Chapter 114 This is roughly the story of "Flowers Don't Intoxicate the Soul"...
As it turned out, Xiao Che was right; making preparations in advance was absolutely necessary.
Lin Yan recalled the time when he had to grit his teeth and mentally prepare himself for a long time before he could barely tolerate even the smallest piece of medicinal jade. It was a memory he found unbearable to recall.
The intense discomfort and psychological shame he felt when the cold, foreign object first invaded him made him want to quit several times.
But Xiao Che showed amazing patience and persistence in this matter. He would always gaze at him with his deep eyes, while his hands moved gently yet firmly, coaxing him and pushing him to adapt step by step.
After practicing for a period of time, the results were remarkable.
Now, Lin Yan is able to insert the thickest piece of the medicinal jade relatively smoothly.
Of course, this process still required Xiao Che's "assistance" and the bottle of lubricating ointment specially made by the Imperial Medical Academy, which had a delicate orchid fragrance.
However, the thickest piece of medicinal jade was only about the thickness of two fingers held together, which seemed somewhat "insufficient" for Xiao Che's obviously exceptionally large size.
Therefore, Xiao Che still used his own fingers to help Lin Yan with deeper "adaptation training". At most, he even added three fingers.
Lin Yan felt like he was about to split open. The feeling of being forcibly stretched and bloated to the extreme made his scalp tingle and his toes curl up. He cursed Xiao Che as a bastard with a sob in his voice.
While kissing away the moisture from the corner of his eyes, Xiao Che whispered comforting words, but his actions showed no sign of stopping, euphemistically calling it "consolidating the results."
Therefore, their interactions in bed have evolved from simply using their mouths and hands to a deeper and more intimate level.
Although they always kept their promise to "save it for the bridal chamber" until the very end, their bodies were already familiar with each other's temperature and touch, and they were just one step away from the final climax.
August arrived in the blink of an eye, and the Mid-Autumn Festival wedding date was fast approaching.
On a crisp autumn day off, Xiao Che kept his promise and took Lin Yan outside the city for horseback riding and archery.
Now they are officially engaged, and Xiao Che always comes to the Lin residence to pick them up openly, bringing different gifts each time.
Lin Chengji and Wen Yun went from being flattered at the beginning to taking it for granted now. Only Lin Mo's eyes would light up every time he saw the emperor's "sister-in-law," completely captivated by the exquisite palace pastries and novelties.
The carriage drove all the way out of the capital and arrived at the royal hunting grounds in the western suburbs.
This hunting ground is vast and lush with vegetation, and is where most of the major hunting-related events in Chongqing are held.
However, Xiao Che brought Lin Yan here today not for hunting, but purely to ride horses and relax, fulfilling his promise to teach him archery. The weather is cool now, making it a good time to carry out the plan.
On the edge of the enclosure, there is a sizable osmanthus grove, which is currently in full bloom. The golden flowers cluster on the branches, and the rich fragrance is so strong that it is almost overwhelming. The fragrance emanating from the entire grove is even more remarkable, as if the air itself has been soaked in honey. Every breath is filled with sweetness, making one feel refreshed and relaxed.
Li Defu and his palace servants had already made all the necessary arrangements. They selected a flat and well-ventilated open space next to the osmanthus grove, spread out a thick felt carpet, and placed a low table and comfortable cushions.
On the low table were various seasonal fruits, exquisite pastries, and warmed wines, all of which were the freshest seasonal dishes carefully prepared by the imperial kitchen.
Xiao Che first took Lin Yan to the stable to fetch "Fuyun".
After spending some time together, Lin Yan and the gentle white horse had become quite familiar with each other. He affectionately patted Fu Yun's neck, and Fu Yun also rubbed against his palm in a friendly manner.
"Come, let me teach you archery today." Xiao Che ordered someone to bring the silver-inlaid amber bow that he had given to Lin Yan, and led Lin Yan to a wide-open archery range.
In fact, teaching archery was just a pretext; His Majesty's primary purpose was to get close to his fiancé, so the entire teaching process was filled with various "necessary" intimate contacts.
