EHW Ch78

(11)
Second Brother told Gu Yunchuan that he and the emperor had sneaked into Wu City that night.

Second Brother hadn’t even been promoted to any official rank yet, and the emperor was the ruler of the nation, yet the two of them had gone off to do something so dangerous.

Gu Yunchuan didn’t even want to know who had suggested it. His brows furrowed sharply, his face darkened, but he was afraid of scaring them off if he looked too angry. He clenched his fists tightly, suppressing his emotions and not letting them show.

After Second Brother finished his report and withdrew, Gu Yunchuan took a deep breath, his heart still pounding, and slowly walked out.

At the doorway, he saw someone with the surname “Lu” waiting for him.

(12)
Gu Yunchuan called his name and asked, “Lu He, haven’t you rested yet?”

Lu He smiled faintly. “Today some folks from my hometown sent rice cakes and yellow rice wine. The army should celebrate after the victory, right? I thought I’d bring some for the general.”

He said that when they were still in the army, Gu Yunchuan used to grill food like rice cakes, fish, and meat over the campfire and drink wine with the soldiers. Though the yellow rice wine wasn’t strong, it had its own unique flavor.

Gu Yunchuan’s throat moved slightly. “All right.”

(13)
He brought Lu He into the tent. Lu He took out an oiled paper packet from his sleeve and placed it on the small wooden table. The faint fragrance of rice filled the air.

He found two cups, poured wine, and handed one to Lu He. Lu He’s gaze fell upon Gu Yunchuan’s palm. “General, what happened to your hand?”

His hand?

Gu Yunchuan looked down and saw four red marks on his fingers.

They were the marks left by how tightly he had been clenching his hand earlier.

He had endured far worse wounds; these faint red marks were nothing to him. It was just that his skin was pale, so the marks stood out clearly.

Gu Yunchuan shook his head, filled the cup with yellow rice wine, and lightly clinked it with Lu He’s.

(14)
The emperor and Second Brother were both resting nearby, and Gu Yunchuan didn’t dare drink too much in case something happened on the battlefield. The wine only moistened his lips and carried a hint of bitterness.

Still, the company was pleasant. Though Lu He had once been dismissed from the army, he wasn’t much older than Gu Yunchuan. When he spoke, his tone carried an easy warmth. Even the smallest stories he told could make one feel moved.

Gu Yunchuan’s tense heartbeat gradually eased a little, though he didn’t notice it himself.

Lu He didn’t know what to say next either. He lowered his eyes and smiled, then raised them again, gripping Gu Yunchuan’s hand with both of his. Standing up straight, he looked at him and said with a smile, “General, everything will be all right.”

The warmth of Lu He’s palm seeped into Gu Yunchuan’s, and Gu Yunchuan’s heart relaxed a little more. “Mm.”

 

(15)
It was already late. Gu Yunchuan didn’t keep him long; after seeing that the rice cakes were almost gone, he let Lu He go.

Lu He insisted on sending him off, but Gu Yunchuan shook his head. “No need. It’s a cold night, the general’s tent is nearby, I’ll be fine.”

Perhaps because of the wine, Lu He’s voice softened, his tone more tender than usual.

Gu Yunchuan nodded. “All right, take care.”

(16)
That night, the snow fell thicker, and the wind grew stronger. Snow rolled across the ground, breaking tree branches and striking against the windows, making a crisp sound.

The faint sound of rubbing was coarse, like the calluses on his own palm.

Gu Yunchuan couldn’t sleep. He listened to the breathing of the person beside him and regretted not bringing a book to read.

Just as he was starting to drift, he suddenly heard someone’s footsteps outside, followed by a soft call at the door: “General.”

Lu He?

Why was he here?

Gu Yunchuan grabbed a coat, got up quickly, and went to open the door.

He lifted the lamp high and frowned slightly. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Lu He’s eyes were drowsy, still half-closed as he looked at Gu Yunchuan.

Gu Yunchuan had always looked imposing. His features were refined and sharp, giving him both grace and authority. But because he often didn’t show much expression, people in the army tended to find him intimidating.

