ITOTIABSAM | Young General | 99
As Gu Cong said, about a month after they arrived in Sanggan City, they received an invitation from the grasslands.
During these dozens of days, Xie Ye lived quite comfortably.
As a supporting character who often faced bad luck and stayed away from the main storyline, it often meant staying away from trouble. His savings were enough to cover the normal expenses of an ordinary person for a lifetime, so he had no financial pressure for the time being. He spent his days reading books, practicing calligraphy, and tending to flowers, living like a salted fish.
Most of the time, Gu Cong needed to go to the military camp's training ground to train the soldiers, so he was busy, and only returned home in the evening. As 1101 put it: as long as there's no war, it's almost like going to work.
Xie Ye, who was already a bit of a homebody, was quite accustomed to it.
In previous worlds, they both had jobs, so they weren't always together—of course, excluding the early stage when the little tyrant was particularly paranoid due to headaches.
Sanggan City was neither big nor small. Occasionally, when the sun wasn't shining too brightly, he would go out for a walk. Thanks to Gu Cong, although he hadn't shown his face much, most of the people in the city knew him. Whether it was dumplings, medicine, or any other interesting new things, no one would accept his money, only leaving a sentence:
"The General said to take it from the mansion later."
1101, who was regularly fed dog food: "I'm jealous, I'm jealous."
However, when it came to helping the host regulate his body, Gu Cong has been helpful. His alter self has been suffering from depression all year round. On the surface he seems fine, but on the inside, his body is already lacking, and his immunity was getting worse.
Not mentioning it meant there were loopholes to exploit.
Without the healthy body data simulated by 1101, after Doctor Qian returned from collecting herbs, he only took Xie Ye's pulse once, and then Xie Ye became a frequent visitor to the clinic.
He looked good, was quiet, and, plus he was sick, everyone in the clinic liked him very much—or rather, they felt affection for this "Young Master Xie" who had given up Yanjing and followed the General to the border city. Even the dried fruits given as gifts when buying medicine were a few more than others received.
Also, because he had to take medicine, apart from the night they entered the city, General Gu, who was mindful of the "Madam's" health, deeply interpreted what "restraint" meant.
Back to the present, when he heard the news about going to the grasslands, Xie Ye was sitting in the clinic waiting for the assistant to fetch the medicine, and incidentally, he helped Doctor Qian write prescriptions for patients who were waiting.
Sanggan City was after all on the border, and most people only recognized the most commonly used characters. Coincidentally, Xie Ye practiced a neat hand of small regular script, although he didn't like to use it, it was perfect for copying medical prescriptions.
General Gu finished his work early today and rode back home. Along the way, it seemed like everyone around him knew who he was looking for, and they kindly pointed him in the right direction.
As soon as he stepped into the clinic gate, he saw Xie Ye in the corner wearing light-colored clothes, confident and casual, holding his sleeve with his left hand, nodding along while writing with Doctor Qian.
The assistant responsible for fetching the medicine had sharp eyes: "General Gu is here."
Subconsciously, Xie Ye looked up, but his hand didn't stop.
Gu Cong touched his nose: "Coincidentally, I'm free. I've come to take you home."
"Do you remember the Nadam Festival?" He approached a bit closer and lowered his voice, "Today, an invitation arrived from the grasslands. We'll depart tomorrow morning."
That's why he and the garrison didn't train until evening as usual.
The white-bearded Doctor Qian beside them stroked his beard, "What did I say? Early this morning, many people from the grasslands entered the city. It must be related to our General here."
This matter wasn't confidential, and Gu Cong nodded, "We'll be away for a few days, so I hope Doctor Qian can prepare several doses of medicine."
"Of course, of course," Doctor Qian took the prescription handed over by Xie Ye, smiling, "I've just finished my work here too. General, please take him back."
"Otherwise, it would be this old man not showing respect."
Xie Ye: ...
Very well, the atmosphere in Sanggan City was indeed very open. Even two men like him and Gu Cong could be teased like an ordinary couple.
After a brief gesture, he lifted his foot, "I'll go get the medicine."
"As for his throat ailment..." When the others had walked away, Doctor Qian suddenly spoke again, "I heard about the Xie family's affairs when I was traveling in my younger days. The cure for a troubled heart lies in heart medicine. Those who lose their voice mostly suffer from this, and it's not the effect of decoctions alone."
With expectations already in his heart, Gu Cong responded with a sound, not overly disappointed.
Suddenly, he remembered that the last time Xie Ye spoke fluently was after kissing him. Did this mean that Xie Ye actually enjoyed being close to him, and even his mood improved as a result?
With a fleeting suspicion, Gu Cong bid farewell to Doctor Qian, then briskly approached and took the almost weightless medicine package from Xie Ye's hands.
Walking side by side out of the clinic, Gu Cong suddenly mentioned, "Carriages aren't ideal for traveling on the grasslands."
Xie Ye glanced at him with a slightly puzzled look.
"Wuyun understands human nature very well. You've been feeding it for so long, so it should be able to carry you on the journey," offering the first suggestion, Gu Cong continued, "Or, you can ride with me."
"Although Tia Xue can be spirited, it still listens to its master."
Xie Ye thought to himself, at this point, does he really have any other choice?
Mischievously, he wrote in Gu Cong's palm, "Wuyun..."
