Chapter 83

Chapter 83

The four called on Lian Xiusheng to referee, but when he called out his ruling, none of them paid him any mind—they all buried their heads in counting what they'd pulled out of the pond. When the final tally was made, Lu Zhen had the most, Lian Cheng second, and the remaining two were evenly matched until Zhang Xian discovered Li Wan had been using stones to pad his count, which settled the ranking.

"Li Wan's just like his old man—comes off as honest and simple, but sells you out when you least expect it!" Zhang Xian, also like his father, was just as competitive and ran his mouth without thinking.

Lian Cheng was still stroking his chin, pondering how to eat the stuff they'd just dug up, when he heard Lu Zhen yell "stop fighting!" Turning around, he saw Li Wan and Zhang Xian tangled together, going at it with punches and kicks.

And martial arts master Lian Xiusheng stood nearby, looking like he was enjoying the show!

Lu Zhen rushed to intervene but, being the worst fighter of the bunch, got kicked flat on his back. Lian Cheng pulled them apart and asked what the hell was going on.

Li Wan's face was red with rage as he spat, "Zhang Xian, you old bastard! How dare you talk about my father! You've got some nerve!"

"I said what I said—do I ever get upset when you call my father 'Old Slick'?" Zhang Xian winked. "My boy, don't tell me I hit the mark—that honest act of your father's is all put on?"

Li Wan stormed off, fuming. Lian Cheng shot a confused look at Lu Zhen, who had picked himself up off the ground. Both bewildered, they asked Zhang Xian if they'd lost their minds.

"Who knows what's gotten into him—let him have his little fit." Zhang Xian said, then calmly invited them both to change clothes and go drink and enjoy the flowers on the boat.

So Zhang Xian and Lu Zhen walked ahead, while Lian Cheng and Lian Xiusheng followed behind. Lian Xiusheng explained to Lian Cheng why Li Wan had suddenly blown up—apparently, among the treasures dug up from beneath the prince's manor, many were personal belongings of Crown Prince Jiao from back in the day. The current emperor intended to send a warning, having recently cut off Prince Hui's salt trade and preparing to cut off his tea trade as well, though he hadn't made a move on that yet. The young prince, thinking of his father's years of patience still being met with suspicion, and his friend mocking Prince Hui for hiding his sharpness behind clumsiness—of course he lost his temper.

"I hadn't heard a single word about this."

Lian Xiusheng couldn't tell if his third brother truly didn't know or was playing dumb, so he said, "This matter... the current emperor likely assigned it to Assistant Magistrate Meng. Third brother probably shouldn't hold your breath on that one."

Lian Cheng replied, "I know that all too well. The emperor promoted me only to add more glory to the Lian family—how could he let me near confidential matters? He's got a soft spot for you, but I..."

He trailed off mid-sentence, and Lian Xiusheng pressed him to go on.

"Are you two... involved?" Lian Cheng's heart was in turmoil.

"..." Lian Xiusheng pondered for a long moment. "Third brother is truly audacious, daring to think such a filthy thought about the emperor's wisdom."

"Good, then. Let me tell you, brother—don't think that just because you like men, you're so special. Forming cliques, corrupting morals, messing around in the harem—none of that has anything to do with whether you like men. Don't go messing around with those noble types." Lian Cheng finished, clasped his hands behind his back, quite pleased with himself, and gave a sideways glance at Lian Xiusheng. "Brother's words—you got all that?"

Lian Xiusheng also bowed with clasped hands, saying he'd keep it in mind.

After changing clothes, they boarded the boat and were immediately teased by a bunch of old-timers. Lian Cheng made small talk, then went with Lian Xiusheng to a small wooden boat to row across the lake. Lian Xiusheng had brought his qin, and while Lian Cheng rowed with gusto, he sat cross-legged across from him and played. Lian Cheng recognized the tune as "The Old Immortal's Ode" and was about to compliment his taste when his younger brother's fingers shifted, and he began playing "Lament of the Long Gate Palace."

Lian Cheng had a deadpan look, saying he wished he had a flatbread to wrap some scallions in—ah, that would be delicious.

But the qin music went right on.

Lian Xiusheng also murmured the words: "The king resents his concubine's jealousy, locks her away at Long Gate. Dancing sleeves flatter the new favorite, while furrowed brows remember old favors."

