IRBSC 110

Chapter 110  

To make a good hotpot, the key lies in the broth and the dipping sauce.  

Gu Yuanbai had them prepare the simplest spices. Since chili peppers didn’t exist yet, he used star anise, scallions, ginger slices, and Sichuan peppercorns, quickly tossing them in the iron pot. For the base, he used vinegar, which added a slightly spicy and sour flavor. He sprinkled in some fresh scallion slices, their green color standing out in the broth. And just like that, the broth was ready.  

Gu Yuanbai couldn’t handle overly spicy food, so the hotpot’s spice was mild, just enough to enhance the flavor. The dipping sauce was made with tomatoes, so it had almost no spiciness at all. In contrast, Xue Yuan’s dipping sauce was much stronger in flavor. Luckily, there was no wind, and the hotpot was placed in the courtyard, adding a unique charm to the experience.  

After just a few bites, Xue Yuan’s forehead was already beading with sweat. He was devouring almost everything on the table, exclaiming with satisfaction, “This is fantastic!”  

The dipping sauce was truly appetizing, making it hard to stop eating even after feeling full. Gu Yuanbai, with better self-control, put down his chopsticks when he was about 80% full. As soon as he did, Xue Yuan, drenched in sweat, glanced up and asked, “Not eating anymore?”  

“I’m full,” Gu Yuanbai said after taking a sip of hot water.  

Xue Yuan reached over, took Gu Yuanbai’s dipping sauce, and then threw all the remaining meat into the pot. He clearly preferred meat over vegetables, so Gu Yuanbai teased, “Why isn’t Lord Xue eating any vegetables?”  

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Xue Yuan glanced at him and chuckled. “It seems I said something unnecessary.”  

Gu Yuanbai simply smiled without responding.  

After dinner, Xue Yuan accompanied Gu Yuanbai on a walk to help digest the meal. As they strolled by the lake, they spotted a timid winter jasmine flower growing in the corner by the railing. Xue Yuan’s gaze sharpened, and he bent down to pick it.  

Gu Yuanbai’s eyes casually swept over the hem of Xue Yuan’s robe, noticing the intricate patterns. As Xue Yuan bent down, the designs shimmered in the light. Gu Yuanbai averted his gaze and said with a hint of amusement, “Lord Xue, you’re not even sparing the wildflowers by the roadside?”  

Not catching the joke, Xue Yuan handed the bright yellow winter jasmine to Gu Yuanbai. “Your Majesty, I thought this color was quite nice. Amidst the late winter, it’s a rare sight. Does Your Majesty like it?”  

“I see you like it quite a bit,” Gu Yuanbai replied, ignoring Xue Yuan’s flirtation. “Since you think it’s nice, why don’t you have a few robes made in this goose-yellow color? Wear them every day. Even on the battlefield, this color will certainly catch the eye.”  

Xue Yuan’s eyelid twitched, and without a word, he tossed the winter jasmine into the lake. “I suddenly don’t think it looks good anymore.”  

After their walk, Gu Yuanbai returned to his room to lie down and read a book. He was reading a collection of stories while Xue Yuan sat nearby, carving wood. Every so often, Xue Yuan would glance at him before resuming his work. Gu Yuanbai flipped a page and casually asked, “Xue Jiuyao, have you read any of the books in your room?”  

Xue Jiuyao answered frankly, “Not a single word.”  

Gu Yuanbai had expected this. He wasn’t surprised and continued reading under the lamplight. After a while, he said slowly, “You have so many books just sitting there, unread. It’s quite impressive. Even Chang Yuyan was amazed when he told me about your collection, thinking you were a man of great learning.”  

Xue Yuan seemed to find this amusing. “Did he think I’ve read every book cover to cover?”  

“Even if you haven’t, he thought you must at least know a bit of it,” Gu Yuanbai said. “I truly believed you had hidden talents and were rich in poetry and literature.”  

“Well, it’s not that far off,” Xue Yuan said, brushing off the wood shavings. “I spent silver to buy those books, so naturally, they’re mine. Since they’re mine, the knowledge inside them is mine too.”  

The Emperor didn’t comment but remained silent. After a moment, he softly muttered, “Brute.”  

Xue Yuan chuckled to himself. *Is that what you call a brute?*  

Gu Yuanbai finished his book and began feeling sleepy. Noticing this, Xue Yuan tactfully excused himself. After Xue Yuan left, Tian Fusheng came in to attend to the Emperor. Gu Yuanbai had already washed away the smell of hotpot, and to avoid offending the Emperor, Tian Fusheng hadn’t eaten anything pungent that would leave a lingering odor. The old eunuch was adept at his job, and the younger eunuchs busied themselves preparing the bedding.  

Gu Yuanbai let them go about their tasks. When he looked up from his book, he noticed the head guard, Zhang Xu, standing nearby with a hesitant expression.  

He raised his eyebrows. “Zhang Xu, come here and talk with me.”  

A eunuch was standing by the bed, combing the Emperor’s hair. Each stroke of the smooth, polished wood comb across his scalp was so soothing that it released all the tension from his mind. Zhang Xu approached, but by the time he reached the bed, Gu Yuanbai had already closed his eyes, leaving only his dark hair flowing like silk through the young eunuch’s hands.  

Zhang Xu found himself unable to speak. The Emperor lazily said, “If you have something on your mind, speak it.”  

“Your Majesty,” Zhang Xu finally began, “Lord Xue… did he really never read a single book?” After struggling to find the right words, he blurted out, “Is that truly possible?”  

