Chapter 12
Gulp. The distinct sound of swallowing echoed in the darkness. For once, Lord Yan seemed afraid.
It was impossible to tell if his racing heartbeat was due to the stinging pain in his ear or the oppressive atmosphere. The heavy bed curtains isolated them completely, Yu Qin’s scent nearly overwhelmed him, and the helplessness from having his fate in the hands of someone else sent his blood surging.
“Lord Yu, you want a taste of my flesh…” His voice trailed off into a near-whisper. “That’s… a bit difficult.” As the words left his lips, the scabbard met the blade, sparks flying as they clashed.
They struggled on the bed until Yan Yunhe finally found an opening and knocked the sword from Yu Qin’s hand. In the same frantic motion, he flung the scabbard away. The weapons vanished behind the bed curtains, crashing loudly on the floor.
Yan Yunhe exhaled in relief, about to call for a truce, when a hand suddenly clamped around his throat. His eyes darkened. Seriously?
I just got drunk and entered the wrong room. I just stripped naked, and climbed into the wrong bed. Why is Yu Qin so angry? Lord Yan thought indignantly, convinced that Yu Qin was the unreasonable one.
The cramped space restricted their movements. While Yan Yunhe was stronger than Yu Qin, Yu Qin’s martial arts were tricky and difficult to counter. Those intermittent bursts of icy internal energy that pierced Yan Yunhe’s meridians and clashed with his own techniques were particularly frustrating. His temper flared as the fight dragged on.
They grappled fiercely. Whenever Yan Yunhe gained the upper hand, Yu Qin flipped him over again. This time, Yu Qin’s knee pressed into his abdomen so hard he nearly vomited the wine he’d drunk earlier.
“Yu Qin!” Yan Yunhe snarled through clenched teeth. “So what if I got into your bed?! Are you a girl? Is that why you’re embarrassed?!”
All he got as a response was a punch in the right cheek. Yan Yunhe was furious. Not the face! He was on official business. Who knew how many officials he would meet along the way? How would he explain a bruised and swollen face?
Am I supposed to say the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard beat me up because I accidentally climbed into his bed?
With his abdominal strength, he forcefully surged upward and pinned Yu Qin beneath him. Then, he raised his fist, ready to bring it down on his face.
At that moment, he caught sight of Yu Qin’s eyes—unnervingly clear in the dim light, utterly fearless, coldly fixed upon him.
Yan Yunhe clenched his teeth and slammed his fist into the bed, right beside Yu Qin. With a resounding crash, the battered bed finally collapsed. Yan Yunhe swiftly rolled off, while Yu Qin grabbed the headboard just in time to steady himself. One by one, lamps flickered to life in the quiet inn as the commotion roused the guests.
Yan Yunhe hooked his foot under his inner robe lying on the floor, deftly slipped it on, and was fastening the sash when a frantic knock sounded at the door. “Sir, are you alright?” the waiter called urgently.
Even Yu Qin’s usually impassive face showed a flicker of unease. He looked at Yan Yunhe, who glared back, as if to say, Now look what you’ve done.
The waiter continued knocking for some time, but received no response.
Before Yan Yunhe could come up with an explanation, a familiar, booming voice echoed through the hallway. It was Chen-dage.
“What’s going on here?” Chen-dage demanded, his voice slurring. “Who’s staying in this room?”
“Remember that gentleman you were drinking with earlier? His friend is…” Before the waiter could specify whom this room belonged to, Chen-dage cut him off with alarm. “Xiandi,1 don’t panic! Dage is here to save you!”
With that, he kicked the door open and burst into the room, only to find Yan Yunhe lighting a candle.
Chen-dage rushed forward, groping for him. His sharp eyes immediately noticed blood trickling from Yan Yunhe’s ear. “Xiandi! Were you attacked by bandits just now?”
The waiter followed him in, and a few nosy onlookers crowded outside the door. After a quick scan of the room, everyone’s gaze settled on the broken bed.
The waiter gasped, “Good heavens! The innkeeper will be furious! Such a fine pearwood bed, completely ruined!”
Just then, Yu Qin slowly drew back the curtains and rose from the side of the bed that was still intact.
The air hung in deathly silence. Even the waiter no longer worried about the bed. The onlookers craned their necks as far as they could, while Chen-dage glanced from Yu Qin to Yan Yunhe.
Yan Yunhe bore injuries on his face and suspicious red marks on his neck, while Yu Qin’s clothes were disheveled.
