Chapter 189 - The Overbearing General’s Pretty Military Counselor (VIII)
Lou Ying gently presses his temple for Chi Xiaochi.
Half an hour ago, Chi Xiaochi finished receiving the world line, opened her eyes, and without saying much, said “I’m going to sleep for a while”, and then turned on her side and fell asleep.
The long-disrupted connection had not been restored, and Lou Ying had only partially recovered his ability to receive world lines, so he did not know what was going on.
He was in no hurry to find out and took Chi Xiaochi’s mental body from behind, his arm behind his head, and massaged him silently.
His technique was professional, except that the position was not good for circulation.
After a while, he has to clench his fist to relieve the numbness.
Chi Xiaochi slept for two hours before stirring hazily in Lou Ying’s arms.
Lou Ying lets go of him in a natural movement, in case he feels uncomfortable.
Chi Xiaochi opened his eyes, took five minutes to wake up, and then got up and put on his clothes: “Still awake, sir?”
Lou Ying, lying on his side, asked instead of answering, “How’s the world line?”
”Well, it’s a bit difficult.”
Chi Xiaochi closed her eyes and tied the loose lining buttons from top to bottom, the corners of her mouth teasing with a smirk: “…… but it’s an interesting challenge.”
A living, fighting little fox.
Lou Ying smiles.
He found he liked Chi Xiaochi’s tone so much that he sat up and, while Chi Xiaochi’s eyes were closed, gingerly fastened the buttons of his loincloth from below.
With one hand at the bottom and the other at the top, Lou Ying pulls back and touches Chi Xiaochi’s fingertips with her cold fingertips, like a sloppy kiss.
Chi Xiaochi felt down and found that the hem was properly buttoned, and without thinking otherwise, rolled out of bed and raised her voice: “A Ling.”
It was getting light and he was due to leave for the frontier the next day, so there was no excuse for him to get up early.
As a servant, he had to be on guard every night in case his master needed anything. The original master, Shi Tingyun, had always been generous to his servants and hardly ever disturbed the rest of the two servants unless it was a matter of importance to the General’s household and he had to get up at night for personal business.
So Chu Ziling entered with a few sleepy eyes, “My lord?”
Chi Xiaochi said, “I’m having trouble sleeping well today and I want to get up earlier.”
Chu Ziling fetched his coat and tried to serve him to dress.
”There is no need to serve me.” Chi Xiaochi took the clothes from him and hastily slipped them on, “Go and serve Master Gongzi.”
Chu Ziling is a little confused.
In the past, the Duke would always leave such menial tasks of close service to Ah Shu.
Without moving, he replied with a smile, “Yes.”
He walked over to the bed, “Mr. Yu, please.”
The frail, pale youth on the bed gave a dignified “hmm”, lifted the covers, opened his hands and said politely, “Thank you.”
As Chu Ziling changed his clothes, his eyes feigned inadvertence as they swept over his face.
The word “national traitor” from the Southland Wen was branded in the corner of the man’s eyes, and to those who did not know the Southland Wen, the branding was beautifully shaped, much like a flower in bloom.
…… a sinner, is treated with such courtesy in the House because of his overwhelming talent.
With merit in hand, you can stand firm anywhere.
Thinking of this, Chu Ziling said casually, “Your Excellency is so close to you all day long that you don’t know what you are talking about.”
It was nothing more than a seductive remark. Chu Ziling looks at Shi Tingyun with a smile on his lips and a touch of well-placed jealousy in his words.
He knew in his heart that Shi Tingyun was cultivating himself because he was interested in him in a different way. He knew in his heart that Shi Tingyun was cultivating himself because he was interested in him in a different way. This kind of male interest was just a game of elegance for the nobility, so he didn’t mind getting closer to the young gentleman.
Before Shi Tingyun could say anything, Yu Fengmian, who was serving him, turned sideways and stared at him, his tone unenthusiastic: “Is it your place to ask such things?”
Chu Ziling jolted.
