Chapter 72 The Substitute Arc: You're Not Good Enough?
"Leave me alone."
Xie Changyu replied while enjoying the gentle application of medicine. He turned his head to look at the vase next to him, his eyes unfocused, as if he were lost in thought.
"Anyway, you're not allowed to tell anyone about this. If my parents find out, I'm in big trouble."
He began to openly demand that Fu Shuqing keep this a secret, and his previously nonchalant expression turned somewhat uneasy when his family was mentioned.
However, Xie Changyu was not worried that Fu Shuqing would refuse his request. He was confident that Fu Shuqing would never let him be scolded by his parents.
As expected, Fu Shuqing simply hummed in response, his eyes lowered as he said, "I won't tell anyone."
The medicine was applied quickly, and Xie Changyu felt a cool sensation in her upper body. When she asked Fu Shuqing, she was told that the ointment was working normally.
“But you must exercise restraint.” Fu Shuqing helped him straighten his clothes again, the rough calluses on his hands gently brushing against his thin skin, causing the person beneath him to shudder. “You are already weak, you must not indulge in such pleasures.”
"Understood." Xie Changyu knew that this guy was old-fashioned and it was already unexpected that he could be so calm, so he didn't want to provoke him any further and simply nodded perfunctorily.
Silence returned to the room. Neither of them spoke again. Xie Changyu was exhausted and didn't want to move. He ended up on a bed, even though it wasn't his own, but he reluctantly accepted it.
"I'll sleep in your bed for a while, just wake me up later."
He was quite blunt; he simply informed Fu Shuqing, then rolled over onto the bed, narrowed his eyes, revealing only his fair profile, and instantly fell silent.
Fu Shuqing looked at him helplessly and asked, "You haven't had dinner yet, aren't you hungry?"
"I just ate." A muffled voice came from under the covers, the boy's tone clearly irritated. "This bed is way too hard!"
Xie Changyu rolled over, making sure he really couldn't stand the hard, white bed before sitting up. He slapped the bed in frustration, his face full of irritation. "I'm not sleeping anymore, I can't get used to this bed!"
Who would have thought that General Fu would sleep on such a hard bed? His own bed is very soft, and once you get used to it, you can't stand it at all.
Ahhhhh.
Fu Shuqing hadn't expected his bed to be disliked. He rubbed his temples, somewhat annoyed, and said, "I didn't expect you to dislike it. I'll change it next time."
"No."
Xie Changyu groaned and complained, his restlessness from not being able to sleep making him look very unwell. He put his clothes back on, then stood up and said, "I think I'll just go back. It's not far anyway."
He had no desire to stay any longer, and he began to take his anger out on the person next to him. He didn't want to see the two brothers at all.
Fu Shuqing was clearly getting better at dealing with him. He got up and followed him, saying, "Okay, then I'll take you back."
Her face, which had been suppressing a smile, relaxed, and her tone became gentle, "Are you still able to walk?"
Xie Changyu was obviously unable to walk; he wasn't feeling well.
He opened his arms and said matter-of-factly, "Carry me on your back."
Fu Shuqing smiled and said, "Come on."
He bent down and carried the body on his back, their shadows intertwined on the ground.
As darkness fell, the white light from the west slowly drifted and moved, gradually settling on the figure's back.
A cold wind gently brushed against Xie Changyu's face. He frowned and buried his face, as if remembering something, and said, "My clothes are still at your general's mansion. Tell Fu Jing to wash them and bring them to me."
The figure walking below paused, then immediately continued on its way. "Okay."
At Xie Changyu's suggestion, Fu Shuqing did not use the main entrance this time, but instead led his men over the wall to avoid the servants and escort them to the room.
As soon as the door opened, a familiar fragrance lingered in the air. Fu Shuqing, without changing his expression, placed the person on the obviously soft bed.
As soon as Xie Changyu got onto her soft, very comfortable bed, she sighed, "So comfortable~"
His face was buried in the embroidered quilt, his lower body was open, and he looked very relaxed.
Fu Shuqing smiled, "Alright, now you don't have to worry about sleeping uncomfortable."
