Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examination Ch. 108

Chapter 108

Leaning against the window lattice, Xie Ying listened intently to the Northern style opera singers whose clear enunciation brought the lyrics to life. He quietly recited the song’s words, emphasizing the last line with a reflective tone, “Wouldn’t it be far superior to have someone by your side at all times, rather than just a once-a year-encounter on the Magpie Bridge?”

The lanterns hung overhead, casting a deep shadow in the recesses of Xie Ying’s slightly sunken eyes. As he gazed out the window, his eyes shimmered with a fractured light, reminiscent of the fragmented waves on the lotus pond below. Though his eyes were not directly on anyone, the intense, sharp radiance within them reminded Cui Xie of the gaze that had fallen upon him earlier in the afternoon. Recalling Xie Ying’s mention of their earlier encounter, Cui Xie slowly moved closer, turning slightly to face the other. Inquisitively, he asked, “When Xie-xiong saw me earlier, was it outside the small building in the eastern courtyard, where I was conversing with a family?”

At that moment, Cui Xie had not noticed Xie Ying, perhaps because the group had merely lingered at the doorway before departing. Xie Ying replied, “It seems it was then. Were you not picking flowers at that time? Those were oleanders from the south, which are known to be slightly toxic in both leaves and flowers. I intended to warn you, but then I saw you turn around and stop, so I thought better of it.”

Picking flowers?

Cui Xie carefully recalled the scene from his memory, then smiled, “No, I was actually signaling someone. Since Hall Chief Zhang had brought his children, I had wanted to give them some things. Realizing I had nothing on me, I gestured for someone to come over and lead them to a book stall at the entrance to pick out some books and prints as gifts.”

Xie Ying uttered an ‘Oh’ and then chuckled, “When I saw you earlier, you were still in your usual scholar attire. Seeing you now in this white garment, I almost did not recognize you.” He openly admired the outfit, particularly pausing to examine the waistband, commenting, “The white suits you quite tall and makes you look taller. Is that a jasmine scent coming from your clothes? It is much more fragrant than the blended jasmine scents sold outside. I could even smell it from my seat.”

Is it so fragrant that it irritates the other’s nose?

Cui Xie raised his sleeve to his nose, smelling it with a hint of embarrassment, “I did not intend for it to be so fragrant. I accidentally spilled the flower dew on my sleeve while changing robes, “ he admitted. He had not found the scent too overpowering, but considering the amount spilled, it might have indeed been overwhelming to others.

He pulled out the porcelain bottle of floral dew from his pocket, “This is something distilled at home. I did not smell very strong initially, more like a hint of grass scent, which I thought was quite understated and suitable for men, so I decided to bring it along. Unexpectedly, after a few days at home, it became quite fragrant.”

Xie Ying took the slightly warm porcelain bottle from the other’s hand and uncorked it, then suddenly looked at Cui Xie with curiosity, “Did you spill all of this on your sleeve? It must have been a lot.”

Pursuing his lips, Cui Xis said, “More than that. I even spilled it on the hem. Fortunately, the garment is white and does not show the wet stains, otherwise, I would not have been able to wear it out.”

Xie Ying glanced at the raised hem of the garment and extended a hand slightly, but then withdrew it, shaking his head with a smile, “I have brought an extra set of robes with me. You sit here, I will be back shortly.”

“No need, I still have my student robe…” Cui Xie began to protest,  but Xie Ying had already lept out of the window with ease, landing gracefully on the outer corridor of the pavilion. In his hand, he mysteriously held the lantern he had somehow managed to grab unnoticed, slowly blending into the sea of lights outside.