He didn’t know much about the gongzi master, except that he was not well-born or well-built, but was well respected by the gongzi, so he assumed he would be of a good nature to deal with.
”Don’t use me as a raft for you to curry favour with the Duke.” Yu Fengmian’s look and tone did not sound angry, but merely stating the facts in a light-hearted manner, “…… recognise you for what you are.”
The word “identity” is right at the heart of Chu Ziling’s pain point.
But Chu Ziling was so determined that not only did he continue to dress him, but his smile remained the same: “Yes, Mr. Yu. Ziling has blundered, and will never do so again.”
As he finished, he peeked at Shi Tingyun.
Shi Tingyun did not say a word about it, which Chu Ziling expected.
Unlike Yan Yuanzhao, who was a peer and a close friend, Shi Tingyun would not turn against his own husband for himself.
Having said that, Chu Ziling is inevitably a little bit bored.
When he is reprimanded by the prince, he can take it lightly, for one thing, because they are practically equals, and for another, because he can make Shi Tingyun feel unjust and stand up for him, indirectly contributing to the conflict between Yan Yuanzhao and him, although he cannot hope to break their relationship, but he can also make some small gaps between them.
However, it was inevitable that Chu Ziling would feel a sense of anguish at being accused in this way by a lowly sinner who had once achieved glory.
Not daring to underestimate the man’s heart and mind, he kept a quiet eye on him, unaware of the glances Shi Tingyun was casting behind him.
Chi Xiaochi is curious: when did you know the scum attacker was him? I haven’t heard back from Zhen Nan Guan yet.
Lou Ying turns sideways, puts his outer robe back on, staggers Chu Ziling, who is bent over tidying the bed, and gestures: when you ask him, who never does chores, to clean up the chores.
In fact, he was tempted to say that the look in his eyes, ready to pit, the moment before you called him through the door, was obvious at a glance.
However, he liked the look of the little fox anyway and had no intention of making it right, so he didn’t say so explicitly.
Chi Xiaochi walked towards the outside, “Where’s Shu.”
Chu Ziling turned his back to him and replied with a smile as he spread the blanket, “Shu has gone to take care of your personal belongings. He is new to the battlefield and does not understand many things. I told him that what he had prepared would not be of any use on the battlefield, but he did not want to listen.”
Chi Xiaochi simply tied her long hair up with a hairband, “Then I will go and ask Shu-sama to come and wash me myself.”
Chu Ziling smiled, “Take care, my lord.”
Chi Xiaochi made his way to where the boy lived, paying a little attention on the way to the display which had been restored to normal function.
Chu Ziling has a 53 favorable impression of Shi Tingyun and a 4 regret value, which is perfectly within the range of being able to take a soft meal and still feel good about it.
Chi Xiaochi doesn’t think about how to deal with Chu Ziling at this stage, and rummages through his storage and finds a function card.
Now that there is a world line, some information is easily available.
He uses a function card called “Worldline Locator”, which allows him to see what any person has done in the original worldline.
……
After Shi Tingyun’s death, Li Yeshu came to the Imperial City and presented a bloody letter, admitting that he was Li Yeshu, a servant in the general’s house, and that he had been kindly treated by his son and wanted to collect Shi Tingyun’s body from the Southern Borderers, rather than let him be buried by his enemies.
You’re begging for a corpse in the city, and you’re still so arrogant, you’re just looking for death.
The southern border general who was defending the city was rather disdainful.
The southern border is a martial arts region and does not look kindly on such Chinese weaklings who do not want revenge but take pride in seeking death and martyrdom.
He reported the blood letter to Chu Ziling, saying that since the man wanted to repay his kindness, he might as well grant him a living martyrdom.
At this point, Chu Ziling’s appearance was much thinner than the last time Shi Tingyun saw him in the world line. He read the bloody letter and burned it in his hand with an oil lamp on one side: “Return to him: if you are an enemy, you are also a Southlander, so what shame do you have to bury yourself for him, and why don’t you kill yourself in shame?”
