Chapter 44: Confessing Feelings, the Nuptial Cup

Chapter 44: Confessing Feelings, the Wedding Wine

"No need, we'll just head back to our place to rest."

Ning Xishi immediately went on high alert and even started to turn around.

He wasn't scared of a straight-up fight, but these sneaky schemes were impossible to defend against.

"The palace gates are already locked at this hour, and there's no way they're opening again. The Empress Dowager already knows the General and his wife are still here and has set up rooms for you both. Otherwise, when the patrolling Imperial Guards show up, this old servant won't have a good excuse."

Ning Xishi listened to her patiently. Just as the matron figured he was an easy pushover, he lowered his head, like he was going to talk it over with Xie Jingxing.

A strand of the youth's hair brushed against Xie Jingxing's ear, tickling it, as he heard his voice: "General, hold on tight!"

Xie Jingxing hadn't responded yet, but his body had already obeyed the youth's words. He found himself spinning half a turn and then tearing through the palace at breakneck speed.

The matron clearly hadn't expected Ning Xishi to dare run. She stomped her foot in frustration: "Why aren't you chasing them?"

The hidden imperial guards got the order and immediately sprinted after them.

Meanwhile, other imperial troops were cutting them off from different directions.

With more than twenty imperial guards blocking his path ahead and over a hundred chasing behind, Ning Xishi was completely out of options—no way out.

"The Empress Dowager requests that you both stay the night. Please don't make this old servant's job hard."

Ning Xishi thought, you've got some nerve, but with this many imperial guards around, following the matron was the best move if he didn't want to cause a big scene.

At this point, Ning Xishi still hadn't figured out the real purpose of this Hongmen banquet.

But Xie Jingxing's eyes narrowed slightly as he suddenly realized what the Emperor was up to.

His breath hitched, and he spoke for the first time: "An official staying overnight in the palace—by tomorrow, rumors will be all over the court."

Meaning, was the Emperor planning to give himself a green hat?

"Rest assured on that point, General. The rooms are in Qingqi Hall, reserved for foreign envoys. Nothing that could damage the General's reputation will get out." The matron said in a low voice.

"We don't mind the distance or how late it is—why do we have to stay here?" Ning Xishi had a bad feeling about this.

He instinctively glanced at Wang Meng, who had followed with the imperial guards, but Wang Meng just turned his head slightly, his intentions unclear.

"Palace rules trump everything, Young Master Ning. Please follow this old servant."

Out of the corner of his eye, Ning Xishi saw Xie Jingxing's hands gripping the wheelchair armrests, veins popping—a sign of how tightly he was holding on.

Ning Xishi suddenly remembered their wedding day, when he'd casually said something reckless and Xie Jingxing had reacted the same way, even using his inner energy to send him flying.

Though the force had been well-controlled, just enough not to hurt him.

Embarrassment... a room... staying the night...

Ning Xishi suddenly put two and two together, feeling blood rush to his head. He pulled Xie Jingxing's wheelchair back a step, seriously considering fighting their way out.

Just then, Ning Xishi felt the strength in his hands slowly draining away. He flinched: "You even used Dissolving Powder?"

Wang Meng across from him was startled too. The matron chuckled: "I didn't expect Young Master Ning to know so much."

This was a martial arts world drug. An ordinary person, feeling their limbs go weak, would only say, 'What did you give me?' But Ning Xishi could name it outright, which surprised the matron.

The matron put out the lantern in her hand, and Ning Xishi felt his strength stop draining so fast.

She said: "Come on, or you'll be carried over, and that won't look good."

Ning Xishi could only push Xie Jingxing behind the matron. Whether on purpose or not, the route she took went through the Imperial Garden.

Some nobles and relatives who hadn't left yet saw them and tried to say hello. The matron explained preemptively: "The General and Young Master Ning have both had wine and are eager to rest. I'm taking them to bathe and turn in."

The words were subtle, but on closer thought, quite suggestive.

The others' looks at the two instantly gained a hint of understanding.

Ning Xishi spotted his older brother, who was drinking with his teacher. He didn't dare meet his brother's eyes and turned his head away, unable to look at him.

But Ning Xishi could still feel his brother's gaze on his back, like needles pricking him, making every step painful.

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager at the head seat had somehow come back. Seeing this, she called the matron over and asked: "What were you saying to them down there just now?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, the General and Young Master Ning have had some wine and are eager to rest. This servant is taking them to Qingqi Hall."

Qingqi Hall—though nominally for hosting foreign envoys, it was actually home to the dancing girls that vassal states had given the Emperor. After the late Emperor got old, he'd taken a liking to the place and often stayed there himself, which was why it was never opened to officials.

But the current Son of Heaven deeply considered his predecessor's behavior shameful. He was a man of strict moral character, keeping his distance from foreign women. Instead, he would reward meritorious ministers with stays at Qingqi Hall, proving he had nothing to do with the late Emperor's debauchery.

Now, having Xie Jingxing and Ning Xishi stay there—even without involving the dancing girls—was enough to make people's imaginations run wild.

—After all, besides the hot springs, it was said the late Emperor had commissioned many little gadgets, like golden bells and such.

