Why Does Mr. Xie Favor Me? Chapter 36

Chapter 36 Kissing the Mountains and Rivers Lowly

Xie Heng: I feel so tired, but it’s worth it once I kiss you

Xiao Jue stayed with Xie Heng until late at night. He still had no intention of taking a rest, so he had to gently put the warm tea cup in his hand and whispered: “It’s late at night.”

Xie Heng didn’t respond, just raised his eyes and looked at the person beside him.His eyes were no longer as cold as usual when sorting out government affairs, but looked deep and tired under the candlelight, as if an invisible layer of armor had been removed.

He suddenly stretched out his hand, not to take the cup of tea but to hold Xiao Jue’s wrist before he could retract it.

Xiao Jue was slightly startled, and subconsciously wanted to withdraw, but was stopped by Xie Heng’s seemingly calm but in fact undeniable strength.

Xie Heng’s slightly cool fingers touched his warm wrist veins, and the touch made Xiao Jue’s ears feel faintly warm.He had always been strategizing on the battlefield, and he was always considerate and calm when facing Xie Heng, but at this moment, he was slightly disturbed by this slightly coercive contact.

“Xiao Jue.” Xie Heng called him, his voice lower than usual, with a hint of unnoticeable hoarseness.He stood up, his movements neither fast nor slow, but the already narrow distance between the two became closer, and the faint fragrance of ink on his body enveloped him with his movements.

Xiao Jue involuntarily took half a step back, his back gently pressed against the cold bookshelf.His eyes flickered for a moment, and his usual calmness became a little unbearable. He actually didn’t dare to look directly into Xie Heng’s too straightforward eyes.

“What’s wrong?” His voice was relatively steady, but his Adam’s apple rolled unconsciously.

Xie Heng didn’t answer. He just looked at Xiao Jue, his eyes sliding from his tall eyebrows to the straight bridge of his nose, and finally landed on the lips that always held a bright smile but were slightly pursed at the moment.

The gaze was so focused that it was almost scrutinizing, with a kind of desire that Xiao Jue had never seen before.

Then, Xie Heng lowered his head and kissed her.

The kiss came without warning, but it seemed to have been planned for a long time.At first it was just a light touch of lips, with a tentative coolness, just like Xie Heng’s usually restrained and forbearing style.

But just a moment later, cracks appeared in the restrained shell.His lips turned with increasing force, no longer just a taste, but with a long-suppressed need, prying open Xiao Jue’s teeth that were slightly open due to surprise.

Xiao Jue’s whole body froze, and the expected rejection or response failed to occur. His mind went blank, except for the unfamiliar and hot touch between his lips and teeth.

Xie Heng’s tongue penetrated and swept across his sensitive palate with considerable force.A strange numbness instantly shot up from his tailbone, making him shiver involuntarily, and a muffled groan was trapped between the intertwined lips and tongues.

He subconsciously raised his hand, as if he wanted to push it away. His fingertips touched the cool material on Xie Heng’s chest, but he lost strength, and in the end he only clenched the piece of fabric in vain.

He closed his eyes, and his thick eyelashes trembled slightly because of his confusion. A blush quickly spread on his face and spread to his neck. He looked completely different from the general who usually scolded Fang Qiu.

Xie Heng felt his stiffness and trembling, but the kiss did not stop, but went deeper.One of his hands was still holding Xiao Jue’s wrist, but the other hand slowly moved up and touched the back of Xiao Jue’s neck. His fingertips were inserted into his thick hair, pressing him closer to him with a force that seemed to declare sovereignty.

This action completely destroyed Xiao Jue’s last support. His body softened slightly and he could only passively bear the kiss that almost took away his breath. A trace of embarrassed whimpering escaped from his nose.

The light and shadow swayed violently on the close figure, making the shadow cast by the bookshelf and the blending outline of the two people blurry and ambiguous.The air seemed to be solidified, but also seemed to be ignited, leaving only the subtle sound of the intertwining lips and tongues and the gradually disordered breathing.

I don’t know how long it took, until Xiao Jue felt that he was about to suffocate, and Xie Heng retreated slightly.Their foreheads touched, and their breaths intertwined hotly.

