The hunt ended too quickly. The gray bear fell, the guards shielded Shang Yinyu, and the gap the bear had burst through was filled at once.
The surroundings were a din, but in Shang Yinyu’s eyes there was only Qiao Beiji kneeling before him in armor and military dress.
He just liked this Nineteen very much. He liked him flying down from the beams, he liked him on horseback drawing a bow, and he liked him cutting a throat with a curved blade.
This was his Nineteen and also his Beiji, who could resolve every danger for him and would protect him without regard for his life. As long as the other was at his side, nothing could threaten him anymore.
His Beiji should be a general, guarding the frontier for him and fighting on the battlefield for him.
But he watched Qiao Beiji fly over, easily deal with a full-grown gray bear, and kneel before him. The only thought that rose in Shang Yinyu was to hold the man, to hold him in his arms and kiss him, to hold him in his arms and take him.
Shang Yinyu dismounted, walked up to Qiao Beiji, and reached out and helped him up.
Nineteen wore military dress with metal arm guards, cold to the touch.
But Shang Yinyu knew that once this suit of armor came off, how scorching Nineteen would become under his touch.
Enough to make the blood surge, to shut out all chill, to melt ice and snow.
“Is Beiji hurt?”
What Shang Yinyu actually wanted to say was: I haven’t seen you for a day. I missed you. I want to hold you, kiss you, bully you.
“No.” Qiao Beiji was still the silent, taciturn man, answering whatever was asked and never saying anything more.
Shang Yinyu looked at the man before him and noticed a spot of red at the corner of Qiao Beiji’s eye and blood carelessly smeared on the side of his face. He took out a handkerchief and gently wiped it for Qiao Beiji.
The two were a bit close. The handkerchief still carried the body warmth from being tucked in Shang Yinyu’s coat, and Shang Yinyu’s breath fell on the side of Qiao Beiji’s face, stirring wisps of tingling.
Qiao Beiji’s lowered eyelashes trembled, and his gaze involuntarily followed the slender fingers pressing the bright yellow handkerchief. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Beiji.”
What should I do? I want to be a foolish ruler.
“Please give your instructions, Your Majesty,” Qiao Beiji said respectfully.
Shang Yinyu looked at Qiao Beiji before him, meek with lowered brows and eyes. Nineteen was always this obedient, as if he would do anything he said, even if it were to serve him in this snow.
Shang Yinyu tightened his grip on the handkerchief, and finally handed it into Qiao Beiji’s hand, saying: “It doesn’t wipe clean. Go wash up.”
“Yes.”
Qiao Beiji took the order and saluted without hesitation and was about to withdraw when he heard the emperor add: “Wash in my tent.”
Qiao Beiji paused slightly before answering: “Yes.”
“After washing, wait for me in the tent.” Shang Yinyu said with a tight face.
I don’t want a famous general anymore!
I only need to pick a general who can hold the line, one who can hold Yumen Pass for five years. Five years later, when more advanced firearms are developed, with absolute suppression in weapons, Jin becoming history is only a matter of time.
I want to be a foolish ruler and take Nineteen every day. I’ll enjoy myself first and then discuss the frequency with Nineteen afterward.
Qiao Beiji had no doubt and only said: “I obey.”
When the young general at the emperor’s side left, the commander of the Imperial Guards and a few responsible generals came to ask for punishment.
If game could run out of a hunt, then on a battlefield could the enemy army tear a gap in the battle formation too?
The hunt was meant to let His Majesty review the military strength, and with this incident, however well the earlier arrangements had been done, it was useless.
The Imperial Guard commander truly had not expected such a blunder. Last month in the palace he had let the big cat dash into the emperor’s study, and this time he had let a gray bear charge at the emperor. He was simply done for.
He certainly could not ask, “Your Majesty, why do you attract wild beasts so? Why does the big cat only like to dash into your room? Why did the gray bear charge at you?” He could only handle the aftermath well and wait obediently for His Majesty to assign blame.
Shang Yinyu had been anxious to get Nineteen, but having a crowd kneel around him, and the cold wind blowing, he grew somewhat clearer-headed.
He looked again at the people kneeling before him.
A bunch of fools. Relying on you is no better than relying on the Firearms Battalion to produce tank cannons.
