Chapter 262: Extra: Ancient Times (Part 15)
With the topic of the original host turned over, Rong Xingyu tried to pull his hand back.
But he failed.
Rong Xingyu blinked in confusion. "Hm?"
"Yuyu, you haven’t forgot what you promised me in the garden, right?"
"..."
"Do you want me to help you remember?"
Ding Yixin pinched Rong Xingyu’s fingers with amusement coloring his voice.
Rong Xingyu cleared his throat. "I-I of course would keeps my word."
Wasn’t it just agreeing to stay in this outfit with him!
Only then did Ding Yixin release Rong Xingyu’s hand.
Seeing the smile in Ding Yixin’s eyes, Rong Xingyu had the feeling that he had been deliberately teased again.
"..."
A flash of inspiration crossed Rong Xingyu’s mind.
He looked at Ding Yixin and raised his brows in imitation of him.
"Like this?"
Rong Xingyu’s hand slowly moved downward and deliberately stopping at a dangerous position.
A vein at Ding Yixin’s temple twitched quickly and his gaze gradually darkened.
As he called Rong Xingyu’s name, his voice turned slightly hoarse as if he were restraining something: "Yuyu..."
Rong Xingyu, however, revealed a smile to Ding Yixin.
He slowly leaned down.
Outside the carriage, the coachman suddenly heard the general call his name.
For some reason, the general’s voice sounded somewhat uncomfortable.
But he still followed the general’s instructions.
So, instead of continuing along the planned route back to the general’s residence, he drove the carriage in circles around the city.
The carriage went back and forth along the broad road near the outskirts of the city for who knew how many laps.
Only when dusk had fully settled and the sky had begun to darken did the carriage finally stop in front of the general’s residence.
With no bothersome people around to interfere, Rong Xingyu and Ding Yixin lived a shamelessly indulgent life in the residence.
Just before Rong Xingyu’s waist was about to give out, urgent news arrived from the border.
"What happened?"
Rong Xingyu who is currently lay on his stomach on the bed turning over to ask Ding Yixin who was massaging his waist.
"There’s been some trouble at the border recently. It’s not very peaceful."
Ding Yixin frowned and briefly explained the situation at the frontier to Rong Xingyu.
"But they’re nothing major. There’s no need to worry."
Rong Xingyu nodded as if half understanding, and then he heard Ding Yixin say that he needed to make a trip to the frontier.
"Ah..."
Rong Xingyu propped himself up on the bed and looked at Ding Yixin.
At the thought of being separated from him, a trace of reluctance crept into Rong Xingyu’s voice.
"How long will he be gone?"
Ding Yixin’s gaze swept over Rong Xingyu’s arm.
He saw that the fair, smooth skin was covered with large patches of ambiguous marks.
Ding Yixin’s eyes flickered slightly and he pulled the blanket up a bit.
He drew Rong Xingyu into his arms and held him while saying softly, "Not long. There are just quite a few matters, so I needs to go there personally."
Moreover, this trip to the frontier would also be an opportunity for Ding Yixin to settle his subordinates, after which he planned to resign from his official position and request permission from the Emperor.
"Then we’ll go together!"
Rong Xingyu lifted his head to look at Ding Yixin. "Let me accompany you."
After opening his eyes and realizing that he had transmigrated to ancient times, Rong Xingyu was first confined in a side courtyard of the Mu residence.
After reuniting with Ding Yixin, he had stayed cooped up in the general’s residence all along.
He had never really had the chance to properly experience the different customs and atmosphere of ancient times.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, he could finally go out and have a look around.
Ding Yixin originally wanted to say that conditions at the frontier were rather harsh and not as comfortable as staying in the residence, but seeing Rong Xingyu’s high spirits, he couldn’t bear to refuse him.
"Alright, then we’ll go together."
After all, with him there, he wouldn’t let Rong Xingyu suffer even the slightest hardship.
Since the decision had been made, Rong Xingyu and Ding Yixin set off for the frontier on an auspicious day.
Rong Xingyu changed into convenient men’s clothing and rode atop a tall horse.
While holding the reins in his hand, he squeezed his legs and the fine horse began to run.
The horse’s hooves struck the stone road, producing crisp clattering sounds.
Wherever Rong Xingyu passed, the spirited young man attracted the attention of countless people along the roadside.
However, as they neared the military camp, Rong Xingyu saw Ding Yixin put on his mask.
It had been a long time since Rong Xingyu had seen Ding Yixin’s mask. It was so ugly that it was almost distinctive.
He couldn’t help but curiously ask Ding Yixin the reason.
Ding Yixin explained somewhat helplessly, "My original appearance isn’t very conducive to commanding respect."
"..." Rong Xingyu instantly understood.
Seeing Ding Yixin’s expression that seemed difficult to describe, Rong Xingyu let out a snort of laughter.
Indeed.
Although his body’s appearance was outstanding, it inevitably carried a certain "pretty boy" stereotype.
It made him look less like someone who wielded blades and spears and more like a flirtatious scholar who spent his days composing poetry.
Especially in places like military camps.
There was mutual disdain between civil and military officials; even in the imperial court, scholars and generals looked down on each other.
Not to mention that most soldiers in the camp were rough men, who might dislike "pretty boy" scholars the most.
Rong Xingyu could even imagine that if Ding Yixin didn’t conceal his face, there might indeed be very few people willing to submit to him.
"Fists also work in the camp," Ding Yixin added.
If anyone still refused to accept it, they could be dragged to the training ground and beaten with fists until they were completely convinced.
Such things were fairly common in the camp.