Xie Heng’s eyes were as dark as ink that could not be melted away, filled with unsatisfied emotions and a trace of confusion after getting what he wanted.Xiao Jue, on the other hand, slightly opened his lips that were red, swollen and moist from being kissed, his chest was heaving, his eyes were distracted, the redness on his face had not faded, and his whole person showed a kind of confusion and pure shyness after being suddenly attacked.

Xie Heng looked at his rare appearance, a gentle smile flashed across his eyes, his fingertips gently brushed his red lower lip, and his voice was so low and hoarse that he almost breathed: “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Jue was still stunned, as if he hadn’t recovered from the too intense kiss, and just nodded subconsciously.That look was actually a bit obedient.He was completely different from the young general who frightened his enemies on the battlefield.

A sigh escaped Xie Heng’s throat, and he finally released his grip on him, then gently hugged him into his arms, resting his chin on the top of his hair.

“No matter how chaotic it is outside, it’s enough for me to have you.” He whispered, his voice regaining some of its former coldness, but revealing an unmistakable certainty.

Only you can make me let go of all my defenses and calculations and reveal such an almost out-of-control demand.

Only you can allow me to find a moment of real warmth and comfort in the midst of endless loneliness and pressure.

When Xie Heng’s lips left his, the almost predatory breath was still entangled in his breath. The hot touch and strong force made his whole body numb and his mind went blank.

When Xie Heng released his grip and whispered the words “I only want you”, he felt all the blood in his body rushing to the top of his head, and his cheeks were frighteningly hot.

“I…I’m going to take a look outside.” He heard his voice dry and squeezed out these words. He didn’t even dare to look into Xie Heng’s eyes anymore. He turned around and opened the door to the study, and walked out almost with the same hand and feet.

The cold night wind rushed towards him, not only did it not cool him down, but it made the skin that had just been enveloped by Xie Heng’s breath more sensitive. The sharp contrast made his heart throb with panic again.

He raised his hand and wiped his lips vigorously. The slightly swollen and moist feeling was like a hot iron, making his fingertips tremble.

It’s too much.

He was so distraught that he just wanted to find a place where no one was and let in the cold wind to calm down his inexplicably weak hands and feet and his drum-like heartbeat.

He lowered his head and walked quickly along the corridor to the remote backyard, his steps a little messy, trying to hide his burning embarrassment under the cover of night.

Just when he reached the door connecting the outer courtyard, he caught a glimpse of a shadow out of the corner of his eye, sneaking out from the shadow of the outer wall of the study on the other side, hunched over, trotting towards the side door.

The man was wearing a pair of green trousers that were common among imperial students. He was thin and seemed to be holding something tightly in his arms. He looked back nervously while running, and his behavior was hurried and suspicious.

Xiao Jue’s footsteps suddenly stopped.

The shyness and panic that filled my heart just now was suddenly replaced by a cold alertness.He subconsciously wanted to catch up, but as soon as his steps started, he stopped abruptly.

With his face flushed and his breath unsteady, it was really not appropriate for him to meet people right away, let alone possible conflicts.

In just such a moment of hesitation, the figure of Qing Jin had already flashed to the door and disappeared outside.

The peace in Xie Heng’s study did not last long.The lights in the study reflected the increasing number of thoughtful handwriting on the draft of “Ten Discussions”, but failed to illuminate the quietly spreading cracks.

A few days later, some of the terms of the compromise were leaked, and the source pointed directly at the Xie Mansion.The leaker was not a foreign thief, but a young clerk who was responsible for transcription around Xie Heng.

This man came from a humble background and was promoted by Xie Heng because of his talent and learning. He deeply admired the character of Bai Ce and other students who dared to criticize the powerful.When he saw with his own eyes the words “suspended inventory” and “redemption instead of confiscation” in the draft, his enthusiasm turned into ice water, and a kind of disappointment and anger at being betrayed by his admirers seized him.

He copied the key passages privately and passed them on to Baize.

Some of the contents of the draft of the “Ten Discussions” were leaked out somehow.What was leaked was not the full picture, but rather the compromise clauses designed to balance the forces of all parties and delay the intensification of conflicts.

