Chapter 189

Chapter 183: Fish and Water

With Shen Zechuan away on a journey and Ding Tao and Li Xiong absent, Ji Gang found himself alone at home, his days filled only with brewing tea and walking his bird. Skilled in cooking, he took care of Yao Wenyu for Shen Zechuan, attending to every detail with great dedication. In just half a month, Yao Wenyu's complexion visibly improved.

On sunny days, Qiao Tianya accompanied Yao Wenyu outside to bask in the sun. He had gathered a collection of old books, which Yao Wenyu would peruse in the courtyard.

Yao Wenyu's mobility was limited, so Qiao Tianya would assist him with his bedtime cleaning. Once, while wiping him down, Qiao Tianya noticed his ears turning crimson, avoiding eye contact in the bathroom. It was only in these moments that Qiao Tianya could glimpse the unpolished jade hidden within Yao Wenyu during the spring's fourth month.

Their conversations were scarce.

Aside from discussing business, Yao Wenyu spent most of his time sitting silently. He was often engrossed in a game of chess, contemplating each move, sometimes holding a book for an entire day without progress, reading where he left off in the morning until it was time to close it again at night. His sleepless nights were plagued by pain in his legs, which would ease slightly when Qiao Tianya played the zither.

Yao Wenyu drifted to sleep in the gentle melodies of the zither, as if meditating in a drizzle.

Qiao Tianya drank less alcohol now. He shaved his stubble and lounged in his chair with his arm resting on the back, gazing out the window more frequently. Occasionally, Yao Wenyu would observe him, noticing how the snow-capped mountains and thin mist outside the window seemed to enhance his tranquility, transforming the wanderer from the ends of the earth into a pine tree under the moonlight.

Yao Wenyu never called him Qiao Tianya, the one who needed to be welcomed and dusted off. When drunk, Qiao Tianya laughed, scolded, and wielded his sword with delight; when sober, he walked alone, exuding a chill. They were like shattered pieces of jade that had come together, complementing each other, piecing together their past glory.

* * *

"Recently, Fanzhou has become much quieter," Gao Zhongxiong commented, warming his hands by the brazier. "The Winged King must have heard about the news from Dungzhou and is now as skittish as a bird with a broken wing."

"The returning troops will pass through the northern border of Fanzhou. It's only natural that the Winged King would be on edge," Zhou Gui observed, sipping his hot tea.

"I can't quite grasp his logic," Gao Zhongxiong said. "Fanzhou is surrounded by enemies, yet the Winged King is hastily raising the banner of rebellion as if he's eager to meet his demise."

"The Winged King has declared himself 'Great Yin' in Fanzhou," Zhou Gui mused. "Not only did he renovate the original Fanzhou government office, but he's also been actively seeking beauties for his harem, as if he's planning to choose a queen. Rather than vying for power, it seems he just wants to indulge in pleasure while he can."

Unbeknownst to the Winged King, Shen Zechuan had already closed off any possibility of expanding into the northwest. The Winged King couldn't compete against Shen Zechuan, nor did he possess as many capable subordinates. His initial uprising was fueled by banditry issues, and his followers were mostly neighbors and acquaintances. Now, the military commander he appointed in Fanzhou was a butcher, and all his civilian officials were local gentry elders. Each day in court, they reported trivial matters like who stole whose donkey or who abducted whom.

"Squire, do you think the Winged King should remain standing for now?" Gao Zhongxiong asked. "We need him alive until next year. The Winged King knows he can't resist, so he sought aid from Lei Jingzhe. But with Lei Jingzhe's death, he's now utterly alone and must be terrified."

"The Winged King isn't an impenetrable shield," Zhou Gui noted. "What about Qi Zhuyin? What's your opinion on her?"

Yao Wenyu, still holding his warm tea, rejoined the conversation. "I believe Qi Zhuyin's reluctance to march against Zhongbo isn't solely due to Lu Guangbai's defection."

Zhou Gui made an intrigued sound. "Is there more to it?"

"When Hua and Qi held their grand wedding, the Northern Prince's princess consort personally traveled to Qidong to present gifts and retrieve her father. Qi Zhuyin was willing to defy Juedu's wrath to protect Lu Pingyan, suggesting that her actions might also signal a message to the North," Yao Wenyu explained, feeling the warmth return to his fingertips. "Considering the current territorial layout, if Qi Zhuyin obeys Juedu's command to invade Zhongbo, she'll be facing a two-front war. After reclaiming Zhongbo, if Juedu forces her to attack the North, she'd be exposing herself to a crisis. Should the Northern Iron Cavalry collapse, she would become the last line of defense in the east. All her troops would be engaged in battle, nullifying Qidong's geographical advantage. At that point, she'd have no choice but to withstand the pressure."

