Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

---

Chapter 49

Huo Fenghua sprang up from the desk in one hop and, under it, gave Feng Tianzong a vicious kick. In his embarrassment and fury just now, he hadn’t noticed anyone’s hurried footsteps approaching. He didn’t believe Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang hadn’t heard them.

Feng Tianzong, however, looked perfectly calm. He and Su Zeyang stood up at the same time and called out, “Elder Brother.”

Feng Tiansheng froze. His gaze swept over Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang, then shifted to Huo Fenghua. He frowned and said, “I heard you slipped back to the capital without permission, so I rushed over to see you, and this is what you’re doing in here?”

Feng Tianzong smiled as he answered, “Someone at home doesn’t understand the rules. I’m teaching him a lesson.”

When Feng Tianzong had insisted on marrying Su Zeyang, Feng Tiansheng hadn’t approved. Still, seeing how deeply attached they were, and that Su Zeyang was quiet and knew his place, he’d ultimately let it go. He hadn’t expected that, coming in a hurry today over serious business, he would find Feng Tianzong fooling around with his household concubine in the study. His expression immediately soured.

“You’re being ridiculous!”

Su Zeyang spoke up then. “Elder Brother, is the Princess feeling better?”

Feng Tiansheng’s expression softened slightly. “Somewhat. The physician told her not to go out, so she doesn’t catch another chill.”

Su Zeyang nodded. “Elder Brother still has things to say to Tianzong. I’ll go out first and have Steward Lu prepare lunch.”

Feng Tiansheng did indeed have things to say to Feng Tianzong. He nodded and said to Su Zeyang, “Thank you for the trouble.”

So Su Zeyang headed out of the study. Seeing that, Huo Fenghua immediately followed and said, “I’ll head out too. You two take your time.”

He caught up to Su Zeyang and, once they’d left the study, grabbed his sleeve.

Su Zeyang turned back to look at him. “Didn’t get enough spanking?”

Huo Fenghua froze.

Su Zeyang lifted his hand and gave him a hard smack on the butt. Huo Fenghua lurched forward, pressing tight against Su Zeyang. He simply wrapped an arm around him and said, “Fine, hit me. Just lighter.”

Su Zeyang stepped away and continued walking outward.

Huo Fenghua chased after him again, calling, “Senior Brother, wait for me.”

Inside the study, only the two brothers remained. There was no need to hide words anymore. Feng Tiansheng asked, “Since when have you and Huo Fenghua become this close?”

Feng Tianzong picked up the white-jade tiger Su Zeyang had set back on the desk before leaving. He held it, feeling the warmth lingering from Su Zeyang’s palm. After a moment, he said, “Elder Brother doesn’t need to worry about Huo Fenghua. He might not be what you imagine.”

Feng Tiansheng’s expression darkened. “What was Huo Fenghua like when he first entered the General’s Manor, and what is he like now? I’m afraid he’s colluding with Wang Chu’s side, deliberately getting close to you to catch the Feng family by the handle. You came back this time. If the emperor finds out, how will you clean it up?”

Feng Tianzong said, “I returned to the residence last night, and early this morning big brother already came. It’s hard not to draw attention.”

Feng Tiansheng looked at him. “So you’re blaming me for coming in person?”

“Elder Brother, that’s not what I mean,” Feng Tianzong said.

Feng Tiansheng frowned. “I’m saying all this for your own good. Su Zeyang was just here too. You were fooling around intimately with your concubine right in front of him. What do you think he’ll feel?”

Feng Tianzong’s fingers traced the white-jade tiger’s smooth-edged forehead. Suddenly he asked, “The Princess miscarried?”

Feng Tiansheng was startled. “That was a few days ago.”

“What a pity I can’t visit,” Feng Tianzong said. “Have Lu Xi send some nourishing medicines over. Consider it my token of concern.”

“There’s no need,” Feng Tiansheng said. “What the General’s Manor has, the Prime Minister’s Manor has too.”

Feng Tianzong looked at him. “Elder Brother, once Xichou is settled and what’s left of Shao Feijie’s forces are wiped out, I want to hand over my military authority and resign.”

Feng Tiansheng’s expression turned sharp in an instant. He stood and walked up to the desk, staring at Feng Tianzong. “What did you say?”

Feng Tianzong lounged back against the chair, one long leg draped over an armrest, posture casual. His expression was unusually blank, almost dazed.

“I’m just tired. Zeyang stays in the residence alone, and we can’t even see each other once a year. That shouldn’t be his life. I should be out in the martial world with him, living freely.”

“That shouldn’t be his life, but fighting on the battlefield should be yours!” Feng Tiansheng planted both hands on the edge of the desk. “Have you forgotten how we wandered when we were little, how much humiliation and hardship we suffered? Back then we swore we’d achieve merit and make a name for ourselves, that we’d never endure that kind of disgrace again!”

Feng Tianzong tossed the white-jade tiger up into the air and caught it again. “I’ve already destroyed Xichou for Donglin. Whether it’s the remnants of Xichou or foreign tribes beyond the borders, none of them are worth fearing. What more do you want me to achieve? Next I return to the capital to report in, and the emperor will certainly demand I surrender my command. If I refuse to return to the capital, that’s open rebellion and treason.”

Feng Tiansheng said, “Xichou’s remnants aren’t eliminated yet. What’s wrong with you leading troops in Xichou? The entire garrison in Xichou is made up of your men. As long as you don’t come back, you remain a deterrent to Donglin.”

Feng Tianzong asked, “For how long? Are you confident you can bring down the Wang family in a short time? By then, I’ll be stuck in Xichou with troops, refusing to return. The emperor will tie up you and the Princess, and Zeyang too, and use you as leverage to force me back to hand over my command. Then what should I do?”

