TAMW CH46

Back in the Ruan household, Yuqing had never been the youngest son; he had younger brothers as well. But because his mother had fallen out of favor, no one had ever addressed him with such warmth.

Normally, Zhou Xiao called him “Qingqing,” which had taken some getting used to at first; now, being suddenly addressed as “Elder Brother” made Yuqing truly want to shield his eyes in embarrassment.

He had always been steeped in traditional decorum. To be held like this, his leg lifted while the man inhaled his scent, coupled with his parted long gown exposing a wide expanse of his rounded belly to the open air, was utterly disorienting.

The lighting in the private room was dim and flickering. The soothing incense burning within curled lazily through the air, while down below, the gongs and drums of the stage maintained their steady, rhythmic beat.

Zhou Xiao did nothing truly untoward; he simply loved pressing his face into Yuqing’s skin. It just so happened that this skin was on his foot, on his calf, and most importantly, on his body.

Yuqing had never thought his skin carried any particular fragrance. Even the jasmine honey water he had just sipped had been tasted by Zhou Xiao, who insisted on calling him sweet.

Obstructed by his heavy belly, Yuqing couldn’t sit up properly. He could only shove at him, applying a little force to step on Zhou Xiao’s face, urging him to hurry out and deal with the merchants.

Under the pressure of his sole, Zhou Xiao could barely keep his eyes open.

When provoked, Yuqing glared with those striking fox-like eyes, holding an almost unreal innocence; the tiny mole beneath his pupil looked vividly alive against his flushed skin.

Zhou Xiao planted a resounding kiss right in the palm of Yuqing’s hand.

Yuqing turned his gaze away, his forearm shielding his eyes as he tilted his head to the side. But the moment his head tilted, his slender, crane-like neck arched back against the wicker chair. Zhou Xiao immediately cursed himself for having only one mouth, turning to press his lips against the exposed throat.

“Have the bosses made up their minds?” Zhou Xiao called out, his warm breath fanning across Yuqing’s skin.

Yuqing felt a prickle of goosebumps and moved to draw his leg back, only to be firmly tugged straight back into position.

Beyond the folding screen, the merchants were still murmuring among themselves. The room was spacious, and the opera downstairs was in full swing, making it impossible for the two behind the partition to hear what was being debated outside.

Yuqing was always meticulous in business and never relinquished the upper hand as Zhou Xiao had just done. But right now, he truly lacked the energy to teach Zhou Xiao how to negotiate. Lying back on the chair with his leg hoisted onto the man’s shoulder, his foot planted against his cheek—this posture was…

Utterly scandalous!

Having lived by strict decorum for so many years, Yuqing rarely wore Western suits even after the fall of the Qing dynasty. He wore flowing gowns, pinned his hair with jade, and bundled himself tightly in thick cloaks whenever he stepped out after marriage and pregnancy. To most people who saw him, the only bare skin ever exposed was his hands and his neck.

Yet this man…

“Boss Zhou, do you intend to partner your railway with the newly arrived military officer?”

“He’s demanding we pay a ‘resettlement tax.’ You weren’t doing business in Baizhou before, so you wouldn’t know—we already paid Jiang Sui earlier this year before he marched out to the front! But this newcomer not only demands a fresh levy, he wants us to cough up twenty percent of our profits to invest into your railway! Have the two of you been in league all along?”

Yuqing had no knowledge of this; having remained inside the estate nursing his pregnancy, he was largely cut off from recent developments.

Irritation flared within him. He cast a sharp, disapproving glance at Zhou Xiao, and his free foot lashed out without mercy, landing squarely between the man’s legs.

“Hiss—!” Zhou Xiao sucked in a sharp breath.

His towering pillar was nearly snapped in two. Even with his imposing stature, a direct blow to that vulnerable spot sent stars exploding across his vision. Unable to keep his balance, he collapsed onto his knees, clutching himself and curling forward in sheer agony.

Releasing Yuqing’s leg, Zhou Xiao knelt by his feet, groaning in muffled pain.

Yuqing pulled his long gown together and sat upright. Narrowing his eyes, he tangled a hand into Zhou Xiao’s hair, forcing his face upward. His voice was hushed to a whisper that only the two of them could hear: “When did you get tangled up with General Yuan?”

“You went behind my back to contact him?” Yuqing pinched his cheek.

