Chapter 18

After Bu Nian was injured, many people came to visit and deliver gifts. The steward recorded everything carefully so the general could return the favors later. As for the visitors, they were all turned away. The reason given was that the general should not be disturbed while recovering.

Two days passed like that. Then someone arrived who couldn’t be turned away. Not even the steward dared to try. It was Princess Fuqu.

The steward touched his beard, looking troubled. “The general is still recovering. If he catches a chill, his condition might worsen. I’m afraid he can’t receive visitors right now. Your Highness, perhaps you could return another day.”

Princess Fuqu gave a cold smile. “This is already my tenth visit to your general’s residence. Nine times out of ten, Bu Nian is somehow unavailable.”

The steward forced a smile. “Your Highness must be joking.”

The princess gave a signal to the maid behind her. The maid pulled out a red invitation from her sleeve and handed it over.

“This is my father’s fiftieth birthday banquet invitation. It’s on the fifteenth of this month. I hope General Bu will attend.”

The steward accepted it with both hands. One glance confirmed it was a formal birthday invitation.

“For something like this, Your Highness didn’t need to come in person. A servant could have delivered it,” he said. He understood perfectly well why she had come, but still had to say the polite words.

Princess Fuqu sipped her tea and looked toward the front hall. She was a noblewoman through and through. Her hands were delicate, her clothes expensive, her entire presence eye-catching. Someone like her was used to holding her head high, but she had stumbled on the path of love. She had fallen hard.

The Empress Dowager was her aunt. The Emperor was her cousin. As the only daughter of the Prince of Kangding, she had been loved and spoiled all her life. But in the end, she couldn’t even win over one man.

She spoke softly. “I just want to stay a little while. Being near him is enough.”

To anyone unaware of the full story, she would have seemed like a woman devoted to love. But love had to go both ways. One-sided feelings didn’t mean anything. The steward watched her and felt a headache coming on.

Since she refused to leave, there was nothing he could do. He served her tea and snacks and stayed nearby with a forced smile.

The princess asked many questions about the general’s condition. She wanted to know how the wound was healing and what he had been eating lately.

The steward answered all her questions honestly, only leaving out the part about Bu Nian already being able to move around freely.

Princess Fuqu was quite satisfied with his responses. She had her maid reward him with a single gold-coated peanut, looking for all the world like the lady of the house.

Suddenly, her hand stopped mid-air, the teacup paused in her grip. Her gaze had fixed on someone passing just outside the courtyard.

“Bring him here,” she said, pointing directly at the figure.

The steward followed her gaze and immediately sucked in a sharp breath. It was Lian Ai, walking in with a food box in his hands.

“Your Highness, that young man belongs to the household. If you need anything, just give the word and this servant would take care of it. If I’m unable to help, we can think of another way…”

Princess Fuqu saw clearly that he was trying to protect the young man. Her expression grew even uglier. She no longer bothered with the steward and gave the order to her maid. “Go get him. Bring him here.”

The maid obeyed and marched over with an aggressive air.

Lian Ai had just returned after buying some snacks for Bu Nian. Fen Zi had to stop by the kitchen for something, so they had split up. That was the only reason he ended up walking back alone.

He was minding his own business when an unfamiliar maid suddenly rushed at him and grabbed his wrist.

She yanked hard, trying to pull him forward. But Lian Ai was still a grown man, and it wasn’t difficult for him to resist.

He stared at her in surprise and leaned slightly back. “What are you doing?”

The maid, realizing she couldn’t budge him, grew flustered. “My lady wants to see you.”

“My lady?” Lian Ai immediately thought of Princess Fuqu. He looked toward the main hall and spotted a flash of bright orange. It was her.

He shook the maid’s hand off. “I’ll come with you.”

When he stepped in front of the princess, he handed the food box to a servant nearby, then gave her a respectful bow.

He knew the princess didn’t like him because of the general, but this was still Bu Nian’s residence. No matter how displeased she was, she couldn’t really do anything to him. That thought helped him stay calm.

“These past few days, you’ve been the one tending to Bu Nian?” Her voice was cold and hard, her gaze fixed on Lian Ai with thinly veiled hostility.

Lian Ai lowered his eyes. “Yes, Your Highness. The general has been unwell, so this servant have been tending to him during the day and returning to my own quarters at night.”

Since getting injured, Bu Nian had skipped morning court and stayed idle in the residence. With nothing else to do, he had Lian Ai read to him during the day and practice archery with him at night. The injury was his, but the one being worked to exhaustion was Lian Ai.

