Chapter 128

Lin Shuge smiled and asked, "Does it look good?"

"It's beautiful." Xie Chen stared at him intently, "I've never seen such a beautiful scenery."

I don’t know if it’s the fireworks or the people.

"Brother, Erlang, come out and see." Lin Qingyuan's voice was excited and enthusiastic. Lin Shuge had no choice but to pull Xie Chen out.

It was as bright as day outside, and a few clusters of fireworks bloomed like flowers in the sky, flickering like a sea of ​​fire and silver flowers, which was beautiful beyond words.

"Brother, did you ask someone to prepare this?" Lin Xuan looked up with clear eyes and expectation.

There were cries of surprise from people outside, and it seemed that men, women, old and young were all coming out of their houses and looking up at the sky.

"Yes, that's why I told you not to go to bed early and watch the fireworks. Xiangligu has been preparing for a long time."

"So it's called fireworks. Brother, will there be fireworks tomorrow night?" Lin Qingyuan asked.

“That’s all, but we can have another one during the Lantern Festival. There’s no curfew that day, so I’ll ask the vendors to put out more lanterns.” Lin Shuge thought about the excitement of the Lantern Festival in future generations and said, touching his chin.

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Lin Qingyuan's cheers, and he also insisted on taking Lin Xuan to make lanterns at that time and go out to play during the Lantern Festival.

"Okay, I'll make a few more lamps for you then, but now, you can go to bed." Lin Shuge was merciless and drove the two reluctant people back to their room.

He turned around and saw Xie Chen staring at him, "Why, you want a lamp too?"

Xie Chen smiled at him, held his fingers tightly and walked towards the room, "Brother, are you willing to not give it to me?"

"If you say that, you won't get any." Lin Shuge closed the door and took something out from his sleeve. "I've wanted to give it to you for a long time. Happy New Year, and may you be safe and happy for years to come."

Xie Chen approached him, took it from his hand, and took out a paper envelope, "Brother too, I wish you peace and happiness every year."

"You also prepared New Year's money for me. Thank you." Lin Shuge accepted it. "I also sent people to give New Year's money and New Year's Eve dinner to Feng Gu and Xian Han today. I must make sure they feel at home and experience the traditional customs of our Dayan."

“But the Lantern Festival I just mentioned can indeed be held well. Dragon and lion dances can also be arranged. My iron flower making skills are not mature yet, but I can still give it a try. And there are glutinous rice balls, Zhongxuan, you can try them. I didn’t like too sweet food in the past, and I could only eat four glutinous rice balls at most.” Lin Shuge recalled some Lantern Festival programs in later generations. It was not easy for him to go out and wander around at night, so he had to arrange more activities.

"I'll discuss this with Ah Chuan when I'm on duty at the county government office. He comes from a prominent family, so he might have seen some patterns that we don't have here. As for the lanterns, we can make some more lantern riddles..."

"Brother, when did you last eat glutinous rice balls?" Xie Chen put his chin on his shoulder and asked casually.

"Uh, I... ate it once when I was a kid. Why are you asking this? Give me some advice and don't interrupt me." His voice suddenly raised and he looked back at him fiercely.

Xie Chen seemed to have seen through his superficial weakness and stopped asking him questions. "Let me get someone to dance." Xie Chen hugged him tightly with both hands and said with his eyes closed.

"Is this true? What kind of dance?" Lin Shuge opened his eyes wide, a little incredulous, "Zhongxuan, you're not going to dance, are you?"

"Sword dancing, or a Cuju match?" Xie Chen asked casually.

Cuju? There were Cuju performances during the Lantern Festival in the Song Dynasty. Maybe we could really form a few teams to liven up the atmosphere.

Seeing that Lin Shuge was in high spirits, as if he was going to discuss business with him all night, Xie Chen said aggrievedly: "Brother, it's New Year's Day now, you are not allowed to talk about business."

"Okay, I won't say any more. But you have to help me when the time comes. You need both manpower and physical strength." Lin Shuge was about to walk to the bed, but Xie Chen stuck to him like a dog-skin plaster and refused to move.

"Zhongxuan, get up. I have to go wash up." Lin Shuge said to the person behind him.

"I can't get up. I'm drunk." Xie Chen's voice was unclear, as if he was really drunk.

Someone was being blatantly dishonest. Lin Shuge's expression changed slightly. "I'll count to three, one, two..."

Xie Chen stood up instantly, "I suddenly sobered up, I'll go get some water for my brother, we'll take a shower together."

Lin Shuge snorted and watched him walk out very quickly. He sat at the table and silently thought about what Lin Xuan said.

"Brother, what are you thinking about?" Xie Chen came in with some water. Looking at the man in a daze under the lamp, he put down the water, sat down and looked at him. The candlelight flickered, and Lin Shuge's profile was as smooth as jade, as if coated with a layer of light. Xie Chen's Adam's apple rolled quickly.

"I'm thinking about how to give you a status." Seeing his obsessed look, Lin Shuge joked with him, "Didn't some people always want that?"

Xie Chen lowered his eyes and said nothing. After a long while, he said, "Brother, wait for me for a few years. Wait... wait until some things are settled, and then we will get married."

I will marry you with my true identity, Xie Chen thought to himself.

Lin Shuge looked at him steadily. Originally, he thought the atmosphere was just right and wanted to joke with him, but he didn't expect this man to speak in a serious tone, as if proposing to him.

But from what he just said, it seemed as if he had hidden something huge from him. And remembering his hesitation and embarrassment when he asked him before, he felt a little moved and pulled him to wash up.

