BLHO Chapter 36
by VolareLin Shuangxu felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze.
Especially with Guo Yao present, his guilty conscience made him feel like everyone could see through him.
He took a deep breath, calmed himself slightly, and then stood up, walking to the front of the desk.
Dipping his brush in ink, he began to write on the spread-out Xuan paper.
He Yuncheng and Guo Yao leaned over to look together.
They saw him writing a series of names with fluid strokes.
The list included names He Yuncheng recognized, as well as some he had heard of but never interacted with.
All of them were court officials.
Lin Shuangxu put down the brush after finishing, saying, “Follow this list, figure out your own methods. In these critical times, be flexible with your tactics.”
He Yuncheng thought for a moment and asked, “Are these people all… corrupt officials in the court?”
“That’s right.” Lin Shuangxu said, “If we could unearth half of the embezzled silver these officials have privately taken, it would be enough to support the border for a while. However, those I’ve listed are small-time embezzlers. The truly big ones are mostly protected by Li Yuliang and the inner cabinet. Taking action against them might only create more trouble for us. Let’s start with these people and see how much we can raise. If it’s not enough, we’ll talk again.”
He Yuncheng laughed, “Young Master, are you asking me, a general, to become a bandit, robbing people at their doorsteps?”
“If that’s how you understand it, I won’t argue.”
“This is indeed an idea.” Guo Yao said, “If the embezzled silver is confiscated, they wouldn’t dare to protest and could only suffer in silence. However, for us to investigate corrupt officials in the name of the military… it’s not quite right…” Guo Yao pondered, “If the Northern Garrison could assist us, this matter would be much simpler.”
The Northern Garrison…
Guo Yao asked, “Is there a way to get the Embroidered Uniform Guard to join forces with us?”
Lin Shuangxu stared at the list he had written, lost in thought.
“Let’s discuss this later.” He Yuncheng said, “First, according to the list you gave me, let’s figure out the details of these people.”
“Alright.”
He Yuncheng tapped his finger on the desk, staring at Lin Shuangxu.
Guo Yao stood aside, finally sensing that the atmosphere was somewhat unusual.
But he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was wrong.
Afterward, he tried several times to speak up and continue the discussion, but it was as if someone had blocked his mouth, making everything he said feel inappropriate.
At this moment, He Yuncheng spoke, “I need to talk to the Young Master alone for a few words. Guo Yao, you can leave first.”
“Um… alright!”
With only the two of them left in the military tent, He Yuncheng leisurely propped his cheek, his gaze even more unrestrained without others present.
Lin Shuangxu had endured for a long time, “He Yuncheng, enough is enough.”
“What did I do?” He Yuncheng raised his hand innocently, his smile infuriating.
Lin Shuangxu really wanted to curse, but couldn’t bring himself to. In the end, it wasn’t He Yuncheng who forced him to come.
He had come on his own and was now blaming it on others, which was too unreasonable.
His eyes were full of remorse as he lowered them, “Last night was my fault.” He said to He Yuncheng, “I shouldn’t have impulsively come to find you, causing you to misunderstand. It won’t happen again.”
He Yuncheng thought for a moment, walked around the desk, and stood in front of him.
The familiar aura approached as He Yuncheng propped his hands on the desk, vaguely trapping Lin Shuangxu in his arms.
Lin Shuangxu began to panic, “What are you doing…”
He Yuncheng smiled knowingly, staring at his lips, not saying anything, and directly moved closer to those lips.
“What are you doing, He Yuncheng!”
In his anxiety, Lin Shuangxu pushed his face away with a palm.
He Yuncheng turned his head away comically, not annoyed, and still blocked him from leaving.
“How many times do you want me to say it? We can’t do this anymore…”
Lin Shuangxu’s cheeks were flushed, and his breathing became rapid.
He Yuncheng let him speak, listening as he incoherently repeated the same grand principles, then paused for a moment, and leaned in to kiss him again.
Lin Shuangxu was extremely alarmed, quickly dodging.
“Don’t…”
Where could he hide?
The military tent was only so big. If He Yuncheng really wanted to force him, he couldn’t escape no matter what.
But He Yuncheng didn’t force him, he was just scaring him.
Teasing him like a child, stopping just before their lips touched.
Then, the corners of his mouth lightly curved up, admiring his frightened expression up close, and he laughed triumphantly.
Lin Shuangxu’s mind was in complete chaos, and he reached out to push him, “Let me go, I want to go back.”
“Alright.” He Yuncheng had a A playboy look on his face, “Give me a kiss and I’ll let you go.”
“Can you stop messing around!”
Seeming truly angry, Lin Shuangxu’s brows furrowed menacingly.
“The joint trial of the three departments is coming up soon. Do you think the princess’s case can be easily resolved? I still have to go to the Northern Garrison. What’s really going on with Shen Tan? I have to find out. And Song Jiting, I need to find a way to contact him. We need to produce evidence in court. Time is too tight, we can’t delay any longer. If you keep messing around, it will be too late!”
He Yuncheng blinked his eyes, not daring to say anything.
Lin Shuangxu shouted again, “Let me go!”
“Oh.”
He Yuncheng finally became serious, after being lectured, he obediently let go.
His enthusiasm had been doused with cold water. He leaned against the desk dejectedly, his face sullen, saying nothing.
Seeing him like this, Lin Shuangxu felt a sense of guilt for some reason.
His own wavering, hot-and-cold attitude did seem like he was toying with him…
Avoiding He Yuncheng’s gaze, he couldn’t say what he wanted to say, and fled from the military tent.
Guo Yao was waiting not far away, and when he saw him come out, he stepped forward to ask, “Did the Young Master finish discussing with the General? Are you returning to the residence?”
“Yes, please trouble Guo Yao to prepare a carriage for me.”
“It’s already prepared. The driver is waiting outside the camp. Please come with me, Young Master.”
Guo Yao accompanied Lin Shuangxu across the parade ground and out of the military camp.
The carriage was at the entrance of the military camp. Guo Yao opened the door for him, “Please, Young Master.”
Lin Shuangxu stepped forward, preparing to get into the carriage, but hesitated.
“What’s wrong, Young Master?” Guo Yao asked.
Lin Shuangxu’s heart was in turmoil. After hesitating for a long time, he took a deep breath.
“Please wait for me a moment. I’ll go say a word to the General.”
After he said that, he turned back.
His mind was blank as he walked back.
He didn’t know why he was going back, nor had he thought about what he wanted to say to He Yuncheng when he returned.
He just felt that He Yuncheng was suffering on all sides, and although he didn’t say it, he must be feeling unhappy inside.
He couldn’t help but run to the military camp to see him because he was worried and concerned.
Not to have a falling out with him and add to his troubles.
He quickened his pace, and soon returned to the military tent.
His heart was pounding as he pushed open the door.
“Yun…”
As soon as he went inside, he found the military tent was empty.
He Yuncheng wasn’t there.
Had he gone out?
A subtle sense of loss welled up in his heart. Lin Shuangxu paused, taking a deep breath to calm himself.
Forget it, he had scolded him worse than this countless times since childhood. There was no need to explain anything, or it would seem affected.
He turned to leave.
But as he turned around, he bumped straight into a familiar chest.
He Yuncheng chuckled lightly, “What, did you miss me already after just being separated?”