“I heard Bu Nian even gave you something from his mother’s belongings. A peace-lock, wasn’t it? The one he took back from Zuo Lingxue.”

“It’s a peace-lock.”

Her fingers tensed. “Let me see it.”

Lian Ai didn’t move. He knew the moment he took it out, she wouldn’t stop at just looking. He had seen games like this before, both in private estates and even back when he lived in a brothel.

But whether he handed it over or not, she was going to make a scene either way.

Princess Fuqu’s eyes widened. Her fingers dug into the scented handkerchief in her palm, gripping so tightly she nearly broke the skin. “You think that just because Bu Nian favors you, you don’t have to show me any respect?”

The steward had expected things to turn ugly and was about to step in to ease the tension. But before he could say a word, the princess suddenly raised her hand and struck Lian Ai across the face.

The slap was loud and forceful. Lian Ai’s head snapped to the side, a bright red mark quickly rising on his cheek. Blood welled at the corner of his mouth.

The steward rushed forward to stop her. “Please calm down, Your Highness. Please calm down.”

He gave a subtle signal, and several attendants moved to help him hold her back.

“I’m going to tear that filthy face apart today. Get out of my way.”

Lian Ai’s cheek stung. When he gently touched it with his fingertips, the pain made him flinch. With his sensitivity, the swelling might last two days.

He didn’t know whether to leave or stay. The princess looked completely unhinged, as if she wouldn’t be satisfied until she saw him dead.

While the scene was in complete chaos, a deep male voice came from the back of the residence.

“What is all this noise in the middle of the day?”

Everyone froze.

Moments later, Bu Nian stepped out from behind the house. He wore a black robe embroidered with pear blossoms, walking slowly into view.

He glanced at Princess Fuqu, then quickly looked away. When his eyes landed on the injury on Lian Ai’s face, his brows furrowed.

“I was wondering why you took so long just to buy some pastries.” He reached out and gently touched Lian Ai’s cheek with his fingertip. “Does it hurt?”

Even if it did, Lian Ai couldn’t admit it now.

“No, it doesn’t,” he said quickly.

Bu Nian lowered his hand. His gaze turned sharp as he looked at the steward.

“Are you deaf? Since when can outsiders freely insult and hit people in my residence?”

The steward’s heart dropped. “It was this servant’s negligence.”

Bu Nian’s mood was clearly foul. He waved his hand as if shooing away a fly. “Get her out of here.”

As soon as the order was given, the guards no longer held back. They stepped forward and gestured toward Princess Fuqu.

“Please don’t make this difficult, Your Highness.”

She stared at Bu Nian in disbelief. Tears welled in her eyes.

“You’re throwing me out over a baseborn?”

Bu Nian seemed tired of standing. He sat down in a nearby chair. When he looked at her again, his gaze was so cold it sent a chill straight through her. It felt like staring death in the face.

She took a step back without realizing it.

“If you weren’t a princess, I would have given you a hundred slaps in return.”

Princess Fuqu was escorted out of the general’s residence without ceremony. Standing by her sedan chair, she turned around and glared at the sign hanging above the gate, her eyes full of resentment.

One day, she swore, she would become the true mistress of this house. She would make sure Bu Nian never ignored her again.

With that thought, she wiped her tears and lowered her head as she climbed into the sedan.

Now that the troublemaker had left, the noisy hall fell completely silent. Bu Nian crooked his finger toward the servant carrying the food box. The servant understood right away and neatly laid everything out for him to try.

Bu Nian glanced at Lian Ai. “Why are you just standing there? Come sit.”

Lian Ai obediently took a seat. His cheek suddenly felt cool. Bu Nian had reached out again, his fingers brushing the swollen skin. His fingertips were a little cold, or maybe Lian Ai’s cheek was just too hot. Either way, the pain seemed to ease a little with the touch.

“If she wanted it, you could’ve just handed it over. No need to take that slap for nothing.”

Lian Ai kept his head lowered. “I was afraid if I gave it to her, I wouldn’t get it back.”

Bu Nian pulled his hand away. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the table. “If she dares take it, you don’t think I could take it right back?”

The steward, who had finally regained his footing, brought out a small container of the general’s personal medicine. It looked like a powder compact, but inside was a white, snow-like balm with a light orchid scent.

Bu Nian scooped out a generous amount and moved to apply it directly onto Lian Ai’s cheek. Lian Ai’s expression turned odd, and he instinctively leaned back. Halfway through the motion, he seemed to realize it might come off as rude and forced himself to stay still.

