TPATTHU Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Outside the door, there was only a tall black horse, tied with a red silk.

Xiao Zhinian carried Shen Zhejiang back into the house, silently placing him on the bed, and then he realized that Shen Zhejiang had run outside without wearing shoes.

How careless he was, only realizing it now.

His feet were already red from the cold and wet.

Then, Xiao Zhinian took off his outer robe, half-squatting in front of Shen Zhejiang, cupping his feet and wrapping them up.

His body temperature remained in the robe, spreading upwards from the soles of Shen Zhejiang’s feet. But for some reason, the warmth felt so scalding, like a pot of boiling water, causing Shen Zhejiang to shrink back, only to have Xiao Zhinian hold him firmly.

Still so domineering?

“……”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

This was a rare moment of peace they had in recent times.

Looking down from Shen Zhejiang’s perspective, he first saw Xiao Zhinian’s brows, as if shrouded in a layer of gloom due to the many things weighing on his heart. Then, his high nose bridge, and finally his lips, tightly pursed, not wanting to communicate with anyone.

Indeed, Shen Zhejiang had always had those feelings for him, but the obstacles between them were too great. He could no longer climb mountains and cross rivers to follow in Xiao Zhinian’s footsteps.

While unconscious, he dreamt of many strange things. Perhaps because his life was about to burn to the end, he would inexplicably recall past events, such as his first meeting with Xiao Zhinian, and his earliest and purest love for Xiao Zhinian, which was also the beginning of sin.

Because of the unreserved “I like you,” because of the smiles warmer than the sun, it was a solace to Shen Zhejiang when he was at his wits’ end. When he was trapped in the mud, someone would always try their best to pull him out regardless of their own safety.

Once a person has a weakness, they are no longer indestructible.

So was Shen Zhejiang.

Xiao Zhinian was the same.

Five days ago, news came from Qingzhou that the snow mountain had collapsed again, and Han Zitang was buried under the snow, with no chance of survival.

Heaven knows how devastated Xiao Zhinian was when he received that urgent report. Not lamenting Han Zitang’s death, but rather, how could he prove his innocence if Shen Zhejiang thought that Han Zitang’s death was caused by him?

So he could only choose to remain silent.

It wasn’t until Shen Zhejiang felt his body gradually warming up, and the tips of his toes had regained some color, that Xiao Zhinian released him.

Shen Zhejiang quickly retracted his feet into the blanket, a move that Xiao Zhinian interpreted as hatred for him.

But… what did it matter?

Xiao Zhinian remained squatting on the spot, watching Shen Zhejiang bury himself in the bedding, leaving only the back of his head for him, his long hair spread across the pillow.

Xiao Zhinian’s fingertip hooked a strand, twirled it, and gently smelled it between his breaths. It had a faint fragrance of Chinese herbal medicine, which was very pleasant.

Then he said, “The Shang Weaving Bureau has finished, and I have seen the auspicious robes. They are very beautiful, and you will look very good in them.”

Shen Zhejiang: “……”

Xiao Zhinian, not waiting for his response, continued to speak to himself: “Half a month later, I will marry you. It’s earlier than the date chosen by the Qin Tianjian, perhaps not so satisfactory, but I don’t care.”

Shen Zhejiang clenched the quilt beneath him, his voice slowly escaping from his throat, sounding without emotion: “You have to observe mourning for Grand Empress Dowager Liang.”

“This is my decision, I’m just here to inform you,” Xiao Zhinian finally stood up at this time. He had been squatting for too long, his legs were a little numb, his throat was dry, but he still said, “You know me, my mind won’t change. At that time, the world will celebrate for you and me.”

“If I hadn’t woken up, would you still continue?”

“……Yes.”

Why be so persistent?

Shen Zhejiang closed his eyes, trembling slightly, questioning the other in his heart.

But Xiao Zhinian never said another word.

–

Shen Zhejiang was surprised that Xiao Zhinian didn’t tie him up again, nor did he lock him up, or even restrict his movements, allowing him to walk around the farm at will, without any precautions.

Perhaps he felt that, given his current physical condition, even if he ran away, he would be caught quickly.

Shen Zhejiang simply did nothing. When he was free, he would sit in the wicker chair under the grape trellis, watching Huai Wen and Huai Wu dig in the dirt, plant flowers and grass, and also plant his favorite berries.

For a moment, Shen Zhejiang had the illusion that such a pleasant day was in his dream, and that he might not have woken up.

He didn’t want to take medicine. Xiao Zhinian would come over every night after finishing his affairs and use various methods to force him to take it. Apart from this matter, Xiao Zhinian had not forced him to do anything else.

Later, Shen Zhejiang simply took the medicine himself, without having to bother Xiao Zhinian to do it. This kind of meekness made Xiao Zhinian at a loss.

The day of the wedding was approaching, but Xiao Zhinian never came again. He didn’t know what he was busy with, or perhaps he felt that this would make Shen Zhejiang feel better.

But what Shen Zhejiang didn’t know was that Xiao Zhinian was avoiding it.

The intertwined guilt and self-blame made him restless, and the unspeakable feelings suffocated in his chest, seeming to make him uneasy for the rest of his life.

This day.

Huai Wen helped Shen Zhejiang change into the new clothes sent from the palace. The dark red auspicious robes were embellished with countless South Sea pearls, making them look radiant. Although he didn’t apply makeup, they set off Shen Zhejiang’s rosy complexion.

Shen Zhejiang looked at himself in the bronze mirror, and a feeling of disgust that made him want to vomit arose in his heart. Knowing the truth, he still indulged again and again.

How disgusting.

Huai Wen combed his hair up, adding the jade crown, and said, “Does the master remember, many years ago, I also put on auspicious robes for you.”

How could Shen Zhejiang not remember.

But he didn’t want to recall those things anymore.

“It’s almost the auspicious hour, there’s only one last step.”

Huai Wen glanced at the hourglass, and then took the red veil over, about to put it on Shen Zhejiang’s head, but Shen Zhejiang raised his hand to stop him.

Shen Zhejiang said coldly, “This is not necessary.”

As soon as the words fell.

“If the master doesn’t want to wear it, then don’t wear it.”

Xiao Zhinian didn’t know when he came. Seeing Shen Zhejiang’s face in the bronze mirror, it was as good-looking as ever, and as always… made his heart flutter.

He walked over and stood behind Shen Zhejiang, “I’m here to take you to the palace.”

They were clearly such a well-matched couple, but they were so far away.

The sadness in Xiao Zhinian’s heart surged up. In fact, it could be seen in his eyes, but Shen Zhejiang turned his head, not wanting to look at him more, so he couldn’t see anything.

“The time has come, let’s go.”

Xiao Zhinian wrapped one hand around Shen Zhejiang’s arm, and the other hand held his legs, the red swaying, stepping out of the wooden house.

Shen Zhejiang was too lazy to struggle anymore, so he let him.

It was almost dusk, and the remnant red sky light spread across the clouds, like the last trace of beauty falling to the ground after the firecrackers burned, broken and brilliant.

Xiao Zhinian seemed to be in a hurry. He didn’t know if he hadn’t arranged a festive wedding procession, or if he had come alone.

In short, outside the door, there was only a tall black horse, tied with a red silk.