The rain wasn't heavy. It was drizzling, carrying with it sticky and greasy dust. His hair and robes were all damp, but due to the wind, his half-dried robes were dampened once more. Why not fleetingly endure a big rain pour? It would have been better compared to being wet now, where his robes stuck fast to his body as heavily as golden rocks, weighing his bones down.
Mud and pebbles pooled all around him, it wasn't comfortable lying down. Cui Buqu lost his control over one of his shoulders; even when he tried to get up, he could only use one arm. His shoulder blade hurt like his heart was being torn apart—even until now, it still vaguely hurt. Each time he took a breath, what he inhaled wasn't the scent of mud or rain, neither was it the fragrance of the wine from the tavern, but it was the scent of blood coming from his own body.
This deadweight of a body hasn't fully healed its wounds, and new wounds were already added. Not only did his limbs hurt; old wounds from long ago hurt the same, it felt like an invisible hand was holding a pocket knife as it dismembered his body.
But the pain on his body could not compare to the fresh kiss on his lips.
Cui Buqu opened his eyes wide, and for a moment he had forgotten to fight back.
He found it hard to believe that the other would do such a thing during a time like this.
Heavily wounded, with everyone watching except for Guan Shanhai who had passed out, there were also two pairs of bright gazes staring at them.
Two faces identical to Feng Xiao, giving a very unlike Feng Xiao blank look, as they stared dumbfounded like two blocks of wood.
Cui Buqu's irises rolled to the corner of his eyes and blinked, and suddenly felt his bones ache even more.
Yet Feng Xiao didn't pay them any attention, as if there was no one present.
He was even displeased by Cui Buqu's distraction and so he deepened the kiss, refusing to stop after a tiny one, insisting to savour everything he could before leaving satisfied and happy.
Cui Buqu's uninjured arm pressed itself onto Feng Xiao's shoulder, using his strength to push it in the other direction, yet Cui Buqu was neither welcoming nor rejecting. It was a pity that Feng Xiao, though heavily injured, did not budge an inch, sticking fast to him stubbornly. His grip on his jaw had even tightened, making Cui Buqu emit an overwhelmed groan.
Should he just feign passing out? Since it was a tactic he knew well from experience.
He pondered over the thought, but it was as if Feng Xiao knew of his thoughts, he muttered a barely audible threat, "If you feign passing out again, I'm going to strip you naked in front of everyone."
Cui Buqu: "…"
He didn't doubt that Feng-er would really do such a thing, but Cui Buqu could not afford to lose.
As he pondered, the other person recklessly swept up, finally retreating when Cui Buqu's breathes were ragged and his face reddened. However, his warm breath lingered on his currently puffy and red lips, that usually looked rather pale and ashen. As the Zuoyue Commander raised his head slowly, it was unknown whether it was the rain dampening the corner of his eyes, or the fog from his breath, forming a misty red patch as if he looked mad. Feng Xiao was close, taking this into his gaze. Knowing that onlookers might not notice these little details, he couldn't help feeling cocky, feeling comforted from his defeat of fighting a draw with Xiao Lu and allowing him to escape.
Ming Yue's mouth parted, clueless that rainwater was falling into it.
He thought that it might have been an illusion from his qi deviation, resulting from overburdening wounds and so quickly pulled his gaze away from those two people. Suppressing down his pain and turning his head to the side with difficulty, he looked at Qin Miaoyu who sat closest to him, hoping to ask for her help to stand, yet he caught sight of Qin Miaoyu looking blanker than himself, her eyes wide and round, unable to pull her gaze away.
Ming Yue turned around again in curiosity and saw that Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu had separated. Feng-er coughed a few times before spitting out a mouthful of blackened blood, then held Cui Buqu's arm as he helped him up.
They were normal. It seemed like what happened just now had really been an illusion. Ming Yue sighed and thought.
"So, is it true that the Second Commander and Commander Cui shared such a relationship?" Qin Miaoyu leaned close and whispered.
"What relationship?" Ming Yue didn't understand, but as he recalled what he saw just now, all the hairs on his body stood and felt his wounds hurt more.