Bu Nian didn’t miss it. His hand paused. “What’s wrong?”

Lian Ai hesitated. “It’s too much… It would be a waste.”

“Have I ever shorted you on food or drink? Why are you acting frugal all of a sudden?”

Even so, he wiped away most of the balm, leaving just a bit to apply gently to Lian Ai’s cheek.

The thin layer brought immediate relief. The heat faded almost instantly.

What made Lian Ai hesitate wasn’t the waste. He had applied this ointment before, just not to his face. He had used it on his asshole. The first time he slept with Bu Nian, it happened without any preparation. Bu Nian had been drunk, and once things started, he didn’t stop. Lian Ai’s ass had been thoroughly wrecked. Back at the private mansion, the servants gave him this exact ointment. He applied it for only two days and the pain was gone. At the time, he had even thought to himself that the general’s medicine really was something else compared to the ones sold outside.

But using it on his face now felt strangely awkward.

Bu Nian, of course, had no idea what was going through his mind. After applying the balm, the steward handed him a clean cloth, which he used to wipe his hands. Then he reached for the pastries. He hadn’t even finished the first piece before grabbing a second, clearly having waited far too long to indulge.

“You really do love these pastries,” Lian Ai remarked. He had never liked sweets himself, and he rarely saw men as fond of them as Bu Nian. It surprised him.

Bu Nian finished the entire box of pastries on his own. Once he was done, he picked up a cup of Longjing tea, swished it in his mouth to wash down the sweetness, then let out a long breath, looking fully satisfied.

“When I was young, my family was strict. My father believed that a man should drink heavily and eat meat. Sweet things were for women and children. What kind of man likes eating that stuff?” The steward handed him a fresh handkerchief. After wiping his mouth, Bu Nian also brushed the crumbs from his fingers and tossed the cloth back to the steward. “He thought it was disgraceful, so I had to change my tastes to match.”

He waved his hand and the attendants stepped forward to clear away the food box and tea, replacing them with a fresh set.

Bu Nian had always lived with refinement, even indulgence. He was the kind of man who believed that even with the world on his shoulders, he should never shortchange himself.

From what he said, Lian Ai could hear that he didn’t fully agree with everything his father had believed in. He disapproved of the womanizing, the blind loyalty. But when it came to not denying oneself comfort and pleasure, father and son were completely alike.

No matter how much Bu Nian tried to deny it, there was no escaping the influence of the environment that raised him. Lian Ai had been born in a brothel. No matter how much he tried to change, the scent of that life clung to his bones. Princess Fuqu had been born into royalty. She would always hold her head high and look down on others. As for Bu Nian, he was the son of an old general. Even in ways he didn’t realize, he resembled his father far too much.

That night, Song Qiao came to see Bu Nian. The two of them stayed shut in the study for a long time, speaking in private. Since Lian Ai was still recovering, and Bu Nian had no time to quiz him, his evening lesson was canceled.

Lian Ai finally got a night to rest. He had Fen Zi prepare a few light dishes and a small flask of wine in the courtyard. Once the servants were dismissed, he sat alone in the pavilion and quietly admired the moon.

He had always liked looking at the moon. It changed a little every day. Sometimes the color would shift too. In the brothel, it was one of the few beautiful things he had been able to enjoy.

He poured himself a cup of wine and began to sip it slowly.

In the past, he hadn’t known what Bu Nian planned to do. He could live in ignorance, drifting through each day without thought. But now that he had seen Bu Nian’s ambition, he couldn’t stay at peace. His thoughts kept circling.

Was Song Qiao here today to talk about that? When was the general planning to act? What would this world become when that time came? What if they failed? What if they succeeded? And what would happen to him?

He sighed, drained the cup, and refilled it.

No matter what Bu Nian intended, he was just a drifting leaf on the surface of the water, swept along by the current. He had no control over where he would end up.

Just as the wine was beginning to hit him, a flash of white dropped into the courtyard.

The figure landed quietly, eyes alert as he scanned the surroundings. When he spotted Lian Ai sitting in the pavilion, surprise lit up his face. In a heartbeat, he rushed forward.

He grabbed Lian Ai by the wrist. “Finally, I found you.”

Lian Ai’s face was slightly flushed from the wine. Stunned by the sudden grip, he froze for a second and looked up.

As soon as he saw the man’s face clearly, his eyes widened. The cup in his hand slipped to the ground.

“Zuo Lingyu?”