Chapter 174
Xiao Qiyun had already woken up, looking radiant with satisfaction and joy. He lay on his side, propping his head up with his elbow, his gaze smiling as he looked at Su Zhelan, who was still fast asleep beside him.
Su Zhelan was sleeping soundly. Xiao Qiyun reached out and gently brushed away the stray hairs on his forehead.
Startled by the slight touch, Su Zhelan's eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes. Her newly awakened eyes were still slightly misty. When she saw the smiling person before her, memories of the previous night flooded back. Just as she tried to move, a sharp pain in her lower back and hips made her hiss softly, and her brows furrowed slightly.
"Did you sleep well?" Xiao Qiyun's voice was hoarse with the peculiarity of early morning, but much gentler than usual. He naturally reached out, his fingertips lightly stroking Su Zhelan's cheek, his gaze sweeping over his slightly furrowed brows. "Does your back hurt?"
Su Zhelan gave a soft "hmm," his voice slightly nasal. He didn't get up, but instead adjusted his position slightly to make himself more comfortable, as if waiting for something.
Seeing this, Xiao Qiyun's smile deepened. He got off the bed first, neatly tidied his clothes, then turned around, took Su Zhelan's clothes with great ease, and bent down to begin dressing Su Zhelan with practiced and gentle movements.
Su Zhelan did not refuse. He slightly raised his arm to cooperate with Xiao Qiyun's movements, even turning slightly to the side to make it easier for Xiao Qiyun to tie the belt at the back of his clothes. When Xiao Qiyun's fingers inadvertently brushed against the skin on his waist, he did not flinch, only his eyelashes trembled slightly.
With everything arranged, Xiao Qiyun naturally took Su Zhelan's hand. Su Zhelan's fingers curled obediently in his palm. Along the way, Xiao Qiyun deliberately slowed his pace, a clear and satisfied smile always playing on his lips. When they encountered servants who bowed, he nodded slightly in return, clearly pleased with himself.
A gentle morning breeze caressed her face, bringing a refreshing scent. Su Zhelan squinted slightly, enjoying the tranquility of the morning and the warmth emanating from those around her.
Xiao Qiyun stopped and turned around after escorting Su Zhelan to the gate of his courtyard. He gently massaged Su Zhelan's lower back with his warm hand, lingered on his face for a moment, and smiled more deeply: "Rest well and don't run around anymore. I'll come back as soon as I'm done."
Su Zhelan looked up at him, nodded slightly, and responded with an "Mm." Then she leaned on the door frame, her movements slightly slow.
Xiao Qiyun watched as Su Zhelan, supporting herself on the doorframe, slowly walked into the courtyard. Only after her figure disappeared behind the screen wall did he turn and leave.
A smug smile played on his lips, and his every step exuded a light, triumphant air, as if every strand of his hair was proclaiming his joy.
All of this was witnessed by Sheng Xuan, who happened to be passing by. Sheng Xuan leaned against a pillar not far away, arms crossed, and watched the whole thing with narrowed eyes until Xiao Qiyun's figure completely disappeared at the end of the passageway. Only then did he purse his lips and step into Su Zhelan's courtyard.
Su Zhelan had just sat down on the stone bench in the courtyard and was about to pick up the warm tea prepared by the servant to moisten her throat when she heard Sheng Xuan's unique, cheerful but somewhat indignant voice: "Tsk, that fox Xiao Qiyun... his tail is probably wagging in the sky!"
Sheng Xuan walked up to him in a few steps, sat down opposite him without any politeness, leaned forward, and stared intently at Su Zhelan: "What did you promise him? What made him so smug?"
"Pfft—" Su Zhelan spat out the tea he had just put in his mouth, choking and coughing repeatedly. His cheeks turned bright red instantly, whether from choking or embarrassment, it was hard to tell.
Sheng Xuan was startled and quickly got up to go over, frantically taking out a handkerchief to wipe the water stains from his clothes and mouth, muttering, "Oh dear, how could you be so careless... I was just asking!"
