Chapter 56: What’s a Mandarin Duck? Can You Barbecue It? Live… Part 2

“I’m not drunk!” Gu Changhuai denied immediately. He pointed at Rong Ye, squinting lazily. “He’s the drunk one.” He even raised his brows proudly. “See, I told him to carry me, and he did. So obedient.”

Uh…

The girls instinctively glanced at Rong Ye—stern-faced with clear eyes, not drunk at all.

They knew who was really drunk. Playing along with Gu Changhuai, they cooed, “Yes, yes, you’re not drunk, you’re not drunk.”

Though not fully sober, Gu Changhuai’s eyes were sharp. He spotted the red ribbons in their hands and asked leisurely, “Sisters, I have a question.”

The girls, back to giggling, looked at him. “Go ahead, Little Young Master.”

“Me and him…” Gu Changhuai pointed at himself, then at Rong Ye, smiling. “Which one do you fancy?”

The bold, direct question flushed the girls’ faces. They exchanged looks, flung their handkerchiefs dyed with nail polish, and chorused, “You, of course!”

Not Rong Ye? Gu Changhuai, who’d wanted to watch the drama, jolted in surprise. The drunkenness receded a bit as his eyes widened. “…Me?”

He doubted his ears.

Since it was out, the girls didn’t hold back. “Yeah, exactly you—someone pretty and with a good personality!”

Gu Changhuai stared wide-eyed, stunned. “What about Rong Ye?”

“This…” The girls’ smiles faded slightly. They glanced disdainfully at Rong Ye, averted their eyes, and none spoke.

Though this young master was peerlessly handsome, his aloof, unapproachable demeanor genuinely intimidated them from the heart. None dared offer him a red ribbon.

Seeing this, Gu Changhuai was overjoyed. He whispered in Rong Ye’s ear, “Rong Ye, turns out the girls don’t like you.”

Warm breath tickled his ear tip, and Rong Ye’s eyes darkened. He lifted his gaze and casually snatched two red silk ribbons from a nearby stall.

His vision blurred, and Gu Changhuai stared blankly at the red ribbon tied around his wrist. In a burst of playfulness, he said, “I want to tie one on you too.”

He snatched another red ribbon from Rong Ye’s hand, squinted his eyes contentedly, and effortlessly pulled Rong Ye’s hand toward him. Leaning on Rong Ye’s back, he stretched his arms forward and wrapped the ribbon around Rong Ye’s wrist several times, tying it into a delicate butterfly knot.

“Perfect!” He looked at the ribbon that doubled in his hazy vision, clicked his tongue, and patted Rong Ye. “Don’t move.”

Rong Ye, who hadn’t moved at all: “…”

Nearby, the girls—who had been hesitating in place out of concern for Rong Ye—were discussing whether to swarm forward and stuff the red ribbons into Gu Changhuai’s hands in a bout of aggressive salesmanship: “…”

Watching Gu Changhuai tie the ribbon on the other man, the girls’ mouths fell open in excitement. “You, you two…”

Gu Changhuai lifted his gaze in confusion, his trailing tone still thick with drunkenness: “…Huh?”

What was going on?

Rong Ye’s eyelid twitched, his expression unchanged, but a flicker of cold detachment flashed in the depths of his dark eyes.

The girls, however, were no longer afraid as before. They clapped their hands and said, “We thought you were brothers! You should’ve said you were a couple! We’re not the type to break up lovebirds!” They pointed at Rong Ye. “No wonder this young master didn’t say a word—he was guarding against us!”

“Exactly, exactly!”

“The Wandering God Ceremony runs from the west side of the city to the east. It should’ve just set off from the west gate. Since you two are a pair, hurry and go pay respects to the War God—pray for eternal union!”

With that, the girls clustered together in laughter and scattered in a group, no longer clamoring to give Gu Changhuai their red ribbons.

Gu Changhuai slumped on Rong Ye’s shoulder. The alcohol muddled his head, making him catch one word clearly and miss the next. He heard it all as a foggy haze and didn’t want to think anymore.

