IRBSC 147

Chapter 147: I Do—To Us, Together (Part 2)

Gu Yuanbai had someone bring Hongyun over, preparing to ride to the royal Chengbao Temple.

Hongyun’s gait was lazy. Seeing the horse, Gu Yuanbai walked up to it. “Xue Jiuyao, come and see your benefactor.”

Xue Yuan came over. “In the days since it’s been back in the capital, I’m the one who’s fed it, I’m the one who’s washed it. That’s enough repayment.”

Hongyun turned its head and snorted at Xue Yuan.

Gu Yuanbai spoke for the horse, “Repaying a debt isn’t that simple. By the way, where is the other thousand-li steed?”

Xue Yuan said with a perfectly straight face, “Your subject was worried Your Majesty still couldn’t ride, so I planned to share a horse with you. I didn’t ask Steward Tian to bring the other one. Hongyun alone is enough.”

Hongyun was already accustomed to its saddle and bridle, and Gu Yuanbai had had no trouble riding during the autumn hunt. He shot Xue Yuan a sidelong glance and said deliberately, “Hongyun doesn’t want to carry you.”

With that, he swung himself onto the horse.

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Dwl Zwyd oyp blzrzlpp. Tl zssjle yaswde yde rasnwale y qkdl bsapl qasx y qyxkzkya twyae. Gp bl asel wr clpkel Tkp Yyflpvu, bl pyo Qw Syd zssjkdt wr yde pyukdt vs Qw Zwydcyk, “Wyvbla Oxrlasa, uswa psd eslpd’v jdso bso vs akel. Uyd usw vyjl xl okvb usw?”

Dwl Zwyd’p lulp dyaasole. Tl zlydle shla, tayccle Qw Syd cu vbl nszzya, yde zkqvle bkx sdvs bkp sod bsapl. Ekvb y clyxkdt pxkzl, bl pyke, “Zswa Tktbdlpp, vbkp pwcflnv okzz vyjl usw.”

Qw Syd rywple, tzydnle cynj yv bkx, yde pyke pzsozu, “Mbydj usw, Qldlayz.”

Mblu olal byzqoyu vblal obld Dwl Zwyd’p lmralppksd pweeldzu vwadle plakswp. “Zswa Yyflpvu, y cwt byp zydele sd uswa cynj.”

Qw Zwydcyk vwadle bkp blye, qasodkdt. “Eblal? R esd’v pll yduvbkdt.”

Qw Syd yzps zssjle okvb okel lulp, pyukdt sclekldvzu, “Zswa psd eslpd’v pll kv lkvbla.”

“Rv’p nayozle sdvs vbl bsapl’p cynj,” Dwl Zwyd vktbvldle bkp alkdp, pzsokdt esod vs akel clpkel vbl nyrvykd sq vbl twyaep. Ekvb y rsolaqwz xshlxldv sq bkp yax, bl pokqvzu poyrrle Qw Syd vs y dlo prsv. “Nsae Hbydt, vyjl tsse nyal sq Tkp Tktbdlpp. R’x tskdt vs vyjl y zssj yv vbyv cwt sd Tkp Yyflpvu’p bsapl.”

Mbl nyrvykd sq vbl twyaep iwknjzu plnwale Qw Syd. Ebld bl zssjle wr ytykd, Dwl Zwyd oyp yzalyeu tyzzsrkdt vsoyae Tkp Yyflpvu.

Relying on his skill, before his own steed had even drawn close to Hongyun, Xue Yuan pushed off, stepped onto his horse’s back, and vaulted over to land behind His Majesty.

Gu Yuanbai’s heart skipped several beats. His expression darkened instantly. “Xue Yuan, what are you doing?”

Xue Yuan continued his fabrication. “Your Majesty, your subject is here to catch the bug for you.”

He casually patted the horse’s back, pretended to catch a bug, and tossed it onto the road. “Got it.”

Gu Yuanbai’s expression remained grim, his lips pressed into a sharp, straight line. Xue Yuan’s eyelids twitched. This was not good. “Your Majesty?”

His Majesty said, “Get off.”

Xue Yuan’s long brows knitted together. He remained silent, stubbornly refusing to move.

Gu Yuanbai suddenly raised his whip. “Hongyun, go!”

The thousand-li steed excitedly reared up and shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

Before they had gone more than a few strides, Xue Yuan’s face hardened. He snatched the reins and pulled back sharply. Hongyun whinnied in protest but was forcibly brought under his control. “Your Majesty, don’t be reckless with your own body.”

“And you know not to be reckless with your own body?” Frost filled Gu Yuanbai’s eyes. “Your horse was moving, and so was mine. Hongyun has a fiery temper and runs fast. If you had been careless for even a moment while changing horses, you could have been trampled to death. Xue Jiuyao, have you not had enough of living?”

Xue Yuan opened his mouth, but no words came out.

The others caught up from behind. Gu Yuanbai took a deep breath. “You might think I’m overreacting. But…”

His hand began to tremble.

