CH 77

That night, news spread throughout the city that the Xirong Buddhist disciple had been killed in the temple, and the Xirong King immediately ordered martial law throughout the city.

There were soldiers holding swords everywhere on the streets, and Tebumu led his troops to search every household for the hiding culprits. For a time, the entire city was plunged into panic, and the high-ranking families closed their doors and dared not venture outside.

Xie Chaoyuan also ordered his household to close the doors and instructed his people to keep an eye on the outside news, waiting for tomorrow in peace.

Xie Chaoling was lying on the bed, listening to Xie Chaoyuan’s conversation with someone outside. After a while, that person came in, took off his coat and laid down on the bed. He hugged Xie Chaoling’s waist from behind.

“You’re not sleeping yet?” Xie Chaoyuan whispered.

Xie Chaoling made a sound of “Mm, It’s still early, I can’t sleep. I’m thinking that I’m going to get married tomorrow, and I can’t sleep even more.”

Xie Chaoyuan didn’t say anything and gently rubbed his hand over Xie Chaoling’s hand.

“Brother, why have you been wearing these gloves for the past few days, even when you sleep?”

“It’s always cold, and they’re warm. I don’t want to take them off,” Xie Chaoling said.

Xie Chaoyuan’s hand had already held onto his fingertips through the gloves. When he touched them, Xie Chaoling felt a sharp pain and silently bit his lip to hold back any sound.

After a moment, Xie Chaoyuan finally let go of him, lightly patting his waist. “Go to sleep, or else you’ll have no energy for tomorrow.”

Xie Chaoling turned over and silently faced Xie Chaoyuan for a moment in the darkness, rubbing his nose against his. “Mm.”

Only then did he slowly close his eyes.

The next day.

Early in the morning, Xie Chaoling pushed open the window and saw red lanterns hanging high and colorful fabrics fluttering in the courtyard. The flowers of the winter day were also blooming brightly, making him overjoyed. Xie Chaoyuan walked into the courtyard and met his gaze through the window. Time seemed to stand still for a moment, and Xie Chaoyuan walked over and brushed the hair from his brother’s forehead, saying, “Brother, you’re up.”

Xie Chaoling smiled and a hint of color appeared on his usually pale face. “You got up even earlier. Where did you go?”

“I woke up early and didn’t want to wake you. The mansion is all decorated for the occasion, so I took a look around to make sure everything was perfect,” Xie Chaoyuan explained.

“Good, I want to go out and see it too,” Xie Chaoling said.

“It’s cold,” Xie Chaoyuan warned.

Xie Chaoling didn’t mind. “Just wear more clothes.”

Xie Chaoyuan led him out of the courtyard and into the garden, where they were greeted by bright lights and festive colors.

Under the qiong flower tree, Xie Chaoling was surprised to see that some of the branches had already bloomed, with buds half-open. It was a pleasant surprise compared to the bare branches just a few days ago.

“At this time of year, how did they bloom?” he asked.

Xie Chaoyuan casually replied, “I used a trick to make the tree bloom early, but unfortunately only a few branches bloomed. It’s not enough to be beautiful.”

He reached out to pick one, but Xie Chaoling stopped him.

“Let it bloom naturally. When all the flowers bloom in spring, we can pick them then. Seeing qiong flowers at this time of year is already an unexpected joy,” Xie Chaoling said.

Xie Chaoyuan looked at him and nodded, “Until spring then.”

Xie Chaoling looked at the buds and smiled, “Regardless, even the qiong flowers bloomed early. It should be a good sign.”

As he spoke, the small mole on his red nose looked particularly conspicuous. After many days, he finally had a hint of vitality on his face.

Xie Chaoyuan looked at him for a while before tightly holding his hand.

The rest of the day was filled with happiness. In the evening, wearing matching red wedding clothes, they walked hand in hand into the red hall amidst the sounds of firecrackers and music. There were no guests, no blessings from friends and family, no matchmaker, no parental commands. After bowing to the heavens and earth, their ceremony was complete.

They exchanged vows of eternal love and loyalty under the red leaves.

In the lighted chamber, they faced each other and bowed deeply, their matching jade pendants clinking together with a clear sound.

During the wedding toast, Xie Chaoyuan reminded Xie Chaoling, “Brother is not feeling well, perhaps you should switch to a sweet drink instead of alcohol.”

Xie Chaoling refused, saying, “We can change other things, but not this.”

He raised his glass, looked at Xie Chaoyuan with a smile, and drank it all in one go.

