There was still a bit of time before bed, so Qu Yunmie picked up the military report Wang Xinyong had delivered that day—this time it was a real military report. Wang Xinyong didn’t dare include a single word of nonsense.

Qu Yunmie didn’t open it right away. He first looked up and glanced in a certain direction.

There was where Gao Xunzhi lived—and where the three members of the Xiao family lived. With the literary competition approaching, Qu Yunmie was extremely busy, and Xiao Rong even more so. The two of them hadn’t seen each other for almost twenty-four hours.

It wasn’t like when Xiao Rong had been in Jinling. Back then, Qu Yunmie had worried something might happen to him. Now, Xiao Rong was right there in Chenliu, perfectly safe.

Even so, he still found himself thinking about him.

Qu Yunmie furrowed his brow. Admittedly, he admired Xiao Rong and agreed with his principles, but did he really need to be this clingy? Yu Shaocheng had been rather attached to his own older brother. Was it possible… Qu Yunmie now saw Xiao Rong as either an older or younger brother?

Strange.

Qu Yunmie was in the middle of self-reflection. A good King shouldn’t be so dependent on a subordinate. He was supposed to protect and support Xiao Rong, not constantly wish he could turn him into a Snow-Drinking Vengeance Spear, just so he could place him wherever he wanted.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Qu Yunmie jolted upright, worried for a moment that he had somehow said his thoughts out loud and now Xiao Rong had come to confront him.

Even though everyone now knew how to knock on doors—thanks to Xiao Rong—Qu Yunmie could still instantly recognize his knock. Everyone in the palace had learned to knock by imitating him.

He adjusted his posture, trying to appear calm, but when he caught sight of his dripping wet hair, a flicker of annoyance crossed his face.

Still, he called out toward the door, “Come in.”

Xiao Rong pushed the door open with his elbow, holding two jars of wine in his arms. When he saw that Qu Yunmie had already taken off his hair crown, he paused in surprise.

These days, men only wore one hairstyle—wearing a crown. Nobles wore ornate ones, while commoners used cloth strips or sewed caps as substitutes.

Ever since the capping ceremony became an essential rite of passage for Central Plains men, loose hair had basically disappeared. Dramas liked to depict male characters with their hair down not because it was historically accurate, but simply because it looked good.

Well… it did look good.

Xiao Rong silently stared at Qu Yunmie. In his mind, he hadn’t only given Qu Yunmie the nickname “Big Fool,” but sometimes even called him “One-Nine-Five.” Though he told himself he was mocking Qu Yunmie for growing taller without getting any smarter, the truth was—he was jealous of how tall he was.

So annoying. What’s the point of being tall like a utility pole when there are no light bulbs in this era to hang on it?

…

Without his armor, Qu Yunmie didn’t look as hard and unapproachable. His long hair, reaching down to his waist and wet with water, clumped into strands—more defined, firmer, but also messier. Droplets of water soaked his robes, the ash-grey fabric turned black when wet, making him appear even leaner and more upright.

Xiao Rong had seen his figure before—Qu Yunmie wasn’t skinny. Xiao Rong felt that if Qu Yunmie did a sit-up, he might randomly crush someone to death.

This was what people meant by “looking slim with clothes on, muscular with them off.” It was a pity he was born in this era. If Qu Yunmie lived in modern times, he’d be a world-class male supermodel, no doubt about it.

Xiao Rong kept staring at Qu Yunmie without saying a word. Qu Yunmie stood up to greet him but noticed that Xiao Rong hadn’t even realized he’d moved—he was still staring blankly at him. Qu Yunmie hesitated, then glanced down at himself.

Xiao Rong saw his movement, and his eyelid twitched. He took two steps forward, then gave his hips a backward push and casually shut the door with his butt.

Qu Yunmie, having witnessed that: “…”

Just a moment ago, he had grasped onto some train of thought—now it had been shoved away by Xiao Rong’s hip.

Xiao Rong walked over to the table and said, “This is wine I brewed when I first arrived in Chenliu. I originally planned to sell it if it turned out well, but now that we’re no longer short on money, I’ve decided to make the recipe public so the common people can learn how to brew wine too. Who knows, maybe in a year or two, many new kinds of wine will emerge.”

