SGSHE108

A man bearing multiple scars has undoubtedly seen his share of combat.

From his conversation, it was clear that Jing Heguang was well-versed in the military campaigns in the southern territories of Wu country. He was certainly a soldier. Furthermore, his familiarity with the capital suggested he was a soldier who hailed from there.

What would bring a soldier all the way to Wucheng?

Uncle Yu had his own suspicions, and his gaze held a hidden trace of worry as he looked at Xing Ming.

Xing Ming, however, simply walked up to Jing Heguang and tasted a piece of the pastry right from his hand.

He looked nothing like his usual cool, aloof self. He appeared completely smitten.

Uncle Yu had originally thought well of Jing Heguang, he was a man of good character and temperament, and sensible enough not to wander about and cause trouble for the opera troupe.

Yet, the timing of his visit today aroused uncle Yu’s suspicions.

No matter how good he seemed, the fear remained that he harbored ulterior motives, that his affection was merely a pretense rather than the real thing.

Seeing their intimacy, uncle Yu spoke up: “I’m going to check out the new opera troupe across the street. I’ll report back to you, troupe leader, later this evening.”

“Alright, thank you, uncle Yu,” Xing Ming said, slipping him two skewers of fried dough treats as he spoke.

***

The osmanthus pastries Jing Heguang made naturally didn’t taste exactly like the ones from Xing Ming’s memories.

But…they were incredibly delicious!

Xing Ming couldn’t resist tasting everything he had brought. “You said you didn’t know how to cook, you were pulling my leg, weren’t you?”

He simply couldn’t believe that someone making them for the first time could produce something so tasty.

Jing Heguang looked rather pleased with himself. “As far as I recall, I really haven’t made them before. Perhaps the Kitchen God knew I was making them for you and, understanding my heart, secretly lent a hand to perfect them.”

Xing Ming had grown accustomed to Jing Heguang dropping such sweet nothings every now and then.

He didn’t blush, though he was secretly pleased.

The man had a truly honeyed tongue, even without that handsome face, he might well have been taken in!

Xing Ming feigned a calm expression: “Did you sneak a taste of honey?”

“You’d have to taste it yourself to find out.” Jing Heguang gazed intently at him.

Ever since he had kissed him beneath the osmanthus tree, a moment he had deliberately let Chun Fen witness, things had changed.

The upside was that he could be openly affectionate with Xing Ming, the downside was that Xing Ming wouldn’t let him get too close.

Everyone in the opera house couldn’t help but stare at them, which was truly annoying.

Hearing this, Xing Ming instinctively glanced around.

Seeing this, Jing Heguang grumbled in a low voice, “They’re so annoying.”

Xing Ming shot him a sidelong glance, his phoenix eyes tilted slightly upward, exuding a unique charm.

“Who told you to let Chun Fen see? He may be young, but he’s got a big mouth.”

With his secret intentions laid bare, Jing Heguang rubbed his nose sheepishly.

But in all honesty, he couldn’t be blamed. It was only then that he had finally understood the vague words he’d heard before waking up.

What Xing Ming had said was, once he could walk, he should leave.

Leaving was out of the question, unless he took Xing Ming with him!

Jing Heguang brought up the past: “You were the one who said I should leave once I was up and about.”

Now it was Xing Ming’s turn to feel awkward.

He hadn’t known back then that he would eventually develop feelings for this man.

Jing Heguang set the plate aside and wrapped both arms around Xing Ming’s slender yet strong waist: “Give me a couple of kisses, and I might just forget what you said.”

As their bodies pressed close, a searing heat began to spread through them.

Just as Xing Ming was about to tilt his head back to plant a couple of affectionate kisses on this clingy man, he remembered something and said, “I still haven’t settled the score with you for letting Chun Fen overhear what you did.”

Jing Heguang put on an innocent face: “You were the one who tried to chase me away first!”

He certainly wasn’t going to admit that it had taken him a while to figure out exactly which remark had been the one to send him packing.

Regardless, he was sulking now, and only kisses from younger brother Xing could coax him out of it!

Xing Ming felt like something was slightly off, but since the person before him was the one he loved, he was happy to indulge him.