Xie Chaoyuan didn’t say anything more, and helped him sit down in front of a bronze mirror. He loosened Xie Chaoling’s hair and combed it himself.

Xie Chaoling examined himself in the mirror, having had Wang Jin apply a little makeup in the afternoon to make him look less pale. However, his sunken cheeks made him look sickly.

It was a shame that the groom looked so ill on his big day, but Xie Chaoling didn’t have time to wait any longer.

Xie Chaoyuan’s fingers gently brushed over his temple, and Xie Chaoling caught his hand. Xie Chaoyuan leaned over, and the two faces were reflected in the mirror, touching each other.

“Brother, from today on, you are my husband, right?”

“Mmm,” Xie Chaoling smiled, “if you said so.”

“Brother must always remember that.”

Xie Chaoyuan whispered and leaned in to give him a gentle kiss on the cheek.

It was still early, so after a simple wash, Xie Chaoling rested on the bed, his head on Xie Chaoyuan’s chest. They chatted aimlessly, and the room was filled with the scent of burning candles, occasionally making a crackling sound.

Xie Chaoyuan held Xie Chaoling’s hand. He was still wearing his red silk gloves, revealing only a slim and fair wrist.

He gazed at it for a moment before averting his eyes, and once again, he ran his fingers through Xie Chaoling’s hair.

Xie Chaoling suddenly laughed and whispered, “I was supposed to get married at the age of fourteen. However, my mother passed away due to illness and I had to have a three-year mourning period. Then, you, the little b*stard, designed my disappearance, which made my father think that I would not return. As a result, my intended fiancée became the third prince’s consort. It was difficult for my father to appoint someone for me again. Before I could get married, you abducted me to Xirong. It is only today that I could marry you.”

“Do you regret it, brother?”

“Yes, I regret it. I have regretted it for a long time. I shouldn’t have provoked you. But it doesn’t matter now. It’s too late to regret.”

After finishing his words, seeing the frown on Xie Chaoyuan’s face, Xie Chaoling pulled him down and kissed him on the lips. “I may regret it, but if I didn’t like you, I would have cut ties with you long ago. There is no need to regret it.”

This was the first time that Xie Chaoling expressed his feelings so directly. Xie Chaoyuan’s throat tightened, and he kissed him back.

After a moment of ear-to-ear whispers, someone outside reported that the city guards who were searching for the killer of the monk had arrived at their mansion. They dared not enter the prince’s residence without permission, but they asked Xie Chaoyuan to come out to ask a few questions in person.

Xie Chaoyuan’s expression became ugly. He wanted to send someone to deal with them, but Xie Chaoling reminded him, “You should go out yourself. Don’t let people suspect you. Since they didn’t kill you, they can’t do anything to you. They also dare not break in by force. Just say a few words and send them away.”

When the person outside urged him for the second time, Xie Chaoyuan stood up, stroked Xie Chaoling’s face, and said, “If you’re hungry, have some snacks. I’ll be right back.”

Xie Chaoling watched him leave. As soon as Xie Chaoyuan was gone, Wang Jin came in and handed him a silver needle.

The smile on Xie Chaoling’s lips faded away. He calmly took off his gloves. His ten fingers were already badly injured, so much so that Wang Jin couldn’t bear to look at them. Xie Chaoling didn’t say a word. He stabbed the wound that had not yet scabbed over with the silver needle again.

Luckily, this was the last time.

Afraid that Xie Chaoyuan would come back at any time, Xie Chaoling didn’t dare to waste time. He pricked his fingers with both hands, enduring the intense pain while bleeding. Wang Jin was afraid that he couldn’t hold on and quickly fed him food and water, wiping the cold sweat on his forehead.

Xie Chaoling bit his lips and reminded him, “Pour the blood further away later, and open the windows. Don’t let people smell the blood.”

Wang Jin’s eyes were red. “Your Highness, hold on a little longer. It’s almost over. Only a little bit left.”

Xie Chaoling closed his eyes.

After the last bowl of blood was drained, he collapsed on the bed, his bloody hands tightly grasping the handkerchief. He sensed a violent convulsion in his heart, which was hot and about to boil over. After a while, it gradually calmed down.

Xie Chaoling should have lifted the Gu he had placed on him.

Xie Chaoling was relieved

Ice-cold ointment was applied to the ten fingers that had suffered greatly in these days, making them even more painful under the stimulation. Xie Chaoling’s eyes were sore, but he couldn’t help but smile.

At least, after today, Xie Chaoyuan’s life was saved.

