The chrysanthemum cake could be eaten cold, but since chrysanthemums and agar are both cooling, Ji Hong, who already had a cold constitution, needed to pair them with some warm wine. Yu Jinnian thought of this and went to warm the wine and dishes again before presenting them in the courtyard, explaining today’s dishes to Ji Hong one by one.
Although the porridge and dishes had been reheated twice and no longer looked as fresh and enticing as they did straight out of the pot, it was still clear that a lot of effort had gone into their preparation. The vegetarian meat dish was creatively conceived, the chrysanthemum cake was exquisite and delicate, and even the simplest pickled vegetable porridge was made to be hearty yet not crude, soft and warm to the taste.
While the young man spoke, his Adam’s apple moved slightly, and his lips were moist and bright. Ji Hong’s thoughts stirred, and he reached out his hand.
Yu Jinnian was lost in thought when his wrist was suddenly grabbed. Startled, he dropped the bamboo chopsticks he was holding. As he was about to pick them up, the man behind him said, “Don’t pick them up, use this pair.”
Ji Hong handed his bamboo chopsticks to Yu Jinnian and pulled him closer, embracing him. “Eat.”
With his back against a slightly wine-scented chest, Yu Jinnian sat in front of Ji Hong, feeling a hand loosely resting on his waist. Initially, he felt a bit awkward, but then he noticed a slight weight on his shoulder and heard a low exhale. For a while, neither of them spoke, and Yu Jinnian felt dispirited, putting down his chopsticks after only a bowl of pickled vegetable porridge.
“Why, not eating anymore?” Ji Hong asked, leaning against his shoulder. Not hearing the sound of swallowing food, he looked up and touched Yu Jinnian’s abdomen. “It’s still flat.”
Yu Jinnian shook his head. “I’m full.”
Ji Hong knew what was on the young man’s mind and chuckled softly. “If you’re full, shall I tell you a story?”
“Whose story?” Yu Jinnian turned to look at him, a pure curiosity in his eyes.
“My second brother’s.” Ji Hong pinched his fingertip. “Do you want to hear it?”
Upon hearing this, Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but sit up straighter, looking at him intently, clearly eager. Seeing this, Ji Hong lost the courage to tell the story and gently turned the young man back around, embracing him from behind again. Borrowing his hand to take a sip of wine, Ji Hong slowly began, “In the capital, there’s a wine called Drunken Spring, strong and flavorful, one gourd will get you drunk. It’s said that people would spend a fortune for it, flocking to it like ducks.”
Curious, Yu Jinnian asked, “Does one gourd really make you drunk?”
“I wouldn’t know.” Ji Hong seemed to recall some amusing event, a smile forming on his lips. “My second brother once secretly poured a spoonful into my milk custard when I was four. I was drunk for a day and a night, unconscious. When I woke up, my head hurt terribly, and I saw my second brother sitting by the bed, laughing at me. Since then, I’ve been angry with him and never wanted to drink wine again. As for the taste of Drunken Spring, I’ve long forgotten.”
Yu Jinnian chuckled softly.
Ji Hong touched his chin. “What are you laughing at?”
Yu Jinnian, with his head slightly lowered, rubbed against Ji Hong’s hand, pondering before saying, “I thought your second brother was someone noble and heroic, or perhaps someone like you, aloof and untouchable. But it turns out, your second brother is…” He thought for a while, not knowing how to describe it, and finally gave up. “In any case, completely different from you. No wonder your tolerance for alcohol is so poor, it’s because your second brother scared you.”
“How is he different?” Ji Hong asked.
Yu Jinnian was certain. “You would never pour wine into a four-year-old’s bowl and laugh at them after getting them drunk.”
Indeed, his reasoning was sound. But his second brother was like that, never following common sense. Since this was about Ji Hong’s embarrassing childhood story, he avoided further teasing and quickly changed the topic. “But my second brother had a remarkable tolerance for alcohol. He could drink several jars of Drunken Spring in a row, then perform sword dances under the moon and recite poems by the water. He was a knight-errant by nature, much like our father. He often said he wanted to roam the martial world, right the wrongs, and quell the unrest of the realm. But it was just talk.”
Despite the casual words, Yu Jinnian could almost picture such a free and unrestrained scene. Feeling extremely comfortable in Ji Hong’s embrace, he leaned back, adjusting his posture to rest against Ji Hong, listening as he continued.
