IRBSC 106

Chapter 106

The army that had rushed back to the capital from the northern border passed through a relay station on the way, and happened to encounter the flowers that the palace had sent to the north.

The person delivering the flowers was overjoyed, not expecting such a coincidence. After hearing what they were sending, the expressionless Xue Yuan was taken aback for a moment, quickly dismounted, and hurried over to the flower delivery team.

It took longer to process the hundreds of flower petals than Tian Fusheng had expected, and it was not until the end of the month that these flower petals were packed into a wooden box and hurriedly sent to the northern border by the relay station.

The information from the two sides was different, one moving forward and the other rushing back. If they had not met at the relay station, they might have missed each other!

Lord Xue’s hands were still wearing the duck down gloves made by the northerners. The rough gloves fit snugly on his hands, but his slightly longer fingers made them appear more slender.

He gently stroked the duck down on the wooden box, his gaze fixed on it. “Are these flowers sent by the Emperor to me?”

The relay station official said, “Yes. The flower petals in this wooden box were all picked and dried by the Emperor’s people. Each and every one is highly acclaimed and worth a fortune. It took two weeks to process them into this state.”

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*

Ten days later, during the chilly cold season, the soldiers from the northern border returned to the capital.

After the news arrived, the Xue household had sent a servant to wait at the city gate every day. The eldest young master Xue had left the manor nine months ago. Madam Xue and the old Madam Xue missed him, and the anxious servants who lacked a male master also looked forward to his return with joy.

However, when the Xue household’s eldest young master returned to the capital, the first thing he did was to go directly to the palace, his steps hurried. As he walked, he asked the palace servant guiding him, “Has the Emperor been ill these days?”

“The Emperor had a slight cold recently,” the palace servant answered carefully, “but this year there are heated kang beds in every place, so the Emperor rested for a few days and has recovered.”

“Heated kang beds?” Xue Yuan repeated, “What is that?”

“Xue Daren is not aware of it, but it is something the Emperor had people make this year,” the palace servant explained with a smile. “It looks like a real bed, but has a hollow space inside. It’s like having a warm stove heating beneath you every day, the heat never extinguishing, so the entire room is kept warm. The Emperor hasn’t felt much cold this year.”

Xue Yuan responded with a perfunctory smile, “Is that so?”

He then asked casually, “Does the Emperor like this thing?”

“He does, the Emperor tends to feel the cold, but with the heated kang bed, he can now sleep well. How could he not like it?” the palace servant replied.

Xue Yuan responded with a nod.

The Xuanzheng Hall was just ahead, and Xue Yuan’s steps unconsciously quickened. The palace servants next to him had to jog to keep up, and the officer behind him quietly reminded, “General, slow down.”

Xue Yuan took a deep breath and said, “Alright.”

However, he still walked faster, the heavy boots echoing loudly on the ground. Gu Yuanbai, sensing something in the Xuanzheng Hall, looked up and glanced outside.

Xue Yuan saw the Emperor’s upward gaze as he approached.

His breath caught.

The Emperor was wearing a bright yellow robe, and with the warmth in the hall, he had not put on a coat. The vivid color accentuated his complexion, his vitality more vibrant than the spring sunshine.

His black hair was tied up, the jade crown glistening, the corners of his lips slightly upturned with a faint smile. His fingers held the memorials, his gaze focused and his dark eyes distant, looking at the travel-worn Xue Yuan.

Xue Yuan felt as if he had been struck by a bolt of thunder, his entire body numb, only able to stand there dumbfounded, staring at the young Emperor.

The panting officers behind him hurriedly straightened their robes and nudged Xue Yuan, “General, you are facing the Emperor.”

The young eunuch who had just finished reporting to the Emperor stifled a laugh as he glanced at Xue Yuan, then announced loudly, “Please, the officials may enter.”

Xue Yuan regained his senses and led the way in, with the officers behind him bowing respectfully to the Emperor.

Gu Yuanbai raised his lips in a gentle smile. He had them seated and offered them tea, then discussed border matters with the generals.

Xue Yuan remained silent, as if parched, gulping down cup after cup of tea. Under the cover of his sleeve, he stole glances at the Emperor.

He was so discreet that no one noticed Xue Yuan’s actions. They couldn’t help but inwardly chuckle: If Xue Daren drinks so much tea, won’t he have to excuse himself soon?

