Fish Meat – Chapter 237

The Eighth Year of Shunde

Like Snapping Dried Twigs and Pulling Up Rotten Wood (4)

That time Wei Tingxu was in the Northern Frontier, she not only completed the critical mission of delivering supplies to the Yu Army but also fulfilled her own childhood wish.

            

Wei Tingxu, who had always wanted to witness a real battlefield, who had longed to kill the Hu bandits with her own hands, finally came personally to the borderlands. Coordinating with Zhen Wenjun, they enveloped the enemy from both flanks, trapping twenty thousand Hu bandits within Ice Valley​¹ and slaughtering them with a hail of arrows.

Looking at the bodies of the bandits covering the mountains and valley, the cold wind blew, carrying a scent of blood as sweet as the candy she had loved most as a child.

The severe cold of the north was truly harsh. Zhen Wenjun didn’t want Wei Tingxu to fall ill there; besides being life-threatening, it would be extremely distracting. Wei Tingxu also understood she should return to Runing. Before leaving, she reluctantly stroked Zhen Wenjun’s face, her fingertips tracing back and forth over her coarse skin.

            

“I will wait for you to return.”

Zhen Wenjun nodded.

“You must return safely.”

            

“Mm, I will.”

Now, she had kept her promise and returned to Runing. The two joined intimately like clouds and rain over Gao Tang​² within the hot springs of Zhuo Jun Manor, neither willing to let the other go first.

Wei Tingxu had consistently taken the conditioning remedy Zhen Wenjun left her. This time, during their night of passion​³, Wei Tingxu could even clearly feel a strange pulse deep within her body, growing ever clearer, ever more captivating under Zhen Wenjun’s touch.

            

Even Zhen Wenjun, physically robust from years of campaigning, was worn out by her exertions and collapsed by the side of the pool. Only when her arms grew sore and numb did Wei Tingxu finally spare her.

Zhen Wenjun leaned against the pool’s edge, pulling Wei Tingxu before her and massaging her waist. “Did I hurt you just now?”

Wei Tingxu shook her head, her long, wet hair draped over her chest. Buoyed by the water and supported by Zhen Wenjun, she rested comfortably against Zhen Wenjun’s front, rising and falling gently.

            

“It seems General Zhen’s stamina is lacking.”

Hearing this, Zhen Wenjun’s fighting spirit immediately surged. “Let me rest well tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll definitely let you taste my prowess.”

Wei Tingxu showed no fear, instead licking her lips. “I’m also a bit tired today. If you are still so negligent tomorrow, don’t blame me for swallowing you whole.”

            

Hearing her words, Zhen Wenjun couldn’t resist pressing her against the side of the pool. “Three months ago, I dove underwater and saved two people consecutively, only surfacing for air once.”

“Oh? And so what?”

A smile touched the corner of Zhen Wenjun’s lips. She took a deep breath and submerged into the hot spring.

            

At first, Wei Tingxu didn’t know what trick she was up to. Suddenly, scalding heat drilled into her still-sensitive body, nearly making her leap out of the water.

Zhen Wenjun held her hand, preventing her escape, until Wei Tingxu felt she was about to melt from the heat. Only then did Zhen Wenjun resurface.

“How about that?”

            

Wei Tingxu, smiling yet shy, leaned limply in her embrace, conceding defeat with a weak gaze. Only then did Zhen Wenjun let her off the hook.

They had soaked in the hot spring for quite some time and expended a great deal of energy. Just moments ago, Wei Tingxu had been planning to devour Zhen Wenjun tomorrow, but after one round, she didn’t even have the strength to climb ashore herself.

Zhen Wenjun wrapped Wei Tingxu’s body in a warm, sun-dried bath robe and, amidst the sound of splashing water, lifted her into her arms and walked into the room.

            

The two lay side-by-side on soft loungers. After resting for a while, the flush on Wei Tingxu’s face slowly faded. Zhen Wenjun drank two cups of tea and felt increasingly refreshed. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed Wei Tingxu’s breathing was steady; she had already fallen asleep.

Zhen Wenjun said no more, scooting closer to Wei Tingxu, placing her shoulder under Wei Tingxu’s cheek to support her sleeping posture, allowing her to sleep soundly.

Wei Tingxu slept straight through until dusk. When she woke, the first thing she saw was the golden evening sun filtering into the room.

            

“What time is it?” Her neck wasn’t sore at all despite not sleeping on a bed. Still groggy, Wei Tingxu’s voice was somewhat faint. Soft and sweet-smelling, she closed her eyes and snuggled against Zhen Wenjun.

Zhen Wenjun put down the book she was holding and kissed her forehead.

“Not yet time for the evening meal. Did you sleep enough?”

            

“How could I sleep so long? You didn’t even wake me.”

“Wake you for what? Sleep if you want to sleep.”

“Is your shoulder sore from me pressing on it?” Wei Tingxu gave it a little squeeze.

