Chapter 100
The days unfolded smoothly, like dried herbs. Su Zhelan gradually improved, but each time Xiao Qiyun changed her dressing, his fingertips would linger a little longer on the fading bruises.
At dawn on the fifth day, when Sheng Xuan rushed into the general's mansion's council hall with a steamed bun in his mouth, Sheng Chi was explaining the terrain to several deputy generals in front of the sand table.
"Brother! Take me on a patrol today?" Sheng Xuan leaned in, resting his elbow on the edge of the sand table, almost knocking over the small flag representing the remnants of the Di Rong tribe.
Without looking up, Sheng Chi pulled him aside. Seeing Sheng Xuan's face fall, he added, "I'll take you to the training ground later; a new batch of horses has arrived."
In the afternoon, Sheng Xuan rode his chestnut horse frolicking around the training ground, while Sheng Chi stood with his arms crossed beside the arrow emplacements, occasionally reminding him how to hold the reins.
When the guards brought over the bundle Su Zhelan had sent, Sheng Xuan was riding past the archery target, swiftly firing three arrows in quick succession, the fletching of the arrows drawing three dazzling golden lines in the sunlight. As soon as the last arrow left the bowstring, he dismounted, his cloak fluttering behind him, and landed steadily in front of the guards.
"Young General, what skill you have!" The guard handed over the bundle, which Sheng Xuan casually untied. Amidst the fragrance of medicinal herbs was a hairband—a trophy he had deliberately taken from Su Zhelan the other day, now washed to a shine and folded with sharp edges.
Sheng Chi took the bundle and weighed it in his hand, then suddenly asked, "Would you like to give it a proper try in a couple of days?"
"Great! Thank you, brother!" Sheng Xuan's eyes lit up instantly, and the chestnut horse neighed excitedly as well.
He couldn't wait for the sun to set, so he shoved his quiver into his personal guard's arms and ran towards Shuyu Courtyard, stepping on the golden light of the setting sun. The moss on the bluestone steps was still wet with the afternoon rain, and he almost slipped several times, but it didn't slow him down.
"Ze Lan! My brother gave me permission to play—" Sheng Xuan pushed open the carved wooden door, and a wave of steam rushed out. In the sweltering heat, Xiao Qiyun's hand, holding a black piece, hovered above the chessboard, and he didn't even look up when he heard the voice.
Su Zhelan knelt on the other side of the chessboard, the white jade chess piece between her fingertips landing with a "tap" on the board. Her collar was slightly open, revealing a faint red mark on her collarbone.
"Reckless." Xiao Qiyun's voice was colder than hot spring water. When the black piece landed, it precisely cut off the white piece's last chance to survive.
He then looked up and glanced at Sheng Xuan's excited face.
Su Zhelan hurriedly tried to get up, but her knees were numb from sitting for so long, and she swayed, her fingers instinctively gripping the edge of the chessboard. The chess pieces on the board vibrated slightly, and a few white pieces drifted off their original positions, sliding slightly across the smooth surface.
"Watch out!" Sheng Xuan rushed forward, his arm firmly encircling Su Zhelan's waist. His palms, still calloused from the training ground, were hot against her skin through the thin fabric. Su Zhelan instinctively grabbed his collar, her hair brushing against his chin, carrying a faint herbal scent.
Xiao Qiyun's fingertips were still on the decisive black piece, and the jade chess piece made a soft "click" sound under his fingertips.
He stared at Sheng Xuan's hand on Su Zhelan's waist, his eyes deeper than the ink on the chessboard: "So, you're just as reckless on the battlefield?"
Sheng Xuan glanced at Xiao Qiyun, a dismissive smile playing on her lips: "Ignore him, he's always so sarcastic."
He helped Su Zhelan sit back down, his palm lingering on her waist for a couple of seconds before letting go.
Su Zhelan used the act of adjusting her clothes to hide her burning ears, and reached for the teapot: "Try some freshly roasted Yunwu tea."
When the celadon teacup was handed to Sheng Xuan, the surface of the water was still rippling.
He turned to Xiao Qiyun, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the chessboard: "Sorry, the game is in disarray... but you should win."
