Chapter 143 – Wind and Moon

On the bed in the study, Xu Chun nestled in Xie Yi’s arms, tears still glistening in his eyes, yet he held tightly onto Xie Yi, whispering, “Why did Elder Brother Jiu promote me?”

Xie Yi leaned against a large bolster, one leg bent, an arm outstretched embracing Xu Chun, his posture relaxed as he closed his eyes with a smile, “Isn’t it good that I promoted you? It’s just a nominal title anyway, so you won’t have to feel inferior in front of Inspector Qin.”

Xu Chun stole a glance at Xie Yi, his mature body, which had just calmed down, was outlined in a captivating dark gold hue by the remaining glow from the long window. He couldn’t help but swallow his saliva again, then casually pulled a thin blanket from the armrest to cover Xie Yi’s waist, quietly saying, “Brother Fang and the others wouldn’t have waited too long, would they?”

Xie Yi replied, “How could they wait outside? They must have gone on board to arrange for the emperor’s stay and security. After escorting you inside, their mission was complete. Do you really think they see you as the host who has to entertain them?”

Xu Chun snuggled against Xie Yi’s chest, “Are we really going to sea later?”

Xie Yi said, “It was your invitation to accompany me on a tour before. Besides, wasn’t the ship a birthday gift for me? With my ten thousand years of reign, shouldn’t I personally see the gift you gave me?”

Xu Chun smiled smugly, holding onto Xie Yi’s arm, “When will Elder Brother Jiu return?”

Xie Yi said, “We’ll spend the night on the ship together, and I’ll have to return tomorrow. There’s a lot of work in court, and I can’t make a big deal out of it, lest the censors make trouble for me.”

Xu Chun was now very reluctant, clinging to Xie Yi again, “To leave so soon? Then let me serve Elder Brother Jiu once more.”

Xie Yi opened his eyes, grasped his hand, and couldn’t help but laugh, “Stop fooling around. Isn’t it better to talk quietly for a while?”

Xu Chun knelt on Xie Yi’s body, serious, “It won’t delay Elder Brother’s conversation. Whatever you teach me, just say it. As your servant, I will do my utmost.”

Xie Yi couldn’t hold back his laughter. Just as he was about to suggest they get up and go to the seaside, otherwise it would be too late and there’d be no scenery to see in the darkness, he lifted his eyes and saw Xu Chun looking at him with bright, passionate eyes. His passionate skin was flushed red, his eyebrows and corners of his eyes seemed to be painted with rouge, glowing brilliantly. He couldn’t help but reach out and grasp his slim waist, his fingertips gently rubbing his side waist, following the beautiful curve downward, with some tenderness, “Your cousin said you haven’t been eating well, busy with official duties every day?”

Kneeling, Xu Chun furrowed his brows, his muscles tense, he evaded the question vaguely, “Not really, Cousin is talking nonsense. I’ve been eating well all along, even gained some weight… How did Cousin start talking to you?”

Xie Yi scolded, “When replying to the sovereign, such carelessness deserves punishment.”

Xu Chun bit his lip and sat steadily, his tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed, his waist trembling uncontrollably, his mind somewhat sluggish, he mumbled, “Leave it to the sovereign to punish.” His eyes misty, he looked at him and smiled somewhat ingratiatingly, “Allow your humble servant to make amends for his mistake, and serve Your Majesty with all his being.”

Halfway through his sentence, his voice trembled, his beautiful waist and abdomen were taut, presenting an elegant line. Xie Yi couldn’t resist the young lover’s passionate clinginess, but he still patiently instructed him, “Although it’s to share the emperor’s worries, you should also take care of your health. Don’t rely on your youth and neglect to maintain yourself properly.”

Xu Chun responded evasively, “What His Majesty says is true.”

Xie Yi continued, “Official duties are a bit busy, but when the vacancies for the two deputy director positions are filled, I’ve already found two capable people to help you. At that time, you can no longer say that you don’t have time to write your homework.”

Xu Chun’s whole body began to tremble, his breathing disordered, his eyes closed, he responded randomly. Unknowingly losing control, he was restrained by Xie Yi, who held his wrist. He lay on the edge of the bed, leaning on the armrest, watching the smoke curling out of the incense burner on the side of the low table, bathed in the warm glow of the evening. The fragrance was overwhelming, as if it wanted to seep into the bone marrow.