Gu Yuanbai laughed lightly. “If he says he hasn’t read them, then he hasn’t. Otherwise, with Xue Jiuyao’s personality, he would’ve boasted to me when I asked.”  

Zhang Xu was a good man.  

He had only a vague suspicion based on intuition, but when it came time to voice it, he hesitated. What if it was all just a misunderstanding? If Lord Xue was truly loyal to the Emperor, wouldn’t raising such doubts only push him into the fire?  

Even Chu Daren couldn’t bring himself to speak without evidence, so how could Zhang Xu risk casting such suspicions over a mere gut feeling?  

Zhang Xu felt deeply self-critical. “I have nothing more to say, Your Majesty. My doubts are gone.”  

Gu Yuanbai said, “Then you may leave.”  

The candlelight in the room was slowly extinguished, and everyone retreated outside to stand guard.  

—

Gu Yuanbai had conditioned himself to remain on alert against Xue Yuan’s advances. So when he heard a faint sound in the room, his senses sharpened, though he kept his breathing steady, listening carefully to the movements around him.  

Soon, someone approached the bed.  

Gu Yuanbai focused his mind and held his breath. A moment later, he felt a warm breath near his ear.  

“Your Majesty?”  

It was Xue Yuan.  

At this late hour, sneaking around like this, he was definitely up to no good.  

Gu Yuanbai didn’t move. Xue Yuan whispered near his ear for a while, his voice growing softer and closer, until his lips brushed against Gu Yuanbai’s earlobe. Suddenly, a tingling sensation shot through Gu Yuanbai’s body, as if he had been struck by lightning.  

Gu Yuanbai’s fingers instinctively curled, but he forced himself to stay still, not wanting to alert Xue Yuan.  

Xue Yuan seemed to sense that Gu Yuanbai was awake, but at the same time, he didn’t. He chuckled softly, his laughter trembling against Gu Yuanbai’s ear, filling it with warmth. Gu Yuanbai thought to himself, *What’s so funny?*  

*Is he laughing at me?*  

Before the Emperor could fully process his irritation, Xue Yuan gently bit his earlobe. The skin was delicate, so he didn’t dare bite too hard. After a few gentle sucks, he released it, leaving the earlobe swollen and flushed, as if it might burst with blood.  

“Your Majesty,” Xue Yuan laughed smoothly and teased, “How does that feel?”  

Gu Yuanbai struggled to keep his breathing steady. In the darkness, his long, measured breaths rose and fell. He was certain Xue Yuan didn’t know he was awake. But why, just from an earlobe, did Gu Yuanbai feel his entire body tense up?  

He was both eager and angry, and for a moment, the Emperor wondered if there was something wrong with him.  

But when Xue Yuan asked the question, Gu Yuanbai couldn’t help but mentally answer: *It feels good. Really good.*  

*Keep going.*  

It was as if Xue Yuan could hear Gu Yuanbai’s thoughts. He kissed the earlobe again, his voice so soft it fluttered like a butterfly’s wings. “When you were sitting on the swing, during dinner, Your Majesty kept teasing me over and over.”  

Gu Yuanbai sneered inwardly. *This shameless Xue Yuan. What are you even talking about?*  

He thought back and suddenly realized, *Oh, right. During dinner, I had worked up a bit of a sweat, and because my hair was in the way, I casually tucked a strand behind my ear before reaching for a piece of beef from the pot.*  

*Was that what got him so worked up?*  

*Pathetic.*  

Gu Yuanbai nearly laughed out loud but managed to stifle it, remembering the time when Xue Yuan had returned to the capital after a long journey, and how he had kissed his face and neck in the hot spring. Relaxing his body, Gu Yuanbai thought, *Might as well enjoy this. If I pretend not to know and let him serve me, what’s the harm?*  

*Is this considered taking advantage of him?*  

*No, it’s not.*  

*But even if it is, so what?*  

In the dead of night, with Xue Yuan sneaking around like a thief, who would know? Gu Yuanbai felt no guilt whatsoever.  

Just as he was thinking this, Xue Yuan leaned down and left a mark behind Gu Yuanbai’s ear. His touch was perfectly balanced—neither too soft nor too rough—sending a shiver down Gu Yuanbai’s spine. Yet Xue Yuan’s hands remained politely at his sides, as if he were a well-mannered gentleman. Other than his lips, which kissed Gu Yuanbai’s ear, he didn’t touch him at all.  

Gu Yuanbai thought Xue Yuan would just stay around his ear, so he stopped holding back. His long fingers clenched the bedsheet, letting the tingling sensation spread through his body.  

The breathing beside his ear grew heavier, and suddenly, Xue Yuan’s hand reached out, grasping Gu Yuanbai’s. His fingers intertwined with Gu Yuanbai’s in a forceful grip. Gu Yuanbai thought Xue Yuan had figured something out and was startled, his eyelid twitching.  

But Xue Yuan’s breathing only grew more erratic. After what felt like an eternity, he finally squeezed Gu Yuanbai’s hand tightly and let out a muffled groan. Moments later, his breathing calmed, his grip loosened, and he tucked the blanket snugly around Gu Yuanbai.  

*Is this intermission?* Gu Yuanbai wondered.  

He heard a faint noise from the window, and the room fell silent. Xue Yuan had left.  

Gu Yuanbai’s fingers still ached from being squeezed by Xue Yuan’s larger hand. His expression shifted several times before he suddenly opened his eyes and, gritting his teeth, muttered, “Xue Jiuyao—”  

*You bastard, where did you learn that trick?*  

In the middle of the night, sneaking in through the window, and then pretending to be innocent?