"Cut-sleeves sharing bitten peaches1." Qin Miaoyu spoke in a soft voice.
Her wounds were the least severe among everyone. Other than the tavern, the battles that ensued didn't require her efforts. Now, after some rest, she has almost fully recovered, so naturally, she had much more strength than the others to look into these details.
Ming Yue hadn't answered. Feng Xiao turned to look in their direction, the killing aura around him hasn't receded, and his usual teasing demeanour hasn't returned. At his stare, Qin Miaoyu immediately quietened down. After Feng Xiao turned around to leave, she let out a long breath and told Ming Yue quietly, "Third Commander, are we still going to fight the Zuoyue Bureau for credits in the future?"
Once this question was asked, Ming Yue felt his head spinning. His stomach still churned, so his internal wounds were more severe. He'd give everything to spit another mouthful of blood out.
He knew Feng-er had always been fearless and unrestrained, and took no general etiquette seriously, but he could never have guessed that Feng-er would be so fearless and unrestrained to this degree.
Generally speaking: of all the people you could have taken a fancy on, you had to choose the leader of the Zuoyue Bureau.
Ming Yue had heard about how difficult Cui Buqu was to get along with before, yet what he cracked his head on wasn't just how difficult Cui Buqu was, but the Zuoyue Bureau behind him, as well as what the Emperor and Empress would think about this after they find out.
Although the Emperor and Empress were a married couple who was very much in love, who would be willing to see their own subordinates having an affair with each other? Would this method between the Emperor and Empress to balance each other out still work then?
This matter could no longer be leaked out—Ming Yue who had always been honest and true to his duties had even begun to think about alternative strategies.
And so, his wounds hurt even more.
Those weren't even normal wounds. The palm he had clashed with Xiao Lu practically drained all Ming Yue's energy which he didn't have much left to begin with. His meridians were shaken, and had it not been for the fact that Xiao Lu fought with Feng Xiao before, and was worn thin there, Ming Yue would not have been alive at this moment.
"Third Commander?" Qin Miaoyu didn't know what he was thinking about, she even found it strange that he was staring blankly in front as if he was in a trance.
"This won't do. I'm so tired, I should take a nap." Ming Yue mumbled, closed his eyes and lied down on the mud, refusing to move.
Qin Miaoyu: "…"
Should she help her superior up or return?
She was also very tired. If she chose to help Ming Yue walk back… once they returned they would be reprimanded.
Qin Miaoyu looked left and right, and found a dry spot under a roof to lie down as well, closing her eyes as she felt at ease.
She had also 'passed out' from her wounds.
Cui Buqu stood up.
Feng Xiao held one of his hand, but in reality they were mutually supporting each other.
If not for this, Feng Xiao might not even hold up until they were back.
Cui Buqu laughed coldly, showing no mercy. "Wasn't the Second Commander quite majestic just now? Why are you at the brink of death now?"
Feng Xiao sighed. "The saying goes that when a peony dies, it morphs into a beautiful ghost; but if I truly die, wouldn't I have been unworthy of your words "worth it"?"
Cui Buqu: "If you die, I will let the Zuoyue Bureau hang up great big lanterns for half a month, burn three strips of firecrackers a day, put up decorations and put their hands up to celebrate."
Feng Xiao: "Ah, QuQu, if a woman doesn't speak her heart, it makes her cute, but when a man does it, it's contentious. Of course, you cannot be compared to those people, but was it so difficult for you to say that you would miss me if I died?"
Cui Buqu coldly said: "If you can speak so much nonsense, then it seems like your body is in a good condition."
Before he finished his words, he released his hand with no ounce of sympathy.
Feng Xiao used all his strength speaking, so as he was caught unexpectedly before he could inhale a breath, he immediately fell onto the ground and got mud all over himself.
His insides were burning like fire and ash, and once he placed all his focus onto his wounds, the pain forbade him to even speak.
