The General’s Residence received some happy news.
Just a few days ago, Shu Changyu had risen steadily through the ranks and reached the position of Minister of Personnel. He was only in his twenties, yet he was already considered one of the most influential and sought-after figures in the imperial court.
Only a few days after his promotion, news came from the Duke Dingguo General’s Residence that Shu Changyu was going to marry.
This caused quite a stir throughout the court. What surprised them was not that Shu Changyu was getting married, but that the woman he was marrying came from a small, insignificant household with no noble family background. It was said that he had met her back when he was in Huzhou handling the floods.
A girl like that… bringing her home as a concubine would have been one thing. Why marry her as his wife?
However, the Shu family was now enjoying immense glory. They held military power beyond the passes, while in the capital there was Shu Changyu, who kept rising through the ranks. Presumably, on one hand, they had no need to rely on a marriage alliance to consolidate their position. On the other hand, if they used marriage to form another faction, it might arouse His Majesty’s suspicions.
Thus, although the officials in the capital muttered among themselves, not a single one dared to say it aloud. It was merely a pity for the daughters of the capital’s official families. Upon hearing that the handsome and illustrious top scholar already had someone to marry, who knew how many young maidens’ hearts had been shattered?
The day before the marriage, Emperor Jing Cong came to the General’s Residence.
“Where is General Shu?” Jing Cong rose and accepted the teacup Shu Changyu handed him.
Shu Changyu smiled. “My father is concerned about the stability of the border, so he returned a couple of days ago.”
Jing Cong clearly did not believe him. He curled his lips, took a sip of tea, and said, “General Shu still doesn’t agree with you and Second Imperial Brother, does he?”
Hearing this, Shu Changyu did not bother to argue. He smiled and said, “I suppose Father is no longer willing to obstruct us, but he still refuses to give Jing Mu a good look. This time, he probably went back because he was afraid things would become unpleasant at the wedding.”
Jing Cong put down his teacup. “And you just let Second Imperial Brother make such a fuss.”
Shu Changyu sighed, though the corners of his lips kept rising. “I have no choice. He insists on making a fuss until I give him a proper status.”
Jing Cong had grown older now, and after being tempered by Jing Mu for several years, he had gradually acquired the bearing of an emperor. In theory, the Regent’s position should have been unstable and precarious. But first, Jing Mu had no interest in such power. Once he saw that Jing Cong was capable, he returned all of it to him. Second, Jing Cong knew about the relationship between the two of them and did not harbor the slightest suspicion toward Jing Mu.
Besides, if it had not been for Jing Mu back then, the three members of their family would all have ended up dead.
Jing Cong inexplicably found himself eating a mouthful of dog food, and for a moment, he felt rather stuffed. He took a sip of tea and washed that mouthful of dog food down.
Jing Cong continued, “Then… do you want Me to give Second Imperial Brother a title as well?” He grinned. “After all, it seems Second Imperial Brother doesn’t particularly care about his position as Regent either. Why not confer upon him the title of Imperial Consort?”
Shu Changyu laughed too. “Forget it. An Imperial Consort has to enter the palace to pay respects to His Majesty from time to time. Wouldn’t that make people notice something?”
After seeing Jing Cong off, Dai Wenliang came looking for him again, full of righteous fury.
“Third Young Master Shu, I really misjudged you!” His voice could be heard before he even entered the room.
The little plump sparrow on the rack by the door had grown old by now. It stood there listlessly, dozing off. Startled awake by Dai Wenliang’s angry shout, it croaked out two hoarse chirps.
Dai Wenliang walked straight past it and into the room.
Shu Changyu was standing in the main hall. Seeing Dai Wenliang looking as though he had come to demand an explanation, he was startled.
“What happened?”
“Why are you suddenly getting married for no reason?!” he demanded. “I only knew you were an upright and incorruptible scholar. I never imagined you would do something as heartless as abandoning someone after having your way with them!”
Shu Changyu was stunned for a moment before realizing that Dai Wenliang knew about his relationship with Jing Mu, but did not know who the woman marrying into his household tomorrow was.
Dai Wenliang angrily said, “Third Young Master Shu, after you marry a wife, what will happen to the Regent? He even gave up becoming emperor for you back then. How can you…”
Shu Changyu hurriedly grabbed him. “You’re still being so careless with your words. Are these things you can just say casually?”
What he meant was that the matter of Jing Mu giving up the throne could not be spoken of recklessly. After all, the person sitting on the Dragon Throne now was Jing Cong. He was supposed to be the ruler of the empire, and no one could overstep him.
But Dai Wenliang misunderstood him.
“Oh, really? So now we can’t even mention the Regent in your presence?” he raged. “The Regent is so deeply devoted to you!”
Shu Changyu was stunned when he heard this.
“How do you know he’s deeply devoted to me?” Shu Changyu asked.
Dai Wenliang snorted. “I went and asked the Regent just now!”
Shu Changyu raised an eyebrow. “What did he say?”
Dai Wenliang said, “He said he understood your decision. He said you’ve reached the age where you should start a family and settle down! He even said he doesn’t mind and is willing to serve you together with your new wife… Shu Changyu, how can you be such a beast?!”
Shu Changyu: “…”
—
That night, Shu Changyu had just lain down fully clothed when he heard a rustling sound outside the window. He got up to look and saw a silhouette cast across his window.
The silhouette raised a hand and cautiously tapped twice against the window lattice.
Shu Changyu put on his outer robe, rose, and walked to the window before opening it.
Then he saw Jing Mu standing outside, blinking at him with a smile.
According to the customs of this dynasty, a bride and groom were not allowed to see each other before their wedding. Shu Changyu was just about to tell him this and send him back when he suddenly remembered what Dai Wenliang had said to him that day.
