Hexin

@Zhang Linghe Was Linghe trying to make a fool out of Chengxin? When had the human ever been one to reject Chengxin, much less when he was the one making the advances! Chengxin didn't think that some fatigue would be any reason for them to hold off on their bedchamber intimacies, especially not if it was going to help him recover by the end of it. He frowned as Linghe got up to remove his armor, pushing himself up towards the younger, "But I missed you Ah He," he insisted, tugging at the sash around his waist so his robes would fall off his shoulders, just enough to reveal some skin to entice Linghe, "What happens if we get attacked tomorrow and you have no time? Hm? There's no better time than the present, Ah He." he coaxed.

@Ding Chengxin Finally, for once, Chengxin was being agreeable. Linghe followed suit when he was dragged down, pressing a hard kiss to Chengxin’s lips before drawing away to hear Chengxin out. His next proposal brought a frown to Linghe’s face, his brows drawing close when he said, “Xiao Ding, you’ve been through a lot these few weeks. We aren’t doing anything but resting.” Since he was nearly lying down all the way now, with Chengxin clinging to him, Linghe he would call it in as well. “Let me take off my armour, and let’s rest together.”

@Zhang Linghe "Then I would run away," Chengxin said a-matter-of-factly. He didn't come to the army to fight in these petty little human affairs, so clearly his own safety was his first priority. The thought of having someone else familar around him seemed like a very appealing idea though, so he beamed and nodded in agreement, "Mm, I want Lao Qin to come!" He grinned as Linghe started to tuck him back into bed, keeping him nestled in his arms. "But...it's been a long time since we've seen each other Ah He," he murmured, "Don't you want to do something else before we rest?" he asked, dragging a slender finger down Linghe's throat, tracing over his adam's apple.

@Ding Chengxin "If you don't want anybody else, then I'll have Qin Xiaoxian come here," Linghe said, frowning when Chengxin had more plans of his own. It was strange that he didn't want someone with him all the time, especially when they were on the border of enemy territory, but Linghe didn't voice his concerns right away yet. "And you only stayed alive out of pure luck that no one has attacked our camp yet. What would you have done if there was an attack while you're patrolling? You're too naive." Linghe tapped the tip of Chengxin's button nose before dipping the younger to lie down in Linghe's arms. "Enough talking. You still nee to rest and recuperate."

@Zhang Linghe Linghe wasn't going to subject Chengxin to any more of the training ordeals or patrol duties that he detested. That convinced him that the Commander truly didn't have an idea who he was before he fell unconscious, and he didn't hold the grudge against Linghe after that. But a guard? "Why do I need a guard?" he asked with a pout, "It's safe if I stay around here right?" he asked, "Besides...I left Lao Qin back at home, so I don't want to get somebody else. They're probably going to judge me anyways..." he sighed, turning back up to Linghe with owlish eyes, "I can stay safe Ah He, trust me! I made it long enough here didn't I?"

@Ding Chengxin Linghe's smile widened when Chengxin didn't continue to whine about being left behind. His Xiao Ding was more gracious than anyone in the world. "Mm, my Xiao Ding is the smartest." He placed the now empty cup on the side and wrapped the furs on the bed tighter around Chengxin's waist. "Of course, you're staying here with me. I don't need to explain what I do to my men." And if Linghe's soldiers were smart, they would know to keep their questioning murmurs down when Linghe or Chengxin was around. "During the day, you're free to do anything you want, but I want you to take a guard with you."

@Zhang Linghe Even though Linghe had truly made the grave mistake of leaving him behind in the first place, Chengxin was reassured to learn that the younger regretted his act immediately. He supposed that Linghe could exactly have just gone home to retrieve him (though it would've been the right thing to do) out of maintaining his face in front of his troops. "Well, then you're lucky I'm so quick-witted and followed you along!" he exclaimed. Now that his mood was feeling much better, Chengxin had another thought brewing in the back of his mind, "Ah He, are you going to let me go back to sleep with the other soldiers in my unit after tonight then?" he asked with a raised brow, "Surely everyone will notice if I just stay in here with you, right? What are you going to do about that?"