Second Commander Feng, who had always fussed over cleanliness and would change into a new set of robes even if there was a speck of dirt on it. Since when could he ever look so sorry?
He sighed slowly and vaguely heard Cui Buqu's footsteps sounding farther away.
It seemed like he really did infuriate Cui Buqu.
But, this weather was truly cold.
Why was Feng Xiao so hasty to decide that it was wise to wear a piece of clothing less so he could save time? Or else even in a cold, windy autumn rain like this, he wouldn't have been so cold that his teeth clattered.
But when he thought about how that one named Xiao probably wasn't in any better condition, he felt happier.
Even the loss he felt from being abandoned by Cui Buqu was no longer obvious.
The sound of footsteps returned.
Walking unevenly, like their owner was wounded on one side, their strength uneven.
He was struck by a thought, he turned his eyes forcibly to take a look.
Before he could see the person, a blood-coated robe had fallen on his shoulders. It was very thick, though half-damp.
Feng Xiao furrowed his brows, yet a bamboo stick was tucked into his hand. He wasn't sure where Cui Buqu had found it.
"Who's robes?" his voice was weak, but it didn't hide his scornful tone.
"The Young Master of the Jinhuan Gang." Cui Buqu coldly said, "Best you use more strength yourself. I couldn't feel half my shoulder."
"I don't want a robe from a dead man." Feng Xiao remained disgusted, but there was a vague coquettish tone about his voice that came from nowhere.
Cui Buqu coughed a few times, and when the other sat up with great difficulty, he grabbed one of his arms and used strength to help him up. This movement hurt his shoulder, but he didn't make any move other than feeling his body go stiff.
Feng Xiao, however, felt it. He mustered a breath, using the bamboo stick to steady himself, and shifted most of his body weight away from the other. Although his words still scorned: "Take off your own robes and switch it for his, I'll wear yours."
Cui Buqu snorted and spat out three words: "In your dreams."
The two then deigned themselves to help each other, as they returned to where they came from.
Their footsteps were slow because part of their strength was wasted on bickering, with neither sides willing to take a step back.
"Cui Buqu, since your mouth is so poisonous, and your looks are lackluster, if you continue like this, you really will be alone until the end of your days."
"There is no need for yours respectfully to worry about it."
"Then for mercy's sake, I should sacrifice myself to remain by the tiger's side, so the world of mortals can avoid a calamity."
"Is Leng Dou's robes that warm?"
"Still manageable. Why? Are you finally feeling cold and want to exchange with me now? No way."
"I heard that man has a strange habit. Before he leaves for a fight, each time he would first sleep with a beauty. Who would have known whether this robe you're wearing now was placed under that beauty, and who would have known when they were in the act, how much scent of their love-making had clung onto it. It feels like it still holds some fishy smell on it."
"…Speak some more, and I will vomit on you. If we're to die, we die together."
"…"
The rain finally stopped.
The Autumn wind billowed, the clouds stacked up one another. Although there was no moon, it brought a refreshing breath of fresh air.
A clear sky that hadn't visited for many days finally came.
Naturally after that, when Cui Buqu returned he allowed the Zuoyue Bureau and Pei Jingzhe to come here searching for people. They used a carriage to give Qin Miaoyu, Ming Yue, and Guan Shanhai a comfortable ride home.
But before Qin Miaoyu could applaud herself for her brilliant decision, there was a cluster of state affairs waiting for her when she returned. She couldn't help crying and wishing she was as heavily wounded as Ming Yue.
All the rations were transported away by Xiao Lu, leaving them not a single grain. Thankfully, the water had receded, and with Yang Yun bearing witnesses, those distinguished families who allied with him were caught one by one. Cui Buqu gathered them all according to his name list and forced them to surrender the rations they had gathered in their homes before Pei Jingzhe was put in charge of distributing them.
Those distinguished families gave many excuses; who would be willing to surrender the rations they have embezzled? The Li family even proclaimed that they were blood-related to the Longxi Li Clan, and to everyone's understanding, the Longxi Li Clan's patriarch was the sister of Empress Dugu. Qin Miaoyu hadn't joined the Jiejian Bureau for long, so she wasn't familiar with the relationships in the Central Plains. Hence, she went looking for Cui Buqu.