When the general heard that Li Yeshu was from the southern frontier, his desire to kill diminished: “No?”
Chu Ziling said, “I will not kill him. If he comes here, he is looking for death. He just wants to see you, so why should I obey his wish?”
The southern border general relayed Chu Ziling’s words truthfully.
At this, Li Yeshu laughed out loud and said to the general, “Then please bury this with my son. I will bring it back with my son’s bones in a few years’ time. At that time, Shu will kill himself in front of the tomb to thank him for not following through with his life and death.”
Saying this, he took a bull’s-ear pointed knife from his pocket, probed his mouth and cut his tongue with a single stroke.
He told the other generals that he would drive the man away so as not to pollute the city gates, then dragged Li Yeshu, who was in pain and vomiting blood, away to his home, administered medicine for his wounds, saved his life, and sent him out of the city when he was stable, lying, “Your tongue has been buried with your son, go away.
Li Yeshu also knew that he was lying to himself.
The Duke always laughed at him for being trivial, and if his own tongue had been buried with him, the Duke would probably have been annoyed.
But it doesn’t matter.
His flesh and blood, if only he could guard the Duke somewhere within this Watchtower.
The tongue is the least of his worries at the moment.
Li Yeshu bowed, bowed to him, and then, pale, staggered away from the Watchtower.
After that, the Middle Kingdom was plunged into years of war.
Seven years later, Wangcheng was recaptured by the Imperial Army.
By then Chu Ziling had long since left Wangcheng, and the Southland general was captured and escorted in iron chains to the outskirts of the city when a silver-helmeted general, covered in dust and wounds, rode up to him on a white horse a short distance away, gazed at him for a moment, then suddenly called a halt to the party and lifted his chin with his whip.
The Southland general saw a familiar face.
Li Yeshu also recognises him and smiles at him as he pulls on the reins with one hand.
The southern border generals were shocked and led away by the procession.
The lieutenant rode up with him, “Is this man an old acquaintance of the general?”
Li Yeshu gestures to his lieutenant: Do not bury him alive. Give him a piece of your mind.
The adjutant nodded, turned his horse around and headed in the direction of the executioner.
Li Yeshu rides a horse through the streets to announce his triumph.
He had a good ear and could hear people talking about him all around.
”Is he the famous dumb general Li Yeshu?”
”Yes. Look at his bearing, his silver spear and white horse, he must be from a great family.”
”I heard that originally he was a house slave of the general’s house.”
”Where did you hear such words? In the story, the one who used the silver spear and rode the white horse was either Ma Chao or Gao Huai De, both of whom were first-class generals and heroes, not ordinary people.”
”Yes. I heard that this man kills like hell and slaughters all the southern border generals every time he comes down to the city, and I thought he was some kind of nocturnal-like figure, but who would have thought that he was born like this …… like a scholar.”
Li Yeshu bowed his head with a smile and beat his horse forward.
After inviting the present Emperor to return to the court, Li Yeshu requested a visit to the tomb of the Prince.
The tomb of the Prince was located in the imperial city, after Chu Ziling’s former palace. He took off his silver armour and changed into his old straight jacket and cleaned himself up before going to the tomb.
He knelt down and bowed deeply to the song.
Whenever he came to the Duke, he always had endless things to say.
Li Yeshu tried to make a sound, “Ah.”
He was amused by the unpleasantly odd sound he made.
He leaned against the tombstone and wrote on it with his right hand what he wanted to say, saying that he regretted what he had done, that he should not have listened to his son and stayed in the general’s house, that he should have gone with him to the southern border, that he was now Li Yeshu, a god-hating man, that his sister Qing was now married and had children and was doing well, and that he had discovered that with diligent practice, even a dumb bird could fly and become a roc.
He wrote, “Sorry, my lord, seven years have passed before Ah Shu came.
As he spoke and wrote, Li Yeshu grew weary, rested on his tombstone and closed his eyes, as he had done every night as a child, sleeping outside his son’s room.
