Zhao Chu touched him... Zhao Chu touched his neck!

Fang Linyuan felt like he had seen a ghost.

He glared at Zhao Chu intently.

The person in front of him, with clouds of hair and adorned with jewels and pearls, dressed in splendid attire, concealed a distant yet stunningly beautiful face, the appearance he had once admired.

But he knew better than anyone else that he was a man, he was a man!

Why did this man suddenly touch him?

Every hair on his body stood on end, his shocked gaze almost interrogating Zhao Chu.

But Zhao Chu remained indifferent as ever.

He leisurely lifted his eyelashes and glanced at Fang Linyuan.

"There's blood," he gestured to his own neck.

Is there really?

Fang Linyuan sceptically touched his neck, but when he looked down, his hand was clean.

Then when he looked back at Zhao Chu, Zhao Chu had already turned his head, casually pulling the curtains aside to look out the window.

It seemed like he was the sensitive one.

Fang Linyuan angrily lowered his hand.

Was he the sensitive one? Between men, they could bump fists, hook arms, roll in the dirt and fight, even threaten to chop each other's heads off with knives.

But what was this light, airy touching of someone's neck?

It was definitely strange, and it was Zhao Chu!

Fang Linyuan's face turned iron-gray as he tightly pursed his lips and shifted slightly away from Zhao Chu.

Keep your distance. He silently admonished himself.

*

Fortunately, after that day, Fang Linyuan had a sufficient excuse to stay away from Zhao Chu.

Early the next morning, he went to the Honglu office (NT: administrative office responsible for managing protocol and ceremonial affairs in ancient CHina) to report for duty.

The Honglu office had already received the decree appointing Fang Linyuan to assist in the preparations for the Turk's visit, but they didn't expect him to be so diligent. When Fang Linyuan arrived at the Honglu office, the official in charge, Yu Tao, responsible for the matter had not yet arrived.

Fang Linyuan didn't mind. Anyway, he was not afraid of getting up early. Half of the reason he came to the yamen was because of the imperial order, and the other half was because of Zhao Chu.

They were newlyweds, and that eunuch with one eye came to invite him every day. He couldn't sleep well in the gloomy and eerie atmosphere of the Huaiyu Pavilion at night, so he might as well come to the Honglu Office for some peace and quiet.

So, he asked the officials of the Honglu Office to send the files related to the Turk's visit so he could review them first.

Before long, someone arrived carrying the files and stopped at the door, knocking.

"Come in," Fang Linyuan raised his head, then paused.

The young man with wheat-coloured skin grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. His usually ponytailed hair was neatly tied under his official hat, and he was holding the files, smiling at him.

"General!" he greeted cheerfully.

"Zhuo Fangyou?" Fang Linyuan stood up unexpectedly and walked over. "Aren't you at the Ministry of War?"

This was the deputy who entered the capital with him before the New Year. His family was from Yumen, and they moved to Hulao due to the turmoil. His father used to be under Fang Linyuan's father's command.

They grew up together, and they were both fierce generals under Fang Linyuan's command. Zhuo Fangyou was skilled with a heavy blade, renowned at Hulao Pass.

The last time they met was at the wedding banquet. Zhuo Fangyou and his men had toasted him several times.

"I've been transferred here. With the Turk's arrival, the Honglu Office needs more manpower for security." Zhuo Fangyou answered with a smile. "But General, you just got married, why not take a few more days off?"

Fang Linyuan looked into his bright eyes, hesitating.

They had spent many long winter nights at the border, talking with swords and daggers in hand. He knew that Zhuo Fangyou had a childhood sweetheart he was fond of, and Zhuo Fangyou knew about the fleeting moonlight he admired.

But now, Zhuo Fangyou had two children, and his moonlight had become a fox with his tail exposed.

Fang Linyuan opened his mouth, feeling bitter, but unable to speak.

After a moment, he said stiffly, " Naren Temüjin has already set off. Negotiating with the Turks is not child's play; we cannot afford delays."

Zhuo Fangyou looked at him with admiration. "General..."

Fang Linyuan didn't say more. He patted Zhuo Fangyou on the shoulder and turned to look at the files.

It wasn't until he had gone through half of the documents that Yu Tao hurriedly arrived.

"I'm really sorry, Lord Marquis, some family matters delayed me. Please forgive me..." Yu Tao explained as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Fang Linyuan waved his hand and spread the documents out in front of him.

He knew the Turk's customs and the temperament of Naren Temüjin very well. He knew where adjustments were needed in the ceremony to avoid suspicion and how to appropriately intimidate him.

Just halfway through the documents, he had already identified several issues and had them outlined for Yu Tao.

"Lord Marquis, you're so efficient. No wonder you handled the Turk's thousands of troops with ease!" Yu Tao exclaimed, trying to flatter him.

"Minister Yu overpraises," Fang Linyuan smiled.

"It's just that you've been working hard, Lord Marquis. You've only been married for a few days and you're already busy outside." Yu Tao felt uneasy. "Since you've made the annotations, let me take care of the arrangements, and you can rest at home, Lord Marquis."

