The accompanying Censor was called Yu Xiaozai, a low ranking Investigating Censor of the seventh grade. This position was the same as the Chief Supervising Secretary of the various offices. It was a low-ranking post, but came with great authority. He had the power to inspect and supervise, so it was the most appropriate for him to step forth and mediate between both men.
It was the dead of winter at the moment, but Yu Xiaozai was so anxious that he was sweating buckets. Even though he often ventured out on field works and inspection rounds to run assignments, he had never been put in such a difficult position before. He could not afford to offend both sides! This was just greatâat his yells, both men who had been in a heated exchange were now looking at him.
Yu Xiaozai earnestly did his best to persuade them. âTâis early still. Iâll give over the search warrant in a while to the Viceroy to look over slowly. I have it with me.â
As he spoke, he took out the document from his bosom and handed it to Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye flipped through it briefly and looked towards Chen Yang, who immediately said, âThis way, Your Excellency the Judge.â
Yu Xiaozai clasped his hands again and continued in his accent, âTâis how it should be done. Should always go by the book. All oâ us are doing official business foâ His Majesty. Ainât no need foâ everyone to get all flustered.â
âItâs cold outside. Gu Jin, please invite thisâŚâ Xiao Chiye hesitantly came to a pause.
Yu Xiaozai cleared his throat tactfully and resumed his official speech, âThis humble officialâs surname is Yu. Iâm Yu Xiaozai. My humble courtesy name is Youjing. I thank the Viceroy in advance for your kindness, but Iâll give the tea a miss. Thereâs still official business to be done, so this humble official still has to follow after His Excellency the Judge.â
Xiao Chiye did not continue to make things difficult for him and gave a slight nod of his head. Gu Jin stepped forward and bowed in respect to Yu Xiaozai, then led him to the courtyard.
â     â     â
Shen Zechuan ascended the stone steps. Xiao Chiyeâs study was already open. Attendants, with all their heads bowed, stood on both sides.
Chen Yang said, âThis is the Viceroyâs study. Your Excellency, please go ahead.â
Shen Zechuan raised his hand, and Ge Qingqing turned to the side to nod to the Imperial Bodyguards behind him. Everyone then dispersed and began to look through the books on the open shelves.
Chen Yang motioned to Ding Tao to keep watch here and continued to lead Shen Zechuan further. After turning around the veranda and passing through the gate, they arrived at Xiao Chiyeâs bedchamber.
Chen Yang said, âThis is the Viceroyâs bedroom. There are many objects bestowed by the Emperor. Thus, Iâd like to ask of His Excellency the Judge to examine them personally.â
After thanking him for the trouble, Shen Zechuan strode in.
Xiao Chiyeâs room was large, but it was surprisingly simple and tidy. A table with horse-hooves legs sat behind the screen, with a few military books set on top of it. There were no floral decorations or antique calligraphy and paintings, only a territory map of the Empire of Dazhou hanging horizontally on the wall.
Shen Zechuan picked up the military book and opened it for a look. It was clean inside, as if no one had ever read it.
After a while, the door closed.
With his eyes never leaving the book, Shen Zechuan said, âAccompanying Censor Yu will be coming here once he has finished checking the study.â
Xiao Chiye undid his overcoat and said, âJust checking the study alone will keep him occupied until noon. Fu Linye sure is something. To dodge me, he shoved you here.â
Shen Zechuan gently flipped through the pages and said, âHe just wants to complete the investigation quickly and close the case, all without offending anyone.â
Xiao Chiye turned his head sideways and looked at Shen Zechuanâs silhouette through the screen. He asked, âWhy are you hiding in there?â
Shen Zechuan replied, âChecking the accounts.â
Xiao Chiye said, âThe stuff you want to audit isnât there.â
Shen Zechuan closed the book, put it back on the tabletop, and said, âI wouldnât know until Iâm done checking.â
Xiao Chiye raised a finger to tap on the screen. He said, âWhy does it sound like youâre checking something else?â
âTreasonable texts, bribery ledgers, military correspondences.â Shen Zechuan said to the screen, âI have to check for them all.â
âYou missed something out, didnât you?â Xiao Chiye said. âArenât you going to check for lewd poems and erotic arts?â
âIâm here on official business.â Shen Zechuan said softly. âBesides, itâs broad daylight. I wouldnât dare to be impetuous.â
The screen was translucent, so both menâs figures were faintly visible. Xiao Chiyeâs fingers slid along the shadow to the position where Shen Zechuanâs neck was. Although there was no physical contact, it still ignited a heat in Shen Zechuan, as if he was being caressed.
âXi Hongxuan has invited you for a drink.â Xiao Chiye said with certainty.
âHm.â Shen Zechuanâs response was nonchalant.