Fang Zixing looked down from the ship, saying, “Judging by the time, they should be here soon? It would only take a cup of tea’s time to ride over.”

Chunxi coughed lightly and said, “Sir, why don’t you have a snack first? I asked the kitchen to roast some squid for you. Have you ever tried it?”

Fang Zixing said, “Didn’t we say we were going to watch the sunset at sea? What will we see when it gets dark?”

Chunxi said, “Watching the sunrise is the same.”

Fang Zixing straightforwardly asked, “Can’t we watch both the sunset and the sunrise together?”

Chunxi, already supporting himself on the railing, said, “Here we are!”

Fang Zixing looked down and saw a row of green sedan chairs coming slowly. He was somewhat speechless, “Why are they riding in sedan chairs?”

Chunxi hurriedly signaled to the sailors to lower the ship’s ladder and spread out a blanket.

The guards standing nearby all came down to stand by. Fang Zixing also went down, watching Su Hua come over and lift the curtain. But it was Xie Yi who stepped out of the sedan chair first. He then slightly turned sideways and reached out his hand to support Xu Chun. Xu Chun got out of the sedan chair, his face showing some marks of his clothes, as if he had just woken up, his eyes drowsy and his spirit languid. He was wrapped tightly in a large cloak.

Xie Yi stood below, looking up to admire the ship number on the hull, as well as the “Thousand Autumns” docked not far away. Night had fallen heavily, and although the two ships were no longer clearly visible, the word “Ten Thousand Years” was still strikingly noticeable. Xu Chun also raised his eyes to look and said, “Money is still a little short, there are even grander ships. When I earn enough money, I’ll build an even bigger one.”

Xie Yi smiled, “Good, I’m waiting.” Seeing that the sea breeze was cool, he took his hand and led him up onto the ship. Everything had already been arranged on the ship, and after Xie Yi and Xu Chun entered the flower hall on the top of the pleasure boat, the ship set sail and left the port.

As soon as Xu Chun entered the flower hall, he went to lie diagonally on the bed. Xie Yi sat next to him and asked with concern, “Have a nap?” While reaching out to knead his knee. He had changed into a loose robe, wearing silk pants on his legs. Through the silk pants, his knees could be seen faintly reddened.

This young master had been pampered since childhood, and it seemed he hadn’t knelt to many people. Just now, in a hurry, he had simply wiped his knees and elbows with a silk handkerchief, seeing them turn red.

Xie Yi chided, “It’s getting cooler, how can you still wear silk? You should change into brocade, don’t always rely on your youth and disregard it.”

Xu Chun lay on the golden woven bolster, his whole body limp like a puddle of mud, his eyelids couldn’t help but droop down repeatedly, but he still remembered, “In a hurry, I grabbed whatever I could find, I have a cloak, and besides, it’s not like I’m riding a horse, it doesn’t matter. Elder Brother Jiu, later, I’ll fish with you, and I’ll personally grill fish for you to eat.”

Xie Yi covered him with a cloak and said, “You sleep for a while.”

But Xu Chun still struggled to open his eyes, “I wonder if they encountered bandits while transporting the tribute today, Elder Brother Jiu, you don’t know, I set a trap for the tribute, clearing out the bandits near Cliff Pass. By the time the road is repaired, it will be another merit. Oh, Elder Brother Jiu, you’re promoting too quickly! When my report of merit for bandit suppression goes up, the promotion will be better then.”

Xie Yi couldn’t help laughing, “Then shall I give you some more rice allowance?”

Xu Chun said, “No way, it’s only been two months, and I’ve already been promoted one level, it’s too eye-catching. Elder Brother Jiu, you can’t become a tyrant, wait until I accumulate a few more merits.”

Xie Yi said, “Spending so much money building the ship, and recovering so much tax silver by investigating smuggling, the merits are evident, how can it be said to be too eye-catching? If anyone thinks it’s too eye-catching, they can build a ship for me too.” He poured a cup of tea and turned to feed it to him, but saw that he had already fallen asleep soundly in the time it took to turn his head, his eyelashes thick, his lips still smiling.

