The wind whirled sand and stones, not a blade of grass could grow.
The horse galloped faster and the jolts became more intense. Qi Hanguang exerted all his strength to move forward, but he couldn’t break free from Zong Yuan’s restraint. Zong Yuan’s hand around his waist firmly held him, making him feel like a cherished child held in someone’s embrace.
They had now left the area guarded by the soldiers, and further ahead, they might encounter the fierce locals at the border. Zong Yuan tightened the reins, slowing the horse’s pace, carrying the two riders leisurely on its back.
Zong Yuan still didn’t release his grip on Qi Hanguang. However, Qi Hanguang, a general with an impeccable record, could only awkwardly sit straight, his waistline tensed, fearing any close contact with Zong Yuan.
Zong Yuan sighed, “General, can’t you just call me by my name?”
“Why should I call you?” Qi Hanguang held onto his wrist and tried to pull away, “Madam, has a donkey kicked your head? Have you forgotten that you should address me as your husband?”
He emphasized the word “Madam”.
Zong Yuan teased him, “How about this, General calls me, and I’ll call General.”
Qi Hanguang’s mind took a sudden turn. If Zong Yuan were to address him as “husband”… his heart raced inexplicably, and he felt a dryness in his throat. “Th-then you first.”
“Or maybe General should go first,” Zong Yuan said, finding the situation comical. He tightened his hold around Qi Hanguang’s waist and whispered in his ear, “General, your voice is so melodious; I dream of hearing you call me.”
A single sentence from him outweighed ten from others. Qi Hanguang, who had always been composed, couldn’t contain himself. Overcome with joy, he blurted out, “My dear!”
…
‘What have I done?!!’
Instant regret coursed through him as the words left his mouth. Qi Hanguang wished he could dig a hole and hide in it. He felt a sudden surge of strength, and in the next moment, he had broken free from Zong Yuan’s embrace and was ten meters away from the horse.
General Qi, in such a disheveled state, had not run like this in over a decade.
Zong Yuan watched his retreating figure, initially stifling a laugh, but then bursting into hearty laughter.
The laughter reached Qi Hanguang’s ears, causing him to stumble again.
Shameful!
Zong Yuan trailed behind on his horse as Qi Hanguang walked swiftly, and the horse beside him stuck close like a shadow. Zong Yuan’s hand brushed aside a strand of Qi Hanguang’s long hair. “My dear, walk slower and watch your step.”
Qi Hanguang nearly stumbled into a ditch.
However, he couldn’t slow down any further. Ahead lay a lawless border area. Qi Hanguang was powerful, but the red mark on Zong Yuan’s forehead was too attention-grabbing. Qi Hanguang suppressed his unease and took the reins from Zong Yuan’s hand, turning back.
Zong Yuan knew what he was thinking and dismounted directly. He reached out and embraced Qi Hanguang’s waist, forcefully hoisting him onto the horse. “General Qi, sit obediently. Let me lead the horse for you.”
Qi Hanguang furrowed his brow. “Stop fooling around!”
“How about your brother from the North Frontier?” Zong Yuan changed the subject. “Why haven’t I seen any in the General’s residence?”
“The General’s residence naturally has no brothers,” Qi Hanguang wasn’t sure what he was saying, “I haven’t had anyone close to me, so how could I have brothers?”
Qi Hanguang couldn’t see Zong Yuan’s expression at all, but he heard him say, “General has had three wives. General is very blessed.”
Qi Hanguang’s brow twisted, but he couldn’t find the words to respond. He simply dismounted as well, leaving the horse unattended. The two of them walked in silence on either side of the horses, looking foolish.
Even though they were walking at a leisurely pace, they quickly encountered people. This area was close to the city, and the locals who saw them were filled with joy, bringing their own food and the produce they had grown. “General, you’re here!”
“General, this is for you! It’s from my family’s farm, and it tastes absolutely delicious!”
“General, General…”
A single person had brought out a large group of people. Zong Yuan found himself pushed to the outskirts of the crowd but could still see the dirty and excited children circling around Qi Hanguang.
Zong Yuan squatted down and pulled a little boy closer. “Do all of you know General Qi?”
The boy showed no fear and proudly lifted his head. “General is like our big pillar! We’re not afraid of anything when he’s around. Our parents say, as long as General is here, we have nothing to fear!”
Zong Yuan couldn’t help but smile, feeling a sense of pride. “No wonder all of you like him so much.”
“I don’t just like General, I want to be General’s subordinate, always by General’s side!”
Oh well.
Zong Yuan lightly patted the back of the boy’s head. “That’s not possible.”
The little boy pouted. “Why is it not possible?”
Can you time travel? Do you have a 0046? Kid, the only one who can be with him forever is me, Zong Yuan smiled discreetly. “He’s my husband, and I naturally stay by his side.”
The little boy found this amusing and laughed heartily, revealing a missing tooth. He rejoined the crowd and pointed at Zong Yuan, loudly complaining, “General! He said you’re his husband! He said he’ll be with you forever! Is he lying or not?”
“He said he’ll be with you forever…”
Qi Hanguang gazed at Zong Yuan’s expression. Zong Yuan, with his nonchalant smile and upright posture, rekindled in Qi Hanguang a fierce and familiar emotion that nearly made him lose his balance. He nodded subtly while maintaining his composure, ruffling the boy’s hair, and whispered almost imperceptibly, “He’s right.”
Wow! The boy’s mouth dropped in astonishment.
This man is the General’s husband! General’s husband is not General!