Seeing Su Zhelan's reaction, Sheng Xuan immediately understood. His eyes darted around, and a "I knew it" expression appeared on his face, tinged with a hint of sourness and even more resentment. He plopped down next to Su Zhelan, put his arm around his shoulder, and said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "I don't care! Since you've gone along with him… then you have to go along with me this once!"
Su Zhelan finally managed to stop coughing, but the flush on his face hadn't faded yet. He glanced speechlessly at the self-righteous Sheng Xuan beside him, the soreness in his waist and the exhaustion throughout his body making him speak weakly, "...Stop fooling around. I'm...really tired right now..." His voice was hoarse, clearly weary, "and I don't have the energy...to play along with your nonsense..."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but reach out and gently press his aching lower back, revealing a hint of exhaustion between his brows.
Upon hearing Su Zhelan's listless complaints, Sheng Xuan not only didn't back down, but instead raised one eyebrow and curled up a smug smile.
He drew out the sound, feigning surprise with an "Ah~", the last syllable of which had a deliberate upward inflection:
"Oh~?" He leaned closer, his eyes sparkling as he stared at Su Zhelan's still flushed cheeks and tired eyes, his tone full of teasing: "You... were you tired by Xiao Qiyun?" He deliberately emphasized the words "tired," his eyes sweeping ambiguously over Su Zhelan's hand pressing her lower back, the meaning of which couldn't be clearer.
Su Zhelan's face flushed again from his blatant teasing. He couldn't help but glare at Sheng Xuan, his eyes filled with both embarrassment and anger, but even more so with a sense of utter disbelief that he had no right to say such a thing. He decided to go all out, his voice thick with weariness and nasal congestion, and retorted without any politeness:
"...You're not much better off."
This seemingly casual remark accurately punctured Shengxuan's smug bubble.
Sheng Xuan's smug "I know, I know" expression froze instantly, his eyes widening slightly, seemingly not expecting the other party to so directly turn the tables on him. He opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but was momentarily speechless. After all… when he himself went crazy, it seemed… he really wasn't much better than Xiao Qiyun.
An eerie silence fell over the air for two seconds. The playful expression on Sheng Xuan's face slowly transformed into a slightly embarrassed and guilty look, tinged with a hint of resentment, as if he had been exposed. He pursed his lips and muttered under his breath, "...How can that be the same..." His momentum clearly weakened.
Su Zhelan was too lazy to pay attention to him anymore. She closed her eyes wearily, rested her head on the edge of the cold stone table, and just wanted some peace and quiet.
Looking at Su Zhelan's exhausted appearance, where she was too lazy to even move a finger, Sheng Xuan's resentment and mockery finally vanished.
He stood up, walked around behind Su Zhelan, and instead of patting him on the shoulder as usual, he carefully reached out and gently wrapped his arm around Su Zhelan's waist and back, while supporting his arm with his other hand. He said in a low voice, "Alright, alright, stop lying here like a corpse, go back to your room and lie down."
Su Zhelan was half-supported and half-carried up by him. The soreness in his waist made him involuntarily hiss, and he subconsciously leaned against Sheng Xuan for some support. He didn't even lift his eyelids, letting Sheng Xuan lead him into the house.
Sheng Xuan was still muttering, "Look at you, you look like you've had your life force sucked out by a demon..." but he steadily supported her with his hands and walked very slowly, almost half-carrying Su Zhelan across the courtyard and into the inner room.
They walked around the screen to the bedside. Sheng Xuan helped Su Zhelan sit down slowly, then bent down to take off his shoes and socks. Su Zhelan didn't react at all, just obediently cooperating, until he was helped to lie down on the soft brocade quilt, at which point he let out a barely audible sigh, and his tense body completely relaxed.
Sheng Xuan pulled a thin blanket over him, his movements not particularly gentle, but he didn't make much noise either. He stood by the bed, watching Su Zhelan close his eyes almost as soon as his head hit the pillow, his breathing quickly becoming long and even, clearly exhausted.