@Ding Chengxin Hearing his wife's struggles, Linghe couldn't help but feel extremely bad for the younger. He continued to pat and Chengxin, not wanting him so worked up after /just/ waking from falling unconscious on the ground. "I won't leave you," Linghe said, deciding to admit his mistakes so Chengxin would know just how much Linghe missed him. He supported Chengxin to sit up properly, brushing his long, loose hair from his face. "Actually, right after I left... I regretted leaving you behind. I thought I could keep you safe at home, but I couldn't bear spending so long away from you."

@Zhang Linghe "Eo, it's because the moment you put me under house arrest, that Yu Shuxin barged into my room and started taunting me!" Chengxin didn't bother with the formal titles and pretending to have any sort of relationship with that woman. For as long as he had married into Linghe's manor, there was not one good thing he could say about her. "If I was really left behind, I wouldn't have survived as long I would've!" He wailed as he threw himself back against Linghe, kicking weakly at the blankets beneath him. He didn't want to suffer at the hands of another, but killing her was surely in his plans when they returned back to the residence. "Ah He, that's why you /can't/ leave me."

@Ding Chengxin Linghe figured the reason at the surface level was that Chengxin didn't want to be left alone. Whether there was a deeper reason or not, it wasn't as if Chengxin would tell him even if he asked. "Do you want to tell me?" Linghe said, leaving it open for Chengxin to make the decision. He was just happy that Chengxin was really with him, and Linghe could hug and kiss him at will again. Linghe could stay away from the capital, fight in a war for ten years, as long as he had Chengxin by his side."I won't get mad."

@Zhang Linghe If there was one thing Chengxin found to be truthful in Linghe's words, it was that he was truly not made for the army life. He hated following orders, for one, and his body simply was not meant for manual labor. He was much better at the performing arts and cultivation than this. The kiss over his nose softened him a little, until he remembered the main reason why he had trekked along out here to follow Linghe in the first place. "Don't you want to know why I followed you?" he asked his husband, raising a brow, "Or how I even got here?"

@Ding Chengxin Linghe swallowed when he realized he had talked himself into a corner, but Chengxin didn't seem to have noticed yet. "Of course I would never bully you on purpose," Linghe said, stroking down the length of Chengxin's back to placate him. "I would have treated any brat- I mean, soldier speaking out of line like that. And, Xiao Ding-" Linghe lifted Chengxin's face, now clean and free from grime, and pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose. "You weren't made to do this. So don't mind their words."

@Zhang Linghe Chengxin was pretty sure that he didn't see Linghe picking on any other soldier around camp, so he narrowed his eyes in suspicion, "But how come only my battalion got the extra border patrol? You really didn't single me out on purpose?" he asked. Chengxin pouted again when he relived all the hardships he had experienced as a direct result of Linghe's orders in his mind. "I originally thought that if I was able to prove myself in the army, then I'd reveal myself to you at a good time. Who knew that everyone out there would start tattling to you about me from the moment we set up base camp! I didn't even do anything to them!" he huffed angrily, "And then you jumped on the wagon and scolded me a lot too! I was doing my best-"

@Ding Chengxin Delighted that Chengxin initiated a kiss already, Linghe gathered Chengxin quickly before the younger changed his mind. He would just have to keep quiet about how he actually found out, because Chengxin would have his head for knowingly putting him through so much hard labour. He grinned as he kissed Chengxin again, his arms circling Chengxin properly to hold his fussing wife securely. His head spun, probably from how late it was, although that didn't deter him. "I only knew after you fainted, my love," Linghe said. "If I knew earlier, I would never dare treat you like that!"

