Chapter 147
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Gu Yuanbai called for Hongyun, preparing to ride to the royal temple.
Hongyun moved lazily, and when Gu Yuanbai saw it, he called out, “Xue Jiuyao, come see your benefactor.”
Xue Yuan approached. “I’ve been feeding the horse and washing it since it returned to the capital. Isn’t that enough repayment?”
Hongyun turned its head, snorting at Xue Yuan.
Gu Yuanbai spoke for Hongyun, “Repayment isn’t that simple. By the way, where’s the other horse?”
Xue Yuan replied seriously, “I’m worried that Your Majesty might still not be able to ride, so I planned to ride together with you. The other horse wasn’t brought along by Steward Tian; just Hongyun is enough.”
Hongyun had grown accustomed to wearing its tack, and Gu Yuanbai had no issues riding during the autumn hunt. He glanced at Xue Yuan, deliberately saying, “Hongyun doesn’t want to carry you.”
With that, he mounted the horse.
Xue Yuan, helpless, looked around and requested a good horse from a familiar guard. As he rode up to the emperor, he heard Gu Ran say, “Royal Father, I can’t ride a horse. Can you take me with you?”
Xue Yuan squinted his eyes, grabbed Gu Ran by the collar, and lifted him onto his horse with a smile. “Little Highness, let me take you.”
Gu Ran paused, looked back at him, and slowly said, “Thank you, General.”
The group set off, and halfway there, Xue Yuan suddenly straightened up. “Your Majesty, there’s a bug on your back.”
Gu Yuanbai turned his head and frowned. “Where? I don’t see anything.”
Gu Ran also opened his eyes to look and obediently said, “I don’t see anything either.”
“It’s crawling onto your horse,” Xue Yuan tightened the reins, slowed his horse next to the chief guard, and with a quick movement, swapped Gu Ran’s position. “Lord Zhang, please take care of the Little Highness. I’ll go check the bug on His Majesty’s horse.”
The Chief Guard quickly protected Gu Ran, and when he looked up again, Xue Yuan was already rushing towards the emperor.
Using his agility, Xue Yuan stepped off his horse and flipped onto the back of Gu Yuanbai’s horse before it even got close to Hongyun.
Gu Yuanbai’s heart skipped a beat, his expression turning stern. “Xue Yuan, what are you doing?”
Xue Yuan continued to make up excuses. “Your Majesty, I’m here to catch the bug.”
He pretended to grab a bug from the horse’s back and threw it to the ground. “Got it.”
Gu Yuanbai’s expression remained dark, his lips pressed into a thin line. Xue Yuan’s eyelid twitched uneasily. “Your Majesty?”
“Get off,” the emperor commanded.
Xue Yuan’s long brows furrowed in silence, stubbornly staying put.
Gu Yuanbai suddenly raised his whip. “Hongyun, go!”
The spirited horse excitedly raised its hooves and shot forward like an arrow.
After a few strides, Xue Yuan seized the reins and pulled hard, forcing Hongyun to a halt with a disgruntled snort. “Your Majesty, you shouldn’t risk your body like this.”
“You know you shouldn’t risk your body either,” Gu Yuanbai’s eyes were icy. “Your horse was moving, and so was mine. Hongyun has a wild nature and runs fast. One misstep when you switched horses, and you could have been trampled to death. Xue Jiuyao, are you not afraid of dying?”
Xue Yuan opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words.
The rest of the group caught up, and Gu Yuanbai took a deep breath. “You might think I’m making a big deal out of this, but…”
His hand trembled.
“When the earthquake struck, you shielded me with your body,” he said. “I called out to you, but you didn’t respond, and your blood dripped all over me. With a rock crushing your back, I could barely feel your breathing. I thought you were going to die—can’t you take better care of your life?”
Xue Yuan was stunned, suddenly at a loss.
“Don’t be angry,” he anxiously held Gu Yuanbai’s hand. “I was wrong. I won’t do it again.”
Gu Yuanbai withdrew his hand, exhausted. “Forget it.”
Xue Yuan would never understand what Gu Yuanbai felt at that moment.
Healthy, skilled in martial arts, and a battle-hardened general, Xue Yuan naturally didn’t pay attention to these details.
