The General Who Only Knows How to Spoil His Beloved and Write Stories 33

Chapter 33: Sharing Joys and Sorrows

In early winter, fine snow drifted down, and the capital was a sea of white. At this time of year, besides the vibrant red plum blossoms, the festively decorated Fu manor was also particularly eye-catching. The bright red decorations made passersby stop and take a second look.

The Fu family’s Second Young Master, Fu Yunzhi, was getting married. He was marrying Mingyue Cheng from Raoliang Pavilion.

Everyone was talking. Fu Yunzhi was the Emperor’s childhood friend, the current Prime Minister’s most prized student, and held a high reputation in the literary world. It was thought that he would surely choose a young lady from a noble family as his wife, but instead, he was marrying a songstress from a place of pleasure.

Tonight was the wedding day, but the protagonist of the gossip—the groom—was not at the Fu manor preparing.

Inside Raoliang Pavilion, Fu Yunzhi was playing the zither, while sitting opposite him, listening, were Mingyue Cheng and another ordinary-looking man.

When the song ended, the man couldn’t help but clap and cheer.

But Mingyue Cheng asked, “Yunzhi, don’t you need to be at the Fu manor preparing for the wedding tonight?”

Fu Yunzhi shook his head. “I don’t want to go back. If I go back, I’ll be bothered by Inspector Qi and Duanmu Ling. And besides…”

And besides, he wanted to make one last confirmation, to be sure that Mingyue Cheng was willing to help him.

“Marriage is of great importance to a woman,” Fu Yunzhi said. “Have you really thought it through? I don’t want you to regret it.”

Mingyue Cheng patted his head and smiled. “Little brother Yunzhi, when did you become so indecisive? Marriage is indeed important to a woman, but Ah-Xiang doesn’t mind, so why should I be conflicted? I was born in a brothel and never had much of a reputation to begin with. I don’t care about these worldly things.”

The man sitting beside her was named Ning Xiang. He was ordinary-looking and from an ordinary family, owning a few teahouses in the capital. He was also Mingyue Cheng’s lover.

Fu Yunzhi and Mingyue Cheng would sometimes marvel at it. She had been the star of the Hundred Flowers House, and was now the number one songstress and owner of Raoliang Pavilion. Countless high-ranking officials and nobles had flocked to her, spending fortunes, yet in the end, the one she had set her heart on was this honest and simple shop owner.

Perhaps it was because of his sincerity and simplicity! Having been born in the pleasure quarters, Mingyue Cheng had seen all aspects of human nature. Perhaps a sincere heart was more moving than gold and silver.

“General Yunfei was very kind to me,” Ning Xiang said. “And besides, I understand your difficulties, Master Fu.”

Letting Mingyue Cheng be Fu Yunzhi’s wife in name for a year or two was Ning Xiang’s way of repaying his debt to Fu Yunfei. If Fu Yunfei hadn’t saved him back then, he would have been killed by bandits outside the city long ago.

“I just hope that when General Qi comes back, he won’t kill me with a single slash,” Mingyue Cheng joked.

“He’s not that kind of person,” Fu Yunzhi said.

Qi Xiao is not that kind of person. Qi Xiao was a fool. In his heart, Mingyue Cheng was the person he loved, so he would never make things difficult for her.

As night fell, Fu Yunzhi, riding a horse decorated with peonies, left the Fu manor amidst the cheers of guests and the sound of firecrackers, heading to Raoliang Pavilion to welcome the bride. Although it was a fake marriage, he didn’t want to treat Mingyue Cheng unfairly. Behind him, the Fu family servants carried chest after chest of dowry, the sedan chair was inlaid with gold, and the sound of suonas and gongs was endless.

Qi Shaoling and Duanmu Ling stood at the gate of the Fu manor, watching him leave with complex feelings. They couldn’t understand why he would get married while Qi Xiao was away. If he didn’t know about Qi Xiao’s feelings, why deliberately avoid him? They were such close friends, after all. And if he did know, did he have to reject him in such a cruel way? Not even giving him a chance to win him back?

The bridal procession passed through street after street. This is the second time I’ve worn a bright red wedding robe, Fu Yunzhi thought, but neither time was the wedding I wanted.

“Fu Yunzhi!”

A familiar voice rang out. He spun his head around and saw Qi Xiao, riding Winning Wind, appear at the street corner behind him.

“Qi…” Fu Yunzhi’s eyes widened, his mind a blank.

Surprise, confusion, worry, fear, and… joy.

He thought he was going crazy. The moment he saw Qi Xiao, he actually felt a sense of relief and happiness.