@Zhang Linghe Chengxin had gone through so much efforts to mask his identity, but Linghe had still found out on his own terms nontheless. Chengxin huffed softly as the bigger sat close to him, feeling his entire body losing its energy again as he started moving about. "How did you know?" he asked, sulking while wanting answers at the same time, "/When/ did you know?" Since Linghe was shifting closer, Chengxin didn't resist it as much, using the opportunity to fall into the younger's embrace without looking too desperate. And since he had not had sufficient yang essence for a long time, Chengxin forcefully grabbed the younger by his neck, pressing their lips together in a kiss. He drew enough energy that would get him through the night before letting the younger go. "How could you be such a bully!"

@Ding Chengxin Linghe couldn't help a soft laugh. "How could I not? Only you would dare speak to me like this." He tried to shift closer on the bed, leaving his hand over the mat in the space between them to offer it to Chengxin as some sort of peace offering. If he could forgive Chengxin for lying, for sneaking out when Linghe had explicitly wanted him to stay home, then Chengxin should, likewise, forgive Linghe for working him so hard. Linghe did feel guilty nonetheless, so he hoped Chengxin wouldn't stay angry for long. "Xiao Ding, let me hold you. Please. I missed you so much."

@Zhang Linghe Chengxin stared warily at Linghe as he came forward again with a cup of water. He had not done anything to be deserving of such attention from the big Commander himself. He didn't think there was a reason behind Linghe's niceness, instead just guessing that this was just another prank that the other was playing on him. Still, the dryness in his throat told him that he should take a drink. Reaching for the cup and swiping it out of Linghe's hand, his other hand reached to lift the mask on his face. His eyes widened when his hand made direct contact with his skin, and he prodded around, as if expecting the cloth to magically turn up. "My- You-!" he exclaimed in shock, realizing that Linghe had already seen his face and knew who he was, "Ah He! You already knew?!"

@Ding Chengxin Linghe had to hold back a chuckle. Chengxin was hilarious, even if he had just woken up after falling unconscious in front of everyone on the field. Linghe poured a cup of water for the younger, holding it steady in one hand while beckoning for Chengxin with the other, as if he was an injured wild animal that had been harmed by humans one too many times. "We'll see about the patrol shift later," Linghe said, hoping that by keeping things light, Chengxin would warm up quickly to him. After all, in the days leading up to Linghe's departure, Chengxin had been perfectly affectionate to Linghe. "Come, drink some water first."

@Zhang Linghe As Linghe came closer towards him, Chengxin started to make out who it was. Without checking to see if his mask was on his face yet, he bolted up, and pulled his face away from Linghe's touch, "What are you doing! Don't touch me!" he exclaimed, curling up into a ball against the side of the bed and glaring at the younger again, "What does it matter to you? Are you trying to add on another border patrol shift for me again?" he asked with a huff, "I'll do it. Just leave me alone."

@Ding Chengxin Linghe immediately dropped the figures he was playing with in his hand when he heard Chengxin rouse. Although he was sure he would get an earful from Chengxin, he sat by the younger at the edge of the bed, brushing his hair out of his eyes and taking Chengxin's pale hand between his own. "You're awake." Linghe touched the back of his fingertips to Chengxin's forehead next, feeling for excess heat or cold over his skin. "How do you feel? You fell unconscious. Does it hurt anywhere? Do you think you hit your head?"

@Zhang Linghe For the infamous General Zhang to show any kind of bias towards his soldiers was almost unheard of, whether it be for good or bad reasons. It was well-known throughout the empire that Linghe was a just warrior who valued comradery amongst his men, and he himself was impartial to the standards that they were to meet if they were going to fight alongside him. The rumors about the runt being of the entire calvary drew numerous whispers amongst the soldiers, but none dared to question it if the big leader himself was taking such care of an insignificant little pest.

Chengxin didn't hear any of the rumors about him starting in his fatigue. He had just rested and rested, his body trying to recover after all the toil he'd put it through. When he woke next, it was to the bright lights of a crackling candle flame over his head. He was in unfamiliar quarters, resting on an unusually large and padded bed. Even though he could've sworn his body was covered in sweat and debris after many days of not washing, Chengxin felt oddly clean. His fingers twitched, and he blinked his eyes open slowly, bringing a hand up to rub at them before looking around, seeing a figure dressed in training armor, his long hair let down. "Wh-where am I?" he asked hoarsely.

