C81. Soup Noodles.

C81. Soup Noodles.

Upon waking up the next day, Yuan Li noticed no one by his side and instinctively glanced towards the window, which was already closed. He sighed in relief and then allowed the servants outside to enter.

For breakfast, Yuan Li ate with Chu Hechao.

The servants brought a cold towel soaked in water for Chu Hechao to freshen up. The coolness seeped into his skin, providing a sense of comfort. Despite having quickly taken a bath after his morning exercise routine, he still emanated heat from his body, which lingered, refusing to dissipate.

Surrounded by people, Yuan Li sat upright next to Chu Hechao, maintaining proper etiquette.

Chu Hechao handed the towel back to the servants, inspected the food in front of him, briefly glanced at Yuan Li, and then pushed the meat soup aside. Turning to the servant, he said, "Bring some vegetarian dishes and fruits. I will stick to these for the next few days and avoid meat and fish."

The servant acknowledged and left the room.

Unable to resist, Yuan Li sneaked a quick glance at Chu Hechao, who, upon catching his gaze, playfully raised his eyebrows in a mocking manner.

Yuan Li remarked, "If you like it, go ahead and eat. Don't restrain yourself."

Chu Hechao, with a smirk, replied, "No need to. It's not a restraint."

Understanding his intentions, Yuan Li recalled their conversation from the previous night, sighed softly, and focused on drinking his soup.

Before finishing their meal, Yang Zhongfa requested to see them.

The servant brought him over, and upon seeing the two men having their meal, Yang Zhongfa smiled and approached them, saying, "It's better to arrive early than on time. I haven't eaten yet! General, Sir, mind if I join you?"

Chu Hechao jokingly scolded, "Sit down if you want to eat, and leave if you don't."

"Alright, alright."

Yang Zhongfa directly sat at the empty seat, and a servant placed a dish in front of him. He sipped some soup to fill his stomach before engaging in conversation.

However, he was taken aback when he noticed the scanty dishes on the table and exclaimed, "General, why are you served with such meager portions?"

Isn't the General usually fond of meat and fish?

Chu Hechao casually replied, "I've had some internal heat recently, so I'm avoiding heavy dishes."

Without even sparing a glance towards Yuan Li's direction.

Yuan Li, too, concentrated on his food without lifting his head or engaging in the conversation.

Unlike Yuan Li, Yang Zhongfa was not easily deceived. This seasoned general appeared rough but possessed a keen and sharp mind.

They needed to pay more attention.

Yang Zhongfa chuckled, "You ought to cool down a bit. With no incidents at the border in recent months and peace prevailing in Youzhou, I believe this restlessness is all due to being cooped up here."

Chu Hechao was about to respond when Yuan Li choked on his soup, doubling over and coughing softly.

As Yuan Li coughed, Chu Hechao swiftly walked over, handed him a handkerchief and patted his back. Once Yuan Li's coughing subsided, Chu Hechao handed him a cup of water.

His actions were restrained yet caring, concealing his concern within.

Yuan Li accepted the water graciously and thanked Chu Hechao.

"It's nothing," Chu Mingfeng replied after ensuring Yuan Li was fine, then returned to his seat, asking Yang Zhongfa to continue speaking.

Yang Zhongfa glanced at Yuan Li with concern, but Yuan Li smiled and shook his head before he continued, "General, I have interrogated the dancing girl you assigned to me yesterday, as well as the two individuals captured by Yuan. They are indeed spies, sent by the Guli Chi faction."

Furrowing his brow, Chu Hechao asked, "Why were these spies getting close to Yuan Li?"

Yang Zhongfa explained, "Because Guli Chi wants to assassinate Lord Yuan."

Chu Hechao's expression darkened.

Yuan Li, on the other hand, was unsurprised. Having witnessed Guli Chi among the individuals who saw his rain prediction, it was foreseeable that Guli Chi, fearing his abilities, would attempt to eliminate him.

However, he had not expected spies to appear so soon after his rain prediction. Was Guli Chi so desperate to kill him?

Chu Hechao's demeanor gradually turned expressionless, exuding a menacing aura.

In a hushed tone, Yang Zhongfa advised, "Guli Chi has surrendered to the court and is considered a vassal of Northern Zhou. We have even received orders from the court to resist the Xiongnu invasion. Openly, we cannot take action against him, General."

