Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Fang Zhihe stayed at the inn opposite for three days. This inn was different from the usual official and merchant inns; inside were farm families who lived there long-term and, with the help of the local officials, had set up a commoners' inn similar to an official post station.

During those three days, Fang Zhihe rarely went out except occasionally to find food. An aunt lived across the hall from him, skilled in tailoring. After buying some pastries, Fang Zhihe grabbed some fabric on his way back, gave the pastries to the aunt in exchange for sewing tips.

Yunzheng sent him a message saying that Lu Wuyou had written him a letter, the gist of which was something like "Suppression is worse than guidance," and at the end, he asked, "Has Fang Zhihe come looking for you?"

Yunzheng said he hadn't replied yet and came to ask Fang Zhihe how he should respond. Unexpectedly, Fang Zhihe glanced at him and said coldly, "Just say whatever you want. Focus on curing your water."

Yunzheng was floored. Had Buddha, Guanyin, and the Jade Emperor all shown up? His Majesty was actually this harsh to Lord Lu?!

Seeing him standing there stunned, Fang Zhihe reached up to rub his forehead and asked calmly, "What does Lin Biqing have to say?"

Yunzheng replied, "I've already got the ledger. He forged an exact copy and put it back. There are also a few scattered bits of minor evidence, all recorded."

Fang Zhihe's brow eased slightly, and he said softly, "Well done. I've been busy with some things these past few days. Sorry to have put you and Magistrate Lin through all that."

Yunzheng shook his head. "Not at all."

Fang Zhihe rubbed his sleeve between his fingers and smiled. "The prep work is going well. I'll go meet them tomorrow."

Yunzheng asked, "Should I bring Lord Lu?"

Fang Zhihe shot him a look and said coldly, "Yes."

Yunzheng got it, said nothing more, and bowed out.

That evening, after saying goodbye to the aunt, Fang Zhihe carried a robe he'd sewn himself back to the courtyard. The flowers and plants were still there, silent and still.

He headed straight to his room with his stuff. When he got there, he saw a kite hanging by the door, a little beat up but carefully mended with bamboo strips, with a few extra ribbons added to its tail.

He paused a moment, his tension melting away. He reached out to touch the kite, a faint smile unconsciously curving his lips.

So... Lu Wuyou did have a heart after all.

*

That afternoon, Lu Wuyou went with Miss Aning to help her find her missing family. Her family was really hospitable and insisted on treating him to dinner at Drunken Immortal before letting him go.

She was quiet, gentle but sharp. Lu Wuyou was vaguely reminded of his own younger sister, but she'd been lost years ago… no use dwelling on it.

He'd had a bit too much to drink. Her older brother, warm and eager, kept offering to entrust his sister to him. Lu Wuyou felt a strange haze and paused before declining.

He said, "I already have a son. I can't hold this young lady up any longer." And besides my son... I also have Changlin?

Yeah, Changlin too.

He shook his head, trying to push out the person who'd popped into his mind, and slowly poured himself another cup.

It wasn't until the moon was high that he stumbled back to the little courtyard, leaning on Aning.

Fang Zhihe's little courtyard.

He pushed open the door, stood in the yard a moment, and mumbled, "Fang Zhihe... you really have a temper."

Fang Zhihe was sitting on the stone bench, watching him. That one look was full of charm. He swallowed and said, "Changlin… is better looking than you." He repeated it, and the Fang Zhihe in front of him disappeared.

Aning steadied him and said softly, "Brother Lu, let's go back to the room."

He frowned, leaning weakly on the stone table, and muttered, "He won't let me marry. I don't dare... Xiaoyuan is my kid."

Aning soothed him, "Why listen to him? You don't even like him. Just do what makes you happy."

Lu Wuyou coughed. He could normally hold his liquor, but today he felt weird—hot and restless, couldn't control his movements.

Fang Zhihe was woken by the noise. He threw on a robe and went out, only to see the woman helping Lu Wuyou toward his room. Lu Wuyou looked at him through half-closed eyes, and Fang Zhihe shot the woman a cold look.

Lu Wuyou said, "Oh, it's you. Finally decided to come back?"

Fang Zhihe stared at him and said flatly, "Looks like you're having a great time."

Lu Wuyou snorted and ignored him.

The woman smiled sweetly as she helped Lu Wuyou and turned to go inside.

Fang Zhihe suddenly said, "Is Fang Minshu that eager for me to give her a quick death?"