After he went out, Wang Jin poured the blood into the mud in the backyard and put all the bloody bowls, silver needles, and handkerchiefs into his sleeves. When he was about to leave the courtyard, he bumped into Xie Chaoyuan, who had just returned.

He panicked and knelt down, Xie Chaoyuan glanced at him and asked, “Why did you suddenly bow to me?”

Wang Jin hurriedly stood up, bowed and was about to retreat, but was stopped by Xie Chaoyuan.

“Why did you come out if you weren’t serving inside?” Xie Chaoyuan asked.

Wang Jin trembled and lowered his head, answering in a small voice, “My lord said not to serve, and let me step back first.”

“Even if you’re not serving, you have to wait in the courtyard. Why did you come out?” Wang Rang asked on behalf of Xie Chaoyuan.

Wang Jin lowered his head even further and whispered, “I know I’m wrong, I’ll go back now.”

Xie Chaoyuan stopped him again and asked, “What are you hiding in your sleeve?”

“Nothing, I’m not hiding anything,” Wang Jin said.

Xie Chaoyuan gave him a meaningful look, and Wang Rang had someone step forward to hold him down. The things hidden in his sleeve were found, and Wang Jin knelt down, unable to say a word.

Xie Chaoyuan stared at the things that had fallen to the ground for a long time without saying a word. The bright red bloodstains pained his eyes.

Inside the room, Xie Chaoling drank a cup of honey water and ate some sweet cakes while leaning on the bed, trying to relieve the dizziness and discomfort. He heard footsteps and reluctantly opened his eyes, seeing Xie Chaoyuan entering the room and going to the window to push it open, which had been left open by Wang Jin.

Xie Chaoling watched his movements and asked hoarsely, “What’s happening outside?”

Xie Chaoyuan didn’t answer, and Xie Chaoling didn’t mind. He was too tired to keep his eyes open.

Finally, Xie Chaoyuan approached and stood in front of him, looking down at him. “It’s so cold outside, why did you suddenly open the window? Aren’t you afraid of catching a cold again?”

Hearing the suppressed displeasure in Xie Chaoyuan’s tone, Xie Chaoling slowly raised his eyes and met his gaze. He was slightly startled, then said, “I wanted to see if you had returned, and forgot to close it.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Xie Chaoling reached out to pull him. “You were fine just now. Why the long face? Stop being silly.”

Xie Chaoyuan didn’t move, and Xie Chaoling frowned at the sight. “Do you have to be like this on such a happy day?”

Xie Chaoyuan lowered his gaze, and his eyes fell on the hand that Xie Chaoling had on his small arm. He was still wearing the red silk gloves. Xie Chaoling let go of his hand, but he held it tightly.

He winced as his injured finger was squeezed, and Xie Chaoyuan asked in a deep voice, “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” Xie Chaoling withdrew his hand and coughed lightly. “Really, nothing.”

“Why did you drive Wang Jin away instead of having him serve you?”

“…You weren’t back yet, and it’s our bridal night. Do you want someone to watch us?” Xie Chaoling chuckled.

However, there was no hint of amusement in Xie Chaoyuan’s eyes. “Can you still have a bridal night in your current weak and frail state, brother?”

The smile on Xie Chaoling’s lips faded slightly, and he said sheepishly, “Are you making fun of me, little brother?”

Xie Chaoyuan’s hand touched his cheek, and even though he had applied makeup, he could not conceal the paleness and weakness on his face. Xie Chaoyuan’s gaze wandered over his face, and his fingers moved inch by inch.

Xie Chaoling stopped moving, he had already seen something from Xie Chaoyuan’s eyes. his expression gradually turned cold.

Suddenly, Xie Chaoyuan knelt in front of him and took his hand.

Xie Chaoling refused, wanting to pull his hand back, but Xie Chaoyuan persisted and slowly pulled off his glove.

Ten fingers were exposed in front of Xie Chaoyuan, and all of them were covered with scabs, red and swollen, leaning towards festering. This was not supposed to be Xie Chaoling’s hand. Xie Chaoling had nowhere to hide and smiled bitterly, “You know everything now.”

Xie Chaoyuan lowered his head and didn’t speak for a while. Xie Chaoling couldn’t see his emotions on his face.

Until he noticed that the hands holding his were trembling slightly, Xie Chaoling called out softly to him, “Little brother?”

He saw Xie Chaoyuan slowly raise his red eyes, his bloodshot pupils filled with a sadness and pain that he had never seen before. Those eyes looked at him and asked, “Do you still want to break the Gu, even if it means this?”