Chapter 33#

White clouds drifted lazily as the sunlight was frequently blocked by them—one moment spilling over the earth, the next not a single bit of gold remained, truly a master at playing with people’s hearts.

Su Yang was smiling gently on the side, that smile rising as the curve of Lin Huaiyu’s lips rose, appearing quite prominent.

Lin Huaiyu seemed to have just noticed him, his gaze falling on Su Yang neither heavily nor lightly.

Sensing Lin Huaiyu’s gaze, Su Yang’s breathing quickened for a moment, his entire person like a taut string. He met Lin Huaiyu’s gaze and was about to speak his first words to him, but unexpectedly Lin Huaiyu withdrew his gaze immediately upon contact.

They didn’t even truly meet eyes.

Su Yang’s just-opened mouth could only close again, his expression despondent.

Lin Huaiyu didn’t want to pay attention to him; he knew.

Lin Huaiyu shifted his gaze back to Fang Zhixu. Fang Zhixu was still kneeling and hadn’t gotten up. He lightly patted the young man’s shoulder and said: “Do your legs not hurt from kneeling so long? Get up.”

Su Yang’s gaze paused.

But Fang Zhixu shook his head: “They don’t hurt. I just like kneeling by Teacher’s legs and accompanying Teacher.”

Lin Huaiyu began to laugh softly: “How old are you now? You are currently the new top scholar, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, and have heavy responsibilities, yet you’re still acting spoiled with Teacher here?”

Fang Zhixu looked up at Lin Huaiyu, resting on Teacher’s knees, pursed his lips, and asked: “Can a top scholar not act spoiled with Teacher? Besides, when did this student act spoiled? This student just feels heartache for Teacher. Not having met for many days, this student missed Teacher.”

Lin Huaiyu shook his head helplessly: “When can you not see Teacher? Go keep an eye on the flood project.”

Fang Zhixu pursed his lips, reluctantly saying: “Teacher is driving this student away already; this student has only seen Teacher for a little while.”

Lin Huaiyu lightly tapped between Fang Zhixu’s eyebrows: “Be good. When you return tonight, Teacher will prepare dinner for you.”

Fang Zhixu’s eyes lit up instantly. Since Lin Huaiyu had said so, he could only follow the other’s words and leave obediently: “Then Teacher must keep your word!”

Just as he got up, before his gaze had even moved away from Lin Huaiyu, he suddenly discovered a trace of blood seeping from the corner of Lin Huaiyu’s lips.

Not just him, everyone’s gaze was on Lin Huaiyu, so naturally they all discovered Lin Huaiyu was bleeding. They looked at Lin Huaiyu in a panic, while only He Qingli stood nearby, watching this scene somewhat calmly, his hand already touching the medicine box.

Fang Zhixu, who was closest, reached out and lightly wiped away the fresh blood from the corner of Lin Huaiyu’s lips with his thumb. His burning fingertip touched Lin Huaiyu’s snow-white, slightly cool skin, and he quickly withdrew his hand.

There wasn’t much flesh on Teacher’s face, but the skin was smooth and very elastic, the curve of his jaw tight and smooth, making him…

Not want to withdraw his hand at all.

The sensation of Lin Huaiyu’s skin still remained on Fang Zhixu’s fingertip under his sleeve. He lightly rubbed it and asked: “Teacher, what’s wrong? Why are you spitting blood? Is the illness getting worse again?”

While asking, he turned his head to look at He Qingli, attempting to get an answer from him.

Lin Huaiyu spoke first: “It’s fine, just normal spitting of blood during the treatment process; no need for a fuss.”

Fang Zhixu frowned and confirmed with He Qingli: “How can there be spitting of blood during treatment?”

He Qingli silently raised his head. There was even bloodletting during treatment; they just didn’t know it. If they knew, what would happen?