"Tsk," Sheng Xuan looked at the still tired face in his sleep and complained in a low voice, "That guy got off easy..." He stood for a while, and after confirming that Su Zhelan was sound asleep, he quietly withdrew and closed the door behind him.
Time flowed by like water, the summer heat of the border town gradually faded, and a slight coolness began to creep into the air. The day to set off back to Beijing had finally arrived.
As dawn broke, a dignified and orderly army had already formed ranks on the open field north of the border city.
Banners fluttered, armor stood in imposing array, and the Grand General's ceremonial guard and personal troops remained silent as iron, exuding an unquestionable majesty. Crown Prince Xiao Qiyun's magnificent carriage was shrouded in low curtains, utterly still.
With a command from Sheng Chi at the front, a deep horn sounded, and the massive convoy, like a giant beast awakening, slowly started moving, winding its way along the official road.
For the first ten miles, the procession maintained the solemnity it had shown at the start. Hooves pounded, wheels rolled, and banners fluttered rhythmically in the wind.
However, as the outline of the border town gradually disappeared into the horizon, and the official road turned into open fields on both sides, the pace of the procession stabilized, and the tense atmosphere began to relax quietly.
Riding on the flank of the procession, Sheng Xuan initially followed the group listlessly for a while, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the blue-draped carriage. Seeing that General Sheng Chi's figure had become a clear silhouette in the distance ahead, seemingly oblivious to what was behind him, a smile crept onto his lips, his usual unruly grin returning to his face.
He gently spurred his horse, and the steed trotted away from the side guards, leisurely approaching the carriage where Su Zhelan and Su Yan were.
"Ahem," he coughed dramatically, causing a slender hand to slightly lift a corner of the car window curtain, revealing Mr. Su Yan's slightly questioning gaze.
Sheng Xuan grinned at Su Yan, "Mr. Su, hello!" Then his gaze precisely caught the figure leaning against the car wall inside the car, still looking somewhat tired.
"Hey, Su Zhelan!" Sheng Xuan's voice, laced with laughter, streamed through the carriage window without restraint. "How's the ride? Want to get some fresh air by riding a horse? I specially reserved a spot for you in this saddle!"
Startled by his sudden loud voice, Su Zhelan in the car blinked. Helplessly, she looked up at the excessively bright smiling face outside the window, her cheeks flushed, and she muttered softly, "...No."
Sheng Xuan, however, didn't care at all. He rode his horse almost parallel to the carriage window and continued to chatter: "Hey, look how nice the scenery is outside. It's much better than being stuck in the carriage!"
His voice was loud and clear, which drew the attention of the nearby guards, who couldn't help but turn their heads and suppress their laughter.
Even Gu Linzhao, who was silently guarding the side, shook his head almost imperceptibly. He seemed to be used to Sheng Xuan's lively personality, but he did not stop him. Instead, he scanned the surroundings more vigilantly and tacitly approved of this relaxed atmosphere that broke the dullness.
Unable to bear his noise any longer, Su Zhelan had no choice but to slightly lift the curtain, revealing half her face, and replied in a low voice, somewhat annoyed, "Be quiet...you're giving me a headache..."
Seeing that Su Zhelan indeed looked tired and listless, and hearing Mr. Su Yan speak irritably through the curtain, "This kid is a bit carsick from the bumpy ride and is feeling unwell. You should leave him alone and let him rest for a while." Only then did Sheng Xuan awkwardly shut up.
He touched his nose, looking at Su Zhelan's slightly furrowed brows and closed eyes as she rested. Though unwilling, he wisely kept quiet. He reluctantly pulled on the reins, slowing the horse's pace and creating some distance between it and the carriage. However, his gaze still occasionally drifted towards the swaying curtain, his eyes showing a hint of slight resentment at being ignored and an undiminished eagerness.
Meanwhile, inside the magnificent carriage decorated with coiled dragon patterns and pulled by four pure white steeds, Crown Prince Xiao Qiyun sat upright in the spacious carriage covered with soft satin.