At the same time, he placed the jade ointment he had just brought on the bedside table and said, "I've put it here. Remember to use it."
"Okay, okay."
Xie Changyu didn't even raise his head, his tone was very perfunctory. From Fu Shuqing's angle, all that could be seen was his leg swaying back and forth, and no one could be seen at all.
Fu Shuqing shook his head helplessly, left with the words "I'll come find you again tomorrow" and disappeared, returning the way he came.
Xie Changyu didn't react at all. He was completely dazed, feeling both comfortable and weak all over.
His neck felt sticky from the freshly applied ointment. He dared not touch it, fearing it would be a waste and worrying that the marks on his neck would fade too slowly.
He'd be in big trouble if his parents saw him.
So when the servants who had been serving him late into the night saw his condition upon his return, they assumed their young master had been bullied and were about to go and explain to the madam when Xie Changyu stopped them in time.
The maids in his room were young and naive, so Xie Changyu told a little lie without any guilt after discovering this, “I was bitten by a mosquito at the General’s Mansion, not by anyone, so you don’t need to tell my mother. It will be fine as soon as I apply the medicine.”
The maids nodded obsequiously.
It was late at night, and there was no one else in the room, but Xie Changyu tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. He had been exhausted during the day, but now he felt surprisingly energetic.
Winter was approaching, and he had already placed a brazier in his room. Although it was already midnight, the room was very stuffy and hot. Occasionally, a cold breeze would blow in from the open window, but it had no effect.
Xie Changyu's entire body was buried under the embroidered quilt, with only her head showing. Her face was still a little red, and her eyes were somewhat dazed.
After a while, the body under the blanket suddenly trembled, and he slowly exhaled. He pursed his lips, his eyes sparkling as if he had done something happy.
here we go again.
Xie Changyu thought.
Sure enough, a guy who's had his fill of sex is different; he started dreaming again, and in his dreams, there were familiar, ambiguous scenes.
He dreamed of Fu Shuqing again, but this time he was clearly less passive than before. Because of his lust, he became somewhat carried away and took the initiative to ask someone to help him relieve his discomfort.
In his dream, Fu Shuqing nodded gently, then knelt down and reached out to grasp the spot that caused him pain.
Then, just as Xie Changyu's emotions reached their peak, he vaguely opened his eyes and saw that the face beneath him had transformed into another face that was both strange and familiar.
That is...
Xie Changyu instantly "withered".
When he arrived at the General's Mansion the next day, Fu Jing was still complaining about why he hadn't told him when he left yesterday, but then he suddenly noticed the obvious bluish-gray discoloration under his eyes. He frowned and asked, "Xie Changyu, what's wrong with you?"
The handsome and refined young master Fu looked concerned, his eyes fixed on the gloomy face.
Xie Changyu glanced at him but didn't say anything, slumped over the cold stone table looking utterly dejected.
Fu Jing started to get anxious, thinking that there was something wrong with his health, and asked with concern, "Are you still sick? Didn't my brother give you the snow lotus? Didn't it work?"
"What a piece of trash," he muttered under his breath.
Xie Changyu found his excessive talking annoying, her pupils shifted slightly, and she said in a cool voice, "I'm already cured, don't jinx it."
"So what's your situation now?"
Fu Jing casually lifted his leg and sat down in the seat next to him. He propped his chin up with one hand, staring intently at the person in front of him. The more he looked, the more uneasy he felt. Suddenly, another thought popped into his head, and the next second he blurted out, "You didn't get drained by me yesterday, did you?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Changyu, who was still lying down, suddenly straightened up as if she couldn't believe what she had heard, her eyes wide open, "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Each shout was louder than the last, and the two voices could be heard clearly in the small garden.
Fu Jing was clearly annoyed after saying it, while Xie Changyu felt his dignity had been challenged. Although it was his first time yesterday, he knew that a man couldn't say he couldn't do it.
They only fooled around for fifteen minutes yesterday, how could he possibly be drained dry! This is Fu Jing's slander against him!
"Are you trying to say I'm no good?!"
The voice trailed off noticeably, clearly afraid that others would overhear and spread the rumor.
