MFMH C98

Chapter 98 — Returning to the Capital

With the year’s end approaching, yet with parting at hand, Gu Changfeng’s mood grew somewhat heavy. Perhaps it was because, during these past two days of convalescence, Shen Yanbei had cared for him with painstaking devotion. He had not needed to rise before dawn to train, his body and mind had relaxed, and Shen Yanbei indulged him at every turn. Unexpectedly, this left him sentimental.

Gu Changfeng frowned, feeling that such girlish moods were unbecoming. With a sigh, he pulled on his cloak and stepped outside, hoping to clear his head and ease his restlessness.

The sky was gray and heavy with clouds, pressing down upon the heart. In the past, whenever he felt stifled, he would seize his spear and find someone at the training grounds to spar with, or head to the range to shoot arrows. Now, with injuries still unhealed and Shen Yanbei watching him strictly, he dared not act recklessly.

After some thought, he decided to seek out Zhou Yu.

Before Shen Yanbei arrived, Zhou Yu, under the title of his personal guard, had always stayed by his side, awaiting orders. After Shen Yanbei’s arrival, Zhou Yu had tactfully given them space. It had been days since Gu Changfeng last saw him, and he wondered whether the boy had been training diligently.

The soldiers of the camp lived by the fire-unit, each tent shared among them. With no other guards at his side, Zhou Yu had been housed with ordinary soldiers.

“Lord Shen, do you truly like General Gu?”

Just as Gu Changfeng approached Zhou Yu’s tent, a vaguely familiar voice reached his ears. He froze mid-step.

“Lord Shen, you scholars are said to favor the most refined beauties or gentle shuang’ers, are you not? Why, then, are you enamored with General Gu alone?”

The speaker’s tone dripped with doubt, even mockery. Yet the man being questioned did not take offense.

Shen Yanbei chuckled sheepishly. “Each has their preference. As it happens, I simply like him.”

“But Lord Shen, you were a top scholar, a man of great learning, while General Gu is not versed in such things. He cannot write or paint with you, nor share wine and verse. Your temperaments are vastly different, your interests worlds apart — without common ground, how can you live together?” the soldier pressed.

Yet Shen Yanbei’s manners remained unshaken. “You need not worry. Though I was fortunate to place first in the examinations, I have no taste for pretentious refinement. Compared with poems and calligraphy, I much prefer watching him train.” His husband’s fine figure, the strength and grace of his martial drills, the sheer vigor of it — all left his heart pounding.

The other seemed unconvinced, continuing sharply: “General Gu captured the barbarian khan alive. When the army returns, His Majesty will surely grant him the title of Duke of Zhen. Lord Shen, you are already learned and in His Majesty’s favor. You need no such crutch. To cling to him only demeans you.”

At this, Shen Yanbei’s brows drew together, his expression turning grave. “You speak the truth. The heir is destined to inherit the dukedom. It is indeed I who have reached above my station.”

Hearing this, Gu Changfeng’s face darkened where he stood hidden, his fists clenching tight, anger blazing in his eyes.

The soldier, too, seemed to agree, his gaze full of the satisfaction of “at least you know your place.” But Shen Yanbei suddenly changed his tone: “At present, I hold the rank of fourth-grade official. When I return to the capital, His Majesty will reward my service — I may rise still higher. Though the gap remains, I will work diligently until I am worthy of him.”

The words struck the soldier dumb. After a moment, he tried again. “Lord Shen, you are shrewd indeed! General Gu cannot easily bear children. If you wed him, with his aid rising step by step, you could later take concubines and sire heirs. No one could fault you then!”

This time Shen Yanbei’s face grew displeased. He had never dwelt on children, nor was he obsessed with leaving descendants. Yet he and his husband had not even tried, and already others declared, “Your husband cannot bear children! He is barren!”

No wonder his husband brooded over it — poisoned by such words!

Shen Yanbei said curtly, “Should that not be my concern? What if, when I am old and no longer fair, and with no children to bind us, he — powerful as he is — chooses to cast me aside?”

The perspective so startled the soldier that he faltered, then muttered, “General Gu is loyal and true. So long as you do him no wrong, how could he ever abandon you?”

Relief softened Shen Yanbei’s features, as though a burden were lifted. He sighed. “Then I can rest easy. I have always feared he might scorn me for being weak and useless.”

The soldier blinked, now looking at him with conflicted eyes instead of mockery.

Shen Yanbei patted his shoulder. “Thank you for your advice, little brother.”

The man’s face flushed, words half-formed on his tongue, but in the end he only muttered something low and walked away, dejected.

Shen Yanbei’s lips curled, amusement dancing in his eyes.

He had not expected to stumble upon a rival in love. Truly, great minds think alike!

In high spirits, he turned the corner — only to come face-to-face with Gu Changfeng, standing stiff and grim behind the tents. Clearly, he had been there for some time.

Had all those words fallen upon his husband’s ears?

Shen Yanbei rubbed his nose, unembarrassed. He walked over at once. “Were you looking for Zhou Yu?”

