The rain grew heavier as the night wore on, showing no sign of stopping.

The elderly woman warmly insisted they stay the night, and seeing the rain pouring so heavily outside, Fang Linyuan didn’t decline. The old woman prepared the vacant room of her son for them and handed over an umbrella, telling them to make themselves at home.

Fang Linyuan thanked her profusely, pleased to have encountered such kindness.

But as soon as he and Zhao Chu stepped into the room...

Fang Linyuan realized he had been too optimistic.

The small room, built from straw and mud, was simple and modest, revealing everything at a glance. It was only about ten paces in length, with a single crude kang bed and two unstable benches.

Outside, the rain and wind howled, rattling the paper-covered windows. Inside, two dim oil lamps flickered faintly. On the walls hung two faded red double happiness symbols, likely leftover decorations from the elderly woman’s son’s wedding.

(NT: The "double happiness" symbol (囍) is used to represent joy, happiness, and good fortune, particularly in the context of weddings. It consists of two identical "喜" (xi - happiness) characters, symbolizing the amplification of happiness.)

…How could he have forgotten this detail?

The family was clearly poor, with likely no spare beds. Certainly, there were no accommodations like in the city, where he and Zhao Chu could sleep in separate rooms.

He was going to...share a bed with Zhao Chu?

Fang Linyuan was momentarily stunned, glancing awkwardly at Zhao Chu.

Zhao Chu, however, looked entirely unfazed, his expression calm as if he didn’t care about the situation.

…Right.

Two grown men sharing a bed—what was there to be afraid of? Zhao Chu wasn’t wearing a dress right now; he was a man from head to toe. Nothing unusual about that.

Fang Linyuan felt embarrassed at his own overreaction. Since staying in the capital, he’d clearly become too sensitive.

Glancing at Zhao Chu with a slightly embarrassed expression , Fang Linyuan hesitated before trying to speak, only for Zhao Chu to look at him, then gesture to the bed. “Go rest. We’ll have to rise early tomorrow.”

Zhao Chu wasn’t wrong.

Remembering that he still had to handle matters in Jianyang County, Fang Linyuan climbed onto the bed. After removing his boots, he crawled to the innermost part of the bed, carefully placing the ledgers he’d been holding onto in the safest spot.

It was far from the window and close to his pillow—if there was the slightest disturbance, he would immediately sense it. No one would be able to steal the ledgers under the cover of night.

Satisfied, Fang Linyuan patted the stack of ledgers before settling down on the bed.

Looking down, he saw two quilts laid out on the bed. Although old, they exuded a faint, pleasant scent of soap.

He looked up at Zhao Chu with a smile, pleased with the arrangement.

But Zhao Chu didn’t move. Instead, he dragged a seat near the fire, sat against the wall with his arms crossed, and closed his eyes.

Fang Linyuan was startled. “Zhao Chu?”

Zhao Chu opened his eyes and turned to look at him, his gaze seeming to ask, What is it?

Hesitantly, Fang Linyuan asked, “Are you sleeping there?”

*

When Zhao Chu entered the room earlier, he immediately noticed Fang Linyuan’s awkwardness and hesitation.

First, Fang Linyuan would glance at the bed, then at Zhao Chu, his hands fidgeting so much they seemed ready to hide behind his back.

Zhao Chu found himself both amused and annoyed by the display.

Was he that intimidating? Fang Linyuan seemed to treat him like some predator, as though Zhao Chu would transform into a ghost at night and devour him silently.

The thought made Zhao Chu grind his teeth in mild frustration. He even entertained the notion of pinning Fang Linyuan down on the bed to show him just how absurd his fears were.

But then Zhao Chu noticed Fang Linyuan’s face—slightly thinner after two days of exhausting travel—and the exhaustion in his eyes.

Zhao Chu’s annoyance vanished as quickly as it had come. He couldn’t bring himself to frighten Fang Linyuan. It felt as though he were holding something delicate, afraid of breaking it.

Forget it; I’ll just accept my fate.

Let Fang Linyuan have a proper rest. He carried too many burdens, and tomorrow morning there were still six or seven counties waiting for him to address.