@Ding Chengxin Linghe had /just/ changed his mind about not approaching Chengxin after a couple days when he noticed a commotion by the kitchen tents. Li Yifeng was there, looking angrier than usual, which probably meant Chengxin was there. Linghe approached them, his feet picking up speed when he noticed the slender figure on the ground, his small body limp in the mud. Li Yifeng began to greet him, but Linghe pushed him out of the way with a harsh 'Move!' Chengxin was still breathing when Linghe ripped off his cloth covering, but when Linghe tapped his cheek, there was no response. He kept his panic at bay just enough to scoop Chengxin up against his chest. His wife was light as a bundle of sticks after weeks of hard training, and immediately, Linghe regretted his decision to feign ignorance.

"General?" Li Yifeng said puzzled by the turn of events.

"Bring a physician to my tent," Linghe simply said before he walked off with Chengxin clutched to his chest as if he was hiding a precious treasure. The soldiers who had gathered didn't dare say anything in the moment, but as soon as they thought Linghe was out of earshot, they began to murmur. There was no doubt the men would be curious about a nameless runt that even Linghe paid special attention to. Linghe's only goal in that moment, however, was to clean up Chengxin and nurse him back to health. He had obviously been strained too far, and Linghe only had himself to blame. Once a bath had been drawn and Chengxin was washed off, Linghe dressed him in simple robes, let a physician examine Chengxin under Linghe's watchful eye, and spent the rest of the night reviewing battle strategies beside the bed while he waited for Chengxin to wake. He was nervous, yes, but more importantly, he just wanted make sure Chengxin was alright.

@Zhang Linghe Chengxin somehow found the strength within him to see through his training and patrols through the next few days, but as his body started to lose its essence, his temperature dropped too. For the most part, Linghe stayed clear of his way and he was left to his own devices to get through the days. It was when a new shipment of grains from the capital came and Chengxin was tasked with transporting their heavy sacks to the grainery that his strength gave out on him. As a huge sack was loaded over his shoulders, Chengxin grit his teeth down as he tried to step forward in his hunched over form. He had barely made it a few steps when another soldier elbowed him out of the way. "Move runt, if you can't help, at least don't get in the way." Chengxin wanted to get up and throw insults back at the bastard who pushed him, but he couldn't command his own body to move. He lay there, utterly defenseless and tired as he felt the light sky above him fade to black.

@Ding Chengxin Linghe was completely puzzled as to why Chengxin was carrying around an armful of carrots, but he said nothing, following him quietly from behind. Chengxin spent the rest of the night doing normal soldier things, albeit with a bit of an attitude. Linghe let him go to night patrol and to his own tent afterward, while Linghe planned his course of action in his own tent. How could he confront Chengxin? What if Chengxin didn't even come here for him? What if Chengxin, with no known history, was a spy from the Souther Chen? Linghe nearly hit himself for that thought—how could Chengxin be a spy? How could he think of his wife like that? At least if Chengxin was here, Linghe could personally make sure he was safe. Chengxin must not be used a life of hardship, but he seemed to be doing well and keeping up with all the extra training. It was almost funny to see, so if it kept Chengxin occupied, Linghe would keep the training coming.

@Zhang Linghe Chengxin felt like he was on the verge of collapsing after so many endless days of work. Having the peace and quiet and /space/ to just settle down on his own was a hard-earned reward for himself. He sighed as the water dribbled down his chin as he stared at his own reflection in the mirror. If he could, then he'd just hide into a hole to cultivate again, but with the meager energy he had left, it would do him no good. He continued to wash until he deemed himself refreshed enough, then sat there by the riverside in silence. No one would've noticed his absence surely, but he was due for night patrol again. Not wanting to be caught with uncooked vegetables in his arms, he gave them a quick wash too before tying the cloth mask around his face again and gathering the vegetables to bring back to camp. On the way, he stumbled a few times from the dizziness but knowing that there was no one out there looking out for him, he pushed forward to get back to camp.

