Salted Fish Chapter 9

 Chapter 9

Everlasting Lights

Xie Zhui's hands were originally meant to control his own destiny, but later, he was forced by Xiao Shan to grip his shoulders tightly and flip over with force.

If Xiao Shan wouldn't give, he would take it himself.

In an instant, their positions were reversed. Xiao Shan swayed slightly, looking at Xie Zhui's unusually fierce expression, and raised an eyebrow.

Xie Zhui let out a muffled groan, leaned down, and bit Xiao Shan's lips, silencing him. Xiao Shan, who was always uninhibited at night, casually uttered wanton words. One could say that the more proper he was during the day, the more unrestrained he was at night.

Xie Zhui couldn't match him nor respond to his words, so he could only seal his mouth, preventing him from speaking.

Xiao Shan let him be, occasionally moving his body to help him.

***

In the following days, the capital remained calm and peaceful.

Xie Zhui was not a traditional ger who would embroider and make clothes; he preferred wielding swords and practicing martial arts. Initially, not fully understanding the situation, he managed to restrain his temper, diligently staying within the prince's residence, auditing accounts, managing the servants, and fulfilling the role of a proper Prince Li's consort.

After a few days of observation, Xie Zhui realized that Xiao Shan truly had no intention of restricting his freedom and even encouraged him to do what he enjoyed. With nothing to do for the past couple of days, he was practically turning into a mushroom from boredom. Finally, Xie Zhui changed into a black, tight-fitting outfit and had a good workout in the backyard, working up quite a sweat.

Since there were no swords or spears available, he practiced with a staff instead, while Xiao Shan leaned against a pillar in the corridor, watching him.

When Xie Zhui finished, Xiao Shan clapped his hands and generously praised him, saying, "Well done."

Xie Zhui threw down the staff and walked over to Xiao Shan. His eyes were bright, his forehead covered in sweat, and a lock of hair was dampened and stuck to his forehead. His handsome face was slightly flushed from the exercise.

His breathing was somewhat heavy, with a hint of panting.

Xiao Shan very much liked Xie Zhui's outfit. The tight black clothes clung to his body, perfectly showcasing the lines of his upper body. His slender yet strong waist, graceful shoulder blades...

Only his straight and long legs were hidden beneath the fabric.

But that didn't matter. Xiao Shan admired Xie Zhui with appreciative eyes, knowing that he could see and feel their shape and lines every night.

Xie Zhui originally intended to say something, but when he saw Xiao Shan's gaze, he suddenly forgot what he wanted to say. Xiao Shan's eyes made him feel a sense of danger, reminding him of certain passionate nights.

Xie Zhui felt a bit parched and unconsciously licked his lips. Then he watched as Xiao Shan reached out to straighten his collar, speaking in a gentle tone, "The weather hasn't fully warmed up yet, and you've worked up a sweat. Go take a bath."

Xie Zhui abruptly took a step back, muttered an affirmative, and hurriedly left.

He felt a bit flustered, almost as if he were fleeing in haste.

***

Sitting in the bath, with only his head exposed, Xie Zhui splashed water onto his face.

As he rubbed the skin below his neck, he paused slightly, his hand stopping there.

In just a few short days of being with Xiao Shan, he had changed, becoming more prone to wandering thoughts.

When Xiao Shan's hand left his body earlier, it was clearly a natural movement, yet he felt as if Xiao Shan had deliberately lingered on his collarbone, causing his body to shiver.

Thinking of this, Xie Zhui suddenly plunged his head into the water.

He couldn't understand Xiao Shan, who seemed very satisfied with his body.

To be honest, his body wasn't attractive—neither slender nor fair, and it was covered with scars, both large and small. Xiao Shan usually ignored those scars, but at special times, he would kiss each sensitive scar one by one.

Since he couldn't understand, he decided not to think about it.

Holding his breath in the water until he reached his limit, Xie Zhui finally lifted his head out.

Water cascaded down his cheeks and body, and he picked up a towel from nearby to wipe his slightly sore and swollen eyes.

When Xie Zhui came out of the bathroom, fully dressed, Xiao Shan was sitting in the outer room. Seeing Xie Zhui's hair still wet, Xiao Shan walked over, picked up a dry towel from the screen, and personally began to dry his hair.

