I Rely on Beauty to Stabilize the Country - Chap 73
Chapter 73
Gu Yuanbai gazed at the curtains inside the room, while Chu Wei sat beside him, playing the qin to the sound of rain.
The six arts of a nobleman were the rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. These six arts were compulsory subjects for ancient noblemen. Gu Yuanbai was a pseudo nobleman, not as proficient as a genuine nobleman of ancient times.
Chu Wei, on the other hand, exemplified the standard of an outstanding ancient nobleman.
Although Gu Yuanbai couldn’t play the guqin, it didn’t hinder his appreciation for it. Tian Fusheng had prepared a pot of hot tea and poured a cup for him. Gu Yuanbai held the tea in his hand, savoring its aroma, watching the curtains of rain outside, feeling relaxed, and comfortably narrowing his eyes.
After a while, a servant from the Chu residence hurriedly arrived and reported from outside, “Young Master, there is someone at the door who wishes to pay a visit. It’s the eldest son from the Xue residence.”
Chu Wei’s fingers paused on the strings of the qin, the melodious music abruptly ceasing. He looked up at Gu Yuanbai and said, “Your Majesty, it must be Mr. Xue who has come.”
Gu Yuanbai lazily responded, “Let him come in.”
After a while, Xue Yuan, holding an umbrella and carrying a birdcage, entered the view of the two individuals at a leisurely pace.
Xue Yuan’s steps were slow, his figure faintly obscured by the rain curtains. He was dressed in black attire. Gu Yuanbai sat up and focused his gaze on the birdcage in Xue Yuan’s hand. As soon as Xue Yuan walked into the corridor, Gu Yuanbai asked, “Where did you get the bird?”
Approaching closer, Xue Yuan placed the birdcage in front of Gu Yuanbai and crouched down as well. He casually opened the cage and said with a smile, “I said I wanted to catch a bird to show Your Majesty, but as soon as I opened the cage, this little thing flew in.”
His hand reached into the cage and held the sparrow in his palm. “Your Majesty, take a look. Does it resemble the bird that took away your jade finger ring last time?”
The captured sparrow’s body protruded halfway from Xue Yuan’s palm. Gu Yuanbai raised an eyebrow and said, “Don’t sparrows all look the same?”
He raised his hand to touch the bird, noticing the dull gray feathers of the sparrow, not as resplendent as those of precious birds, yet touching it felt quite comfortable. Xue Yuan’s gaze fell upon Gu Yuanbai’s thumb, where he wore a white jade finger ring.
Xue Yuan’s lips curled up. “Your Majesty is right, sparrows all look the same. Who can tell them apart?”
Withdrawing his gaze, Xue Yuan noticed Chu Wei and greeted him politely, “Mr. Chu, it has been a long time.”
As soon as he saw Xue Yuan, Chu Wei recalled the words spoken by the Chief Guard earlier. He couldn’t bring himself to have any favorable impression of Xue Yuan. Nodding coldly, he responded, “Mr. Xue.”
As Gu Yuanbai’s fingertips caressed the sparrow, they occasionally brushed lightly against Xue Yuan’s hand. After several times, it became itchy and uncomfortable. Suddenly, Xue Yuan reached out and held his fingertips, lifting Gu Yuanbai’s hand slightly, and said with a smile, “Your Majesty, the feathers are here. You’ve touched my hand.”
“…,” Gu Yuanbai withdrew his hand, no longer touching it, and expressionlessly said, “Xue Qing is considerate.”
Xue Yuan smiled, put the sparrow back into the cage, and placed it aside. He slowly stood up, glanced around, and naturally assumed the air of a host. “Where is the chessboard?”
Someone nearby promptly brought the chessboard over. Gu Yuanbai glanced at it expressionlessly and said, “Xue Qing and Chu Qing, play a game.”
Xue Yuan wasn’t disappointed either. He extended his hand and courteously said, “Mr. Chu, please.”
