Jiang Yun slept restlessly tonight.
In the middle of the night, he suddenly woke up, like he was drowning.
When he woke up, he realized that he was sweating profusely, with a faint smell of blood between his teeth, and that his right hand was tightly held by someone.
“Did you have another nightmare?”
Someone asked in a worried voice beside his ears.
Jiang Yun turned his head and saw Sui Heng still guarding in front of the bed. There was still light outside the curtains, and it seemed that the flame had not been extinguished yet. His eyes were shrouded in the candlelight shadow, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, filled with worries.
Jiang Yun then saw his injured, dented finger.
“I’m sorry,” he said apologetically, pursing the corner of his lips for a moment.
He bit him again.
And he, when he had a nightmare, he put his finger between his teeth again to prevent him from biting himself.
“It’s alright.”
Sui Heng reached out and gently wiped away the sweat from Jiang Yun’s forehead, asking softly, “What’s wrong with you? Why do you always have nightmares in the middle of the night?”
The last time they were in a cave, he felt like he was trapped in some bottomless abyss and dragged out by demons and monsters, unable to get out.
Jiang Yun didn’t know how to answer him.
He just said, “I don’t know either, maybe I’ve been too tired lately.”
Sui Heng didn’t quite believe it, and he had some suspicion that what he had done tonight had frightened him to the point that he was restless in his dreams. Then he said:
“What are you sorry for?”
“It’s Gu’s fault for scaring you for no reason and insisting you play that piece of crap ‘Feng Qiu Huang’.”
But what happened today is not his fault. Jiang Yun looked at his injured finger and asked, “Do you have wound ointment? I’ll help you apply it.”
“No need, you’re quite well behaved now.”
Sui Heng smiled and said, “It’s just a small injury. Gu is fine, are you thirsty? Gu will ask them to bring some hot water over.”
Sui Heng has been pampered since childhood, he has never taken care of anyone. However, seeing Jiang Yun sweat so much that even his clothes were soaked through, he was worried about his dehydration.
Jiang Yun was indeed a bit thirsty, so he nodded.
“You wait, Gu will be back instantly.”
Afraid of disturbing him, Sui Heng personally stood up and went outside to give Ji An a few orders.
Ji An quickly brought in hot water.
Sui Heng asked him to step down. He personally poured a cup of water, brought it in, and handed it to Jiang Yun, saying, “Gu asked them to add some honey to supplement the nutrients. You can try it.”
He heard from the elderly in the palace that drinking honey water during illness can enhance physical strength and resistance.
Jiang Yun nodded and sat up with his support, leaning against the pillow. He took the tea cup and took a small sip; indeed, tasted a sweet taste of nectar.
“Is it good?”
“En.”
Jiang Yun took another small sip.
Sui Heng thinks that he even drank water like a kitten. He propped his chin up and stared at him without blinking.
Jiang Yun felt a bit uneasy. He looked up at him. “I’m fine now. Aren’t you gonna sleep?”
“Won’t sleep, Gu will be guarding you tonight. What if you get sick again?”
Last time in the cave, Jiang Yun had a nightmare and started to have a fever. Sui Heng is a little worried that he will have a fever again today!
Jiang Yun said there’s no need.
“Aren’t you having a competition tomorrow?”
“Can that also be called a competition? It’s just a small trick like carving insects.”
His tone of voice was arrogant, and at the end of it, he said, “Because of the competition, Gu has to guard you even more. If you don’t get better quickly, how can you come to the field to cheer on Gu?”
Tomorrow is the martial arts competition, it’s also Sui Heng’s home ground. He will lead the Qinglang Battalion to compete with the fierce warriors from the small countries in Northern in events such as cuju, riding, and archery.
Jiang Yun finished drinking water, put the tea cup aside, moved inside and asked, “Do you want to come up and sleep together?”
The candlelight is hazy, and the beauty is jade-like.
Sui Heng raised his eyebrows. “Won’t you mind if Gu hadn’t take a shower?”
Jiang Yun shook his head.
Sui Heng said happily, “Since Ah Yan has offered himself, Gu naturally can’t refute.”
But he didn’t rush up and said, “Wait a moment.” Before getting up and going out.
After a cup of honey water entered his stomach, Jiang Yun felt a rare warmth on this cold night. Then he leaned back on the pillow with his eyelashes hanging lightly, waiting for him to return.
Not long after, Sui Heng brought in a clean sleeping robe and said, “You’re sweating all over, your clothes are soaking wet. Gu will help you change them first.”
He came up with one knee propped up.
Jiang Yun didn’t expect him to go and get this, so he said, “I can change it myself.”
“Where do you have that strength?”
Sui Heng smiled and directly reached out to untie his clothes.
Jiang Yun felt a bit embarrassed and distressed.