            

“Not sore. You could lean on it and sleep for a whole year, and it wouldn’t be sore. Thirsty?” Zhen Wenjun offered her water.

Wei Tingxu took a sip of water and chuckled. “Did you go snatch the Northern Frontier from the Chongjin people or steal honey from wild bears? Why are your words so sweet after coming back?”

“If they’re sweet, have another taste.”

            

Zhen Wenjun turned sideways, cupped Wei Tingxu’s face with one hand, and their lips and teeth met, finding endless pleasure in it.

Neither Wei Tingxu nor Zhen Wenjun could remember the last time they had idly watched the sunset while feeling a cool breeze.

But they would both remember this day in the eighth year of Shunde – a comfortable, leisurely time spent together.

            

“What is this?” Zhen Wenjun obediently lay straight on the lounger, watching Wei Tingxu approach with a blue-green glazed bowl containing a mass of light gray mud and a small wooden spatula.

“Like I said earlier, it can help restore the luster to your skin, which has become coarse from wind and sun exposure.”

“I…”

            

“Don’t talk.” Wei Tingxu scooped up some gray mud with the spatula and expertly spread it evenly on Zhen Wenjun’s face. “Otherwise, when your mouth moves, the surrounding muscles move too, and you’ll get wrinkles.”

“Can’t I just not move my mouth?” Zhen Wenjun could still speak with her lips pressed tightly together. Wei Tingxu chuckled, her hand trembling slightly.

“Stop teasing me, I’ll apply it crookedly.”

            

“I’m not teasing you… What are you putting on me? It has a cool, refreshing scent. Is it your exclusive secret recipe?”

“Some time ago, I happened to have free time and looked through the 《Essential Techniques for the Peasantry》​⁴. This book is truly remarkable; it even records methods for beauty and skincare, using rice paste and plant ash to make the skin smooth as cream​⁵. After trying it, I added some medicinal herbs, and the effect was indeed noticeable. I was just waiting for you to come back to help nurse you back to health. Look at your face, originally so handsome, yet marred by so many scars.”

“Does Furen think I can still be saved?”

            

Zhen Wenjun was so adorable Wei Tingxu wanted to bite her hard; she was clearly a little sweet pea. “You can be saved. Just be good and let me apply this twice a day. In less than two months, this pretty face of yours will definitely be restored to its former state.”

“So miraculous. If this were sold commercially, it would surely start a trend in Runing and make a huge profit.”

Wei Tingxu paused her actions and remarked with feeling, “Truly worthy of the formidable General Zhen who dominates a region. Just a casual turn of your mind brings in bushels of gold daily​⁶.”

            

“Don’t mention it. The Yao family swallowed up over two hundred of my ironworks and over a thousand qing of fertile land​⁷. I’m still thinking about how to settle accounts with them for this!”

Wei Tingxu continued applying the mask while saying, “When Yao Wei died of illness back then, I thought the Yao family’s luck had run out. Unexpectedly, with his death, Yao Lin took charge. This Yao Lin doesn’t have many ideas of his own and listens entirely to that Ge Zihong, making him rather more ruthless. He wages war recklessly, showing no regard for the lives of the Yao army soldiers.”

Zhen Wenjun, eyes closed and enjoying the treatment, gave a cold laugh. “If this continues, Yao Lin can just wait for the backlash​⁸. Once a mutiny erupts in the army, we’ll seize the opportunity to take Nanya.”

            

“Besides that, I have also prepared a dagger for the Yao family.”

Zhen Wenjun opened her eyes.

“Yao Zhaoyi has a younger sister. She secretly came to Runing this year intending to participate in the Autumn Selection. Did you know about this?”

            

Zhen Wenjun shook her head. “She actually has a younger sister?”

“Yes. That Ah Xiang back then was merely from a concubine. The one who came to Runing this time is named Yao Maolin, her legitimate biological younger sister.”

“The Yao family actually let a legitimate daughter come to Runing for the Selection? What were they thinking? Do they find their own daughter an eyesore?”

            

“I said this young lady came secretly. She traveled alone in disguise, journeying far and wide​⁹ from Nanya to Runing, and even forged a household registration token​¹⁰ to cover her tracks. She probably didn’t tell her family; it must be her own idea.”

“But her cover will be blown during the Selection. A fake registration token will be found out immediately upon inspection.”

Wei Tingxu lifted Zhen Wenjun’s chin with a finger, smearing the mask onto her neck as well. “As long as she arrives safely, revealing her identity as a legitimate Yao daughter during the Selection might actually help her get chosen—that’s probably what Yao Maolin is thinking.”

            

“…What a silly child.”

“The Yao family isn’t entirely without influence within the Central Hub​¹¹. Yao Maolin’s idea isn’t completely without reason. Even if the Yao family’s connections in the Hub can’t help, isn’t there still us?”