Chu Wei and Xue Yuan both took their seats, each taking a side of the black and white chess pieces. They remained silent, seemingly harmonious, but on the chessboard, they were in an unrelenting confrontation.
Gu Yuanbai watched with intermittent interest. He finally understood why Chang Yu Yan said that Xue Jiuyao’s chess style resembled his. The chessboard was like a battlefield, testing one’s ability to strategize and think in terms of the overall situation.
No matter how proper and mysterious Xue Yuan pretended to be, his essence was still like a mad dog. The sharpness was evident from the beginning, aiming straight for the enemy’s vital point.
Gu Yuanbai knew halfway through that Chu Wei was destined to lose.
Chu Wei’s chess style was stable and deep-rooted. He thought three steps ahead, meticulously planned, and had played chess with Gu Yuanbai before, so he was familiar with this style. But familiarity didn’t help in this case. No matter how steady the board was, constantly evading would eventually reveal a flaw.
Gu Yuanbai stood up, walked to the corridor, and gazed at the rain. He listened to the sound of rain and the chess game, closing his eyes.
After a while, a warm feeling approached from behind. Xue Yuan draped his coat over Gu Yuanbai’s shoulders and then walked to the side. “Your Majesty enjoys reading, and it turns out you also like watching the rain.”
“It’s soothing to listen to,” Gu Yuanbai replied, feeling somewhat fatigued. “Rainy days are suitable for resting.”
Xue Yuan asked, “Feeling tired?”
Gu Yuanbai responded, “Xue Qing, go and attend to your bird.”
Xue Yuan chuckled softly, “My bird is right here with me.”
His words were light, and Gu Yuanbai thought he had misheard. His eyelid twitched as he turned to Xue Yuan with a doubtful look, “What did you say?”
“The bird I brought for you to see is inside the house,” Xue Yuan said, “What’s the point of looking at it? You can’t even understand its words.”
“Interesting remark,” Gu Yuanbai said, chuckling. “Xue Qing, are you trying to make the birds understand what you say? Amusing.”
There were tiny droplets of rain on his forehead, carried in by the wind. Xue Yuan’s voice suddenly softened. “Your Majesty, it’s raining outside. Don’t stand so close.”
However, his voice was hoarse, and that softness was lost within the gravelly throat.
Almost simultaneously, a warm voice came from behind both of them. The voice was clear and mellow, as pleasing as pearls threaded on jade, melodious and harmonious. “Your Majesty, come inside and take shelter from the rain.”
The winner was decided.
Xue Yuan smiled faintly and followed Gu Yuanbai into the house.
The room felt stuffy. When Chu Wei and Xue Yuan were together, neither of them spoke. Fortunately, the rain soon stopped, taking no more than half an hour.
Gu Yuanbai had no intention of staying longer at Chu Wei’s residence. He was about to leave when Chu Wei remembered something and hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, please wait.”
He turned to fetch something but caught sight of Xue Yuan from the corner of his eye. With a cold tone, he changed his words, “Xue Daren, will you accompany me to fetch some warm clothing for His Majesty?”
Xue Yuan narrowed his eyes and walked forward. The two of them disappeared together at the end of the corridor.
Gu Yuanbai watched their figures, both tall and healthy-looking young men. Upon closer inspection, they seemed perfectly matched.
After observing for a while, he looked away but suddenly noticed a small head peeking out from behind a pillar. Gu Yuanbai smiled. “Yi Ge’er, come over.”
Chu Xiaosi emerged from behind the pillar, looking ashamed. He clenched his clothes tightly and respectfully apologized, “This humble servant is not an ignorant child. This humble servant came to find my nephew.”
Gu Yuanbai said, “But your nephew is not here now.”
Chu Xiaosi looked up, confused. “Then where my nephew?”
Gu Yuanbai found mischievous pleasure in well-behaved and obedient children like him.
“As for your nephew,” Gu Yuanbai pretended to ponder for a moment, then smiled suggestively, “Yi Ge’er, I had a remarkably delicious dish earlier that you probably haven’t tasted.”