The hand holding the reins trembled uncontrollably, and his voice changed. “Wh-why are you here!”

Qi Xiao didn’t answer. With a shout, he rode up beside him and pulled him over.

Fu Yunzhi felt himself being lifted, his body weightless for a moment. The scenery blurred, and in the next second, he landed in front of Qi Xiao, sitting on his horse.

“Qi Xiao! What are you doing!”

Heh heh, what do you think? I fucking want to do you!

To actually marry someone else, damn it!

Qi Xiao held him tightly and, with a flick of the whip, Winning Wind galloped away, carrying them out of the streets. The festive sounds stopped abruptly. The onlookers standing on both sides of the road were dumbfounded. What was going on? General Qi had taken Master Fu away on his wedding day. Was this… a wedding snatching?

Heavens! Qi the Yaksha had come to snatch Master Fu’s wedding! And he wasn’t snatching the bride, but the groom!

The musicians and sedan chair carriers looked at the empty back of the peony-decorated horse, at a loss.

The groom had just abandoned the procession and run off? Should they still go and get the bride?

In the crowd, Ning Xiang watched Fu Yunzhi being taken away by Qi Xiao and also had a horse prepared…

And so that night, the bridal procession no longer had to worry about whether to go and get the bride without the groom, because the bride was also snatched away…

The horse was incredibly fast. The fierce wind stung their cheeks, and their hair came undone. Fu Yunzhi watched as they passed through the streets, through the city gate, and out of the capital…

Winning Wind carried them to a forest outside the city before Qi Xiao finally let it stop.

He held Fu Yunzhi in silence, not knowing what to say for a moment. Scold him? He couldn’t bear to. Show affection? He wasn’t willing. Console him? He didn’t know how, since his own life was at stake. Whatever he said would seem pale. And so, the two of them remained in that position, silently listening to the chirping of the cicadas in the forest.

After an unknown amount of time, Qi Xiao’s sharp hearing caught Fu Yunzhi’s faint sobs. He frowned and turned Fu Yunzhi’s face towards him, seeing it streaked with tears.

Qi Xiao sighed and pressed his head against his chest, saying softly, “I know everything.”

“It’s alright, Yunzhi. I’m here. I’ve always been here.”

Fu Yunzhi clutched his robes tightly, his body trembling. Qi Xiao gently stroked the back of his head, looking helplessly at the person who was crying harder and harder on his chest.

“Why are you crying even harder when I’m trying to console you…”

“There, there, don’t cry, don’t cry…”

Qi Xiao gently patted his back to help him catch his breath. “Why are you like a three-year-old child, you silly fool. If you keep crying, you won’t look pretty anymore… Hiss—”

Fu Yunzhi punched him hard in the chest.

“Then don’t look if I’m not pretty!”

Qi Xiao kissed his forehead and smiled. “Yunzhi is always beautiful. In my heart, you are the most beautiful, the most beautiful in the whole world. No one is more beautiful than my Yunzhi.”

After hearing what Shen Linye had said, he knew that the Flower Moon Gu would affect the host’s appearance. He also understood what Fu Yunzhi had been worried about all this time. He was moved, of course, but more than that, his heart ached for him.

“You were beautiful before, you’re beautiful now, and you’ll definitely be the most beautiful in the future. Yunzhi will never change in my heart.”

Qi Xiao’s kiss landed on his forehead, then slowly moved to the tip of his nose, and then to his lips. This time, the kiss was not mixed with any lust, only a deep, tender affection.

“Yunzhi, no matter what happens, we will face it together. Promise me, you will never hide anything from me again, okay?”

Fu Yunzhi nodded.

“Don’t bear things alone. If you’re unhappy, take it out on me. If you encounter something you can’t solve, just throw it to me. Even if the sky falls, I’ll be there to hold it up.”

“Okay,” Fu Yunzhi smiled.

“Heh heh, you’re smiling.” Qi Xiao pinched his cheek.

He put his cloak around Fu Yunzhi. “Come with me to Shahan, and we’ll solve the rest of the problems slowly, okay?”

“I don’t know what’s happening in the capital now. My father must be furious…” Thinking of Fu Zhengyang’s angry face, Fu Yunzhi couldn’t help but laugh.

It had always been the rebellious Fu Yunfei who had made their father angry, acting as he pleased and even ignoring the family’s traditions to become a general. He himself had always been the good child who studied hard and brought glory to the family. But this time, he had been willful for once.

“Well,” Qi Xiao smiled, “are you willing to elope with me?”

“Tsk.”

With a shout, Winning Wind galloped away, carrying the two of them into the distance…