Chapter 31
With a face flushed bright red, Qiao Hezhi imitated Fang Yu's previous method, pouring the medicine into his palm, rubbing it to warm it up, then gently applying it to the injured area.
He kept his eyes lowered, not daring to glance around. Although he had immediately covered Fang Yu with a blanket after Fang Yu took off his trousers... he had still caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye. While applying the medicine, his heart pounded frantically. He was terribly afraid of seeing something he shouldn't, so he concentrated on the task, honestly and properly applying the medicine for Fang Yu.
It wasn't that Fang Yu was boasting. When he fell from the horse, the startled horse had kicked him right on the tailbone. If it had kicked a fleshier area, it might not have been so bad, but injuring the bone truly hurt.
Qiao Hezhi saw that the injured area wasn't large, but it was already red and swollen. It would likely turn dark blue-purple soon. The outer skin was also slightly broken. He didn't dare use any force, fearing he would cause pain. He had personal experience from kneeling in the ancestral hall before. He knew such bruises might look insignificant, but they actually hurt a lot. Moreover, his injury came from kneeling, while Fang Yu's injury came from a horse's kick. Comparing the two, this one was undoubtedly more painful.
"Let's not ride horses anymore in the future. It looks too frightening."
Fang Yu lay prone on the pillow. His fulang's hands were gentle and soft, making the superficial skin pain utterly negligible. It was like getting a massage; though it pressed on muscles and bones causing some pain, the comfort was undeniable.
"How can that be? A gentleman masters the Six Arts. If I can't even ride a horse, I'll be laughed at even if I achieve success in the imperial examinations later." Fang Yu said: "Poetry says: 'The spring breeze is pleased with the horse's swift hooves, seeing all the flowers of Chang'an in a single day.' What if my luck is excellent and I place first in the palace examination? I would have to ride a horse in the parade. Imagine the great ridicule if the top scholar couldn't ride a horse."
[A line from the poem "After Passing the Imperial Examinations (登科后)" by the Tang dynasty poet Meng Jiao, which vividly expresses the uncontainable elation and pride of a scholar who has just passed the imperial examinations]
Qiao Hezhi pressed his lips together. He naturally knew that scholars all dreamed of achieving top honors in the exams, but he hadn't imagined anyone like Fang Yu, who not only dreamed but proactively practiced horsemanship in preparation for a future victory parade. "What incredible fortune would one need to become the top scholar? The number of scholars is countless. To become the number one, it would probably require the reappearance of the Ziwei Star."
[紫微星 (Zǐwēi xīng): lit. the Purple Star; in Chinese astrology, the celestial embodiment of the Emperor and the supreme star of destiny and authority]
"My fortune is naturally good. If it weren't, how could I have a fulang like you?"
Qiao Hezhi's face turned even redder, as if steam might rise from it. He didn't directly answer Fang Yu's words, only saying: "Done."
But Fang Yu held him, not wanting to let him escape.
Although his current state wasn't really suitable for pouring out heartfelt feelings, he also didn't want to return to those distant days with Qiao Hezhi.
When someone is good to you, you don't realize its preciousness. But when that person changes even slightly, you suddenly discover that the habit has already been engraved in your bones.
During his time here, if it weren't for Qiao Hezhi's meticulous care and thoughtful consideration everywhere, his days probably wouldn't have passed so smoothly and comfortably. He originally thought that Qiao Hezhi, by marrying into this family, was dependent on him. Unknowingly, in many instances, it was actually he who depended on Qiao Hezhi.
Although Qiao Hezhi was young in age, his temperament wasn't like his years. Going through this incident, he finally understood what kind of existence Qiao Hezhi was to him.
"Several days have passed. Have you figured things out in your heart?"
"Figured out what?"
Seeing him pretend not to understand, Fang Yu pinched his hand. "Naturally, about the future."
Qiao Hezhi glanced up at Fang Yu. "The future is naturally about continuing to live our lives."
But Fang Yu wanted to be explicit. "You're not afraid of me anymore? Or perhaps you don't mind that I am like this now, that I'm not your former husband anymore?"
"I... when did I ever say I was afraid!" Qiao Hezhi pursed his lips. "Besides, the previous one wasn't my husband either."
Back then, he didn't understand anything. He only knew his parents said Fang Yu was a scholar, a Xiucai, with excellent appearance and character, suitable for marriage. For young gers and women, marriages were always arranged by parents and matchmakers; he had no choice. His parents treated him so well. Since they said it was good, it naturally couldn't be wrong.
After he married into the family, even though things were not completely satisfactory, he could only focus on improving his own conduct, showing filial respect to his mother-in-law, and faithfully attending to his husband. Although he often suffered humiliation and disrespect, he knew he wasn't the only one like this.
Although he had no direct siblings in his immediate family, the large Qiao clan had many cousins. His mother's side also had many cousins. Among ten who married, eight would return to their parents' home to lament. This was simply the way of the world, so he gritted his teeth and bore it.
But after Fang Yu fell into the water, things changed. Although he didn't understand what happened, he cautiously accepted his husband's kindness. Looking back, he protected him, took him everywhere, didn't disdain his merchant family background. These days had been extremely comfortable and happy, making him increasingly unable to be apart from him.
Later, upon learning they were fundamentally not the same person, although shocked, he wasn't afraid as Fang Yu said. He was preoccupied with how to live carefully in the future, avoiding taboos. He never once thought about the two of them separating.
He also worried that Fang Yu might mind that he had performed the wedding ceremony with the previous person. Now that things were being laid out to settle accounts, he naturally flatly denied any connection with the former.
However, thinking about those unrestrained things he did in the pitch dark made his face burn with shame. If he had known Fang Yu wasn't an ordinary person, he definitely wouldn't have acted that way.
But precisely because he knew Fang Yu wasn't ordinary, another layer of worry emerged in his heart. These days, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep at night, thinking: Would a ghost be content to stay in one place forever?
He didn't want to become a widow at such a young age, especially the kind of widowhood that meant losing the one he loved.
Qiao Hezhi grasped Fang Yu's hand, pleading pitifully: "Please don't leave in the future, okay? Don't go possess another person either. Stay here. I definitely won't let those Daoist priests or those masters who capture ghosts get near you. Here, at least you have a place to shelter from wind and rain. Isn't that much better than drifting around with no home?"
Qiao Hezhi spoke with sincere emotion. Fang Yu knew he was speaking from the heart. Although moved... he really couldn't help but chuckle.
"You... you really think I'm a ghost?"
"Then... what else could it be?" Qiao Hezhi frowned. "You, like this..."
Fang Yu found it immensely amusing, trying hard to suppress his laughter. Seeing Qiao Hezhi's silly, naive look was truly adorable. He stroked his soft hair. "Alright, I am, I am, is that okay? Staying isn't a problem, but I also have a requirement..."
Qiao Hezhi looked at him. "What requirement? Tell me."
Fang Yu leaned closer, whispering: "Be my fulang, and I'll stay. I won't go looking for a new host."
Qiao Hezhi lowered his eyes, glancing away, too embarrassed to look directly at Fang Yu. "I... I already am your fulang."
Fang Yu laughed, suddenly reaching out to pull Qiao Hezhi in front of him onto the bed. He flipped the blanket, wrapping both of them inside.
Qiao Hezhi only felt the world spin, then everything went dark as Fang Yu pressed him onto the bed. Flailing his hand, he touched Fang Yu's bare leg. His heart pounded like a drum, not knowing where to place his hands. "Wh-what are you doing? Aren't you injured?"
"I'll teach you how to be someone's fulang. Let's see first if you qualify."
"Mmm~"
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