Gu Changfeng’s gaze flickered. He did not answer, only stared at him, voice solemn. “I saved that man twice.” The soldier who had just spoken was the same new recruit who had been the first to toast him the other night.

And he had told Shen Yanbei, “Please treat him well.” If such words came from gratitude, they were not excessive. But if they meant otherwise…

Shen Yanbei only nodded, offering no explanation.

Gu Changfeng’s eyes grew darker. “Even without children, I will never cast you aside.” Even if he truly could not sire an heir, he would not let Shen Yanbei go.

Shen Yanbei’s face remained calm. “Mm. I know.”

His composure made Gu Changfeng all the more urgent. “If you mind my title, then I will renounce it!”

Shen Yanbei raised a brow, suddenly pressing him against the tent wall. “Would you truly?”

Gu Changfeng held his gaze, solemnly nodding.

“Lord Heir, Duke-to-be…” Shen Yanbei leaned close, laughter warm at his ear. “You may let it go, but I cannot.”

“My husband fought and bled for this title. How could I let it be thrown away in vain?”

Gu Changfeng blinked in surprise, before Shen Yanbei kissed his cheek, smiling with teasing heat. “I still look forward to being the duke’s consort…”

A tremor passed through Gu Changfeng, his throat bobbing. When he looked up, Shen Yanbei’s eyes shone with laughter. The youth nuzzled against his cheek. “My husband, coveted by another — for the sake of his earnestness, I toyed with him a little. Otherwise…”

For an instant, his eyes turned razor-sharp, his smile cold as ice.

Gu Changfeng’s fists unclenched all at once.

Snow had begun to fall, soft flakes drifting down to cover the earth. Shen Yanbei brushed the snow from his shoulder. “It’s snowing. Let’s go back. I’ll make hotpot.”

Winter deepened, the border growing ever colder. On such frigid days, nothing suited better than hotpot. Most of the peppers he had brought were already consumed as weapons; the few remaining he had given to the cook, teaching the soldiers how to make hotpot to warm themselves.

That evening, after a meal of fiery hotpot, Shen Yanbei felt flushed and restless — though not as restless as his heart.

He pressed Gu Changfeng down. “I must leave tomorrow.”

Gu Changfeng’s response was to lift his head and capture his lips.

Shen Yanbei was very pleased, his voice hoarse. “You’re still injured. Let me.”

Gu Changfeng’s face glowed with a faint blush, his black eyes shimmering with light.

The bed trembled faintly, the gentle glow of the luminous pearl falling across entwined forms, muffled breaths rising and falling.

“Changfeng…” At the final moment, Shen Yanbei clutched the firm, strong legs of the man beneath him, his face buried against his neck with a low growl.

Gu Changfeng’s eyes flew wide, momentarily dazed.

Outside, the wind roared and snow fell in blinding swathes, blanketing the world in white. Yet within the tent, passion burned, a wildfire consuming reason, fierce and unrelenting.

…

Near the hour of the ox, Shen Yanbei finally fell asleep, wholly content, holding his clean, warm husband in his arms. As his eyes closed, his muddled thoughts whispered: Would one hundred thousand taels suffice as bride price for marrying the heir of a duke?

The next day, Shen Yanbei set out for the capital. Great General Tai Qigang and the other officers came to see him off.

News of victory had already preceded him, yet His Majesty would surely ask for details. Shen Yanbei promised he would report faithfully on the valor of all soldiers, and urged the rest to take care, sparing them from further farewells.

“Gentlemen, I take my leave!” He cast one last glance at Gu Changfeng, then snapped his whip, galloping away.

Over a month later, Shen Yanbei arrived safely back in Yongjing. It was early spring, and the season of plowing was near.

Not being able to spend the New Year with his husband left him faintly regretful. But recalling how much he must arrange before Gu Changfeng returned, he quickly steadied his heart and entered the palace. After delivering a full report of the border campaign, his duty as overseer was complete.

Emperor Zhao, having already read the battle reports, let rare cheer show upon his face. With a wave of his hand, he granted Shen Yanbei leave to rest.

Yet Shen Yanbei did not rest. Instead, he went straight to the Tongfu Restaurant. He had been a most negligent proprietor since opening, leaving everything to Su Qingze.

Clattering through the accounts, he sighed with relief. The spending power of the capital far surpassed the provinces — in only a few months, this branch had earned nearly sixty thousand taels.

His purse swollen, Shen Yanbei felt his confidence return, and his mood lightened.

The cold weather had made hotpot especially popular, peppers selling faster than they could supply.

The manager asked if more could be procured, but Shen Yanbei only shook his head. Without greenhouses, the open fields could not sustain peppers through winter.

Considering this, Shen Yanbei resolved to introduce greenhouse cultivation. He soon set out to Louxia Village to investigate.

The village head, puffing his dry pipe, smiled, his face lined with creases. “A snow-filled winter foretells a rich harvest! This year will surely be bountiful!” Heavy snow lay across the fields, most crops frostbitten. Yet in the experimental plots, the winter wheat stood tall and firm, like ranks of spirited soldiers. With spring’s arrival, their growth promised even more.

After examining them, Shen Yanbei felt at once — that one hundred thousand taels seemed within reach!