Lian Cheng yanked the oars, saying: "Flowers bloom and fall in their own time, all subject to the Lord of Spring's will."

Lian Xiusheng recited: "Birds fly in pairs, beasts stand side by side. If a man doesn't do right, how's he any better than them?"

Lian Cheng threw down the oars, leaned close to that annoying face of his, and said through gritted teeth: "Nothing exists in the first place—where would dust land?"

But Lian Xiusheng's fingers plucked, hooked, and strummed with perfect precision, and the qin strings rang out with beautiful notes, like flowing water, like gentle pine breeze.

"The heart breaks, the strings are about to snap; the sorrowful heart is heavy at night." Lian Xiusheng stopped playing and asked with a smile, "I was only playing the qin for you, third brother—why are you angry with me?"

Lian Cheng let out a cold snort, saying he could play too.

Lian Xiusheng set the qin down on his brother's lap. "What tune can you play, third brother?"

Lian Cheng smirked, looking all smug. "Watch this."

After a moment, Lian Cheng finished his preparations, all seriousness and concentration, plucking the strings while reciting: "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are."

Lian Xiusheng said it was very unique, and at the same time, among the several large lotus leaves, he broke off a branch of blooming lotus flower and offered it to Lian Cheng. Lian Cheng saw it was indeed exceptional and reached out with both hands to take it, but Lian Xiusheng withdrew it and asked, "What have you prepared for me, third brother?"

Lian Cheng, carefree and unbothered, asked boldly, "What do you want?"

"Give me your kerchief, third brother?" Lian Xiusheng extended his hand in request.

Lian Cheng kept a straight face, saying he hadn't used handkerchiefs in ages—when he sweated or shed tears, he just wiped with his sleeve, clean and simple.

I don't believe it, Lian Xiusheng thought. These things aren't prepared by third brother himself, so it's not his call. And third brother isn't the type to keep track of what accessories he wears. With Tong Xue's careful nature, there's no way she wouldn't have tucked a couple of kerchiefs into his sleeves.

"I'll give you mine first." Lian Xiusheng pulled out his own kerchief from his sleeve—a brocade piece with jade-colored sesame flower pattern. Lian Cheng said, "Too kind, I don't want it, I don't want it."

Lian Xiusheng smiled slightly. "Now it's your turn to give me yours, third brother."

"I won't, I won't." Lian Cheng hugged both his sleeves tight.

The brothers tussled on the boat, hiding and grabbing. The boat itself was small, made of light wood, with nothing heavy to weigh it down, so the bow and stern rose and fell with their struggle. The two on board were left breathless and red-faced, and the pond lotus leaves were set swaying in chaotic waves by the boat's rocking.

Their boat had drifted far, deep into the lotus flowers, and no one at the banquet could see them. Lian Cheng's sash had been pulled loose, his ceremonial cap hung on some flower bud, leaving only a plain cloth net cap—but that too soon came undone. Seeing he couldn't overpower Lian Xiusheng, he resorted to trying to tickle his younger brother's sensitive spots.

Lian Xiusheng showed no reaction, but Lian Cheng himself was laughing uncontrollably.

Lian Xiusheng pressed down on his third brother, looking down at him from above. He saw his third brother's fragrant hair scattered, curling over the green water, his smile brighter than pearls and jade grass. He leaned down, intending to get close, but his third brother's mind was elsewhere, still debating martial arts prowess. Taking advantage of his distraction, Lian Cheng slipped out from under him and scrambled to the other end of the boat.

"Third brother." Lian Xiusheng picked up two kerchiefs from the floor—one his own, of brocade material, and one unknown, a gold-threaded, color-shifting piece with a magpie-plucking-pear pattern.

Lian Cheng saw the object in Lian Xiusheng's hand, and his smile froze on his face. He thought, oh no, oh no, and lunged to snatch it back.

Lian Xiusheng raised his hand high, preventing him from reaching it, but he hadn't expected his third brother to tackle him with such force. He stumbled backward, and with two splashes, they both fell into the water.

Fortunately, this patch of water was much cleaner—small fish could be seen swimming beneath the surface—so neither became a muddy mess. But they were soaked from head to toe. Lian Cheng turned to climb back onto the boat, but as his hands touched the gunwale, something seemed to grab him and pull him back down, and he fell again.