By the time he finished speaking, Qu Yunmie had already walked up behind him. Xiao Rong didn’t realize he was so close and suddenly turned around—only to slam his forehead right into Qu Yunmie’s cheekbone. The pain nearly killed him. He clutched his forehead, wincing, then looked up and muttered, “Your Majesty, your face… is hard—in every sense of the word!”

Qu Yunmie didn’t respond. He hadn’t even felt any pain. All he noticed was the faint herbal bitterness on Xiao Rong.

Xiao Rong had clearly bathed before coming. Normally, he had no particular scent, but after bathing, he always carried a trace of fragrant medicinal herbs—bitter, but strangely addictive once you got used to it.

He didn’t catch the last thing Xiao Rong said. After grumbling about the head bump, Xiao Rong let it go. He sat on a stool and patted the one next to him, pouring a cup of his homemade wine for Qu Yunmie and saying, “Your Majesty, have a taste.”

Qu Yunmie sat down as told and stared at the clear liquid. “Are you sure this is safe to drink?”

Xiao Rong replied, “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. An hour ago I had Zhang Biezhi try it. He’s still alive and kicking.”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

He tried a sip. It was definitely wine, though not as strong as the General’s Brew. It was closer to the mild sake favored by nobles.

Although it was a bit stronger than sake. Qu Yunmie always thought sake tasted like water. This, at least, had real flavor—and wouldn’t get him drunk too fast. It seemed suitable for leisurely sipping.

Qu Yunmie smiled faintly. “It tastes very good.”

Then he finished the cup, picked up the wine jar, and poured himself another. He even grabbed a second cup, intending to pour for Xiao Rong as well, but Xiao Rong stopped him. “No need, Your Majesty. Have you forgotten? I can’t hold my liquor.”

Qu Yunmie suddenly recalled the day they first met—who would’ve thought that the drunken mess he’d once considered killing would now become one of the most important people by his side?

Qu Yunmie couldn’t help but curve his lips. He didn’t press Xiao Rong and drank his own cup. Then, in a light tone, he said, “There’s no need to always be so cautious. After all, you’ve already offended me once. If I wanted to punish you, I would’ve done it long ago—not waited until today. One of life’s few joys is drinking together with good company. Not being able to drink with you…”

He tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Somehow it feels like a regret.”

Xiao Rong looked at him but still didn’t reach for his own cup. He asked, “Your Majesty is so certain that my drunken disgrace won’t make you want to kill me again?”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

Usually, he was the one bringing up the past. Today, Xiao Rong had finally turned the tables.

Qu Yunmie took that verbal hit and looked a bit embarrassed. Recalling his own mistake back then, he didn’t try to argue. Instead, he replied in a softer voice, “At that time, I didn’t understand you, which led to the misunderstanding. That won’t happen again.”

Xiao Rong heard him, but thought to himself, ‘You still don’t understand me.’

You don’t understand anyone in this world.

Sigh. That old saying was so true—only parents genuinely cared about you. Everyone else had their own agendas.

For Qu Yunmie, that was exactly the case. Gao Xunzhi and Agusejia were the ones who truly loved him. As for those he trusted—whether it was Yuan Baifu, himself, or Jian Qiao, who had always been loyal—none of them gave themselves to him fully or without reservation.

Jian Qiao could be set aside, Qu Yunmie didn’t value him that highly anyway. Sometimes Xiao Rong even thought, ‘General Jian, why are you so loyal to such a dog of a king?’

It was different with himself and Yuan Baifu.

Especially after recalling what Gao Xunzhi once said—he had described Yuan Baifu as the King’s brother.

Xiao Rong: “…”

He truly hoped Yuan Baifu wouldn’t walk down that same path again. He didn’t want him to reveal his true nature. If he was that scheming, then let him keep pretending for the rest of his life—until both he and Qu Yunmie were buried. As long as he didn’t harm the Northern Army, Xiao Rong would keep pretending with him, play dumb alongside Song Shuo, and fake ignorance to the very end.

All of this… was only his hope.

If hopes came true, he wouldn’t be sitting here now. He’d be at home with the air conditioner on, eating ice cream—and not gaining a single ounce.

….

Qu Yunmie looked at Xiao Rong falling into silence, watching as he lowered his eyes, even the corners of his eyes showing a trace of worry and sadness—but he didn’t know that Xiao Rong was feeling sad for him.