"It's alright." Xiao Qiyun suddenly broke into a smile, his eyebrows curving like a crescent moon, his previous coldness seeming to be merely an illusion created by the mist. He picked up his teacup, bringing the rim to his lips, "Just keeping you company."
Sheng Xuan tilted his head back and gulped down the entire cup of tea, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed the last tea leaf. "Let me tell you—" he casually wiped his mouth, leaving a dark tea stain on his cuff, "These past few days I've been with my brother at the training ground, and he's finally let me go out and relieve some boredom."
Su Zhelan paused slightly as she was adding tea to his cup, and the tea almost spilled.
"Really?" He put down the teapot, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of the cup. "When are you leaving? Is it dangerous?"
"We'll be setting off with the vanguard battalion the day after tomorrow morning!" Sheng Xuan leaned forward excitedly, but his voice softened involuntarily when he saw Su Zhelan's furrowed brows.
"Hey, don't make that face! It's just a small mission to clear out the trade routes. My brother's leading the team himself!"
Su Zhelan's lips curled into a slight smile at his amusement, but she couldn't help but ask, "How long will it take?"
"A week at most!" Sheng Xuan patted his chest to assure her, his armor clattering. He suddenly leaned closer, his calloused fingertips tapping Su Zhelan's nose. "I'll bring you something delicious then!"
"Wait a moment." Su Zhelan suddenly pressed down on Sheng Xuan's wrist, her fingertips lingering for a moment on the leather buckle of his wristband. "I'll go get you some medicine."
As he stood up, the hem of his robe carried a scent of herbs. After taking two steps, he turned back to look at Xiao Qiyun. "Come inside and sit down. It gets chilly in the corridor after nightfall."
Sheng Xuan skipped after her, exclaiming, "Okay, okay! I'll help you!"
Xiao Qiyun watched the two figures disappear into the distance, his fingertips lightly tapping the chessboard. The servants waiting in the corridor immediately entered silently, some putting away the chessboard, others clearing away the tea table.
Inside the room, Su Zhelan was standing on a stool, tiptoeing to reach the white porcelain jars on the top shelf of the medicine cabinet. Sheng Xuan was behind him, his arm hovering at Su's waist, ready to catch him at any moment: "Actually, you don't need so many..."
"Sand and wind damage the lungs." Su Zhelan carried down three medicine jars, her hair still dusty from the top of the cabinet. "Take one pill from this bottle morning and night, and don't skimp on this box of topical ointments..."
Before he could finish speaking, Sheng Xuan suddenly wrapped her arms around Su Zhelan's waist, rubbing her chin against his shoulder. "You're so good to me—" Her voice was muffled by the fabric of his clothes, with a hint of coquettishness in her nasal tone. The cold edge of his armor made Su Zhelan shiver slightly.
A few stray hairs sticking up from the top of her head brushed against Su Zhelan's neck, causing her to shrink back and laugh out loud, "Hahaha...don't, don't rub there..."
The medicine jar wobbled precariously between their pressed chests. Su Zhelan frantically tried to steady it, tears welling in her eyes from laughing, her ears burning red: "Shengxuan! The medicine's going to spill..."
The beaded curtain suddenly rustled. Xiao Qiyun leaned against the doorframe, staring at it for an unknown amount of time.
He still twirled the black jade chess piece he'd taken from the board between his fingers, and chuckled softly at the words, "The young general's way of expressing gratitude is even more enthusiastic than the Di Rong's fiery steed."
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Su Zhelan broke free from Sheng Xuan's embrace, clutching her still itchy neck, and in her panic knocked over the medicine box.
Xiao Qiyun bent down to pick up the white porcelain jar that had rolled to his feet, wiped away non-existent dust from the jar's rim with his fingertips, and handed the jar to Su Zhelan. However, during the handover, he deliberately let his fingertips slide along the other's wrist, as if measuring the size of some precious object.
His jade-like fingernails brushed ambiguously against Su Zhelan's protruding wrist bone, while his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Sheng Xuan's suddenly tense jawline.
"Hold on tight." Xiao Qiyun's voice was lighter than the steam from a hot spring. As he let go, his little finger subtly hooked Su Zhelan's palm.
