Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 41
Feng Tianzong left the horse to Huo Fenghua who rode into the city alone and returned to the General’s Manor.
Ever since he’d come to this world, he hadn’t stayed in Yujing for long before he was abducted and taken to Xichou. Now that he was back, it truly felt like a lifetime ago.
He led the horse slowly through the capital and even had to ask people for directions before he found the way to the General’s Manor. Back then, he’d exhausted every scheme to escape; now, no one was forcing him, yet he was still coming back willingly.
The main gate of the General’s Manor was shut tight, leaving only a side gate open for entry.
Huo Fenghua led the horse over and knocked. The gatekeeper, Wu Tong, took a long time to respond. He opened the side gate only a narrow crack to peer out. He’d looked impatient, but the moment he saw Huo Fenghua standing there with a horse, he froze.
Huo Fenghua didn’t urge him.
Wu Tong looked him up and down, then yanked the door open. “Young Master Huo? You… you… how did you come back?”
After Huo Fenghua went missing, Su Zeyang had left the residence to search for him. The servants didn’t know what had happened. They’d only heard, from a few maids who served close in, that Young Master Huo had run off with a prostitute from the pleasure quarter.
Even before marrying the General, Young Master Huo liked to frequent brothels and taverns, and later he’d even thrown himself into a lake in a suicide attempt. Saying he’d eloped with a prostitute sounded plausible enough. So the rumor spread from mouth to mouth, and all the servants believed it. Only because the matter was serious, Steward Lu had strictly forbidden anyone from repeating it outside, so it didn’t leak beyond the residence, though inside the household people gossiped constantly.
Now Huo Fenghua had returned alone. Wu Tong’s jaw practically hit the ground. He had no idea what had really happened.
Seeing him stare blankly, Huo Fenghua said unhappily, “What? You’re not letting me in? I’m still Young Master Huo of this manor, aren’t I?”
Wu Tong finally snapped out of it and hurriedly stepped aside. “Please come in, quick. I’ll have someone go report it at once, tell them you’re back—”
“No need.” Huo Fenghua stopped him and handed him the reins. “Is Young Master Su in the residence?”
Wu Tong answered, “He is. Young Master Su hasn’t gone out today.”
Huo Fenghua nodded. “Then I’ll go find him myself. You don’t need to worry about it.”
He’d been away from the General’s Manor for months now. Aside from the change of seasons, the plants and paths inside seemed much the same. Only Huo Fenghua’s state of mind had shifted completely. Thinking of Su Zeyang made his heart flutter, yet there was also a faint unease.
When he reached the inner courtyard and passed the lake where he’d once thrown himself in seeking death, he suddenly remembered how, at Luofeng Ridge, Su Zeyang had handed him off to Wen Heyi and left without hesitation. His mood sank at once.
As he crossed through a courtyard gate, he ran into Zhu’er, the little maid who attended Su Zeyang. Zhu’er’s eyes widened. She clapped a hand over her mouth, looking as if she’d seen a ghost.
Huo Fenghua said, “What, saw a ghost?”
Zhu’er stammered, “Yo-Young Master Huo?”
Huo Fenghua said to her, “Young Master Huo asks you: is Young Master Su in his room?”
Zhu’er shook her head. “No. Young Master Huo… when did you come back?”
“I just got back.” Huo Fenghua said. “I’m going to see Young Master Su now. Where is he?”
Zhu’er pointed toward the back courtyard. “He’s in the storeroom with Steward Lu.”
“The storeroom?” Huo Fenghua glanced that way, waved his hand, and said, “Got it. Go do your work.”
Zhu’er still stood there, dumbfounded, watching him head for the back courtyard.
The General’s Manor storeroom didn’t hold anything especially critical. Mostly it contained gifts exchanged with court officials and rewards bestowed by the emperor over the years for Feng Tianzong’s military merits.
Before Huo Fenghua even reached it, he heard two people talking at the storeroom entrance. One was Steward Lu Xi, and the other was, of course, Su Zeyang. Huo Fenghua leaned out from behind the courtyard gate and saw Su Zeyang in clean white robes, his long hair neatly tied back, speaking to Lu Xi. Then Su Zeyang sensed the movement at the gate and turned—his eyes meeting Huo Fenghua’s.
For an instant, both of them froze.
Lu Xi also heard the sound and looked over. He didn’t notice Su Zeyang’s expression, only came down the steps in surprise and walked into the courtyard. “Young Master Huo? You’re back?”
Unlike the other servants, Lu Xi naturally knew why Huo Fenghua had left. Seeing him return alone still shocked him.
Huo Fenghua’s gaze slid off Su Zeyang’s face. He said to Lu Xi, “Yeah. I’m back.”
When Su Zeyang returned earlier, Lu Xi had asked about Huo Fenghua’s whereabouts. At the time, Su Zeyang had said Huo Fenghua wouldn’t be coming back for the time being. Now Lu Xi couldn’t help glancing at Su Zeyang. Su Zeyang only stared at Huo Fenghua without any reaction. So Lu Xi said, “It’s the best thing possible that you’ve come back.” Seeing the dust and travel-wear on him, he added, “I’ll have the servants prepare hot water and food. Young Master Huo has been through a hard journey. Would you like to return to your room first to rest and freshen up?”
“No need,” Huo Fenghua said. “There are some things I want to say to Young Master Su.”
Just then, Su Zeyang’s attendant, Liu Yong, came out of the storeroom carrying a wooden box. He asked, “Is it this ruyi, Young Master Su?”
Su Zeyang turned back, opened the box, then closed it again. “No.”
Liu Yong saw Huo Fenghua too and looked equally stunned. “Young Master Huo?”
Su Zeyang said, “I’ll find the jade ruyi myself. Liu Yong, you can go.”
Liu Yong stared. “Young Master?”
Su Zeyang took the box from him, then said to Lu Xi as well, “Steward Lu, you should go rest too. I’ll speak with Young Master Huo for a bit.”
Lu Xi bowed slightly. “Then I’ll take my leave. Young Masters, take your time.”
Liu Yong had no choice but to bow too, following Lu Xi as they left the storeroom area together.
Su Zeyang carried the box back inside. Huo Fenghua followed him in and saw many crates stacked in the storeroom. In one corner were numerous scrolls and paintings, piled together.
Watching Su Zeyang set the box down, Huo Fenghua asked, “What are you looking for?”
“A jade ruyi,” Su Zeyang replied.
“What for?” Huo Fenghua asked.
“A birthday gift for someone,” Su Zeyang said, then began opening other boxes, searching for the jade ruyi he’d mentioned.
Huo Fenghua stepped closer. “Senior Brother, you were so ruthless to me. You really could do it?”
Su Zeyang paused, turned to look at him. “There are priorities. I didn’t have a choice.”
Huo Fenghua stepped closer again, until their noses were nearly touching and their breaths mingled. Only then did he say, “Feng Tianzong was in a hurry. I wasn’t.”
Su Zeyang lowered his eyes. “Martial Uncle treated you fairly well.”
Huo Fenghua still felt wronged.
Su Zeyang lifted a hand, pressed it to the back of Huo Fenghua’s neck, and brought their lips together.
Huo Fenghua, as if venting his anger, bit back hard.
<<< || Table of Contents || >>>
Kinky Translations 