However, his worries were unnecessary. He was unaware that the general's mansion was far more heavily guarded than their Xie mansion. After all, a minister who could be replaced at any time was not on the same level as a general who was invincible and had accumulated numerous military achievements.
This is why Madam Xie, who has always kept a very strict eye on Xie Changyu, turned a blind eye to his visit to the General's Mansion.
As long as Xie Changyu simply says that he went out to play with Fu Jing, Madam Xie generally won't ask any questions. Although she might have some complaints if something goes wrong, she still won't interfere the next time.
Xie Changyu finished speaking with a furious expression. He stared at Fu Jing's face and felt particularly disgusted. If this guy hadn't seduced him into doing that kind of thing yesterday, he wouldn't have dreamed about Fu Shuqing last night, and Fu Shuqing's face in the dream wouldn't have turned into that tyrant's face!
Then he won't have trouble sleeping or have nightmares.
It's all this guy's fault!!!
"That's not what I meant." Fu Jing's ears turned slightly red. He first tried to defend himself, then said, "You yesterday..."
"Very impressive." He said the words even softer. Xie Changyu, who was standing next to him, only saw his mouth move a few times before he could no longer hear him, but he didn't care. He had already started to blame Fu Jing for the nightmare he had last night.
"It's all because of you that I had nightmares!" Xie Changyu grumbled, turning his head away from the guy. The dark circles under his eyes were very obvious, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept well.
Fu Jing immediately switched sides, and he could see the face clearly. The lips were slightly puffed out, and the expression was indignant, showing that the person was angry.
Fu Jing didn't ask why; he simply began to apologize proficiently, "It's my fault."
He gently pinched Xie Changyu's chin and shook it slightly from side to side, saying seriously, "So you had a nightmare. No wonder you look so pale."
"Would you like to take a nap in my room?" he suggested, noticing her pale face. He had some calming and sleep-inducing incense that would come in handy.
The warm touch made him feel a little dazed. He used to do this often, and normally he wouldn't react so strangely. But he had just lost his virginity yesterday and was at the turning point of enlightenment. This kind of contact made him unsettled, and strange images came to mind.
But his hand was quickly pushed away. "I don't want to sleep right now."
Xie Changyu pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and asked in a muffled voice, "Are you going to the palace for a banquet tomorrow?"
"Yes." Fu Jing withdrew his hand and nodded. "Tomorrow is the celebration banquet His Majesty has prepared for my brother. Lord Xie will also be attending. Would you like to go?"
Unlike regular banquets, this victory celebration was not an event that required family members to attend. Only some officials were present, and Fu Jing, as the younger brother of the victorious General Fu, naturally had to attend as well.
Xie Changyu was not qualified to go in.
He had rarely been to the palace since he was a child; he only had two memories of it, and neither memory was pleasant.
Once, when he was eight or nine years old, he met Pei Zilie, who had a bad eye. Pei Zilie mistook him for a girl and gave him flowers, saying he wanted to marry him. When Pei Zilie realized he was a girl, Pei Zilie got angry and fought with him. From then on, the two of them were always at odds and rarely had a peaceful meeting.
The second time...
The thought of that scene made Xie Changyu wish he could forget it immediately. From then on, he had a great psychological shadow on the palace. He once felt that this place was his nemesis!
So when Fu Jing asked if he wanted to attend the banquet, he shook his head immediately, looking very resistant, "I'm not going! I don't want to go even if you kill me!"
Fu Jing was puzzled by his strong resistance and asked, "Are you afraid of that Emperor?"
"No," Xie Changyu immediately denied, his eyes widening. "Why would I be afraid of him? I'm not afraid of him at all!"
"That's not the reason, don't ask."
Seeing this, Fu Jing swallowed his doubts and said, "I won't ask anymore."
Xie Changyu breathed a sigh of relief.
If they're going to a banquet tomorrow, Pei Zilie will definitely be there too. He doesn't want to run into that guy. So many people dislike him, yet they only target him.
He avoids this guy as much as possible because he finds him troublesome. Besides, he even witnessed the joke coming from the other side last time, so he's probably holding a grudge now.
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Author's note: Happy New Year! O(∩_∩)O
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