RMACAUH Chapter 14
by VolareWei Xiaofeng’s face was flushed as he buried himself in Feng Yue’s shoulder. The subtle, dense fragrance flooded into his nostrils like a top-grade aphrodisiac, making his entire body tingle.
“What kind of incense are you burning? It’s, it’s quite nice.”
“It’s mainly agarwood, with a few other spices added to harmonize it. It’s called ‘Cold Seclusion’. If you like it, I’ll get you some.”
This fragrance isn’t gentle; its aroma is aggressive, cold, and long-lasting. It’s excellent for covering up odors.
People who have been on the battlefield for a long time carry the scent of blood. Empress Chen had it specially made for him, unique in the capital.
“Is this incense hard to come by?”
“Not really? Many nobles in the capital burn this kind of incense.”
So that’s how it is!
He almost mistook Feng Yue for the cold and promiscuous Guangling Prince. Both his figure and the incense he used were too similar. Now it seems that the two have vastly different personalities; he was overthinking it.
“Walk faster, aren’t you tired carrying me like this?”
“The corridor is slippery from the rain.” Feng Yue wished this road would never end.
“Oh…” Then alright.
Wei Xiaofeng was being carried by a *lang jun* for so long for the first time, which made him quite embarrassed. He could only sigh that this corridor was really too long; how hadn’t they arrived yet?
“When I met you, you and your friend had fainted in the alley. Fortunately, you were lucky enough to meet me, and I rescued you. Can you tell me what happened?”
Wei Xiaofeng was silent for a while, not knowing where to start.
“You don’t want to talk about it? If you don’t want to, then forget it.”
“It’s not that,” Wei Xiaofeng sighed. “My family found a marriage for me that I didn’t like, so my father threw me into the *zi shu tang*. I ran away after two days. I rescued Sang Cai while resting in the mass burial ground at the foot of the mountain; I think he’s a miserable person too.”
“*Zi shu tang*?”
“It’s a temple built by a group of *ge’er* who will never marry. It’s very remote! They don’t get enough to eat or wear, and they have to do a lot of work every day.”
“Which family proposed the marriage?”
“The Wang family in the capital, the Wang family that manages salt!”
“The Salt Transportation Commissioner?” Each local Salt Commissioner has two officials; this Wang family should be directly under the Ministry of Revenue.
“I think so…” Wei Xiaofeng wasn’t sure; he only knew that the Wang family was very rich, smooth and sophisticated, and had dealings with many high-ranking officials. “Damn! That Wang Taichuan has already married his primary wife, looks extremely ugly, and has countless concubines. How dare he shamelessly want me to be his *ce shi*?! Do I look like some kind of cheap person?”
Wei Xiaofeng got angry just thinking about it. Even if he was down on his luck, he wouldn’t fall so low as to be the Wang’s *ce shi*!
Saying it nicely, it’s a *ce shi*, but isn’t it still a concubine?
A surge of anger churned in Feng Yue’s chest, making his breathing heavier.
“Why aren’t you talking?”
“I think you have a very good face. At the very least, you’ll be a *wang hou*’s wife. You’ll definitely find a satisfactory *lang jun* in the future; there’s no need to rush.”
Wei Xiaofeng smiled happily, “You say such nice things. This is the first time I’ve heard someone say that to me. Actually, I’m aware of my own shortcomings, but thank you for your comfort.”
“Someone says unpleasant things?”
“Mm,” Wei Xiaofeng said, sounding a little dejected. “I don’t know why, but they always like to say things that are discouraging, saying that I like Wang Taichuan, telling me not to think too highly of myself, not to think I’m Su Qingzhi. Do you know Su Qingzhi? Among the *ge’er* in the capital, everyone takes him as a role model.”
“I know him, I’ve met him. Different flowers enter different eyes; I think he’s not as good as you. What’s so good about imitating him?”
Wei Xiaofeng’s bright eyes widened excitedly. “Brother Feng Yue, you say such nice things!”