But knowing that he had a strong and domineering personality, he leaned slightly, facing inward, and let him be.
After waiting for a long time, he couldn’t help but ask, “Is it done?”
There is no sound from behind.
Immediately after, his body was tightly held in someone’s arms.
Jiang Yun was taken aback for a moment, then frowned. As the other person was still wearing a brocade robe and jade belt, his attire was intact. With this seamless fit, he could almost clearly feel the cold discomfort of the jade belt on his skin and the complex qilin pattern embroidered with gold thread on his chest.
“What… are you doing?”
“Not doing anything.”
Sui Heng’s voice was a bit hoarse. “Just want to hug you.”
Jiang Yun could only say, “I’m a bit cold.”
A light smile immediately came from behind: “Gu will hug you, so you won’t be cold anymore.”
“……”
His palms also began to move dishonestly, with the thin calluses on his fingertips deeply rubbing against his skin.
Jiang Yun trembled.
Sui Heng smiled wistfully. “Gu didn’t realize that Ah Yan was even more sensitive than Gu had imagined.”
Jiang Yun bit his lips, unable to stop him from teasing, and could only ask in irritation, “How long are you going to be like this?”
“That’s hard to say.”
“Ah Yan was feeling this cold, Gu naturally needs to hold you for a while longer.”
He spoke well, but it didn’t take long for Jiang Yun to feel a pinch at his waist.
Jiang Yun was so angry that he wanted to break free but was held back by him.
He’s justified. “You’ve been neglecting Gu for two nights now, and you talk to others about poetry and songs. Gu didn’t even come to settle the debt with you. Gu will be going to the competition tomorrow, but Gu still has to be up all night serving you. Shouldn’t Ah Yan return the favor?”
About half an hour later, Ji An came in to change the pot of hot tea.
Sui Heng stood up and poured a cup of water. He brought it in and fed his little lover, then took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the crystal-clear sweat on his little lover’s arms and palms.
With a smile, he said, “Alright, don’t be angry anymore. Gu will let you sleep and promise not to disturb you again, alright?”
Jiang Yun was lying face inward, his face buried on the pillow, leaving only his back and ignoring him.
Sui Heng was not angry either; instead, he had a satisfied expression on his face. He drank the remaining tea in one gulp, took a brief shower, then undressed and lay down.
Jiang Yun has fallen into a deep sleep.
Sui Heng had someone change the incense that calms the mind and reached out to probe his little lover’s forehead, making sure it was completely cold and not feverish. Only then did he hug the person from behind and sleep together.
**
On the second day, Sui Heng set off early because he had to participate in the competition.
When Jiang Yun got up, he had breakfast with Shi Fang, Ji An, and Gao Gong before taking the carriage to the competition field.
Military projects take place in a more open area.
The competition to be held in the morning is cuju, a popular aristocratic sport among the countries in the north of the Yangtze River. In addition to the Spring Banquets, every country sometimes holds specialized cuju competitions in their own country as one of the criteria for selecting military talents.
Players from the small countries are already waiting on the field.
They all wore uniform Cuju costumes, each majestic and energetic.
Once Jiang Yun got off the carriage, he was surrounded by a group of scholars. Yesterday, this young gentleman from the Wei Kingdom had won first place in three important literary competition projects, namely music, chess, calligraphy and painting, after winning the literary competition. His incredible dexterity has been spread among famous scholars in various countries. Although the other party voluntarily gave up two top honors, it did not delay the recognition of the judges.
Jiang Yun is beautiful, elegant, and has a good temper, so everyone wants to make friends with him.
Yesterday, there was no obstruction, so they will continue to try again today. Some even brought their own collection of articles to the scene for Jiang Yun’s feedback and guidance.
Jiang Yun gently and patiently answered everyone’s confusion and questions, and finally reiterated that he usually lives in seclusion and has no intention of pursuing an official career or gathering with various literati.
Everyone feels regretful.
The Crown Prince’s Mansion is going to participate in the competition, and all the officials from the Crown Prince’s Mansion have come to watch.
Chen Qi is also among them.
Jiang Yun saw a familiar figure, it was the Musician with a black veil on his face, who was silently following at the end of the team.
Jiang Yun pondered for a moment and said to Shi Fang, “I’m going to meet a friend. You go inside and wait for me first.”
Shi Fang felt a bit uneasy because Sui Heng had strictly ordered him not to leave Jiang Yun’s side, in order to prevent incidents like vomiting blood from happening again.
Jiang Yun said, “It’s alright, I won’t go far.”
Shi Fang came up with a compromise solution: “Then I’ll wait for the Young Master here.”
Jiang Yun went straight to the musician and nodded as a gesture of respect.
The musician clearly remembered Jiang Yun, he frowned and reluctantly bowed back.