Xie Zhui initially wanted to refuse. Firstly, he wasn't used to such intimacy between them, and secondly, at the border, he rarely had the time to dry his hair properly. He had long been accustomed to those rough and hurried days.

But in the end, he quietly sat down, allowing Xiao Shan to continue.

Neither of them spoke, and the only sound was the gentle rustling of the towel as it dried his hair.

No matter how much he dried it, the hair could only be half-dried.

Xiao Shan put down the towel and said, "Once your hair is completely dry, I'll take you to Antai Temple."

Xie Zhui was surprised. "Your Highness believes in Buddhism?"

Xiao Shan thought for a moment and said, "Not really."

Xie Zhui: "..." If you don't believe in Buddhism, then why go to the temple?

Xiao Shan clarified, "To burn incense."

Xie Zhui: "..." Not believing in Buddhism yet still going to burn incense—what a peculiar habit.

Xiao Shan chuckled but said nothing more.

Xie Zhui didn't ask further. Once his hair was mostly dry, the two of them tidied up and went to Antai Temple.

Upon arrival, Xiao Shan offered incense and donated some silver for merit.

After finishing these tasks, he placed some small silver pieces in Xie Zhui's hand. "Since we're here, you might as well pay your respects. I'll walk around and come back to get you later."

Xie Zhui tightly gripped the silver in his hand as he watched Xiao Shan leave. He didn't believe in Buddhism either, but in the end, he still turned and knelt before the Buddha statue.

Compared to Xiao Shan's casual attitude, he appeared much more devout.

On March 26th, five years ago, everyone knew that his grandfather, Xie Zhong, died in battle, and his father went missing and remains unaccounted for. However, no one knew that his elder brother, Xie Chen, was poisoned and blinded. He and Xie Chen were twins and looked somewhat alike, except for the cinnabar mole between his eyebrows, which Xie Chen did not have.

Seeing the chaos brewing in the northern border and the impending collapse of the Xie family, he risked his life by assuming Xie Chen's identity, joining the army, and heading to the battlefield.

The first time he killed someone, he wasn't afraid, but he had no way out and could only grit his teeth and push forward.

On the battlefield, swords and blades are blind; no one knows who will live or die. But those with no way out can only persist through sheer determination.

By his calculations, today was the death anniversary of his grandfather, Xie Zhong.

Xie Zhong was buried in the northern border. As a consort married into Prince Li's residence, Xie Zhui faced many royal restrictions, making it difficult to find a suitable place to pay respects to Xie Zhong. Practicing martial arts in the prince's residence was also a way for him to vent his frustrations and tire himself out, so he wouldn't have to think about what day it was. He had already decided to secretly find a place to bow in the direction of the northern border.

And now, in this vast temple, there were all sorts of possibilities. He could think of his grandfather, pray to Buddha for Xie Chen's well-being, and hope to find his father, Xie Sui, soon. After all, one must see the person alive or the body if dead.

Xie Zhui's hands had been stained with blood, and he didn't know if Buddha would despise someone like him. But he still knelt here and sincerely prayed, earnestly making his requests.

After getting up, Xie Zhui placed all the silver in his hand into the donation box. As he walked out of the main hall, he saw Xiao Shan standing under the osmanthus tree, looking bored.

He walked over and wanted to say thank you to Xiao Shan. He had thought that no one but himself would remember this day, but to his surprise, Xiao Shan not only remembered but also chose a place for him.

Xie Zhui had never been afraid of getting hurt or being bullied, but he feared others being kind to him.

Step by step, Xie Zhui walked towards Xiao Shan and then said thank you.

Xiao Shan responded nonchalantly, "Entering a temple to burn incense and bowing to Buddha are things you chose to do yourself. Why thank me?"

Xie Zhui remained silent, stubbornly looking at him.

Xiao Shan paused for a moment and then said softly, "Actually, I came here to light an everlasting lamp for someone. Today is the anniversary of when I first lit it, so I came to check on it."

Xiao Shan, fearing that Xie Zhui wouldn't believe him, added, "It's true. The everlasting lamp is lit for myself."

Xie Zhui was stunned, his eyes full of confusion. He couldn't understand why Xiao Shan would light an everlasting lamp for himself.

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