Visible to the naked eye, General Gu's brows furrowed, his jaw tensing, looking very serious, as if contemplating how to convince himself to change his mind.
"Let it rest at home," appreciating the rare liveliness in the other's expression, Xie Ye slowly continued with his words, "I'll accompany you."
Gu Cong turned his head, "Teasing me again." But he wasn't annoyed, his tone even bordered on indulgent.
Xie Ye's eyes curved lazily, unapologetic and assertive, as if saying, "So what?"
"No 'so what'," increasingly able to discern the meaning behind the youth's every expression, Gu Cong lowered his gaze and quickly planted a kiss on Xie Ye's cheek, "Smile more, you're very beautiful."
Xie Ye: !!
They were on the street, how could this person seem more modern than himself?
"What's wrong?" Gu Cong squeezed Xie Ye's hand, raised an eyebrow, utterly calm as if he didn't fear being seen. "We've already had our ceremony, forgot?"
Xie Ye: I didn't forget.
But he really wanted to retrieve a segment of footage from the system, to show someone his panicked appearance when he fled the inn.
Suddenly cued by 1101: "I think I was in the black room at that time."
Realizing he had again disrupted the host's momentum, it swiftly sank into the depths of his consciousness, pretending the moment had never happened.
Observing Xie Ye's reaction covertly, Gu Cong acted as if everything was normal.
Why didn't this kiss have any effect this time?
Could he have misjudged?
For the next few hours, Xie Ye felt that Gu Cong was more affectionate than usual, but it was only simple intimacy, continuing until the next day's departure.
Named after its appearance, Ta Xue, like Wuyun, was entirely black except for its snow-white hooves. Agile and proud, compared to Wuyun leading the way, the other horses kept a noticeably greater distance from it.
The grassland guide who led them was called Wu Qige. As for the meaning of the name, it is said to be a blessing incantation used in fire rituals. He obviously knew Ta Xue, and even after two years, his eyes still revealed reluctance.
Long-unseen Lu Jin quietly introduced Xie Ye, "Wu Qige, although not born into a royal tent, is recognized as a warrior by several tribes. The General won against him last time."
Last year's celebration, because a court official came to investigate the situation for the old emperor, General Gu couldn't spare the time to attend.
[So, Wu Qige almost became the master of Ta Xue, no wonder his eyes are so...]" Subtly paused, 1101 carefully chose its words, "affectionate."
Unfortunately, the aloof temperament of Ta Xue completely ignored Wu Qige's gaze, only flicking its tail when Gu Cong approached.
With one person and one ride, traveling lightly, seeing the absence of a horse, Gu Cong once again wrapped his arm around Xie Ye's waist, lifting him up as if he was going to carry him onto Taxyue. Wu Qige couldn't help but interject, "He'll fall off."
Fierce horses usually only recognize their own masters.
Knowing oneself and knowing the enemy, one can fight a hundred battles without danger. His Mandarin was spoken very fluently, although a bit short, the tone was not stiff. Glancing at the other, Gu Cong said, "Husband and wife, have you not heard of it?"
Wu Qige: Husband and wife?
Even though he hadn't heard this term before, judging from the genders of Gu Cong and Xie Ye, he could probably guess what it meant.
However, Wu Qige, who wanted to say something more, quickly saw that in the next moment after the young man in plain clothes sat firmly and Ta Xue began to become restless, Gu immediately mounted the horse, tightened the reins, reached out to stroke Ta Xue's mane, and at the same time pulled Xie Ye into his arms. In just a few breaths, he effortlessly took control of the situation.
Although Xie Ye understood some equestrian skills, even if Gu Cong hadn't helped, he wouldn't have worried about falling off. But since someone was protecting him, he naturally preferred to be a couch potato.
For some reason, Xie Ye found the way Gu Cong was soothing Ta Xue somewhat familiar. He remembered a big hand that always liked to massage the back of his neck:
Exactly the same.
So, he's comforting him like a horse.
"Thank you for the reminder," although he knew that Wu Qige's real concern was probably for the horse, fearing that Ta Xue would be punished, Gu Cong still secretly asserted his dominance, "With me here, he won't get hurt."
Without needing to use a whip, he gently urged Ta Xue forward with a tap of his heel and a soft command, "Go!"
Ta Xue, who hadn't run a long distance joyfully in a long time, immediately galloped forward like a black lightning bolt, trailing strands of white light.
July was the perfect season on the grassland. The farther north they went, the more clusters of wildflowers they could see blooming. As the horse hooves trampled over the grass, it created waves of soft green, while the gentle breeze brushed past their ears, bringing a refreshing coolness. Further ahead, they could see a winding, clear stream, shallow enough to barely reach halfway up an adult's calf.
Water splashed, blossoming into refreshing sprays.
Xie Ye nestled comfortably in Gu Cong's embrace, using his shadow and clothes to shield himself from the sun. Half-closing his eyes, he was surrounded by a vast expanse of lush greenery.
But it wasn't monotonous.
"Golden dew plum blossoms," Gu Cong slowed the pace of the horse slightly and pointed to clusters of small yellow flowers crowded together in the bushes.
In the past, he rarely paid attention to the scenery along the way, let alone the differences in flowers and plants. But now, holding Xie Ye close, he smiled and remarked, "They're just like the ones in our home."
0 Comments
Post a Comment