Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 17
After that, Feng Tianzong didn’t make things difficult for Huo Fenghua again. Instead, he led his men and focused on traveling as fast as possible. In less than two days, they were back at the garrison camp.
Feng Tianzong had originally led two hundred thousand troops on a campaign against Xichou. Now, aside from a small amount of territory along the border, he could be said to have nearly occupied all of Xichou. The two hundred thousand troops were stationed across Xichou as garrisons to prevent unrest among the people and to guard against counterattacks by Xichou’s remnants.
The force currently at his side was only close to twenty thousand. They had pushed deep into Xichou’s heartland precisely to hunt down Xichou’s grand marshal Shao Feijie, his remaining troops, and that Xichou crown prince Huo Fengnian who’d been seized out of Huijing.
These twenty thousand men were camped at a place in Xichou called Liangcheng Slope. When Feng Tianzong had left the camp with fifty personal guards, he had only left one deputy, Cong Wenhao, behind to hold the fort.
Cong Wenhao had been worried all along that Shao Feijie had lured Feng Tianzong away, and he feared Xichou troops would raid the camp. He’d ordered the soldiers to stay on high alert. Today, when he heard that Feng Tianzong was returning with troops, his spirits lifted at once, and he went out beyond the camp to greet him.
Feng Tianzong returned with a little over ten personal guards. He didn’t look outright bedraggled, but he was covered in travel dust, and with only a bit over ten surviving out of fifty, it was obvious how brutal their ordeal outside had been.
From afar, Cong Wenhao knelt and saluted. “This subordinate pays respects to the General.”
Feng Tianzong rode alone to the camp gate, leapt down from his horse, handed the reins to a waiting soldier, then strode into the camp as he said, “Get up. Prepare water for me. After I bathe and change, summon all commanders to the central command tent to discuss matters.”
He didn’t spare Su Zeyang a glance, nor did he say how Su Zeyang should be settled.
Cong Wenhao did recognize Su Zeyang. When he lifted his head and saw Su Zeyang dismounting, he blurted in surprise, “Madam*?” Then, afraid Su Zeyang wouldn’t like that form of address, he quickly changed it. “Young Master Su, why are you here?”
*[Furen] (夫人) It’s a respectful title and form of address to a married woman.
Su Zeyang didn’t answer. He only raised his head to look at Huo Fenghua on horseback. “Can you get down?”
Huo Fenghua held out one hand. Su Zeyang took it and helped him down.
Cong Wenhao had seen Huo Fenghua in Yujing, and once at the General’s Manor as well. He’d previously heard the General’s wife and concubine had gone missing together, but he hadn’t expected they’d both ended up in Xichou. He was quick-witted. After a moment of stunned silence, he saluted Huo Fenghua too, then immediately ordered soldiers to arrange tents for the two madams and to prepare hot water and clean clothes.
Su Zeyang nodded to him in thanks and supported Huo Fenghua as they walked into the camp.
Only then did Cong Wenhao grab Peng Po as he passed by and ask, “What happened?”
Peng Po sighed. “It’s a long story.”
The tent Cong Wenhao arranged for Su Zeyang and the others wasn’t far from the central command tent. Wooden tubs filled with hot water were already set up inside, and soft, clean new clothes were placed nearby. Feng Tianzong hadn’t given instructions, and Cong Wenhao didn’t think too deeply about it. He only thought that since they were Feng Tianzong’s wife and concubine, putting them in one tent for the time being wasn’t inappropriate.
After they entered the tent, the attending soldiers withdrew, leaving only the two of them.
Su Zeyang had Huo Fenghua bathe first. He himself sat leaning against one side of the tent entrance, wiping down his sword.
Huo Fenghua slowly removed his clothes, endured the aching soreness all over his body, and stepped into the tub. The relief of hot water soaking into his skin made him groan. He lay against the rim of the tub and panted for a moment before lifting his head and saying, “Senior Brother, come wash with me too.”
Su Zeyang bent one leg, tilting his head slightly back, his attention fixed on the sword in his hands, and didn’t respond.
So Huo Fenghua said, “Senior Brother, is that sword called Qinghong?”
Su Zeyang’s movements paused slightly, though his gaze didn’t shift. “You’ve heard of it?”
