Liu Sheng was sitting in his own quarters, in the garden, playing a sad tune on a flute. It was a hobby of his, something he did when he felt sad during the battles he was away. Now, he was not in the battle, away, but he felt sad. He wasn't as good as other musicians, but given his upbringing, he was quite okay-sounding.
There was some commotion he heard by the main gate, yet he ignored it. He did not feel like going there and seeing whatever happened again. Since Xuhua joined their mansion, and to be honest, his mother loved that, and she adored Xuhua, nothing was as calm as before, and the mourning mansion was filled with commotion.
"Second Master, you were right." Wen Jun appeared out of nowhere. Even though he was really quiet, he did not startle Liu Sheng, because he could feel him in the air.
"When you spend a lot of time with Fang Tao, next time, rinse the herbs off of you. You smell too strong." Well, yeah, he did not 'feel' him in the air but literally smelled him. The medicine with blood was too strong. Wen Jun smelled his own hand and frowned. He did not think he smelled, but if the second master thought so, who was he to doubt him. He ignored the remark and placed the list into his master's hands.
"The plan was known to them before it even happened. This is what I found… intercepted… one of the Northerner's commanders from that battle had it. Look at the day they are talking about." Wen Jun pointed at the day and then the little plan of a battlefield.
Liu Sheng always thought that there was something fishy about his father's death. Now, he knew there was a traitor somewhere in their ranks. But who could it be? The one who would profit the most from the father's death would be Northerners and his older brother, becoming the marquise. But his brother would never do that. He was sure of it. Maybe it was someone from the Capitol, still having a problem with his father and his army being liked by the emperor?
"Also, the youngest master came home and brought his saviour back. He thinks the patrolling routes were revealed. They were attacked." Liu Sheng immediately straightened himself and paid full attention to Wen Jun.
"Is he okay? Saviour? Revealed? Let's immediately change the routes to the third pattern and warn all battalions." Wen Jun nodded and disappeared as swiftly as he appeared before. Yet, the faint smell of medicine and blood still remained.
"Oh, great. Now, I'm even smelling him." Liu Sheng whispered sarcastically. But he went back to playing the flute. He got used to seeing Jingting everywhere. Even in his dreams. But smelling him, something new.
"Second Master," the servant announced himself before he even entered the gate to his quarters. Sheng saw a familiar figure with him and blinked a few times.
"Amazing, you are here again?" he asked the figure. Jingting was quite surprised at his reaction.
"Again?" he asked, confused. But Liu Sheng was used to this exact servant and this exact scenario that happened all over again; he jumped down from the swing he was sitting on and lazily walked towards his guest.
"Do you want to see my wounds? Of course, you always do. I swear I won't put myself in danger anytime soon. Or when I don't have to… Now, can we finally proceed with what we always end with?" He finally arrived at the place where Jingting was standing. And he was as astonished as Liu Sheng's servant was. They were both unable to move or even speak up. What do we always end with? Didn't we end with an argument last time we met? Did he go completely crazy?
"Is your master alright?" he asked the servant.
"He…should be?" he whispered, but immediately changed his answer: "Yes, the second master is sound in mind, just a few battle wounds." It made the tired Jingting actually chuckle. It was good to know that Liu Sheng usually didn't behave like this.
Liu Sheng grabbed his hand. But immediately let go. Shock displayed all over his face. At first, he poked Jingting's arm, then poked his belly. At that moment, Jingting couldn't hold it in and laughed.
"You are real?" he asked, his mouth hanging open after he finished the sentence. Jingting couldn't help himself and pinched him to his chest.
"Does this feel real?" he asked, still amused.
Liu Sheng felt the pinch, the pain. He was confused before when he grabbed Jingting's hand. It felt not cold as in his dreams, but warm, calloused, and a bit sweaty. He slapped his own face to wake himself up, but he did not. It was reality…
"What are you doing here?" he immediately exclaimed, too excited, again grabbing Jingting's hand. He tried to wiggle himself out of the clasp of Liu Sheng's hands, but it was too tight, so he just sighed and let him do whatever he wanted.
"Can I first bathe and then finish treating a few of the soldiers? I will explain after that." Suddenly, Liu Sheng's demeanor changed, he became serious, let go of Jingting's hand, and showed him into his private quarters, instructing servants to bring hot water and clean clothing, so that his doctor could save more lives.
He was standing behind the screen when Jingting took off his clothes, yet he could hear the sounds of rustling clothes; he heard the hiss and moan that escaped his mouth after he immersed himself in the hot water. His dreams were too vivid, so he had to distract himself.
"You are Liu An's saviour?" he asked, realizing why Xuhua was making such a ruckus.
"I got lost in the sandstorm and ended up in the northern outpost, where your soldiers just got their asses kicked by the enemy. So I helped and saved someone I thought was you." Jingting admitted it. There was no point in hiding it. He was here, and he didn't spend a long time with Xuhua before asking where Sheng was. Now, everybody knows why he was here.
For Sheng, all of it made sense, as Liu An's armor was family armor too, with just small tweaks. But they were too similar. He didn't care for reason anymore though, he was happy his doctor was here in real life, not only in his dreams.
After Jingting was cleaned, he got out of the bath, cleaned himself, and looked for the clothes, when Liu Sheng covered him with new clothes.
"I will wait outside. We are of similar build, so my clothes should fit you," he whispered into Jingting's ear, making his skin get goosebumps. He wanted to smack Liu Sheng for it, but he was already away. As quickly as he appeared, he disappeared.
"Madman," Jingting whispered, but felt amused and better than the last few months. Just as Liu Sheng felt.