Shu Changyu raised an eyebrow and curled his lips into a faint smile.
Meanwhile, Jing Mu was too busy maneuvering around the pair of flower vases in front of the window as he climbed inside to notice Shu Changyu’s expression. The moment he landed, he heard Shu Changyu say, “You came at just the right time tonight.”
“Hm?” Jing Mu looked up at him.
Then he saw Shu Changyu wearing nothing but a pure white inner garment beneath a blue outer robe, his black hair loose over his shoulders. He stood there with his arms folded, looking at Jing Mu with an amused smile.
“I’m getting married tomorrow,” Shu Changyu said with a smile. “After thinking it over, I still feel that I should be a gentleman and not make my wife unhappy. So from now on, the two of us should end things. And there’s no need for you to serve me together with my wife either.”
Jing Mu immediately understood that Shu Changyu was bringing up what Dai Wenliang had said earlier and teasing him over it.
Earlier that day, when Jing Mu saw Dai Wenliang rushing around with that expression, he had found it amusing and deliberately teased him. Only after seeing him become furious did he let him go. He had not expected this fellow to move so quickly and tell Shu Changyu about it.
Jing Mu’s expression changed, and he suddenly looked aggrieved. He raised his fist and lightly hammered Shu Changyu once on the chest.
“You heartless man, you fickle lover! Now that you have someone new, you’re going to abandon me, aren’t you?”
As he spoke, he bent down and wrapped his arms around Shu Changyu’s waist. With one hand, he closed the window, while simultaneously leaning his head over and burrowing insistently into Shu Changyu’s embrace.
“This servant refuses to accept this,” Jing Mu whined. “This servant is already carrying your child. Where are you going to send the two of us, mother and child?”
Shu Changyu: “…”
Where had this shameless rascal come from?
He pushed him several times, but could not pry apart Jing Mu’s powerful arms. The rascal continued stubbornly, “If you don’t want me, then so be it. But how can you not want the flesh and blood in my belly?”
Shu Changyu said, “Show me. Where exactly is the flesh and blood in your belly?”
The rascal gave him a sly smile.
“Right here, my lord.”
As he spoke, he grabbed Shu Changyu’s hand, pressed it against his clearly defined abdominal muscles, and slid it downward until it rested against his erection.
Shu Changyu: “…”
“My lord, can you feel the child? Such a big child,” Jing Mu continued with a grin.
Shu Changyu shot him a glance.
The Regent, whose methods in court were ruthless, who acted decisively and swiftly, and who usually wore an expression that brooked no frivolity, now looked just like a street thug harassing a respectable woman—wearing a shameless grin and an utterly roguish expression.
Shu Changyu pulled his hand back and said, “You have to get up early tomorrow. Stop fooling around.”
Jing Mu smiled brightly. “I know.”
With that, he raised a hand and effortlessly scooped Shu Changyu up horizontally, carrying him toward the bed.
“Still, who came up with the rule that the bride and groom must not see each other for three days before their wedding?” he said as he laid Shu Changyu on the bed and removed the outer robe from his body. “I spent two nights alone and truly couldn’t stand it anymore. I had to see you before I could sleep.”
As he spoke, he sat properly on the edge of the bed, propped his chin on his hand, and said, “Go to sleep. I’ll watch you. Once you fall asleep, I’ll go back.”
Lying on the bed, Shu Changyu saw the man sitting beside him against the moonlight, a soft halo of light outlining his tall, straight figure.
He sighed. “Then I’ll sleep?”
Jing Mu hummed in response. He immediately softened even his breathing, as though afraid of disturbing him.
Shu Changyu helplessly curled his lips into a smile.
“All right. We’ve already seen each other, and we’ve already broken the rules. There’s no need to care about a little while longer. You can sleep here tonight and go back a little earlier tomorrow.”
Sure enough, the wolf cub by the bedside immediately lit up at those words.
He quickly removed his outer clothes and climbed onto the bed.
“But no fooling around,” Shu Changyu reminded him.
“No fooling around. I absolutely won’t fool around,” Jing Mu promised.
Then he slipped beneath the covers and reached out to embrace him.
“I know you’ll have to ride a horse tomorrow and stand for a long time.”
Shu Changyu wrapped his arms around him in return and sighed.
“You haven’t been here for a few days, and I’ve found it rather hard to get used to. Without this warm person in the bed, it’s a little cold.”
After saying this, he instinctively shifted closer into Jing Mu’s arms, rested his head against his shoulder, and closed his eyes.
Naturally, he missed the tenderness in Jing Mu’s eyes, softer and gentler than the moonlight itself.
“Mm. Sleep,” he heard Jing Mu say.
The next morning, when Shu Changyu opened his eyes, the space beside him was already empty.
His room had long since been decorated in a magnificent, festive style. Maidservants went in and out, while Double Happiness characters had been pasted onto the doors and windows. Shu Changyu got up, and someone immediately came forward to attend to his washing and dressing.
“This morning… did anyone come in or go out?” he asked hoarsely, rubbing his eyes.
A maidservant replied, “To answer Young Master, no one else came in or went out.”
Shu Changyu laughed helplessly and raised his head to look at the red lantern hanging outside the window in the morning light.
Sure enough, he really was a fox.
He had probably already sneaked back home, gotten himself properly dressed, put on his bridal veil, and was now waiting for Shu Changyu to come and escort his bride.
Author’s Note: Am I not incredibly clever? Some little angels wanted to see him in women’s clothing, while others wanted to see him get married, so I just wrote the two together!
The number-one genius in the universe, Liu Gouhua!!
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