Chapter 341: Chapter 331: Embarrassment
Last night, Fang Chuning hosted a banquet for five generals at the tavern. He returned only after getting thoroughly drunk. He knew the court had sent classified information to General Chen Ming—information he had no access to, as General Chen Ming withheld it from the public. Even so, through observing the general’s actions, Fang Chuning managed to infer a few things. While Zhongzhou ostensibly had a State Mansion overseeing it, in reality, it was under the military’s control. It was just like Ningzhou, where the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry commanded more authority than the State Mansion, with the military always prevailing over local governance. General Chen Ming had disrupted the river transport from Bei River to Jiaozhou, leaving merchants crying out in despair. They were exceedingly displeased yet utterly helpless, confined as they were in Zhongzhou.
When merchants appealed to the State Mansion about when the river transport would resume, the State Mansion couldn’t provide a clear answer. Everything depended on General Chen Ming’s orders. Thus, Fang Chuning hosted a banquet with several generals, hoping to glean at least a fragment of information.
But what he uncovered was beyond unsettling: Lin Helin had secretly arrived in Jiaozhou.
The news struck like a thunderclap overhead—Fang Chuning had no idea Lin Helin had traversed Zhongzhou. His movements were shrouded in such secrecy that even the Capital City remained uninformed.
Recently, the Lin Residence had publicly declared that Lin Helin was sick from overwork and needed rest, hence refusing all visitors. Who could have guessed that Lin Helin would appear in Jiaozhou, thousands of kilometers away?
Could Zhongzhou truly be preparing for military action against the Twelve States?
Troubled in mind, alcohol hit harder. By the time midnight struck, Fang Chuning was so drunk he had to be carried back to his residence by the Deputy General. That night, he dreamed over and over—dreamt of Xie Jue, dreamt of armies clashing, dreamt of himself and Xie Jue confronting each other on the battlefield. In the dream, Xie Jue’s face was cold and pale as he demanded why Fang Chuning stood on the opposing side. Fang Chuning’s eyes reddened, yet he could not speak a single word. Xie Jue’s sword had already pierced toward him. There, upon the battlefield, the two wrestled ruthlessly. How could Fang Chuning bear to harm Xie Jue? From childhood to now, he hadn’t the heart to hurt him even once.
And yet, just like that, he woke. The dream had ended, but it clung to him like a haunting reality—he could even smell the cold fragrance faintly wafting from Ting Feng’s presence in his dreams.
Standing at the foot of his bed was the person he had dreamed of.
Fang Chuning heard Xie Jue’s voice and instantly tensed. He unclenched his hand, his gaze falling on the figure by the bedside. It was indeed Xie Jue, standing there, framed against the light. His face was difficult to discern, bathed in radiance, but Fang Chuning knew it was him without doubt. He knew Xie Jue too well—so well that even cloaked in light, his silhouette told it all.
"Ting Feng?"
Only Ting Feng would call him Anning.
A thousand thoughts churned through Fang Chuning’s mind, only for one fatal concern to rise. Panicking, he clutched a blanket to cover his disheveled self. He had been thoroughly drunk the previous night and passed out after removing his outer robe, leaving his upper body bare, dressed only in thin undershorts. Though the weather in early November was cold, a man’s body temperature ran warm, and with coals burning in the brazier, not a hint of chill seeped in.
Waking with a hangover and realizing Ting Feng stood at his bedside—such a collision of emotions, between the mortifying awkwardness of early-morning disarray and the shock and delight of seeing Ting Feng—humiliation struck belatedly but intensely. He almost wanted to roar out loud. Was his Deputy General courting death? Letting Ting Feng in unannounced so early in the morning!
But then again, when had Ting Feng ever announced himself when entering his master bedroom?
"T-T-Ting Feng..." Fang Chuning tried in vain to maintain a calm and composed tone. "Help me get my outer robe."
Xie Jue turned and opened the wardrobe, taking out a clean set of clothes that included an inner layer, undershorts, and an outer robe. He tossed them onto the bed, the bundle landing squarely over Fang Chuning’s face. "Change everything!"
"...Oh."
Xie Jue turned away and seated himself on the warm divan. A single screen partitioned the divan from the master bedroom, yet even with his eyes closed, Xie Jue could hear the rustling sounds of fabric as Fang Chuning changed clothes. Faintly interspersed were Fang Chuning’s muttered curses of annoyance.
Xie Jue’s lips curved upward slightly.
Such a familiar scene—it had been so long!