Hot flashes

As they were lost in thought, Xiao Jue seemed to say something to Chen Zhen beside him. Chen Zhen nodded and spurred his horse to turn to the other side. Xiao Jue slowed down and gradually rode alongside Zhou Heng.

"What are you thinking about?" Xiao Jue asked suddenly, his eyes fixed ahead.

Zhou Heng was startled and subconsciously replied, "N-nothing!" Only after saying that did he realize that he was trying to cover something up.

Xiao Jue glanced at him, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment, seemingly noticing his guilty conscience, but he didn't expose him, only saying calmly, "The intelligence from Yingyang has been updated. The garrison commander Zheng Huai secretly met with his deputy last night, and they seemed to have a dispute. His deputy's attitude is even more assertive, which may lead to unforeseen changes."

Zhou Heng's attention was immediately diverted, and he frowned, saying, "Then... should we adjust our previous pressure strategy? What if that deputy general takes a risk..."

"It's alright," Xiao Jue said confidently. "Zheng Huai is greedy and fearful of death, and his deputy is reckless and foolish. With a little provocation, we might be able to cause infighting among them. I've already ordered someone to take action."

Zhou Heng nodded, but a strange feeling lingered in his heart. It was that same cold, precise calculation again, with people's hearts completely under its control. He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "...Playing with people's hearts, they're quite adept at it."

The sound wasn't loud, but the two horses were close together, so Xiao Jue clearly heard it.

He abruptly pulled on the reins, and the warhorse neighed and stopped. Xiao Jue turned around, his gaze fixed on Zhou Heng.

Zhou Heng's heart skipped a beat, and he knew he was in trouble. How could he have been so quick to speak! He quickly lowered his head, avoiding Xiao Jue's gaze, his heart pounding.

Xiao Jue spurred his horse closer until the two horses were almost touching. He reached out, pinched Zhou Heng's chin, and forced him to raise his head.

"What did you just say?" Xiao Jue's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an invisible pressure.

"N-nothing..." Zhou Heng's eyes flickered, and he tried to shrink back, but his chin was pinched painfully.

Xiao Jue stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly lowered his head and leaned closer.

Zhou Heng was so frightened that he tightly closed his eyes.

A slight stinging sensation came from her lower lip—Xiao Jue had bitten her lightly.

"Ugh!" Zhou Heng cried out in pain, opened his eyes, and looked at Xiao Jue in astonishment.

Xiao Jue released his jaw, gently tracing the faint teeth marks on his lower lip with his fingertips, his eyes dark: "If you dare to talk nonsense again, it won't just be this."

After saying that, he withdrew his hand, spurred the horse's flanks, and the warhorse moved forward again, as if the intimate moment that had just been tinged with punishment was merely Zhou Heng's illusion.

Zhou Heng stood there, touching his stinging lips, his face flushed and pale.

Although the guards and soldiers around him were all looking straight ahead, Zhou Heng felt as if countless gazes were subtly sweeping across his face, especially... his slightly chapped lower lip.

He was both ashamed and angry, but dared not retaliate. He could only glare hatefully at Xiao Jue's tall and straight back, grinding his back teeth.

For the rest of the journey, Zhou Heng kept his lips pursed and his head down, trying to minimize his presence.

But the cracked corner of his mouth, the occasional slight stinging pain, and the vaguely probing gazes around him made him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Finally, it was lunchtime, a long and difficult time.

Zhou Heng took his dry rations, found a corner away from the crowd, squatted down, turned his back to everyone, and nibbled on the hard biscuit in small bites, cursing Xiao Jue hundreds of times in his mind.

As they were eating, a shadow fell over them.

Zhou Heng looked up and saw Xiao Jue standing in front of him, holding an oil paper package in his hand.

"Here you go." Xiao Jue handed him the oil paper package.

Zhou Heng hesitated for a moment, then took it. Opening it, he saw several pieces of still-steaming, glistening roasted mutton, which smelled delicious.

"...Thank you, Lord Marquis." Zhou Heng thanked him awkwardly, and the anger in his heart inexplicably subsided a little, but the pain in his mouth reminded him of his "encounter" just now, so he turned his head away awkwardly again.

Xiao Jue sat down next to him without saying a word, and ate his own dry rations.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Heng finally couldn't resist the temptation of the meat's aroma. In addition, he hadn't eaten well that morning, and his stomach was rumbling. So he picked up a piece of mutton and carefully bit it with the unbroken corner of his mouth.

The meat was roasted to a perfect crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, tasting delicious. Zhou Heng ate with his eyes half-closed, temporarily forgetting his unpleasantness.

Xiao Jue turned his head to look at him, a barely perceptible smile flashing across his eyes, which quickly disappeared.

The march continued into the afternoon. A thin scab had formed on the cut on Zhou Heng's lip, barely noticeable unless you looked closely. But he still felt awkward about it and would lick it every now and then.

At dusk, the army arrived at the designated location and began setting up camp. The central command tent was the first to be erected.

Zhou Heng was directing several clerks to set up the document boxes when Xiao Jue walked in from outside, glanced at him, and instructed Chen Zhen, "Go and fetch some peppermint balm."

Chen Zhen accepted the order and left, soon returning with a small, exquisite white jade box.

Xiao Jue took it and walked up to Zhou Heng.

Zhou Heng looked at him blankly.

"Come here." Xiao Jue sat down behind the desk.

Zhou Heng, not understanding why, walked over.

Xiao Jue opened the jade box, inside was a cool, luminous green ointment, emitting a faint minty scent. He picked up a little with his fingertip, then raised his hand and gently applied it to the small sore on Zhou Heng's lower lip.

The cool sensation instantly relieved the stinging and burning sensation.

Zhou Heng was stunned, standing there blankly, letting Xiao Jue do as he pleased.

His fingertips were gentle, carrying the coolness of the ointment, a stark contrast to the ferocity with which he had bitten people that morning.

After applying the ointment, Xiao Jue withdrew his hand, closed the jade box, and said in a calm tone, "Don't rub it off."

"...Oh." Zhou Heng responded, touching his lips. The lingering awkwardness in his heart seemed to melt away a little with the cool mint balm.

He watched Xiao Jue turn away to deal with other military affairs, then touched his wound, which had been properly "treated," and muttered to himself: "A slap followed by a sweet treat, this old rogue, his tricks are quite deep."