Paragraphs about suspending the investigation of hidden households of aristocratic families and expropriating part of over-restricted land in lieu of redemption were deliberately extracted and spread rapidly among the common people and the radical and poor students of Taixue.

“Sign of surrender!”

“Xie Heng is also colluding with the aristocratic family!”

“The shame of Qingliu!”

Opposition and doubts came in like a flood, and the people who used to regard him as their banner changed their focus.Although dirt was not thrown in front of the Xie Mansion, the looks cast by the scholars in the past had changed from admiration to undisguised disappointment and anger.

Xie Heng stayed behind closed doors, and the lights in the study illuminated his increasingly gloomy silhouette, like a pine tree on a solitary cliff bearing the wind and snow from all directions.

The real crisis ensued.

Uncle Cheng’s footsteps were even faster than before, “Master Lang, Bai Ce and the others plan to splash blood on the altar during the Spring Festival Ceremony, and beg Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the Wang family and immediately implement a complete end to the throne.”

Xie Heng pinched his eyebrows, he could imagine those scenes.The hot blood of the young man stains the altar of sacrifice to heaven, the angry emperor, and the inevitable thunderous suppression. All participants and even their families will be crushed into powder.This is not change, it is meaningless destruction.

“Prepare the car,” Xie Heng’s voice was dry, “go to General Xiao’s Mansion.”

The night was already dark, and at some point it began to drizzle, pattering on the roof of the car.Xie Heng did not bring his entourage, only wearing a dark cloak, and quietly knocked on the side door of Xiao Jue’s residence.

Xiao Jue saw him coming alone in the rain late at night. The hem of his clothes was soaked by the rain, and there were still water droplets on the ends of his hair. His face was as pale as paper. His heart tightened, and he waved his hands to lead him to the inner room.The charcoal fire was raging, dispelling the coldness of the rainy night and the dampness all over Xie Heng’s body.

Xie Heng didn’t speak immediately, just stood there, the rainwater on his cloak dripping silently on the floor.

After a while, Xie Heng raised his eyes to look at Xiao Jue, his eyes filled with rare water but he resisted not falling.He just raised his hand, his fingertips trembling in the air, pointing vaguely to the position of his heart.

Xie Heng’s voice was so low and hoarse that it was almost broken, and every word was as bitter as blood, “I… feel uncomfortable here.”

“Wuyou is gone.” Xie Heng looked at Xiao Jue, but his eyes seemed to penetrate him and fall further away, “I failed to protect him. If it weren’t for me, Wang Yuzong would not have attacked him. He could have had a great future, all because of me…it’s all my fault…”

He twitched the corner of his mouth very slightly, like a failed self-mockery, “But I can no longer watch Bai Ce and the others die in vain.”

He leaned forward slightly, as if his spine was bent by the invisible weight, but when he was about to touch Xiao Jue, he stopped with all his strength.This subtle movement revealed how shaken and eager for support his heart was.

“They scolded me for being cowardly, scolding me for being lazy… both of them were right.” Xie Heng closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, there was a desperate determination, “But Xiao Jue, it’s not that I don’t know how to be more happy.”

His voice became lower and lower, and finally almost became a breathy sound, but it hit Xiao Jue’s heart with a heavy question, “Don’t I want to be happy? Don’t I want to be bloody and cursed? But in that case, apart from adding another rumor of Xie Heng’s death, what is the use of it besides making the relatives happy and the haters happy?”

His figure swayed slightly, and the tight shell finally appeared in front of Xiao Jue.That is not to show weakness but to hand over the most vulnerable weakness to the person you trust the most.

Xiao Jue didn’t wait for him to finish, and immediately stepped forward and took Xie Heng into his arms.His palms were broad and warm, and he pressed firmly on Xie Heng’s trembling back. The other hand clasped the back of his head, letting his cold cheek rest against his warm neck.

“I know.” Xiao Jue’s voice rang in his ears, “You have chosen a more difficult path. You don’t want to die, you have to live. Stand in the quagmire and finish what you have to do.”

He felt Xie Heng’s body stiffen slightly in his arms, and then he leaned almost powerless.The back that had always been straight finally relaxed in front of him, and a slight tremor came through the fabric.