The faint singing from the main courtyard began again, signaling it was Da Qiao’s time to perform. Cui Xie, unable to decipher even a single line of the northern opera, found the obscure tunes and melodies less interesting without Xie Ying’s translations. The bright lanterns of the Great Ming Dynasty, though fascinating, were not as novel to him as they were to the locals. Leaning against the window, he gazed aimlessly at the pond for a while, but boredom soon set it. Suddenly, he remembered that his inner garment was also scented with the flower dew. If Xie Ying were to bring him a fresh outer robe, the fragrance would still seep through from the inside. Cui Xie decided it was best to just wash up at this point.

Xie Ying, who was always quick to act, returned later to the pavilion, only to find it deserted. The pavilion, with window openings on all four sides, offered a clear, unobstructed view. Given that Cui Xie had come here to enjoy the scenery, it was unlikely that he would be hiding in a corner out of sight. This led Xie Ying to conclude that Cui Xie must have already left.

Could it be that someone had come looking for Cui Xie?

A fleeting sense of loss mingled with relief passed through Xie Ying’s heart. He was, after all, accompanied by many of his peers tonight. If they had witnessed him in a one-on-one meeting with Cui Xie in the waterside pavilion, what would they have thought?

With a barely perceptible smile in his heart, Xie Ying, still carrying the bundle of clothes, made his way towards the back of the waterside pavilion, pondering the unexpected solitude and enigmatic charm of the night.

Although Cui Xie was no longer in the pavilion, the place retained its charm as a serene spot for enjoying the view and listening to the music, far preferable to the crowded stage below. Xie Ying had no intention of returning to the contest and preferred to spend his time in this tranquil spot.

However, as he approached, he suddenly heard the unnatural sound of water. Looking down, he spotted a large white mass huddled on a low wooden platform near the water’s edge, topped with a dark head of hair busily splashing in the water. The cool night breeze blew by, causing the white form to shiver slightly, clearly indicating the presence of a person crouched there, washing something.

Xie Ying paused in his steps and called out softly, “Cui Xie?”

Xie Ying called out by name, not as ‘worthy junior’ or ‘Young Master’, but directly as Cui Xie. The large white shape in the water slowly rose, dripping with water, and turned around—it was indeed Cui Xie. His left sleeve was soaked from washing, with half of his inner garment removed. His white robe, with its belt undone, hung loosely like a cape, the robe’s hem twisted into a tangle.

Xie Ying’s gaze quickly swept over Cui Xie’s bare arm and partially exposed chest, the details fuzzy in the dim light. He only faintly noticed that Cui Xie’s skin seemed paler than moonlight, the water droplets on his arm shimmered like starlight. Contrary to the typical frailness associated with scholars, Cui Xie’s physique was well-proportioned, supple yet firm, indicative of someone who regularly practiced martial arts.

Shifting his gaze slightly to avoid the stark whiteness of Cui Xie’s figure, Xie Ying casually inquired, “What are you doing here?”

Cui Xie twisted his sleeve to wring out the water and hung his robe on a nearby branch. He appeared as if caught in a misdeed by a teacher, speaking with an awkward embarrassment, “You are back so soon. I was just trying to wash out the scent of the flower dew from my inner garment. I did not expect for you to return so quickly…I thought I would have time to finish washing.”

Washing it was one thing, but drying was another matter entirely!

Xie Ying felt an urge to scold him, yet setting Cui Xie’s startled expression, he couldn’t help but find the situation slightly amusing. Xie Ying sighed, looking at the crumpled hem of the robe hanging on the tree, “If I had not come back, were you planning to wear it while it was still wet. It is already July and the evenings are cool. Are you not afraid of catching a cold?”

Cui Xie squeezed the water from his sleeve, then reached out to let Xie Ying feel the fabric, “I have a strong grip, and it is quite dry now. With the breeze, it will not feel too cold.”

It was effective as if the garment had just come out of a spin cycle in a washing machine.

Xie Ying saw Cui Xie’s arm stretched out in front of him, his hand wrapped in a crumpled sleeve. Finally, Xie Ying  reached out to touch it—feeling the chill of Cui Xie’s arms. He asked in a low voice, “Are you cold? You cannot wear such wet clothes. Wear my inner garment now…after all, as someone trained in the martial arts, my physique is much stronger than yours.”