He could only cooperate with Lin Huaiyu, describing the matter as not so serious: “It’s just a method of treatment. Don’t worry; the toxins in his body must be expelled. Spitting a mouthful of blood from time to time—just get used to it.”

He spoke airily, but Fang Zhixu’s knitted brows refused to loosen.

Lin Huaiyu patted his hand, comforting: “Really, it’s fine. Do you not believe Teacher’s words?”

Fang Zhixu had no choice but to lower his head and say: “This student naturally believes Teacher’s words.”

“Then go handle the flood matter first; national affairs and the people’s situation are of most importance,” Lin Huaiyu urged.

Hearing this, Su Yang couldn’t help looking at Lin Huaiyu, the emotions in his eyes very complex.

Lin Huaiyu was still that Lin Huaiyu. No matter the time, as long as he still had a breath left, what he thought about was always the people.

But what about himself? Why did he never think about himself?

Fang Zhixu always believed Lin Huaiyu’s words and now had no choice but to leave, looking back every three steps.

Seeing Fang Zhixu off, Lin Huaiyu picked up the tea cup at his side and took another sip of tea, reducing the metallic taste in his mouth. He then shifted his gaze to Jing Fei and asked: “Does the Seventh Prince have anything else?”

Jing Fei waved his fan to cool himself, staring at Lin Huaiyu without blinking: “I had previously heard rumors about Master Yuxi and thought they were exaggerations. Now that I’ve seen you, I only feel those words describing Master Yuxi are still too thin. Master Yuxi is truly someone one can never see enough of; I want to look a bit longer.”

Lin Huaiyu laughed softly. He didn’t get angry at Jing Fei’s teasing, only glanced at Ji Wuyou and said faintly: “That’s a pity; there’s no more room for you in this courtyard.”

Ji Wuyou nodded vigorously, looking at Jing Fei with disdain, and said loudly: “See this tree? This is my territory; there’s no place for you. Leave quickly!”

Jing Fei broke into laughter and looked at Ji Wuyou, mocking him: “The dignified Crown Prince of Great Chu, running to a small Jiangnan courtyard to sleep in a tree, and even so righteous about it—aren’t you afraid of being a joke?”

Ji Wuyou let out a cold snort: “I know you just want to snatch my place. Speaking so nicely, humph, not giving it, just not giving it!”

Jing Fei smiled and didn’t argue with him. Ji Wuyou saw Jing Fei roll his eyes and immediately argued back: “I’ll give you a suggestion! You can go sleep on top of the stone lion at the door! As a doorman! The dignified Seventh Prince of Daxing, being a doorman, hahahahahahaha, hilarious!”

Ji Wuyou was the type who, if others didn’t argue with him, he’d insist on speaking. Jing Fei didn’t want to say much, but his face still looked unconvinced. Thus Ji Wuyou leaned in front of him and laughed: “But I remember, the Seventh Prince is not favored. You came to find Master Yuxi actually to make him your strategist, right!”

The smile on Jing Fei’s lips instantly stiffened, but he quickly recovered his expression, his voice slightly cool: “I truly am enamored with Master Yuxi. Instead, it is you who has other motives, right?”

While the two of them were exposing each other’s dark sides there, Lin Huaiyu let them be, raising his hand to take the teapot and leisurely pouring another cup of tea for himself.

Unexpectedly, a gust of wind lightly blew, lifting his sleeve, and that small section of fair and slender wrist was exposed under the sunlight.

Su Yang’s pupils shrank. He could no longer restrain himself, ignoring everything else, he stepped forward and seized Lin Huaiyu’s wrist. His voice was trembling, containing boundless rage: “How did this happen? Who injured you?!”

The two people over there also stopped their arguing instantly and looked toward Lin Huaiyu. Seeing the scars on Lin Huaiyu’s wrist, both were stunned.

That snow-white wrist was covered with dense knife marks. The marks weren’t very deep; some had already healed, while others were clearly new injuries. It was obviously a long and continuous abuse.