@Ding Chengxin While his men toiled hard each day, fortifying the base and heading out into the enemy territory, Linghe did what one naturally did when missing their wife—idling by the riverside and missing Chengxin. The peace and quiet there let him think, and after a lot of thinking, he concluded that he should have conveyed his message more gently to Chengxin. When he went home, he would have a lot of apologizing to do. And go home, Linghe would first have to deal with this stupid battle. He rose from where he was perched, but a splash just a stone's throw away caught his attention. When had someone else joined him? Peering down from his higher vantage point, Linghe spotted a soldier washing his face by the stream. Seeing as it wasn't quite dinnertime yet, the slacker was obviously the only soldier who dared make his own free time—Ah Cheng. Before Linghe could call out and make a comment, Ah Cheng lifted his head. Even in the dark, Linghe had no doubt who 'Ah Cheng' really was. He slapped a hand over his own mouth before Ah Cheng—no, /Ding Chengxin/—could hear him. Instinct told Linghe to hop down and start yelling at Chengxin for disobeying his direct instruction, but morbid curiosity made Linghe stay silent, to bide his time and see what Chengxin really wanted to do here.

@Zhang Linghe Chengxin didn't know why Linghe didn't pursue him when he ran. Or rather, he didn't know why he felt a hurting inside his chest when he realized he wasn't being followed. Even if he was masking his identity from his husband, it still didn't feel good to not even receive an ounce of care from Linghe, even if it was the mean kind. Chengxin stowed away in the woods until his unit returned later that night, and he rolled his eyes as he received yet another scolding from his captain.

The next few days were nothing short of torture. Chengxin was barely keeping up and he was on the verge of fainting every time he was ordered to do an extra set of sword practice. His arms and legs didn't feel like his own, and his face was grimey beyond control. But still, with the little yang essence still keeping him going, he refused to go down without a fight. One night, when it was his unit's turn to cook dinner again, Chengxin had slipped away with a handful of vegetables in hand. If anyone asked him, he'd say he was going to wash them. It was already getting dark out, so no one seemed to notice his absence. As he went down the path towards the woods, he came upon a small river. The sound of bubbling water welcomed him to drop by the side, removing his mask and bending over to cup the cool water to his cheeks and scrubbing the dirt off his face.

@Ding Chengxin What a brash young man. Linghe only knew one person who would dare be so bold with him. He watched Ah Cheng run away, and it was then that he realized exactly who Ah Cheng reminded him of. His voice, his face, his small stature. It made perfect sense why Linghe was so lenient on a random, unruly soldier. Ah Cheng ran exactly like Chengxin did when he was angry with Linghe, stomping off with his head held high as if he could do no wrong, waiting for Linghe to follow and placate him. For a moment, he wondered if Chengxin had really dared come along after Linghe told him not to. It seemed almost impossible—Ah Cheng and Chengxin was probably coincidentally similar, but deep down, Linghe wished it really was his wife.

Linghe decided not to push the topic yet lest he made a fool of himself, chasing after a young man who wasn't the one he swore to devote his life to. Instead, he ordered more hard labour upon Li Yifeng's unit, pushing Ah Cheng especially to train from sunrise to sunrise without rest.

@Zhang Linghe Chengxin was not used to being manhandled roughly to begin with, but for Linghe to be so brash with him was suffocating him in the deepest cavities of his chest. He stumbled upwards, though he viciously shook and wriggled until he freed himself from the bigger's grasp. "Don't touch me!" he grumbled, backing up to create more space between them. Linghe was being so mean that Chengxin was ready to just drop his previous affection for this human and give him a good beating for it! He instinctively raised a hand to cover his face when the older demanded to see it though, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him from this extra depletion of his energy, "I'm nobody you should be paying attention to right now," Chengxin answered, backing even further away when Linghe advanced upon him, "Leave me alone!" Turning on his heels, Chengxin ran in the opposite direction, disappearing down another path as far away from Linghe as he could go.

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