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Mu Peixuan’s voice was low, but his gaze was blatant and direct as he stared intently at Duan Linzhou. Duan Linzhou inexplicably felt a bit embarrassed. He curled his toes under the thin quilt and coughed uncomfortably, wanting to say something to ease the atmosphere, but the corners of his lips couldn’t help but lift, and a smile appeared in his eyes. His heart felt unbelievably soft.
Mu Peixuan watched Duan Linzhou smile at him, and the fatigue from days of travel, rushing back through the night, and encountering the night rain vanished without a trace. His heart felt full and swollen, making him unsure of what to do. He could only clumsily yet passionately squeeze Duan Linzhou’s wrist. His palm was burning hot, making the tips of Duan Linzhou’s fingers feel scorched, and his heart also trembled with a burning sensation. He chuckled softly and said, “No wonder they say a brief separation is better than a new marriage, it really is—”
Mu Peixuan caressed his slender wrist bone and asked, “It really is what?”
Duan Linzhou thought for a moment and then smiled brightly, saying, “The ancients truly did not deceive me.”
Looking at the smile on Duan Linzhou’s face, Mu Peixuan suddenly felt an overwhelming tenderness, as if he could never get enough of looking at him. He couldn’t help but lean in and kiss his curved eyes. Duan Linzhou paused, his eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. Mu Peixuan’s adam apple bobbed as he kissed his eyes, then pecked at the tip of his nose, and said, “Duan Linzhou.”
Duan Linzhou indulgently stroked the young man’s temples and cheeks, his fingertips lingering beside the scar on his right cheek.
One touch was enough to tell that the wound was a few days old, about the length of a finger, and had already scabbed over. Duan Linzhou asked, “How did this happen?”
Mu Peixuan bit his adam apple, Duan Linzhou’s collar already open, allowing him to finally touch the young man’s thin, smooth skin. He said casually, “A crossbow bolt grazed my face, that’s all.”
He spoke lightly, but Duan Linzhou thought, if the crossbow bolt had been off by just a bit, it would have hit his eye or neck, clearly aiming to kill.
“Does it hurt?” Duan Linzhou’s fingers were gentle. Hearing this, Mu Peixuan looked at Duan Linzhou. He had originally wanted to say it didn’t hurt. He had been on the battlefield since he was young and had sustained countless injuries, let alone a minor scrape on his cheek. But the words changed when it reached his tongue, and Mu Peixuan said, “When life and death are at stake, one doesn’t have time to feel pain.”
Duan Linzhou sighed softly and unexpectedly cupped Mu Peixuan’s cheeks, gently touching the scar with his lips. Mu Peixuan stiffened, looking directly at Duan Linzhou. Their eyes met. Duan Linzhou had left a lamp lit in the room, casting a dim and ambiguous light within the confines of the bed curtains. Duan Linzhou smiled and said, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Mu Peixuan pursed his lips slightly. He had sensed — a hint of pity in Duan Linzhou’s kiss, which was a truly novel feeling.
It might sound a bit sentimental, but it was inexplicably pleasing. Mu Peixuan was born a Tianqian, the valiant Xiao Junwang in everyone’s eyes.
They cared far more about the merits he established than his life hanging by a thread on the battlefield.
This was the first time Mu Peixuan had felt such undisguised cherishing and pity from someone else.
Mu Peixuan lowered his eyes, turning his face to hide the scar, and said softly, “Don’t touch it, it’s not pretty.”
Duan Linzhou said, “What’s not pretty? Let me take another look.” He held Mu Peixuan’s chin and leaned closer to examine it carefully, saying, “It’s not very pretty…”
As soon as these words came out, Mu Peixuan couldn’t help but look at Duan Linzhou, thinking that his appearance could be considered marred — and Duan Linzhou had once praised his good looks.
…Duan Linzhou cared so much about his face — a hint of annoyance flashed through Mu Peixuan’s mind, but then he heard Duan Linzhou sigh and say, “Poor little thing, it makes my heart ache just looking at it.”
Duan Linzhou continued, “That villain who hurt you had better not fall into my hands. I’d carve a few more lines on his face.” As he spoke, he teased Mu Peixuan again, smiling brightly, “My Xiao Junwang, is that look on your face because you’re worried I’ll dislike you now that you’re scared?”
Mu Peixuan cleared his throat and said nonchalantly, “Of course not. For a soldier, having injuries is commonplace.”
Duan Linzhou said, “Oh” and reached out to untie his belt, saying, “Let me see if you’ve gotten any other new injuries.”
He had the air of a libertine teasing an innocent Kunze, reaching out to strip off his clothes. Mu Peixuan was both amused and exasperated, clutching his robe and saying, “There’s nothing to see…”
Duan Linzhou replied, “I’m just looking. What’s Your Highness afraid of? Where is it on Your Highness that I haven’t seen before?”
Mu Peixuan chuckled in exasperation, deliberately avoiding his touch. “Duan Linzhou, have you no shame?”