Xiao Che wrapped his arms around Lin Yan from behind, one hand on his waist and the other holding his hand that was nocking the bow. He explained to Lin Yan, almost whispering in his ear, how to stand, how to nock the arrow, how to draw the bow, and how to aim.
Warm breath sprayed onto Lin Yan's sensitive earlobes and neck, carrying the scent of agarwood, stirring Lin Yan's thoughts and making him unable to help but think of other images, such as how Xiao Che's fingers had been the night before...
"Focus." Xiao Che seemed to notice his distraction, chuckled, and nuzzled the top of his head with his chin, tightening his grip on him.
Lin Yan's ears turned slightly red as she forcibly pulled herself back to reality and tried to focus her attention on the bow and arrow.
However, Xiao Che's skill level was undeniable; although his teaching motives were impure, his guidance was still quite effective.
Lin Yan himself was not clumsy, and with his adjustments, he was able to quickly adopt a perfectly standard and respectable bow-drawing posture, with the angles of his shoulders, elbows, and hands all just right.
However, Lin Yan lacked a foundation in martial arts, and his arm strength, finger strength, and core strength were far from sufficient. When the bowstring was drawn back to a certain extent, his arms would feel sore and trembling, and it was even more difficult to maintain a steady aim.
The arrows were light and floaty. At first, they couldn't even touch the edge of the target and went straight into the grass in front of the target. After practicing for a while, they could barely touch the edge of the target and were still a long way from the bullseye.
However, Xiao Che was a complete doting "coach." No matter how terrible Lin Yan's shooting results were, he could find a way to praise him without changing his expression.
"Hanzhang has excellent comprehension; he got the posture right on the first try."
"Not bad, this time it's even stronger than last time."
"Look, you've hit the target! You're making rapid progress."
Lin Yan was a little embarrassed by his praise and couldn't help but mutter a complaint in a low voice: "Your Majesty, you're exaggerating too much. It's clearly far from the truth."
Xiao Che, however, said with a serious expression: "I never speak falsely. Hanzhang is already extremely talented to be able to do this so well in his early studies."
He even turned to Li Defu, who was standing not far away serving him, and asked, "Li Defu, do you think Minister Lin is learning very quickly?"
Li Defu immediately grinned, revealing his large teeth, and his face crinkled with smiles as he hurriedly echoed, "Absolutely! Lord Lin is exceptionally talented. This servant observes that his bow-drawing posture is reminiscent of His Majesty's style in his prime! It's only been a short time since he hit the target; given time, he will surely be a crack shot!"
Lin Yan watched as the master and servant sang in unison, showering him with compliments, and he was utterly speechless with disbelief.
Okay, whatever makes you happy.
It seems that beauty is in the eye of the beholder; even a novice can be praised as a sharpshooter.
Seeing Lin Yan's thoughts, Xiao Che's smile deepened as he continued his praise lesson.
After practicing for about half an hour, Lin Yan's arms were sore and his forehead was covered in sweat, so Xiao Che called a stop and led him back to the felt mat by the osmanthus grove to rest.
The two sat side by side on the felt rug, enjoying the autumn afternoon sun and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms.
Li Defu thoughtfully handed them the warmed wine and snacks, then smiled and stepped back a short distance away, watching the two of them interact sweetly, one handing them water and the other wiping their sweat. He felt incredibly gratified; the older he got, the more he enjoyed seeing these scenes of lovers finally getting together.
Xiao Che picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and held it to Lin Yan's lips. Lin Yan took a bite from his hand; it was soft, sweet, and fragrant.
"If you're tired, take a rest. Later, I'll take you for a ride on Fuyun for a stroll around the area. You don't need to go fast; just enjoy the scenery," Xiao Che said softly, looking at his slightly flushed cheeks.
Lin Yan nodded, leaned against Xiao Che, looked at the golden osmanthus forest in front of him, smelled the rich fragrance of the flowers, and felt the warmth and peace of mind emanating from the person beside him. He felt that there was no greater peace and tranquility than this.