Su Zhelan recoiled as if electrocuted, took a deep breath to calm herself, and quickly organized the medicine cabinet, putting the scattered herbs back in their place. Her movements returned to their usual methodical order, and she deftly took out several bottles from different shelves in the medicine cabinet.
"Take them all." Su Zhelan deftly packed the medicines into the thick cotton pouches, categorizing them by type. "The instructions for use are written on the little tags inside."
Sheng Xuan took the heavy cloth bag and squeezed the thick cotton fabric with his fingers: "...Okay."
Xiao Qiyun leaned against the medicine cabinet, twirling a black jade chess piece between his fingers, a faint smile curving his lips: "So you're planning to switch careers and become a military doctor?"
Sheng Xuan glanced at Xiao Qiyun, tightened the cloth bag around his chest, and raised his chin slightly: "It's better to be prepared." He paused.
His voice carried an undeniable seriousness: "What Zelan gives is naturally good."
Su Zhelan paused slightly as he was organizing his medicine box, his hair falling down to cover his slightly reddened ear tips.
Sheng Xuan seemed to suddenly remember something, his eyes lit up again, and he leaned closer to Su Zhelan: "By the way! Do you want to have dinner together tomorrow night? Just as... to send me off?" His tone was a little expectant, but also a little embarrassed.
Xiao Qiyun's lips curved into a faint smile with a hint of amusement: "Just a two-week business trip, and you're already having a farewell dinner?" He drew out the last syllable, with his usual teasing tone, "Anyone who didn't know better would think you were going on a ten-year expedition."
Su Zhelan sighed helplessly as she watched Sheng Xuan's smile vanish instantly and Xiao Qiyun's amused expression.
He put down his medicine box, his voice gentle yet authoritative: "Alright, Xiao Qiyun and I will see you off tomorrow night."
"Huh?" Sheng Xuan's surprise lasted only a moment before she immediately glanced at Xiao Qiyun with disdain. "Why did you have to bring him along?" Her expression was as if she had been given a bitter pill.
Xiao Qiyun raised an eyebrow, said nothing, and slowly began to swirl the cup.
Sheng Xuan's eyes darted around, as if he had thought of something, and a smile returned to his face: "Then... could we have a little wine? I got my hands on a particularly fine jar of pear blossom wine a few days ago!" He looked at Su Zhelan, his eyes pleading, "Just a little bit?"
Xiao Qiyun's eyes instantly turned cold, and his voice deepened: "Sheng Xuan, you're pushing your luck." He glanced at Su Zhelan, "He..."
Su Zhelan gently tugged at Xiao Qiyun's sleeve, her voice softening slightly: "It's alright, Your Highness. I'm feeling much better lately. Drinking a little bit... should be fine."
He looked up at Xiao Qiyun, his eyes clear, with a hint of pleading that was barely perceptible.
Xiao Qiyun looked down at Su Zhelan's fingers that were tugging at his sleeve, then met her watery eyes, and his Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.
He remained silent for a few seconds, finally giving a soft "hmm" in acquiescence. However, as he looked away, a glint of something unreadable flashed in the depths of his eyes—if Su Zhelan was truly drunk... that could be an opportunity...
Sheng Xuan didn't notice Xiao Qiyun's subtle change; she only heard him agree and immediately cheered.
"Great! I'll go prepare right away!"
He rushed out like a gust of wind, his armor clattering, leaving behind a room filled with the scent of herbs and two people with differing thoughts.
Su Zhelan watched Sheng Xuan's disappearing figure, smiled helplessly, and turned to Xiao Qiyun, saying, "Then...see you tomorrow night?"
Xiao Qiyun's gaze fell on his slightly reddened ear tips, and the corners of his lips curved into a meaningful smile: "Okay, see you tomorrow night."
He raised his hand, his fingertips gently brushing across Su Zhelan's neck, which had been tickled by Sheng Xuan's touch, the movement as light as a feather brushing against it. "Get some rest."
After saying that, he turned and left the inner room.
Su Zhelan stood there, the lingering touch on his neck carrying a slight chill. He raised his hand to touch that skin, and his heart skipped a beat when he recalled Xiao Qiyun's last look.
Tomorrow night... hopefully it won't be too intoxicating.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