He yawned lazily and mumbled, “What’s a mandarin duck? Can you barbecue it? Rong Ye, remember—I want it spicy.”

Rong Ye: “…”

Just then, another muffled boom of fireworks sounded, accompanied by drums and music drifting from afar. It roused Gu Changhuai a little.

“Wandering God…” he murmured in a daze. “Oh right, let’s watch the Wandering God.”

Feeling hot again, he unceremoniously rubbed his cheek against Rong Ye’s. Everywhere on Rong Ye’s body felt cool, making him squint in comfort.

After pondering for a moment, he mimicked how Rong Ye had once grabbed him onto the Qiankun Sword by the collar. He tugged at the back of Rong Ye’s collar with a serious expression. “Run! Don’t just stand there—take me to see the Wandering God, quick!”

“…”

Rong Ye sighed silently.

Muttering to himself that he wouldn’t stoop to a drunkard’s level, he adjusted his grip under Gu Changhuai, steadying him on his back.

But Gu Changhuai thought it was an earthquake. Startled, he wrapped his arms around Rong Ye’s chest and hugged tight! He buried his face in Rong Ye’s shoulder, hiding!

A faint smile tugged at Rong Ye’s lips, while the depths of his eyes remained dark and profound.

…

Qing Tang City.

West side of the city.

The closer they got, the clearer the drums and music became. The long street was wide, with pedestrians crowding both sides. At the forefront were eight young men dressed as military attendants, holding black flags high to lead the way. Behind them followed spirited youths clad in battle armor, forming a procession.

In the center was a grand and imposing carriage frame, broad and adorned with floral decorations, almost entirely enveloped by blooming flowers. Eight horses pulled it together, with four grooms flanking the horses to control the pace and maintain order in the parade.

Musicians knelt along the edges of the carriage frame, playing their instruments. Steps led up to the highest point, where a exquisitely crafted puppet statue of the deity stood. The statue was towering, clad in dark armor with a long sword at its waist, nearly as tall as the nearby buildings. From afar, the crowd looked like ants beside it.

Transparent silk threads were visible, manipulating the statue’s movements—slow yet natural, as if a true god had descended upon the mortal world.

At the rear of the carriage were mounted military attendants. Unlike the icy dark armor of others, these had flowers pinned at their temples, adding a touch of gentleness to the procession.

The most fervent were the girls lining both sides of the street, hurling red ribbons into the parade like they cost nothing. Ribbons fluttered everywhere amid the festive joy.

The Wandering God procession was long, and the area buzzed with excitement. Cheers rang out endlessly, music played without cease, and fireworks bloomed nonstop. Gu Changhuai and Rong Ye blended into the crowd without pushing, and Rong Ye had already used spiritual power to ward off anyone getting too close, unnoticed.

Gu Changhuai joined the fun, grabbing red ribbons or flowers from nearby stalls and tossing them gleefully into the procession.

This was Qing Tang City’s custom: on the day of the Wandering God Ceremony, all red ribbons and flowers on stalls were provided by the city lord—free for the taking, to share the joy with the people.

Hm?

As he threw, Gu Changhuai’s gaze suddenly fixed on the statue’s face. He stared oddly for a moment, though there wasn’t anything wrong with it.

The statue was well-crafted: the dark armor gleamed coldly, exuding an extraordinary aura. Its features were chiseled and handsome. But as it was carved from wood and paper, painted to capture the divine essence, it inevitably lost some realism. Certain traits stood out clearly.

Gu Changhuai leaned to Rong Ye’s ear and whispered, “Rong Ye, look—his left eye looks like a gem.” It was deep green, like the eyes of ancient trees in deep mountains.

He craned his neck for another look and murmured, “So beautiful.” As he moved, a lock of long hair fell, draping onto Rong Ye’s shoulder. Their black hair mingled, as if they were one.

Rong Ye glanced sideways and gave a low “Mm.”

