King Dingnan’s residence was in a bit of a flurry when Empress Dowager Wen arrived first and Jiang Wu followed right after.
Since the visit was sudden, the entire household was in a bit of a panic. Only Empress Dowager Wen couldn’t help but laugh, “This child must have come to see Ah Zhi. There’s no need for such formalities.”
Despite her words, Dingnan Wangfei personally came to greet them in the courtyard.
Jiang Wu ignored her pleasantries, his eyes scanning the courtyard as he asked, “Where is Ah Gui?”
Dingnan Wangfei froze.
Ah Gui and Ah Zhi, whether in appearance or breed, were worlds apart.
Empress Dowager Wen quickly responded, “Ah Zhi often stays with Ah Gui. You see, he must be looking for Ah Zhi, or else why would he be searching for Ah Gui?”
Dingnan Wangfei harbored some silent dissatisfaction.
Since Yin Wuzhi’s return, though he hadn’t said anything, as his mother, she could tell that he seemed to be in a low mood.
Empress Dowager Wen had vaguely mentioned some details, but even she didn’t know what exactly had happened between the two. Dingnan Wangfei couldn’t help but imagine the worst, thinking that Yin Wuzhi must have been wronged in some way.
However, the other party was still the Emperor. Without knowing the full story, the Wangfei didn’t dare to speak out. She simply asked, “What does His Majesty need Ah Gui for?”
It was an unnecessary question—what business could the Emperor have with a dog?
Jiang Wu was originally going to request dog meat, but what came out of his mouth was, “I want to take Ah Gui back to the palace.”
Dingnan Wangfei couldn’t help but laugh, “Ah Gui cannot give his life for Your Majesty.”
Her words carried a faintly accusatory tone, and Empress Dowager Wen gently tugged at her sleeve. Jiang Wu, however, didn’t seem to notice. He thought using Ah Gui for such a purpose wasn’t out of the question; it would just be a little messy.
He had no interest in continuing the conversation. “Take me to see it.”
His expression remained cold, revealing no hint of his thoughts. This made Dingnan Wangfei hesitate, but she stifled her displeasure and instructed someone to take Jiang Wu to Yin Wuzhi’s courtyard.
Yin Wuzhi had already packed his things and was preparing to leave. Ah Gui was clinging to his legs, circling around him and whimpering, clearly reluctant to part.
“I’ll bring you back some cured meat,” Yin Wuzhi said as he struggled to move with Ah Gui wrapped around his feet. “I’ll have Grandma Wu prepare extra for you. Sound good?”
“Woof.”
“Even if it doesn’t work out, there’s nothing I can do. I can’t take you with me this time; there are other people coming along too.” Yin Wuzhi continued to shuffle his feet while talking to the dog, “I’d love to bring you, but it’s too far, and it’s too hot there. It barely snows in the winter. Look at all your fur—you’d roast alive.”
“Woof woof.”
“Alright, enough whining. You’re a grown dog.”
…
Chen Ziyan chuckled, “Ah Zhi and Ah Gui really do get along well.”
His words broke the moment between Yin Wuzhi and Ah Gui. When Yin Wuzhi looked up and saw Jiang Wu, his lips instinctively pressed into a thin line.
Ah Gui suddenly switched from clinging to Yin Wuzhi’s clothes to happily bounding over to Jiang Wu. The big black dog rolled at his feet, flipping onto its back with its paws in the air, looking up at him: “Woof, woof woof.”
Jiang Wu understood human affection toward dogs, even if he didn’t think dogs could fully comprehend human language. To him, such interactions were irrelevant.
He stared indifferently at Ah Gui, who quickly jumped up and placed its paws on his lap, trying to lick his face. Qi Hanmiao quickly said, “Show some respect.”
But Ah Gui didn’t understand. It enthusiastically licked Jiang Wu’s impassive face, leaving even Chen Ziyan a little surprised.
“How is Ah Gui so affectionate with His Majesty?”
Qi Hanmiao was equally shocked, and he felt a bit of panic over Ah Gui’s behavior.
The Emperor’s face, so dignified and noble, surely wasn’t something a silly dog could just lick. Even though Ah Gui was known as a divine dog, upsetting the Emperor would cost it its head.
Ah Gui started tugging at Jiang Wu’s clothing, pulling him in the direction of Yin Wuzhi.
Jiang Wu, like a rag doll, was easily dragged off his chair by the dog. Today, he was wearing a light gray cloak trimmed with fur, along with a furry scarf and hat. As Ah Gui tugged, Jiang Wu began to slide off the chair, his head quickly disappearing into the fur-lined layers, leaving only his black hair mingling with the white sable trim—his noble face completely concealed.