The pulps of Xiao Chiyeâs finger slid to Shen Zechuanâs collar. He asked, âWas it good drinking with the courtesans?â
Shen Zechuan replied unhurriedly, âYes.â
Xiao Chiye asked, âDid you drink until you felt hot?â
Shen Zechuan replied, âI did.â
Xiao Chiye was hot too. Three of his fingers slid down, seemingly along Shen Zechuanâs neck, to pry apart the front flaps of his clothes before slipping further down. Instead of retreating, Shen Zechuan advanced and let Xiao Chiyeâs fingers slid across his chest through the mist-like ink painting screen.
âDo you wear earrings?â Xiao Chiye suddenly asked.
âNope.â Shen Zechuan tilted his head slightly to expose his ear. âDo you want me to wear?â
âSecond Young Master will make a little jasper earring and gift it to you to play with.â Xiao Chiye said.
âOne?â
âOne.â With his eyes closely following Shen Zechuanâs hazy neck and ear, Xiao Chiye said, âWear it on the right ear.â
Xiao Chiye was used to scoop him up with his right hand. He just had to lower his head slightly when he turned him over, and he would be able to take his earlobe into his mouth. Jasper set against satiny white. His dazed and satiated expression, as his sweat-drenched hair at his ears were brushed aside, would surely be a sight to behold.
Shen Zechuan did not answer, but revealed a meaningful smile through the screen. Xiao Chiye could not see his eyes clearly, but he could see the corners of his lips; he was exuding that kind of subconscious invitation again.
âHug me.â
âTouch me.â
Xiao Chiye closed his eyes, feeling that Shen Zechuan always left room for more every time. These kind of voiceless lines seemed to urge his surging waves of desire to crash over him even more violently. He swore that he was not originally a man who could be this easily aroused. His desires initially lay in the blue dome of heaven and the grassy wildernesses.
âThe wine at Ouhua Pavillion is delicious, as is the wine at Xiangyun Villa.â Shen Zechuan was unaware of the implications of his silence. âBut youâve been hanging out in Xiangyun Villa for years. I supposed you didnât expect the courtesans of Xiangyun Villa to throw themselves into someone elseâs arms too.â
âThereâs always a difference between the new lover and the old flames.â Xiao Chiye said, âItâs only natural for them to be jealous now that Iâm indulging myself in you.â
âI didnât know that Xiangyun Villa was under Xi Hongxuanâs control either.â Shen Zechuan said. âWhat are you to do now that they are unanimously claiming that you took bribes? Are you going to get these old flames to amend their testimonies by melting them with tenderness?â
Xiao Chiye retracted his hand and said, âThe owner of Xiangyun Villa is not Xi Hongxuan. At least not while I was still hanging around there. Courtesan Xiangyun of Xiangyun Villa is resourceful. She has a reputation for being talented among the civil officials and even the students of the Imperial College. With that bit of learning Xi Hongxuan has, he would never be able to bring her under his control.â
âYou mean?â
âThere are only two possibilities that can make Xiangyun commit perjury. One is that she fell in love with some noble young master and was willing to stomp on me for the sake of the other party. The second is that she was coerced by someone and had no other choice but to submit fake testimony.â Xiao Chiye said, âIf itâs the latter, weâll need to investigate it properly.â
âSeems like your old flame still carries some weight in your heart.â Shen Zechuan smiled and said.
Xiao Chiye said, âXiangyun was the one who leaked news of the surveillance deployment in Qudu every time. Now that she has abruptly switched allegiances⌠I canât bear to see her suffer too.â
âWhat a considerate man.â Shen Zechuan said, âThe period after the new year is crucial. Whether or not you can turn the table around and make a comeback at the start of spring depends on how you take a beating now. So donât you lose your head and go around messing your plan up for the sake of a beauty.â
âIâm idling away at home at present. I canât get out, so Iâll have to ask you to help me investigate.â Xiao Chiye said, âDuring your investigation, please pass a message to Xiangyun while you are at it. Tell her that the Second Young Master is still thinking of rekindling old flames with her.â
Shen Zechuan pushed away the screen gently and said, âIâm busy with work these days. Iâm afraid I donât have the time. Why not ask Ding Tao or Gu Jin to make a trip for you?â
Finally able to get a clear look at him, Xiao Chiye said, âWhy? Donât you just happen to be residing on Donglong Street?â
Shen Zechuan was about to answer when he suddenly heard the sounds of footsteps outside. Before he could move, Xiao Chiye suddenly bent over and hoisted him over his shoulder. In a few steps, he leaped over the long table and brought Shen Zechuan into the inner chamber.