His hand was indeed very warm. Cui Xie, washing his clothes bare-armed and exposed to the breeze, felt the warmth of Xie Ying’s hands on his wrist. It spread up to his arm and across his chest, bringing a comforting heat, except for a slight chill over his heart.

Touching his own chest, Cui Xie felt a tinge of sorrow as he thought: he was really not the same straight  man he had been in his previous life.

Seeing Cui Xie clutching his chest and sighing deeply, Xie Ying, unaware of modern concepts like LGBT or sexual psychology, mistook it for physical discomfort or shortness of breath. He quickly pulled Cui Xie into his embrace and pushed the other’s hands away to gently rub his chest for him.

The package containing the new clothes lay discarded on the ground, temporarily forgotten by both men.

Cui Xie felt a comforting warmth spread across his chest. There was no surge of energy as described in martial arts novels, a reminder that real historical martial arts were not as dramatic as those in fiction. His thoughts, however, did not linger for long. He soon regained his composure, grabbing Xie Ying’s hands, looking up into his eyes. He sighed, saying, “There is nothing wrong with my chest, Xie-xiong, I was just thinking…”

Cui Xie was pondering over the fact that he wasn’t straight anymore, wondering whether his friendship with Xie Ying, a straight man, could continue unchanged now that he recognized his own homosexual inclinations.

Xie Ying began to release his grip, intending to withdraw his hand, but Cui Xie, almost instinctively, held on tighter, gazing intently at Xie Ying with clear eyes that shone like stars. These complex thoughts, however, remained unspoken.

Xie Ying also lowered his gaze to look at Cui Xie, addressing him softly, “Cui xiandi.”

Xie Ying’s voice, unexpectedly deep in the night breeze, carried a hint of suppressed melancholy. At that moment, Cui Xie discarded all thoughts of rights and liberation from his mind. He released his straight friend’s  hand in a fluster, stammering an explanation, “I-I just reacted without thinking, I did not mean to…”

“Cui Xie,” Xie Ying’s eyes narrowed as he gazed intently at him. His right hand remained on Cui Xie’s chest, fingers trembling slightly, his breath growing heavier. He leaned in closer, his nose nearly touching Cu iXie’s, his breath brushing against Cui Xie’s lips and said in a strained voice, “…don’t tease me like this anymore.”

Abruptly, he let go of Cui Xie and turned to walk away. Cui Xie, wanting to follow and grab him, stumbled over the heap of clothes on the ground. By the time he stood up, Xie Ying had already moved far away into the distance.

Their difference in stride and leg length mean that the more Cui Xie tried to catch up, the further behind he fell. He wanted to shout, but feared attracting the attention of the patrolling attendants, this made the situation seem to fall into hopelessness. Yet, it is often in moments of urgency that one’s latent abilities would surface. With his mind blank and driven by instinct, Cui Xie swiftly tore off his outer coat, tied it into a couple of knots to form a bundle and hurled it with all his might towards Xie Ying’s retreating back.

Hit squarely in the back by the thrown garment, Xie Ying staggered a step, unable to resist turning back for a glance. He saw Cui Xie stripping off his inner garment, knotting the ends as if preparing to throw that as well. With nothing left on his body, if he threw this too, he would have to return utterly bare.

Xie Ying, not wishing for such boldness, hurriedly spun around and dashed back to Cui Xie’s side, reprimanding, “Stop throwing, why are you acting so recklessly!”

Cui Xie, who had just tied a knot in his garment, but had not secured it yet. Seeing Xie Ying return, he held it in his hand and said, “If you had not come back, I would have thrown another one. Xie-xiong, there seems to be a misunderstanding, I cannot let you leave without clarifying—”

“You are a Colonel in the Jinyiwei, a fifth-rank official and I am merely a student. If you truly detest me, I wouldn’t even be able to step foot through the main gates of your residence. How could I dare let you leave like this?” Cui Xie expressed, his urgency clear as he spoke.