Zhen Wenjun understood Wei Tingxu’s meaning. As long as Yao Maolin entered the Central Hub, getting her under control to manipulate the Yao family, even uprooting them entirely, would be a trivial matter​¹². Yao Maolin was too foolish; wanting to enter court service to help the Yao family was, in reality, placing the Yao family’s head under the guillotine.

            

Naturally, Wei Tingxu wouldn’t let such a good opportunity pass. Since she had come, even if the Yao family couldn’t get her successfully through the Selection, Minister Wei would make it happen.

The two chatted much about the Yao family and the Path of Ten Thousand Directions matter, as well as the power dynamics in the Central Hub and the current relationship between Liu Shao and the Son of Heaven. As Wei Tingxu removed the hardened gray mud mask from Zhen Wenjun’s face, they mentioned the embarrassing incident where Liu Shao had privately dispatched assassins to intercept Zhen Wenjun outside Runing, only for Zhen Wenjun to anticipate it, take a detour, and avoid them entirely, not even seeing her attackers.

“The current Son of Heaven is no longer the little brat who just came out of Yanxing.” Wei Tingxu wiped the last of the mud clean. “He has been secretly growing stronger and is no longer satisfied with meager power. What he wants is my power, my life.”

            

“This is bound to happen.” Zhen Wenjun, having personally experienced dealings with Li Ju and Li Yanyi, understood that all emperors shared a similar mindset: once they obtained a part, they desired more. “You must have thought of a countermeasure long ago.”

Wei Tingxu washed her hands in the rice paste water. “I’ve sent Ah Liao to Sudu to bring your Ah Mu back to Runing.”

At the mention of her mother, Zhen Wenjun sat up abruptly. “You intend to use my Ah Mu to restrain Li Feng?”

            

“Currently, the only person in this world who can make Li Feng listen obediently is your Ah Mu. Besides, now that Chongjin has been completely eliminated, Runing is safer than any border outpost. You no longer need to campaign south and north. Isn’t it a good thing to bring your Ah Mu here to care for her?”

Zhen Wenjun slowly nodded. “Alright then. I’ll make a trip south myself to fetch her. It’s also a good chance to visit Huaiyang. It would be best if I can resolve the Path of Ten Thousand Directions matter while I’m there. You in the Central Hub, me in Huaiyang, coordinating from within and without.”

Wei Tingxu braced her arms on either side of Zhen Wenjun’s body, leaning against her as if boneless. “You’re leaving right after coming back? Aren’t you afraid you’ll miss me too much halfway there?”

            

Zhen Wenjun didn’t know whether to say yes or no, momentarily unsure how to answer.

Seeing Zhen Wenjun’s flustered look satisfied Wei Tingxu, who snuggled into her embrace and lay down peacefully.

“Of course, I’ll miss you terribly. But only by handling all these matters can I truly protect you properly.” Zhen Wenjun twirled a strand of Wei Tingxu’s long hair around her fingertip. “That’s what I told myself several times when I was caught in difficult battles in the Northern Frontier.”

            

Wei Tingxu tilted her head up, their meeting gazes filled with deep emotion. Just as she was about to close her eyes for a deep kiss, something entered her peripheral vision, startling her. She sat bolt upright.

“A dog?” Wei Tingxu’s entire back went numb, her voice rising sharply. “Why is there a dog!”

The short-legged dog approached amicably, tongue lolling, wanting to lick Wei Tingxu’s hand. Wei Tingxu immediately snatched her hand back, her fear palpable.

            

Zhen Wenjun quickly got up, carried the dog to a spot where Wei Tingxu couldn’t see it, and returned to find the pallor on Wei Tingxu’s face slightly eased. She explained, “His name is Ah Bi​¹³. He’s a hunting dog I adopted in the Northern Frontier. Very clever, helped me hunt a lot of game. He probably couldn’t see me and came out looking for me. Don’t be afraid, I’ll send him somewhere else tomorrow.”

“Ah Bi?” Wei Tingxu laughed, exasperated. “If Lingbi knew you randomly named a dog after her, I wonder if she’d haunt your dreams to scold you.”

As she spoke, Zhen Wenjun scratched her smooth, moisturized cheek with her index finger. “Lingbi-jie wouldn’t care about such trivial things.”

            

“Where are you going to send him?”

“To the Ministry of War. It’s easy enough to find a place for a dog there.”

Wei Tingxu took a few steps outward and peeked. She saw Ah Bi tied up in a corner, looking pitiful. Seeing someone looking, he immediately started panting “haha”, tail wagging furiously.

            

“Forget it. Let him stay. He seems very attached to you.”

“But you’re afraid.”

“Having weaknesses makes one easily exploited by others. I should try to overcome this.” Wei Tingxu slowly walked towards Ah Bi.

            

“Sit,” Zhen Wenjun commanded Ah Bi. Unexpectedly, at the same moment, Wei Tingxu also sat down.

Wei Tingxu looked back at her.

Zhen Wenjun: “…”

            

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