue.”
Xue Yuan withdrew his gaze from the wolves, “Your Majesty, about that kang bed—”
“Lord Xue’s mansion also has one,” Gu Yuanbai said leisurely, “You have one in your room too.”
Xue Yuan couldn’t help but show a disappointed expression.
Gu Yuanbai thought to himself, no matter how disappointed you are, a gentleman’s word is his bond. I have already said that I won’t take advantage of you, and I won’t go back on my word.
Just as he was thinking this, Xue Yuan spoke again, “I wish to ask Your Majesty for a favor.”
Gu Yuanbai scrutinized him, “What is it?”
Xue Yuan whispered, “Two days from now, during the rest day, I also want to participate. At that time, please don’t look away, Your Majesty, and watch my heroic bearing.” He grinned, bent his waist slightly, like a frivolous gang leader, “If I win, will you come to my mansion and spend the night? How about that?”
This conversation was low, only heard by Gu Yuanbai. Gu Yuanbai couldn’t help but think, is he trying to seduce me?
Gu Yuanbai looked at Xue Yuan for a while, from his handsome face to his neck, where the prominent Adam’s apple stood out. At this moment, under Gu Yuanbai’s gaze, it moved up and down greedily and eagerly for a moment.
Gu Yuanbai had many thoughts in his mind, various suggestive thoughts emerged, and finally, he looked at Xue Yuan meaningfully and asked, “What if you lose?”
Clever move, Xue Jiuyao.
Was he trying to lure him to his mansion, wait until late at night when everything was quiet, and then seduce him?
The wise and valiant Emperor pondered deeply, and his gaze at Xue Yuan became even more profound.
Under his gaze, Xue Yuan swallowed a mouthful of saliva before collecting his composure, and politely said, “How could I lose?”
He licked his lips, and a few traces of blood oozed from the cracked corner of his mouth. He smiled even more gently, “Your Majesty, just prepare the bedding for your stay.”
***
Two days later, on the rest day.
The cuju match between the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of State Affairs was about to begin. Both of these groups consisted of people who worked in the yamen year-round. Putting Xue Yuan among them was like throwing a wolf into a sheep pen.
To prevent their officials’ morale from being affected and to make the competition more exciting, Gu Yuanbai selected a team from the Donglingwei to play alongside Xue Yuan’s team, and another team composed of guards protecting the front of the palace to compete against them.
The members of these two teams were all tall and sturdy. The location of the match was set at the same place where Gu Yuanbai had previously watched the cuju match between the Imperial Academy and the Grand Academy. Since the Emperor personally visited, it had become a fixed cuju match point. Occasionally, people who loved cuju would pass by here to see if there were any exciting matches.
When the two teams from the Donglingwei and the palace guards entered the field, their spirited and towering figures immediately attracted many spectators. Before the match even began, enthusiastic cheers and whistles filled the air, raising the atmosphere.
Gu Yuanbai’s people had already arranged everything in the pavilion. He wore his regular attire and was gazing at the common people on the street.
Winter had just passed, and the spring days were tentatively peeking out. At this time, although the cold lingered, the bright sun generously scattered warmer light with each passing day. It was now noon, and the people in the market were bustling, leisurely strolling, occasionally stopping to bargain with vendors. There were also groups of people gathered around the cuju field, cheering enthusiastically for the players.
The hustle and bustle, the lively atmosphere.
Gu Yuanbai wore a dark blue coat, and his jade-like fingertips peeked out from the deep clothing. Occasionally, a breeze would blow from the front, lifting his black hair to scatter over his shoulders and back.
The heavy clothing almost buried half of his face. Tian Fusheng whispered, “Your Majesty, this is a windy spot. Let’s move.”
“Wait a moment,” Gu Yuanbai said, “Let me take a look.”
Two teams on the cuju field were warming up, glaring at each other with intense competitive spirit. Their fervor attracted more and more onlookers, many of whom laughed and shouted, “Handsome brothers, play well! If you do, we’ll find you a good bride!”
This elicited a burst of laughter.
Several members of the Donglingwei and the Imperial Guards blushed but pretended not to hear the bold teasing from the crowd.
Gu Yuanbai also smiled, “When I came here last year, I remember there weren’t this many people.”
“Yes,” Tian Fusheng replied. “Before Your Majesty came to watch the cuju matches here, this place, though spacious, wasn’t very populated. But after Your Majesty’s visit, gradually, any major cuju matches among officials and civilians started being held here. Merchants followed, and the crowd grew.”
“This is also thanks to the Zhang family,” Gu Yuanbai’s expression softened. “When they returned to the capital, a large number of merchants from other regions followed. This year, the number of registered merchants in the capital has increased by twenty percent compared to last year.”
Speaking of merchants, one couldn’t help but think of the currently neglected maritime areas.
Lin Zhicheng had hurried to his coastal naval post after the New Year, but Gu Yuanbai had him leave behind a treatise on maritime trade. After thoroughly reviewing literature and considering the current environment, Gu Yuanbai found the treatise feasible.
There was always work to be done. Gu Yuanbai was brought back to reality by the cheers of the crowd, and looking down, he saw that the cuju match was about to begin.
He moved to focus on the match between the two teams.
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