When Qin Miaoyu arrived, Cui Buqu was being under the effects of medicine just now and had passed out while a physician was mending his bones. His lips were pursed right, his eyebrows furrowed as if the pain would affect him even in his sleep.
Qiao Xian stood guard by his side; Qin Miaoyu couldn't help staring at her.
She heard that when Qiao Xian returned, she knelt in front of Cui Buqu's room for half a night. Pei Jingzhe that dumb boy also held an umbrella for her for half a night. It carried on until the sky was about to brighten, then Cui Buqu called her inside. Qin Miaoyu didn't know what they said, but she could see Qiao Xian's sense of relief, practically glowing as if she had placed down a burden that she's carried on for many years. Then, that dumb boy Pei Jingzhe couldn't look away.
Qin Miaoyu sighed on behalf of the Jiejian Bureau for having such a member like Pei Jingzhe who failed to live up to its name.
Qiao Xian noticed her gaze, and so turned her head, her gaze cold and dazzling with a faint sense of hostility.
Qin Miaoyu was stunned, but then she thought, after their return, she had been busy for half a night. Feng Xiao and Ming Yue were both receiving medical assistance due to overly severe wounds. She hadn't even taken off her disguise, and so she was still using Feng Xiao's face.
In that case, could she use Second Commander Feng's identity to do something bad? And let him take the blame once he woke up? Qin Miaoyu sneakily thought, and then felt that maybe she was truly seeking death.
Cui Buqu vaguely opened his eyes. The pain only made him slow, but he hadn't even let out a groan.
He looked at the gauze cloth over his head for a good fifteen minutes before his gaze slowly fell upon Qiao Xian and Qin Miaoyu.
Qiao Xian gently said: "Commander, the physician just came and left behind a prescription. The medicine has been cooked, do you want a bowl of it first?"
What does 'do you want a bowl first' mean? It made the medicine sound like soup. Qin Miaoyu inwardly stated, and just as she felt playful, she imitated Feng Xiao's voice and spoke:
"I have candy."
She magically took out a box of candy and opened its cover, letting out the fragrance of Maltose Candy2.
Cui Buqu spared her a look and took the box.
"Qin Miaoyu, do you have nothing to do?"
Qin Miaoyu: "…"
She didn't know where she had exposed herself, but this person had seen through her.
"Commander, you are clever." Clever Qin Miaoyu laughed, and dared not pretend further. Feng Xiao was healing in seclusion, so he had allowed her to temporarily obey Cui Buqu's orders. In the end, Cui Buqu truly did order her around, making Qin Miaoyu run about like a dog.
"I have already done according to your orders.I gathered the victims and they were as you said, they refused to live outside the city."
Cui Buqu plainly said: "They have been locked up for many days. They no longer trust the officials. To them, leaving the city is equal to waiting for death. Only within the city, they have a chance to live."
His voice was hoarse beyond recognition, his tone soft yet steady.
Qin Miaoyu patiently waited until he finished. She nodded her head and said: "Yes, so we allowed them to live in the county's bureau temporarily. Huang Lue is dead, that place is empty. The constables are also keeping watch, so nothing will happen for the time being. However, it's an issue that no rations are left. The distinguished families refuse to surrender them, saying that the official must support the victims, and there was no reason to ask them from the citizens. Among them, the Ding and Li families are the most determined. They have relatives who served the Imperial Court, so this humble subject cannot make the decision, thus having to trouble you."
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[1]断袖分桃 (lit. Cut-sleeves sharing bitten peaches): a byword for homosexuality of males. Bitten peaches: when a courtier shared a bitten peach with his lord due to the peach tasting extremely sweet, his lord claims that he loved him for offering him such a sweet peach. Cut-sleeves: when an Emperor didn't want to wake up his sleeping male partner, he cut his sleeve off before he left.
[2] 麦芽糖: Maiyatang is a treat made from maltose.