Chapter 28: Conflict
At the break of dawn, the red leaves still bore the dew of the previous night, and the crisp chirping of birds came from outside the window.
Wen Ning’an was woken by pain. He opened his eyes and saw Feng Qi on top of him, thrusting rapidly and without pause. The solid chest and hard abdomen moved up and down before his eyes, and with the pleasure from below spreading through his spine, Wen Ning’an felt his whole body heat up again.
“Ngh… Huaitian!”
At this moment, Wen Ning’an desperately wanted to escape this bedchamber. When he had fainted last night, Feng Qi was still hard at work. How was it that he was still not stopping now that he was awake!
“No more… no more… Huaitian!! Enough—” The after-effects of last night’s drug seemed to have returned. His lower body was already red and swollen, and waves of excitement washed over him. This rushing pleasure that would then be withdrawn made Wen Ning’an feel very uncomfortable, and he couldn’t help but convulse and twitch.
Feng Qi couldn’t help it either. When he woke up this morning, he saw Wen Ning’an, covered in the red and white marks he had left, sleeping naked in his arms. Coupled with his morning wood, he couldn’t resist pulling him in for another round.
“Just once, just once…” Seeing that Wen Ning’an really couldn’t take it anymore, Feng Qi had no choice but to take a few deep breaths, forcibly suppress his desire, and after releasing once, he carried Wen Ning’an to be cleaned.
Feng Qi had had Fu Che prepare hot water early in the morning. After gently placing Wen Ning’an in the bathtub, he also got in with him.
Wen Ning’an was completely exhausted. He leaned against Feng Qi with vacant eyes, not wanting to move at all. His throat ached as if it were on fire, and his lower body was numb.
As Feng Qi was cleaning Wen Ning’an, he muttered, “Don’t the little storybooks say there’s no such thing as over-plowed land, only bulls that are worked to death…”
Wen Ning’an looked at the radiant Feng Qi and was also puzzled. This… how on earth does he do it!
Feng Qi glanced at his own palm without a change in expression. The pattern on it was faintly flickering again. He couldn’t help but think, Master did not deceive me. This evil technique not only allowed his inner energy to advance by leaps and bounds and his martial arts to be unparalleled, but it also gave him a hundred times the energy in bed, making him invincible. In all aspects, he was a man at the top.
Tsk, tsk, what a divine technique.
“Cough…” Wen Ning’an couldn’t help but shrink into Feng Qi’s embrace.
“What’s wrong?”
Wen Ning’an said hoarsely, “A little cold.”
Feng Qi was startled. He reached out and touched Wen Ning’an’s forehead; it was scorching hot.
Seeing Feng Qi raise his hand to have Fu Che call for the imperial physician, he immediately stopped him. “Don’t call the imperial physician! It’s just a fever. I’ll be fine after sleeping and sweating it out.”
If the imperial physician came to see, it would be too shameful.
Feng Qi frowned, his heart aching. He stroked Wen Ning’an’s head and said in a low voice, “Yixin, next time I will definitely restrain myself…”
Seeing the guilt in Feng Qi’s eyes, Wen Ning’an smiled and comforted him, “It’s alright. I also lost control last night.”
There had been a faint unease in his heart, so he had unconsciously welcomed the temptation, drawing a sense of security from the pleasure of watching Feng Qi lose his reason for him.
Wen Ning’an felt he was a little pathological and couldn’t help but feel a little scared, not knowing that Feng Qi was thinking the same thing in his heart.
His body was alternating between hot and cold, and the dizziness was getting worse. Wen Ning’an leaned against Feng Qi’s chest and fell asleep again. Feng Qi carefully washed Wen Ning’an, changed his clothes, and then carried him back to the bed to apply medicine. Looking at the “wounds” that were too horrible to look at, Feng Qi felt even more remorseful. Although it was a joyous union, he should still exercise some restraint next time…
After applying the medicine, Feng Qi returned to the bathroom and took matters into his own hands.
The evil technique is good, but it’s also too tormenting…
Feng Qi sighed. The power within his body was becoming more and more rampant. If he didn’t resolve it soon, he didn’t know how many more years he could last.
When Wen Ning’an woke up again, it was already noon. The sun was high in the sky, and a warm breeze could be faintly felt in the bedchamber.
The dizziness had finally subsided, and his body was not so hot anymore, although his lower body still burned with pain. Wen Ning’an propped himself up and looked for some water to drink.