The Empress Dowager was about to order their release from the palace when Eunuch Xu, who served the Emperor, spoke up first.

"Hurry along now. If you delay the two esteemed guests' rest, you'll be held accountable."

Under such public scrutiny, Ning Xishi felt like the clothes on his back weren't even his own. Xie Jingxing's expression was even worse, like he might spit blood at any moment.

Watching this scene, the Empress Dowager's heart was about to break.

Her most beloved youngest son, whom she'd planned to make Emperor, had been schemed against by her eldest son to this extent.

Not only had he lost both legs, but now his reputation was being completely destroyed, all his dignity trampled underfoot.

But at this moment, none of the three could speak or resist. If they resisted in front of all these nobles, they'd give the Emperor plenty of opportunity to kill them—to eliminate the threat once and for all.

Ning Xishi had never known how uncomfortable it was to be stared at. Only when they finally reached Qingqi Hall and the surrounding lights lit up did he breathe a sigh of relief.

The matron said: "This old servant will arrange for your baths. Good wedding wine has been prepared in the room—this can be considered completing..."

She didn't finish the sentence, but both Xie Jingxing and Ning Xishi knew what she meant.

It was the wedding night.

Ning Xishi suddenly spoke: "You mean you'll be watching us the whole time?"

The matron replied: "This is how it's done for distinguished guests in the palace."

Ning Xishi looked at Xie Jingxing, a rare flash of panic in his eyes.

If that time at the opera house had been his improvisation after reading the picture book, then tonight... he...

Xie Jingxing raised his head, his gaze meeting Ning Xishi's. In that instant, Ning Xishi saw the resolve of someone willing to risk everything.

This wasn't about winning some argument, but a do-or-die resolve.

In that instant, Ning Xishi finally understood the situation Xie Jingxing had been in all along.

It was a thousand times worse than what he himself had endured.

And he'd put up with it all these years.

Ning Xishi suddenly made up his mind, bent down, and scooped Xie Jingxing into his arms, saying, "No need for anyone else to help."

After a pause, he added, "If you're so set on staying, then just watch."

There was no love or resentment in either of their eyes. Ning Xishi didn't head to the hot spring, which had seen who knows how much action, but instead carried Xie Jingxing to the wooden bath barrel.

The second they hit the water, Ning Xishi felt Xie Jingxing's body instinctively tense.

Ning Xishi said, "Sorry, General."

Since Xie Jingxing couldn't use his legs, he used both hands to hold onto Ning Xishi's shoulders to maintain balance.

Especially when Ning Xishi untied his sash, Xie Jingxing only glanced down at his own bare body, while Ning Xishi across from him had only taken off his outer robe. Xie Jingxing dared not look any further, yet he didn't resist, simply resting his chin on Ning Xishi's shoulder.

It gave off a strange, submissive vibe.

Xie Jingxing also caught a faint scent of wine, quite pleasant.

The matron stood at the door, watching from a distance as the two of them leaned in close by the bath barrel, and suddenly felt that the eunuch's earlier report to the Emperor about the two being estranged might have been a wrong call.

But this whole thing wasn't about proving whether they really had feelings for each other.

It was about painting General Xie Jingxing as a depraved man who was into men, right in front of the court.

—How was that any different from the old Emperor in his final years? Even if he later marched in with a massive army to force the throne, the civil and military officials wouldn't side with him.

Ning Xishi was actually sharp; he just usually couldn't be bothered with all these mind games. But now, backed into a corner, he quickly figured out what everyone was thinking.

He knew there was no getting out of this. He reached out of the tub, grabbed the nuptial wine from the table beside them, handing one cup to Xie Jingxing and holding the other himself.

"General."

Ning Xishi said softly, and Xie Jingxing suddenly felt his knees go weak. At the same time, Ning Xishi bent his legs, pinning Xie Jingxing firmly against the side of the tub.

Their arms tangled together, and they downed the wine in quick gulps. Two cups hit the floor with a crisp clatter. Ning Xishi lifted Xie Jingxing up, took the bath towel from the wooden rack nearby, and draped it over Xie Jingxing.

He dried them off in a hurry, not bothering to be careful, then together they stepped onto the bed.

As if bracing for what was coming next, Xie Jingxing no longer looked at Ning Xishi's face but buried his head in the crook of Ning Xishi's neck, which carried a faint scent of wine, and closed his eyes.

Once on the bed, Ning Xishi immediately pulled the brocade quilt over both of them, hiding them from any prying eyes.

The matron, unable to see clearly now, cleared her throat and was about to speak up when she heard Ning Xishi say, "Open your mouth again, and I'll take your head."

Though Ning Xishi had no authority to kill her, if he truly did so here, the Emperor would hardly punish the Lady General over the death of a palace maid.

The matron fell silent instantly.

Xie Jingxing pressed his lips together and gently kissed Ning Xishi's neck. He thought the kiss was imperceptible, but unexpectedly, it startled Ning Xishi into a shiver.

After that, Xie Jingxing dared not make any further moves.

==========Author's Note:==========

Good night.