Zhou Xiao let out a ragged breath; the pain was agonizingly real. Even pregnant and frail, Yuqing was still a man. Before his pregnancy, he had possessed formidable martial skill; he had trained, knew how to fire a gun, and that kick had been precise, steady, and utterly ruthless.

Yuqing usually indulged him because Zhou Xiao was obedient and acted like an affectionate, spoiled child. But Zhou Xiao had never once mentioned knowing the newly appointed military officer.

If they didn’t know each other and hadn’t struck an accord, why would the new commander demand that the Chamber of Commerce pour twenty percent of their profits into the railway to accelerate construction?

This meant Zhou Xiao had kept secrets from him.

Shedding his gentle demeanor, Yuqing lifted Zhou Xiao’s chin. His smile held a frosty chill as he extended a pale, slender arm to haul the man into his embrace, continuing his interrogation: “How is it that I know nothing of this? Hmm?”

Dazed by the pain, Zhou Xiao’s anger evaporated the moment he was gathered into that fragrant, welcoming chest. Recovering slightly, he took Yuqing’s foot in his hand, rubbing it against his aching spot. “Qingqing, don’t misunderstand me, I didn’t…”

“You didn’t?” Yuqing narrowed his eyes, unable to fathom his scheme.

“Boss Zhou? Could you step out and speak with us?”

“Indeed! None of us have left, Boss Zhou; there’s no need to test us further. You hold the railway in your hands—as long as you can make promises, we won’t walk away. We only wish to know your stance…”

“If you intend to cooperate with the new officer, is there a way to exempt us from this resettlement tax?”

Stationing military forces in any territory required staggering funds. In times of war, provisions and armaments devoured fortunes, while allocations from the central government were scarce. To secure their footing, the military had to tap local merchants for “resettlement taxes.”

Most of these merchants had already paid Jiang Sui’s garrison during the first half of the year. Paying again would swallow nearly an entire year’s profit; if another warlord marched into Baizhou next year, would they have to pay a third time?

There would be no end to it. Squeezed dry by the levies, merchants would inevitably inflate retail prices, driving the cost of living through the roof.

Having studied finance abroad, Zhou Xiao could not possibly be blind to this chain reaction.

Yuqing had convened these bosses precisely to address this tax; whether they cooperated or not, a definitive resolution was needed.

“Naturally,” Zhou Xiao said, composing himself before rising. “Aren’t you afraid of becoming a widow?” he whispered against Yuqing’s ear.

Yuqing gave his cheek a sharp pinch. “If you’re truly that useless… aren’t you afraid I’ll replace you?”

Held by the cheek, inhaling the soft, fragrant presence of his wife, Zhou Xiao was thoroughly enchanted once more. He stood dazed, unsure whether he was seeing stars from the pain or merely swooning. In that split second of hesitation, Yuqing leaned down slightly, bringing his lips impossibly close. “I’ll settle the score with you when we get home.”

Zhou Xiao felt no resentment whatsoever at being disciplined.

In a matter of seconds, Yuqing had deduced who he had been speaking with behind his back; Yuqing was managing him, holding him accountable, and keeping every detail of their conversations in his mind. Knowing his contacts and watching his moves proved beyond doubt that his wife cared for him and paid attention to him!

Thoroughly appeased, Zhou Xiao planted a soft kiss on Yuqing’s knee. “Awaiting Madam’s judgment.”

With a low chuckle, he stood up, fastened the buttons at Yuqing’s collar, and turned to step past the screen to face the waiting merchants.

Before parting, he stole another casual kiss from Yuqing’s cheek.

Touching the spot where his lips had lingered, Yuqing felt a twinge of regret for letting him handle this; why was this lad completely incapable of acting dignified during serious matters?

Unaware of what had transpired behind the screen, the merchants assumed Zhou Xiao had merely granted them privacy to confer.

Seeing that none of them had departed, Zhou Xiao smiled. “I knew you seniors possessed far greater foresight than myself and would weigh matters more thoroughly. As for the resettlement tax, I do happen to have a plan.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Boss Zhou is young and capable indeed! To conjure a solution so quickly after returning to Baizhou?”

“You aren’t planning to collude with the newcomer, reducing this year’s tax only to demand it back next year, are you? If the money doesn’t line the military’s pockets, it goes straight into your railway. If you reap the benefits and speak on his behalf, wouldn’t our staying here leave us with no way out?”

Every step sent a sharp throb through Zhou Xiao’s groin. He sucked in a breath of cold air, pretending to sit and sip tea to recover, thinking to himself that he would need to inspect the goods when he got home; if real damage had been done, he’d have that doctor named Liu brew a restorative tonic at once.