Without hesitation, Xing Ming tilted his head up and pressed his lips against Jing Heguang’s.

This time, neither of them noticed the four little topknots peering down from the top of the stairs, nor did they hear the soft patter of footsteps. Their attention was entirely focused on the intimate space right around them.

Upstairs.

Li Xia blinked in puzzlement as he watched the troupe leader and the newcomer, big brother Jing, ‘biting each other’s mouths’.

Does biting mouths taste good?

He glanced at Chun Fen’s greasy lips, wrinkled his nose in distaste, and then took a bite of his own fried pastry.

The fried pastries big brother Jing made were delicious!

***

That night.

Uncle Yu sought out Xing Ming, using the topic of the newly opened opera house across the street as an opening.

He first spoke about the opera house opened by the people from the Jin country, but then wore a look of hesitation, as if struggling to voice his true thoughts.

Xing Ming asked, “What is it, uncle Yu? If there’s something you want to say, just say it.”

Uncle Yu said, “Troupe leader, I saw people from King Li’s estate today, and it suddenly struck me that Jing Heguang…perhaps — perhaps he is a spy.”

“He possesses formidable martial arts skills, hails from the capital of Wu’s, and is almost certainly a former soldier.”

Uncle Yu briefly outlined his suspicions, his brows furrowing tighter as he spoke.

He blamed himself for realizing this so late. By now, the troupe leader and Jing Heguang had already grown very close! Xing Ming’s expression remained unchanged: “I know.”

“Then…”

Xing Ming picked up the teapot from the table, poured himself a fresh cup of bitter tea, and said, “Uncle Yu, you know how it is. It doesn’t matter if it’s him.”

“How could it not matter?” Uncle Yu’s tone grew stern.

But after saying that, he let out a sigh: “Young master, why must you be like this? When…when Wu’s armies marched here, they will surely take the head of King Li for the master, the madam, and the young miss!”

“It’s fine, uncle Yu. I actually quite like him.”

“So many people only dare to covet me in their hearts but lack the courage to admit it openly. He is the first to do so. I find him forthright and honorable, he is different to me, after all. Besides, it’s not as if he’s devoid of feeling for me, is it?”

As Xing Ming spoke, the faint, forced smile on his face shifted into genuine delight.

Uncle Yu felt a surge of anxiety. He asked, “You call him forthright, but do you know his identity? Do you know what kind of family he comes from in the capital?”

Of course, Xing Ming didn’t know.

Jing Heguang had never mentioned it, and he had never asked.

But if he admitted he didn’t know, Uncle Yu would certainly disapprove.

This was the elder who had raised him. In Xing Ming’s heart, he was no different from a real uncle.

Moreover, if he admitted he hadn’t asked or even thought about it, uncle Yu might well guess the secret feelings he was harboring.

Xing Ming flashed a bright, beaming smile, his brows alight with joy.

He spoke with conviction: “Of course I know.”

***

Another half-month passed.

Jing Heguang’s leg injuries had largely healed, allowing him to move about freely.

Recently, Xing Ming had been choreographing the major action sequences for the play ‘Flowers Startle the Branch’ .The martial arts choreography was spectacular, featuring a pace that was far swifter and sharper than standard productions.

Having exhausted the stories of Wu’s he could tell, Jing Heguang had seamlessly transitioned into the role of Xing Ming’s sparring partner.

The original owner possessed decent martial arts skills, and Jing Heguang, drawing on his own modern-day experience with various weapons, even offered pointers to refine certain movements.

One day, after finishing a routine, Jing Heguang pulled a handkerchief from his robe.

Under the guise of wiping away sweat, he took the opportunity to get a little handsy.

Xing Ming stole a glance at the man’s waist and abdomen, partially exposed where his robe had come open in the heat.

He must have a full set of eight-pack abs, Xing Ming thought.

As if reading his mind, Jing Heguang leaned close and whispered, “Why not touch them and find out?”

Xing Ming shot him a look, a mix of annoyance and exasperation.

Right there in plain sight of everyone, the man knew enough to keep his voice down, yet he was enticing Xing Ming to reach inside his robes…

And the worst part, the absolute worst part, was that Xing Ming had actually fallen for it a few times!

