Dandere General and his Lord

39. Swimming 101

Cheng Qianye woke up at the first glimmer of daybreak.

She rubbed her eyes and realized that she had been sleeping at the edge of the bed with one arm hanging down from bed and that there were a couple of slender fingers clutching onto her loose sleeve.

Mo Qiao Sheng was lying down on the ground beside her bed, his body curled up into the quilt facing towards her as he slept soundly.

The first rays of the morning light penetrated through the window, illuminating the face of the youth around 18-19 years of age.

The ridge of his eyebrows were quite low, casting a deep shadow on the socket of his eyes, and there was a residual tear at the corner of his eye. That hand with distinct joints was still lightly hooked around a corner of Cheng Qianye’s sleeve as he slept soundly.

Ah, he cried secretly last night, he must’ve fallen asleep just now.

Cheng Qianye looked at the tip of his nose which was slightly red, feeling somewhat remorseful.

He almost lost his life for your sake and he tormented himself for a day and night because of your feelings of worry and guilt.

Why did you bully him and leave him out in the cold? Why were you so cruel?

Regardless of whether he has feelings for you, or whether he can strive to become stronger so that he can stand on his own.

The pure heart he holds towards you is already exceptionally precious.

It’s fine to get along with him the same as before.

Cheng Qianye cautiously pulled out her sleeve from his grip.

Mo Qiao Sheng was faintly roused from his slumber. Cheng Qianye gently patted him on the back until he was lulled back to sleep and walked gingerly over his body before throwing on some clothes and going out.

Up on the deck, the vast river appeared endless as the stormy waves rolled fiercely.

The green mountains on both sides seemed to assault one’s gaze and the azure waves swayed as the rising sun tinted the skies with red.

Yao Tianxiang was standing at the bow of the ship. She had a gold hairpin inserted into her hair and one could ornaments of pearls and jade as she turned around.

With an easy heart, Cheng Qianye stepped forward and stood beside Yao Tianxiang at the bow of the ship, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the spring river before her eyes.

“Why did you dress up like this all of a sudden? I feel the neat way you normally dress is very refreshing.” Cheng Qianye spoke in a tone that was audible only to the two of them.

“Aren’t I going to your Jin Nation? Anyhow, I want to earn some face for My Husband.” Yao Tianxiang glanced at her coquettishly as she spoke into her ear, “You’re in such a good mood, did you have a good time last night? Why hasn’t your little slave come out? Did you bully him in bed again?”

Cheng Qianye wrapped her arm around her shoulder and laughed heartily as she enjoyed the river’s breeze.

When Mo Qiao Sheng woke up, he discovered that his Master’s bed was already empty.

He was startled as he had always been vigilant even in his sleep. How could I have been completely unaware even as Master got up and stepped over me?

How can I protect Master like this? I’m afraid I won’t be able to react even if an assassin comes close. He inwardly admonished his overly relaxed mental state.

He vaguely recalled that he actually seemed to have woken up once.

He touched his shoulder. At that time, a familiar hand had patted him there and a reassuring voice had whispered in his ear which had made him relax and go to sleep once again.

Mo Qiao Sheng looked around. He could see that the skies were already bright from outside the window.

Out in the reception hall, there was porridge and side dishes that were covered on top arranged on the table, it was obviously prepared for him.

Mo Qiao Sheng sat at the table and hesitated for a moment before picking up his chopsticks. Master had said that he should adapt as soon as possible, so he was going to adapt.

The porridge was warm, along with fragrant steamed buns and refreshing pickled vegetables. There was even beef stewed in soy sauce which he could eat his fill of.

This was a table of delicacies which Mo Qiao Sheng had never even dared to dream about. But for some reason, the food didn’t taste as good as he imagined it would.

When he was eating at the table together with his Master, Master would keep adding side dishes into his bowl continuously. At that time, regardless of what type of food Master added into his bowl, he felt like it was the most delicious thing in the world.

I want to sit and eat together with him every day.

Mo Qiao Sheng unknowingly produced a hazy notion in his mind.

He suddenly remembered that black roasted fish. In his mind, it was the best food he had ever had. Master had deigned to lower his noble self for the first time and prepared food personally with his own two hands, surprisingly, for the sake of a slave such as himself.

Mo Qiao Sheng curled up his fingers and hastily finished his meal before leaving the room.