So, Zhao Chu let Fang Linyuan take the bed while he sat by the wall, closed his eyes, and pretended to sleep.

Unexpectedly, Fang Linyuan stopped him.

He looked at Fang Linyuan.

In those clear, transparent eyes was a clean and sincere invitation, genuinely asking where he planned to sleep, as if completely unaware of malice or filth.

But it was precisely this purity that most stirred the desires of wicked hearts, making them crave like predators, swallowing down the taste of bloodlust.

Zhao Chu paused for a moment and, under that gaze, reluctantly offered an excuse.

“We can’t be sure if there are still pursuers. You rest; I’ll keep an ear out for any movement.”

How could Fang Linyuan accept that?

Zhao Chu’s mission was to protect him, enduring endless travel and hardship. How could he continue to treat him like a workhorse?

Fang Linyuan quickly sat up, saying, “Then you rest, and I’ll stand guard.”

But Zhao Chu pressed his lips together and, after a brief pause, said, “No need.”

Still being stubborn!

After these past days together, Fang Linyuan had come to understand how much Zhao Chu said one thing but meant another. Were all people from the palace so prideful?

“You should just come and sleep. Your health isn’t good, and you were caught in the rain tonight. I’ll be fine; it doesn’t matter whether I sleep or not…”

He tried every argument to convince him, but for some reason, a hint of helplessness appeared on Zhao Chu’s face.

After a moment, Zhao Chu said, “I just… am not used to sharing a bed with someone.”

He must be embarrassed. The way he said it was stiff and awkward, like a poorly thought-out excuse.

What more could Fang Linyuan say?

Without hesitation, he got out of bed and bent down to put on his boots, saying, “Then you sleep! I’ve been on the battlefield for years; I can rest anywhere. But you…”

For some reason, he seemed to hear Zhao Chu let out a sigh—or perhaps it was a deep, slow breath.

He looked up in confusion and saw Zhao Chu had already stood up, now in front of him, saying, “Get back on the bed.”

Fang Linyuan didn’t understand but obediently shifted back to the inner part of the bed.

Zhao Chu sat at the edge of the bed, silent for a moment, before turning and asking:

“Are you sure you’re not afraid?”

Zhao Chu’s tone was calm, and his expression indifferent, as if he was genuinely asking whether Fang Linyuan was sure he wasn’t afraid.

But Fang Linyuan’s emotions became awkward after that question.

The lamp was extinguished, and the two of them lay side by side on the bed, each with a blanket, while the room grew so quiet that only the sound of rain outside the window remained.

Fang Linyuan lay awake, staring at the dilapidated roof.

From beside him came the sound of Zhao Chu’s steady breathing, slow and peaceful, like the gentle tides of a calm sea, shattering the reflections of the stars across the surface with each ripple.

In this tide-like rhythm, Fang Linyuan’s body tensed slightly.

It wasn’t due to turbulent waters but rather a natural instinct—a primal fear of the vast, unfathomable depths of the ocean.

How strange.

He’d slept in the same tent as his fellow soldiers countless times, and nothing like this had ever happened. They would even joke around, tossing pillows at each other, making a fuss before collapsing into sleep.

But Zhao Chu truly seemed… different from the rest.

*

After a while, Fang Linyuan found himself unable to fall asleep. He was lying too stiffly, and his arm felt uncomfortable, his legs out of place. He kept wanting to turn over.

Not wanting to wake Zhao Chu, he carefully turned his head to see if he was asleep.

But as soon as he moved, Zhao Chu opened his eyes. His calm, clear gaze fixed silently on Fang Linyuan.

“What is it?” he asked.

At that cold tone, the tension in Fang Linyuan’s body, which had been so uncomfortable moments ago, suddenly eased.

He laughed twice, turned over, and lay on his side, hugging his blanket and facing Zhao Chu.

“What did you mean earlier when you asked that question?” he asked.

Zhao Chu’s eyes narrowed slightly, as though surprised that Fang Linyuan had brought it up.

After a pause, Zhao Chu didn’t respond. Fang Linyuan laughed a couple of times and added, “Why would I be afraid? Don’t tell me you’re someone who kills people in their sleep.”