Leaning against the soft cushions, eating sweet pears, looking at the open scenery in the distance, and feeling the meticulous care of the people around me, I felt completely relaxed and even forgot about the discomfort brought on by yesterday's "training".
He suddenly remembered something, leaned closer to Xiao Che, and asked in a low voice, "Speaking of which, that medicinal jade, and the finger... how do you know so much about them?" He couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering him for so long.
Xiao Che paused slightly as he peeled grapes, looked up at him, a barely perceptible smile flashing in his eyes before returning to calm. He then held the peeled grapes to Xiao Che's lips, saying in a casual tone, "I am the emperor."
Lin Yan: "???"
What kind of answer is this? Is an emperor supposed to know all this? Which classic text teaches this?
Seeing Lin Yan's bewildered expression, Xiao Che slowly wiped his hands clean before saying in a low voice, "There are relevant records and illustrations in the palace, which I have reviewed."
Xiao Che's gaze fell on Lin Yan's slightly parted lips, which were filled with doubt: "Although I lack practical experience, my theoretical knowledge is sufficient, and..."
He leaned closer, his voice low and whispering past Lin Yan's ear: "This matter concerns Han Zhang, so I will naturally be thorough in everything I do, carefully studying every detail to ensure that nothing goes wrong."
Lin Yan's face turned completely red instantly.
Palace records? Icons? Careful study?!
Xiao Che really did tutor him behind his back!
Big! Pig! Trotter!
Seeing Lin Yan's flushed face and shocked eyes, Xiao Che couldn't help but chuckle softly and reached out to pull her into his arms.
The fragrance of osmanthus blossoms is rich, the autumn breeze is refreshing, and the sky is high and the clouds are light in the distance.
Lin Yan leaned against Xiao Che's chest, listening to his steady heartbeat and smelling the familiar scent of agarwood and osmanthus. The shyness in her heart gradually turned into an indescribable sense of peace and sweetness.
He looked up, gently pecked Xiao Che's chin, and whispered, "Xiao Zhaolin, you're so good."
Xiao Che tightened his arms and lowered his head to kiss the top of his head.
"Not even one ten-thousandth of Hanzhang's merit."
After resting enough, Lin Yan felt the soreness in his arms had eased considerably, and he looked eagerly at Fu Yun, who was leisurely grazing not far away.
"Your Majesty, shall we go for a ride?" He tugged at Xiao Che's sleeve.
Xiao Che naturally complied and took his hand, leading him towards Fuyun.
"No need to prepare another horse today. Hanzhang and I can ride the Fuyun together." Xiao Che said, naturally putting his arm around Lin Yan's waist and lifting him onto the horse with a little effort.
Lin Yan let out a soft cry and subconsciously grabbed the protrusion in front of the saddle. Fu Yun was gentle by nature, and only flicked its tail slightly before standing steadily.
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Che nimbly flipped over and sat steadily behind Lin Yan.
The saddle was a bit cramped for two adult men. Xiao Che's chest was pressed tightly against Lin Yan's back, and his arms wrapped around Lin Yan's sides, naturally gripping the reins.
This position almost completely encircled Lin Yan in his arms.
"Hold on tight." Xiao Che's deep voice rang out behind Lin Yan's ear, clearly transmitted with the vibration of his chest.
Lin Yan could feel the warmth from Xiao Che's back, and the breath he exhaled as he spoke brushed against his ear, carrying the sweet fragrance of osmanthus and the unique scent of agarwood on Xiao Che's body.
Xiao Che gently spurred the horse's flanks and shook the reins: "Giddy up!"
Upon receiving the instruction, Fuyun began to trot.
At first, it was just a steady jog. The autumn wind brushed against my face, carrying a coolness and the lingering fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, which was very comfortable. The sunlight and shadows were dappled in the forest, and the horses' hooves pounded on the soft meadow, making a dull and rhythmic sound.
Xiao Che controlled the speed and direction, not letting Fuyun run wildly, but rather taking a leisurely stroll.
Lin Yan was a little nervous at first, her body stiffened slightly, but she quickly relaxed in the steady rhythm and the reliable embrace behind her.