“You’re awake?” Feng Qi, who was sitting by the bed circulating his energy, saw this and immediately had someone bring a bowl of hot porridge. The steaming white porridge was fragrant with the scent of rice and the fresh aroma of medicinal herbs. After one sip, Wen Ning’an felt his stomach warm up, and the sense of satisfaction was self-evident.
After the frenzy of last night and this morning, Wen Ning’an, who hadn’t had a drop of water, was now famished. He took the bowl and buried his head in it, eating extremely fast, with no mind to pay attention to the ingredients inside.
Watching Wen Ning’an drink down the entire bowl of white porridge with dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds, Feng Qi smiled silently.
“Stay in the palace today.”
Wen Ning’an wiped his mouth and, as if remembering something, said, “I have to go out tonight.”
“Where to? You’re weak right now. You’re not allowed to go.”
Wen Ning’an said, “Last night, Brother Li’s servant came to find me and gave me a letter. Brother Li is returning to the capital from the border city today and wants to have a gathering with us brothers.”
“Brother Li?” Feng Qi narrowed his eyes slightly.
“You know him. Li Huaisheng, the one who competed with me in shooting the zongzi at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet a few years ago. We later became good friends on the battlefield.”
“Good… friends.” Feng Qi’s eyes narrowed even more.
Wen Ning’an said helplessly, “The key point is, friends.”
Feng Qi tilted his head back. “You can barely even walk right now. You’re not allowed to go.”
“It’s alright. My body isn’t that weak. After a little rest, it’s no big deal to go out for a gathering at night.”
In the past at the frontier, I had to fight on the battlefield with a fever due to the climate. And even longer ago, when I was just a young soldier, I had to stand guard with serious injuries. Compared to that, this is like a tickle.
Feng Qi could see that Li Huaisheng had other, improper thoughts about Wen Ning’an. He naturally felt a sense of reservation, but he also knew Wen Ning’an’s feelings and loyalty to him. Although he was clear in his heart, when he thought of the secret report from the frontier that the shadow guards had delivered to him this morning…
Feng Qi still kept a straight face. “You’re not allowed to go!”
Wen Ning’an frowned slightly.
“Huaitian, I’m just going out to see a friend.” Wen Ning’an couldn’t understand. It was just to see a friend. Why did Feng Qi have to be so concerned?
Feng Qi was unmoved.
Wen Ning’an just looked at Feng Qi silently. Being looked at like this by Wen Ning’an, Feng Qi felt his heart melt, and he couldn’t keep a straight face at all. So, he had no choice but to take Wen Ning’an’s hand. “Don’t go. Stay in the palace and accompany me?”
Wen Ning’an lowered his head and pulled his hand away, showing no intention of compromising. This was no longer a question of whether to go or not. He and Feng Qi were lovers, not a male pet kept by Feng Qi.
Feng Qi lowered his head, a darkness in his eyes.
Seeing the usually strong Feng Qi show such a defeated expression, Wen Ning’an couldn’t react. I’m… just going out for a meal?
“Huaitian…”
Feng Qi let go of Wen Ning’an’s hand and, without a word, flicked his sleeves and left. Before leaving, he said in a low voice, “You were tired all night. I’ll have someone prepare some supplements for you later.”
Without waiting for Wen Ning’an’s reply, Feng Qi’s figure disappeared from the doorway.
Wen Ning’an felt a growing unease in his heart. He had never seen Feng Qi look so down before. He… had probably done something wrong…
Little did he know that as Feng Qi left the bedchamber, a calculating and sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
And in the bedchamber, Wen Ning’an looked at the still-warm palm of his hand, hesitating. Maybe… I shouldn’t go?
“Big brother…”
Wen Ning’an followed the voice and saw Ah Bai standing timidly by the door, holding a stack of books.
“Ah Bai.”
Wen Ning’an beckoned with a smile. “Come here. Have you read the books I gave you?”
Ah Bai said, “I have, but I don’t understand… I wanted to come and ask big brother…”
Wen Ning’an took Ah Bai’s hand and led him to the desk. “Come, let’s start with the most basic Three Character Classic. I’ll teach you how to read.”
[Translator’s Notes: Three Character Classic: A classic Chinese text used to teach young children since the 13th century. It’s written in simple, three-character lines, making it easy to memorize.]
Wen Ning’an had Ah Bai sit properly on a wooden chair raised with soft cushions, while he himself stood behind the chair, holding Ah Bai’s hand and teaching him how to write his name, stroke by stroke.