Approaching him, Xie Ying observed Cui Xie’s body glowing under the combined illumination of starlight and lantern light, and could not help but shield his eyes slightly, suggesting, “Put on your clothes first.”

Holding his sleeve and swinging the garment, Cui Xie retorted, “You are too far from me, I am afraid you will run off again. I cannot undress quickly enough to throw my clothes at you.”

Frowning, Xie Ying stepped forward, snatched the knotted inner garment and swiftly untied it to drape over Cui Xie. Once settled, he declared, “I am standing right here to listen to you. Tie your garment properly.”

Clutching the garment around himself, Cui Xie watched Xie Ying catch his breath for a moment before affirming, “Xie-xiong, I am not that kind of person.”

Xie Ying’s face paled slightly, and he closed his eyes for a moment, wishing he could instantly leave this awkward situation, away from someone who always seemed to unintentionally provoke him, yet appeared oblivious to it all.

But he could not walk away, nor could he close his ears to Cui Xie’s words. He had no choice, but to listen as Cui Xie continued, “As you know, I am a scholar, a person of culture and decorum, someone with reason…”

Yes, indeed. Cui Xie was a scholar who valued dignity, so all the events of this evening must have been his misunderstanding. Hereafter, they would remain simple as a Jinyiwei officer and a student, acquainted, but distantly connected.

Xie Ying, already plotting how to maintain a distant relationship with Cui Xie and pretend that everything was normal, was suddenly jolted by an astonishing admission, “Although I harbor thoughts towards you that may not befit a friendship, they are just thoughts. I would not act on them. Even if I wanted to, I could not overpower you, could I? My only hope is that you would still allow me to visit you, to bring you gifts, and not see me as a villain longing for something more…”

Cui Xie’s voice was not loud, in fact, even the music drifting from the center of the gardens was more audible. But, to Xie Ying’s ears, each word struck with the resonance of a grand chime, like golden fragments of gold and jade falling to the ground, leaving him breathless and choking on his own breath.

After speaking his piece, Cui Xie suddenly realized that his bare-chested state, resembling a hooligan, hardly lent credibility to his speech. He quickly wrapped the clothing tighter around himself, arms crossed over his chest, looking at Xie Ying.

Now, it was Xie Ying’s turn to be at a loss for words, staring at the nearby riverbank, taking a long time before uttering, “You are still young…”

To any man, such words were hard to swallow. Cui Xie, although understanding that Xie Ying referred to his biological age, felt compelled to defend himself, “I am of age now. If I were not a scholar, I would already be eligible for conscription by the military. Even now, I have become the head of my household, a responsible adult. How can I still be considered young?”

While his physical age might have been lesser, the years Cui Xie had lived though could very well surpass Xie Ying’s.

With Cui Xie gazing at him so intensely, Xie Ying’s heartbeat quickened, almost irresistibly drawn to close his eyes when facing those penetrating eyes. Cui Xie subtly raised himself on his toes, tilting his head to avoid direct eye contact. His lips brushed slightly, perhaps just grazing the hollow of Xie Ying’s palms–a delicate, fleeting touch.

“I will only go this far. I will not overstep,” Cui Xie murmured softly.

Cui Xie’s warm breath caressed Xie Ying’s palm, making it quiver slightly. Yet, Xie Ying did not withdraw his hand. Instead, his touch lingered on Cui Xie’s slightly parted lips, his fingers gently tracing the soft, dry texture. With a voice filled with restraint, he advised, “Your outer clothing is still on the ground, put it on so you don’t catch a cold. There are too many people here…let us discuss this further at home.”

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TN: Hope you are all doing well, have a great weekend and stay safe! Also me after reading this chapter: SCREAMING, CRYING, THROWING UP AHHH

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