Chapter 71 Part 1

Considering Liu Yuanxun’s physical condition, Gu Lianzhao still rose on time, just as Physician Wang had instructed.

The light brown medicinal water had seeped through his clothes, clearly outlining his still-youthful figure. Though he was merely an eighteen-year-old ger, his posture was already more striking and handsome than that of an ordinary man.

Liu Yuanxun inadvertently glanced at him, then quickly lowered his head to avoid looking further.

Gu Lianzhao casually grabbed a robe and wrapped it around his body before reaching down to pull Liu Yuanxun out of the water.

“I… I can manage on my own.” Liu Yuanxun’s gaze fell on the hand extended toward him, and he found it hard to convince himself to take it—to lean into Gu Lianzhao’s arms while fully sober.

But Gu Lianzhao did not withdraw his hand. “Didn’t you say we were friends? If we’re friends, why be so distant?”

Liu Yuanxun hesitated, but Gu Lianzhao had already leaned down, wrapped an arm around his waist, and drawn him upward with an irresistible force. Before Liu Yuanxun could speak, he tumbled straight into Gu Lianzhao’s embrace.

Gu Lianzhao’s chest burned with heat. The moment Liu Yuanxun’s body made contact, he was enveloped in that warmth. With a splash of water, Liu Yuanxun could only lift his arms to clasp Gu Lianzhao’s neck, murmuring softly, “Thank you for the trouble.”

Gu Lianzhao said nothing. One arm stayed firm around Liu Yuanxun’s waist while the other slid beneath to support his hips. The rough touch of that hand against smooth skin made Liu Yuanxun tense up involuntarily, the fingertips around Gu Lianzhao’s neck trembling faintly.

“No need to be tense. Aren’t we friends? Just relax.” Gu Lianzhao’s voice soothed Liu Yuanxun in a low murmur. The more tense Liu Yuanxun became, the more at ease Gu Lianzhao seemed—the North Pacification Commander from the Imperial Prison, ever the smooth operator, reemerged. When he wanted to gain someone’s trust, that flamboyantly wicked face of his softened into something gentle.

Even for friends, such intimate contact went too far. Yet Gu Lianzhao’s movements remained proper. Even as he lifted Liu Yuanxun, with fingers pressing just enough to sink slightly into soft flesh in a nearly erotic gesture, his eyes and expression stayed utterly serious.

Fortunately, once Gu Lianzhao had lifted him out, he immediately draped a large white robe over Liu Yuanxun’s body. With his form now covered, Liu Yuanxun finally felt a measure of ease.

After the medicinal bath came a rinse with clean water. Gu Lianzhao twisted open the water valve. While waiting for the flow to start, he spoke to Liu Yuanxun. “Once you’re recovered, Your Highness, do you plan to visit Xiao Jinye?”

With serious matters at hand, Liu Yuanxun set aside his embarrassment. “Since we’ve obtained the ledger and Ning Bi has no key clues, it makes sense to meet him. Besides, there’s something else I need to tell him.”

Liu Yuanxun had hidden nothing from him on these matters, so Gu Lianzhao casually asked, “What is it?”

Liu Yuanxun replied, “After the new year, I’m going to Jiangnan.”

His Imperial Brother had already spoken, making it a done deal. It was already past the tenth day of the twelfth month, and with only twenty days until the new year, the long journey to Jiangnan required ample preparation—but twenty days was plenty of time.

He continued speaking, unaware that Gu Lianzhao, standing with his back to him, had suddenly clenched his fists. By the time Liu Yuanxun looked up, Gu Lianzhao had already composed himself.

“Now that you’re reinstated, you needn’t spend so much energy on me. As for the Commanding Officer position…” Gazing at Gu Lianzhao’s back, Liu Yuanxun explained carefully. “Even if His Imperial Brother promotes you immediately on my account, once I’m gone, plenty of people could drag you down. So we can’t rush it. But rest assured—Eunuch Hong will pave the way for you. As long as you have the ability to hold the post, you won’t be overlooked.”

That phrase “once I’m gone” came so easily, as if he had long accepted his inevitable death and given up any struggle.

Irritation surged in Gu Lianzhao’s heart. He wanted to whirl around and demand, “You’re not dead yet—why dwell on what comes after? Why not spend that time finding a way to live?”

But deep down, he knew that if Liu Yuanxun wanted to live, it would likely cost Gu Lianzhao his own life. And he was unwilling to pay that price.

So he could only remain silent. Silence was all he could offer.

He knew his feelings had shifted. He knew he had lost his judgment several times, making choices he shouldn’t have. That was why he had begun running around for Liu Yuanxun’s sake.

In all his life, heaven had always owed him—he had never owed anyone else. Only after inexplicably falling for someone did he realize that his downfall might stem from how well Liu Yuanxun had treated him.

This was the first time he had owed another person, so he couldn’t distinguish debt from affection. But as he sorted through the ties between himself and Liu Yuanxun, realizing his fall likely tied to Liu Yuanxun’s efforts on his behalf, an idea struck him: repayment.

If he couldn’t bear to watch Liu Yuanxun die, couldn’t stand idly by in crisis, couldn’t cleanly extract himself from Liu Yuanxun’s world, then he would repay the debt.