This sudden “Brother Feng Yue” made Feng Yue’s bones melt. His tone was unusually gentle, “I’m just telling the truth.”
Wei Xiaofeng was overjoyed, his face flushed as he buried it in Feng Yue’s shoulder and laughed, trembling non-stop. “You have such great taste!”
He was so easy to coax; a few nice words could make him this happy.
If he had known this earlier, he should have said a few sweet words when things were tough.
A place that could be reached in a quarter of an hour took Feng Yue two quarters, and he still felt like he was walking too fast.
Sang Cai’s internal injuries were very serious. He was awake for a moment during the day; the maid fed him medicine and rice soup. He had been asleep ever since.
Feng Yue put Wei Xiaofeng down by his bed and said, “I’ll wait in the living room; I’ll carry you back later.”
Wei Xiaofeng obediently nodded and watched Feng Yue leave, sighing softly in his heart: “What a good person!”
At this time, the blood stains on Sang Cai’s face had been washed away, revealing a palm-sized oval face with snow-white skin. He was truly a beautiful person.
They, the *ge’er* community, lived in the cracks between *lang jun* and *jie’er*, and had always been overlooked and looked down upon.
People like Su Qingzhi were extremely rare.
Because *ge’er*’s physical characteristics were no different from men’s, but in order to please *lang jun*, they restricted their diet from a young age to suppress the natural growth of their bodies. The smaller and more delicate a *ge’er* was, the easier it was to marry.
Wei Xiaofeng looked obedient, but in reality, he had some rebellious bones. He was born feeling that food was the most important thing for the people. If people couldn’t eat happily, what was the point of living?
So from childhood to adulthood, he treated his mother’s admonishments as wind in his ears, eating and drinking as he pleased, and not taking anything to heart.
Fortunately, although he ate a lot, he also moved a lot, so he didn’t become a ball. He had been naughty, running through streets and alleys, listening to music and wearing flowers since he was a child, never having a moment of free time.
He hadn’t learned any of the things that *ge’er* learned. If he were placed among *ge’er*, he would be an oddball!
Sometimes he thought, if only he were a *lang jun*. There were plenty of A playboy in the capital. He wouldn’t even visit brothels; who knew, he might be very popular with the ladies!
As he thought about it, Wei Xiaofeng smiled, cupping his cheeks and staring at the sleeping Sang Cai, patting his chest gently like coaxing a child, “Sleep, sleep, when you wake up, everything will be a brand new day. Our good days are yet to come.”
He lowered the bed curtains and called out in a low voice, “Brother Feng Yue, let’s go!”
Feng Yue turned around and looked at the way he was carefully lowering his voice to call him, which was extremely cute, making him unable to help but raise the corners of his lips.
“Coming.”
Wei Xiaofeng was carried on his back again and walked back.
The temperature was particularly low at night, and white catkins fluttered outside the corridor.
This back and forth made Wei Xiaofeng feel that Feng Yue was very kind. When he came, he was still restrained, only daring to keep his hands on his back shoulders, but when he went back, he generously clung to his neck.
“Brother Feng Yue, are you tired?”
“Not tired.”
“You’re such a good person, how come you haven’t gotten married yet? Are your requirements too high?”
“Well… it’s because I’m too ugly.”
No wonder he had to wear a mask. He didn’t know how ugly he must be to have to wear a mask just to meet people.
“Beauty and ugliness are determined at birth. Life is very long, why bother being hung up on appearance?”
Although he advised others in this way, he also understood that who doesn’t like someone who is good-looking? If Guangling Prince that rascal hadn’t been born with a demonically handsome face, he wouldn’t have had improper thoughts after being looked at tenderly a few times. He was indeed very shallow!
“Really? Since I’m so good, then will you marry me and be my *fu lang*?”
“Uh…” Wei Xiaofeng choked. “We, we’re not that familiar yet, and besides, marriage isn’t something we can decide.”