He thought Xiao Rong had remembered something painful—and that the painful memory was caused by him.

Qu Yunmie asked, “Are you still blaming me?”

Xiao Rong looked up. He had been so lost in thought that he had completely forgotten what he’d asked Qu Yunmie earlier.

At the dazed look in his eyes, Qu Yunmie pressed his lips together and said, “What must I do for you to believe me? Even if I were possessed by a wild ghost, I still wouldn’t harm you again. If one day you grow tired of me and want to leave, I still wouldn’t raise a weapon against you. I understand your heart. If you go to someone else, then it must be because I did something wrong—not you.

“But I hope you won’t leave. Suspicious, too focused on military matters, neglecting civil affairs—I remember everything you’ve said to me. I’ve been trying to change. Do you think it’s not enough? Then I swear it. I’ll swear it in blood—how about that?”

After he spoke, Qu Yunmie stood up directly and took his sword from the nearby rack. He was a man of immediate action—if he said something, he had to follow through. The blade flashed fast and fierce as it slashed toward his palm. Xiao Rong was stunned. He leapt to his feet to grab the sword from Qu Yunmie, startling him. Qu Yunmie quickly raised the sword high, out of Xiao Rong’s reach.

Xiao Rong: “…”

Qu Yunmie even turned it around and asked, “What are you doing?!”

Xiao Rong was about to explode from anger. “What are you doing?! Your body and skin are gifts from your parents—aren’t you afraid they’ll scold you in your dreams tonight?!”

Qu Yunmie replied, “I’m not afraid. I don’t even remember what they look like.”

What a hellish joke.

Xiao Rong wanted to laugh and beat him at the same time. He was one step away from a mental breakdown. Shaking his head, he stopped looking at the sword that was nearly poking the ceiling beam and grabbed Qu Yunmie’s hand instead. He saw a fine line of blood already on his palm and slapped it in frustration. “Serves you right if it hurts!”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

His eyebrows twitched from the pain, but he still pretended it didn’t matter and said calmly, “It doesn’t hurt at all.”

Qu Yunmie’s blood had smeared Xiao Rong’s hand. Xiao Rong looked at his own palm for a moment—longer than necessary—then looked up and told Qu Yunmie to put the sword down. He let out a long breath and gazed seriously into Qu Yunmie’s eyes.

“Your Majesty, please remember one thing well.

“When you need me, I will never leave. Anyone in this world might betray you—but not me. Others entrust you with their ideals and futures, but I’ve entrusted you with everything. If one day I say with my own mouth that I want to pledge allegiance to someone else, then please, Your Majesty, kill me—because the one who said that wouldn’t be me. If you hear those words from someone else, please also kill that person, because they are deceitful and wicked. You must never keep such a person by your side.”

Xiao Rong spoke with absolute conviction. Qu Yunmie found it both moving and amusing. He couldn’t help but confirm with Xiao Rong. “Really… you’d let me kill you?”

Xiao Rong nodded fiercely. “You must kill me.”

Qu Yunmie couldn’t help but laugh. Honestly, he didn’t take Xiao Rong’s words literally. He figured Xiao Rong had been frightened by his earlier behavior and was now trying to comfort him this way. Given Xiao Rong’s personality, how could he possibly let Qu Yunmie kill anyone?

Xiao Rong was completely serious. From what Qu Yunmie had said today, it was clear that Yuan Baifu had succeeded—he had influenced Qu Yunmie. That was why Qu Yunmie had ignored the first two letters and pulled out the third one specifically. He believed what Yuan Baifu had told him, and he had already considered what he would do if Xiao Rong ever left him.

Imagining Qu Yunmie silently staring at that letter, reflecting again and again, feeling sorrowful, and finally concluding that he had wronged Xiao Rong and that Xiao Rong might abandon him—and deciding he must let him go without resentment…

That image made Xiao Rong boil with rage.

You think you’re the only one who knows how to manipulate people?! You are at Yanmen Pass, but I am at Chenliu! The advantage of proximity is mine, and there’s another truth in my favor too—

Yuan Baifu, do you not understand the saying, childhood sweethearts can’t compete with someone who falls from the sky?!

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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