Zhao Chu turned his head to look at him but still didn’t say a word.

Fang Linyuan chuckled a bit more, but as the laughter trailed off, he felt a little awkward and assumed their conversation had ended.

Just then, Zhao Chu suddenly raised a hand and pinched Fang Linyuan’s cheek.

The grip wasn’t strong, but it startled Fang Linyuan.

“What are you doing!” he exclaimed in surprise.

Zhao Chu slightly shook his hand while pinching Fang Linyuan’s cheek and asked, “Are you planning not to sleep at all?”

Fang Linyuan sheepishly slapped his hand away.

Indeed, humans and foxes were destined to be different; their conversations always seemed to clash, making even half a sentence too much.

The sound of rain outside was soft and crisp, cool and refreshing. Eventually, as Fang Linyuan quieted down, he unknowingly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, as dawn light filtered through the window, he was awakened by faint voices coming from outside.

It was an elderly man’s voice, presumably the husband of the old woman, who had returned from Jianyang County with grain.

Fang Linyuan got up and looked outside.

Through the sunlight, which had been washed clear by last night’s rain, he saw a familiar figure in a short jacket.

Behind him, a cart piled high with grain was being dragged into the yard.

The man walked with a pronounced limp, his leg bearing a clear injury. His worn straw sandals were stained dark from dried blood.

Fang Linyuan froze.

Wasn’t this the same elderly man who had handed him the account books yesterday?

Fang Linyuan immediately turned to Zhao Chu.

At some point, Zhao Chu had already woken up and was now sitting by the wall, idly flipping through the account books Fang Linyuan had brought back.

“What’s wrong?” Zhao Chu asked, noticing Fang Linyuan’s odd expression. He frowned slightly and stood up to look in the same direction as Fang Linyuan.

“I didn’t realize this was Xiaping Village,” Fang Linyuan said hurriedly. “That old woman’s husband has seen me before.”

Meanwhile, outside, the old woman had rushed out and, seeing the man’s alarming leg injury, anxiously asked, “How did you get hurt on your way to town? What happened? Did the soldiers beat you?”

The old man waved his hand repeatedly and said, “It’s nothing, it’s nothing.”

As he spoke, he took out a packet of medicine from his pocket and said, “Look, this is the wound medicine General Fang specially sent someone to distribute to us. I used it once yesterday, and it’s already much better.”

The old woman, unconvinced, hurried forward to examine him.

Once she confirmed that his injury wasn’t serious, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. “I heard there was trouble outside the yamen a couple of days ago, and you didn’t even send a word back...”

“But everything’s fine now, isn’t it? General Fang came, and he even thought of my little injury!” the old man reassured her.

“General Fang? The two young men who stayed here yesterday also said the lord in Jianyang County was named Fang and that he was a general…”

“Young men?”

Hearing this, the old man glanced around and caught sight of Liu Huo, the massive horse casually strolling around the livestock shed. He was instantly startled.

“Where did such a big horse come from?”

On the other side of the wall, Fang Linyuan hurriedly put on his boots.

"What should we do now? It's fine if I've been seen, but how to explain it? If word gets out..."

Seeing him pacing anxiously, Zhao Chuang stood up and glanced outside.

"It's those two young masters from last night!" said the old woman. "It rained heavily yesterday, so those two young masters stayed here. I let them sleep in Ah Zhuang's room for the night..."

As they spoke, the two figures were already walking toward them.

"They're coming!" Fang Linyuan whispered.

"Alright, relax," Zhao Chuang said, patting his shoulder and swiftly grabbing several account books beside the pillow.

He then pulled Fang Linyuan to the window at the back of the room and quickly opened it.

The morning light was bright, and the birds were hopping about on the eaves, their chirps clear. The sunlight bathed Zhao Chuang's serious half-face.

"Can you climb over a wall?" Zhao Chuang asked him.

Fang Linyuan looked at the dirt wall ahead, about a person’s height, in surprise.

Climb over the wall and escape from someone else's house after waking up from a nap? Who would think of such a thing immediately?

*

The old woman and old man stopped in front of their door, seeing the door tightly shut with the window slightly opened.

