MSW Chapter39

73

Mu Peixuan had decided to head to Fuzhou City, and Duan Linzhou did not stop him; in fact, it was almost expected. Ever since they discovered that refugees from Fuzhou had brought the epidemic into Ruizhou, Duan Linzhou had vaguely sensed this would happen.

 

Now that order in Ruizhou City had gradually been restored, and with Han Shiqing long established there, serving as acting governor in his stead, things were running smoothly with everyone united in purpose.

 

Two days later, Mu Peixuan led a force of ten thousand soldiers out of Ruizhou City under the pretense of military exercises.

 

Ten miles out, Mu Peixuan reined in his horse. There, outside Fengyu Pavilion, stood a large group of people, at their head was none other than Duan Linzhou.

 

Duan Linzhou wore a thick cloak, his hands tucked around a hand warmer in his sleeves, gazing steadily at Mu Peixuan.

 

Their eyes met.

 

Mu Peixuan dismounted, his cloak billowing in the wind. He strode toward Duan Linzhou, stopping just half a step away. He stared straight at Duan Linzhou, who turned his head slightly and gave Lu Chong a quiet instruction. Lu Chong led their men to hand over the supplies to the local garrison commander.

 

This had all been arranged beforehand, Mu Peixuan would lead his troops out of the city, while Duan Linzhou would set out earlier with the supplies destined for Fuzhou. The two groups were to meet outside the Fengyu Pavilion.

 

This was the first time the two of them faced a true parting.

 

Mu Peixuan and Duan Linzhou were not the kind of people who couldn’t tell the gravity of a situation, especially Duan Linzhou. He had gone into trade from a young age, traveling to every corner of the land, yet he had never felt such intense sorrow at parting.

 

Back when he was a merchant, he had seen people in the caravan tearfully bid their families farewell. Though he could understand it, he had never truly felt the same, until now. He let out a sigh. Even though he knew the words were old and worn, but he still couldn’t stop himself from saying, “Be careful in Fuzhou. No matter what happens, don’t do anything rash.”

 

Mu Peixuan responded with a quiet “En,” but sensing that wasn’t enough, he softly added, “I understand.”

 

He couldn’t help but smile. When Mu Peixuan smiled, he had all the vibrant spirit of youth. He said, “Wait for me at home. I’ll be back very soon.”

 

Duan Linzhou also smiled, slowly rubbing the hand warmer in his palm. “I believe you.”

 

Mu Peixuan’s heart softened completely. He could barely hold himself back from embracing Duan Linzhou. Stepping closer, he took Duan Linzhou’s slender fingers in his own, gently squeezing the joints. “Duan Linzhou.”

 

“Mm?”

 

He smiled, the corners of his eyes gently creasing and his lips lifting in a faint curve. Mu Peixuan’s adam apple bobbed as he swept his gaze around, everyone nearby was tactful, either busy with the handover or deliberately facing away. Holding Duan Linzhou’s fingers, Mu Peixuan brought them to his lips for a kiss, then gently brushed them against his cheek before saying in a low voice, “Take good care of yourself. Don’t stay up too late reviewing the accounts. Take your medicine on time, don’t put it off.”

 

Duan Linzhou’s fingers tingled slightly as he thought to himself, How is he so clingy — how is he supposed to let him go like this?

 

Duan Linzhou finally couldn’t hold back and leaned in to press a kiss to Mu Peixuan’s lips. It was only a light touch, but Mu Peixuan immediately wrapped his arms around Duan Linzhou’s waist, capturing his lips and licking into the kiss, his tongue slipping into the warmth of his mouth.

 

Ever since Duan Linzhou fell ill during the Lantern Festival, they had rarely been intimate. Mu Peixuan treated him as if he were made of delicate porcelain, satisfied with simply holding his hand. But now, with their parting close at hand, he no longer held back, capturing Duan Linzhou’s lips with unrestrained fervor. Duan Linzhou’s heart pounded wildly in his chest under the fierce kiss, and he couldn’t help but run his fingers through Mu Peixuan’s hair, full of longing.

 

Their Xinxiang entangled, and the light, cold scent of red plum blossoms seemed to suddenly bloom under the warm sun of winter, making the two of them dazzled and increasingly unable to control their emotions, and their breathing became slightly rapid.

 

In the distance, Lu Chong was just about to report that the handover of medicine and provisions had been completed when he caught sight of the two in the Fengyu Pavilion locked in a passionate kiss. He froze for a moment, then noticed the others standing guard outside the pavilion looking visibly unsettled.

 

Those men were all Tianqian; while Mu Peixuan’s potent scent went unnoticed by the Zhongyong, its sharp, invasive pheromonal intensity was enough to unsettle the Tianqian.

 

It was the first time Lu Chong had ever seen Duan Linzhou display such tender affection. Duan Linzhou was always decisive, at times so calm and rational that even Lu Chong, a fellow Tianqian, couldn’t help but respect him.

 

Lu Chong rubbed the bridge of his nose and averted his eyes.

 

When they finally parted, Duan Linzhou’s cheeks were a deep flush, his lips warm, moist, and swollen from the intensity of the kiss.

 

Mu Peixuan brushed the moisture from the corner of Duan Linzhou’s lips with his thumb. Just as he leaned in again for another kiss, Duan Linzhou pressed a hand to his shoulder and smiled helplessly. “Time to go.”