Jiang Yun looked at him and asked directly, “Why do you play ‘Feng Qiu Huang’?”
The musician raised the corner of his mouth and said, “I should have asked the Young Master this question. How could the Young Master play this piece?”
Jiang Yun: “You know what I mean.”
“Young Master, how do I know if you don’t say it?”
The musician smiled. “The song ‘Feng Qiu Huang’ is a world-renowned piece, and musicians all over the world are eager to learn and imitate it. I can play it, is it surprising?”
“It’s not surprising, it’s just that this song is different from other tracks. I don’t know where you learned it from, but I want to kindly remind you not to play it lightly if you don’t have a firm mind.”
The musician was taken aback.
After he regained his senses, Jiang Yun had already turned around and left.
The young master’s jade belt is gargling, exuding unparalleled elegance. The musician couldn’t help but feel a hint of doubt in his heart, as if he had seen this figure somewhere before.
**
Jiang Yun still picked up a secluded place and sat down.
Not long after, Sui Heng led the contestants from the Crown Prince’s Mansion into the arena. There was a cheer in the arena, and it was clear that the martial arts events stirred up a greater sense of honor in the nation than the cultural events.
Emperor Sui and Empress Yan also sat on the high platform to watch the competition, as usual.
Sui Heng also changed into a brand new red cuju costume, with a red headband of the same color tied around his forehead, ape arms, and bee-like waist, towering and upright. He was full of energy, bold, and sharp, and in the sunlight, he was as handsome and dazzling as a heavenly god.
Behind him stood the majestic Generals of the Qinglang Battalion, who was also dressed in a red cuju costume. Fan Qi was also among them, with his shoulders and back straight, looking out of the corner of his eyes in all directions. Those who are slightly older, such as Xu Qiao, are not here.
In the center of the spacious field, there is a wooden pole about ten zhang high, with a rare blue snow lotus placed at the top of the pole. That’s the prize for today. It symbolizes good luck and national prosperity. It is a tribute that was offered by a small country in the North.
Yan Qi, who was dressed in a crimson robe, also entered the arena with the accompaniment of his servant.
Someone whispered in the audience, “Five years ago at the Spring Banquet, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince won the top spot in the cuju competition and personally gave the prize to Young Master Yan Qi as a birthday gift. It was rumored for a while, and I don’t know if it’s still the case this year.”
“That’s not necessarily true. Now both the Crown Prince’s Mansion and the Yan family have openly broken off.”
“The Yan family is the Yan family, and Young Master Yan Qi is Young Master Yan Qi. How can we mix them? Why don’t we make a bet on how…”
Jiang Yun naturally heard it.
Shi Fang frowned and said, “Things are not as the Young Master thought.”
Jiang Yun looked up and gave him a gentle smile.
Express that he doesn’t mind.
Although he didn’t know what happened at the Spring Banquet three years ago, but the two former lovers, Sui Heng and Yan Qi, are at odds with each other, everyone has a past they can’t talk about. Since he didn’t want to mention it, it must contain resentment or pain that ordinary people couldn’t understand. He didn’t have a habit of prying into other people’s privacy.
The competition officially began with the sound of a drum.
The northern countries were good at fighting, and the selected players were not weak, they could even be considered strong. However, in front of Sui Heng, they were still suppressed and had no counterattack power. In less than half an hour, three small countries were eliminated in a row, all without scoring a goal.
Sui Heng’s athletic figure weaves through the court, wherever the ball passes under his feet, it is as if it grows on his feet, so it is difficult for outsiders to touch it again. His playing style is not only fast, accurate, and fierce, but he can also play various tricks. His chest, head, shoulders, back, and even elbow joints can become his tools for passing the ball.
Exciting cheers erupted in the audience, even Emperor Sui stood up and applauded to cheer for his son.
Shi Fang, with his teenage heart, naturally followed the crowd with cheers and screams.
Jiang Yun always sat in his seat, quietly watching the game. Throughout the morning, dust flew in the wide field, and the shadows of the ball and the figures of the teenagers fluttered together like white water boiling.
This is a scene that Jiang Yun has never seen before.
With another roar like a wave of cheers, Jiang Yun looked up and saw Sui Heng as agile as a spirit leopard. With every step and leap, he had climbed the ten-zhang-high pole that was standing in the center. His clothes flipped, and he flew a few times before easily picking up the lotus flower located at the top of the pole.
His eyes fluttered, and he landed with a smile. Amidst the crowd’s attention, he walked out of the wide field, passed through the gentle breeze and willows, the spring sunshine, and passed through the still-excited crowd to reach Jiang Yun, who was sitting quietly in his seat.
“Sent to you.”
He raised his eyebrows and handed over the scorching blue lotus in his hand.
Yan Qi, who was sitting on the seat diagonally across from him, has a snow-white face.
