BLHO Chapter 32
by VolareChapter 32: I Promise Not to Touch You
The biting wind sliced across his body like a blade, Song Jiting’s mind was a chaotic haze, his vision a dark void.
He could clearly feel his life force slowly ebbing away.
He had anticipated countless possible scenarios, only to realize he had underestimated Li Yuliang’s ruthlessness.
He wanted to cry, but no tears would flow.
He wanted to call out to his father, but he couldn’t utter a sound.
It was like drowning in an icy cold pool, unable to struggle, forced to watch his own demise.
He had heard that when a person was extremely cold, they would experience warm hallucinations.
Just like he was now.
Whether he was about to die, or already dead, he couldn’t tell.
He only knew that Li Yuliang was truly heartless.
He mustered all his strength to curse, “You dog eunuch, you bastard, I’ll be waiting for you in the underworld…”
–
The General’s Manor/Residence had never been so desolate.
Even when He Yuncheng was away on campaigns, Lin Shuangxu hadn’t felt this restless.
He Yuncheng had returned to the military camp outside the city early yesterday morning, promising to return that day, but he was held up by some matter, and another day had passed, yet he still hadn’t come back.
Lin Shuangxu couldn’t sleep, so he draped a cloak over his shoulders and read under the lamp, his mind in turmoil.
Being his own military camp, he was certain nothing would happen to He Yuncheng. Even if something did, the camp would send someone to report immediately.
Right now, everything was calm, indicating he was safe and sound.
But he couldn’t shake the anxiety in his heart, unable to settle down.
He read the words on the pages of the book several times, not remembering a single thing he had read. His mind kept replaying the night before He Yuncheng left the General’s Manor/Residence, and the things they had discussed in the bedroom.
“Do you want to sleep in my room?”
When he asked, Lin Shuangxu had made up his mind that if He Yuncheng made such an unreasonable request, he would refuse.
Enough was enough, reaching this point.
The late General He entrusted the He family to him. He Yuncheng was reckless, and he couldn’t let his mind be clouded, accompanying him in his foolishness.
So many eyes in the court were watching the He family, and every move He Yuncheng made would be magnified and exploited.
Once their personal feelings were exposed, not only would the world criticize them, but Lin Shuangxu would also be pushed into the eye of the storm. The secret he had hidden for so many years would likely be exposed.
As a remnant of the rebels, he deserved to die, but the late General He had raised him for so many years, not for him to implicate the He family.
And Princess Meng Ning’s death…
If he hadn’t kept He Yuncheng occupied that wedding night, perhaps they could have discovered the situation in time and saved Princess Meng Ning’s life.
Now that her bones were not yet cold, he still hadn’t repented and continued to sink deeper, which was simply shameless.
As for He Yuncheng, although he wasn’t aware of some things, no one understood Lin Shuangxu’s nature better than him.
He naturally couldn’t bear to pressure Lin Shuangxu too much, wanting to be close but forced to restrain himself.
“I’ll sleep honestly, I promise not to touch you, okay?”
“You always say that,” Lin Shuangxu wouldn’t budge.
He Yuncheng was itching with desire, “Every time I say that, haven’t I always done it? It’s only because I have good self-control. If it were anyone else, after you seduced them like that, they would have devoured you countless times.”
“When did I…” Lin Shuangxu was ashamed to recall those scenes, his face turning red. He wanted to argue, but couldn’t find an excuse.
Seeing his remorseful and angry expression, He Yuncheng couldn’t help but smile, “I am a dignified general, not some rogue. I keep my word, so don’t be so defensive.”
“He Yuncheng, what exactly do you want?”
“You know very well, why do you ask?”
“I don’t know,” Lin Shuangxu turned away, avoiding that burning gaze, “I can’t bear this sin.”
He didn’t see He Yuncheng’s expression when he left.
Angry, disappointed, or the usual indifferent nonchalance, it didn’t matter to him.
In any case, he didn’t force the matter and rolled away as far as possible after Lin Shuangxu’s earnest refusal.
After that departure, he didn’t return at the promised time, nor did he send anyone back to the General’s Manor/Residence with a message, leaving him waiting in vain.
Lin Shuangxu grew increasingly weary, put down the book, and returned to the bed.
It was late, and he wouldn’t be back tonight.