"They probably haven’t woken up yet," the old woman whispered.

The old man nodded and said, "Then I’ll bring in the grain from outside. Since they stayed here overnight, we should cook some porridge for them so they can eat before they leave."

The old woman nodded and added, "The village's Qiang brothers brought two bags of rice here yesterday, saying it was the rent they collected. They gave us some first..."

At that moment, the horse in the shed suddenly snorted, turned around, and trotted out through the open courtyard gate.

The two were startled.

"Young masters, young masters, your horse is running away!" the old woman cried, rushing to knock on the side room’s wooden door.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she knocked twice, the door opened.

Inside, the room was empty except for two large silver ingots neatly stacked on the clay kang, their shadows stretching under the sunlight outside.

*

In the following days, Fang Linyuan would still chuckle when he thought back on that scene.

The one-person-high mud wall was nothing to them; with a lift of the hand and a surge of energy from the dantian, they easily leaped over it.

They landed lightly outside the courtyard, greeted by a bright and clear sky like washed water, with waves of wheat rolling to the horizon.

"This year will surely be a good harvest year," Fang Linyuan softly sighed as he looked at the wheat fields.

Zhao Chu, standing beside him, gave a small sound of agreement.

When Fang Linyuan turned his head, he saw Zhao Chu dressed entirely in black.

Zhao Chu was still wearing the night-traveling attire he had used for his concealed movements the previous night. But now, under the bright sunlight, the outfit stood out conspicuously.

Even while disguising his identity, Zhao Chu still carried the account books in one hand, and with the other, he took out a black face covering, preparing to mask his face again with a composed and indifferent expression.

But this pose, which exuded an air of menace in the dark of night, seemed unexpectedly amusing in the cheerful daylight.

The bright sunlight spilled across his face, a radiance that no mask could fully conceal or hide.

Fang Linyuan let out a chuckle.

Zhao Chu glanced at him, and after a moment, couldn’t help but slowly curl his lips into a faint smile as well.

Under such brilliant sunlight, there was no need to hide anything anymore.

Zhao Chu looked quietly at Fang Linyuan for a long time before slowly removing the black cloth from his face.

*

The lieutenant general general under Fang Linyuan’s command was indeed timid and cautious.

After Fang Linyuan had given his orders, the lieutenant general spent the entire day diligently guarding the treasury and administrative office. No officials inside were allowed to come and go, and all the citizens outside received their grain precisely according to the amounts recorded in the account books—every single grain accounted for.

After Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu parted ways at Xiaping Village and returned to Jianyang, they found this orderly scene.

The area outside the administrative office bustled with activity, and the faces of the commoners passing by were full of joy, a stark contrast to the lifeless expressions of days prior.

From that point on, things went much more smoothly.

Once the situation in Jianyang County and Jibei Prefecture became known, the officials in the other six counties didn’t dare to wait passively for Fang Linyuan’s arrival. One after another, the counties opened their granaries. By the time Fang Linyuan arrived, they had already handed over clean and complete reports showing that all taxes and relief grain had been properly distributed to the people.

Over the next few days, Fang Linyuan’s tasks were simply to verify these results one by one.

A few days later, an imperial edict was issued, ordering the arrest of Gao Min and the implicated officials from various counties. Fang Linyuan, his lieutenant general, and others were also commended and instructed to return to the capital immediately to receive their rewards in the palace.

This was a routine matter for Fang Linyuan, but for the lieutenant general, it was a groundbreaking first experience.

The lieutenant general was visibly excited and chattered nonstop next to Fang Linyuan on the way back.

He said that even during his assignments in the capital, he had only ever caught a distant glimpse of the Emperor at the New Year’s banquet and had never stood before the Emperor to personally receive an award.

"I wonder if I’ll ever have such an opportunity again," the lieutenant general remarked with a broad grin.

Hearing this, Fang Linyuan turned to look at him and said, "If you want such opportunities again, you’d better work on that belly of yours first."

The lieutenant general lowered his head and looked at the three layers of fat resting on the saddle as he sat on his horse.

