But deep down, he was already moved by Yu Tang's actions.
He instructed the imperial kitchen to heat up the beggar's chicken and warm up the osmanthus wine, then took Yu Tang to the garden for a drink.
"General, don't be discouraged." He smiled, his gaze fixed on Yu Tang as if he couldn't get enough of her: "I understand your feelings."
"But don't argue with stray dogs next time, or they might bite you."
"You're just teasing me." Yu Tang tilted his head back and downed his glass of wine, then refilled it for the two of them. "You wait until next time. Next time I'll definitely get you something you've never eaten or seen before!"
After several rounds of drinks, night fell, and both of them were quite drunk.
Xiao Lin propped his cheek on his hand, looking at Yu Tang by the moonlight and candlelight, and said softly, "General, no matter how good the things in this world are, they are all just mundane things."
"For me, the best gift is for you to stay by my side, General."
Yu Tang's pupils trembled slightly, then he stroked the wine glass in his hand and replied, "It's the same for me."
"The status, wealth, and reputation you've given me are all external things. If you really want me to choose, then..."
He leaned closer to Xiao Lin and kissed the corner of the man's lips.
"I only want you."
Chapter 31
The villain was resurrected for the fourth time (31)
Osmanthus wine doesn't make people drunk; Yu Tang's words are the real culprit that made Xiao Lin intoxicated.
Yu Tang didn't know how she got to the bedchamber, but she vaguely heard Li Haiquan sternly instructing the palace servants to close their eyes and keep their mouths shut.
His only remaining memory was of Xiao Lin pulling him into his arms, their hot breaths mingling.
The long night is filled with the gentle swaying of the curtains, concealing everything you wish to see.
Half a month later, Yu Tang lay on the bed that Xiao Lin had arranged in the imperial study, with his legs crossed. There were two wishing boxes next to him, and he took them out to look at them, laughing as he looked.
These people's wishes are truly outrageous. Some even asked him if he could appear in their dreams and tell them a way to secretly save money without their wives' knowledge.
Indeed, whether in ancient or modern times, men's thoughts are somewhat similar.
However, compared to the many wishes that the God of War could help them last longer during sex, this "secret stash" of money is still considered good.
As he was smiling, Li Haiquan walked in and told Xiao Lin, "Your Majesty, General Qiao requests an audience."
This clever eunuch now understands quite well the relationship between Yu Tang and Xiao Lin.
But he was a clever man, so he kept his mouth shut even tighter. When he entered the imperial study, he didn't even glance at Yu Tang, pretending not to see that Yu Tang only put away his crossed legs and sat up straight after he came in.
Xiao Lin put down the folded document, glanced at Yu Tang who was still clutching the note in his hand, and asked him, "General Yu, do you think I should see General Qiao?"
Yu Tang knew perfectly well that this kid was deliberately trying to manipulate him.
He cleared his throat and said, "General Qiao's visit must concern matters of national importance. For the public good, His Majesty must grant him an audience. As for personal matters, that depends on His Majesty's own magnanimity."
Xiao Lin raised an eyebrow.
He thought to himself, "I knew I shouldn't use this fake jealousy trick too often."
See? Now his generals have figured it out and are throwing the problem back at him, giving him no chance to make a fuss.
"Li Haiquan, you heard that too." Xiao Lin deliberately said to Li Haiquan, "Let General Qiao come in. After all, as the emperor, I have the world in my heart. I can tolerate a mere General Qiao."
Yu Tang laughed upon hearing this.
You have to keep a straight face so you don't burst out laughing.
After Qiao Yu entered, he bowed to Xiao Lin and Yu Tang before saying, "Your Majesty, I wish to resign from my official post in the capital and return to the northern border to continue guarding the frontier."
When he said this, both Yu Tang and Xiao Lin were stunned.
In an instant, Xiao Lin's smile widened by eight degrees.
"What's wrong with General Qiao? Is he having trouble adjusting to life in the capital?"
He was secretly overjoyed, but on the surface he still had to say, "You have helped me a lot these past two years. The rebellions in several eastern cities were all thanks to you and General Zhao, which allowed me to secure my throne."
General Zhao returned to the northern border half a year ago, and now you are also going back. This makes me feel somewhat regretful and sad.
"Haha, he's just pretending!"
Xiao Jin exaggeratedly commented: "Master, look at Xiao Lin's mouth, it's practically stretched to the back of his head! He's probably laughing his head off!"
Yu Tang: Yes, even I feel embarrassed for him for saying those things.
But Xiao Lin seemed completely oblivious to the awkwardness and even deliberately said to Yu Tang, "General Yu, you should also say a few words for me to persuade General Qiao to stay."
Yu Tang knew what he was planning.
He was completely unaffected: "Your Majesty, I think we should hear what General Qiao has to say about this matter."
