MSW Chapter5

17

Mu Peixuan had looked into Duan Linzhou before. After thinking it over, he immediately knew who the “younger sister” he mentioned was.

 

Duan Weirui — Duan Linzhou’s younger half-sister, born of a concubine. The head of the Duan family was known for his amorous ways and had many children; Duan Linzhou was the third among them. This was the second time Mu Peixuan had heard him bring up that half-sister. Mu Peixuan wasn’t close with his own elder brother, let alone his half-siblings, so he couldn’t easily believe that Duan Linzhou would care so much about a half-sister.

 

Mu Peixuan looked down at Duan Linzhou from above and said, “Since you’re so worried about her, why not find her a good match?”

 

Duan Linzhou gave a helpless smile and said, “The moment I die, the Duan family will no longer have a place for her, nor will they necessarily stand behind her. Even if she’s married off, who’s to say her husband won’t bully her because she has no one to rely on?” His words left him slightly breathless. “But if Xiao Junwang is watching over her, others will at least think twice before trying to harm her.”

 

Mu Peixuan said, “You and I have only known each other for a few days—”

 

Duan Linzhou interrupted him, “I trust Your Highness.”

 

Mu Peixuan was speechless.

 

Duan Linzhou added, “I’ve never misjudged a person.”

 

Mu Peixuan stared at Duan Linzhou, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. “Boss Duan, you really know how to play your cards. You’ve ruined my marriage prospects, saddled me with the reputation of a widower, and now you want me to look after your sister as well?”

 

“Stop daydreaming like hell,” Mu Peixuan snapped, growing inexplicably irritated just from hearing that tone of Duan Linzhou’s, like he was giving his last words. Even though he knew Duan Linzhou was most likely playing the weak card on purpose, it still annoyed him. Grabbing Duan Linzhou’s cheek, he sneered coldly, “All you talk about is death. If you’re so eager to die, fine — Duan Linzhou, once you’re gone, the business empire you built with your own hands will be just right for someone else to take over and change the family name.”

 

“As for that half-sister of yours, don’t worry. I’ll be sure to find her a wealthy, noble household.” Mu Peixuan said.

 

Duan Linzhou let out a low hum. Looking into Mu Peixuan’s pitch-black eyes, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, but he still said, “Then I’ll have to thank Xiao Junwang.”

 

Mu Peixuan grew even more frustrated.

 

He let go and gave Duan Linzhou a kick, snapping harshly, “Get the hell in.”

 

Duan Linzhou nearly burst out laughing. Even after being kicked, he wasn’t angry. With his long, disheveled hair, he leaned in closer and said, “Your Highness, you’re not leaving anymore?”

 

As soon as he drew near, Mu Peixuan caught a faint whiff of medicinal scent from him. He instinctively turned his face away and said coldly, “And why should this prince be the one sleeping on the cold side of the bed?”

 

Duan Linzhou let out a soft “oh.”

 

Mu Peixuan’s brows furrowed tightly. “You reek of medicine, it’s overpowering.”

 

Duan Linzhou looked up at him but didn’t argue. Instead, he scooted back a bit and even straightened Mu Peixuan’s pillow for him. With a bright smile, he said, “Please, Xiao Junwang.”

 

Mu Peixuan didn’t bother responding to Duan Linzhou. He lay down straightaway and warned him, “Stay away from this prince. I don’t want to smell that medicine stench on you.”

 

With that, he closed his eyes.

 

Duan Linzhou sat there for a moment, then unconsciously raised his hand to sniff at himself. Pressing his lips together, he quietly slipped under the covers and slowly shifted toward the inner side of the bed.

 

The night passed without incident; neither of them knew when they had fallen asleep.

 

The next morning, just as Mu Peixuan was drifting between sleep and wakefulness, he sensed something was off. He was holding something in the crook of his arm. Instinctively, he tightened his grip. Still half-asleep, his reactions were slow. When he finally blinked his eyes open in a daze, he saw that he was holding someone in his arms.

 

It was Duan Linzhou.

 

18

Mu Peixuan instantly snapped awake. He sucked in a sharp breath and stared straight at Duan Linzhou, his body as stiff as a board, not daring to move a muscle for fear of waking him and making the situation even more awkward.

 

Duan Linzhou was sound asleep. His eyes were shut, long lashes casting faint shadows, and his pale cheeks carried an unhealthy pallor that made his lips look all the more colorless by contrast.

 

There was no doubt, this was a strikingly refined and handsome face.

 

Mu Peixuan rarely ever looked at Duan Linzhou’s features this closely. He thought, With all his masks stripped away in sleep, Duan Linzhou — wasn’t quite so irritating after all.