The emperor sent this son-in-law to supervise and inspect. He couldn't really let him work so hard.

He understood the ways of the bureaucracy.

Unexpectedly, when Fang Linyuan heard this, his expression changed slightly, and the smile at the corners of his eyebrows vanished in an instant.

"No need," he said coldly and decisively, as if avoiding some venomous snake.

"Eh? This..." Yu Tao, who had intended to curry favour, was taken aback.

But when he looked at Fang Linyuan again, he felt a sense of righteousness permeating his plain expression.

" Lord Marquis, you're noble indeed!" he exclaimed in admiration.

Little did he know, the Fang Linyuan before him felt guilty, his fist clenched against his mouth, covering a cough, trying to conceal it.

Meanwhile, Zhuo Fangyou, who was standing aside, immediately showed an expression of sudden realization.

He winked at Fang Linyuan.

Caught off guard by his understanding expression, Fang Linyuan was momentarily stunned.

What did Zhuo Fangyou understand with that "I got it" look on his face? Did he figure out that Zhao Chu was a man too?

That couldn't be! With Zhao Chu's impeccable acting skills, how could Zhuo Fangyou, with his one-track mind, figure anything out? Yet he had that knowing look on his face, like he understood everything. What did he know?

Fang Linyuan couldn't help feeling nervous and furrowed his brows, giving Zhuo Fangyou several questioning glances. As soon as Yu Tao left, he hurriedly asked, "What were you looking at just now?"

Zhuo Fangyou chuckled and patted him on the back. "You weren't the type to enjoy such complicated affairs before. Minister Yu may not understand you, but I know what you're up to."

Fang Linyuan looked at him in confusion. "What?"

Zhuo Fangyou looked knowingly. "Now that you're married, you want to secure a good future for your wife, right? I understand."

Fang Linyuan's nervousness froze on his face.

But Zhuo Fangyou, oblivious to his discomfort, continued with a smile, "But General, with your achievements and status, and your wife being a princess, the Honglu Office isn't a place where you have to risk your life. And that boy Naren Temüjin doesn't need to fear you. With your abilities, you might as well spend more time with the princess at home. After all, you're newlyweds... Oops!"

Fang Linyuan couldn't tolerate it anymore and kicked him, causing him to stumble.

"If you keep blabbering, I'll send you back to the frontier to spend time with the wolves in the desert," he warned sternly, pointing a finger at Zhuo Fangyou.

Zhuo Fangyou was left bewildered by Fang Linyuan's kick.

He steadied himself against the screen and turned back, looking at Fang Linyuan with confusion.

How did this general, now married, lose his sense of humor?

*

Meanwhile, inside the Huaiyu Pavilion, Wu Xinghai stood respectfully by Zhao Chu's desk and whispered.

"Your Highness, it's done."

Zhao Chu flipped through the account books on the desk with lowered eyes, emitting a faint acknowledgment.

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow on the account books on the desk. As Zhao Chu turned to the next page, he heard Wu Xinghai continue.

"Originally, the one arranged to go to the Honglu Office was Sun Cheng from the Ministry of War. Following Your Highness's orders, I made arrangements in advance and had Yuan handle it, substituting for Zhuo Fangyou, who is temporarily serving in the Ministry of War," Wu Xinghai said.

"Sun Cheng?" Zhao Chu chuckled lightly at the mention.

"Yes. As Your Highness expected, he is an agent of the Third Prince," Wu Xinghai replied, bowing his head. "I'm just curious, how did Your Highness anticipate this?"

"Fang Linyuan offended Qu Huajun and Zhao Yao in the palace yesterday. They won't let it go easily," Zhao Chu explained.

"...Is Your Highness helping him?" Wu Xinghai looked up at Zhao Chu.

Zhao Chu remained silent, only picking up the nearby pen and starting to calculate alongside the account books.

Wu Xinghai paused and lowered his head. "I spoke out of turn, Your Highness."

Zhao Chu's pen continued to move without pause, quickly detailing the specifics of this page of accounts.

The accounts of the Marquis of Anping's residence were truly the cleanest he had ever seen.

Every transaction was meticulously recorded, with no traces of the gray transactions and personal exchanges common in aristocratic families. Even a portion of the annual harvest from the estate would be donated. According to the imperial court, it was used to support the families of the soldiers who died in the battles around Hulao Pass in recent years.

If it weren't for the considerable wealth of the Marquis of Anping's residence, they would not be able to sustain such charitable acts.

Or were these acts of truly purposeless charity?

Is there really such a person in the world?

Suddenly, Zhao Chu's mind flashed back to the image of Fang Linyuan standing in front of him yesterday.

Zhao Chu blinked.

When he came back to his senses, there were three additional scribbles beneath the calculations he had made.

The delicate and faint traces overlapped with the scar on Fang Linyuan's neck.

The thread that hooked onto his heart seemed to remain unbroken.

 

--

The author has something to say:

Zhao Chu: Why did he stand for me?

Fang Linyuan: Just playing with his phone (indifferent).

 

Translator : DarNan