Chapter 350: Chapter 340: Heartless
Xie Jue tossed and turned, unable to sleep. It was rare to meet Fang Chuning, and he didn’t want to leave Zhongzhou with Fang Chuning’s anger lingering. Once again, Xie Jue threw off his quilt and got up, only to be greeted by the biting cold wind of the night that left his head aching. He opened the door, and then closed it again.
Yet, he caught the sound of footsteps in the courtyard outside. It seemed like Fang Chuning’s deputy general was talking to someone. Xie Jue frowned and asked, "What’s the matter?"
Shadow Guard Two replied, "Mr. Fang injured his hand. The deputy general summoned a doctor overnight."
"What happened to his hand?"
"He smashed a wooden post in anger and hurt himself doing it."
Xie Jue, "..."
Truly impressive!
He was genuinely annoyed. Military generals feared injuries to their hands and feet the most, especially since Fang Chuning’s weapon of choice on the battlefield was the spear. A weakened grip would undoubtedly affect its power.
Fang Chuning thought the deputy general was making a fuss over nothing. "It’s just a small scrape," he said. "Was it really necessary to call a doctor overnight?" The deputy general countered, "Cold weather can turn small wounds into serious ones."
"Do as you please!"
The doctor examined the wound and removed the splinters lodged in it. While it wasn’t catastrophic, it couldn’t be entirely dismissed either. The doctor gave instructions for proper care, advising against exposure to the cold. Fang Chuning paid no mind to such warnings, letting advice go in one ear and out the other. "Where did Chen Gui search afterward?" he asked.
"He went to all the usual places you frequent—likely routine checks. General Chen Ming is making a big show of it; it seems he won’t rest until he finds the Second Young Master," the deputy general replied, adding that the Second Young Master staying in the residence was relatively safe. "Even if General Chen Ming finds the Second Young Master, it shouldn’t matter too much. Lin Helin is in Prince Qin’s hands now; General Chen Ming wouldn’t dare act recklessly toward the Second Young Master."
"Who knows?" Fang Chuning didn’t wish to gamble on such matters. He didn’t want Ting Feng to take unnecessary risks anyway. "Don’t go broadcasting this little injury of mine everywhere."
The deputy general, catching his drift, remarked, "I passed through the central courtyard with the doctor. If the Second Young Master wasn’t asleep, he would’ve seen us. The fact that he didn’t come to check on you means he doesn’t care about you at all. Don’t flatter yourself."
"Get lost!"
The deputy general had no interest in meddling in Fang Chuning and Xie Jue’s affairs. However, if Xie Jue left just like that, his lordship was bound to lose his mind for a while. For the sake of both parties, reconciliation seemed like the best course of action.
Fang Chuning felt miserable—his complexion showed it. The doctor didn’t dare provoke him further; after tending to his wound and reminding him of the precautions, he left. Fang Chuning rolled around in bed until dawn, unable to sleep.
Ting Feng was ruthless!
Even though they lived under the same roof, if Ting Feng decided to hold back from meeting him, then there truly would be no chance for them to see one another. After breakfast, Xie Jue knew Fang Chuning had already gone to the military camp. Since Xie Jue needed to stay hidden, he didn’t leave the residence either, fully aware that Fang Chuning was deliberately avoiding him—even heading out before sunrise to ensure their paths wouldn’t cross.
To go out so early after already having a sleepless night—truly stubborn!
Left with nothing to do, Xie Jue sat by the warm couch, brewing tea and painting. Calculating the time, in three more days, Zhixu and the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry would arrive at Zhongzhou City. Until then, he had three days of leisure. Ever since leaving Capital City for Ningzhou, he had been on edge—working tirelessly day and night. This was the first time in ages that he could actually relax.
If Fang Chuning weren’t throwing a tantrum, these days would be perfect.
In the afternoon, thick clouds gathered, accompanied by gusting winds. Before long, torrential rain came pouring down, soaking the veranda and making the surface rather slippery. Xie Jue stood under the veranda, watching the rain while brewing his tea.
Fang Chuning, forced to return early due to the storm, passed through the central courtyard and saw Xie Jue but acted as though he didn’t. Without so much as a hello, Fang Chuning walked on. This three-courtyard residence wasn’t particularly large, and after giving the master bedroom to Xie Jue, Fang Chuning stayed in the western wing.