The merchants babbled back and forth.

Listening to them, Zhou Xiao noted that every single one of them cared only about shielding their own pockets; not one offered a clear pledge to cast their ballot for his wife in the upcoming Chamber election.

Trying to reap the rewards without planting a single seed.

Zhou Xiao sneered inwardly.

Had it not been for Yuqing desiring the harbor and the Chamber, he wouldn’t have wasted a second dealing with these money-grubbing opportunists.

He sipped his tea leisurely, glancing down at the watch on his wrist.

This watch, and the tie he wore, were the very items Yuqing had purchased for him at the docks. Yuqing didn’t recognize foreign brand names, yet every piece was of peerless quality; Zhou Xiao found his wife’s taste impeccable, far surpassing his own after years abroad.

“You spoke of a solution—what solution is it?”

After squabbling among themselves, the group fell silent, waiting for Zhou Xiao’s verdict.

Even Yuqing behind the screen wondered what plan Zhou Xiao had in mind. Yuqing’s original strategy was to secure the Chamber Presidency first, using that leverage to negotiate with General Yuan to freeze the tax for at least a year, giving the local economy room to breathe.

He listened intently, smoothing his collar as he waited for Zhou Xiao to speak.

To his surprise, Zhou Xiao toyed with them: “The solution will present itself shortly.”

“Precisely at eight o’clock—”

Puzzled, Yuqing pulled his pocket watch from beneath his cloak; it was three minutes shy of eight.

What mischief was this lad brewing now?

That was his immediate instinct, only to realize with a start that he didn’t harbor the slightest doubt regarding Zhou Xiao’s competence. Without knowing it, his trust in him had taken deep root…

Realizing this, Yuqing shook his head with a quiet, helpless sigh.

Zhou Xiao strolled around the room, summoning the waiter to order two confections—an old-style crisp pastry and a package of candied dates, packed to go.

The waiter hurried down; both items were pre-made and only needed boxing.

Within moments, as the waiter rushed back up the stairs and pushed open the door, a sudden, deafening gunshot echoed from the streets below.

A certain Boss Liu, growing impatient, pulled a cigarette from his pocket and moved to light it. Zhou Xiao swept forward, snatched the cigarette from his fingers, opened the window, and tossed it outside. “No smoking in this room. My apologies.”

“You—” Boss Liu froze, his cigarette vanished into thin air. “Where did you get such arrogance? Putting on airs just because you studied abroad? You—”

The cigarette tumbled downward through the night air.

Its burning ember drifted in the wind, landing squarely upon the tavern’s ornate signboard. The faint spark caught the red silk drapery, threatening to ignite it entirely.

Embers scattered into the dark, and suddenly, bright sparks erupted across the street—right at the city gates.

“Murder!”

“Bandits—the bandits have breached the city!”

A frantic scream tore through the street, instantly answered by a volley of rifle fire from the gatehouse.

At eight o’clock sharp, Zhou Xiao took the packaged pastries from the trembling waiter, stepped to the doorway, and offered an elegant, gentlemanly bow with a faint smile: “Gentlemen, you may take your leave.”

“Leave?!”

“Master, fighting has broken out outside, run!” A panicked servant burst into the room. “It’s bandits! They’ve breached the gates!”

“Those ruthless bandits from the countryside are raiding the city! We must flee!”

The merchants turned ashen. What bandits were so brazenly suicidal?

Yet on second thought, it made sense: the new garrison had just arrived, lacking both funds and adequate munitions. Taking Baizhou now meant seizing the port; even if the railway fell through, the harbor’s spoils alone were a monumental prize.

“What do we do?!”

“What’s left to deliberate? Flee for your lives!”

Standing by the threshold, Zhou Xiao asked, “Gentlemen, though you depart today, I require a definitive word: when the time comes, how many of you will cast your ballots for my brother?”

With disaster looming, who had time for politics?

From the third floor, the frantic thunder of hooves could be heard tearing through the streets from the direction of the gate, closing in with terrifying urgency.

“Who can think of that at a time like this?!”

“Out of the way!”

“Boss Zhou, you are still young; there will be plenty of chances to make your mark. Saving your life comes first!”

Two men paused before fleeing, promising that if the election took place, they would cast their lot with the Zhou family.

Zhou Xiao retrieved two candied dates from his pocket, handing one to each—one surnamed Zhong, the other Qian.

