The others in the tent spotted Ling Zhang and rose to their feet with the intention to pay their respects to him but were spared the formalities by Ling Zhang. At the sight of Yuwen Jin’s pallid face, Ling Zhang came to know that although the injury was not severe, Yuwen Jin was indeed suffering a lot from it, so he consoled Yuwen Jin, “Rest well and nurse yourself back to health. I brought you a bottle of high-quality vulnerary. It’ll quicken the healing process. If you expect to fight another battle, you must not hop around in the next few days.”
While saying this, Ling Zhang handed a porcelain phial to the army physician, who took it, removed the stopper, sniffed at it and with that his eyes brightened. “This is good stuff! W–Was it Mr. Mu who prepared this?”
Ling Zhang replied with an inclination of the head, “Yeah.”
The army physician immediately tucked the phial into his bosom, so excited his eyes were narrowing for smiling.
“What do you think you are doing? Use it on my arm already! Don’t hide it!”
On hearing this, the army physician said, “This is not a styptic drug. I’ll stop the bleeding for you first and use this drug on your wound when it’s time to change your dressing. So take it easy. I won’t deprive you of the opportunity to benefit from this drug, Okay?”
Yuwen Jin was rendered speechless by the physician’s words, strongly feeling that he deserved better than that.
Ling Zhang, inwardly snickering, patted Yuwen Jin’s shoulder and said bracingly, “Don’t worry. Our physicians are consummate. I’m sure you’ll make a full recovery from this injury.”
“Thank you for your compliment, Your Highness,” said the army physician.
Yuwen Jin twisted his head aside, inwardly rolled his eyes upwards but knew better than to retort in the knowledge that he still relied on this geriatric to treat his wound.
…
Having checked that Yuwen Jin’s main arteries and bones were fine, and that it would take only a couple of days’ rest for him to recover, Ling Zhang took his leave after giving the vulnerary to the physician.
Mr. Mu examined the cut in his chest and, seeing that it was healing well, changed his dressing and bandaged it again.
The wound had just been dressed when Yuwen Tong returned. “Why did you redress the wound? It reopened?” he asked.
“No. I just changed the dressing,” answered Mr. Mu calmly.
“It really didn’t reopen. Mr. Mu checked it and then changed the dressing and bandaged it again. What about you? Why are you back so soon? Everything’s done?” Ling Zhang hastened to ask Yuwen Tong in an attempt to change the topic, fearing that he might overthink the situation.
Yuwen Tong leaned his head closer and took a look. Having checked that Ling Zhang was indeed fine, he said, “Yeah. I’ve got the information I need about the enemy’s defenses and battle plans, so I told them to regroup our troops, reward them with good food and wine and see to it that they rest well tonight. We’ll have another meeting tomorrow.”
Ling Zhang nodded, feeling that the soldiers had indeed had a tough day and could use a good rest.
After a full night’s sleep, all the soldiers were refreshed. Early in the morning, He Xiao, Yuwen Jin and the couple of newly appointed officers started drilling them. Yuwen Jin, wearing splints on his arm which was now hanging from his neck, was in no fit state to fight for the moment, so he took on the duty of inspecting the encampment.
Ling Zhang, having finished his morning meditation, walked out of his tent and caught sight of Yuwen Jin, who was walking around on a height in the distance, supervising his men drilling.
Ling Zhang turned his head and said to Yuwen Tong who had come out of the tent with him, “It seems he couldn’t bear to sit idly for a single moment.”
Yuwen Tong glanced in that direction and said, “Let him be. It’s not like he’s severely wounded.”
In Yuwen Tong’s eyes, Yuwen Jin’s injury was indeed nothing, and it was unnecessary to regard Yuwen Jin as someone grievously wounded.
And he subconsciously ignored how nervous he had been about the minor cuts of Ling Zhang’s.
Ling Zhang’s chest and wrist were both injured. In the past few days – ever since Ling Zhang had rendezvoused with him, to be precise – the two of them had never made out.