Just as Gu Yuanbai, even knowing he should balance work and rest, was always busy.
It was frustrating and unspeakable.
“It can’t be forgotten!” Xue Yuan suddenly grew agitated. “You can’t just forget about it!”
Humbly, he pleaded, “I was wrong. I won’t do it again. Please forgive me this time, Yuanbai, Master Bai.”
Gu Yuanbai pursed his lips. “Let’s head to Chengbao Temple first.”
Xue Yuan stiffened, then slackened the reins.
***
The emperor was a composed person.
After returning from Chengbao Temple, he told Xue Yuan, “Just be more careful in the future. I won’t constrain you in such matters.”
But Xue Yuan thought too much.
When they returned to the capital, Xue Yuan took the emperor to his mansion, telling the Chief Guard, “Lord Zhang, His Majesty will stay at my residence tonight. The palace is in your and Steward Tian’s care.”
The Chief Guard looked at the emperor, who frowned slightly but still nodded.
Xue Yuan led the emperor to his mansion in silence, not disturbing anyone else. Gu Yuanbai sat straight, maintaining a gap between his back and Xue Yuan’s chest.
The horses were tied to a tree, and Gu Yuanbai walked ahead. Xue Yuan watched him for a moment before suddenly rushing forward and scooping him up.
“!”
Gu Yuanbai’s face turned pale, instinctively wrapping his arms around Xue Yuan’s neck. “What are you doing?”
Xue Yuan strode towards the bedroom. “Your Majesty, we need to talk.”
Gu Yuanbai came to his senses, face tense. “Put me down.”
Xue Yuan ignored him, kicking open the door and slamming it shut.
The door shook violently, and a servant in Xue Yuan’s courtyard ran over cautiously. “Eldest Young Master?”
Xue Yuan’s voice was strained, “Get out.”
The servant bolted, disappearing from the courtyard in a flash.
In the dimly lit room, Xue Yuan’s breath was heavy, but he forced a gentle tone. “Your Majesty, I admit my mistake. I’ll never do it again. Please forgive me.”
Gu Yuanbai’s anger flared. “I told you, I’m not angry. You can do as you wish.”
Xue Yuan muttered a curse under his breath, “D*mn it.”
He pressed Gu Yuanbai against the wooden door, an uncomfortable position for the emperor. “Xue Yuan, let go of me.”
The last words were emphasized.
“Your Majesty,” Xue Yuan’s frustration made him want to spin in circles. His fingers on the wall cracked, and sweat dripped from his forehead. “If you’re unhappy, just say so. I can take any punishment you want to give me. Just don’t look at me with that stern face.”
He cupped Gu Yuanbai’s face, pleading as he leaned in for a kiss. “Please, Your Majesty.”
Gu Yuanbai turned away from the kiss. Xue Yuan’s eyes darkened, his fingers clenching into fists. He punched the wall hard.
The sound of his bones cracking was clear in Gu Yuanbai’s ears. He covered his eyes and sighed deeply, slightly parting his lips to create a small gap.
Xue Yuan’s fierce, turbulent emotions paused in disbelief. “Your Majesty—”
There was nothing about Gu Yuanbai that Xue Yuan didn’t like.
Xue Yuan had the fortune of experiencing every inch of this skin, leaving several shallow and deep bite marks. These beautiful, slender hands, so attractive, were now covering half of the emperor’s face, revealing a slight blush on the other half.
Gu Yuanbai didn’t speak, but his pale lips suddenly turned a flower-petal red.
Xue Yuan’s heart pounded rapidly as he gazed at the emperor, enchanted by the slight parting of Gu Yuanbai’s lips, exuding a subtle fragrance. Mesmerized, he leaned forward, his tongue slowly probing through the gap.
Gu Yuanbai’s eyelashes trembled slightly, his hands masking this sensitive shiver.
Xue Yuan pressed closer.
The emperor didn’t struggle at all, allowing Xue Yuan to act. This gesture thrilled Xue Yuan to an indescribable degree, and his kisses on Gu Yuanbai grew heavier.
Gu Yuanbai’s earlobes turned hot.
“Your Majesty,” Xue Yuan’s voice was slightly husky, “the sun is about to set, it’s the perfect time to be wanton.”