The remaining merchants poured out of the room in a panicked stampede.

Shouts and wails erupted along the streets as families dragged baggage in a desperate scramble to escape. Gunfire outside the gate grew deafening as the garrison clashed with the raiders, punctuated by the concussive roar of exploding grenades.

Once the room cleared, Yuqing stepped out from behind the screen, clutching his belly with a furrowed brow. “How could fighting erupt so suddenly?”

Zhou Xiao’s playful demeanor vanished, matching his furrowed brow. “Indeed… so sudden. What shall we do?”

“The child isn’t even born, and we haven’t begun living our days in peace. If Baizhou falls, Qingqing, will we lose our home?”

Yuqing peered through the shattered window. The restaurant sat scarcely fifteen minutes from the city gate; if the defense broke, this quarter would be the first to be ransacked.

The bandits had grown bold of late, and the newly arrived troops had spent their time waiting for merchant tributes rather than launching an offensive. This sudden assault caught them entirely unprepared.

Supporting his abdomen, Yuqing rapidly calculated their options.

Jiang Sui hadn’t left many soldiers behind; even combined with his own household guards, they could never repel a full bandit force.

Given his current physical condition…

If the bandits took the city, the harbor would fall.

“Send Zhao Fu to the bank to withdraw funds. Take drafts, not bullion or silver dollars, and cash them in Shanghai. Secure a flight to France tomorrow. Stay there quietly, and don’t return until I send word.”

“The Zhou estate is here; I cannot leave. Zezhi, listen to me.”

Zhou Xiao had only intended to tease him; he hadn’t anticipated such solemn resolve.

Looking at his pregnant wife, cradling his swollen belly while gazing out the window—clearly the one who needed protection above all—yet his thoughts were entirely consumed with keeping Zhou Xiao safe…

Regret struck Zhou Xiao like a physical blow. “Qingqing, listen to me, it’s fine, it’s just…”

Before he could finish, a stray bullet shattered the third-floor windowpane. Glass rained down, barely missing Yuqing’s cloth shoes.

“Damn it—” Zhou Xiao moved with lightning reflexes, pulling Yuqing flush against his chest, peering sharply through the broken window frame.

The skirmish had shifted; the bandits had pushed inland. The garrison troops, thoroughly incompetent, were falling back toward their barracks, and this sturdy restaurant near the gate offered the ideal defensive stronghold.

Zhou Yuyang’s soldiers were attempting to retreat into the building.

Rather than spraying the structure with wild gunfire, the raiders drew blades, storming the ground floor.

Trapped patrons huddled under tables in terror; the waiters were paralyzed with fear, turning the grand hall into a desolate tomb.

Yuqing assessed the situation in an instant: “They intend to hole up here…”

“If we eliminate the soldiers inside, we can present a token of allegiance to the bandits. It will at least guarantee you safe passage out.”

Yuqing withdrew a pistol from beneath his cloak, racking the slide with a fluid flick of his wrist. His pocket held a single spare clip of six rounds.

He gripped the weapon firmly. “I recall your blade work is sharp. Cover my flank.”

“My good Madam.” Terrified by his swift resolve, Zhou Xiao clamped a hand over his wrist, hauling him back against his chest. “Don’t scare me like this.”

In mere moments, Yuqing had evaluated the board, abandoned the garrison, and resolved to align with the outlaws.

He was ever pragmatic, cold, and composed—holding a firearm with a heavy belly, the sight left Zhou Xiao utterly entranced.

As a wife and a mother, Yuqing gave him his body, gave him his milk, fulfilling every role to perfection.

Any lingering resentment toward the old man faded completely. Cupping Yuqing’s waist, he said, “Stay here. I am your husband; do you truly expect me to hide behind you?”

“If I cannot shield you, am I still a man?” he murmured.

“But you are the sole heir of the Zhou lineage.” Yuqing’s jaw tightened; at this moment, his terror for Zhou Xiao’s life was raw and genuine.

Even setting aside romance, out of deference to his father’s memory, Yuqing would guard him with his life.

And between them, love had already blossomed…

The red rose Zhou Xiao had just given him felt like a protective talisman.

Gunfire and screams rattled the floorboards below as heavy boots began mounting the wooden staircase.

Yuqing tightened his grip on the grip.

Downstairs, the opera continued uninterrupted.

The restaurant felt like a magnificent, gilded cage—easy to enter, impossible to flee.

Traditional stage rules dictated that once a performance began, it could not cease.