Aning stopped dead. She turned back and gave Fang Zhihe a cold look, then laughed. "Brother Fang, what are you saying? And with that title... don't scare people."

Fang Zhihe focused on the restless Lu Wuyou. The guy was squirming against that woman, looking... pretty eager. Fang Zhihe's face darkened. He turned, pulled a sword from beside the door, and said calmly, "If you can leave this place alive tonight, tell that whole family of snakes that I'll have them cut into a thousand pieces one day."

"Heh." Aning's eyes went cold. She let go of Lu Wuyou, drew the sword from his belt, and shoved him aside. Then she aimed the blade at Fang Zhihe, sneering, "Your Majesty is really cruel, not even sparing your own family. Too bad Sister Fang always looked out for you—she was too naive. Besides, with that body of yours—a cripple with no martial arts..." She looked down at Fang Zhihe's frail form, twirled her sword, and struck right at his midsection. With a *shiiip*, blood sprayed.

She laughed lightly. "What can you do to me?"

Fang Zhihe took a cut to his abdomen—not deep, not shallow. His sword hand stayed steady as ever, even as blood poured out. He glanced down at it indifferently and paid it no mind.

When she lunged again, Aning stepped forward and stabbed through Fang Zhihe's left shoulder. Before the blood could even flow, Fang Zhihe swung his sword and drove it into her. With a flash of steel, he coughed once and let go of the hilt.

The sword had gone straight through her heart. Even after he let go, it stuck there in her chest.

One strike, instant death.

Only then did Fang Zhihe start coughing violently. His shoulder hurt so bad his hand shook. He turned and went back to his room to find hemostatic medicine and bandages, leaving a trail of blood. He walked through the blood, shaking from the pain, but feeling surprisingly calm.

After roughly bandaging himself, he held his belly and went to Lu Wuyou. The man had been shoved to the ground and lay there unconscious, clearly drugged. Fang Zhihe was a little pissed—if it had been poison, Lu Wuyou would deserve to die.

He half dragged, half carried the man onto the bed. The wound on his belly bled again from the effort.

Lu Wuyou's nose brushed Fang Zhihe's hand, and he slowly opened his eyes.

Fang Zhihe gritted his teeth and wrapped another layer of bandage around himself. Lu Wuyou looked dazed. He stared at Fang Zhihe for a long beat, then suddenly grabbed his hand.

"What're you doing?" Fang Zhihe said through gritted teeth.

Lu Wuyou blinked. He just felt hot all over and wanted someone to touch him. But this guy wouldn't listen—so stubborn.

Seeing Lu Wuyou kept staring without saying anything, Fang Zhihe thought he might have been drugged silly. He quickly patted his face. "Do you know who you are?"

Lu Wuyou blinked. "I'm Lu Wuyou."

Fang Zhihe muttered, "At least he's not stupid."

He gave Lu Wuyou a suspicious glance. "Who am I?"

Lu Wuyou didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed Fang Zhihe's hand and sat up. Taking advantage of his distraction, he shoved Fang Zhihe onto the bed with an eagerness that was hard to put into words. In an instant, he ripped off the white underclothes Fang Zhihe was wearing.

Fang Zhihe stared at him, stunned. "What are you—ah..."

His ankle was caught in a firm grip, and his legs were yanked apart.

Fang Zhihe took a deep breath. The wound on his abdomen cramped under the pressure. He begged hesitantly, "Lu Yuntai, not today... you're drunk... ah!... no..."

Lu Wuyou pressed down on him, eyes red, breathing heavily. "Yes."

Fang Zhihe stared at the canopy, his face twisted in pain. His mind was filled with the memory of Lu Wuyou going to the street years ago to buy him storybooks. Fang Zhanglin always asked for the dried tofu from the street, and every time Lu Wuyou went to buy some for him, he would also bring Fang Zhihe some little trinkets.

He liked the little trinkets Lu Wuyou brought.

He liked Lu Wuyou the most.

He wiped the blood from his mouth and reached out to embrace Lu Wuyou. Lu Wuyou cooperated, immediately lowering his head to hug him back, and whispered coaxingly in his ear, "Changlin, I like you."

"Would you call me Yuntai?"

Fang Zhihe felt his hands turning cold. He pulled his hands back and let Lu Wuyou hold him tightly. He murmured, "Yuntai."

"Author's Note"

... I really can't write, orz.