Before the emperor could respond, Xue Yuan muttered to himself, “I understand, let’s get to it without wasting words.”
Before finishing his sentence, he bent down abruptly, scooping Gu Yuanbai up and rushing to the bed, spouting nonsense, “I promise to be slower this time.”
“…” Gu Yuanbai, “You dare.”
***
Dinner at Xue Mansion was a bit delayed that night.
The servant sent to call Xue Yuan for dinner was scolded and returned, looking dejected. “Master, the young master only asked for two portions to be delivered, and he wouldn’t let us in or come over.”
General Xue was about to let it be when his brow furrowed sharply, “Two people?”
“Yes,” the servant replied honestly, “there’s also a Ferghana horse tied in the young master’s courtyard.”
General Xue recalled that two years ago, during the celebration of Wanshou Festival, his son had indeed traded with foreigners to acquire a Ferghana horse. But when he asked Xue Yuan about it later, Xue Yuan said he had given it away.
Could the person who came be the one his son had been longing for?!
General Xue stood up abruptly, too angry to eat, and hurried to Xue Yuan’s courtyard. He hadn’t even pushed the door open when he roared, “Xue Yuan, you little brat—”
“Minister Xue?” a hoarse voice came from inside.
General Xue’s angry curse was abruptly cut off, his expression turning to shock and fear, “Your Majesty?!”
It was the emperor!
When did the emperor come to Xue Mansion, and how did he not know?
“Your Majesty, I had no idea you were here. I am horrified,” General Xue stammered, “I am at fault.”
The emperor’s voice was low, even more so through the door, many words dispersing in the wind before reaching General Xue’s ears. “Minister Xue, do not be alarmed. I,” the voice grew weaker, sounding exhausted, “I have some important matters to discuss with Xue Yuan, so I will stay at Xue Mansion for the night.”
General Xue hurriedly saluted, “Yes, I will arrange the main bedroom immediately and have you move shortly. Has Your Majesty eaten? I will have the cook prepare a fresh meal.”
“No need,” the emperor said, “keep it simple, Minister Xue. Do not let anyone else know I am here. Just act as if you don’t know.”
General Xue’s expression turned serious, quickly checking his surroundings, “Yes, I understand.”
After a moment, General Xue tentatively asked, “Then, may I take my leave?”
The emperor seemed to sigh in relief, “Yes, you may.”
As General Xue was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and shouted, “Xue Yuan, serve the emperor well!”
The footsteps gradually faded.
On the bed, the person couldn’t stop laughing, “Your Majesty, my father wants me to serve you well.”
The emperor snorted, kicking him.
Xue Yuan couldn’t stop laughing, bending over in amusement for a long time. Finally, he gave the emperor a loud kiss on the lips and got up to retrieve the food box sent by the servants.
Gu Yuanbai extended his hand in the candlelight by the bedside.
A red mark was visible.
Xue Yuan took out the food, placing the table beside the bed. Seeing the emperor looking at his hand, he chuckled and held it, “The first time, I was too excited and left bite marks all over your body. This time, I restrained myself and spared your hands and neck.”
As he helped Gu Yuanbai sit up, the emperor frowned, “It hurts.”
Xue Yuan blew on his hand, and Gu Yuanbai sighed, “It’s not my hand that hurts.”
“Then…” Xue Yuan swallowed, “Wherever it hurts, I’ll blow on it for you?”
Gu Yuanbai, face unchanged, withdrew his hand, looking down at his arm. What Xue Yuan said sounded nice, but in reality, his whole body was covered in bite marks. Xue Yuan had only retained enough sanity to spare the exposed areas.
After one round, it was already dark.
Tired and sleepy.
There was no restraint; it was all lies.
As Xue Yuan dished out the meal, he kept chattering, “Your Majesty, how about we make an agreement?”
Gu Yuanbai came back to his senses, “What agreement?”
“If I upset you again or if we have another dispute,” Xue Yuan suggested, “we should leave a gap for the other to kiss.”
Gu Yuanbai opened his mouth to eat the food he was fed, nodding slightly.
Xue Yuan was so pleased that he put down the bowls and chopsticks and kissed him several times again.
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