The tip of Xiao Jue’s heart felt like it was pinched hard by something, and it tightened with pain.He tightened his arms and lightly touched Xie Heng’s cold ear with his lips. His voice was so low that only the two of them could hear it, but it carried a firm promise: “Then do this. I will support you when you can’t hold on. If you need to deal with it, I will fend off open and secret arrows for you. When one day, you don’t have to endure it anymore, I will stand by your side no matter what you want to do.”

He paused, and suddenly there was a hint of clumsy distress in his tone: “Just don’t carry everything by yourself. Take a break when you’re tired, and say it when it hurts. I’ll feel sorry for you if you do this.”

Xie Heng did not answer, but buried his face deeper into his neck, and then gently rubbed Xiao Jue’s neck. His breath brushed against Xiao Jue’s skin, making it hot and moist.

After a while, he straightened up, the tears in his eyes had dried, and he regained some clarity, “The Spring Festival is coming, I must stop them.” Although his voice was low, it had regained its stability.

“What do you want to do?” Xiao Jue asked, still holding his hand.

“We need a reason, a reason that can temporarily isolate them but it cannot be a reason to openly stop the remonstrance, so as not to alert others or intensify the incident.” Xie Heng’s eyes were slightly cold, and the acumen and decisiveness of a powerful official took over again. “For example, if there is suspected collusion with foreign countries, it needs to be investigated secretly.”

Xiao Jue understood instantly, “The charges need to be vague but serious, the authority needs to be special, and the action needs to be fast and confidential.”

“Wen Boy’s words are reliable. He has a group of people who specialize in such secret matters.” Xie Heng said, “I still have the emergency power granted by His Majesty before. The scope has not been clearly stated. If I use it now, I may be criticized afterwards, but I can’t care about it.”

“Do it.” Xiao Jue said firmly, “If there is any criticism in the court, I will block it for you first.”

On the same gloomy rainy night, Wang Xinlu was sulking in the Wang family’s mansion at her brother’s admonishment. She was still not allowed to go out after so many days.Shen Youjin quietly replaced her with freshly brewed hot tea, his posture as humble as usual.

“Young lady, are you worried about the noise of those poor families?” His voice was soft, as if he mentioned it casually.

Wang Xinlu snorted coldly: “Brother is too cautious. A poor family is like a weed. If you don’t suppress it, how can you know the dignity and inferiority?”

Shen Youjin lowered his eyes, as if thinking for a moment, and said cautiously: “What the young master said is absolutely true. It is just a suppression in the open, but it will eventually come true. In my humble opinion, isn’t the promotion quota the most important thing for them now? Why don’t they build a plank road and secretly seize Chencang?”

Wang Xinlu’s eyes moved slightly: “Elaborate.”

“It is stipulated to give proportion to poor families. This is a plank road built openly. Your Majesty and everyone in the world are watching and have nothing to say.”

Shen Youjin lowered his voice, “However, the national situation is difficult, and various state capitals often suffer from shortages of money and food. If local governments are allowed to donate emergency funds, it will not sell officials and titles, but raise funds for the country. All the money and food will be registered and used for local river construction and relief, and replenish the treasury. It can not only alleviate local urgent needs, but also share the worries of the court. If the poor family continues to cause trouble, it will ignore the country’s difficulties. Your Majesty may also feel that the Wang family is doing things well and taking into account the overall situation.”

He packaged the sale of officials in a grand and upright manner, and added thoughtfully, “In order to prevent someone from enriching his own pockets and ruining the reputation of this method, the important task of reviewing the qualifications of the donors and auditing the whereabouts of the money and food must be handed over to the most reliable person. For example, Cui Yan, the governor of Yangzhou who has a deep connection with the government and is experienced in doing things?”

The more Wang Xinlu listened, the brighter his eyes became. This plan could not only bypass the quota limit, firmly control the official career path, but also make real profits. What’s even better is that it was cloaked in the cloak of serving the country and the people to block the public’s attention.She seemed to have seen her brother gain points in front of His Majesty for her move.

“Okay, you really have an idea!” Wang Xinlu was in a good mood. He took out a piece of silver from his sleeve and threw it towards Shen Youjin’s feet without looking at it. “It’s for you.”

The silver ingot rolled to the ground and collected some dust. Several maids and servants standing in the hall glanced at it subtly.

