It Turns out that I am Beautiful, Strong and Miserable [Quick Wear] - 101

 

ITOTIABSAM | Young General | 101

Having done even more intimate things, Gu Cong was certainly not shy.

However, when faced with Xie Ye, his self-control always seemed to take a vacation. If he didn't avoid it, Dr. Qian's advice would probably be null and void by now.

Xie Ye was also aware of this, which was why he dared to tease shamelessly. Understanding the principle of stopping while ahead, he didn't make any more trouble. He obediently wiped himself with the cloth, adjusted his collar, and covered himself up tightly.

Sharing the same tent, even the slightest sound was excessively clear to Gu Cong, who was already sharp-eared and keen-eyed. When the sound of water behind him ceased, the young man tugged at his sleeve with his hand. Only then did Gu Cong turn around, without even looking at the other person, swiftly picking up the wooden bucket and food box, and striding out the door.

After a while, Gu Cong returned to the tent, still damp from the mist, his hands empty. Like wrapping a dumpling, he enveloped Xie Ye with the felt blanket, who was gazing at the stars, and hugged him tightly.

Not a word was spoken.

His expression was somewhat aggrieved.

Xie Ye, rarely feeling a bit guilty, tilted his head and kissed Gu Cong on the cheek.

Exhaling softly, Gu Cong immediately tightened the blanket around them a bit more, his large hand holding onto the young man's chin, turning his head back, "Look at your stars."

"I'll hold onto mine."

He portrayed the image of a virtuous gentleman, refusing any temptation.

Unable to resist, Xie Ye could only let Gu Cong embrace him like holding a doll. After a day of travel, surrounded by the familiar scent and heartbeat, the calming effects of the medicine gradually took over. Just as he reached the count of eighty, his eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted off to sleep.

Keeping a close watch on the movements of the person in his arms, holding his breath, Gu Cong leaned in and placed a kiss on the young man's lips, almost soundlessly.

When he became aware again, Xie Ye was awakened by the faint noise outside.

As the daylight brightened, Gu Cong had already moved him from beneath the starry window to a spot where the sun couldn't reach, perhaps due to the upcoming celebration. The entire grassland around the royal tent was bustling with activity. When Xie Ye dressed and freshened up, and lifted the tent curtain, he could hear the laughter of many young men and women, as well as children playing.

The sky was high, the land vast, and the air was fresh without any pollution. Knowing that Gu Cong wouldn't leave him alone, Xie Ye casually glanced around and found him nearby, accompanied by a hint of red.

It was Anari.

As the only princess who could entertain distinguished guests in the royal tent, her perception of gaze was surprisingly sharp, synchronizing with Gu Cong's. They both turned their heads, but instead of the usual cliché scenes of jealousy or malicious intent, she smiled friendly at Xie Ye, graceful and bright. After a courteous greeting, she left with her maidservant.

As for Gu Cong, he now held an obviously uncharacteristic burden in his hands.

"It's riding gear," Gu Cong walked over to Xie Ye, furrowing his brows slightly. "She came early this morning and asked me to give this to you."

Presumably, it was a reminder.

However, he and Princess Anari had no particular relationship.

Xie Ye posed the same question, "Are you close with her?"

Gu Cong promptly denied, "Why would I be?"

"Just met her once two years ago," he explained candidly, "Not even a word was exchanged."

Moreover, Anari at that time wasn't as spirited as she is now. According to intelligence reports from scouts, it was only last year during the internal strife on the grasslands that threatened the royal tent. She took the initiative to lead troops to quell a tribal rebellion, earning her a seat alongside other favored brothers and even vying for supremacy.

— The enemy's enemy is a friend. Perhaps, it's some prince or princess who isn't on good terms with Anari, trying to trip up Gu Cong or him.

With this understanding, Xie Ye chose not to touch the riding gear. In Yanjing, he couldn't be bothered to support anyone even if they were about to become the emperor. Now, why would he want to get involved in a group of princes and princesses?

Regardless of who prepared what, he was confident he could handle it.

Gu Cong also seemed to forget about the burden and casually placed it inside the tent.

The reason was simple: he didn't want Xie Ye to wear clothes given by someone else, and secondly, no matter what happened, with him around, he could ensure the other's safety.

Accustomed to the world's consciousness targeting them, having experienced various melodramatic plots, the minor incident along the way didn't affect Xie Ye's mood for attending the celebration.

Thanks to Gu Cong, their seating arrangement was excellent, offering a broad view and shelter from the sun with thick fabric similar to tent-making materials overhead, sparing Xie Ye from the discomfort of sun exposure.

The Khan sat at the head, with a semi-circular distribution. On his left were several proud princes and princesses of the grasslands, along with Wu Qige. On his right were Gu Cong, Xie Ye, and several familiar guards, including Lu Jin.

The elite warriors from various tribes on the grasslands, riding horses, formed neat formations, marching in rows, with the sound of their hooves synchronized with the pounding war drums, causing the earth to tremble as if under intimidation.

...

Xie Ye probably understood why the new Khan insisted on inviting Gu Cong every year. In ancient times, without television or live broadcasts, they could only rely on Gu Cong, the general stationed at Sanggan City, to warn the Yan Dynasty that while peace talks were welcomed, they were not to be taken advantage of. 