Gao Zhongxiong's eyes widened in realization. "In that case, even if Qi Zhuyin eventually defeats Amur, she won't have the strength left to contend against Qidu."

Yao Wenyu nodded and said, "The Eastern Defender's Army is Qi Zhuyin's support. Without these troops, Qidu would be able to replace her without much effort."

Zhou Gui was lost in thought for a long while before he could only respond, "Commander Zuo has remarkable foresight. How did Yuanzhuo deduce this? Before August, when Lord was still here, we all believed Qi Zhuyin would come."

"I surmised this as well after Lady Hua's grand wedding," said Yao Wenyu. "Prior to the marriage, General Gao feigned a pretext of no one being present to govern the border prefectures, thus delaying his immediate departure for the North and allowing Lord Li to return to Beili. The Empress Dowager dispatched Han Cheng to accompany the bride, her intentions unmistakably urging haste. Yet even after the wedding, General Gao remained stationed at the border prefectures, taking no further action."

The Empress Dowager sought to persuade Qi Zhuyin to mobilize troops, but she lacked the necessary leverage. Her last trump card, Hua Xiangyi, had been played, only for Qi Shiyu to suffer a stroke, rendering that card useless. Everyone, led by the Empress Dowager, gritted their teeth in frustration, wishing that Qi Zhuyin were a man.

As they continued their conversation around the brazier, Qiao Tianya suddenly lifted the curtain and announced, "The Lord has returned."

Zhou Gui and Gao Zhongxiong immediately stood up. Gao Zhongxiong intended to help Yao Wenyu with his wheelchair but was a step too late; Qiao Tianya effortlessly took over the task. With the curtain raised, Qiao Tianya pushed Yao Wenyu out.

* * *

Fei Sheng had been cautious on the journey, but as they approached September, even Shen Zechuan, lying against Xiao Chiye, couldn't withstand the cold and fell ill once more. He ran a high fever, as if it were burning away all his composure in Dunzhou.

The recruitment of the garrison troops in Dunzhou was of utmost importance. The advisors had waited in the study all day, and even while lying in bed, Shen Zechuan still couldn't shake off the thought of it.

"The ledger from Dunzhou should be handed over to Yuan Zhuo," Shen Zechuan said, his cheeks slightly flushed as he covered his eyes with his palm in the dim light. "Cheng Feng, assist me tonight in estimating the military expenses for Dunzhou. Send them to Tan Taihu no later than two days from now."

Xiao Chiye blocked his path and brushed away Shen Zechuan's damp hair, whispering, "I've got it all noted down."

Shen Zechuan didn't want Xiao Chiye to leave, but everything was urgent. The situation in Duanzhou was unclear, and the Border Sand Cavalry posed a grave threat. They couldn't afford to delay the fortifications in Dunzhou any longer. He gazed at Xiao Chiye with half-lidded eyes and said, "Tell Qiao Tianya to take care of the arm restraints. He knows what to do."

Xiao Chiye nodded and watched Shen Zechuan close his eyes. After a moment, he rose swiftly, changed his clothes, and left. As he descended the steps, he instructed Fei Sheng, "When the medicine is ready, wake Lord up and make him drink it."

Even back at the residence, Fei Sheng personally oversaw the preparation of Shen Zechuan's medicine. Following Xiao Chiye a few steps, he nodded in agreement.

"Should Master arrive while Lord is awake, please invite him in. If Lord is still asleep, ask Master to return later," Chen Yang draped a cloak over Xiao Chiye as he put on his robe. "If Master inquires about Dunzhou, omit the matter of Fuxian Peak. I'll personally discuss it with Master later."

Xiao Chiye paused and looked at the sky.

"I'll be back before the ninth hour of the night," he said, stepping out the door. "Remember to prepare some sugar for the medicine, or you can substitute it with honey water... "

His voice faded as he hurriedly left.

Upon arriving at the study, everyone stood up to pay their respects. Xiao Chiye had already taken his seat and wasted no time with unnecessary talk. Yao Wenyu examined the records from Yan and Dunzhou, while Kong Ling meticulously recounted the situation.