Chen Ziyan and Qi Hanmiao both reached out at the same time, pulling him back into his chair. Ah Gui released him and barked, “Woof!”
For such a large dog, it could be quite intimidating when it wanted to be.
Both men withdrew their hands at the same time, and Ah Gui once again tried to bite at Jiang Wu’s clothes.
Yin Wuzhi sternly commanded, “Ah Gui, let go.”
Ah Gui whimpered pitifully and laid down at Jiang Wu’s feet.
Yin Wuzhi called again, “Come here.”
Ah Gui glanced at Yin Wuzhi, then at Jiang Wu, whining unhappily as it slowly made its way over.
Jiang Wu’s hat, which had been holding up on his face, slipped, leaving only one eye exposed to the outside. Calmly watching the large black dog, Jiang Wu said, “I want to bring it back to the palace.”
Qi Hanmiao, slow to react, finally adjusted the hat covering Jiang Wu’s face, inwardly thinking that even in such a disheveled state, the Emperor remained composed in both speech and demeanor, as expected of His Majesty.
Yin Wuzhi responded, “Ah Gui is unruly and cannot enter the palace.”
That’s exactly what Jiang Wu wanted—if it made a mistake, it could be cooked into soup.
“If I want it in the palace, it will enter the palace.”
Yin Wuzhi’s expression darkened. “I will not allow Ah Gui into the palace.”
Jiang Wu glanced at him.
Interesting.
Yin Wuzhi seemed more serious than before. Jiang Wu figured that after Ah Gui was cooked, Yin Wuzhi would take things even more seriously.
Jiang Wu commanded, “Summon someone to catch the dog and bring it to the palace.”
Qi Hanmiao quietly reminded him, “The guards are outside.”
“Call them in.”
Qi Hanmiao hesitated but moved away. Chen Ziyan looked around nervously and coughed softly. “Your Majesty, I…”
“You, go catch the dog.”
Chen Ziyan: “…”
Yin Wuzhi added, “Into the house.”
Ah Gui barked once at Chen Ziyan before darting into the house.
Chen Ziyan sighed and had no choice but to follow.
In Yin Wuzhi’s courtyard, there was a newly planted osmanthus tree, now covered in snow. When the wind blew, snowflakes softly drifted down.
Against the backdrop of Chen Ziyan crouching by the window, calling for the dog, Yin Wuzhi silently watched Jiang Wu for a long time before coldly asking, “What are you trying to do now? If you’re dissatisfied, take it out on me. What does Ah Gui have to do with it?”
Jiang Wu glanced at Chen Ziyan chasing the dog, indifferent.
Yin Wuzhi said, “It’s just a dog.”
But unfortunately, it was Yin Wuzhi’s dog.
Taking two steps closer, Yin Wuzhi added, “What, was Brother Chen not serving you well enough while I was away? You couldn’t even spare my dog?”
Jiang Wu didn’t understand what he meant.
Yin Wuzhi was now standing before him, looking down at him with a faint trace of malice in his tone: “What can Ah Gui do? Warm your bed, feed you, or… serve you?”
Jiang Wu noticed Yin Wuzhi’s emotions and looked up, responding blandly, “Make soup.”
The veins on the back of Yin Wuzhi’s hand bulged as he fought the urge to strangle him. “You wouldn’t dare.”
With that, Jiang Wu felt at ease.
He calmly closed his eyes.
Yin Wuzhi, like an enraged beast, breathed heavily, pacing back and forth in front of Jiang Wu. Finally, he turned back and asked, “What do you want?”
Jiang Wu thought for a moment. He didn’t really want anything.
“You want me to kiss you, don’t you?”
Jiang Wu’s gaze lingered on Yin Wuzhi’s lips. Yin Wuzhi sneered, eyes full of mockery. “Do you really want it that badly, Your Majesty? So, is it that I like you, or you like me?”
Jiang Wu still stared at his lips, replying casually, “Either works.”
Either works, meaning it didn’t matter to him.
It was truly laughable. Yin Wuzhi had cared for him so genuinely, so attentively, but in the end, Jiang Wu didn’t care about him at all.
Yin Wuzhi laughed bitterly.
A faint redness flashed at the corner of his eyes, like a fleeting drop of blood.
“Fine,” Yin Wuzhi said, nodding at Jiang Wu. “Tonight, leave the palace. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”
“No.”
“No?” Yin Wuzhi braced himself against the sides of Jiang Wu’s wheelchair, leaning in close. His warm breath brushed against Jiang Wu’s face, his wet eyelashes trembling silently. “I’ll take Ah Gui with me. You won’t be able to lay a finger on him.”