Aside from being oblivious to his own feelings, Qiao Yu was quite intelligent in other aspects, and he understood what Xiao Lin and Yu Tang meant.
He then said, “Your Majesty, in the past year, from officials to commoners, everyone in the Xiao Kingdom has been impressed by your measures, and there will be no more rebellions that I need to quell.”
Moreover, you now have General Yu protecting you. The General's skills and strategies surpass mine. Therefore, I discussed with Physician Lu our plan to return to the Northern Border together.”
"So it was all planned with Doctor Lu?" Xiao Lin had just been joking around, just teasing Yu Tang.
Hearing Qiao Yu's words, his expression became more serious.
"It is my loss that I have lost a general who is both a scholar and a warrior, and a physician with superb medical skills."
But since this is your shared idea, it's not in my jurisdiction to object.
He asked, "When are you departing? General Yu and I will also see you off."
Hearing Xiao Lin's agreement, Qiao Yu breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "If Your Majesty issues the order today, Physician Lu and I can set off tomorrow."
Yu Tang couldn't help but ask, "Are you in such a hurry?"
Qiao Yu paused for a moment, then, remembering what Lu Hanqing had said to him yesterday, nodded and said, "Mm..."
Back at his residence, Lu Hanqing was packing his things.
Seeing him return, she quickly walked over, but upon getting closer, she seemed to remember something and took a half step back before asking, "Has His Majesty agreed?"
Seeing Qiao Yu nod, Lu Hanqing breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again.
He said to Qiao Yu, "Xiao Yu, this time our agreement is for three years. If you are still clear that you really don't like me during these three years away from Yutang, I will stop bothering you."
"But if you become certain that you've fallen for me during these three years, then regardless of whether conflicts arise between Yu Tang and Xiao Lin in the future, you are not allowed to have any feelings for Yu Tang that go beyond brotherhood."
"I..." When Qiao Yu looked at Lu Hanqing's face, she thought of the expression on his face when he had suppressed her and caused trouble that day, and was hurt by her words, "How can you be so disgusting?"
After that, Lu Hanqing never touched him again. She still smiled every day, but the smile was not as natural as before.
He really wanted to apologize.
After all, he was just not used to the other person sealing his acupoints and making lewd remarks. Only after he realized what he had said did he realize that he had gone too far.
However, it can be quite awkward to apologize once the opportunity has passed.
Therefore, Qiao Yu had no choice but to give up.
He looked away and said, "I understand. I promise you."
Of course, after they returned to the Northern Territory, Qiao Yu discovered that after one three-year period, the two of them had a second three-year period, a third three-year period, and then more than a dozen three-year periods.
From initial resistance to being moved by Lu Hanqing countless times, and finally truly accepting each other, they have supported each other through decades.
Before Lu Hanqing died, he held his hand and asked him if he regretted being entangled with him for the rest of his life.
By then, Qiao Yu's hair had turned completely white. He gripped Lu Hanqing's hand tightly and replied to the man earnestly.
"No regrets..."
Chapter 32
The fourth (32) world ends as the villain is resurrected.
But that's a story for another time.
Now that Xiao Lin and Yu Tang had personally seen Qiao Yu and Lu Hanqing off, he was overjoyed.
They worked even harder at reviewing memorials.
She would even hum a song from time to time.
Yu Tang was speechless at his childish behavior.
But despite his words, he himself wasn't much better when he was jealous.
Both of them are the type who become sillier the more they fall in love.
Of course, this kind of foolishness doesn't refer to professional skills, but only to one's personal life.
For the next six months, Yu Tang and Xiao Lin would spend their free time strolling around the capital in their everyday clothes.
Under the guise of investigating the people's conditions, they indulged in eating, drinking, and having fun, and toured all over the capital.
I've also been to... brothels...
The reason was that Yu Tang was too curious.
Xiao Lin complied with his request and took him there.
Before going in, he said, "General, believe it or not, in the entire capital, no one's looks can compare to mine. This mere brothel is nothing special."
Yu Tang raised an eyebrow: "How would you know if you don't go and see for yourself?"
Xiao Lin immediately tensed up: "Then even if you see something beautiful, you're not allowed to praise it. You can only praise me, not others."
"Alright, then Your Majesty should also be the same. Even if you see someone more handsome than me, you can't..."
"General, rest assured, in my heart..." Xiao Lin opened his folding fan, looking every bit the dashing young master.
He interrupted Yu Tang directly, used his fan to cover their faces, leaned close to Yu Tang's face, and gave him a quick kiss.
"There is no one better than you."
The two exchanged compliments, and once inside, Yu Tang indeed didn't see anyone more handsome or charismatic than Xiao Lin.
Moreover, the brothels here are relatively quiet, mostly for listening to music. Singers and musicians perform on stage, and Yu Tang sits below and listens to a song.