On this day, none of the advisors dared to smoke; they all sat upright with solemn expressions. The Duke's presence weighed heavily upon them, leaving no room for frivolous flattery as they presented their matters concisely.

Dunzhou was a complicated situation, and the key challenge lay in its distance from Cizhou, with Fanzhou lying in between. Many matters required careful deliberation. Zhou Gui, assuming that Xiao Chiye was less familiar with Zhongbo's terrain than Shen Zechuan, had ordered a map to be presented. However, Xiao Chiye had recently gained a reputation for his logistical operations in Libei, and he had memorized the Zhongbo map with remarkable clarity, not making a single mistake during their discussion.

They lit lamps in the study to continue their meeting, while Shen Zechuan dozed on and off inside the room.

When Fei Sheng brought in the medicine, Shen Zechuan stirred awake at the sound. He drank it without even asking for sugar, then promptly fell back asleep. Fei Sheng closed the door, instructing the attendants in the courtyard to remove their shoes and the maidservants to take off their jewelry so as to move about noiselessly.

Perhaps due to the quiet, Shen Zechuan slept longer than usual. When he woke up again, hearing some movement outside, he assumed it was Xiao Chiye returning. But when Xiao Chiye didn't come in right away, Shen Zechuan drifted off once more. Halfway through the night, he was startled awake by the heat, only to find Xiao Chiye sleeping soundly on top of him. Trapped and unable to move, Shen Zechuan sweated profusely until dawn, when he finally regained some energy.

Weakly, Shen Zechuan placed his hand on Xiao Chiye's back but touched a piece of gauze instead. Immediately, he woke up fully and tried to sit up, only to be pushed back down by Xiao Chiye.

"Mmm?" Xiao Chiye, face buried, murmured, "Thirsty?"

Shen Zechuan explored the gauze for a while, growing increasingly alarmed by what he felt.

Xiao Chiye caught Shen Zechuan's hand, preventing him from probing further, saying, "What are you touching? It hurts."

After a brief moment of eye contact, Xiao Chiye suddenly withdrew his arm, pinning Shen Zechuan down so he couldn't move.

Shen Zechuan gazed at Xiao Chiye and said softly, "Didn't you say not to hit me?"

Sick and weakened, his voice was raspy. Looking at Xiao Chiye like that, it seemed as if he would well up with tears any moment.

After the incident in Tea State, Xiao Chiye had agreed with Ji Gang that Shen Zechuan would be whipped every time he was injured. Shen Zechuan had coaxed him in Dunzhou and was punished severely. He thought that Xiao Chiye would let it go, but who could have expected that Xiao Chiye would act so swiftly, delivering the punishment while he slept.

Xiao Chiye tapped Shen Zechuan's forehead and leaned close, feeling his fever subside. He lazily hummed an "mm" as he lay bare-chested, his arms and back wrapped in layers of bandages. Xiao Chiye had been injured on his right arm and back during his battle against Hason in Tudalungqi. The old and new wounds overlapped, causing a numbing pain.

The pain from the whipping made Shen Zechuan's fingertips curl just from touching the bandages. Xiao Chiye's proximity left him breathless. He hated Xiao Chiye with all his heart, but lying there, all he could do was repeat himself over and over again.

He regretted it.

* * *

Ding Tao sat under the eaves with Li Xiong, playing with a piece of string, looking gloomy. Seeing that Ji Gang had been standing under the eaves for half an hour, she tugged at his sleeve and asked, "Why isn't Grandfather sitting down?"

Ji Gang was still lost in thought and asked Ding Tao, "Did I hit too hard?"

Ding Tao tried to reassure him, "Master demands it, and since it has come to this, there's nothing else you can do."

Ji Gang sat down uneasily, then rose again after a moment and said, "I'll fetch some medicine then."

Fei Sheng had been waiting in the corridor and hurried over to greet Ji Gang upon seeing him.

Ji Gang looked towards the main house, as if he wanted to say something but held it back. He passed the medicine to Fei Sheng and, after a long pause, asked, "When Lord Xiao and Lan Zhou were on their mission in Dunzhou, did they stay together?"

With Xiao Chiye's instructions ringing in his mind, Fei Sheng maintained his composure and replied, "Yes, Lord Xiao and Master are like fish and water, inseparable, just as the storybooks describe."