…
Although Shang Yinyu wanted to be a foolish ruler on the matter of Nineteen, he could not really stop caring about everything. Those who deserved punishment were punished, and those who should be held accountable were held accountable.
Hearing that His Majesty had been attacked, the court officials hurried back at top speed.
The emperor still had no prince! Of the late emperor’s princes, apart from the present Son of Heaven, the rest were dead or crippled. If something happened to the emperor, Great Xia would be thrown into chaos.
On returning and seeing His Majesty with a dark face but still scolding people with full vigor, everyone relaxed a little.
Seeing more people gathering around, and then looking at the sky, now gradually darkening, Shang Yinyu had the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards go give notice to withdraw the encirclement.
As the sacred order was issued, a gap opened in the line of the armies surrounding the grounds, and the surviving beasts escaped through it.
“An Dezhong, take people to tally everyone’s catch. At tonight’s victory banquet, rewards will be given according to the results.”
No one dared object. This kind of hunting activity was either for the young people of the clans to gain experience or for several generals to contend for supremacy. Now the military officers in charge of the hunt had all been punished, and no one cared whether they would take first place this time.
Tallying everyone’s catch would take some time. Shang Yinyu did not want to accompany a bunch of old men warming themselves at a fire and drinking tea, so he stood up and went to his own tent.
Nineteen was still waiting for him in the tent, and he, he did not know whether he wanted Nineteen or not.
He had not touched Nineteen for so long because he wanted to be a wise ruler and wanted to be ruler and minister with Nineteen for a lifetime. If he took Nineteen, he could not be, and Nineteen would not show it on his face but would resent him in his heart.
He hesitated and struggled in his heart, but his tent had already appeared before him.
Shang Yinyu’s steps paused, and he did not let anyone follow to serve him, and entered the tent alone.
The moment he went in, he saw Qiao Beiji sitting behind a desk on one side, with the big cat Twenty crouching on the desk, the person and the cat looking at each other.
Qiao Beiji’s armor had been removed and he wore a black cloak, probably arranged by An Dezhong.
As he entered, the person and the cat both looked over.
“Meow.”
Qiao Beiji quickly stood to receive him. “Master.”
Shang Yinyu did not excuse him from the salute. He walked up to Qiao Beiji and looked at him.
Under the cloak the other wore only white inner clothes, and his hair was loose; he had obviously bathed. The tent was also scented with incense, and who knew whether it had any aphrodisiac effect.
You see, Nineteen has washed himself clean and is waiting in your tent. Not favoring him seems to fail the subordinate’s careful arrangement.
Shang Yinyu made up his mind, bent down, scooped up Qiao Beiji, who was kneeling on one knee, and carried him toward the screen.
Although Shang Yinyu was not a martial artist who could take on ten alone, he practiced martial arts every day, and in body and strength he was absolutely adequate; lifting a grown man took no effort.
The body in his arms went rigid in an instant, but did not struggle free; on the contrary, it leaned a bit closer to him.
Shang Yinyu’s mood was delighted by this little movement of Nineteen’s, and he wanted to be a foolish ruler even more.
He laid the person on the couch inside. The couch was covered with pure white animal-fur blankets, and Nineteen in his black cloak, once placed on it, looked really like lying in the snow.
A cat’s head poked out from behind the screen, but Shang Yinyu had no mind to bother with the cat and leaned straight over him.
His hand slipped into Nineteen’s cloak. Underneath was indeed only an inner garment, not thick, but Nineteen’s body was hot and would keep him warm.
Shang Yinyu met Nineteen’s confused and helpless eyes and leaned close, saying: “Nineteen, I haven’t touched you yesterday or today. Do you want it?”
“Yes.” Nineteen’s breathing rhythm was a little disordered.
“Good Nineteen, I’ll give you everything.” Shang Yinyu lightly nibbled Nineteen’s face and completely opened him up.
Noticing Nineteen’s unease, Shang Yinyu comforted him: “Don’t be afraid. This is the same as before, just a change of place.”
“Mm…” Nineteen answered in a low voice, blinked helplessly, and his hand instinctively gripped the animal-fur blanket beneath him.
He should be familiar with this situation.
In the past in Ganlu Palace, Master had also done like this, embracing and touching him.
He often had reactions that disrespected Master, and Master never blamed him, only arranged for him to bathe in the side hall, after which Master would also go bathe in the Nine Dragon Pool.