 

Almost against his will, his gaze drifted to Duan Linzhou’s lips again.

 

Last night, Duan Linzhou had kissed him.

 

Mu Peixuan could almost feel the sensation of that brief kiss lingering on his lips. It had only lasted a moment, yet his mind involuntarily conjured up the crude, offhand remarks he’d often heard from the soldiers back in the barracks.

 

A Kunze’s lips are soft and sweet — but Duan Linzhou wasn’t a Kunze. However… his lips had seemed, well, pretty soft too.

 

A Kunze’s scent was especially alluring when in heat, so enticing it could drive someone to want to devour them whole.

 

Mu Peixuan’s nose twitched slightly, but all he could smell in the bedding was the warm fragrance of the incense and a faint, bitter trace of medicine — that was Duan Linzhou’s scent. His thoughts wandered aimlessly, Could that be Duan Linzhou’s Xinxiang?

 

Just thinking that made his ears inexplicably warm.

 

Mu Peixuan’s fingertips twitched. He had touched the back of Duan Linzhou’s neck before — his secondary gland was underdeveloped, small, and nearly unnoticeable, almost like it had regressed.

 

And then, Mu Peixuan suddenly realized — he was still holding Duan Linzhou around the waist.

 

Mu Peixuan: “……”

 

He jerked his hand back as if burned, sitting upright in a flash, a strange heat creeping over him. His movements were loud, but Duan Linzhou, still half-asleep, instinctively leaned a little closer, even resting his hand on Mu Peixuan’s leg.

 

Mu Peixuan tensed from head to toe, staring fixedly at the faintly visible carved bed frame beyond the bed curtains, as if it could save him from the chaos in his mind.

 

Duan Linzhou was too thin, his waist so slender that Mu Peixuan felt as though he could break it with a single twist. The thought flashed through his mind, and his expression changed. What does it matter to him whether Duan Linzhou’s waist is thin or not? Mu Peixuan frowned in frustration.

 

Suddenly, a hoarse voice broke the silence, “What time is it?”

 

Mu Peixuan lowered his gaze. Duan Linzhou, eyes half-open, looked like he hadn’t fully woken up. Still drowsy, he rubbed his cheek against Mu Peixuan’s waist.

 

Mu Peixuan’s fingers tensed slightly, and he squeezed out each word, one at a time: “Duan Linzhou, who said you could sleep leaning on me?”

 

“…Hmm?” Duan Linzhou slowly tilted his face up to look at Mu Peixuan. Seeing the young man’s stern expression and tightly pressed lips, he belatedly realized what was going on. He shifted to the side a little and said with a smile, “Forgive me, Your Highness. I sleep poorly — once I’m asleep, I forget everything.”

 

Mu Peixuan said nothing.

 

Duan Linzhou sat up as well, and Mu Peixuan’s gaze inadvertently fell on the slightly open collar of his robe. The exposed skin was pale as snow, and the two delicate, slender collarbones were especially eye-catching.

 

Feeling uncomfortable, Mu Peixuan quickly looked away. He lifted the covers and got out of bed. As his peripheral vision swept past the braziers burning in the room, he suddenly remembered — last night, it hadn’t been about Duan Linzhou’s poor sleeping habits at all. It was clearly because there were too many braziers lit in the room. His own body ran hot, and before long, he’d broken out in a sweat. Irritable from the heat and drowsy to the point of exhaustion, he had inadvertently brushed against a cool, warm body — and, without thinking, pulled it into his arms.

 

…So, last night, it wasn’t Duan Linzhou who leaned on him while sleeping — but he himself who held Duan Linzhou the whole night?!

 

Mu Peixuan’s face flushed red, then turned pale, then flushed again.

 

Duan Linzhou had a cold constitution, and after falling ill, he became especially sensitive to the cold. At night, he usually needed several hot-water bottles tucked into the bed. But yesterday, fearing Mu Peixuan might not be used to them, he had asked Liu Guang to put them all away.

 

After the two of them lay down, Duan Linzhou didn’t fall asleep for a long time. The room was clearly warm, yet he still felt cold, his feet were cold, and his hands were also cold.

 

Until Mu Peixuan’s foot brushed against his.

 

The youth’s body radiated heat, and once Duan Linzhou got close, he couldn’t bear to pull away. He couldn’t help but inch closer toward Mu Peixuan.

 

Before long, a burning-hot body pressed up against him. Mu Peixuan was sweating from the heat, his brows tightly furrowed. Caught off guard, Duan Linzhou was suddenly drawn into his arms. It felt like touching fire — he instinctively flinched, wanting to retreat, but Mu Peixuan only tightened his embrace.