Gu Yuanbai also sipped his tea, then suddenly felt a scorching gaze. He leisurely looked up towards Xue Yuan.

Xue Yuan had his head down, the steam from the hot tea obscuring the expression on his face and the faint smile at the corners of his lips.

Seeming to sense the Emperor’s gaze, Xue Yuan looked up and gave him a smile.

Gu Yuanbai did not discern anything from him and calmly looked away.

Although the Emperor was in the capital, he was well-informed about the affairs in the northern border. The generals were discussing the sudden death of the Khitan chief, saying, “His death at this critical time is too coincidental. He had been ill for a long time but managed to persist for years, and now, just as the tribes were preparing to unite, he has suddenly died, throwing the Khitan into disarray. The chief’s son Yelu Zheng believes his father must have been murdered by a traitor.”

The Emperor nodded, then after further discussion, seeing the weary expressions on their faces, smiled and said, “You generals have made a long journey back to the capital, and you should rest for a day before reporting to me. You seem fatigued now, so it’s best you return to your quarters and recover your strength. Come see me again tomorrow when you are rested and ready.”

The others did not decline, for they were indeed exhausted, especially Xue Jiang who had rushed back recklessly, barely getting any proper rest.

As they all took their leave, Gu Yuanbai flipped a page of the memorials and casually said, “Xue Jiang, you stay.”

Xue Yuan remained behind.

The palace was warm, and in just a short while, Xue Yuan broke out in a sweat. He stood up respectfully and asked, “Your Majesty, may I remove my outer robe?”

Before the audience, their weapons and armor had been taken by the palace servants. Gu Yuanbai glanced at the sweat on Xue Yuan’s brow and smiled slightly, “No need.”

Xue Yuan chuckled softly, “As you wish.”

The Emperor had kept him behind, but did not say why. Xue Yuan stood there dutifully, his back slightly bent, occasionally glancing up at the Emperor in an apparently casual manner.

His long, fan-like eyes flashed, casting a fine shadow under them.

The young Emperor’s neck, face, and delicate hands were made to appear even purer against the moving dragon patterns.

The more he looked, the more ardent he became, feeling it was not enough, starting to grow anxious.

He stood there for nearly an hour and a half, until the sky outside turned from bright to dark. Gu Yuanbai finally closed the memorials, rubbing his wrists, and upon seeing Xue Yuan, feigned surprise, “Xue Qing, why are you still here?”

Xue Yuan grinned, taking the initiative to explain, “Without Your Majesty’s order, I dared not leave.”

“Then accompany me for a stroll,” Gu Yuanbai stood up and headed out of the hall, casually saying, “Xue Jiuyao, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

Xue Yuan was somewhat taken aback by the honor, closely following the Emperor, “Everything is well, only that I have deeply missed Your Majesty.”

Gu Yuanbai smiled, unfazed, “When you returned from the northern border, was there still swirling goose-down snow there?”

“Yes, of course,” Xue Yuan recalled, “When I came, it was raging wind and snow. The snow had melted into water, and the fierce wind could not outpace its falling speed. When I looked back, everyone’s head was covered in a layer of white snow, as if their hair had turned white overnight.”

Gu Yuanbai listened for a while and nodded, “There has been snow in the capital as well, but it cannot compare to the ferocity of the north.”

Xue Yuan said, “I’m delighted to hear that.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuanbai turned his head and smiled at Xue Yuan, his eyes full of deep meaning. But Xue Yuan was only mesmerized by his smile, his military prowess and wisdom suddenly dissipating. After five months in the army, he was on the verge of blurting out vulgar words.

He smacked his lips, licking the dried skin, and pretending to accidentally stumble on a rock, lurching forward and gripping the Emperor’s hand, hastily embracing the Emperor’s waist.

In the blink of an eye, Gu Yuanbai felt a dark shadow approach, his waist tightened, and the next moment Xue Yuan was two steps away, bowing to apologize.

Gu Yuanbai: “…”

He paused for a moment, not showing any sign of anger, but instead smiled warmly at Xue Yuan.

This gentle smile made Xue Yuan’s eyelids twitch.

They took a stroll outside and returned, only to find that the evening meal had already been laid out.

Xue Yuan was kept in the palace to dine, but in front of him was not a delectable feast, but a exquisite wooden box.

