C91. Death News.

C91. Death News.

Yuan Li looked at him, a mix of amusement and heartache in his expression, "I've said that being with you means being together, no regrets."

This remark sounded like honey to Chu Hechao, who chuckled and relaxed, "Look at what you've turned me into, just a few words from you and I'm scared. Come on, did you pour something in my soup?"

Yuan Li replied, "Yes, I poured something in your soup."

Chu Hechao laughed, pretending to be shocked, "Tell me, when did you pour something in my soup?"

"I don't know," Yuan Li's mouth felt dry, as he kicked Chu Hechao's leg, "I'm thirsty."

Chu Hechao, reluctant to move, was kicked again by Yuan Li. After being kicked twice, Chu Hechao lazily got out of bed to get him some water, teasing him, "Look at you, so lazy."

Yuan Li drank three full cups of water and, despite his disdainful expression, patiently poured him more water. Yuan Li handed the cup to Chu Hechao with a mischievous smile. The best part of being in a relationship was being able to have everything handed to you without getting out of bed, truly joyful.

While going to sleep, Yuan Li noticed Chu Hechao's nails, "Why don't you wear square pants too?"

Chu Hechao looked puzzled, "Why should I wear that?"

"They're very comfortable to wear," Yuan Li explained, "and provide a sense of security." He listed the benefits of wearing square pants, leaving Chu Hechao somewhat skeptical, "Really?"

Energized, Yuan Li got off the bed to fetch something, "I have some spare ones, I'll let you try them on."

Chu Hechao unbuckled his pants to try the new ones on, and seeing Yuan Li's discomfort, he teased, "You've already kissed me, why are you shy now?"

Yuan Li furrowed his brows, "You're just too ugly."

Chu Hechao chuckled, "Come here."

Yuan Li walked over and handed him the pants. Chu Hechao pulled him closer by holding his hand and kissed him before putting the pants on.

However, they were too tight and couldn't be worn.

Feeling a bit disheartened, Yuan Li remarked, "I'll have some larger ones made for you tomorrow."

Chu Hechao smirked, "Are you jealous?"

Without a word, Yuan Li directly tossed the pants in Chu Hechao's face.

The next day, Yang Zhongfa and He Lang invited Yuan Li to teach them swim under the pretext of fishing, feeling a sense of crisis after watching a recent match. They realized that Yuan Li's new recruits were skilled in water activities, making them, renowned generals, feel incompetent.

They sought Yuan Li's help as they were too embarrassed to ask the soldiers for instruction.

Yuan Li readily agreed and took them to a shallow river, where he first taught them swimming techniques on the shore.

Yang Zhongfa and He Lang praised Yuan Li's meticulous teaching compared to the General's instructions. Yuan Li raised an eyebrow, exchanging a knowing glance with Chu Hechao, "Did the general also teach you swim?"

The two quickly nodded, explaining that the general had taught them but seemed reluctant to continue.

Sensing the truth behind their words, Yuan Li kept quiet, guiding them to practice with wooden boards in the water once they had mastered the swimming techniques.

Yang Zhongfa and He Lang were a bit scared and stiff as they entered the water. With their bodies tensed, they involuntarily sank towards the bottom. Yuan Li encouraged them, "Don't be nervous, relax. This river is not deep, it only reaches your chest when standing, so why fear in such shallow water?"

He Lang, with a grimace, said, "I know the water won't reach our chests, but I still feel scared..."

For those who couldn't swim, there was a fear of drowning constantly lurking.

Yuan Li decided to join them in the water, standing nearby to observe. As soon as he entered, Yang Zhongfa and He Lang gained confidence and dared to paddle a few times with the wooden boards. Soon, they started to get the hang of it.

Seeing their rapid progress, Chu Hechao, who was standing on the shore, suddenly spoke, "Sister-in-law."

The people in the water looked up at him.

Chu Hechao, with a stoic expression, said, "I have something to discuss with you."

After a pause, he continued, "The shortage of weapons in the military."

Yang Zhongfa and He Lang nodded in understanding. Yuan Li got out of the water and followed Chu Hechao to a secluded spot by the river without saying a word. Without hesitation, Chu Hechao started undressing.

Instantly glancing around, Yuanli whispered, "What are you doing, there are people around?!"

Chu Hechao remained silent and quickly stripped off his clothes, then began removing his boots. The muscles beneath his clothes were sturdy and well-defined, accentuated by veins that led to curly hairs at the waistband.

Yuan Li watched his muscular movements, feeling his heart race as he almost tasted Chu Hechao's scent. Licking his lips, he wanted to refuse, but Chu Hechao jumped into the water without a word.

Yuan Li "..."

Expressionless, he wiped off the water splashed on his face and observed the man in the water.

Chu Hechao stood up straight, "Le Jun, teach me how to swim soon."