 

Duan Linzhou listened to the gradually steady breathing behind him, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his lips as he slowly closed his eyes.

 

That night, Duan Linzhou didn’t dream — he had a rare, peaceful sleep.

 

19

The silver spear whistled through the air with a fierce and overbearing force. As it came hurtling toward him, Xu Ying’s brow twitched — he ducked low to avoid the spear’s tip, reacting swiftly. He raised his blade to block the thrusts that followed one after another, and in that instant, half his arm went numb.

 

“No more, no more,” Xu Ying flung his blade aside and plopped down on the ground, saying, “You call this stretching your muscles? You’re clearly just venting your anger.”

 

Mu Peixuan withdrew his spear and looked at Xu Ying, who had thrown down his weapon in defeat. He snorted lightly and said, “Seems like you’ve let your skills rust. When your Shifu[mfn]Master[/mfn] returns from the capital—”

 

As soon as Xu Ying heard his master’s name, he groaned in complaint. “Who’s let their skills rust? I was never your match to begin with! Don’t try to scare me with my Shifu!”

 

Xu Ying’s master was a Qianhu[mfn]Once again, it’s a title meaning thousand-household. The same as Xu Ying’s and Li Yue’s.[/mfn] in the Biannan Guard, notorious for being strict. Xu Ying had been trained under his iron hand since childhood. Two years ago, his master was transferred to the capital and became part of the Chief Military Commission of the Left Army. With that, Xu Ying became a wild horse, running free every day, eager to make up for all the joy he had missed while under his master’s strict discipline.

 

Mu Peixuan couldn’t be bothered to entertain him and planted his silver spear into the ground. The weather has been nice these past few days, the sunshine was warm and gentle, not oppressive. However, after some activity, he had worked up a sweat.

 

Xu Ying said, “I asked you to drink yesterday, but you refused. Why do you look like someone is asking for a debt when you come here today? You look like someone owes you a few thousand taels.”

 

“Who upset you again now?”

 

Mu Peixuan’s mind briefly flashed to Duan Linzhou’s face, the slightly open collar, and the two delicate, pale collarbones. He spaced out for a moment, then quickly snapped back to reality, feeling embarrassed. He stiffly replied, “It’s nothing.”

 

Xu Ying glanced at him and exclaimed in surprise, “You didn’t have another argument with Boss Duan, did you?”

 

Mu Peixuan coldly replied, “Don’t mention him.”

 

Xu Ying immediately burst into laughter, eyeing Mu Peixuan up and down with curiosity. “What did Boss Duan do to you to make you this upset?”

 

Mu Peixuan furrowed his brows as soon as he heard Xu Ying mention ‘Duan Linzhou’. He stared fixedly at Xu Ying, causing the latter to touch his cheek and ask, “What are you looking at me for?”

 

Mu Peixuan replied, “Xu Ying, why are you so curious about Duan Linzhou? You keep calling him ‘Boss Duan’ here, ‘Boss Duan’ there.”

 

Xu Ying said, “I’m just bored, that’s all,” as if it were perfectly reasonable. Seeing Mu Peixuan’s grim expression, a sudden realization flashed in his mind. He then asked, “You’re not jealous, are you?”

 

Mu Peixuan: “……?”

 

Xu Ying quickly scrambled to his feet, swearing with both hands raised, “What are you thinking? Not to mention that brothers’ wives are not to be cheated on! I’m devoted to my Yuan Ge’er, both heart and soul. Heaven and earth can bear witness, and the sun and moon can testify!”

 

“Don’t you go slandering me!”

 

Mu Peixuan: “……”

 

He nearly kicked him in frustration, snapping, “What nonsense are you spouting now?”

 

“I’m just being careful in case there are ears behind the wall and word gets to Yuan Ge’er,” Xu Ying said, looking aggrieved. “He barely talks to me as it is, if he gets upset, I’ll really be in trouble.”

 

Mu Peixuan scoffed, “How ambitious.”

 

Xu Ying replied, “You just don’t get it.”

 

“The world is vast, but my Yuan Ge’er is the greatest of all. For him, I even started studying,” Xu Ying said, swaying his head with self-satisfaction. Then he let out a silly grin and added, “Just a few days ago, Yuan Ge’er praised me for improving in my studies, I can’t let him get the wrong idea about me now.”

 

The “Yuan Ge’er” Xu Ying spoke of was named Fang Yuan, he’s a kunze, and the son of the headmaster of Qinghe Academy in Ruizhou City. He came from a family of scholars. The Fang and Xu families were neighbors, and Fang Yuan was three years younger than Xu Ying. The two could be considered childhood sweethearts.

