“Pei—”
Gu Huaiyu’s lips curved as he started to speak, but before the name could leave his mouth, he was swept into a tight embrace.
Pei Jingyi’s arms locked around his waist. Under the gaze of tens of thousands of soldiers, he actually lifted the man off the ground and spun him around.
Gu Huaiyu remained remarkably composed. The moment his feet touched the ground, he said with unruffled grace, “This Chancellor congratulates Marshal Pei on his first great victory and triumphant return.”
But this scene caused the civil and military officials behind him to turn pale in unison—
What general returns from a victory and spins the Lord Chancellor around in public?!
Where was the decorum!
That familiar manner made it clear this was not the first time they had been so intimate.
Moreover, Pei Jingyi’s iron arms were still firmly wrapped around the Chancellor’s waist. How was this the posture of a subordinate toward his superior?
Pei Jingyi didn’t care what anyone thought.
He looked down at the clear features of the person in his arms and grinned, revealing sharp canine teeth. “Is the Chancellor going to reward me with something?”
Gu Huaiyu gave his arm a subtle, firm pat, and only then did Pei Jingyi tactfully let go.
Gu Huaiyu smoothed his rumpled robes, returning to his dignified and upright posture as Chancellor. “Hmm? Tell me what you want, Marshal Pei, and I shall grant it.”
Pei Jingyi licked his thin lips, which still tasted of the battlefield’s blood. His voice was low enough for only the two of them to hear. “I want to kiss the Chancellor.”
Gu Huaiyu’s brows knitted slightly, as if he didn’t quite understand. “Hmm? What do you want to ask me?”
Note: In Mandarin, ‘kiss’ (wěn) and ‘ask’ (wèn) sound very similar, differing only in tone.
Pei Jingyi was choked by this “playing dumb” response, the dark fire in his eyes burning brighter.
He suddenly raised his voice, making every word clear enough for everyone present to hear. “I want to kiss Huaiyu. Will the Chancellor reward me?”
If the public hug could be excused as “overflowing joy from a great victory,” this naked request for intimacy completely tore away the veil of modesty.
Shen Jun’s face instantly darkened, his eyes fixed on them with a deathly chill.
Xie Shaoling’s gaze flickered between the two, his youthful spirit visibly withering.
Nie Jin kept his head down, staring at the bluestone bricks beneath his feet as if he had heard nothing at all.
Wei Qingya, for once, lost his smile and let out a long, quiet sigh.
Only Han Ding stared with wide eyes, rubbing his ears vigorously, suspecting that his old age had made him mishear.
He suddenly grabbed Shen Jun’s sleeve. “Master Shen, did my old ears deceive me? Did that boy Pei say he wanted to… to kiss Chancellor Gu?”
Shen Jun didn’t say a single word.
Knowing Pei Jingyi was intentionally stirring up trouble, Gu Huaiyu remained frowning. “What ‘Ruined Jade’? This Chancellor only has ‘Fine Jade’.”
Note: ‘Huaiyu’ (his name) sounds like ‘Huai Jade,’ which can mean spoiled or ruined jade.
“If Marshal Pei wants it, I shall grant it to you.”
With a wave of his hand, an attendant understood the command. A piece of exquisite fine jade was immediately brought from the reward chests and presented respectfully on a tray to Pei Jingyi.
Pei Jingyi didn’t refuse at all. He took the jade and suddenly laughed loudly, “I thank the Chancellor for the reward!”
His voice was powerful and deep, ensuring the surrounding Northern Frontier Army heard him clearly. “I shall keep this Little Yu close to my chest to keep it warm, hold it in my mouth to keep it moist, and cherish it in my heart every single night!”
The surrounding soldiers burst into laughter, assuming their Marshal was just making a crude joke.
Several coarse generals even chimed in, “Marshal, you better keep it safe!”
“Let the brothers have a look at it another day!”
Gu Huaiyu stepped forward to personally adjust the collar of Pei Jingyi’s battle robe. His slender, white fingers moved deftly over the scarlet ties. He let out a soft, mocking laugh. “If you dare lose it, I will hold you accountable.”
Pei Jingyi took the chance to lower his head, matching the Chancellor’s pose of “honoring a worthy subordinate.” His warm breath almost brushed the other’s ear. “Then when can I kiss Little Yu?”
The way he spoke the name “Little Yu” was incredibly flirtatious.
Gu Huaiyu slowly smoothed out the wrinkles on the shoulder of the battle robe, seemingly giving it serious thought. “That depends—”
He dragged out the final word, long enough to make Pei Jingyi’s heart race, before slowly finishing, “—on this Little Yu’s mood.”
Pei Jingyi’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily. Under his armor, his chest rose and fell visibly.
The murderous aura from the battlefield had not yet faded, and now it was being set ablaze by that “this Little Yu,” making his blood boil.
Damn it! Why were all these soldiers and officials crowded here, getting in the way!
Otherwise, he would have grabbed his Little Yu and kissed him right then and there!
Having won the most beautiful victory in the two-hundred-year history of the Great Chen Dynasty, Bingzhou City was naturally filled with joy. The commoners decorated the streets with lanterns as if it were the New Year, exchanging news and basking in the atmosphere of triumph.
On the other side, however, Heshuo City was dead silent.
The Eastern Liao Imperial Court Army had always been invincible and all-conquering. When had they ever suffered such a blow at the hands of the Chen people? Now that news of the rout had spread, morale was shattered, and the people were in a state of panic.
Yelü Chi naturally knew the nature of his own soldiers. He had foreseen this outcome, which was why he had personally rushed to the front lines to oversee the defense.
Before he even entered the city gates, he saw the Eastern Liao soldiers—defeated, disheveled, and armorless—fleeing like stray dogs.
Just as he had said, after years of soaking in the wine, women, and wealth of Great Chen, wearing silk and sitting in soft carriages, the tigers had long since turned into sheep.