Once it was settled, the scales would balance. He would be himself again—alone, unbound by any ties.

What he failed to notice was how he stood there, silenced for so long by Liu Yuanxun’s offhand “once I’m gone,” his thoughts churning wildly—yet he had entirely overlooked the mention of “Commanding Officer.”

That had once been the thing he cared about most.

Now, he simply stood in place for a long while before making a hasty decision. “I’ll go to Jiangnan with you.”

Liu Yuanxun looked at him in surprise. “I might be gone for quite some time. If you come with me to Jiangnan, what about the Imperial Prison?”

“A few months won’t throw the Imperial Prison into chaos, and besides…” Only then did Gu Lianzhao recall Hong Fu’s arrangements. “Besides, if Eunuch Hong finds out, he’ll likely order me to accompany you south anyway.”

After all, the emperor’s purpose in granting the marriage was to keep him at Liu Yuanxun’s side. At such a critical juncture, there was no way he would be allowed to remain in the capital.

Liu Yuanxun hesitated. “If that’s the case… my trip to Jiangnan will only cause you trouble.”

“It’s no trouble,” Gu Lianzhao said as he stirred the warm rinse water with one hand. “Since you consider me a friend, how could helping a friend be trouble?”

Without waiting for a reply, he added, “The water’s ready. Time for your bath.”

He had already bared himself before Gu Lianzhao once; the second time, though still uncomfortable, he at least didn’t go rigid all over. Even so, when Gu Lianzhao came to lift him, he couldn’t help curling his toes.

Gu Lianzhao hadn’t noticed while Liu Yuanxun stayed still, but the moment he moved, Gu Lianzhao’s gaze instinctively dropped to the tips of those feet peeking from beneath the robe. The pearly toes were slightly plump, nails shimmering with a faint pink hue, beautiful as if carved from jade. The tension-made curl only made one’s heart itch, a urge rising to massage each joint until they relaxed.

But the side room was small. Two steps after lifting him, and they reached the bath barrel. The water rippled as long, dark hair spilled free, veiling that tantalizing hint of pink.

The water was a touch hot, but fresh from the medicinal bath, Liu Yuanxun found the higher temperature just right. Sitting in the barrel, he idly scooped at the water, not noticing Gu Lianzhao until the man stepped behind him and gathered the submerged locks.

Liu Yuanxun instinctively wanted to pull away, but with his hair in Gu Lianzhao’s grasp, he feared yanking the roots and stayed put. “A’Qiao, what are you…”

Gu Lianzhao’s voice was steady. “Your hair’s got medicinal residue. Let me wash it for you.”

Liu Yuanxun relaxed with a breath, his shoulders easing.

But Gu Lianzhao’s next question tightened his chest inexplicably. “You seem afraid of me. Why?”

Why fear him?

At first, it was his reputation—and witnessing him kill firsthand. Later, Liu Yuanxun had come to admire his talents and pity his harsh youth, but initially, Gu Lianzhao had been no different from a bloodstained blade in his eyes. Fear was natural.

He no longer feared him now, so why did his nearness still unsettle him? Half of it stemmed from the divide between men and gers—too much closeness was improper. The other half…

Liu Yuanxun considered softening it but realized Gu Lianzhao’s nature might prefer blunt truth.

So he spoke plainly. “Probably because you’re used to interrogating prisoners. Sometimes, even I feel that pressure from you.”

The hands kneading his hair behind him paused, accompanied by a faint, soft chuckle. Gu Lianzhao’s voice was pleasing on its own, youthful clarity in its tones; a low laugh like that was especially delightful.

Liu Yuanxun flushed with embarrassment at the sound.

But it was the truth—he often sensed that pressure from Gu Lianzhao unbidden. Beyond their wedding days, Gu Lianzhao had shown no overt hostility, so he attributed it to the man’s role as Pacification Commissioner.

What he overlooked was this: he wasn’t some ordinary commoner. Though trauma made him especially averse to gore, he had seen figures far more imposing than Gu Lianzhao. Just days ago, Shen Wei—another man of formidable presence—had not daunted him in the least.

But in that moment, he didn’t know how Gu Lianzhao treated him out of sight. Nor did he realize the pressure had nothing to do with his profession.

What made him uneasy, made his heart race, made him want to flee on instinct, was the primal fear of prey sensing a predator’s gaze—the dread of being torn apart and devoured.

Gu Lianzhao seemed satisfied with the answer, his voice softening further. “All clean. Time to get dressed.”

Liu Yuanxun assented with a hum. Gu Lianzhao lifted him from the bath and draped a fresh outer robe over him.

Gu Lianzhao set him down on the daybed, gazing down at him. “Physician Wang said to sit here a while until your temperature drops before going out.”

Liu Yuanxun always heeded physicians. Hearing this from Gu Lianzhao, he obediently reclined on the daybed and nodded. He was about to say something when his eyes met Gu Lianzhao’s, and words suddenly failed him.

Lying there with Gu Lianzhao standing over him, the man’s shadow engulfed him completely. Though a ger, Liu Yuanxun’s build was far more robust. Gu Lianzhao was half a head shorter now, but at eighteen, in a couple more years, he might surpass Liu Yuanxun in height…