BLHO Chapter 82

Chapter 82: I Did Something Bad with He Yuncheng

Chapter 82: I Did Something Bad with He Yuncheng

In the year that General He Chong died on the battlefield, his body was not transported back to Fengdu City, but was buried at the border between Bei Sheng and Yan Zhao.

The stone tablet stood tall, with dense inscriptions that could not fully describe his life.

This was his last wish before his death, to bury his body on the border. His soul would remain here, guarding the national gate, and even in death, he would never allow the enemy to step into Bei Sheng.

During the ancestral worship in Fengdu City, Lin Shuangxu paid respects to his teacher’s cenotaph. Now that he had finally come here in person, he naturally had to kowtow at the tomb.

The night wind was no longer as biting as when they had set out on their expedition. Lin Shuangxu knelt before the tombstone, his heart filled with a thousand words, but only silence remained on his lips, unsure of where to begin.

He Yuncheng knelt behind him, quietly accompanying him. Afraid that he would get cold, he took off his outer robe and draped it over him.

Lin Shuangxu did not speak, so he took the initiative to speak to the tombstone: “Father, I have not disgraced you. We have won. Yan Zhao has surrendered and promised not to invade again in the future.”

The peace of the border was what his father had been most concerned about before and after his death. He shared the joy of victory, but beyond that, he also wanted to tell his father that he and Lin Shuangxu had come to understand each other’s hearts.

But he refrained from speaking. He knew that Lin Shuangxu had proposed coming here because he wanted to tell his father himself.

He waited patiently. After a moment, Lin Shuangxu finally spoke: “Your son is unfilial, only coming to pay respects at your tomb after so many years. Please forgive me, teacher.”

He bowed his head and kowtowed, sincerely admitting his mistake. A thousand strands of thoughts intertwined in his heart, and his expression was not as relaxed as He Yuncheng’s.

He frowned and said, “Soon, Yuncheng and I will set off to return to Fengdu City. This time, I don’t know how much turmoil will be stirred up in the court. Your teachings, teacher, I dare not neglect. Over the years, Yuncheng and I have been cautious in our words and actions, avoiding conflicts and grudges. But the He family holds military power, which is feared by the world. It’s not as if we can live in peace just because we want to. This time, Yuncheng has made great contributions, and after returning to court, he will inevitably be subjected to checks and balances. Please protect him, teacher, protect Yuncheng so that he can have a safe and smooth journey, a clear path.”

After he finished speaking, he kowtowed to the tombstone again, his palms pressed to the ground, his heart sincere.

Love transformed into a warm current flowing through his heart, and the steadfastness in He Yuncheng’s eyes turned into infinite tenderness.

Lin Shuangxu straightened up after kowtowing, still having something to say: “Teacher, I don’t want to go down that road, but if one day I am forced to, please don’t blame your son for being disloyal and unrighteous, for ruining the He family’s generations of good name.”

His voice was not loud, but each word was heavy. Beneath his aloof exterior, there was a ruthless streak, a sense of desolation and disgust for this world.

He had said more than once that no one could touch He Yuncheng, or he was capable of anything.

In fact, every time Lin Shuangxu revealed this side of himself, it made He Yuncheng feel a trace of unfamiliarity.

Even though they had grown up together since childhood and were so intimate, there was still a faint cloud between them.

He Yuncheng did not know what was hidden behind that cloud. He wanted to understand, but Lin Shuangxu would not allow him to approach.

He had never been able to figure it out.

Lin Shuangxu finished speaking and turned his head, glancing at him, his gaze loving and full of heartache.

There was a kind of high and mighty benevolence, using his commoner’s status to entice people to submit to him.

He Yuncheng really wanted to ask what it was that he didn’t want people to see through.

In the next moment, Lin Shuangxu suddenly deflated, his straight back slumping down wearily, and his originally serious face instantly turned into childlike annoyance.

It seemed he wasn’t lying. After a cup of wine, he really was drunk.

The drunkenness came late, casting a layer of mist in his eyes.

He drooped his head and continued to speak to the tombstone: “I did something bad with Yuncheng. I’m sorry, teacher.”

He sincerely reflected, speaking in a low voice, too ashamed to raise his head.

He said: “I tried my best to restrain myself, suppressing my feelings, not daring to cross the line, not daring to do anything that would be unfair to the He family, but it was really…”

He was aggrieved, making people’s hearts soften.

He Yuncheng felt both heartache and amusement.

He thought that he would say next that he really couldn’t control his feelings, that he liked He Yuncheng too much and had to marry him.