 

Mu Peixuan paused, then lowered his head and placed a light kiss on Duan Linzhou’s lips once more. “Take care of yourself. Wait for me to come back—”

 

Hearing the hoarseness in his voice, Duan Linzhou felt as if a cat were scratching at his heart. He glanced at Mu Peixuan, who said, “I’m going.”

 

Duan Linzhou replied, “En, go on.”

 

Mu Peixuan gave him a long look before finally turning to leave the Fengyu Pavilion. He didn’t look back. Only after mounting his horse did he cast one last distant glance at Duan Linzhou.

 

Duan Linzhou raised a hand in farewell with a smile on his face.

 

Mu Peixuan called out, “Set out.”

 

The long procession began to move again, carrying medicine, food supplies, and military physicians on their way to Fuzhou City. Duan Linzhou watched the line stretch out like a dragon, a hint of melancholy surfacing in his heart. At some point, Lu Zhong had stepped onto the Fengyu Pavilion and said, “Boss, the wind’s strong, let’s head back.”

 

Duan Linzhou replied, “Alright.”

 

Though he agreed, he couldn’t help but glance at the long column of soldiers once more time. Who knew how many of them would return alive and whole from this expedition?

 

Lu Chong rubbed the tip of his nose and joked, “Boss, your soul’s practically marching off with Xiao Junwang.”

 

Duan Linzhou shot him a glance and snorted with a laugh. “Lonely bachelors like you wouldn’t understand this kind of heartache.”

 

Lu Zhong was left speechless.

 

Duan Linzhou let out a sigh and spoke in the tone of someone who had seen it all: “Look at our Xiao Junwang, so young, yet already heading off to war. How could that not tug at people’s hearts? When we were eighteen or nineteen, we didn’t even know what we were doing.”

 

Lu Chong: “…Thanks, but I do know, I was already roaming the martial arts world at eighteen.”

 

Duan Linzhou continued, “Second Brother Lu, once you get married someday, you’ll understand.”

 

Lu Chong: “……”

 

He rolled his eyes and said, “Aren’t you planning to head to Fuzhou in a few days yourself? What’s the point of acting like it’s some tragic farewell?”

 

Duan Linzhou had already sent people to purchase grain and medicinal supplies from various regions and was spending a hefty sum to hire physicians willing to go to Fuzhou, it was clear he intended to make the trip himself. Lu Chong had initially objected, but Duan Linzhou argued that time was short, and Mu Peixuan couldn’t afford to wait, so he might as well set out first.

 

Duan Linzhou would follow later, bringing the supplies and physicians.

 

He smiled slightly and said, “To lovers, even a brief parting feels like three long years.”

 

Lu Chong hissed, his hair standing on end, wishing he could hire a shaman right then to exorcise whatever spirit had taken over his usually decisive and efficient boss.

 

Duan Linzhou couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the stunned, speechless look on Lu Chong’s face.

 

After a moment, Lu Chong said, “Boss, Xiao Junwang left Ruizhou without an imperial edict… what if the court holds him accountable?”

 

At those words, Duan Linzhou’s expression turned solemn. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he stood tall and steady, like a pine tree braving the wind. He said, “Liangdu is already struggling to take care of itself, where would they find the time to prosecute Marquis Annan Mansion, which has rendered meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion?”

 

Lu Chong blinked. “Huh?”

 

Duan Linzhou lifted his eyes and looked at Lu Chong. In a soft voice, he said, “King Duan is dead.”

 

Lu Chong’s eyes widened in shock.

 

Duan Linzhou continued calmly, “According to the report from Sanjiu, King Duan took his own life in the imperial prison.”

 

Ever since he’d made up his mind to establish the Wenfeng Yuan, he had sent Sanjiu to Liangdu with his personal jade token. Sanjiu hadn’t let him down, in a short span of time, the organization was already showing results.

 

Just yesterday, Sanjiu’s secret missive reached his hands.

 

Duan Linzhou hadn’t told Mu Peixuan about any of this.

 

After King Duan took his own life in the imperial prison, Marquis Yongping, Qin Fengyuan, who had been mere steps from reaching Liangdu, fled. The Jinyiwei were now doing everything in their power to track him down.

 

If Qin Fengyuan managed to return to the northwest, what awaited Liangdu might very well be the full force of the Northwestern Army pressing toward the capital.

 

What’s more, with his death, King Duan had effectively outmaneuvered Prime Minister Lin, his blood-written letter had already spread throughout Liangdu, listing ten major crimes committed by Prime Minister Lin and laying bare the injustices he had suffered.

 

His death was a declaration, laying down his life to make a statement, a blood-soaked accusation against the treacherous eunuch faction.

 

Like a stone cast into still water, it stirred up waves a thousand layers deep.

 

King Duan already held great esteem among the scholars, and with his death, the students and literati of Liangdu were roused to fury, the court could no longer suppress them. Moreover, King Duan’s noble status as the emperor’s uncle and the late emperor’s full-blooded brother made the blow even harsher. If even he could be murdered so ruthlessly, how could the rest of the imperial clan not feel a deep, chilling sorrow?

 

In Jiangzhou, King Xuan openly raised his banner in rebellion, rallying under the call to “Eliminate the traitorous ministers and cleanse the court.”

 

The realm plunged into utter chaos.