Huo Fenghua said, “The Qinghong Sword. Its name is legendary.”
Su Zeyang showed no reaction, as if he didn’t care about fame or titles at all.
Huo Fenghua stared at him. “General Feng seems angry.”
Ever since Su Zeyang had saved Huo Fenghua from Feng Tianzong’s whip, on the journey back Feng Tianzong had stopped speaking to Su Zeyang, leaving only a face cold as frost.
Su Zeyang set the sword down now. Looking somewhat troubled, he said, “Yes, Tianzong’s angry.”
Huo Fenghua sighed. “How about I go tell him it was me who forced you, and that you’re still completely devoted to him, so he shouldn’t be mad at you.”
Su Zeyang looked at him. “I told you not to bring up what happened that day again, and you still don’t understand no matter what anyone says.”
Huo Fenghua lifted a hand to press his chest. “Maybe it’s only once in a lifetime. How could I bear to pretend it never happened? I’m going to think about you for the rest of my life.”
This time Su Zeyang didn’t speak. He only picked up the sword with one hand, then silently set it aside again.
After Huo Fenghua finished bathing, Su Zeyang called someone in to replace the water with a clean tub. Then he stood by the tub and began undressing.
Huo Fenghua sat on a soft couch, his clothing only loosely tied, his chest open as he lowered his head to examine his injuries. A large bruise spread across his ribs, all from being scraped on the ground, and there were bloody scratches at his collarbone where stones had cut him. He only felt wretched.
When he happened to look up, he found Su Zeyang was already naked. His build was even, his legs long, and even the thing between his legs was pale and pleasing. Huo Fenghua’s breathing quickened. Unable to help himself, he rose from the couch and walked to the tub to look more closely.
Su Zeyang sat down into the tub, feeling a bit tired himself, and leaned back against the tub wall with his eyes closed.
Huo Fenghua leaned over the rim. “I’ll wash your hair.” As he spoke, his fingers hooked a strand of Su Zeyang’s black hair, smooth and slippery to the touch. Then he bent to scoop water from the tub and slowly poured it over Su Zeyang’s head.
Feng Tianzong convened his subordinates to discuss matters. After the meeting ended, he stopped Cong Wenhao and asked, “Where’s Su Zeyang?”
Cong Wenhao hurriedly replied, “I’ve already arranged the left-side auxiliary camp for the two madams.”
“The two madams?” Feng Tianzong’s face darkened at once.
By now the sky was fully late. Aside from a faint pale glow lingering at the far edge of the heavens, everything around had sunk into darkness, and torches were lit inside the tents.
Cong Wenhao sensed Feng Tianzong’s mood was bad, but he didn’t know what he’d done wrong. He half-knelt uneasily, lowered his head, and said, “Yes. The two madams are temporarily settled in one tent.”
Feng Tianzong said in a low voice, “Bring Su Zeyang to see me.” After a brief pause, he added, “Bring Huo Fenghua as well.”
After Cong Wenhao withdrew, Feng Tianzong lay half-reclined on a couch, the back of his hand lightly stroking the tiger pelt spread over it. He and Su Zeyang had been together for years. He understood him too well. Su Zeyang was cold by nature. If it wasn’t someone he cared about, he wouldn’t even spare them a second glance. How could he possibly protect someone in every way like this? On the road back, Feng Tianzong could’ve forced Su Zeyang to explain, yet in the end he couldn’t bring himself to ask. It wasn’t so much that he couldn’t bear it as that he didn’t dare. He was afraid Su Zeyang would truly admit he cared for Huo Fenghua. If that happened, Feng Tianzong honestly wouldn’t know what to do with himself.
He narrowed his eyes and slammed his right fist down hard on the couch.
At that moment, Su Zeyang had already reached the tent entrance. He lifted the curtain and was about to step inside when Feng Tianzong suddenly said, “Stop.”
Feng Tianzong saw Su Zeyang and Huo Fenghua appear one after the other outside the tent. Both had changed into clean clothes, their long hair loose. Fury surged, and he changed his mind. Pointing at Huo Fenghua, he said, “You come in. Zeyang, wait outside the tent.”
Huo Fenghua’s heart jolted. He looked to Su Zeyang for help.
