Chapter 217

Xie Chen's eyes were bright with excitement, and it seemed as if a flame was burning deep in his pupils. He suddenly pressed Lin Shuge onto the couch and kissed him heavily.

The candlelight flickered, and the whole room was shrouded in an ambiguous light. Lin Shuge felt his bright excitement, and he placed his hands on his neck and kissed him back deeply.

After an unknown amount of time, the two separated slightly. Xie Chen lowered his eyes and looked at him, his eyes full of undisguised lust. Lin Shuge leaned close to his ear and said, "Do you want me to help you?"

The breath was warm, and Xie Chen's head felt stuffy, and he almost couldn't control himself.

"How can I help?" His fingertips were burning as he caressed Lin Shuge's wet lips. He then gently lifted up the coat that had slipped off just now, feeling the vibrating heartbeat in his palms. "Brother, is it saying that it likes me?"

Lin Shuge was tickled and uncomfortable by him, "Yeah, I like it." Just after he finished speaking, he felt Xie Chen's hand reaching lower and lower, Lin Shuge grabbed it, "Zhongxuan, stop playing."

"Brother has finally taken the initiative this time, how can I waste this wonderful night?" Xie Chen's voice was slightly hoarse, and he took the initiative to go to him. Lin Shuge suddenly stood up, his chest heaving violently, his forehead was covered with fine sweat, and he felt waves of pleasure.

Xie Chen stood up, looked at his eyes which were full of water and sparkling, and gently kissed away the tears from the corners of his eyes, "Now it's my turn."

Lin Shuge seemed to be deeply trapped in huge waves again and again. He lost all his strength in the surging waves and could only get ashore by desperately clinging to Xie Chen as a life-saving straw.

If he knew that Xie Chen had no self-control this time, he would definitely regret taking the initiative tonight. But when he saw the look in Xie Chen's eyes when he leaned over and looked at him, he suddenly felt that it was nothing to pamper him once.

At first he could still distract himself and think about these things, but later he had no energy to think about anything else. He could only try his best to follow Xie Chen's pace. He was indeed a military general and he really could not compare to him.

The next day, Lin Shuge felt a strong presence staring at him in his sleep. He forced his eyes open and saw Xie Chen supporting his face with one hand, smiling and looking at him sideways.

Lin Shuge turned over and ignored him and continued to sleep.

"Brother, if you feel uncomfortable, I will ask for leave for you." Xie Chen came up and said.

Lin Shuge covered his head with the quilt. He didn't sleep for long last night, so his head was feeling groggy. He didn't want to pay attention to the culprit and wanted to wake up and take a nap before going on duty.

"Brother, why are you ignoring me?" Xie Chen came over and hugged Lin Shuge and his quilt. Lin Shuge was disturbed from his nap, and seeing the satisfied expression on his face, he became furious and sat up and scolded him.

Sending troops to fight against the Huns was a big deal, and all the officials in Yandu were busy with it. It was not easy for him to be absent now. Although he had a sore back, he still forced himself to get up, pack up and prepare to go on duty.

Someone was beaten but still smiled happily. He squeezed over to take the towel from the servant, wrung out the water carefully, and handed it to Lin Shuge.

Lin Shuge had no choice but to take it and wipe his face himself. Xie Chen was still mumbling beside him: "Are you really not uncomfortable? I saw it was a little swollen last night. Although I applied medicine, you should still rest..."

Lin Shuge turned around and slapped the towel on his face, "Shut up."

Xie Chen kept his mouth shut, quickly washed himself, and followed Lin Shuge to the dining room.

Lin Shuge quietly rubbed his aching waist, looked at the leisurely Xie Chen, and said angrily: "Are you free?" Why don't you go to the army?

"No hurry, I'll take my brother over first." Xie Chen picked up a bun and gave it to Lin Shuge. This was a bun that Lin Shuge had made in the northwest, and now it had spread to Yandu.

At this time, Lin Qingyuan yawned and walked over. "Brother, Erlang, good morning," he said, picking up the buns on the table and began to eat them. He glanced at Lin Shuge casually, "Is it summer already?"

Seeing him staring at his neck, Lin Shuge's confused mind suddenly became clear, "Oh, maybe the weather is getting hotter and there are bugs. You guys eat first, I'll go apply some medicine." He glared at Xie Chen fiercely before leaving.

Lin Qingyuan continued to ask, "Brother, do you have any medicine in your room?"

Xie Chen quickly said, "Brother, I don't know where the medicine is. I'll go check it out."

Lin Qingyuan believed it and thought he was a really good brother. Even Erlang, who was so careful, didn't notice it and he happily ate four buns in a row.

It took a long time before Lin Shuge and Xie Chen came back one after another. Lin Shuge's face was slightly red and his eyes looked a little unnatural. Xie Chen followed behind him, laughing very wildly and seemed to be in a good mood.

It looked like the medicine had been applied, but the eldest brother seemed to have changed his clothes to cover up the red mark.

Lin Shuge sat down, feeling his face getting hot, and took Xie Chen as a bun in his hand and took a big bite. Lin Qing was far away from him, and when he felt the murderous aura coming towards him, he quickly stood up and ran away, "Brother, I won't be home at noon."

"Wait," Lin Shuge shouted, "Ayuan, are you going to look for Xiangligu?"

"Yes, the musket that Xiangli and Zhang Lingcheng talked about that can fire continuously has not been made yet. We are still busy working on it for some time." Lin Qingyuan replied in a crisp voice and was about to leave.

"Ayuan, I have something to tell you." Lin Shuge's voice was cold and clear, with a tone that did not allow for refusal.

Lin Qingyuan was very familiar with him. When he thought he had done something wrong, he said hesitantly, "Brother, please tell me quickly. I still have to go to the Arsenal."