Jiang Wu regretted coming so early. He should have waited for Yin Wuzhi to leave first.
He said, “Qi is very hot.”
“That was a lie I told Ah Gui. Surely, Your Majesty’s mind isn’t like a dog’s?”
Yin Wuzhi had actually insulted him.
Jiang Wu said, “You deserve to die.”
Yin Wuzhi’s lips brushed lightly against Jiang Wu’s.
Jiang Wu: “?”
Breaths mingled as Yin Wuzhi restrained himself, whispering, “Tonight, leave the palace.”
Jiang Wu replied, “Tired.”
“…This is my last night in Guanjing.”
“Now.”
“Now is not possible.”
“Now.”
“It’s not possible.”
“Now.”
Yin Wuzhi straightened up, glancing at Chen Ziyan, who was still chasing Ah Gui in the house, then turned back and lifted Jiang Wu out of the courtyard.
Jiang Wu kept staring at his lips, saying, “Here.”
Yin Wuzhi, expressionless, shot him a look with his damp, dark eyes. “In broad daylight, have you no shame?”
Shamelessness was not a problem for him.
Qi Hanmiao had already called for the guard captain, Qiu Yuting, and several guards followed behind. Jiang Wu didn’t spare any of them a glance. He asked Yin Wuzhi, who was carrying him, “Where are you taking me?”
“Shut up.”
Yin Wuzhi carried him to hide behind a rock. The wheelchair tilted, and Jiang Wu’s head bumped against his chest. Yin Wuzhi glanced down at him, waited for Qi Hanmiao and the others to pass, then placed the wheelchair back on the ground, leaning Jiang Wu back against it.
He picked him up again and carried him into a woodshed.
Once the door was closed, Yin Wuzhi turned around.
Yin Wuzhi grasped Jiang Wu’s chin, saying, “You came all the way to King Dingnan’s mansion for this, didn’t you?”
At first, Jiang Wu hadn’t intended to, but seeing Yin Wuzhi made him suddenly want it.
He said without hesitation, “Give it to me.”
Yin Wuzhi gritted his teeth, picked him up, and placed him on a pile of firewood stacked to the side. Jiang Wu tipped backward uncontrollably, and his lips were instantly sealed.
The first time he was let go, he said, “No, that’s not right.”
Yin Wuzhi, cautious not to kiss him too much, intentionally left him time to catch his breath and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Not fierce enough.”
“…”
“Still not right.”
Yin Wuzhi cursed inwardly, “What’s wrong this time?”
“I can breathe.”
“… Do you want to die?”
“Want to faint.”
Yin Wuzhi was so frustrated he nearly shattered his teeth. He was sure Jiang Wu was doing this on purpose, deliberately trying to make a fool of him.
How could he fall for someone like this, and worse yet, let that person figure out his feelings? He warned, “Don’t push your luck.”
“If you can’t manage it, I’ll take Ah Gui back to the palace.”
“It’s just a dog.”
“Just a dog? What could possibly make you go to such lengths?” Jiang Wu’s gaze swept over the moisture at the corner of his eyes as he said, “Yin Wuzhi, was that kiss the other day merely a coincidence?”
“…”
Half an incense stick later, Jiang Wu, who had almost passed out, was shaken awake by Yin Wuzhi’s forceful grip.
Opening his eyes, he saw Yin Wuzhi’s dark expression and complained mournfully, “Not enough.”
“I’m leaving tonight.”
“Would you be better at night?”
Yin Wuzhi still couldn’t figure out what exactly Jiang Wu wanted. He said, “You need to state your request clearly.”
“Fly.”
Yin Wuzhi: “?”
Recalling that day, Jiang Wu slowly said, “Under the hazy moon of the Great Luo Heavens, riding a horse through the void.”
“…” This was originally a reference to the joy and pride of a scholar who had passed the imperial exam, riding into the court to meet the emperor. But at this moment, it carried an entirely different meaning.
Yin Wuzhi said, “Explain yourself more clearly.”
“I’m overjoyed, content, elated, as if ascending to bliss.”
Outside, frantic voices could be heard. It was Qi Hanmiao: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, where are you?”
“Woof woof.”
Hearing Ah Gui’s bark, Yin Wuzhi picked him up from the firewood pile and placed him back into the wheelchair, saying, “Weren’t you too lazy to come out?”
“If you can manage it, I will come out.”
“Woof!”
Ah Gui was already pawing at the door of the woodshed.
Yin Wuzhi pressed his lips together and coldly asked, “If I do this, you’ll leave Ah Gui alone?”
“Yes.”
Yin Wuzhi was silent for a long while. “I can give it a try.”