But Su Zeyang had no intention of shielding him at this moment. He simply stood quietly outside the entrance.
Huo Fenghua had to draw a deep breath and push the curtain aside with one hand as he went in. Inside the tent he hesitated, then knelt, respectfully saying, “This one pays respects to the General.”
Feng Tianzong leaned back on the soft couch; his right arm hooked around his bent right leg while his left leg stretched out. He looked at Huo Fenghua with a wild, unrestrained posture and said, “Come closer.”
Still kneeling, Huo Fenghua shuffled forward a little.
Feng Tianzong reached for the Fulong Whip beside him. “Do you want me to force you?”
Huo Fenghua hurriedly got up, trotted a few steps to Feng Tianzong, and dropped to his knees again. His nose was almost against Feng Tianzong’s knee as he said, “General, please give your orders. There’s no need to use the whip.”
Feng Tianzong grabbed Huo Fenghua by his still slightly damp hair, forcing him to tilt his face up, and examined him closely.
Huo Fenghua had delicate, handsome features. His skin was fair, his eyes round, his lips small. Back when he’d lived a life of indulgence as a hostage in Yujing, Feng Tianzong had already known he looked decent. But no matter how good a face was, in Feng Tianzong’s eyes he was nothing but a waste of food and drink. Even after marrying him into the General’s Manor, Feng Tianzong had never once looked at him properly.
Up to now, this was the first time Feng Tianzong had studied Huo Fenghua’s face so carefully, wanting to see what skill he had that could bewitch Su Zeyang.
Huo Fenghua blinked. Softly, he said, “General, my neck’s really sore. Can you let go and talk properly?”
Only then did Feng Tianzong slowly release him.
Huo Fenghua let out a breath, raised a hand to rub the back of his neck, and seeing Feng Tianzong’s expression was still icy, he quickly knelt properly again and said, “What are your commands, General?”
“Commands?” Feng Tianzong lifted his head. In the torchlight, he could see Su Zeyang’s silhouette cast on the tent. He knew Su Zeyang could hear their conversation clearly. He let out a cold laugh, spread his legs, and pressed Huo Fenghua’s head down between them. “Serve me first. Once you’ve served me well, then I’ll think about what to command.”
Huo Fenghua looked up at him, stunned.
Feng Tianzong said, “What? Aren’t you my male concubine? I’m not allowed to touch you?”
A fine sheen of sweat rose across Huo Fenghua’s forehead. He wanted to turn back and look at Su Zeyang, but Feng Tianzong was staring at him too tightly, and he didn’t dare move lightly. He weighed the consequences of resisting. After turning it over again and again, he could only think, ‘A real man knows when to yield and when to stand. It was better than getting beaten. As long as the green hills remain, there’ll be no worry about firewood*.
*Idiom referring to as long as the foundation is preserved, there will always be an opportunity to rise again and grow stronger (aka where there’s life, there’s hope). Basically he’s saying better to endure it now, and he’ll find a way out/take revenge/ect. later.
He could only nod. “You can. You can.” Then he reached out and lifted Feng Tianzong’s robe hem.
The author has something to say:
Yesterday I said I’d explain Su Zeyang’s character a bit, because the story is mainly from Huo Fenghua’s point of view, so there’ll be very little psychological narration for Su Zeyang. He’s actually a very free-spirited person. If he likes someone, he can do anything. If he wants to marry, he marries. He doesn’t care about anyone else’s gaze, and he doesn’t care about ethics or morality. When he marries into the General’s Manor, if Steward Lu tells him to follow the rules, he will follow them. A lot of things are insignificant to him. That includes the Emperor forcing Feng Tianzong to take in a concubine. He doesn’t get angry about it.
On the surface, he should be the kind of person who needs relatively little from feelings. He doesn’t need some intense emotional payback. But he’s quite willing to give to the person he likes. Right now he likes Feng Tianzong, and later he also likes Huo Fenghua. In fact, he already fell for Huo Fenghua back when Huo Fenghua carried him on his back to go find someone and nearly exhausted himself to death on the road.
It’s still not very easy to explain clearly, but since it’s a threesome, the strong possessiveness in love doesn’t really make sense, so you should be able to understand this kind of character setup, right?
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