Chu Hechao curled his lips, his eyes devoid of amusement, "I know. If I could act against him, do you think I would still be sitting here?"

After speaking, he fell silent, not uttering a word or showing any expression, his demeanor somewhat intimidating.

Wondering what was on his mind, Yang Zhongfa understood Chu Hechao. Seeing him silent and contemplative, he knew that Chu Hechao was truly considering how to deal with the Wumang people.

Yang Zhongfa was amazed by his intense reaction - was it really necessary?

After all, they had encountered spies before in their ranks numerous times. Who among the leaders hadn't faced such crises?

Yuan Li had not been harmed, and even when the general was insulted in the past, he had not reacted this way. Why was he so enraged this time?

Could it be due to pent-up anger?

Yang Zhongfa didn't dwell on it too much, "I have extracted some information from the spies. General, should we arrest them or not?"

"Keep an eye on them," Chu Hechao finally spoke, "See who they have been in contact with."

Yang Zhongfa acknowledged the command and left after finishing his meal.

Once he left, Yuan Li looked at Chu Hechao's expression and whispered, "Are you angry?"

Chu Hechao rubbed his forehead and glanced at him, "Aren't you angry?"

Yuan Li honestly shook his head, "I had already guessed."

This candid admission made Chu Hechao chuckle in exasperation. Here he was, seething with frustration, yet the main culprit was unfazed.

He didn't even feel like finishing his meal and was about to step out to cool off when Yuan Li quietly remarked, "The angrier you get, the hotter you become... You haven't finished your food yet..."

This statement successfully halted Chu Hechao in his tracks. He sat back down with a stern expression and finished all the vegetables and fruits on the table.

After the meal, the two went their separate ways to attend to their respective tasks.

In the evening, Yuan Li returned from the recruitment site. Upon his return, he didn't see Chu Hechao and asked a servant, "Where is the General?"

The servant reported, "The General was summoned by Sir Yang's residence."

Yuan Li nodded, but even after finishing his meal, Chu Hechao had not returned.

The servant who had previously informed Yuan Li about Chu Hechao's whereabouts suddenly remembered something, "Sir, the General had instructed that if he hadn't returned before dinner, you shouldn't wait for him to start eating first."

Yuan Li acknowledged and had dinner alone. Shortly after dinner, Zhao Ying came to report, informing Yuan Li of the developments in monitoring Cai Ji's mansion.

"He moved his family's belongings outside the city last night?" Yuan Li furrowed his brow in contemplation, "Where did they take it?"

"We followed and observed, they were taken to a farm outside Jixian County owned by Mister Cai," Zhao Ying replied.

Yuan Li pondered for a moment, "Were his family members with him?"

Zhao Ying shook his head, "Only gold, silver, valuables, silk, and calligraphy and paintings were transported."

Yuan Li ordered Zhao Ying to continue surveillance, pondering what Cai Ji was really up to.

As a thought gradually surfaced, was Cai Ji planning to leave Youzhou?

But as the County Magistrate of Guangyang County in Youzhou, would he really be willing to abandon his official position?

What exactly did Cai Ji know that led him to make these unusual moves…?

He contemplated this matter deeply, his thoughts lingering even as he prepared to sleep, only to be interrupted by someone climbing in through the window.

The smell of alcohol and the presence of a man approached, as Chu Hechao embraced Yuan Li from behind, chuckling softly, "Still not asleep?"

Yuan Li broke free from his embrace, turning to face him with a serious expression, "Where did you go this afternoon?"

Tonight was the fifteenth, with the moon full and its light filtering through the window, casting a soft glow like a silver tray, allowing the dark and imposing figure and expression of the man to be faintly discerned.

Chu Hechao casually sat at the edge of the bed, his tone slightly imbued with drunkenness, speaking in a low voice, "Guan Zhihuai brought a person from the northern border, and when they arrived at the Prince Chu Estate, they found it burnt down. So, they went to find Yang Zhongfa. He had prepared a good meal and invited me over for a drink."

Yuan Li remained silent.

Reaching out in the darkness, Chu Hechao took his hand and brought it to his lips, giving it a gentle kiss. "I couldn't help but worry about whether you ate well during the drinking. I seemed uninterested in food then, and now my stomach must be empty."