Embarrassed, he laughed aloud, "Yes, yes, this figure is really unsightly. If the Emperor sees it, it’ll indeed be quite disgraceful."

Fang Linyuan raised his hand and lightly tapped the lieutenant general’s stomach with the riding crop he was holding. "With a belly like this, I doubt you could lift a heavy spear."

"General?" The lieutenant general looked confused.

"The troops stationed in the capital are the last line of defense for the imperial city. If the day ever comes when foreign enemies breach the capital, are you planning to charge into battle with this body?"

The lieutenant general immediately understood, straightening his posture.

"Yes! The general’s words are absolutely correct. I’ll remember this!" he replied earnestly.

Fang Linyuan gave a faint smile and turned his gaze away.

"By the way, there’s something I’d like to ask you," he said.

"Please go ahead, General!" the lieutenant general responded solemnly.

"It's a small matter, no need to be so serious," Fang Linyuan said. "If someone... has once saved your life, how would you express your gratitude?"

Upon hearing this, the lieutenant general immediately became animated.

Who was he? In terms of understanding social etiquette in the capital, he was quite knowledgeable.

"This is simple!" the lieutenant general said. "If the person is poor, give them gold and silver; if they’re a merchant, offer them convenience. As for officials... subordinates and such..."

At this point, he smiled awkwardly and stopped himself. "But, General, you're not the type to offer people favors or grant them power."

Fang Linyuan shook his head. "He doesn’t lack any of these things... it seems he has everything he needs."

Hearing this, the lieutenant general was stumped, unable to come up with anything for a long while.

After a moment, he slapped the horse's back in realization. "Ah! General! If he lacks nothing, then you should give him something important and precious to you."

"Is that so?" Fang Linyuan hesitated.

"As long as your intentions are sincere, he will surely feel it!"

The lieutenant general nodded confidently. "I would stake my life on it!"

*

On this day, Fang Linyuan led his troops back to the capital. When he entered the palace to return the imperial seal, Emperor Hongyou expressed immense satisfaction, praising him.

"Entrusting this matter to you, my minister, truly put our mind at ease!" Emperor Hongyou said. (NT: the emperor uses ‘zhen’ to refer to himself, which can be translated by ‘us / we’)

"Your Majesty is too kind," Fang Linyuan replied with a bow.

"Alright, from now on, you can rest easy in the capital for a while. We've already spoken to Lin Zizhuo about the cases from the Jinyiwei. They won’t bother you for the time being," Emperor Hongyou said warmly to Fang Linyuan.

Fang Linyuan bowed in acknowledgment.

After receiving his rewards, he left the palace, and behind him, Yan Ting beamed, holding the gold, silver, and jewels bestowed by the Emperor. As Fang Linyuan rode his horse, he nervously touched the small item hidden in his sleeve.

It was a jeweled dagger, though the gems were not particularly precious. They were uncut raw stones unique to the Western regions, giving the dagger an ancient and simple look.

The only valuable possession he truly had was this dagger. He had carried it since he was about eleven or twelve years old. Whenever he went into battle, he always had it with him.

On snowy nights when water froze into ice, he had used this dagger to chip away at ice for drinking, and in the desperate deserts, he had used it to fight off wolves.

Zhao Chu had protected him twice, so he really should thank him properly. But Zhao Chu was accustomed to precious jewels and fine silks, so giving him a dagger might seem a bit abrupt.

With this nervous thought in mind, he returned to his residence. As the setting sun began to sink, he arrived at the front of Huaiyu Pavilion.

Juan Su and the others were waiting at the door. Seeing that he had arrived before dinner, they were somewhat surprised. They approached and greeted him, saying, "We greet the Marquis."

Fang Linyuan nodded, feeling a little embarrassed. "Is the princess inside? I have something to give her."

At this, Juan Su seemed slightly taken aback.

"What is it?" Fang Linyuan asked.

Juan Su’s expression froze, and then she leaned closer to him, lowering her voice.

"How did you know today is the princess's birthday?" she whispered.

 

--

The author has something to say:

Fang Linyuan (frantically scratching his head): "Uh... I mean... I brought a dagger... for you to cut the cake with..."

 

Translator : DarNan