"Ayuan, you don't have to go there anymore." Lin Shuge said suddenly.

"Why?" Lin Qingyuan asked aggrievedly.

"It's hard to explain the reasons. Anyway, when I have some free time, I will ask Xiang Li Gu. If you really have talent in this field, I will recommend you to His Majesty, and you can go with a clear conscience."

"What if not?" Lin Qingyuan asked, looking at his brother pitifully.

"If you don't have any, then come back honestly." Lin Shuge said directly as if he didn't see Lin Qingyuan's expression.

"Brother, I didn't go there to play. Zhang Lingcheng and Xiangli both said that I..." Lin Qingyuan tried to explain.

"It's because you're not going there for fun that big brother can't let you go again. If it were in the northwest, I would protect you even if you blew up the arsenal. But in Yandu, that place is not my responsibility, do you understand?" Lin Shuge felt a little reluctant when he saw his expression and explained a few more words.

As his younger brother, it was not good for Lin Qingyuan to go to the Wuwuku Office every day. The emperor's suspicion would mean that if they were not careful, they would all die without a burial place.

Lin Qingyuan was not stupid, he just had a simple mind. He nodded and said, "I understand, big brother."

"Brother, it will be too late if we don't leave now. Ayuan, Xiaobai and the pigeons have not been fed yet. My brother and I have to set off quickly. Please help us." Xie Chen said.

"Okay, I'll go right away." Lin Qingyuan ran away quickly.

"Brother, you are worried about His Majesty..." Xie Chen hesitated to speak, Lin Shuge said, "Although it was His Majesty's order to transfer gunpowder from the Arsenal during the palace coup, A Yuan and Lao Zhang did not follow the rules at that time. Do you think His Majesty will suspect that we will break the rules again in the future after everything is done?"

Besides, Xiangli Gu used to be his confidant, and he was almost the only one who brought about the invention of gunpowder. Given the current situation, it would be better to cut off ties as soon as possible, which would not only protect them but also be good for Xiangli Gu.

Xie Chen sighed, "Suspicion is the beginning of trouble. If he insists on doing so, we can do nothing about it. But it hasn't come to that yet. We are still useful. If he wants to be a wise ruler, he won't want to be known for killing loyal ministers unjustly."

Lin Shuge naturally knew it, but he felt a sense of sympathy. It seemed that he was not suitable for these kinds of back and forth and intrigues.

The following days passed quickly. In preparation for this expedition, the entire empire worked at a rapid pace, preparing war armaments at an extremely fast speed and mobilizing an army of 200,000 to prepare for an all-out attack on the Huns.

It was a clear day with not a single cloud in the sky. The sunlight made Lin Shuge feel a little hot and stuffy, but he seemed not to notice it. He stared at Xie Chen in military uniform in front of him without blinking.

"Although you have been through many battles, you still have to be careful and never let your guard down on the battlefield." Lin Shuge helped him put on the helmet, took a closer look, and seeing that there was nothing wrong, the reluctance to leave surged into his heart like a flood. This time they were thousands of miles apart, and he would not be able to know in time if anything happened.

Xie Chen looked at the moisture in his eyes and smiled, "It's worth it even if I die, to have this experience with my brother."

As soon as he finished speaking, he was severely criticized by Lin Shuge, who kept repeating: "Gods and spirits, don't listen to his nonsense..."

Xie Chen laughed even more heartily, "The gods don't have the final say, only what I say counts." He held Lin Shuge's hand and kissed him on the corner of his mouth, "I will definitely come back safely."

Lin Shuge stood on tiptoe and hugged him, "Zhongxuan, although the journey to the northwest is long, I will wait here for you to come back."

"Instead of asking for divination, brother, why don't you give me a sweet treat?" Xie Chen held him in his arms and whispered in his ear, "Last time we went to war, brother promised me that he would tell me your origins. If I return victorious this time, how about we get married?"

"Okay, we'll get married when you come back." Lin Shuge secretly wiped her tears onto his sleeves.

Xie Chen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He let go of him slightly and touched the corners of his red eyes. "Come back and compensate me with another piece of clothing."

Lin Shuge also smiled, "I'll compensate you with ten or eight items. Let's go. We'll go to the battle today, and His Majesty will come to see you off in person."

"good."

When the two of them left, Lao Zhang and He Xin, also in military uniforms, were already waiting outside. "Sir, the soldiers have been organized and can set off now."

"Let's go." Xie Chen jumped on his horse and rode away with a few people.

A long pavilion outside the city of Yandu.

Emperor Yongyuan, in his casual attire, took the wine glass from the eunuch and said to Xie Chen, "Thank you, my dear minister, I hope you can defeat the Xiongnu and drive the barbarians out of Yan. When the army returns, I will personally celebrate your success."

Xie Chen leaned forward and replied, "I will do my best to defeat the Xiongnu and live up to your majesty's expectations." After that, he raised his wine glass and drank it all. He looked back at Lin Shuge, then mounted his horse and said, "All troops, listen to my orders, follow me to attack the Xiongnu from afar."

"Yes." The soldiers responded immediately. The sound of horse hooves resounded through the sky. The army marched past, raising clouds of dust.

Lin Shuge stared at Xie Chen's receding back for a long time, and Emperor Yongyuan beside him said, "My dear, what do you think of this battle?"

Lin Shuge said respectfully: "This battle will surely go down in history, and Your Majesty will become a king for all eternity."

Emperor Yongyuan chuckled and patted Lin Shuge on the shoulder, "Then I will accept your good words, and we will go back."

Lin Shuge bowed and waited for him to leave before slowly walking back. However, before he could reach home, he was stopped by King Liang halfway.