Who knew that he would then hear Lin Shuangxu say: “It’s just that He Yuncheng, he’s unreasonable, acts perversely, is lawless, and doesn’t listen to me at all… forcing people to make mistakes with him.”

He Yuncheng was stunned, and then couldn’t help but chuckle in this solemn setting.

He leaned forward, bringing his head closer to Lin Shuangxu’s face to see what kind of expression he had when he said such things.

It was one thing to take advantage of him when he was drunk before, but now he was actually slandering him in front of his father.

When had he ever forced him? At most, he would only try to get a little advantage with words. If Lin Shuangxu didn’t agree, what could he do?

After shirking his responsibility, Lin Shuangxu lowered his eyes, his eyelashes wet, his cheeks flushed, half from the wine and half from the cold wind.

The more He Yuncheng looked at him, the more he liked him, so he resigned himself to nodding, kneeling upright, and said seriously: “Yes, Father, it’s all my fault. I admit my mistake. I won’t explain any further. Your old self in heaven must see everything clearly. Don’t blame him, punish me if you want to punish someone.”

After he finished speaking, he sincerely kowtowed, and Lin Shuangxu next to him followed him in kowtowing.

When bowing, he muttered a sentence in a low voice, which He Yuncheng could barely hear.

He said: “I beg the teacher to grant our wish.”

–

Two days later, He Yuncheng entrusted the post-war affairs of the border to Chu Meng, arranged everything properly, and led the main force back to court.

On the way back to court, Han Mao was no longer as arrogant and despotic as when they had come. He actively made way, letting He Yuncheng and Lin Shuangxu walk in the front, while he followed behind them on horseback.

That night’s banquet had upset Lin Shuangxu, and Han Mao had been feeling uneasy in his heart for the past two days.

He wanted to find an opportunity to explain to Lin Shuangxu, to tell him that he had no malicious intentions, but he had not been able to speak to him.

Lin Shuangxu naturally noticed the apprehensive gaze behind him. After leaving the military camp, Han Mao had tried several times to step forward, but he was too embarrassed to come over.

He helplessly looked at He Yuncheng.

He Yuncheng understood and chuckled, turning back to Han Mao and shouting: “If you keep peeking, do you believe I’ll gouge out your eyeballs?”

Han Mao was startled. Even though he had done nothing wrong, he quickly looked away, explaining to He Yuncheng: “General He has misunderstood.”

He Yuncheng rolled his eyes at him, and after finishing his warning, turned his head back. Han Mao opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he was not given the chance.

The team continued to move forward, and he awkwardly tightened his reins, hesitating in his heart whether to step forward and take the initiative to ease the atmosphere.

Before he could take any action, suddenly, there was a disturbance in the bushes beside him.

He Yuncheng immediately became alert, his hand on his waist, ready to draw his knife at any moment.

In the next moment, he saw a figure staggering out of the weeds. It was not a lurking enemy, but a sallow and emaciated young girl.

The little girl was about sixteen or seventeen years old, a flower-like age, but she was withered and haggard, with a haggard appearance.

She desperately rushed forward and knelt down at He Yuncheng’s horse, kowtowing one after another.

Tears streamed down her dirty cheeks, and she seemed to want to beg for help, but the sound she made was a chaotic, strange cry.

He Yuncheng frowned, raised his arm, ordered the team to stop temporarily, dismounted, and came to the little girl.

Looking closely, he realized that she could not speak and could only make strange noises because her tongue had been cut off.

“Are you a refugee from nearby?” he tentatively asked her.

The little girl looked muddled and did not understand what he was saying. She only knew how to kowtow and cry, not even knowing how to nod or shake her head.

Lin Shuangxu walked over and said to He Yuncheng, “She’s too weak. Let’s save her first.”

“Yeah.” He Yuncheng nodded and said to the little girl, “Let’s go, there’s food in the carriage.”

He reached out to help the little girl up, but the little girl shook her head frantically, shouting “Yi Yi Ya Ya” while grabbing the hem of his clothes, as if eager to take him somewhere.

Her strength was naturally not enough to pull He Yuncheng.

He Yuncheng and Lin Shuangxu exchanged glances, neither of them speaking.

Even if the enemy went back on their word, they wouldn’t be so blatant as to block their army and use tricks in broad daylight.

After a moment’s thought, He Yuncheng said, “I’ll go take a look.”

Just as he was about to leave with the little girl, Han Mao, who had been silent all this time, finally couldn’t help but step forward and stop He Yuncheng. Seeming to know some hidden information, he warned in a deep voice: “Don’t go.”