“This character is ‘Bai’.”
Ah Bai thought for a moment. “Big brother, can I learn to write your name?”
Wen Ning’an smiled and patiently guided Ah Bai.
Half an hour later, a young eunuch brought a bowl of medicinal soup to Wen Ning’an. “General Wen, His Majesty had this servant bring this. He said it’s for you to nourish yourself.”
After Wen Ning’an took it, Feng Qi’s heartbroken expression involuntarily appeared in his mind. He couldn’t drink it, so he handed it to Ah Bai. “Drink it. It’s good for your body.”
And so, half an hour later, all kinds of pastries were brought up.
And half an hour after that, two large platters of Wife Cakes…
And an hour after that…
…
When the sun was about to set, Ah Bai, with a round and full belly, looked at the chilled sour plum soup before him and said weakly, “Big brother, I’m so full, I really can’t eat anymore…”
Wen Ning’an: “…”
That night, Wen Ning’an still went to see Li Huaisheng after all. His heart was in turmoil, but he still felt he shouldn’t break his promise for this.
The location was a private room in a certain teahouse in the capital. Another general from the frontier, Gao Lan, also came along. Gao Lan was born into poverty and had reached his current position entirely through his own efforts and hard work. He was an honest and kind person.
After greeting each other, Li Huaisheng asked, “Brother Wen, when do you plan to return to the frontier?”
Li Huaisheng was the same as before, with high spirits and a dashing air. Unlike the low-key, smooth, and scheming members of the Li family, Li Huaisheng had gone to the frontier to train since he was young, so he was open-minded and cheerful, with an unrestrained arrogance about him.
Hearing Li Huaisheng’s words, Wen Ning’an said slowly, “In the short term, I probably won’t be going back…”
Seeing Gao Lan can’t help but frown, Wen Ning’an asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I just rushed back yesterday to attend the Longevity Festival, with Adjutant Ren’s urgent report.”
Adjutant Ren was Ren Feiyang. Wen Ning’an had received a holy edict to stay in the capital for a long time, but it was not right for the Left Army to be stationed there permanently, so Wen Ning’an had the adjutants take the Left Army back to their base camp.
Li Huaisheng said, “I also just found out yesterday. This urgent report will probably reach the court tomorrow or the day after.”
Wen Ning’an took the letter that Gao Lan handed him and opened it to see Ren Feiyang’s flamboyant handwriting. The few short lines in the letter said that the King of Youzhou at the frontier seemed to be making a move.
After looking at the message for a long time, Wen Ning’an said, “I will ask His Majesty for permission to return to the frontier to command the Left Army and guard against them with you. After all, this King of Youzhou has always had wolfish ambitions and has never stopped his small movements. I don’t know what kind of trouble he’s planning to stir up this time.”
Li Huaisheng let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good. How can the war at the frontier be without Brother Wen?”
“What are you talking about?” Gao Lan smiled. “It’s that no war anywhere can be without our ever-victorious god of war.”
“But speaking of which, Brother Wen, are you injured?” Xu Huaisheng asked. “Why did your walking posture seem a little strange just now?”
Wen Ning’an: “…”
Wen Ning’an picked up the wine pot. “Drink, drink.”
The three of them chatted, and time passed without them noticing. By the time Wen Ning’an returned to the palace, it was almost midnight. Feng Qi was sitting at the table, doing nothing, just staring at the desk with a blank expression.
“You’re back.” Feng Qi took Wen Ning’an’s hand. “Come and rest.”
“Huaitian… I have something to tell you.” Wen Ning’an was a little nervous.
Feng Qi said, “If I don’t allow it, will you still go?”
Wen Ning’an was startled. Feng Qi… knows?
Without waiting for Wen Ning’an to say anything, Feng Qi picked him up in his arms. “Last night was a good day for us. I don’t want to argue with you or have any unpleasantness. Let’s sleep first.”
Wen Ning’an looked at the storm brewing in Feng Qi’s eyes and sighed silently, his thoughts already in chaos.
Feng Qi blinked, putting away all his calculations, leaving only a full sense of determination. Beating the grass to startle the snake. First, a show of weakness to break through Wen Ning’an’s defenses, then a display of authority to intimidate and knock some sense into him. Although he didn’t know what Wen Ning’an was ultimately thinking, nor whether he would stay, at least…
Feng Qi narrowed his eyes slightly. The person, he will definitely keep.