Yuan Li chuckled, squatting nearby to watch the scene coolly, "Haven't you already known how to swim for a long time?"

Chu Hechao frowned, "That was just a bluff. Hurry, Le Jun, don't embarrass your man in front of his subordinates."

After amusing himself for a while, Yuan Li started teaching him slowly. While Yuan Li taught Yang Zhongfa and He Lang, Chu Hechao picked up the essentials. With complete dedication, he practiced for a while and learned how to swim in a somewhat clumsy manner within a short time.

Sitting on the riverbank with his pants rolled up due to the heat, Yuan Li swung his feet in the water, "How was it? Swimming isn't difficult, right?"

Chu Hechao had just learned it and swam a few laps in the water, feeling refreshingly cool all over, "It's quite exhilarating."

He swam to the bank and resurfaced, "Swimming isn't difficult. Once the soldiers master it, they shouldn't fear the water battle you mentioned."

Yuan Li shook his head, "The most challenging part of a water battle isn't just the swimming skills but adapting to fighting on a ship."

"People who haven't been on a boat will feel dizzy, nauseous, fatigued, and even have weak legs that can't stand firm after getting on board," Yuan Li elaborated, "If they can't stand up straight, how can they fight?"

Chu Hechao pondered, "Warships should be built quickly."

Yuan Li nodded in agreement.

Chu Hechao pushed himself up from the shore, jumping out of the water to sit next to Yuan Li. He playfully pinched Yuan Li's face, damp with water, and planted a kiss, teasing, "What do we do, your brother doesn't have money to build a ship."

Tasting the water in his mouth, Yuan Li spat out, "When have you ever had money?"

Chu Hechao laughed, his thick-skinned face like a fortress, saying, "Don't I have you?"

Yuan Li glanced at him, "You seem like a freeloader."

Chu Hechao's rough fingers touched his face, causing a slight prickly pain, watching the youth wince, Chu Hechao swallowed hard, feeling a surge of excitement, "To eat or not to eat?"

Yuan Li retorted, "Freeloading."

Chu Hechao chuckled in a husky tone, "Suckling."

Yuan Li's face blushed instantly.

At that moment, the sound of footsteps approached from a distance.

Chu Hechao quickly jumped back into the water, pretending to swim.

Yuan Li cleared his throat, washed his face with a handful of water, and extinguished the burning sensation on his face.

Just then, Yang Zhongfa and He Lang walked side by side towards them. Upon seeing them, they complained, "Lord Yuan, and General, you've made it hard for us to find you. How can you disappear while teaching us?"

They noticed Chu Hechao in the water and exclaimed, "Oh," puzzled, "General, aren't you supposed to be discussing the shortage of weapons?"

Chu Hechao explained, "It's unbearably hot..."

Yuan Li added, "He wanted to catch fish in the water..."

Both of them fell silent.

Yang Zhongfa and He Lang exchanged glances, wondering whether it was the heat or the fish that prompted Chu Hechao's actions.

Without any change in expression, Chu Hechao stated, "It's too hot, and I saw some fish in the river, so I jumped in to catch a few to take back with me."

"Yes," Yuan Li calmly said, "When you came out, you mentioned wanting to go fishing. Taking a few fish back with you will also prevent others from discovering that you were secretly swimming."

He Lang and Yang Zhongfa suddenly understood, "That makes sense."

They decided to stay and join the others in the water, catching a few fish for dinner.

By the end of the afternoon, all of them had learned how to swim.

After mastering swimming, Chu Hechao often took Yuan Li for a few laps around the farm pond.

As the lotus seeds in the pond ripened, Yuan Li loved to eat them. The freshly picked lotus seeds were tender and juicy, and Yuan Li could eat one or two at a time.

One day, after Chu Hechao had just picked some lotus seeds from the pond, they heard that Yuan Li's parents had arrived.

Frowning, Chu Hechao asked, "Where is the Governor?" A servant replied, "He went out to meet his parents."

Chu Hechao nodded, feeling suddenly uneasy. He decided to change his clothes before meeting Yuan Li's parents.

However, not long after returning to his room, he heard hurried footsteps outside. Feeling a sense of unrest, Chu Hechao opened the door to find Yuan Li and a group of people rushing towards him, with a look of panic on their faces.

Yuan Li appeared anxious, taking quick steps towards him. Among the crowd was the Imperial Court eunuch Yang from the Luoyang Prince Chu Mansion.

Chu Hechao's eyelid twitched, a strong sense of unease rising within him. He wanted to pull Yuan Li beside him to ease his agitation and inquire about the situation. However, he remembered they were in public and refrained from doing so.

Eunuch Yang's voice was hoarse from crying as he saw Chu Hechao, tears streaming down his face once again as he knelt on the ground. "General, the Prince and Princess... have been murdered."

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