Feng Yue didn’t want him to have any psychological burden, so he changed the subject, “I’m just teasing you. But we’re indeed kindred spirits. You can treat me as an older brother from now on.”
“Mm, thank you, Brother Feng Yue.”
“Since you call me brother, then we’re family, no need to be polite.”
“By the way, your house is so big, what do you do?”
“This isn’t my house; this is the Prince’s backyard.”
“Ah???!”
Feng Yue laughed, “So scared?”
“You being in the Prince’s backyard like this… isn’t that bad?”
“Don’t worry, I’m working for the Prince. He trusts me very much, and he doesn’t often return to the manor. The management in the manor is relatively lax; it’s fine for you to stay here for a while.”
“It’s also a coincidence; your figure is extremely similar to Guangling Prince’s. I almost mistook you for him.”
“Nobles like to keep some death warriors with figures similar to their own by their side, so that they can use the golden cicada escape to ensure their safety.”
“Then, are you his death warrior?”
“Yes!”
“Then will you be in danger?”
“Well, there won’t be any danger in the capital, but it’s hard to say outside. Raising soldiers for a thousand days is for the sake of using them for a moment. Dying for the master is the destiny of a death warrior, and it’s also the best ending.”
“But the Buddha clearly said that all living beings are equal.”
“The Buddha came into the world to save all living beings, but people in the mortal world spend their entire lives striving and struggling, unable to break through this heavenly law. People have human ways. If a person can comprehend the Buddhist path, then wouldn’t he also become a Buddha?”
“Huff… huff…”
The sound of Wei Xiaofeng’s sleeping breath came from his ear, making Feng Yue unable to laugh or cry, “How can you be so sleepy? It seems this righteous act really tired you out. Don’t save just any Tom, Dick, or Harry next time, Xiaofeng. I just want you to be safe and sound.”
*
Early the next morning, Eunuch Yuan came to serve Feng Yue with washing up as usual. Starting today, Feng Yue had to report to the Wenyuan Pavilion every day.
“When I’m not in the manor, take good care of *Wei wu ge’er*. Remember, don’t let irrelevant people get close to him either.”
“Yes.”
Feng Yue wiped his face, put down the handkerchief in his hand, and his eyes darkened: “Investigate the Wang family of the Salt Transportation Commissioner, especially a person named Wang Taichuan. I want to know everything in detail.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Eunuch Yuan.”
Eunuch Yuan made a bow: “This is what this servant should do, Your Highness is too kind.”
After changing into court attire, Feng Yue left the manor in a carriage.
Eunuch Yuan also began to handle the task assigned by his master.
The Wenyuan Pavilion was full of little old men; the youngest was also in his fifties. It had been a long time since a young person had come to report here.
Scholars had their own integrity and would not be obsequious or treat him differently because he was the most powerful Prince of the dynasty.
On the contrary, before his arrival, the little old men of the Wenyuan Pavilion were all spiritedly discussing.
“I heard that Guangling Prince is extremely arrogant and unruly, difficult to manage~”
“I don’t care what Prince or little general he is. Once he comes here, he has to abide by the rules here. Can he turn the world upside down?”
“I think he won’t even last today. He’ll have to resign and leave on his own.”
“That’s right, he gallops on horseback on the border, raises his arms and shouts, and responders gather like clouds. How can he get used to being restrained here? Don’t worry about it.”
…
Just as the discussion was in full swing, a playful laugh came from the door: “Are you gentlemen talking about this Prince?”
“Cough~” Liu Wenyong coughed lightly in embarrassment. He put on a fake smile and stepped forward to make a bow. Feng Yue returned the greeting.
“It’s understandable that Your Highness is late on the first day of reporting, but you must come earlier tomorrow and not miss the time again.”
He was respectful on the surface, but his words were meant to intimidate him!
Being late was indeed a little late, but it didn’t delay matters. Everyone said he was arrogant and unruly, how could he tolerate being nitpicked like this? He might get angry on the spot, turn his face and leave, and everyone would be spared the trouble.