After dealing patiently with the enthusiastic locals, Qi Hanguang walked up to Zong Yuan. In the depths of his heart, he felt a mysterious sense of joy. “You said you’d be with me forever?”
Zong Yuan was surprised. “When did I say that?”
Qi Hanguang: “…” With a darkened expression, he tried to walk toward the area where they were residing, his aura imposing. Zong Yuan stopped him. “What’s wrong now?”
Qi Hanguang chuckled, “I’m going to find that little boy and have him testify!”
Zong Yuan slid his hand down Qi Hanguang’s wrist, their fingers entwining, and the scorching sensation sent shivers down his spine. Qi Hanguang was pulled into Zong Yuan’s embrace. “My dear, don’t be upset.”
With Zong Yuan holding onto his waist, and the warm breath on his ear, Zong Yuan’s voice deep and sultry, he whispered, “General, don’t you think we’re missing a kiss right now?”
Qi Hanguang seemed entranced by his words. In the slow approach of Zong Yuan, he closed his eyes.
“General—”
Someone on horseback rushed towards them, and Qi Hanguang abruptly took a step back, frantically adjusting his clothes and avoiding eye contact with Zong Yuan.
Zong Yuan watched Yang Jiu riding up, smiling sinisterly. Very well.
Yang Jiu dismounted, holding a letter in his hand. “General, there’s a letter!”
Qi Hanguang pretended to be calm, taking the envelope from him. Yang Jiu was panting heavily. “You need to read it quickly! It came from the capital in great haste, you must read it!”
Qi Hanguang opened the envelope and read it quickly. When they were interrupted earlier, he hadn’t felt much, but now he was somewhat annoyed with Yang Jiu.
Yang Jiu wasn’t good at reading people’s expressions, and as he drank water, he anxiously asked, “General, what’s happening in the capital? I heard it’s related to the old lady?”
Qi Hanguang sighed, “My mother is expecting.”
He felt extremely frustrated.
In a complicated mood, he mustered up some praise for Yang Jiu, “You’ve worked hard.”
Yang Jiu chuckled, “Congratulations, General! I already guessed it was good news! The messenger had mentioned everything, and everything is ready. I can’t wait for you and your wife to return!”
Zong Yuan appeared quietly behind him and said, “You’ve certainly worked hard.”
Yang Jiu ruffled his own hair and grinned. “Hehe, I’ll do even better next time.”
Zong Yuan: “…” Alright, go ahead, you got this.
Zong Yuan held Qi Hanguang’s hand and said, “Let’s go, General. We still have some time on our way back.”
Qi Hanguang allowed himself to be led, appearing more docile than Yang Jiu had ever seen.
Qi Hanguang gestured for Yang Jiu to return ahead of them. “We’ll be along shortly.”
“Why do you need to come later?” Yang Jiu waved casually. “General, I’ll go with you! I can ride slowly.”
Is this guy naturally clueless or just naturally cheeky?
Zong Yuan playfully kissed Qi Hanguang on the cheek, leaving a smooch mark, and said, “Yang Jiu, General and I need to walk back like this. Do you really want to disturb us? My skin is not thick. I can’t kiss anyone when there’s an audience.”
Qi Hanguang, who had just received a kiss, blushed, and his long eyelashes fluttered.
Zong Yuan couldn’t resist planting another kiss on Qi Hanguang’s eye, like a dragonfly skimming the water’s surface. Then, he realized that Yang Jiu hadn’t left yet and said, “You should be on your way, my good friend.”
Oh my goodness.
Watching Zong Yuan casually kiss their General’s face, Yang Jiu couldn’t understand why he suddenly felt embarrassed. His face was turning red! He muttered to himself and mounted his horse, thinking, General’s wife… is really open-minded! Just watching them makes one blush and their heart race.
Qi Hanguang held Zong Yuan’s hand, feeling a tingling sensation. He stammered, “W-wife…”
“Yes?” Zong Yuan leaned in, tantalizingly close but not kissing him, maintaining a teasing distance that drove Qi Hanguang to pursue.
“What should I call you…?” Qi Hanguang licked his lips, feeling quite restless. He recalled Zong Yuan mentioning the “one call, one kiss” rule. “You owe me one more ‘husband’.”
Zong Yuan gave him two options, and the heated atmosphere could practically be felt in the air. “If you call me ‘husband,’ I’ll kiss you; but if I call you once, then no kiss.”
Qi Hanguang furrowed his brow. “This isn’t fair.”
“It’s fair.” Zong Yuan’s hand snaked around again. “Which one do you choose?”
It was a significant choice in life. Qi Hanguang pondered for a dozen seconds, but his thoughts gradually focused on the person so close to him—Zong Yuan.
If he called him, he’d get a kiss.
If he didn’t call him, there’d be no kiss.
He made up his mind, opened his mouth, and said, “Hus—”
From a distance, the sound of approaching hoofbeats and Yang Jiu yelling at the top of his lungs reached them. “General! You need to return quickly! I forgot to mention! Both young masters have been looking for you everywhere, and they’re in tears!”
Zong Yuan’s face darkened, and he mounted his horse with an air of menace, pulling out the riding crop. “I must teach him some manners.”
Qi Hanguang was pulled onto the horse by Zong Yuan, his expression emotionless. “Yang Jiu is not entirely at fault, but he has been a bit irritable lately. How about we punish him with five days without meat? It’s for his own good.”
Yang Jiu, the representative of someone who can’t live without meat.
Author’s Note:
General Qi’s message is about whether it’s “wife” or “husband” that he wants to say.