“Because our father had many enemies, my second brother had a group of twelve guards. Half were assigned by our father, and the other half were chosen by my second brother himself, all around his age. The youngest and most robust among them was once a gardener in the chrysanthemum garden. My second brother saw his agility and interesting personality and promoted him, gifting him a newly acquired sword.”
Yu Jinnian’s breath hitched, realizing Ji Hong was talking about Jing Zhong. Sensing the tension in the body he held, Ji Hong nodded. “Yes, that was Jing Zhong.”
“In fact, my second brother and Jing Zhong got along best. They were of similar age, temperament, and both loved chrysanthemums. When my second brother went out, he wouldn’t take all twelve guards, sometimes just two or three, or seven or eight for longer trips. Jing Zhong was always among them.”
Yu Jinnian noticed the arm around his waist tightening slightly.
“That day was no different,” Ji Hong said, closing his eyes. “They came prepared, while we were merely out of town to admire the flowers. The outcome was predictable—all seven guards who accompanied us perished, leaving only Jing Zhong…”
Thinking of Ji Hong’s harsh words to Jing Zhong earlier, calling him “disloyal and unjust,” Yu Jinnian had already guessed the outcome. He gently grasped Ji Hong’s arm, too afraid to ask what happened next.
Ji Hong smiled. “Actually, thinking back now, it doesn’t seem like much. Later, during our escape, my second brother once said that it’s natural for people to feel a sudden urge to retreat in the face of death. He told me not to blame or hate anyone and that staying alive was the most important thing. Even in his final days, my second brother still smiled and held me, keeping me warm, humming songs, and telling me about places I’d never been.”
“But my second brother is gone, and the ones who caused his death—Jing Zhong and I—are still alive. If it weren’t for us…”
He was lost in memories unreachable by others, seemingly distant and hard to touch. Yu Jinnian turned around, knelt on the bench, cupped Ji Hong’s face, and softly called, “Ah Hong, Ah Hong.”
“Hmm?” Ji Hong lifted his eyelids, his eyes dark as night. When his gaze finally settled on the anxious young man in front of him, a rare hint of gentleness appeared. “What’s wrong?”
Seeing Ji Hong come back to his senses, Yu Jinnian felt relieved and lowered his eyebrows. “Nothing much… You’ve been talking for a while. Would you like some tea? I’ll make it.”
Ji Hong didn’t stop him and watched as he ran into the kitchen. Soon, the kitchen lights turned on, casting a warm orange glow that was quite heartwarming.
Yu Jinnian didn’t know where the tea sets were kept, so he searched openly and found a good quality Pu-erh tea cake. Pu-erh tea comes in raw and ripe varieties with different effects, and what Yu Jinnian had was ripe tea.
He broke off a piece, placed it in a pot to brew, and added a few red dates, simmering it slowly. Ripe Pu-erh tea is naturally warm and mild, good for sobering up and refreshing. Adding red dates enhances its stomach-soothing effects. If this were his family’s restaurant, he would have also made some light and refreshing tea snacks.
After making the red date Pu-erh tea, Yu Jinnian quickly poured a cup while it was hot and handed it to Ji Hong to warm his hands. “You’ve been sitting for a long time. Warm up a bit. Be careful, it’s hot.”
Ji Hong followed his advice, and after finishing the cup of tea, he sighed contentedly, leaning his head against the porch column, gazing at the starry night sky. “Today, I’ve come to understand something.”
“What is it?” Yu Jinnian frowned.
Ji Hong put down the tea cup, pulled the thin young man in front of him, and said slowly, “My second brother didn’t want me to hate Jing Zhong because he didn’t want me to be unhappy because of it… Jinnian, I only wish for your long-term happiness. Jing Zhong is just an insignificant person. Whether he lives or dies is irrelevant to me, but I don’t want him to cause a rift between us.”
Feeling the affectionate meaning in Ji Hong’s words, Yu Jinnian was at a loss for a moment. “I…”
Ji Hong stood up, lifted the young man’s chin, and lightly kissed his lips, his eyes showing affection mixed with a hint of danger. “You can save him, but from now on, don’t let me see him again.”
Yu Jinnian, confused, asked, “What if you do see him…”
Ji Hong lowered his head, touching the young man’s nose, his breath warm and intimate, yet somewhat sinister. “Every time I see him, I’ll beat him. Is that acceptable?”
Yu Jinnian nodded seriously, clenching his fist. “I’ll help you beat him.”
