Liu Sheng, tired, fell into his bed, because his brother had to go to the Capital and report his father's death. He was the one becoming the Marquise of Zhenshuo. So Sheng had to not only take care of his own soldiers, but also check his brother's soldiers.
Actually, his father used to be the Duke but once Liu Jin, the lower branch eunuch, tried to use his private soldiers called Eight Tigers to overthrow the Emperor and government. Thankfully his father made great contributions before and the Emperor liked the army, so he was demoted only to the Marquis. But still they were sent to the freezing Datong to guard the north border.
Today, he thought he was dying. Maybe he overworked himself too much? But he was trying not to think about the man. The man that stole his heart in a matter of a few months. The man who now occupied every tiny corner of his mind. And especially at night.
Just thinking about him made him wide awake once again. Even though he had no idea how that was possible as he felt really exhausted a few moments ago. Sheng sighed and got up. He would take another stroll in the garden. The weather was a lot better nowadays but it was still chilly and cold up here in the North.
Liu Sheng sent a servant to fetch him wine and sat in the garden, the night was cloudless and the crescent moon did not provide much light. The lanterns in the garden did though. He watched the beauty around him, but he was not getting any joy from it. He usually would but just not lately. His feelings were still lingering in the mountain sanctuary.
He got his wine and poured himself a cup, feeling the spleen coming to him. But it was followed by sudden melancholic inspiration.
"The wind howls through the pines like a ghost of the past, I pour a second cup, as the first went too fast. The silver moon sinks into the dregs of my wine. And suddenly, your shadow is tangled with mine." He saw the shadow of his doctor, but couldn't believe it would be him. So he followed with another verse:
"I reach for your sleeve in the flickering light. A medicinal scent haunts the chill of the night. Your eyes are the stars that guide the lost fleet, I find myself kneeling once more at your feet." He really did what he said, taunted by the human figure, he got up and went to the gate where he saw him with a servant of his family.
"But the steam of my breath is the only ghost I see, The snow is the only one who keeps company with me. I am a General of thousands, a man of great might, yet, I'd trade every banner just to see you tonight," he whispered. His words longing for the times he had with Jingting. The calm steadiness. It may have seemed just like fleeting moments to some, but he did spend the entire winter with him. And the affection that grew in his heart couldn't be compared with anything he had owned in his life before.
"General, this gentleman is here to see you," the servant said and Sheng started blinking, then he rubbed his eyes, confused as to what Jingting could do here.
"You can go. He is my host," he said and waited for the servant to leave. Then he jumped to Jingting, hugging him.
"You are here," he whispered. Not questioning why. He was just glad he was there. Nothing else mattered.
"I missed you," Jingting said, but he didn't move. He just stood there, his hand on Sheng's back, running up and down. It looked like he was trying to gain energy from him. Liu Sheng let him go, but lingered near his body.
"I missed you too. So much…" he said, smiling. But as he remembered, Jingting's face did not melt with a smile. He was seriously looking at the neck of Sheng's, the only body part that could be seen, yet, somehow it was the part of body that looked curt and beaten a lot.
"Let's go to your room. I heard you got injured. I will treat you." Sheng nodded, just glad his doctor was there, gaining strength from him, he didn't care for anything else.
They arrived at the rich room, decorated by fine arts and some valuable weapons. You could feel the nobility of the Marquis mansion in every window, vase. Even the incense burner was decorated with intrigue design. And it was that burner that gained Jingting's attention. He took out something from a bag he always carried with him and changed the scent to a pleasant earthy one.
"Calming incense," he said and finally paid attention to Liu Sheng. He sat at the Arhat bed and waited for Jingting to join him. With his leg he moved the brazier to Jingting's side, almost burning his shoe off.
"Undress yourself," Jingting said and Sheng felt a rush of hotness in his body. Maybe it was the new incense or the sentence, but suddenly he wasn't so cold anymore.
He took off his robe and waited for what would happen next. He heard gasp and Jingting came closer. He touched Sheng's chest, his hands freezing cold, so it made Sheng shiver and he got goosebumps. He moved the table aside after organizing his medicine on it and sat directly next to Liu Sheng.
His doctor was back and he meticulously worked on every wound that was still lingering on Sheng's body from the past reckless battle they went to. It was his goal to either die or get wounded enough his doctor would save him once more. And it paid off. Now, he was here with him.
"Don't torment yourself like this. I won't come next time…" Jingting said and put the medicine aside. But before Sheng could put his clothes back on, Jingting put his forehead on Sheng's shoulder. The sensation he felt was indescribable. He even felt like something soft, almost like feathers touched his skin.
"I'm no god, Sheng. I can't bring you from death. I'm just skilled in saving people. But once you go too far, even I wouldn't be able to do it…" he said and the feather-like sensation came back but now on Sheng's neck. He wanted to turn around but he was afraid to scare Jingting away. He waited there, almost like a statue.
But his head was turned to the side, now, he was staring into the deep dark eyes before a kiss landed on his lips. He couldn't control himself. He devoured the person's lips, feeling hungry, feeling desire to own him and his lips. He tore himself away, his hands rubbing Jingting's body underneath his clothes, when a loud noise sounded.
They both jerked themselves and Sheng moved, jumping to his feet, shielding Jingting. A servant came inside and told him it was just a pot of flowers that exploded from the freezing cold.
Liu Sheng turned around wanting to go back to his doctor, but nothing was there. He stared at the bed where he fell asleep right after coming back.
"In dreams, I receive my guest; upon waking, I see only the frost," he breathed out, it hurt. But he went back to finish his dream, hoping for continuation. At least that he could have… or not?