Yuwen Tong was worried about the cuts in Ling Zhang’s chest and wrist, and Ling Zhang was also worried about the wound in Yuwen Tong’s chest. Yuwen Tong’s constitution was strong, so the cut in his chest had healed quickly, and even the scab was about to peel. It had been itching for a couple of days, and Ling Zhang from time to time had to remind him not to scratch it.
“Mr. Mu has antipruritic drug. I’ll ask him if it’s okay to administer it to your wound to help with the itch,” said Ling Zhang.
“I’ll go with you,” said Yuwen Tong.
The two of them went to Mr. Mu’s tent. After they stated their intentions, Mr. Mu gave them a porcelain phial, a very small one.
“Use it sparingly. A tiny amount of it will do. You’ll also be needing it after your cuts heal,” Mr. Mu said to Ling Zhang.
Ling Zhang bobbed his head, took the porcelain phial, returned to their own tent with Yuwen Tong and then told Yuwen Tong to undress so that he could administer the drug to his wound.
Yuwen Tong thought for a moment and then said, “I’ll do it myself.”
Ling Zhang looked surprisedly at him. “Why? It’ll be easier if I do it for you. Hurry. Take off your clothes.”
Yuwen Tong took a deep breath and looked at him, the expression in his eyes abruptly becoming longing. “It’s been a long while since the last time we made out. I might lose control of myself if you do it for me.”
Ling Zhang, “…”
He would be merely administering a drug to his wound. Why was Yuwen Tong making it sound like something erotic?!
“You’ll have to tough it out!” he said through gritted teeth.
Yuwen Tong gave a chuckle and then started unclothing himself.
Ling Zhang had originally felt that it was no big deal, but what with those words of Yuwen Tong’s, looking at Yuwen Tong taking off his clothes, he couldn’t help but picture some romantic scenes, a warm flush spreading over his cheeks in spite of himself. And then, as he noticed that Yuwen Tong was disrobing rather slowly, he involuntarily urged irritably, “Hurry up!”
Yuwen Tong had observed the faint blush on his face and the flickering look in his eyes, feeling feverishly aroused. After stripping, he said, “I’m ready.”
Ling Zhang looked at the scar on his chest and finally managed to dismiss some of those images from his mind. He opened the porcelain phial, carefully got a small amount of the drug out of it by dipping his finger into it, lightly pressed it to a spot beside the scar and then carefully spread it over the scab.
A cool and comfortable sensation instantaneously dispelled the various pictures in Yuwen Tong’s head, cooling him down somewhat.
However, Ling Zhang, gingerly applying the ointment to the scar on his chest with his white-skinned fingertip, looked as though he were silently seducing him. The very sight of it turned Yuwen Tong on, not to mention the touch of Ling Zhang’s finger.
Yuwen Tong suddenly put his arms around Ling Zhang’s waist, sat him on to his lap, lowered his head and kissed Ling Zhang.
Ling Zhang, who was carefully applying the ointment, was caught unawares. When Yuwen Tong kissed him, he hastened to move the phial aside for fear of accidentally breaking it. At the same time, he responded to Yuwen Tong’s action. The two of them were very familiar with each other’s bodies, especially so when they were kissing. They had an intimate knowledge of how to kiss their lovers properly, and how to better turn their lovers on. Their movements were almost subconscious, their body temperatures rising, their breathing growing heavier, their chests heaving more and more frequently, saliva oozing from the corners of their mouths, which in turn further aroused them.