Lu He had always liked the general’s expression. Back when he was still an insignificant soldier, Gu Yunchuan’s stern face already made him look like a proud dog that could only be admired from afar.

Lu He raised a hand to grab Gu Yunchuan’s sleeve and whispered, “Nothing happened, General. They’re all asleep. I couldn’t sleep and came out for a walk.”

Gu Yunchuan’s tension eased, and he let out a faint smile.

The soldiers in the camp didn’t talk much. They all slept side by side, packed tightly. When they did sleep, they didn’t care about manners, snoring, kicking, punching in their dreams. It wasn’t unusual for someone to roll onto another person in the middle of the night and take up their space.

Seeing Lu He’s nose reddened from the wind and snow, Gu Yunchuan stepped aside and said, “Come in for a while. It’s late.”

Lu He smiled, showing his teeth. “All right, thank you, General.”

(17)
The tent had two narrow beds side by side, one for Gu Yunchuan, and one for Second Brother.

Gu Yunchuan suggested tidying up Second Brother’s bed a bit, but Lu He adamantly refused, saying it wasn’t proper to sleep in his bed and that he’d just sleep on the floor.

Gu Yunchuan tried to persuade him, but Lu He was firm, insisting that he’d sleep on the ground.

Gu Yunchuan had no choice but to hand him a blanket.

Lu He spread it on the floor, blew out the lamp, and in the darkness came his clear, youthful voice: “Goodnight, General.”

Gu Yunchuan replied, “You too.”

 

(18)
Maybe it was because there were too many people in the tent that even the sound of wind and snow outside no longer felt so lonely.

Gu Yunchuan closed his eyes. The tent was warm enough, and under the faint influence of the wine, he slowly began to drift into sleep, his breathing becoming steady.

Then he heard someone call softly, “General?”

It felt like a dream. His body and mind were both sluggish, not under his control. He wanted to respond, but no sound came out.

Then he felt the faint brush of movement and the sound of clothing rustling.

At first he thought it was Lu He turning over, but the rustling didn’t stop, it came closer, carrying a subtle breath.

Gu Yunchuan’s eyelashes trembled slightly, his thoughts half-awake, uncertain if Lu He was truly awake or not.

Gu Yunchuan guessed it instinctively, startled and uneasy, and at the same time, a faint, inexplicable emotion welled up inside him. He shouldn’t feel shaken by such proximity.

But the soft, suppressed breathing coming from near the bed confirmed Gu Yunchuan’s suspicion.

…This—

Gu Yunchuan laughed again, unable to hold it back, it was a deep, warm, and gentle kind of smile.

Lu He was still young, just at the age of blooming youth, and doing such things was only natural for someone like him.

Afraid that Lu He might feel embarrassed, Gu Yunchuan stayed completely still, not daring to move, not even daring to change the rhythm of his breathing.

Time stretched on… for quite a while.

Gu Yunchuan didn’t make a sound, but suddenly he noticed that Lu He’s breathing had become heavier, and rougher.

The faint sound of cloth shifting against the blanket grew clearer.

Gu Yunchuan kept his position, but could feel Lu He’s presence drawing closer.

In the next instant, something warm and moist wrapped around his fingertip.

Gu Yunchuan’s heart jolted violently, before he could react, he realized that Lu He’s mouth had taken in his finger.

His mind went blank, his body stiff like a stone, unable to move.

Lu He pressed his face against Gu Yunchuan’s hand, lightly licking at his fingertip. His sharp canine teeth brushed over the skin with the faintest scrape, then released it with a soft sound, that long, lingering moment finally came to an end.

Lu He let go of his hand, quietly lay back down on the floor.

What was that… what was… that?

Only then did Gu Yunchuan begin to think.

He’d heard that some people had strange habits, for instance, someone in his old army who would secretly enshrine a statue of a god in the tent and burn incense afterward, seeking forgiveness for their sins.

Perhaps this was the same kind of thing.

The tips of his fingers still carried the faint warmth of Lu He’s lips. Gu Yunchuan felt a little embarrassed and turned over restlessly, unable to fall back asleep.