He felt somewhat helpless; dinner hadn’t been eaten yet. He got up and went out, indeed seeing Fang Zixing fishing on the deck with Chunxi, Xia Chao, and the guards, each of them eager to compete and determined to win.

Su Hua greeted him with a smile, “What does the Emperor want? Shall I call for dinner?”

Xie Yi looked at the vast sea surface, though it was completely dark, he could still feel the majestic vastness, his heart involuntarily broadening. He said, “Wait a moment, he’s sleeping soundly, get me some paper, ink, and paints, I’ll paint a few strokes.”

Soon, the eunuchs Wufu and Liushun came in to attend to him, grinding ink and adjusting colors. Facing the scenery by the window, he painted a vast sea surface and a bright moon high in the sky.

When Xu Chun woke up again, the smell of grilled fish reached his nose first.

He opened his eyes and for a good while didn’t remember where he was. All he heard was the sound of waves, until the strong smell of grilled fish awakened his hungry stomach, and he suddenly sat up, turning around to look around. He saw a painting on the table, obviously painted by Xie Yi, and couldn’t help but panic. How long had he slept! It wouldn’t be morning already, would it?

He got up without wearing shoes and ran out barefoot. At first sight, he saw Xie Yi personally grilling a string of fish. Looking up, he frowned, “It’s windy outside, why aren’t you wearing a cloak?”

Saying this, he got up and handed the fish to the eunuch beside him. He then took off the cloak he was wearing and put it on him, looking down to see that he was only wearing socks and sighed, “What’s the rush?”

Xu Chun smiled somewhat embarrassedly, knowing that he was disheveled, turned around and walked back first, and whispered to Xie Yi, “I thought it was going to be dawn, it was like a dream, when I woke up, you were gone again.”

Xie Yi said, “It’s still early, I asked them to bring in grilled fish, let’s have dinner first.”

Xu Chun was surprised, “Elder Brother Jiu, you haven’t eaten yet either?”

Xie Yi said, “Of course, I want to eat with you.” Saying this, he went in with him, and Wufu came up to serve Xu Chun to put on his shoes and straighten his clothes.

A variety of fresh seafood dishes were quickly served, including steamed sea fish, grilled oysters, abalone, and sea cucumber. A large plate of grilled shrimp and fish sprinkled with pepper was also brought out, emitting an entrancing aroma.

Xu Chun washed his hands and came over, quickly peeling two large shrimps for Xie Yi. Xie Yi didn’t refuse, eating them from his hand. Xu Chun regretted, “I didn’t bring over those South Seas sauces, and Grandma Liu isn’t here, she has to stay and watch over Bamboo Branch Workshop, oh.”

Xie Yi laughed, “This is good enough, mainly because it’s fresh.”

Xu Chun was very hungry and quickly devoured the food. Xie Yi poured him some sour yogurt juice, and neither of them ate slowly, finishing their dinner quickly. Xu Chun then went out with Xie Yi to fish for a while, but since it was cold at sea, they returned to the room after catching some fish for novelty.

Xu Chun then went to look at the painting Xie Yi had made, noticing that there was still white space left on the painting where no words had been written, he asked Xie Yi, “Why didn’t Elder Brother Jiu write anything?”

Xie Yi said, “Well, I hadn’t thought of what to write earlier.” Saying this, he picked up a brush and wrote in large strokes, “Dividing the wind and moon equally with you.”

Xu Chun read it softly a few times, knowing it was a variation of Dongpo Scholar’s poem, feeling that the few words twisted and turned, subtle and tactful, he couldn’t help but look at Xie Yi, meeting his gaze fixed on him. Their eyes met, and they knew each other’s feelings in their hearts, smiling spontaneously.

They spent a night at sea, talking about many trivial matters, discussing Shen Mengzhen’s memorial in Minzhou, and Fang Zijing’s situation upon taking office in Zhe Province. Xu Chun had a belly full of words to tell Xie Yi, speaking until deep into the night.

The next day, they indeed watched the sunrise. Xie Yi couldn’t help teasing him with the Nine Clouds of Light Thinking of You from his former overseas travels. Satisfied, they sailed back. At the port, Xu Chun personally sent Xie Yi onto the carriage, watching until the carriage disappeared from sight, only then did he reluctantly get into the carriage and return to the Maritime Customs Office.