Master allowed him, after bathing, to come back and continue resting on the dragon couch, lying on the same couch under a different quilt from Master’s.
Now it was clearly a familiar embrace and touch too, yet Nineteen did not know why he was so nervous.
Perhaps… this time was a bit different, like how occasionally Master, in his sleep, would burrow into his brocade quilt and hold him and do some even more intimate things, murmuring “Beiji” or “Nineteen.”
This was something that could not be mentioned to anyone; even to Master Nineteen did not dare bring it up, and could only hide it quietly in his heart, and each time he went through it, it was like taking part in an extremely secret operation.
In the past, even if he itched in his heart, Shang Yinyu would just pinch; this time he went straight in with his mouth.
Nineteen clearly had never been treated like this. His body tensed and dodged, but before Shang Yinyu could move to pin him, Nineteen obediently sent himself back.
If Shang Yinyu’s mouth had not been busy, he would have wanted to praise him with a “good Nineteen.”
As soon as An Dezhong entered the tent he heard the sounds. Since His Majesty had had Shadow Nineteen come into the tent to wash, he had understood His Majesty’s intention and had arranged everything properly.
But the victory banquet was about to begin!
An Dezhong did not dare disturb His Majesty’s mood and could only circle anxiously behind the screen.
With such a big figure circling behind the screen, it was hard for Shang Yinyu not to notice. Moreover, Nineteen had gone silent from the moment the other entered the tent, and however he handled him, Nineteen bit his teeth and refused to let out a sound.
Shang Yinyu had long been familiar with this habit of Nineteen’s and did not force him. He tidied Nineteen up and pulled the animal-fur blanket over him.
It took him a good while to calm his body’s reaction. Shang Yinyu poked Nineteen’s cheek and said: “Wait for me to come back and we’ll continue.”
Half of Nineteen’s face was covered by the pure white fur blanket, the corners of his eyes still red. Hearing this, he nodded quietly.
Like a large beast that, after being bullied, still obediently drew in its claws and fangs; what he thought inside was hard to say, but outwardly he was truly docile.
Bullying someone like this, I’m truly rotten to the core.
Shang Yinyu reluctantly withdrew his hand.
This Nineteen was extraordinarily pure. But after some time of teaching, he would surely learn to take his fingertips in his mouth and kiss them carefully.
Purity had its own flavor, too. The changing expressions of dazed panic from his movements were especially interesting.
Being a foolish ruler is great.
Shang Yinyu straightened his clothes and went out. Seeing An Dezhong’s anxiety, he said: “Let’s go.”
“Yes.” An Dezhong followed Shang Yinyu a few steps, seemed to suddenly remember something, and turned his head to look at the screen.
Shang Yinyu asked: “What is it?”
“Your Majesty, the first place in this hunt is… Imperial Guard Qiao Beiji,” An Dezhong said.
Shang Yinyu was stunned for a moment and asked instinctively: “What did he hunt?”
Then Shang Yinyu reacted: it was that gray bear.
The arrows in the hunting grounds were all issued uniformly, marked with their respective owners. That gray bear had been killed by Nineteen, and it also had arrows marked “Qiao Beiji” in it, so naturally it was counted under his name.
All those civil and military officials, and the archers transferred from the armies all over the country, what had they all been doing!
Couldn’t they try a little harder? With so many people, couldn’t they hunt even one larger beast?!
He had only just wanted to be a foolish ruler, to hide Nineteen away and bully him, not let him be a general or go fight Jin, and Nineteen had flown out by himself with those two arrows.
If I’d known, I wouldn’t have coasted. I’d have taken first place myself; that would be better than exposing Nineteen before everyone.
Shang Yinyu took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, sat down behind a desk, and ordered An Dezhong: “Find his military dress and have him put it on.”
“Yes.”
Shang Yinyu poured himself a cup of tea, long since cold, and had no mind to drink it. He sat and waited for a while, and Qiao Beiji came out with An Dezhong.
“Your Majesty,” Qiao Beiji said respectfully.
Shang Yinyu noticed that Nineteen was clearly uncomfortable on seeing him. This was different from his usual manner after being held and touched. Although he had said it was the same as before, there was no way Nineteen believed it so foolishly.
Shang Yinyu felt only that it was going to end badly, and said with a forced smile:
“Let’s go. Beiji is first place in this year’s winter hunt, and I should reward you well.”