The car was filled with a light, cool fragrance, and the furnishings were exquisite and sophisticated, which greatly reduced the discomfort of the long journey.
However, Xiao Qiyun's mind was not on the comfort of the journey at all. His fingertips unconsciously tapped the small rosewood table beside him, his gaze fixed on the void, his deep eyes filled with turbulent thoughts.
Etiquette, rules, countless eyes… all these were like invisible shackles, forcing him to sit there, unlike Sheng Xuan who could approach at will. But was he one to be bound?
He leaned back slightly on the cushion, his mind racing. Arriving in the capital would bring a flurry of events, but also opportunities. Should he summon him to the Eastern Palace under the pretext that Su Zhelan still needed recuperation? Or should he use the pretext of discussing military medicine to have Su Yan bring him along for an audience? Or perhaps… something more direct…
Various thoughts swirled, combined, and shaped in his mind. He needed a reasonable, even irresistible, reason that would allow Su Zhelan to come to his side naturally, and... stay longer.
A faint, confident smile silently spread across his lips. There's always a way. He's never failed to get what he wants.
The group made a brief stop to rest beside a wide, tree-lined road, where men and horses drank water and caught their breath.
Su Zhelan held onto the carriage door and slowly stepped off. Her face was still somewhat pale. After taking a few breaths of fresh air, she felt the tightness in her chest ease a little.
Gu Linzhao was leading his horse to drink water when he saw his listless appearance. He walked over, handed him the reins, and said in a steady voice, "Being cooped up in the carriage all the time makes your blood circulation poor. Get out and ride a horse to get some fresh air, it will make you feel better."
Su Zhelan hesitated for a moment, glancing at the tall, magnificent horse before turning back to look at the carriage.
Without a word, Gu Linzhao shoved the reins into his hand, then turned around and deftly lifted the corner of his robe, climbing into the carriage that Su Zhelan had just gotten off in.
Immediately from inside the car came Mr. Su Yan's low, clearly disdainful rebuke: "What are you doing squeezing in?! Get out!"
Gu Linzhao's voice came through in a muffled tone, with a hint of self-righteous roguishness: "It's sunny outside, so let's squeeze in."
"Get lost! It's so hot!" Su Yan's curses grew louder, but it sounded more like a habitual complaint than a genuine attempt to drive him away. There was even a slight rustling sound, as if he was being moved to make room.
Su Zhelan stood outside the car, listening to the typical sounds of the "old married couple" inside—one grumbling and the other stubbornly refusing to leave—and pursed his lips helplessly. He knew he absolutely couldn't get in the car and disturb them now.
At this point, the officer in charge gave the order to continue advancing.
Su Zhelan took a deep breath, resignedly stepped into the stirrups, and mounted Gu Linzhao's docile horse. The horse took a few gentle steps.
Almost simultaneously, Sheng Xuan, like a bee drawn to nectar, spurred his horse to close in and rode alongside him. His face beamed with an undisguised, radiant smile, and he turned his head, his gaze fixed intently on Su Zhelan.
“That’s more like it!” Sheng Xuan’s voice was full of pride. “What’s the point of staying in the car? It’s much more enjoyable to ride a horse!” He deliberately let his horse get close to Su Zhelan, their knees almost touching.
Su Zhelan felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and subconsciously tried to tighten the reins to make the horse move away, but Sheng Xuan quickly flicked the reins with his whip.
“Don’t dodge,” Sheng Xuan said with a grin. “This road is uneven. I’ll stay close so you don’t fall.” He spoke with an air of importance, but his eyes gleamed slyly. He was clearly just looking for an excuse to walk close to him.
Su Zhelan's ears burned slightly. She glanced at him and muttered under her breath, "...Who cares what you say?"
Sheng Xuan didn't care at all, and continued to ride close to him with a smile, making small talk and occasionally lightly touching Su Zhelan's sleeve or saddle with the tip of his whip, as if he would feel uncomfortable if he didn't provoke him for a moment.
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