“When the earthquake hit, you shielded me with your body,” he said. “I called your name, but you didn’t answer. Blood dripped all over my face. The rocks were pressing down on your back, and I could barely tell if you were breathing. I thought you were going to die—why can’t you, can’t you protect your own life a little?”

Xue Yuan froze, suddenly at a complete loss.

“Don’t be angry,” he said, frantically taking Gu Yuanbai’s hand. “I was wrong. I’ll never do it again.”

Gu Yuanbai pulled his hand away, weary. “Forget it.”

Xue Yuan was not him; he would never know what Gu Yuanbai had felt in that moment.

He was healthy, skilled in combat, a general who gambled with life and death. Naturally, he wouldn’t pay attention to such things.

Just as Gu Yuanbai himself always found himself busy, despite knowing he needed to balance work and rest.

There was no way to explain it, but it was suffocating.

“We can’t forget it!” Xue Yuan suddenly grew agitated. “Don’t ‘forget it’ with me!”

He sounded humbled. “I was wrong. I’ll never do it again. Please forgive me this time, alright? Yuanbai, Master Bai.”

Gu Yuanbai pressed his lips together. “Let’s go to Chengbao Temple first.”

Xue Yuan stiffened, then relaxed his grip on the reins.

His Majesty was a calm person.

After returning from Chengbao Temple, he told Xue Yuan, “Just be a bit more careful in the future. I won’t restrict you over these things.”

But Xue Yuan read more into it.

When the group returned to the capital, Xue Yuan led His Majesty toward the Xue Manor, entrusting the captain of the guards, “Lord Zhang, His Majesty will be staying at my residence tonight. I’ll leave the palace in your and Steward Tian’s care.”

The captain of the guards looked to His Majesty, who frowned slightly but still nodded.

Xue Yuan silently led His Majesty back to the Xue Manor without alerting anyone else. Gu Yuanbai’s back was straight, maintaining a slight distance between his own back and Xue Yuan’s chest.

The horses were tied to a tree. After dismounting, Gu Yuanbai started to walk forward. Xue Yuan watched him for a moment, then suddenly darted over and swept him up into his arms.

“!”

Gu Yuanbai’s face paled, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around Xue Yuan’s neck. “What are you doing?”

Xue Yuan strode toward the bedroom. “Your Majesty, let’s have a proper talk.”

Gu Yuanbai, recovering his composure, tensed his face. “Put me down.”

Xue Yuan pretended not to hear, kicked open the bedroom door, and slammed it shut behind them.

The door shuddered violently. A young servant from Young Master Xue’s courtyard ran over, asking cautiously, “Young Master?”

The young master’s voice was strained. “Get lost.”

The servant fled, disappearing from the courtyard in an instant.

In the dim room, Xue Yuan’s breathing was heavy, but he managed to soften his voice. “Your Majesty, I admit I was wrong. I’ll never dare to do it again. Will you forgive me?”

An nameless fire ignited in Gu Yuanbai. “I already told you, I’m not angry with you. You can do as you please.”

Xue Yuan cursed under his breath, “Damn it.”

Gu Yuanbai was pushed against the wooden door, an uncomfortable position. “Xue Yuan, let me go.”

He emphasized the last two words.

“Your Majesty,” the anxiety in Xue Yuan’s heart made him want to pace. The fingers of the hand braced against the wall cracked, and sweat beaded on his forehead. “If you’re unhappy, just say it. My skin is thick. You can punish me however you want, just don’t give me the silent treatment.”

He cupped Gu Yuanbai’s face, pleading for a kiss. “I’m begging you, Your Majesty.”

Gu Yuanbai dodged his kiss. Xue Yuan’s eyes darkened, and he clenched his hand into a fist, slamming it against the wall.

The sharp crack of bone echoed clearly in Gu Yuanbai’s ears. He covered his eyes, let out a sudden sigh, and parted his lips slightly, revealing a thin sliver between them.

The dark, violent thoughts in Xue Yuan’s mind receded. He stared, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Your Majesty—”

There was nothing about Gu Yuanbai that Xue Yuan didn’t love.

These hands—Xue Yuan had once had the privilege of tasting every inch of their skin, leaving behind countless shallow and deep teeth marks. Beautiful, slender, such a gorgeous pair of hands. Now, they covered half of His Majesty’s face, and the lower half that was visible seemed to flush with a faint pink.

Gu Yuanbai said nothing, but his pale lips suddenly bloomed with a red as vibrant as flower juice.

Xue Yuan’s heart began to pound violently. He stared, transfixed, at the fragrant gap His Majesty had left for him between his lips while covering his eyes. As if enchanted, he moved forward, his tongue darting out and slowly entering through the parting.

Gu Yuanbai’s eyelashes trembled, a delicate tremor hidden by his palms.

Xue Yuan pressed closer.

