Chapter 45

The person had been gone for two months. Duke Dingguo's Manor had already removed its mourning clothes, but it was still decorated in plain colors. Ji Weiqiu couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness looking at it.

He didn't say things like 'my condolences'. It was best not to mention it. If he put on a sorrowful expression himself, wouldn't that just make Second Brother Zhou sad as well?

Ji Weiqiu looked left and right and asked, "I remember the flower hall is in this direction?"

"Mm," Zhou Ruhui replied, a bit startled, then slowly said, "Your Highness has a good memory."

Ji Weiqiu had always been sensible. Although he had often met with Zhou Ruhui during their childhood, it was because of Ji Su. When Zhou Ruhui was enfeoffed as a duke, he had only come to represent Ji Su on the day of Zhou Ruhui's wedding. It had been ten years since then. After all, for a prince like him, it was fine to meet and chat casually with a duke like Zhou Ruhui who held military power, but it was unnecessary to visit his manor.

Besides, Zhou Ruhui was not in the capital for most of the year, so Ji Weiqiu truly didn't have many opportunities to meet him.

He understood this point without Ji Su having to tell him. Not only did he understand, but Zhou Ruhui also understood.

Ji Weiqiu walked shoulder to shoulder with him. It was only when they arrived at Zhou Ruhui's manor that it was more convenient to talk. He asked, "I heard things are not good at the border. Do the Tujue often come to plunder?"

Ji Weiqiu paused and added, "Imperial Elder Brother told me some things as well."

Zhou Ruhui said without hesitation, "Yes."

Ji Weiqiu retorted, "So we just let them come and plunder? Is there no way to deal with it?"

Actually, Ji Weiqiu knew his words were nonsense. The enemy was like a guerrilla force, while their villages here were like fixed dungeons in a game. The enemy would come, plunder, and then leave with a 'whoosh'. Who knew which corner of the grasslands they went to? It was impossible to chase them. How would it look for a large group of elite soldiers to rush into another country's territory? But sending too few people wouldn't work either; the enemy had a natural geographical advantage. Sending a small group would be purely feeding them kills.

It had been this way throughout history. At present, the only solution seemed to be to become so powerful that the other side wouldn't dare to come and plunder—clearly, Nanzhu had not yet met this condition.

Zhou Ruhui's words were concise and to the point: "Kill our way back."

Ji Weiqiu: "...?"

Zhou Ruhui glanced at him and said, "As long as we kill all the Tujue wandering around the border, no one will come to plunder."

Ji Weiqiu was silent for a long while. So, uh, they were already doing that? There was no need for him to bring it up... No wonder Ji Su was laughing at the time. So that was what he was laughing about.

Right. Clever people in the world were as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river. What was he, an ordinary person, pretending to be some big shot for?

As they spoke, they arrived at the flower hall. The manor had already received word and prepared a meal. As soon as the two of them sat down, various delicacies were served like a flowing stream. Ji Weiqiu had someone open the Luyun Spring wine to drink. "Second Brother Zhou, have a taste. I originally wanted to bring another kind, but for some reason, my Imperial Elder Brother sealed it away. Eunuch Qingxi said this Luyun Spring is also very good, so I brought two jars over. If you like it, I'll have someone send more to you tomorrow."

After washing his hands, Zhou Ruhui raised his cup and took a small sip. Ji Weiqiu also had a taste. Luyun Spring lived up to its name. It was smooth upon entry, and a wave of coolness spread through his organs first, followed by the fiery heat of the alcohol. But its strength was different from other wines; it seemed to carry a gentle force.

Ji Weiqiu was still thinking about Biyun Brew. Compared to that, Luyun Spring was good, but it was more 'scholarly'. It was better suited for refined scholars to liven things up while composing poetry and songs. Biyun Brew, on the other hand, was 'martial'. It was all about forthright heroism, so strong it could penetrate the bones and cleanse the marrow.

"Excellent," Zhou Ruhui praised.

But Ji Weiqiu said, "No, it's still lacking something. Second Brother Zhou, you wait. I'll go back to the palace tomorrow and steal some Biyun Brew. You'll understand once you drink it."