He even dared to loosen one hand and point to a colorful forest in the distance: "Your Majesty, look over there, the leaves are starting to change color."
"Yes, the autumn colors are already deep." Xiao Che looked in the direction he was pointing, his chin accidentally brushing against Lin Yan's temple, causing a slight tickle.
Lin Yan shrank his neck, feeling the itch seem to have seeped into his heart from his skin.
Xiao Che seemed to notice his little movement, and tightened his arms, holding him even closer in his embrace.
As the horse moves forward, friction between their bodies is inevitable.
Lin Yan could clearly feel the firm thigh muscles of the person behind him, and the subtle squeezing sensation that occasionally came from certain parts as the horse's back rose and fell. This involuntarily reminded him of those "adaptive training" exercises, and his cheeks burned even more.
The noise on horseback is even more intense than in bed...
Xiao Che definitely did it on purpose!
Choosing such a docile horse to ride with him was simply to make it easier for him to get close!
Xiao Che truly enjoyed this close and intimate feeling.
The person in my arms was real and warm, breathing lightly with the occasional soft gasp from the jostling. I could smell Lin Yan's clean scent, mixed with a faint trace of sweat and the fragrance of osmanthus, just by looking down slightly.
"Hanzhang," Xiao Che suddenly spoke, his voice unusually low in the wind, "Are you afraid?"
Lin Yan: "What's there to be afraid of? Fuyun is so well-behaved." Although she was a little nervous at first, now her heart is racing more.
"That's good." Xiao Che's voice was tinged with laughter. "Shall we hurry up a bit?"
Before Lin Yan could answer, Xiao Che gently flicked the reins and gave a low shout: "Giddy up!"
Understanding her master's intention, Fuyun immediately quickened her pace, changing from a leisurely jog to a brisk run.
The wind suddenly picked up, causing Lin Yan's clothes to flutter and his hair to dance in the wind. The scenery before him rushed past, and his heartbeat quickened with the rhythm of the horse's hooves. A feeling mixed with slight fear and extreme exhilaration welled up within him.
He subconsciously leaned back, pressing even closer to the only support behind him.
Xiao Che held the reins steadily, his body rising and falling with the horse's gallop, supporting Lin Yan perfectly each time and giving him a great sense of security.
"Ah—" Lin Yan couldn't help but exclaim softly, not because of fear, but because of the exhilarating sense of freedom.
He closed his eyes, feeling the autumn wind on his face, listening to the whistling wind and the powerful beat of his heart, and felt his heart expand.
After running for a while, Xiao Che gradually slowed down Fu Yun's speed, and finally stopped on a small hill with a wide view.
Below the slope is a winding stream, shimmering in the autumn sunlight, while in the distance are mountains ablaze with autumn colors, and the sky is a clear, deep blue.
Both of them were slightly out of breath. Lin Yan's cheeks were flushed with a healthy blush from excitement and stimulation, and her eyes were even brighter than before.
"That was great!" Lin Yan let out a long sigh of relief, turned to look at Xiao Che, and smiled brightly.
Looking at his vividly expressive features in the sunlight, Xiao Che was moved and lowered his head to place a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"Yes, that felt good."
Lin Yan was stunned for a moment, then the tips of her ears turned red, but she did not dodge away. Instead, she snuggled closer to Xiao Che.
The two embraced quietly on horseback, gazing at the expansive autumn scenery before them, neither of them uttering a word.
Fuyun stood obediently in place, occasionally swishing its tail and snorting.
The warm sunshine fell on my body, and the autumn breeze carried the scent of distant mountains and vegetation.
After a long while, Lin Yan spoke softly, with a hint of barely perceptible dependence and satisfaction: "We'll come back to race horses again in the future."
"Okay." Xiao Che replied, tightening his arms around him and gently resting his chin on the top of his head. "Come often in the future."
The fragrance of osmanthus still seems to linger around my nose, and the warmth in my arms is more intoxicating than any other scent.
This is probably what it means to be intoxicated by people without being intoxicated by the flowers themselves.
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Author's note: Xiao Che: It smells so good.
I don't know if they're talking about flowers or people [doge emoji]
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