He had no idea what kind of spell the man had cast on him.

Xing Ming’s hand was halfway there when a commotion broke out at the entrance.

He quickly pulled Jing Heguang’s robe back into place to cover him up, then hurried toward the door.

Jing Heguang casually adjusted his clothes and followed close behind.

***

At the entrance of the theater.

Across the street stood another theater, its entrance displaying the black emblem of a shop from the Jin’s.

People from both establishments were currently shouting at one another.

The members of the theater troupe looked furious, while the people opposite them wore smug, triumphant expressions, showing not a shred of guilt.

“You people have absolutely no regard for the rules! You’ve taken our troupe’s plays and used them completely, without even changing the characters’ names or the plot points. Have you no shame?!”

“If you don’t understand the rules of the trade, why are you running an opera troupe in the first place?”

The people at Xing Ming theater were furious.

Their standing in the industry relied on these few original productions. According to the unwritten rules of the trade, if another troupe wanted to perform a play created by their troupe, they were supposed to pay a fee and ask for permission.

Even the shameless ones would usually alter the details, making it look less like the original, before performing it.

And even then, they would still face criticism.

But this new theater across the street was utterly unscrupulous. They had taken the troupe’s plays and performed them brazenly right across the street, without even changing the characters’ names.

Xing Ming’s face darkened as he heard the full story.

Yet, the manager of the rival theater showed no fear. He spoke brazenly: “We aren’t afraid of a scene! The wanhu (a high-ranking military commander) in charge of this district is my older brother. I suggest you think carefully before you cross me. If you suddenly find yourselves lacking this or that, to the point where you can’t stage a single show, then don’t blame me.”

The rival manager was a young man, his face still lightly powdered with stage makeup.

It was a textbook case of bullying and throwing one’s weight around by leveraging a powerful connection.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know the rules, he simply believed that his influence allowed him to ignore them.

Xing Ming was angry too, but a wanhu commander was someone they truly couldn’t afford to offend.

He closed his eyes for a moment, suppressing his rage. “Then don’t blame us for being petty from now on. Members of other troupes will no longer be allowed into our troupe!”

To steal a play, one naturally had to watch it first. It wasn’t customary to hide plays away, in fact, troupes usually welcomed mutual learning.

But since the rival had abandoned all sense of propriety, Xing Ming decided he would no longer extend them any generosity. The troupe leader across the way turned dark with anger and was instantly rendered speechless.

His older brother had given strict instructions: bullying the rival troupe was fine, but they couldn’t storm right up to their doorstep, they had to show some respect to King Li.

As for the play…they would just have to make money off this current production first. The young man across the street snorted and led his people back inside their building.

Meanwhile, the members of the troupe were furious.

They were used to being bullied, but life had improved over the last two years, making such shameless harassment feel all the more galling.

Indignant, they gathered inside to discuss the situation.

Xing Ming felt rather downcast.

It was impossible not to be angry when forced to swallow such an insult, one simply had to bottle it up.

Xing Ming stepped out of the main hall and sat down in the backyard area where they practiced their morning routines.

Jing Heguang appeared behind him and gave his slender shoulders a gentle squeeze. “Are you angry? I have a great way to help you vent that frustration.”

Xing Ming asked, “What sort of plan do you have?”

Jing Heguang replied, “I’ve got a clever scheme up my sleeve. Don’t sleep tonight, wait for me in your room.”

Xing Ming glanced at him, then turned his head away. “I’m angry today, I don’t want to.”

Jing Heguang: ???

He wasn’t ‘that’ kind of person.

Jing Heguang said, “It’s serious business!”

“A couple of days ago, I saw that troupe leader across the street secretly kissing that wanhu. If that commander comes over tonight, we can call a few people to watch the show. Besides, there’s a subordinate of his who calls him ‘brother-in-law’…”

Xing Ming hadn’t expected it to be a genuine business matter, he blushed. “Then I’ll wait for you. You have to come.”

“I thought you didn’t want me coming to your room?”

“I do!”

Uncle Yu, who had been on his way to comfort the young master, overheard those last two lines.

Uncle Yu: His timing…was truly unfortunate.