But Gu Changhuai’s so-called “whisper” wasn’t quiet at all. At least the nearby aunties and uncles watching the parade heard it and laughed heartily. “That’s top-grade jade, a heirloom left by Qing Tang City’s lord over three hundred years ago, specially used for the statue’s eyes. And the War God’s old title was the Ghost-Eye General!”

Hearing this, Gu Changhuai turned and asked, “So the War God’s eyes were naturally green?”

The auntie sighed. “Yes, they say because of that eye, his parents didn’t love him—a pitiful soul. He racked up military achievements but never got proper recognition… But here in Qing Tang City, he’s a god. Other places might not acknowledge him, but we do!”

His head was spinning, and Gu Changhuai’s foggy brain didn’t process it right away. By the time he wanted to ask more, the procession had moved on, and the aunties and uncles were swept away by the crowd.

Rong Ye carried Gu Changhuai along as they followed. Gu Changhuai lifted his gaze, his eyes reflecting the sky full of fluttering red ribbons. Ahead was the majestic procession and the statue’s back, manipulated by threads to wave greetings to the onlookers on both sides.

It really looked alive.

Gu Changhuai murmured, “Five hundred years in the mortal world, and a general from a previous dynasty is still remembered today. Amazing.” He poked Rong Ye’s cheek. “Do you know him?”

Rong Ye replied impassively, “A little.”

Gu Changhuai perked up. “What’s the Ghost-Eye War God’s name?”

Rong Ye said, “Qin Yan.”

Gu Changhuai: “Banquet’s Yan?”

“No.” Rong Ye’s voice was cool. “The yan from ‘厌烦’—to loathe.”

Gu Changhuai paused, his muddled mind turning it over for a while before he said, “What parents would name their kid that, just because of his eyes?”

Rong Ye said, “In the Xuanjin Dynasty, heterochromia was an ill omen. For him not to be drowned at birth was already a blessing.”

Gu Changhuai huffed lightly. “Superstitious nonsense. It’s clearly beautiful.”

Rong Ye: “What makes you say that?”

A smile played on Gu Changhuai’s lips as he leaned on Rong Ye’s shoulder and whispered conspiratorially in his ear, “Those beautiful eyes—I wanted to dig them out the moment I saw them, hide them away. Even on a statue they’re stunning. I wonder how breathtaking they’d be on a real person.”

His tone was smiling and casual, brimming with malice, utterly unabashed.

“…” After a moment of silence, Rong Ye’s voice deepened. “You like them that much?”

But Gu Changhuai was getting sleepy, lacking the energy to even rest his face properly on Rong Ye’s shoulder. He gave a lazy “Mm” and didn’t even want to open his eyes.

He’d had enough of the excitement and wanted to rest.

The alcohol’s aftereffects hit full force now. His whole body went limp; he couldn’t even lift a finger. He cracked his eyes open a slit, watched the procession fade into the distance, then closed them again, sinking into darkness.

Away from the noise and crowds, the two entered an inn.

After a short rest, Gu Changhuai regained a bit of energy. When he opened his eyes, his body was already flopping weakly onto the bed. He grabbed Rong Ye’s sleeve and tilted his head. “Where are you going?”

Rong Ye, who had just set him down: “…”

Rong Ye said earnestly, “Time to rest.”

Gu Changhuai spread his arms confidently and blinked. “Help me change into nightclothes.”

After all the fuss, Gu Changhuai’s clothes were a total mess, and even Rong Ye’s robes were tugged askew.

Yet he lay on the bed in complete trust, splaying open as he waited for Rong Ye to help him change. His gaze toward Rong Ye was clear and innocent.

He had no idea that his own collar had fallen wide open, revealing sleek collarbones, skin, and even knuckles flushed with a faint pink. The flush at his eyes and cheeks lingered, naturally exuding a heart-stirring beauty and soul-captivating allure.

Like an innocently fragrant lamb ripe for the taking.

Rong Ye: “…”

His eyes darkened. He closed them, and his throat bobbed.

…