Having braved the rain, his clothes were thoroughly soaked. Xie Jue faintly overheard him grumbling to his deputy general about Zhongzhou’s treacherous weather. "When it rains, it rains without any warning," Fang Chuning complained.
The deputy general uttered an exasperated sound and urged him, "Quickly change your clothes. Remaining wet and cold like this is a surefire way to get sick. Even the strongest body can’t hold up under such abuse."
This deputy general had been following Fang Chuning since childhood. His name was Zhou Buyan, the son of a military general under Marshal Fang. Zhou Buyan was the same age as Fang Chuning, having started following him at the age of eight. Later, when Fang Chuning went to the Ningzhou Battlefield, he took Zhou Buyan along as well. Though one was master and the other subordinate, they interacted more like brothers, their conversations unfiltered and unrestrained.
Nuanyang and Feiying had also followed Xie Xun since they were young. Now his deputy generals, they dared not joke or banter with Xie Xun so casually. The shadow guards under him wouldn’t dream of being so impertinent either. Only Fang Chuning’s people seemed to exhibit this level of boldness and comfort in their interactions with him, completely unafraid of crossing any boundaries. Ultimately, this boiled down to Fang Chuning’s easygoing personality, distinct from how others wielded authority.
Xie Jue listened to the sounds of the rain, unmoved. A man like Fang Chuning would never feel lonely wherever he went. Even in Zhongzhou’s political scene, where he faced ostracism, Fang Chuning could still drink and celebrate endlessly with the other generals. His crew consisted of loyal comrades through thick and thin—people who could laugh and bicker with him like brothers.
The rain continued without stopping, stretching into the evening. Xie Jue frowned slightly and turned back into his room. A kettle was boiling on the stove, releasing steam that expelled the cold dampness from the room.
Western wing.
Zhou Buyan asked, "Aren’t you afraid the Second Young Master will leave this residence? Living here under someone else’s favor, subjected to your moods—if I were him, I’d pack my bags and leave immediately."
"Who’s living under whose favor?" Fang Chuning retorted. "Ting Feng is staying in *my* house, sleeping in *my* room. Who’s really the one living under someone else’s roof?" Fang Chuning clicked his tongue. Ever since Ting Feng arrived, they’d been preparing soup in the kitchen for him every day—all tailored to Ting Feng’s tastes.
Ting Feng’s meals were specially cooked.
Meanwhile, as the rightful host, Fang Chuning had been eating communal meals from the big pot before Ting Feng showed up!!!
"Isn’t this exactly how you wanted it?" Zhou Buyan rolled up Fang Chuning’s soaked clothes and tossed them into the laundry basket. "Xie Xun should arrive at Zhongzhou in two days. You’re not seriously going to keep this cold-war act up with the Second Young Master, are you?"
"Whose man are you, exactly?" Fang Chuning sighed, utterly exasperated at the constant pestering. "Has Ting Feng offered you some kind of reward?"
"No rewards. We just enjoy watching you grovel to make amends."
"Get out!" Fang Chuning kicked him. "If I make the first move to reconcile, I’m a dog!"
"Now *that’s* backbone!" Zhou Buyan gave him a thumbs-up. "Let the Second Young Master know—you’re a man of principle, not some spineless lackey."
Fang Chuning was nearly seething with anger. Zhou Buyan, however, tactfully withdrew, grabbing the laundry basket and leaving. Fang Chuning summoned his bodyguard and asked, "What’s the Second Young Master been up to today?"
"Brewing tea, painting, watching the rain," replied the soldier succinctly.
"Did he say anything?"
"Not a word."
"Not even one?"
"Nothing at all."
Fang Chuning felt a pang of suffocation. Waving the guard off in irritation, he then paused to call him back. "Tell the kitchen to make him a bowl of ginger tea. Make it strong."
Who knew how long Ting Feng had been standing out in the rain? Catching a cold would not be ideal.
"Understood!" The soldier hesitated, then asked tentatively, "Master, do you want one too?"
"Why would I drink that stuff?"
"You came back soaked to the skin from the rain. Looks like you need ginger tea far more than the Second Young Master does."
Fang Chuning, "..."