The young boy swallowed and respectfully asked, “Please enlighten me, Your Majesty.”
“Deep-fry Chu Wei in a pot of oil, then coat it with sauce and garnish it with scallions,” Gu Yuanbai’s lips curled up, deliberately lowering his voice. “It’s incredibly delicious, enough to make Xue Yuan next door cry with envy.”
Chu Xiao Si was frightened, his face turned pale, and tears welled up as he sobbed, “Did my nephew… my nephew got eaten?”
“Ahem.” When a child genuinely cried, Gu Yuanbai felt guilty again. He touched his nose and was about to playfully reveal the truth when Tian Fusheng suddenly started coughing.
Gu Yuanbai paused and turned around. Xue Yuan and Chu Wei were standing not far away, one raising an eyebrow while the other had a complex expression, both looking at Gu Yuanbai.
Gu Yuanbai questioned, “What are you two standing there for? Hurry over.”
As Chu Wei approached, Chu Xiaosi threw himself into his embrace, crying. Chu Wei comforted his fourth uncle in a low voice, and his complicated feelings gradually turned into a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Tian Fusheng took the cloak and draped it over the Emperor’s shoulders. The Emperor coughed twice, and Chu Wei accompanied his fourth uncle to escort the Emperor outside the mansion. The uncle and nephew bowed to the Emperor together, waiting respectfully for his departure.
On the way, Xue Yuan followed behind Gu Yuanbai and suddenly asked, “Your Majesty, why would I be envious to the point of tears?”
Gu Yuanbai countered, “Why are you still following me?”
Xue Yuan still held the birdcage in his hand and halted at his words. “Then I will bid farewell to Your Majesty here.”
“…” A vague sense of annoyance surged within Gu Yuanbai. This inexplicable annoyance suppressed, he was about to stride away when Xue Yuan’s hoarse voice called out from behind, “Your Majesty.”
Gu Yuanbai paused his steps.
“The jade finger ring of Your Majesty has been changed,” Xue Yuan said. “I wonder if the previous one is still there?”
Gu Yuanbai pursed his lips and remained silent.
“Your Majesty mentioned fulfilling one of my requests before,” Xue Yuan’s voice grew softer. “I’ve thought about it, perhaps it can be done now.”
“If Your Majesty doesn’t like that jade finger ring, please don’t throw it away. Return it to me. I like that jade finger ring very much, and I can keep it for my future wife.”
“Xue Qing, the world belongs to me,” Gu Yuanbai spoke with authority, his voice turning cold. “My jade finger ring, even if I don’t like it, will stay well-preserved in my private treasury.”
This statement, just like his declaration of “My empire is as picturesque as a painting,” made Xue Yuan’s heart beat faster.
Gu Yuanbai’s domineering words resonated perfectly with Xue Yuan’s feelings. The question remains: does Gu Yuanbai have any feelings for Xue Yuan?
A gust of wind blew, teasing the tip of their noses. Gu Yuanbai coughed softly. The coughs were heavy and relentless, one after another, leaving him with barely any respite.
People around him panicked, calling out “Your Majesty” and “handkerchief,” but there was no hot water nearby, and no one dared to approach him in a fluster to support him or pat his back.
Xue Yuan sighed and quickly walked forward, pushing aside everyone blocking the way such as guards and eunuchs. Step by step, he approached Gu Yuanbai and then embraced him, allowing him to lean against his chest, gently stroking his bony back.
Gu Yuanbai gripped his clothes tightly, his fingers turning pale. He leaned his head against Xue Yuan’s chest, relying heavily on him for support.
As Xue Yuan comforted him, he looked up at the dark sky in the distance.
Gu Yuanbai coughed until he felt dizzy and his head throbbed. When his hands weakened and threatened to slip away, Xue Yuan held them firmly.
“Your health has always been so poor,” Xue Yuan said in a low voice, like a drenched little puppy.
“But just because you are physically weak,” he continued, “doesn’t mean you can always bully me.”