Zhou Ruhui smiled slightly, then shook his head. "Your Highness, do not disobey Your Majesty."

Ji Weiqiu laughed along with him. "Why would he scold me over two jars of wine? It's not like it's mixed with crane's crown red and arsenic. My Imperial Elder Brother even has a couple of sips himself!"

Zhou Ruhui thought about it and agreed. Ji Weiqiu had been strong-willed since childhood, and he couldn't persuade him—he had tried, hadn't he?

Presumably, the Emperor couldn't blame him either.

Ji Weiqiu was grinning, feeling extremely relaxed. He tugged at his collar and suddenly realized this was probably the effect of the Luyun Spring. He recalled that he could get drunk from a single cup of Biyun Brew, so he didn't dare to down the next cup in one go, lest he waste this wonderful time.

"Second Brother Zhou, tell me more about the borderlands," Ji Weiqiu said, tapping the table, his eyes shining. "I've never been."

Zhou Ruhui had no choice but to pick some interesting anecdotes to tell him. "The local customs are different from Yanjing. Both men and women are forthright and bold..."

He paused here. A young servant who had served him for a long time came forward to pour wine for Zhou Ruhui and chimed in, "Your Highness, you don't know this, but our Lord Duke is handsome..."

"Mo Jian, shut up!" Zhou Ruhui said coldly.

Ji Weiqiu quickly waved his hand. "Don't listen to your duke, quick, tell me!"

Mo Jian chuckled and continued, "During the first two years at the border, men and women came to see the Lord Duke every day. But the Lord Duke was in the military camp, how could he let them surround him like that? After chasing them away several times, who knew they'd come up with a plan? Many men from the borderlands join the army. So one day someone would bring clothes for their second uncle, the next day someone would bring food for their father, and they'd all freeze in their tracks when they saw our Lord Duke."

"The Lord Duke got annoyed but couldn't lash out. It just so happened that some Tujue came to burn, kill, and plunder those few days. The Lord Duke led his men and chased them relentlessly for over five hundred li, killed them all, and returned with their heads tied to his horse, covered in blood. He thought those amorous admirers would be scared..." Mo Jian asked, "Guess what happened?"

Ji Weiqiu: "...Could it be that they liked him even more?"

"Your Highness guessed right!" Mo Jian laughed heartily. "Those people went crazy. They just threw themselves at the Lord Duke. Even a single touch was said to be to absorb some of the Lord Duke's martial prowess! There were also young wives and pretty widows who said they wanted to bear the Lord Duke a child. They said the Lord Duke only needed to sleep with them, and he wouldn't have to worry about food or drink! They would just pretend not to know each other if they met in the future! The most outrageous part was that men came too, wanting to sleep with the Lord Duke, saying that if they could get some of the Lord Duke's essence, they might be able to kill enemies like the Lord Duke in the future!"

"Mo Jian, how audacious!" Zhou Ruhui shouted. Mo Jian had gone through life and death with him and had picked up the coarse habits of a veteran in the military camp. He didn't mince his words, whether crude or refined—were these things that could be said in front of the Prince of Rui?!

"Second Brother, Second Brother! Don't be angry!" Ji Weiqiu leaned back in his chair, unable to stop laughing. "We're all men here, and there are no women present, what can't be said? Didn't sister-in-law scold you when you came back? I don't believe it!"

Ji Weiqiu stopped abruptly. "I've misspoken. Second Brother, don't be angry with me."

But Zhou Ruhui said, "How could I dare let her know? Her health was always poor... Your Highness doesn't need to avoid mentioning her. If she knew in the underworld, I'm afraid she would come to scold me in my dreams."

Ji Weiqiu laughed loudly at his words. "Sister-in-law is still the same. Second Brother, you didn't actually take a concubine at the border, did you? You can't hide it now!"

Zhou Ruhui said slowly, "I did not."

Although he spoke slowly, his words were incomparably firm.

Ji Weiqiu patted his shoulder and said suddenly, "...Sometimes I'm a bit envious of you, Second Brother. You and sister-in-law knew and loved each other for over a decade. A match made in heaven, who wouldn't be envious?"

