BLHO Chapter 39
by VolareChapter 39: Take off your clothes and join me
Lin Shuangxu withdrew his hand, turning his back to him.
“I won’t let you be wrongly accused.” He said in a deep voice, “When we get to court, I will testify for you. You were with me when Princess Meng Ning had her accident. You didn’t kill her.”
Footsteps crunched on the accumulated snow.
He Yuncheng quietly walked behind him, paused for a moment, and embraced him.
He lowered his head, pressed against Lin Shuangxu’s neck, his voice careful and gentle: “What are you going to say?”
“The truth.”
The truth meant that Lin Shuangxu was disregarding the reputation he cared about most. He would reveal a shameful matter to the public. Regardless of whether it could help He Yuncheng clear his name, he himself would bear the crime of illicit relations, be criticized by the world, and be punished by the law.
Besides this, Lin Shuangxu had no other choice.
Only he and He Yuncheng were together that night. Unless the real culprit was caught, only he could prove He Yuncheng’s innocence.
“Don’t say it.” He Yuncheng held him tighter, gently saying to him, “You don’t need to come forward. I will argue for myself in court. Trust me.”
Lin Shuangxu’s breathing trembled, greedily savoring the embrace, but not knowing how to grasp it, or what identity he could use to grasp it.
“Shaozhu, General…”
The housekeeper came in from outside the courtyard. Seeing the two of them leaning on each other in the courtyard, he didn’t think much of it. He only thought that they were sadly parting in a time of crisis. Standing aside, he couldn’t help but wipe away tears as well.
Lin Shuangxu moved his shoulder, signaling He Yuncheng to let go.
He Yuncheng was somewhat unsatisfied, but he couldn’t cling to him in front of the servants. He released his hand and turned to ask the housekeeper, “What is it?”
The housekeeper said, “The hot water for bathing is ready. Should I send it to Shaozhu’s room or to the General’s room?”
He Yuncheng was confused. “Who’s bathing?”
“Ah, General, Shaozhu said that the joint trial by the Three Departments is coming up soon, so he asked that you wash away the dust and grime, and cleanse yourself of the injustice.”
He Yuncheng thoughtfully looked at Lin Shuangxu. He had just said that he was a little superstitious, and he really wasn’t wrong.
“I’m asking you, whose room should it be sent to?” He Yuncheng’s tone was deliberately teasing.
Lin Shuangxu secretly breathed in, calmly saying to the housekeeper, “Send it to my room.”
“Yes.”
–
Ten *li* east of the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion was a flower field, which Li Yuliang had specially ordered to be planted for Song Jiting.
When in full bloom, it outshone everything, but now that winter had arrived, the flowers had withered, and few people were around.
Li Yuliang had said that he wanted to see him play the *yaoqin* for him in the flower field, just like he used to.
If he was happy, he would take him to see his father, Song Lian.
But Song Jiting had waited in the flower field for several days, and Li Yuliang had not come to see him.
He had never broken his promises before. He didn’t come to see him every day, but he wouldn’t go back on his word about things he had promised.
Why was it that the more important the time, the more out of control things became?
It was late at night, and the open wilderness offered no shelter. Song Jiting hugged a *yaoqin*, sitting in the sedan chair waiting, the tip of his nose frozen red.
The procuress outside was shivering even more, lifting the curtain to advise him, “I’m afraid the Palace is too busy. The Grand Eunuch won’t be able to come today either. Let’s go back.”
The joint trial by the Three Departments was only a day away, and there was no time left in the deadline agreed with Lin Shuangxu.
Song Jiting looked at the sky and said, “You go back first, I’ll wait a little longer.”
How could the procuress dare to leave him alone here? The Grand Eunuch’s anger from last time hadn’t subsided yet. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have come for so many days? If she lost him again, the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion could forget about ever opening again.
She lowered the curtain, helplessly continuing to wait with Song Jiting.
At the same time in the Imperial Palace, Li Yuliang’s trusted eunuch had already circled outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation more than ten times.
The carriage to leave the palace had been waiting for a long time, but the Grand Eunuch still hadn’t come out.
Was he leaving tonight or not?
Inside the hall, separated by a door, Gu Huan lay on the dragon bed, and Li Yuliang knelt at the head of his bed, motionless.
With a creak, the palace door opened, and a small eunuch poked his head in, wanting to ask Li Yuliang if he was leaving.
Li Yuliang glanced back warningly, scaring the eunuch so much that he didn’t dare say a word, and quickly withdrew.
After reading the case files sent by the Northern Garrison, Gu Huan had a terrible headache, and it was only with great difficulty that he had rested.
Li Yuliang examined his face, seeming to have fallen asleep.
So he carefully got up, preparing to leave.
As soon as he moved, Gu Huan opened his eyes, which had been closed, and asked, “Where are you going?”
–
General’s Manor.
It was still that ink painting screen, blocking the corner of the spring heat.
The last time Lin Shuangxu bathed in the room, He Yuncheng was unable to catch a glimpse of the scene behind the screen.
Today, he had taken the initiative to invite him in. To pretend to be polite again would seem hypocritical.
“When you get to the Three Departments, you must not be impulsive or reckless, lest you give others something else to hold against you. Seek stability first, and then act according to the circumstances.”
Lin Shuangxu lowered his head to help him undress, reciting his instructions.
“I know.” He Yuncheng readily agreed, staring at the blush on his cheeks.
His clothes fell away, revealing a bare torso with undulating muscles and deep grooves. His tan skin had many scars from years of battle, some deep and some shallow, covered by the water mist.
Lin Shuangxu wanted to remain calm, but he couldn’t control his nervous emotions.
He could only avert his gaze, not directly looking at that body that stirred up so many thoughts.
“Get into the water.” He said to He Yuncheng.
He Yuncheng looked like he was letting him admire him as he pleased, not feeling embarrassed at all by being completely naked.
Obediently raising his long legs, he stepped into the bathtub.
Lin Shuangxu moved a stool to sit behind him, rolled up his sleeves, and began to wipe his body.
It seemed that getting involved in a lawsuit wasn’t entirely without its benefits. At least in recent days, Lin Shuangxu had become more and more indulgent towards him.
He Yuncheng closed his eyes in enjoyment, leaning back and resting his head on Lin Shuangxu’s chest.
Lin Shuangxu hesitated slightly, but didn’t dodge, letting him lean on him.
The water rippled, and a contented smile floated on He Yuncheng’s lips. He grasped Lin Shuangxu’s wrist, continuing to lean his head back.
Looking at Lin Shuangxu’s face from a strange angle, his delicate features and clear jawline were still those of a beauty even from this angle.
He couldn’t help but reach out, using his wet fingertips to touch Lin Shuangxu’s face.
“You brought me back to your room, just to let me bathe like this?”
Lin Shuangxu still didn’t dodge the excessive action.
“Then what do you want?” He asked He Yuncheng calmly.
He Yuncheng smiled, “I want you to take off your clothes and join me.”