He placed Yuan Li's hand on his own stomach, and Yuan Li felt a few hunger pangs.

Yuan Li promptly scolded him, "Yang Zhongfa prepared a good meal. It would be a waste for you not to eat."

Muttering to himself, he couldn't understand why he had such a good appetite at home, yet strangely found it difficult to eat outside.

Chu Hechao sighed, "I do want to eat, but the dishes were either meat broth or grilled meat, both with strong flavors. In order to be ready for your embrace sooner, I had to endure not eating."

Yuan Li: "...You really go to great lengths."

In the end, he put on his clothes and went to the small kitchen to cook a bowl of clear noodle soup for the man.

Chu Hechao was not picky. As he ate, he suddenly smiled, fishing out a chopstick of noodles from the bowl and offering it to Yuan Li, who took a few bites as well.

"A bit salty," he frowned, honestly evaluating his own cooking skills.

Chu Hechao disagreed, saying, "It suits my taste just fine."

He ate two bowls before feeling comfortably full, and in the dim candlelight, any lingering alcohol scent had dissipated.

With no one else in the kitchen, the two men didn't say much. After tidying up, they walked shoulder to shoulder to the lake shore to stroll and aid digestion.

It was now late in the evening, nearing the hour of sleeping.

The moonlight cast long shadows of the two figures, shimmering on the lake's surface. As they walked into a secluded grove, Chu Hechao embraced Yuan Li, intending to kiss him.

Yuan Li covered his mouth, saying, "You still have the smell of alcohol, it's unpleasant."

Furrowing his strong brows, Chu Hechao responded, "Why do I only sense the taste of noodles?"

Unwilling to let him kiss him, Yuan Li, Chu Hechao had no choice but to give up, holding Yuan Li and gently caressing the back of his neck.

Again and again, from the back of the neck to the side of the face, near the eyes, the skin was touched until it tingled. In this repeated touch, Chu Hechao conveyed his longing for Yuan Li and the words he wanted to say.

Yuan Li began to feel slightly intoxicated.

After a while, Yuan Li scratched his arm, "Let's go back, I'm getting bitten by mosquitoes."

Chu Hechao touched and found two small bumps close together, and muttered, "Biting my wife is nothing, bite me if you can."

Trying to find the culprit, but there were too many mosquitoes, he pulled Yuan Li back.

Yuan Li softly said, "Have you never been bitten before?"

Chu Hechao smiled, "Never."

Yuanli felt restless in his heart, "Envious."

He was prone to mosquito bites, from the previous life to this life. Ancient mosquitoes were more poisonous, leaving big welts with each bite. Yuan Li envied those who didn't attract mosquitoes.

But then, he thought maybe it wasn't that mosquitoes didn't bite Chu Hechao, but that his skin was too thick for them to pierce.

With that thought in mind, he couldn't help but laugh.

Back at the house, Yuan Li wanted to ask Chu Hechao about Guan Zhihuai bringing people to Jixian, but Chu Hechao hurriedly went back to his room. Seeing this, Yuan Li thought he was tired and wanted to rest, so he regretfully returned to his room.

Unexpectedly, after a while, Chu Hechao quietly entered Yuan Li's room, all damp from the water, and got into bed.

Yuan Li whispered, "Didn't you go back to sleep?"

The man embraced him fervently, his damp breath close, and said, "Kiss first, then sleep."

Yuan Li tried to speak, but his words were silenced as their lips and tongues intertwined.

When they paused, Yuan Li could taste the toothpaste scent he had shared with Chu Hechao.

Breathing heavily, Chu Hechao hoarsely asked, "Is your arm still itching?"

Yuan Li nodded, "Itchy."

Without any shame, Chu Hechao said, "Saliva can stop the itch, let me help you."

Yuan Li shook his head, "No need."

But Chu Hechao continued to stop the itch for him as if he hadn't heard.

The noise outside gradually quieted down.

After a while, Yuanli urged, "Stop messing around, I have something to ask you."

Chu Hechao laughed lazily, leaning against the head of the bed, "Ask."

Yuan Li asked, "Did Guan Zhihuai come with people to find you, did news come from Luoyang?"

"Yeah," Chu Hechao smiled and calmly said, "Emperor Jianyuan is in trouble, he's unwell."

Yuan Li widened his eyes.

Emperor Jianyuan is unwell?