Lian Cheng turned around in the water, panicked, and found Lian Xiusheng right in front of him. The other was equally disheveled, but his eyes were bright and eager, different from the usual Young Lord Lian.

Lian Cheng, no matter how dense or inexperienced, now understood what the other intended. He pushed a few times, not daring to shout, and resorted to pleading, "Sixth brother, have pity on your brother—please, not in this pond, it's not clean."

But Lian Xiusheng placed the kerchief he had already obtained back into his third brother's palm. "Lian Cheng, give me your kerchief."

Lian Cheng swallowed hard and hastily offered his own kerchief with both hands.

"And I'll give you mine." Water droplets rolled down Lian Xiusheng's face, his lips slightly pale. Though his bearing remained gentle and refined, his demeanor was damp and cold. He balled up his own kerchief and, without mercy, stuffed it into Lian Cheng's mouth.

Lian Cheng's hands were caught, so he used his tongue to push the cloth out, but before he could spit it out, Lian Xiusheng tilted his head and gently bit his earlobe. Lian Cheng's pupils contracted, and he instinctively clenched his jaw, biting down hard on Lian Xiusheng's kerchief as well.

The summer lake water was cool, but the body was soft and warm. Lian Cheng leaned against the boat, his fingers shredding several lotus leaves that came within reach. He was lifted up, his clothes and hair drifting and floating in the water.

Lian Xiusheng just kept kissing him, kissing and biting. Lian Cheng swayed in his arms like a leaning willow, half welcoming, half pushing away. When a fish flicked its tail near his navel and chest, he was half yielding, half resisting.

Lian Xiusheng grasped his third brother's jade-like wrist, gently biting and leaving marks, coaxing the delicate and powerless third brother into spring, then scooped up a handful of cloud-soft lotus silk from the water, making his third brother smell it.

Lian Cheng turned his head away and spat out the kerchief from his mouth.

Then, Lian Xiusheng placed his own clean kerchief into the other's hand, while he picked up the one from the water that Lian Cheng had bitten countless times and tucked it into his sleeve.

Afterward, he cupped his third brother's face and tasted the cherry in his mouth, making audible sounds of savoring. Lian Cheng's fragrant sweat and saliva flowed freely, his legs trembling—if not for his younger brother holding him, he would have sunk straight into the water.

After the two had played and frolicked for quite a while, when they finally came ashore, it was already noon, the sun beginning its westward descent, the lake shimmering with golden light. The other boats in the distance were empty of figures, only gauze curtains fluttering in the breeze.

Lian Cheng lay on his back in the cabin, letting Lian Xiusheng help him into his clothes. When helped up, in a weak, aggrieved voice, he cursed, "You little beast."

Lian Xiusheng picked up the oar but was in no hurry to head back. He sat cross-legged before Lian Cheng, though his clothes were soaked, he had an almost ethereal, otherworldly air about him. He said, "Third Brother, why did you hang your undergarments in the room? What's the story behind that?"

"..." Lian Cheng, whose body had gone limp, suddenly stiffened again, his face turning fierce and menacing. "So you took my undergarments?"

"Wet clothes hanging in the room would only make it overly humid. I merely hung them elsewhere for you," Lian Xiusheng said unhurriedly. "If Third Brother ever needs help with laundry in the middle of the night again, you may call upon me."

"No need." Lian Cheng quickly refused, then lowered his head and fell silent.

Lian Xiusheng assumed Third Brother was upset, but couldn't figure out why. He was well aware of how many of his own misdeeds there were; figuring out which one had set Third Brother off might take a while.

Unexpectedly, Third Brother suddenly raised his head, mumbled under his breath, asking if he had thought of what birthday gift he wanted for tomorrow.

Then, with a seemingly fierce glare, he warned, "Don't you dare say 'me'."

Hearing Third Brother's demeanor, Lian Xiusheng felt as if he were still immersed in the lake, not yet ashore. He said softly, "Third Brother, do you know the name of the previous owner of the Lotus Garden?"

Lian Cheng was taken aback, a tiny droplet of water from the tip of his nose falling into his mouth, cool and refreshing. He didn't need to guess, and said, "Your family's!"

Lian Xiusheng leaned forward, taking both of Third Brother's hands, gently kissing his snow-white cheek. "My father and mother pledged their love here. Third Brother, you and I have also pledged ours today. To me, that is the finest gift of all."