His Majesty offered no resistance, quietly allowing Xue Yuan to do as he wished. His Majesty’s acquiescence sent a wave of indescribable excitement through Xue Yuan, and the force of his kisses grew heavier and heavier.

The tips of Gu Yuanbai’s ears were burning.

“Your Majesty,” Xue Yuan’s voice was slightly hoarse. “The sun is about to set. It’s the perfect time to be unrestrained.”

His Majesty hadn’t spoken yet, but Xue Yuan muttered to himself, “I understand. If we’re going to do it, we should just do it. No more useless talk.”

Before the words had even faded, he suddenly bent down, swept Gu Yuanbai into his arms, and rushed toward the bed, spouting nonsense, “I know, I’ll be slower this time.”

“…” Gu Yuanbai said, “You dare.”

Dinner at the Xue Manor was a little late that day.

The servant sent to call Xue Yuan for the meal was sent back with a scolding. He reported dejectedly, “Master, the young master only had two meals sent over. He won’t let us in, and he won’t come over either.”

General Xue was about to say to let him be, but then his brow shot up. “Two people?”

“Yes,” the servant said honestly. “There’s also a Ferghana horse with a chestnut coat tied up in the young master’s courtyard.”

General Xue’s mind raced. He remembered that during the Longevity Festival two years ago, his eldest son had indeed traded several horses with a foreigner for a Ferghana horse. But when he had asked Xue Yuan about it later, Xue Yuan had said he’d given it away.

Could it be that the person who had come was the man he had been pining for?!

General Xue shot to his feet, too angry to eat, and hurried toward Xue Yuan’s courtyard. Before he could even push open the door, he bellowed, “Xue Yuan, you little basta—”

“Minister Xue?” a hoarse voice came from inside the room.

General Xue’s furious tirade died in his throat. He was filled with a mixture of shock and fear. “Your Majesty?!”

It was His Majesty!

When had His Majesty come to the Xue Manor? How did he not know?

“This subject was unaware of Your Majesty’s arrival. This subject is terrified,” Old General Xue said, filled with trepidation. “This subject is guilty.”

His Majesty’s voice was low, and it became even fainter through the door, many of his words dissipating in the wind before they could reach General Xue’s ears. “Minister Xue, do not be alarmed. We,” his voice grew even lower, as if exhausted, “We have some important matters to discuss with Xue Yuan, so We will be staying at the Xue Manor for one night.”

General Xue quickly bowed. “Yes. This subject will go and prepare the master bedroom immediately. I will trouble Your Majesty to move there shortly. Has Your Majesty dined? This subject will instruct the cooks to prepare a new meal at once.”

“No need,” His Majesty said. “Keep it simple. Minister Xue, the matter of Our stay… do not let others know. You just act as if you are unaware.”

General Xue’s expression turned solemn. He quickly glanced around. “Yes, this subject understands.”

After a moment, General Xue asked tentatively, “Then this subject will take his leave?”

His Majesty seemed to let out a sigh of relief. “You may go.”

Just as General Xue was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something. He took a deep breath and roared, “Xue Yuan, serve His Majesty well!”

The sound of footsteps faded into the distance.

The person on the bed was stifling his laughter. “Your Majesty, my old man told me to serve you well.”

His Majesty let out a muffled grunt and kicked him.

Xue Yuan couldn’t stop laughing. He bent over, laughing for a long time, then finally planted a loud kiss on His Majesty’s lips and strode off the bed to get the food box the servant had brought.

Gu Yuanbai reached out a hand in the candlelight.

It was covered in red marks.

Xue Yuan took out the food one by one and pulled the table to the bedside. Seeing His Majesty looking at his hand, he chuckled twice and went over to take it. “The first time, I was too excited, so I bit you all over. This time, I restrained myself a little. At least I spared your hands and neck.”

Gu Yuanbai let him help him sit up, frowning. “It hurts.”

Xue Yuan blew on his hand. Gu Yuanbai said, quite helplessly, “It’s not my hand that hurts.”

“Then…” Xue Yuan swallowed, asking tentatively, “where does it hurt? This subject will blow on it for you, one spot at a time.”

Gu Yuanbai emotionlessly pulled his hand back and looked down at his arm. Xue Yuan’s words were pleasant, but in reality, his entire body had been nibbled on. He had only retained a sliver of reason, sparing the places that would be exposed.

By the time they were done, the sky was already dark.

Exhausted, sleepy.

What restraint? It was all a lie.

Xue Yuan dished out the rice, chattering away. “Your Majesty, shall we make a three-point agreement?”

Gu Yuanbai came back to his senses. “What three-point agreement?”

“If I ever make you unhappy again, or if we have another argument,” Xue Yuan said, “leave a little gap between your lips. Either of us can kiss the other.”

Gu Yuanbai opened his mouth to eat the rice he was fed, nodding almost imperceptibly.

Delighted, Xue Yuan put down the bowl and chopsticks, pulled him into another embrace, and kissed him several more times.