Being the target of the demonstration, Gu Cong remained calm, not even moving his eyebrows, after all, the formations he had seen on the battlefield were far more shocking and brutal than what was happening now.

As for the fair-skinned young man who had been secretly observed by everyone, eagerly anticipating his embarrassment, he seemed more interested in the tofu in front of him. After staring at it for a while, he finally picked up a small piece with his delicate fingers and put it in his mouth.

Savoring the taste with a hint of the host's taste buds, 1101 blissfully closed his eyes: "Mmm! Sweet!"

Combined with a subtle, peculiar sourness, the fragrance of the milk permeated, creating an unusual flavor that made one unable to resist wanting more.

Naturally, he exchanged the silver jug in front of the young man for the wine, and Gu Cong poured a bowl of hot milk tea for Xie Ye: "This goes better with it."

Keeping a close eye on their lifelong rival, Wu Qige, Gu Cong wondered if discussing these matters at this moment seemed off.

As the music and dance commenced, one of the princes closest to the Khan suddenly spoke up: "General Gu, will you be participating in the horse race this year?"

Glancing at the prince, Xie Ye raised his eyebrows, his demeanor gentle, his smile friendly. At first glance, he hardly seemed like the typical grassland person.

"Third Prince," 1101 replied casually while still savoring the sweet and sour taste, "don't be fooled by his appearance. He's ruthless when it comes to taking advantage. The first two brothers ahead of him, crippled or dead, are proof of that."

Xie Ye: "I know."

As the antagonist, he was most sensitive to malice, and no matter how good the acting, to him, it was like paper mache.

In the midst of the conversation, Gu Cong nodded, and Wu Qige's eyes lit up instantly, his excitement uncontrollable, almost visibly eager for a challenge.

Unfortunately, the Third Prince spoke with regret, "It's a pity that the participants in this race are all young boys and girls. General Gu and Wu Qige might find it beneath them to compete."

Wu Qige, who was completely unaware of the situation, was taken aback.

Indeed, the horse race at the Nadamu Festival sometimes restricts the age of participants, providing opportunities for newcomers to shine. But it was the same last year, so why this year...

Did the Third Prince think he would lose?

Wu Qige's anger surged.

1101, who had watched countless period dramas, sensed something amiss: "That's not right. While it's true that by restricting the participation of both Wu Qige and General Gu in the absence of certainty about Wu Qige's victory, it can directly avoid the worst outcome, but to lack even the courage to compete, isn't that to suppress others' aspirations and undermine one's own prestige?"

As if in response to its query, the Third Prince leisurely turned his gaze to Xie Ye: "However, General's wife looks very youthful."

"Since husband and wife are one body, why not let the General's wife try in his place?"

Liu Jin, who sensed the deliberate provocation, clenched his fist tightly.

Although he had initially disapproved of Xie Ye's aristocratic and delicate demeanor, such blatant bullying of someone who didn't know horseback riding skills was nothing to be proud of.

"I'll go," Liu Jin whispered, lowering his voice and giving a secret signal to his general with his naturally youthful face, "I'll compete on behalf of Master Xie."

However, Gu Cong had no intention of giving face to the Third Prince.

"Intentionally excluding me and Wu Qige," Gu Cong, who knew Wu Qige's temperament well, deliberately provoked, "Could it be that they're afraid of Bartulu, the bravest warrior on the grassland, losing again?"

Boom!

The wine jug on Wu Qige's table shook, but before he could retort, the Third Prince preempted him, "It's just the rule, General Gu, don't misunderstand the sincerity of Khan's invitation."

The words of the insignificant were used to cover up the intentions of the important figures. Liu Jin's expression became even more anxious. Although the words of the Third Prince were shameless, they were only audible to those nearby.

But if Master Xie really competed on behalf of the General and lost in front of everyone...

"Well then, I'll give it a try."

A voice that Liu Jin had only heard once before, slower than usual, rang out. Liu Jin looked at Xie Ye in shock, deeply suspecting that there was something wrong with his ears.

But the young man did indeed stand up.

His hand under the wide sleeve rested on the general's shoulder, calmly smiling at the female servant beside him. "Please lead the way."

In an instant, he became the center of everyone's attention.

The prey was forcibly driven into the trap, and everything proceeded according to plan. Despite the smooth situation, the Third Prince couldn't help but feel inexplicably uneasy as he watched Xie Ye follow the female servant out.

It's okay, he secretly thought, even though he might be younger, everyone qualified to compete in front of the Khan was a skilled horseman in their tribe.

He had checked Xie Ye's information. Even if Gu Cong was capable, he couldn't achieve results in just two months with a sickly young noble.

Moreover, to ensure fair competition, everyone had to use the same prepared horses. Even if Tashu was willing to cooperate, there was no way he could participate.

Like a drop of water falling into a hot oil pan, murmurs arose as the young man in plain clothes stood next to the last horse.

Liu Jin panicked, "General!"

While the types were the same, each horse had its own temperament. The horse next to Xie Ye was obviously more lively and more irritable. It usually required the general to hold onto it even to mount. How could this be good?

Gu Cong didn't respond.

He just focused on the competition.

Liu Jin subconsciously followed the general's gaze and then widened his eyes abruptly.

——Without any need for adjustment, and without seeming to exert any effort, the young man gracefully spread his robes like a cloud, and with a graceful leap, landed lightly on the horse's back.

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The author's note:

Gu Cong: My wife is playing me.