“Surrounded on four sides by songs of Chu, the King’s valor spent…”

“How can this concubine bear to live on—”

Consort Yu drew her blade across her throat, and the Hegemon rushed forward with resolute grief to catch her falling form.

Yuqing had never cared for Farewell My Concubine.

It was too sorrowful.

Yet facing the precipice of life and death, following her sovereign through life and death without regret—he found himself entirely unwilling to survive alone.

Hearing the footsteps draw near the door, Yuqing drew several steady breaths.

Zhou Xiao’s calloused hand gripped his smooth, feverish fingers tightly, the touch as rich and velvety as cream.

Unable to resist, Zhou Xiao kissed his hand. As the footsteps halted outside the threshold, he smoothly disarmed Yuqing, aimed through the paper panel of the wooden door, and pulled the trigger.

Without laying eyes on the target, the bullet struck true. A heavy body crashed against the floor outside, leaving a violent spray of crimson across the paper lattice.

“Madam, don’t be afraid.” Zhou Xiao stroked his hair, planting a tender kiss on his brow, a triumphant glint dancing in his eyes. “Treating me like a child on normal days is fine, but why look down on me at a critical moment like this?”

“I am your husband—your lawfully wedded husband. When this storm passes, we shall perform the wedding bows anew.” Raking a hand through Yuqing’s long hair, he racked the slide again. “Wait for my return.”

“Zezhi!”

Yuqing reached out, catching his sleeve, his eyes swimming with desperate dread.

“Frightened for me? Then kiss me, and tell me: have you fallen in love with me?” Zhou Xiao tucked a stray lock behind Yuqing’s ear. “What if you never have the chance to say it again?”

The gunfire below grew deafening, threatening to tear the structure apart.

With his heavy belly, Yuqing could barely protect himself, let alone intervene.

Whether Zhou Xiao was marching down to his death or cutting a bloody path forward was impossible to know.

Catching sight of the stage below, Yuqing’s gaze shifted, locking with Zhou Xiao’s for a breathless second before throwing his arms around him in a crushing embrace.

Yuqing’s voice was low, steady, and resolute: “If anything happens to you, I will not live on alone.”

Hearing that quiet declaration, Zhou Xiao let out a victorious, smitten laugh. “Madam, you truly love me.”

He knew it—with a man like him, there was no reason for Yuqing not to fall.

He wanted Yuqing to love him, to need him, to tie his very life and death to his own.

“Wait for me.” Zhou Xiao pressed a kiss to the small mole beneath his eye. “I’ll return to watch the snow with you.”

He had predicted snow the moment they met today.

Before Yuqing could utter another word, Zhou Xiao was already bounding down the stairs. The gun spun nimbly in his grip like a living extension of his arm; with a crisp report, another heavy thud sounded from below.

Panic seized Yuqing’s chest. He retreated a few steps, his lower back aching under the weight, forcing him to brace against the table.

His fingers brushed against the bouquet of roses.

Vibrant red, as fierce and vivid as fresh blood.

In a daze, he caught sight of white flakes drifting past the broken window frame.

Amidst the sudden smoke of war engulfing Baizhou, pure, unblemished snow was beginning to fall.

Yuqing gazed out the window, resolving that once the ache in his back subsided, he would head downstairs; even if he found only Zhou Xiao’s corpse, he would accompany him into death, begging his father’s forgiveness in the underworld.

Suddenly, a fierce neigh shattered the night as a man’s bellow rang out: “Yah!”

“Secure Baizhou! This is our territory! Brothers, they played us once before—today, we take back every scrap they owe us!”

Yuqing froze in disbelief. Leaning over the sill, he looked down—the man on horseback was Jiang Sui!

The “bandits” storming the city were Jiang Sui’s former vanguard, stationed in advance to strike from within!

“Yuqing—long time no see! That butler of yours was a monumental help!” Spotting his silhouette above, Jiang Sui waved his riding crop, shouting up to the third floor.

Yuqing stood entirely stunned, the terror that had gripped his heart suddenly falling away.

Then Jiang Sui’s words clicked in his mind.

Butler?

Deng Yongquan?

When on earth had Jiang Sui and Deng Yongquan crossed paths?

Recalling Zhou Xiao’s smug, composed demeanor earlier—staging a grand, tragic melodrama of life-and-death devotion—that “butler” had clearly been someone else…

Just how many things had this Zhou Zezhi kept hidden from him?

Utterly incorrigible.