The atmosphere in the courtyard darkened suddenly. Several people became hostile, their goals unexpectedly consistent.

He Qingli felt that if he didn’t explain, he might be hacked into eight pieces and hung on the city wall to dry.

He Qingli’s beard trembled. Just as he was about to speak and explain, Lin Huaiyu spoke first, his expression indifferent: “Just a method of treatment; why must Your Majesty make a fuss.”

Lin Huaiyu pulled his hand, wanting to withdraw it. He didn’t expect that after a year, the strength difference between him and Su Yang was even greater; he couldn’t move it at all.

Lin Huaiyu couldn’t help but frown slightly.

Su Yang actually wanted to say many things to Lin Huaiyu. He wanted to ask why Lin Huaiyu abandoned him, why he was so heartless to erase every trace of his existence in the capital, how he had lived this past year, and if he had ever thought of him…

But when the words reached his lips, they turned a hundred times, and in the end he only looked at Lin Huaiyu and asked softly: “Does it hurt?”

Lin Huaiyu’s gaze only fell on Su Yang’s hand seizing his wrist, saying faintly: “It doesn’t hurt.”

Su Yang locked his brows, squeezing Lin Huaiyu’s hand even tighter: “You’re lying to me; how could it not hurt.”

Lin Huaiyu pursed his lips and shifted his gaze away, glancing elsewhere: “Then why did you ask.”

Su Yang was stunned. In that moment of daze, Lin Huaiyu took the opportunity to pull his hand back.

His palm empty, Su Yang rubbed the warmth of Lin Huaiyu remaining in his hand, his breathing heavy.

He didn’t dare to hope for anything, nor did he dare to do anything else. When Lin Huaiyu drove them all away, Su Yang couldn’t force Lin Huaiyu to let him stay either.

He knew that at this moment, the person Lin Huaiyu least wanted to stay was likely him.

Su Yang walked absent-mindedly on the street, having no heart for the fine Jiangnan scenery. Boats passed back and forth in the river beside the street, with many people sitting on them—a completely different scene from the capital.

He wondered if Lin Huaiyu had adapted when he first arrived…

Su Yang’s steps paused, and then he let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Lin Huaiyu was originally a Jiangnan native; how could he not adapt after returning home?

He really was…

He was about to walk again but found he didn’t know where to go. He came to find Lin Huaiyu, and now that he found him, he still felt like a homeless stray dog, wandering aimlessly on the street.

Suddenly, a peddler bumped into him. The other person was holding a stack of storybooks. Looking up and seeing Su Yang, his handsome face was somewhat dazed and a bit lonely.

Likely seeing he was a bit pitiful alone, the peddler pulled out a book and said: “Do you want to buy a book? The latest issue of a storybook, very good; guaranteed to make you feel happy after reading!”

Su Yang pushed him away, his mood low: “No need, I don’t like reading books.”

Looking at Su Yang’s appearance, the peddler thought for a moment and said with a beaming smile: “Do you have a girl you like but she doesn’t like you, and your confession failed?”

Hearing this, Su Yang’s steps paused. He turned to look at him, his tone with a hint of danger: “How would you know?”

The peddler smiled and waved the storybook in his hand, leaning close to Su Yang and whispering: “Buy a storybook. It’s all said in here; that soul-shattered look of yours just now—isn’t it exactly unrequited love?”

Su Yang: “…not buying.”

He was about to walk again, but the peddler circled to his front and said with a smile: “Then this one! This storybook tells many routines, all used for chasing people. Guaranteed the other party won’t be able to withstand your offensive. With these three hundred and sixty strategies, maybe the other party will fall for it and agree to your confession!”

Only then did Su Yang’s gaze fall on the storybook in the peddler’s hand.

“Twelve Methods of Chasing Your Wife”

With a cold face, Su Yang pulled the storybook over and tossed a silver ingot to the peddler: “I’ll take it.”