Yu Xiaozai lifted the hem of his robe and ascended the stairs. He knocked on the door and called out, âYour Excellency the Judge?â
His Excellency the Judge was pressed up so close against the wall behind the cloth racks that he could not answer. That civilian clothing was covering his body all over. Shen Zechuan backhandedly pressed his palm against Xiao Chiyeâs chest and turned his neck to the side, wanting to replyâbut Xiao Chiye suddenly held him high. Shen Zechuan bumped into the clothes rack. Seeing that the clothes rack was about to tilt over to the ground, he immediately raised his leg to stop it in its track. Xiao Chiye exploited the opening and lifted Shen Zechuanâs other leg to his waist, thereby trapping the latter before him.
âHe has the authority to present the memorial directly to the Emperor for the Emperorâs viewing.â Xiao Chiye said slowly. âIf he were to see you and me together, thereâll be no way we can ever explain our way out of this.â
Yu Xiaozai knocked on the door again and asked, âIs Your Excellency the Judge here?â
Shen Zechuan grabbed hold of Xiao Chiyeâs hand and said in a hushed tone, âTaking advantage of someone in a predicament is not what a gentleman should do.â
âMe? Taking advantage?â With his hands cupping Shen Zechuanâs buttocks, Xiao Chiye pressed his nose in and smiled, âThatâs right. Iâm taking advantage of you while you are in a predicament.â
Shen Zechuan locked eyes with him, his chest heaving slightly.
After quite a while of not getting a response, Yu Xiaozai pushed the door open. With the search warrant under his arm, Yu Xiaozai strode in and started to survey the room as he readied himself to search.
Shen Zechuan slowly hooked his long leg back to return the clothes rack into place. His waist and buttocks had to move ever so slightly as he stretched out his leg. But now, they were being cupped in Xiao Chiyeâs palms. It was only after he broke out in a thin layer of sweat that he steadied the clothes racks.
Once the clothes rack was stabilized, Xiao Chiye pressed in against his ear and whispered very softly, âActually, it wonât topple over.â
Shen Zechuan looked at him out of the corners of his eyes and mouthed the words with a smile:Â YouâSonâOfâAâBitch.
Xiao Chiye readily accepted it and said into his ear, âSo, wear an earring. Lanzhou.â
Yu Xiaozai mumbled something to himself. After looking through the antechamber, he headed for the inner chamber.
Shen Zechuan wanted to move, but Xiao Chiye persisted in pressing against him with the stance of one who would not step aside if he did not nod his head.
âWear it,â Xiao Chiyeâs breaths moistened Shen Zechuanâs ears. The heat was breathed so deep inside that Shen Zechuanâs spine tingled with numbness. Xiao Chiye murmured with a smile, âWear it for my eyes.â
Wear it for my eyes.
What an arrogant and presumptuous request it was. Xiao Chiye no longer avoided his wolfish nature. He pushed and pressed this fervent yet urgent desire towards Shen Zechuan, making sure that Shen Zechuan felt this scalding heat.
The intercourse both men had that night when they plunged into the abyss was one of desperation and despair, where their bloody chests and abdomens clung inseparably close together as their vulnerabilities lay exposed before the other partyâs eyes. Xiao Chiye did not intend to relive it all alone after daybreak. He wanted to grab hold of Shen Zechuan by the ankle and haul him back little by little to confine him in the sea of desires where there were only the two of them riding its waves.
Yu Xiaozai had already walked to the side of the hanging curtain. Shen Zechuan held on tightly to the fabric on Xiao Chiyeâs chest and, in this moment of emergency, looked face to face at him in close quarters.
Yu Xiaozai lifted the curtain again and saw no one in the inner chamber. The clothes rack in the corner was cluttered with everyday clothes. It was inconvenient for him to rummage through them, so he could only use his eyes to size up the place.
Shen Zechuan, who was lying under the bed, had difficulty breathing. There was no room under the bed for two people to lay over one another at all. The weight of Xiao Chiyeâs chest as the latter pressed down on him forced him to open his mouth to breathe slowly. This strong and well-built body was truly too heavy.
Xiao Chiye lowered his head to stare at him.
Shen Zechuan immediately sensed it and said soundlessly:Â No way. Nope. Noâ
Xiao Chiye kissed him, robbing him of the chance to gasp for breath. Shen Zechuan tightened his grip on his back, gripping him so hard it hurt. But Xiao Chiye still lured him gradually into a state of suffocation. The sensation of being on the verge of fainting rendered Shen Zechuan incapable of warding off Xiao Chiyeâs offensive.
It was like he was drowning in deep waters, and only Xiao Chiye was the driftwood that could save Shen Zechuan. Yet this driftwood was forcefully staking his claim on his territory like huge swells of raging waves battering away at him, wanting him to remember deeply his ruthlessness this very moment, along with the trepidation of being progressively invaded by him.