As his gaze drifted to the broken bed once again, Chen-dage’s dark face flushed crimson.
He awkwardly released Yan Yunhe’s shoulder and stumbled backward. “Dage acted rashly! I truly didn’t know!”
In contrast to Chen-dage’s flushed face, Yan Yunhe’s complexion turned ashen. “It’s not what you think!”
But Chen-dage paid him no mind, turning to shoo away the onlookers instead. “What are you all staring at? Have you never seen two men fighting in bed before?”
Yan Yunhe was grateful to Chen-dage for telling the truth, but why did it sound so strange when put into words?
After driving everyone out, Chen-dage thoughtfully closed the door for them.
Yan Yunhe’s temples throbbed as he watched this absurdity unfold. He then shot a glare at Yu Qin, who actually had the nerve to calmly wipe his sword with his outer robe!
Yan Yunhe snatched his robe back, unfurled it to check for tears, then put it on. “This is just great. Now the entire inn knows we broke a bed! How am I supposed to face anyone tomorrow?”
Yu Qin replied calmly, “It’s just gossip. Why do you care?”
Yan Yunhe’s anger flared at his composure. Gritting his teeth, he forced a smile. “Lord Yu, didn’t you hear the waiter say this bed was made of top-grade pearwood?”
Yu Qin’s hand froze as he was sheathing his sword, his face stiffening.
Yan Yunhe’s smile widened. “It must cost at least a hundred and eighty taels, right? I can’t possibly cover that sum all by myself.”
Yu Qin gripped the sword sheath tightly, finally saying after a long pause, “Put it on my account.”
“I know. We’ll settle it when we return to the capital,” Yan Yunhe said. Yu Qin’s expression suddenly made him feel better. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep a careful record of this debt. If necessary, Lord Yu can request an advance on a few months’ salary from the Ministry of Revenue and cut back on a few bowls of noodles. You’ll manage to repay it somehow.”
Yu Qin’s lips tightened into a thin line. “If you’re done talking, get out,” he said curtly.
Yan Yunhe stepped out of the room, only to realize the bed was broken. Where would Yu Qin sleep?
But turning back now would make him look soft—absolutely out of the question. Yan Yunhe returned to his own room in a sour mood, tossing and turning half the night before he finally fell asleep.
The next morning, he went downstairs early to compensate the innkeeper for the damaged bed. Ignoring the innkeeper’s knowing glances, he asked, “Has the gentleman who arrived with me come down for breakfast yet?”
The innkeeper shook his head. Yan Yunhe had already packed his traveling bag and settled his lodging bill.
The innkeeper tapped his abacus. “Last night, the guest instructed the staff not to bring him breakfast, so there’s no charge for that. But I wonder if our service was lacking. Was he unsatisfied in any way?”
Yan Yunhe understood immediately: Yu Qin was drawing a clear line between them, as if afraid of giving him the slightest advantage by owing him favors.
The inn’s breakfast was simple: clear congee, a side dish of pickled vegetables, and steamed buns. Although Yan Yunhe had refined tastes, he had one good habit: he wasn’t picky about food. As he ate his breakfast, Chen-dage sat beside him with a stack of steamed buns. “Xiandi, why are you up so early?”
Yan Yunhe almost choked on a steamed bun when Chen-dage winked at him. After washing down his throat with some congee, he asked, “Why are you up so early too, Chen-dage? Are you leaving already?”
Chen-dage nodded. “This shipment is urgent. Otherwise, I’d escort you to Yunzhou to find your sister.”
As the two kept chatting, Yu Qin appeared in the main hall. Chen-dage tactfully took his remaining steamed buns and vacated his seat for him.
Yan Yunhe had assumed Yu Qin wouldn’t sit with him, but to his surprise, the man walked over and took a seat directly across from him.
Yu Qin ladled himself a bowl of congee. As he brought the spoon to his lips, he murmured, “Something’s off.” The porcelain spoon covered his lips, preventing anyone from discerning his mouth movements.
Yan Yunhe took a bite of his steamed bun. “Indeed. We didn’t get to finish last night.” He didn’t need to conceal his lips; his seat in the corner faced away from everyone else.
Yu Qin glared at him. Yan Yunhe peeled half a salted duck egg and dropped it into his bowl. “Don’t look at me like that. Let them misunderstand. I’m curious to know who else, besides the empress dowager and His Majesty, would care so much about us.”
Comments
Post a Comment