 

Seeing Xu Ying so utterly smitten was practically unbearable. Mu Peixuan sneered coldly, “Weren’t you just praising Duan Linzhou in front of me a few days ago?”

 

Xu Ying said, “That’s called appreciation, it’s totally different. No matter how great Boss Duan is, he still can’t compare to Yuan Ge’er in my heart.”

 

Mu Peixuan sneered, “What’s so great about some stuck-up bookworm who acts pretentiously all day long?”

 

Xu Ying sucked in a sharp breath and shot back, “What do you mean by pretentious? That’s called being refined from a belly full of poetry and books! How is Yuan Ge’er a bookworm? He’s skilled in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, he even knows how to brew wine!”

 

Mu Peixuan mocked, “You are blinded by your own greed, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Zither, chess, calligraphy, painting—” He snorted, “Any kunze from a noble family can do those.”

 

Xu Ying grew indignant, let out a loud howl, then kicked up the blade from the ground and gripped it in his hands. “Mu Peixuan, I challenge you to another three hundred rounds!”

 

Mu Peixuan watched him puff up like a cat with its tail stepped on and was instantly amused. He twirled his spear into a flashy flourish, pointed it at Xu Ying, and said, “Not interested.”

 

“Even after three hundred more rounds, you still wouldn’t be my match.”

 

With that, he strolled off leisurely.

 

Xu Ying fumed behind him, muttering, “…Next time, don’t you dare drink the wine Yuan Ge’er brewed!”

 

Mu Peixuan spent the entire day at the military camp just to smother the lingering awkwardness. When his shift ended, he hesitated for a moment but still rode back to Marquis Annan’s mansion.

 

Neither of them brought up the events of the previous night again, it’s an unspoken agreement.

 

The sun hung low in the sky, not yet set, and its dusky golden light filtered in through the window, bathing Duan Linzhou in its glow. Unlike usual, he wasn’t poring over ledgers but making tea. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing slender, pale wrists and long, jade-like fingers.

 

As soon as Mu Peixuan returned, he took a bath and changed into his everyday clothes. The moment he stepped into the room, his gaze was drawn to Duan Linzhou’s hands. He stared for a moment before hearing Duan Linzhou say, “Your Highness, care for a cup of tea?”

 

Mu Peixuan glanced at him, then stepped inside.

 

The two sat facing each other.

 

Duan Linzhou was skilled in the art of tea-making, his movements as fluid as flowing water, exuding an air of elegance and composure.

 

Mu Peixuan remembered what Xu Ying had said — Fang Yuan could brew wine.

 

But Duan Linzhou could make tea too!

 

Brewing wine — what’s so impressive about that? It’s just like the palace’s royal wine. There are still a few jars left in his wine cellar.

 

Duan Linzhou didn’t know what Mu Peixuan was thinking; seeing that his mind was elsewhere, he spoke up, “Your Highness, it’s already the end of the twelfth month. When will you be taking a break?”

 

Mu Peixuan snapped out of his thoughts, counted the days, and suddenly realized the new year was almost upon them.

 

He replied, “In three days.”

 

Duan Linzhou nodded and said, “With the new year approaching, it’s time to prepare the annual gifts for those various households. I’ve made a list. Your Highness, when you have a moment, take a look.”

 

Mu Peixuan couldn’t help but feel a bit puzzled.

 

Sending annual gifts for the new year was a common practice. The preparation of the gifts from Marquis Annan Mansion had always been his mother’s responsibility. However, since he was granted the title of Junwang, he had to prepare a separate set for the capital and Ruizhou City, along with others that had to be sent out.

 

Previously, since he wasn’t married, these matters were handled by the steward and simply presented to him for review.

 

He hadn’t expected Duan Linzhou to take over this year.

 

Duan Linzhou pushed a cup of tea toward Mu Peixuan and said with a light laugh, “Your Highness won’t blame me for overstepping, right?”

 

Mu Peixuan answered without even thinking, “Of course not.”

 

Once again, Mu Peixuan truly felt in his heart that Duan Linzhou had already married him — that he was now his Junwang Fei. He lifted his eyes to look at Duan Linzhou. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “You’ve gone to a lot of trouble.”

 

Then he added, “You could’ve just left these matters to the steward.”

 

Duan Linzhou paused for a moment, then shook his head and said with a smile, “It’s no trouble either way. I’m the one who prepares the Duan family’s annual gifts every year anyway.”

 

Mu Peixuan didn’t know what to say and gave a vague response.