Ling Zhang exhaled deeply. When in an intimate moment like this, both Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang felt as though time were going significantly slower or faster than usual. When they came to themselves, they found themselves panting heavily. It struck Ling Zhang that his lips were numb and might even be swollen. Not until he could barely hold the porcelain phial steady did he slightly recover himself. “Be careful not to hug me too tight. I still have the drug in my hand … ”
After hearing this, Yuwen Tong slackened his embrace but was still keeping Ling Zhang in his arms. He took the phial from Ling Zhang’s hand, put it down on to the table beside them, and then resumed cuddling Ling Zhang. Their foreheads against each other, they could feel one another’s breath, both their body temperatures different than normal. There were fine beads of tear clinging to the corners of Ling Zhang’s eyes. Were it not for their injuries, he would have put his arms around Yuwen Tong’s neck again and continued. Unfortunately for him, that was not an option. His eyes were faintly red from the effort of restraining himself. He stared at Yuwen Tong with an intent look in his eyes like a little wild beast. He was filled with desire. He wanted it but had to resist the temptation, which was why he felt upset.
Yuwen Tong looked back at him, leaned over, kissed his eye and said, “Close your eyes.”
Ling Zhang obediently did what he was asked.
Yuwen Tong felt a sense of relief. He would lose control of himself if Ling Zhang kept looking at him like that. It was so torturous.
He kissed Ling Zhang’s eyes for a while, and then the two of them quietly cuddled in an effort to help each other calm down.
“I want so badly to go back to the capital city, where we could do anything we feel like doing,” said Ling Zhang languidly after recovering himself. “I miss the kids.”
Yuwen Tong gently stroked Ling Zhang’s back to console him. “Your father and grandfather have been taking care of them. And there are also my great-uncle’s family and those servants, so there’s no need to concern yourself.”
But the company of parents was irreplaceable. Besides, Ling Zhang missed his children very much. This separation had lasted a long time. It was almost as long as his stay in the Luohai Kingdom, and there was still a lot of days before he could return home to see the children.
“I’m sure Crescent has been crying every night,” said Ling Zhang.
At the mention of his adopted daughter, an uncharacteristically tender expression appeared in Yuwen Tong’s eyes. Crescent’s eyes, which looked the same as Ling Zhang’s, had frequently made him wonder whether or not Ling Zhang had been as naughty and adorable as Crescent was when he had been a little boy. Therefore, at the thought of Crescent piteously crying for parents with tearful eyes, Yuwen Tong’s heart ached as though he were seeing a young version of Ling Zhang crying for parents.
“Alas. Let’s drop this. Crescent is almost three. She’s staying in the Ling Mansion where there are a lot of middle-aged handmaids, and my aunt is there as well. I think she probably could barely remember us, so she certainly wouldn’t cry for us.” Ling Zhang gave a little cough and then added, “Don’t overthink it.” Before leaving the capital city, he had told Yuwen Tong not to worry about anything in the capital city, but now he himself had failed to keep from missing his children.
Caressing Ling Zhang’s back, Yuwen Tong said, “Um. She still has his brothers, and there are a lot of relatives keeping her company, so she’ll be fine. You, on the other hand, need to be careful not to get hurt again lest the children be worried about you.”
Ling Zhang gave a smile, twisted his head aside and planted a kiss on Yuwen Tong’s cheek. “They don’t know, and we should make sure they never find out. Rest assured, for your sake I’ll stay safe and never get wounded again.”
Yuwen Tong, whose heart was melted by the kiss and the words, carefully edged Ling Zhang slightly deeper into his embrace and hugged him tighter.
Ling Zhang said, “Put me down. Is your leg not tired?”
He had been sitting on Yuwen Tong’s lap for quite some time.
Yuwen Tong didn’t slacken his embrace. “I’d like this hug to last a little while longer. My leg won’t be tired even if you sit on my lap for a whole day.”
Eyes narrowing for smiling, Ling Zhang rearranged Yuwen Tong’s robes with his uninjured hand, gave him a kiss and then said, “But the morning drill is almost over, and the generals will soon come. It’s about time we got something to eat. You’re supposed to meet them in a few moments.”
Yuwen Tong gave an “Um” of agreement. It was a while before he reluctantly let go, allowing Ling Zhang to rise to his feet and get out of his embrace.