Only the next morning did his lieutenant discover to his horror that Li Yeshu had slit his wrists in front of Shi Tingyun’s tomb.
Li Yeshu sits in the centre of the circle, his head hanging against the tombstone, looking as peaceful as if he were asleep.
No one told him that Chu Ziling, before he left, had sensed that Wangcheng was in danger, so he exhumed Shi Tingyun’s bones and took them away with him in a small coffin.
Li Yeshu was martyred in an empty grave.
But it is good to know that he is walking in peace.
The world line stops and Chi Xiaochi stands in front of the window.
Shu’s room is lit by candlelight and you can see the busy figures in it.
Nowadays, Ah Shu is still the same trivial and nagging Ah Shu, who is not skilled in martial arts, not interested in the art of war, but only loves to surround the stove, and every night before going to sleep, he always asks what the Prince would like to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow.
Chi Xiaochi pushes in the door.
Li Yeshu heard the door slam and turned back in dismay: “My lord, why don’t you sleep more, the rooster hasn’t even crowed yet?”
Chi Xiaochi said, “I’m not used to not having Shu at my side, so it’s hard for me to rest.”
Li Yeshu was amused: “You’re joking again, sir. You see, I have brought a green bean pillow to clear the heart and lower the fire, I have chosen the best green beans one by one to make it, it will be useful.”
Chi Xiaochi leaned against the door and looked at him, “Why bother when you’re carrying all this trivial stuff that takes up space and is heavy?”
Li Yeshu has his own reasoning: “It’s better to bring something with you when you’re poor and rich, as it’s not like home.”
Chi Xiaochi picked up his bucket-sized bundle and examined it: “Duck in sauce?”
Li Yeshu wiped his sweat: “Your Excellency loves food, so keep some on hand for the journey.”
Chi Xiaochi picks up another one: “Dried apricots?”
Li Yeshu : “The carriage is bumpy, and your master’s body is weak, so he may not be able to bear it.
Chi Xiaochi picked up a red amulet that had been placed on the bed, “What is this again?”
”It was sent to me by Ah Qing overnight.” Li Yeshu raised her eyes and smiled, “She went to the Qingyuan Temple to beg for it, and had it enlightened by a master, and asked me to hand it to your son, wishing him a safe trip, and that no sword or spear should come near him.”
Chi Xiaochi held the amulet: “She has a heart. What about yours, she didn’t ask for one for you?”
Li Yeshu scratched his head, “She had asked for it, but I specifically told her not to ask for it, for fear that if she asked for two, it wouldn’t work.”
Chi Xiaochi grasped the charm in his hand, “Shu, you are too trivial.”
Li Yeshu doesn’t mind either: “It’s good that I can do something for you.”
Chi Xiaochi threw the talisman at him, “If you want to work for me, why don’t you come and be my lieutenant?”
Li Yeshu reached out and caught it, a little puzzled: “Isn’t A Ling here, so I can just worry about your food and living.
Chi Xiaochi asked, “Do you want to be a servant for the rest of your life?”
Li Yeshu was not stupid, he knew that the Duke intended to lift him up, but he still shook his head once and said honestly, “As long as he is the Duke’s boy, Ah Shu will be willing.”
Chi Xiaochi lowered her eyes, “Then I will fight to stay alive and have you serve me for the rest of my life.”
Because of these words, Chi Xiaochi got into serious trouble.
Li Yeshu’s mouth never rested from the moment he was dressed, to the moment he was washed, to the moment he had breakfast, to the moment he took his horse and set off, to the moment he was on his way to the imperial city to lead the army, to the moment he left the city, the central theme of which was “Your son is talking nonsense”, and he wanted Chi Xiaochi to spit at him a hundred times to get rid of all the bad luck.
Chi Xiaochi, with a bitter face from the nagging, takes his every word seriously and tries to pretend not to see Yan Yuanheng’s frequent glances ahead.
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