Xie Chen waited for a long time but didn't see his reply, and said in a disappointed tone: "I'm sorry, brother, I spoke too early."

Lin Shuge touched his face with his hands, which were still wet. "What nonsense are you thinking about? Since you have proposed to me, I have to think about it carefully."

He propped his face up with his elbow and looked at Xie Chen leisurely. Seeing his red face, he said with a smile, "Master Wei is a young and talented man, and he looks so good. In a few years, I don't know how many ladies will secretly admire you. To be honest, I got the upper hand."

"Brother, don't make fun of me." Xie Chen was getting closer and closer to him. Lin Shuge only felt a slight pain on his lips. It turned out that he was bitten by him. In shock and anger, he saw that Xie Chen's eyes were wandering and a little unnatural.

Um? Is this happening?

He probed, "But someone has expressed their feelings to you," he observed Xie Chen's expression, "or someone wants to marry you?"

Xie Chen reacted greatly and stood up.

Really? Just cheated it out like that?

Lin Shuge ignored the discomfort in his heart and thought for a moment, "Is it Captain Zhao who wants to marry you?"

"Brother, how did you know?" Xie Chen was shocked and scared, staring at his face intently, afraid that he would be angry.

"Brother, don't be angry. The matter has been resolved. Captain Zhao just mentioned that he had a woman at home who was my age. I said that I already had a fiancée... a fiancée. Captain Zhao naturally wouldn't break up someone's marriage. I... don't be angry." Xie Chen spoke incoherently and stumblingly.

"Okay, got it. Let's go to bed." He stood up and prepared to take off his outer robe. Xie Chen followed him closely, being cautious and not daring to speak.

"I'm not angry, why should I be so cautious?" Lin Shuge's voice was slightly cold. Before he turned around, he was hugged by someone and Xie Chen's voice was in his ears.

"Brother, are you jealous?"

"How is that possible? I'm so sleepy and want to go to bed. Don't disturb my rest." Lin Shuge yawned, pushed him away, climbed onto the bed and didn't move.

He lay on the bed with his eyes closed. He didn't hear any movement from Xie Chen for a long time. When he turned around, he saw Xie Chen dejected and looking at him pitifully.

Although his mind told him that the boy was most likely pretending, he didn't know why he still couldn't bear it. He really owed him something in his previous life.

"Zhongxuan, come and sleep, or you should go back to your room and sleep." Lin Shuge looked up at him.

Xie Chen rushed over and buried his head in Xie Chen's shoulder. "Brother, don't you believe me? Or are you really jealous?"

"No."

That's jealousy. Xie Chen was secretly happy in his heart, but he said nonsense seriously, "I'm so happy, it turns out that my brother is jealous of me, which means that my brother has me in his heart. Besides, it's not shameful to be jealous of someone you like. I used to be jealous every day, which also proves that I have my brother in my heart and care about him."

Lin Shuge's mouth twitched. You seem quite proud of yourself.

"Okay, stop messing around. You haven't been home these few days, and I remembered something I haven't told you. When I was in Ganzhou, I once hosted the little prince of Xiye Kingdom. The day before yesterday, I suddenly received a letter from him, saying that he led envoys to Dayan to meet Your Majesty a few years ago, and he would come to see me on his way home." Lin Shuge said.

"Xiye Country?" Xie Chen put away his playful attitude and replied seriously.

"Yes, you were not in Ganzhou County at that time. There was a rebellion in Xiye Country, and the eldest prince colluded with the Xiongnu to rebel. Fortunately, we discovered it early and avoided the disaster. I also helped the young prince Taran, so I have a good personal relationship with him."

Xie Chen lowered his eyes. At that time, the Xiongnu were making frequent movements. "Brother, do you think he has something to ask you?"

Lin Shuge shook his head. "I'm already in Qingquan County. It would make sense if he stopped by to visit me, but I always feel that things are not that simple."

"Brother, are you worried about the Huns?"

Lin Shuge looked at him in surprise, "Zhongxuan, in your opinion, Dayan and Xiongnu..."

Xie Chen said calmly: "There must be a fight."

In recent years, the internal situation of Dayan has been unstable, with powerful ministers in power and the emperor's power falling into the hands of others. Although there has been no major turmoil, the policy adopted towards the Huns is still mainly appeasement. Fortunately, there were constant fights within the Huns, so the country has been at peace.

"Zhongxuan, in your opinion, do we have a chance of winning?"

“If we mobilize the whole country, we will surely win. However, there are many political parties in the court, and the young emperor has not yet grasped the power. If he wants to use military force against the Huns, it will be very difficult, unless he can... get rid of Ding’s party. Then he can sweep the world with the power of thunder and lightning, and shock the Huns.” Xie Chen’s face was full of cold and hot, completely different from his attitude just now.

"But if the Xiongnu take advantage of the internal strife in Dayan to unite all the tribes, I'm afraid this battle will be difficult."

Both of them fell silent. Dingyuan County was on the front line against the Huns. If a war really broke out, the consequences would be disastrous.

"Brother, don't worry too much. Captain Zhao has made great achievements in the war. Although he has some minor problems, Dingyuan will be safe with him around." Seeing his ugly face, Xie Chen hurriedly comforted him, "Brother, didn't we agree not to talk about business? Let's continue talking about your jealousy."

He moved closer while talking, and seeing Lin Shuge glaring at him, he smiled and covered his mouth. A few laughs were heard from between the bed curtains, and then there was silence.