Shen Youjin’s face instantly filled with a grateful smile. Without any hesitation, he immediately knelt down on his knees and carefully picked up the ingot of silver from the side of Wang Xinlu’s embroidered shoes. He held it up with both hands, and the smile on his face was so bright that it was almost dazzling. “Thank you for your grace. You are so generous and kind, I will never forget it.”

That humble attitude made Wang Xinlu’s last doubts disappear. He felt that this slave was loyal, had no dignity, and was easy to control.She waved her hand with satisfaction, “Go ahead and do it carefully.”

“Yes.” Shen Youjin bowed and exited. It wasn’t until he turned around the corridor that the exaggerated smile on his face faded, and he immediately returned to indifference.

He weighed the dusty silver ingot in his hand and walked to a remote alley outside his house. He saw an old beggar huddled in a corner and shivering. He tossed the silver ingot accurately into the beggar’s broken bowl, making a crisp “clang” sound.

The beggar raised his head in astonishment, only to see a tall figure disappearing into the drizzle of the night, not even half as humble as he was in the palace.

In the imperial study room, Shen Youjin reported in a low voice the detailed arrangements for Wang Xinlu’s adoption of the donation policy, especially the ingenious setup of the review process for Yangzhou governor.

After hearing this, the emperor chuckled lightly and played with a warm jade in his hand. “Wang Xinlu really fell into the trap. He is greedy and short-sighted. He is a knife that is fast enough and unaware of its weight.” He raised his eyes, “How are you doing with Xie Heng?”

“Your Majesty, Xie Pushe seems to have noticed the danger of the Spring Festival and is about to take action to stop it.” Shen Youjin replied.

The emperor nodded and looked out the window at the hazy rainy night, “Let him stop it.”

The window of the imperial study room had just been closed, and the rain in the west of the city stopped for a moment.

In a simple inn in the west of the city, Bai Ce was making final confirmations with several core companions. Their faces were solemn and determined, and their eyes were burning with the light of martyrdom.

Suddenly, the door was knocked open without warning, and several expressionless men broke in. The leader was Wen Boyan.

“Bai Ce and others are suspected of colluding with foreign countries to spy on the festival. They were arrested under orders and temporarily detained pending detailed investigation!” Wen Boyan’s voice was cold and hard, and there was no room for argument.

They acted quickly and without giving any chance to defend or resist, they restrained the person and took him away, disappearing into the deep night. The inn returned to dead silence, as if nothing had happened.

That night, Shen Youjin’s figure appeared deep in a narrow alley. Opposite him was a low-grade eunuch who was marginalized in the palace.

He said nothing, only thrust a thin volume wrapped in oilcloth into the other person’s hand.The eunuch understood, and took advantage of the night to throw the object into the backyard of a certain censor who was outspoken but came from a poor family.

The oilcloth bag was spread out, and inside was a copy of the donation details, recording the financing prices for different official positions, and the comments of the Yangzhou governor responsible for review. Although the handwriting was concealed, the key points vaguely pointed to the style of the palace staff, as if it was leaked internally due to uneven distribution of the spoils.

The next day, the Spring Festival Ceremony was held as scheduled and everything was calm.There was no blood splattered on the altar, no shocking death remonstrances.

However, the undercurrent has turned into a storm.

At the court meeting a few days later, the censor of the Han family was furious and went out to impeach the Wang family for selling their official positions and titles in the name of restructuring. The evidence was conclusive and pointed the finger at Wang Xinlu and even his brother Wang Yuzong for conniving and shielding him.

Almost at the same time, Xie Heng abused his power and secretly arrested poor students on trumped-up charges. News of the suppression of the Qing Dynasty also spread like wildfire, quickly spreading throughout the government and the public.

The violent conflict that might have focused on the atrocities of the Wang family and the desperate remonstrances of the poor family was cleverly diverted.

The sights of the court and the market were torn in half, with one half focusing on the scandal of corruption and restructuring of the Wang family, and the other half debating whether Xie Heng was appeased or suppressed.

The emperor sat high on the throne, looking calmly down at the suddenly boiling court situation that seemed to have deviated from the core of the initial explosion. He tapped his fingertips on the armrest of the dragon chair.