Carved on the box were images of towering mountains and flowing streams, with five Chinese hawthorn fruits.

Xue Yuan opened it to find the jade object he had hidden under his bed.

The palace servant next to Gu Yuanbai presented silver chopsticks. The Emperor cleaned his hands, took the chopsticks, and with a soft smile, said, “Since Xue Qing likes this item, please have your meal.”

Xue Yuan stared at the jade object and said, “Your Majesty, even if I had iron teeth and bronze jaws, I could not bite into a jade block.”

“No need to rush,” the Emperor chuckled warmly, his eyes gentle as he looked at Xue Yuan, “Eat slowly.”

Xue Yuan picked up the chopsticks and tentatively asked, “Has Your Majesty read my letter?”

“Your literary talent is remarkable, Xue Qing,” Gu Yuanbai said leisurely, “After reading your letter, I now understand the purpose of this object. As Changan Yao said, one cannot judge a person by their appearance alone.”

Xue Yuan’s eyelids twitched violently, and he suddenly looked up at Gu Yuanbai in astonishment. “Then was Your Majesty not angered by this thing?”

Gu Yuanbai raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Xue Yuan’s heart sank, as he went over the events in his mind, feeling something was amiss. If the Emperor had not known about the jade object before, then “I received Your Majesty’s returned letter when I was in the northern border.”

“That is unrelated,” Gu Yuanbai immediately interjected. “I had almost forgotten about this, but then your letter reminded me of it. Xue Qing, eat in silence, no need for words.”

Did I just end up harming myself?

Xue Yuan’s expression shifted constantly as he picked up the jade object from the wooden box, thinking about how he had written pages and pages in his letter describing the results of his practice, expecting the Emperor to be moved, but the Emperor showed no such reaction at all.

Xue Yuan had put in a lot of effort to be able to please the Emperor with his charm. 

His expressions were so vivid that Gu Yuanbai could not fathom what was going on in his mind, only assuming he had been insulted and was unwilling to “consume” the jade object. Gu Yuanbai took a bite of his food, chewing slowly with his elbow propped on the table, his face resting on his hand as he watched the scene play out.

The palace servants in the hall remained silent, not making a sound, each with their head bowed, not daring to glance at the table.

Even Tian Fusheng averted his gaze, pretending not to see Xue Yuan’s movements.

The polished silver chopsticks tried in vain to pick up the smoothly rounded, heavy jade piece – it was truly a difficult task.

Xue Yuan tried several times but could not pick it up, only producing a pleasant chime-like sound as the two objects collided. After a while, the Emperor rose from his seat and walked behind Xue Yuan, spreading his arms to lean over him, his hand reaching out from beside Xue Yuan’s ear, accompanied by wafts of lingering fragrance, his robe enveloping Xue Yuan.

His fingertips were like bamboo shoots, his wrists like white lotus roots. 

These hands had distinct joints, and though slender, the backs were not without prominent veins and undulations, the blood vessels clearly visible, like the most skilled painter who had poured their lifetime’s expertise into creating a supreme masterpiece.

The Emperor’s personal fragrance, a blend of agarwood, sandalwood, camphor and musk, had seeped in over time, distilling into an aura of nobility and regal presence that permeated the heart.

Gu Yuanbai’s fingers traced over the jade objects in the wooden box, lightly tapping each one, and asked with a chuckle in Xue Yuan’s ear, “Xue Qing, tell me, which one do you most enjoy using?”

The Emperor embraced Xue Yuan, his soft voice carrying an unwavering determination and might.

Xue Yuan suddenly felt something strange.

The Emperor’s attitude towards him seemed to have abruptly softened, even laced with a touch of playful and sensual intimacy, as if the powerful one was now the one invading and plundering Xue Yuan.

Although subtle, this coquettishness was keenly picked up by the perceptive Xue Yuan, making him feel like the one being conquered and taken.

After a moment of silence, unable to fathom the reason, Xue Yuan simply pointed to the one roughly the same size as the Emperor, the one he usually preferred to practice with, “This one.”

Gu Yuanbai then slowly picked up that jade object, casually running his pampered fingers over it. The sight of the white hand caressing the white jade directly made Xue Yuan’s eyes burn with desire, his heart restless.

Gu Yuanbai chuckled a few times, bringing it close to Xue Yuan and said unhurriedly, “Don’t be impatient, let me feed you.”