The commander of the capital’s imperial guards was named He Zhongping, the brother-in-law of Wang Chu’s nephew by marriage, connected by kinship and, in the end, part of the Wang family’s sphere.

Feng Tiansheng stared at Feng Tianzong with a hard, furious look, as if exasperated at his failure to measure up.

Feng Tianzong let out a sigh. “Elder Brother, court struggle runs too deep. No matter how glorious it looks, it’s only temporary. You understand that in your heart. Why do you need me to persuade you?”

Feng Tiansheng’s voice was cold and heavy. “I don’t care that you married a male wife, but now you’re indulging in lust with men, losing ambition. You’ve probably forgotten every humiliation we suffered back then. Our Feng brothers are tied together at the root. One prospers, both prosper; one falls, both fall. You’d better make plans for the future!”

With that, Feng Tiansheng shoved open the study door and left as hurriedly as he’d come.

Feng Tianzong sat alone in the study for a while. Then Su Zeyang pushed the door open and came in. “Elder Brother left? I ran into him. He wouldn’t even stay to eat, so I had to see him to the carriage.”

Feng Tianzong didn’t answer. He lifted his head to look at Su Zeyang and extended a hand.

Su Zeyang walked over and took it. Feng Tianzong pulled him down to sit on his thigh.

Feng Tianzong wrapped one arm around Su Zeyang’s waist and gently stroked his cheek with the other. “It’s been hard on you, dealing with these affairs in the General’s Manor every day.”

“It’s not hard,” Su Zeyang said, resting his head on Feng Tianzong’s shoulder.

Feng Tianzong fell silent for a moment, then said, “In a while, no more than two years, I’ll take off this armor and roam the world with you, to the ends of the earth. How about it?”

“All right,” Su Zeyang said softly.

“All right?” Feng Tianzong murmured in his ear.

Su Zeyang replied, “As long as I’m with you, it’s all right.”

Feng Tianzong held him even tighter, as if he wanted to press him into bone and flesh. In a low voice he asked, “You like Huo Fenghua because you’ve been alone in the General’s Manor for so many years, and life’s been lonely?”

Su Zeyang lifted his eyes to him. “How could you think that? I know you like him too. Is that because you’re lonely as well? If you like someone, you like them. How would it only be because you’re lonely?”

Feng Tianzong kissed his forehead. “I was just afraid… There’s no need to say more. I only hope you won’t hide things from me in the future. Tell me whatever you’re thinking.”

Su Zeyang nodded. “All right.”

That night, before bed, Liu Yong came to Huo Fenghua’s small courtyard. Reluctantly, he called from outside, “Young Master Huo!”

Qingqing moved fast, throwing open the window and shouting out, “What is it, coming this late to find Young Master Huo?”

Liu Yong said, “The General requests your presence.”

Qingqing’s voice shot up. “Coming, coming right away!”

“Who said I’m coming right away?” Huo Fenghua was still brooding over Feng Tianzong spanking him today and making him lose face in front of Feng Tiansheng. He didn’t want to see him.

Qingqing didn’t care. She immediately tidied him up and shoved him out the door, then said to Liu Yong, “Young Master Huo is ready.”

Liu Yong had been waiting a long time already and was growing impatient. Under his breath, he muttered, “Ungrateful,” and turned to leave.

Huo Fenghua had no choice but to follow.

Feng Tianzong spent years on campaign. Whenever he returned to the General’s Manor, he typically stayed with Su Zeyang. But he also had a room of his own next to the study. The direction Liu Yong led him was precisely toward Feng Tianzong’s study.

Huo Fenghua grew suspicious and asked, “The General isn’t spending the night in Young Master Su’s room tonight?”

Liu Yong answered impatiently, “How would I know what the General plans?”

Huo Fenghua pondered it. If Feng Tianzong wasn’t spending the night with Su Zeyang but was calling him over, wasn’t he afraid Su Zeyang would be angry? Or had the two of them, because of him, finally ended up unhappy? Was Feng Tianzong calling him over to vent his anger?

His mind ran wild. He’d already stepped into the courtyard gate when he stopped and said to Liu Yong, “Eunuch Liu, please tell the General I’m not going after all.”

Liu Yong whirled around and bellowed, “What did you call me?”

Huo Fenghua hadn’t expected such a big reaction and blinked dumbly. “Eunuch Liu?”

Liu Yong stepped forward, face red with anger. “Who told you I’m a eunuch?”

Only then did Huo Fenghua have a sudden realization. “So you’re not a eunuch? Then Feng Tianzong still has you following Su Zeyang around to serve him?”

Liu Yong clenched his fists, as if he wanted to punch Huo Fenghua in the face. He suppressed it for a long time, then angrily shouted toward the room, “General, Young Master Huo has arrived!”

Feng Tianzong’s voice came from inside. “Come in.”

Liu Yong brushed past Huo Fenghua and left the courtyard.

Huo Fenghua fidgeted in place for a moment, thinking, ‘I’ve got this energy-sucking art. If he makes a move, I’ll drain his cultivation and vault the wall to run. What’s there to fear?’

With that thought, he steadied himself and walked up to push the door. Something seemed to be blocking it from inside. He pushed once and it didn’t open, so he raised both hands and shoved harder.

This time, someone opened the door before he could. Huo Fenghua couldn’t stop himself in time. He stumbled on the threshold and fell forward onto the floor.

Feng Tianzong stood at the doorway and said calmly, “I can’t bear such a grand salute. Rise.”

As he spoke, he reached out and shut the door.

Huo Fenghua glared at him and got to his feet, only to realize there was someone else in the room.

Su Zeyang sat on the edge of the bed and said to Huo Fenghua, “Come here. I’m going to make good on what I promised you.”

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>