Seeing Fei Sheng's composed manner, Ji Gang began to doubt himself. True friends were hard to come by, and Lan Zhou and Xiao Er had a bond that transcended life and death. It was understandable that their intimacy surpassed that of ordinary people... But something still didn't sit right with Ji Gang. However, he refused to entertain the alternative thought, unwilling to use such speculations against Shen Zechuan. When Ji Mu was still alive, they had arranged marriage prospects for him, and Shen Zechuan had said that he would marry one day too. For this, Hua Pingting had scouted several young women from neighboring households, all from humble backgrounds. As long as Shen Zechuan approved, they would visit these families.

"Master?" Fei Sheng ventured, calling out softly.

Ji Gang folded his hands behind his back and said, "Stay here then. I'll come back later."

Ji Gang wanted to talk to Xiao Chiye again, but the latter was too busy. He seemed to be constantly on the move between the residence and the Zhou household. Just as matters in Dunzhou settled, news from Libei arrived. As soon as Shen Zechuan recovered, Xiao Chiye would have to set off for Bianbo Camp.

"Lan Zhou, the winter clothes will reach Libei in September. You can send someone to meet them at Bianbo Camp," Shen Zechuan said as he tied an arm band around Xiao Chiye's wrist. "Is it snowing heavily in Libei?"

"It comes and goes," Xiao Chiye replied. "It often rains mixed with snow now. Maintaining the horse trails is crucial. We must ensure that when the real snow comes in November, the trails remain unobstructed."

"I've ensured that the military provisions for next spring are settled," Shen Zechuan's hand glided down the arm bindings to Xiao Chiye's palm. He looked up at him and continued, "The horse trail from Dunzhou to Bianbo Camp will commence construction next year."

They aimed to connect Zhongbo and Linbei, allowing Bianbo Camp direct access to Cizhou and Dunzhou. It was crucial for Dunzhou to have swift communication.

Xiao Chiye might not be able to return for two months. He had to keep a close eye on the entire region of Linbei and calculate the supplies needed in the battle zones, in case heavy snow collapsed the horse trails or blocked the roads, leading to insufficient supplies and a bitter struggle for the troops.

"If Ding Tao misbehaves, send him back to Dajing. Elder Sister-in-law can handle him."

As he spoke, Xiao Chiye bowed his head, guiding Shen Zechuan's feet to step onto his own before holding the back of his lover's head and sealing their lips together.

Their clothes rustled as Shen Zechuan leaned on Xiao Chiye's arm, immersing himself in his scent.

Xiao Chiye adored seeing Shen Zechuan tilt his head up like that—it was a plea, filled with desire during their embrace. He bore all of Shen Zechuan's weight effortlessly, capable of lifting him up with ease. It started as a mere kiss, but Xiao Chiye didn't let go, and they became entangled in each other's breaths.

"I've already asked Elder Sister-in-law to prepare," Xiao Chiye said. "Chen Yang will come to fetch you and your master to Dajing before the New Year."

Shen Zechuan's breathing was ragged from the kiss as he replied, "I'll prepare the gifts..."

Silly Lan Zhou.

Xiao Chiye held Shen Zechuan tenderly, deepening their kiss with growing intensity.

Xiao Chiye arrived in haste and departed just as swiftly. The skies over Ci Prefecture were shrouded in mist on a gloomy day, yet he braved the rain with whip scars etched upon him as he journeyed northward. With the Three Prefectures of Zhongbo temporarily at peace, he stationed Tan Taihu in Dun Prefecture, fashioning him into a wall of defense for Shen Zechuan.

With Chizhou entering a period of respite, Shen Zechuan seemed to have sheathed his sharp edges, retreating into a state of dormancy. However, it wasn't long before Xue Xiuzhuo, far away in Qudu, experienced the full force of this hibernation.

On the Cold Clothes Festival in October, Tea State, with the patronage of the Yan family, opened its halls to host a grand banquet, inviting talents from all corners of the world. Whether they were scholars secluded in mountains or officials hidden in bustling cities, all those accomplished in scholarly pursuits received invitations for insightful conversations.

Should it be an unknown figure, naturally, no turmoil would ensue. Yet, within mere three days this time, the ox carts of Ye Zhou have all set in motion, drawing the assembly of the world's virtuous and heroic figures.

The reason being that the person who had issued the challenge was none other than Yao Wenyu.