"Your Highness is approaching the age of capping," Zhou Ruhui said. "I imagine your marriage is near."

"Me?" Ji Weiqiu blinked and drank a cup of Luyun Spring. "Forget about me. I won't go and ruin a girl from a good family."

Zhou Ruhui raised his eyes to look at Ji Weiqiu, as if waiting for him to continue. Ji Weiqiu hadn't intended to say more, but on a whim, he waved his hand, signaling for the servants to withdraw. Only a few confidants remained. He said, "Imperial Elder Brother told me before that he wanted to betroth Prime Minister Wang's daughter to me, saying she is beautiful and obedient, and that I would surely like her..."

"But I am a cut-sleeve," he said, looking at Zhou Ruhui and winking playfully. "But don't worry, Second Brother. I don't eat the grass by my own nest."

Liking men wasn't actually a big deal. Back in The Late Emperor's time, it was even considered an elegant affair and was quite prevalent. It's just that Ji Su dislikes it, and after the practice of following the superior's example, it was no longer done openly, so as not to displease Your Majesty.

However, liking men these days meant fooling around with a few pretty boys. One would still marry a wife, and perhaps keep a couple of handsome page boys in the study. There was almost no one who would openly declare that they only loved men, were unwilling to marry, and wanted to spend their life with someone of the same sex like a proper married couple.

Even a beggar, as long as he could survive, would find a beggar woman to bear him offspring to continue the family line.

Zhou Ruhui said, "...Does the Emperor know?"

"He didn't know before." Ji Weiqiu felt as if he were floating on a cloud. He ate a few bites of food to suppress the effects of the alcohol and said, "But he should know after today... I think my Imperial Elder Brother will give me a good scolding tomorrow, and then force two bed-servants on me."

He leaned against the chair, his expression suddenly growing distant. "Let it be. I'll take it one day at a time. In any case, I don't want..."

He smiled faintly. "Giving me two handsome men as bed-servants would be fine, though."

Zhou Ruhui said, "Why did you have to say it out loud?"

If he hadn't said it, the days would have passed by in a muddle. The two superiors would not know the reason and wouldn't know where to start.

Ji Weiqiu's expression shifted. His eyes, which had been lazy and listless from the alcohol, now seemed to make his entire person come alive, becoming incredibly vivid. "I don't want Second Brother Zhou to misunderstand, and I don't want my Imperial Elder Brother to misunderstand... Can these words even be said? Forget it, there are no outsiders here anyway."

He then said to the ceiling beams, "Did you hear that? Relay my exact words back. If you miss a single word, watch your hide!"

He was destined to have a bad ending. Ji Su... was suspicious, and would only become more so in the future. He would one day fall to the same fate as in the original novel. At that time, it would just be a meager existence. Whether man or woman, would they enter his manor only to be put under house arrest with him in the future?

Being under house arrest with him would be a good ending. They would probably be executed silently... right?

What's the point of that?

Ji Weiqiu smiled faintly. "Second Brother, have a couple more drinks with me. Let's not go home until we're drunk tonight."

He drank two more cups and couldn't resist the alcohol's effect any longer. "...Sorry, I'm... drunk... Second Brother, feel free... After all... I'm destined to be... don't want to harm someone else..."

He collapsed onto the table. Zhou Ruhui was about to help him up when he saw a person slowly walk in. He was startled when he saw the person's face and was about to salute, but the person shook his head.

Ji Su placed a hand on the back of Ji Weiqiu's neck.

He had arrived early. He had wanted to come in, but in the end, he stood outside the flower hall and listened to half the conversation.

Ji Weiqiu was drunk, and he knew that. He also knew Ji Weiqiu's unfinished words.

His words were full of gloom, as if he had no expectations for the future.

He frowned deeply. 'What is this kid thinking? Could he be some kind of infatuated fool? If he can't be with that person, his life will be like stagnant water? And he'd harm that person... Who does he like?'

'For the dignified Prince of Rui, whoever he liked, it should be their honor.'