Closing his eyes, his mind was in a chaotic mess.
Childhood memories intertwined with present events, faces flashing by like a revolving lantern, all talking to him.
But he couldn’t hear a single word they were saying.
His entire vision was filled with red, the blood when his father was cut in half at the waist, the skirt of the suspended corpse swaying, it was Princess Meng Ning’s wedding dress.
He desperately wanted to escape, to return to the wild bamboo forest where he hid as a child.
Everything in Fengdu City was irrelevant to him, he didn’t belong here.
But he got lost, stumbling to an abyss.
Someone fell before his eyes, he didn’t have time to see their face.
He rushed forward, wanting to grab them, to save them, but before the endless abyss, he only grasped empty air.
He shouted “No!” and woke up from the bed in a cold sweat.
His breathing was out of control, his lips trembling, his mind filled with the faceless person in the nightmare.
“Yuncheng…”
–
The military camp outside the city was silent.
The sky hadn’t yet dawned, only the general’s military tent was lit.
Military advisor Guo Yao stood before the military map, carefully reporting the latest movements of the Yan Zhao army to He Yuncheng.
The last time Bei Sheng soundly defeated Yan Zhao, causing them heavy losses.
They had assumed they would need more time to recover, but they didn’t expect them to make a comeback so quickly.
There were now 50,000 troops guarding the border, which wasn’t much. If the Yan Zhao people launched an attack, they could hold out for a month or two, but any longer, they would need reinforcements.
This matter hadn’t been reported to the court yet. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager were unaware, and Guo Yao didn’t dare to make a decision without He Yuncheng present.
The most troublesome thing was that the court’s troop dispersal order hadn’t been revoked, the deadline had passed, and people from the palace had been sent to urge them these past two days.
They had thought that after the general’s marriage with the princess, the Empress Dowager would put pressure on the eunuch to suppress the troop dispersal order.
Now, with the princess dead, the Empress Dowager was still angry, how could she be in the mood to protect the He family?
After listening to Guo Yao’s report, He Yuncheng calmly said, “Don’t panic yet. We’re already in the twelfth lunar month. Yan Zhao is a bitterly cold place where nothing grows, they have no provisions for war. This exercise is likely meant to deliberately disturb us.”
Guo Yao said, “I heard they imported a batch of grain from the Qi dynasty at a high price.”
“Qi dynasty?” He Yuncheng frowned slightly, “The Qi dynasty is rich in resources, so supplying military needs is indeed not difficult. But they have historically been harassed by Yan Zhao. If it weren’t for Bei Sheng acting as a barrier in terms of terrain, they would have been at war long ago. What audacious merchant dares to do business with the Yan Zhao people for military grain? Aren’t they afraid of being discovered by the government and losing their heads?”
Guo Yao shook his head and sighed, “The Qi dynasty’s succession dispute is intense, and things are very chaotic right now. It’s possible that there are people in the court secretly supporting this batch of military grain.”
“Courting death,” He Yuncheng cursed.
Guo Yao said, “We can’t interfere with their domestic affairs. Let’s think about what to do now. Whether it’s real or a feint, Yan Zhao has already made a move, and we must fully prepare for war. The He family army must not be disbanded. We can’t count on the Empress Dowager for now. The only thing we can do is ask the Emperor to withdraw the order.”
“The Emperor.”
Thinking of Gu Huan, He Yuncheng felt a headache coming on.
A weak Emperor whose power had been usurped, had finally developed a desire to govern and was secretly supporting him in resisting the eunuch party, but such a big thing had happened as soon as he came to power.
Since the princess’s incident, Gu Huan hadn’t made a single move, likely because he was discouraged by the unfavorable outcome and was scared again.
“I understand,” He Yuncheng said, “Let me consider how to get the Emperor to withdraw the order. It’s getting late, Guo Yao, go back and rest. Keep a close watch on Yan Zhao’s movements, I need to know everything at all times.”
“Yes.” Guo Yao bowed and took his leave, pushing open the door of the military tent, but suddenly stopped and froze at the doorway.
The night wind howled in, the cold air in the suburbs was much stronger than in the city.
He Yuncheng looked at his back, thinking he had something more to say, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Guo Yao didn’t turn around, but stared at the doorway, and after a long time, he exclaimed in surprise, “Young Master? Why are you here so late?”