After exiting, he saw a golden couple standing side-by-side at the bow of the ship. One was the monarch of a country and the other was a noble princess, their status, appearance and talent all a perfect match made in heaven.

The Master’s hand was on the Princess’ delicate shoulder as he talked to her with a smile on his face.

Although he knew that his Master and the Princess had never shared a room together and could only be regarded as a fake couple, he couldn’t help staring at that shoulder.

He felt a wild desire, wishing that he could take that hand off that shoulder. Take it down and place it on his own shoulder.

No.

His eyes wandered to the shoulder that belonged to the man he held the greatest reverence for.

That man was not very tall and his shoulders were not too broad.

Mo Qiao Sheng’s heart gave birth to a rebellious idea as he stared at Cheng Qianye’s somewhat thin shoulders.

If I were the one standing beside him, I…. I wish to wrap my arm around his shoulders.

He didn’t dare to continue this train of thought.

“What are you thinking?” A deep voice sounded behind him.

Mo Qiao Sheng turned around abruptly, his eyes subconsciously revealing a faint trace of cruelty.

Sima Tu was standing behind him.

“You saved my life, I haven’t had the opportunity to thank you.” He cupped his fists and bowed respectfully to Mo Qiao Sheng.

Mo Qiao Sheng relaxed his tense shoulders and bowed his head in return, not saying anything.

Sima Tu’s gaze crossed over him and landed on the two people standing at the bow of the ship.

“When you jumped into the water, your Master was the first person to jump in, even though he was injured.” Sima Tu said, “After you were fished out, everyone said that you were dead. He was the only one that refused to give up, persisting even as his arms trembled, until you finally started breathing again.”

Mo Qiao Sheng pursed his lips, not responding to his words.

“No master holds such feelings for a slave, you have already become a special existence for him.”

Mo Qiao Sheng: “What do you want to say?”

“Qiao Sheng, don’t you know why your Master is angry with you?”

Mo Qiao Sheng looked at him.

“He wants you, not as a slave, but as a beloved companion.” Sima Tu looked at him and said, “Don’t you want to stand beside him and stay with him forever?”

He lowered his voice and said an extremely enticing sentence, “Don’t you want him to belong to you alone?”

“Presumptuous!” Mo Qiao Sheng exclaimed lowly, his eyes revealing a violent colour. “Telling me these things, what is your intention!?”

Sima Tu laughed, “Isn’t it obvious? I like the Princess. I want to stand beside her and hold her in my arms, so that I am the only person her eyes can see.”

Mo Qiao Sheng closed his mouth.

“So, I hope that you can work harder and help me to take your Master far away.” He patted Mo Qiao Sheng’s shoulder and turned to walk towards Yao Tianxiang.

Cheng Qianye turned around and caught sight of the two of them. She laughed and beckoned to Mo Qiao Sheng, “Qiao Sheng, come here, come to my side.”

Come to your side, come to your side.

One day, I will make sure to stand beside you.

Mo Qiao Sheng clenched his fists.

After 2-3 days, the ship entered the territory of the Jin Nation.

That day, the fleet of ships temporarily stopped at the dock so that they could replenish their supplies.

After being stuck inside the stuffy cabins for so many days, everyone threw off their outer coats in twos and threes before jumping into the river to bathe.

Helan Zhen, who was only dressed in his underpants with his chest bare, invited several of his companions to join him as they passed by. Seeing Mo Qiao Sheng, he called out to him, “Qiao Sheng, do you want to go into the water together?”

Mo Qiao Sheng’s face turned white and he opened his mouth to decline politely.

Sima Tu took a towel and said as he passed by him, “Let’s go, you don’t know how to swim, I’ll teach you.”

He turned to look at him and said, “If you fall into the water again next time, do you want to have your Master risk his life to save you again?”

Hearing this, Mo Qiao Sheng clenched his teeth and took off his outer clothing before following him off the ship.

Yao Tianxiang and Cheng Qianye lay on their stomachs beside the railing of the ship, watching the energetic young soldiers as they frolicked in the water.

“Look over there.” Yao Tianxiang lifted her chin.

Cheng Qianye looked at the direction she was pointing at. Mo Qiao Sheng and Sima Tu were in the shallow waters along the coast as Sima Tu taught him to become familiar with the water.

Mo Qiao Sheng had wide shoulders and a narrow waist, his complexion healthy with long and slender legs which was very conspicuous even within a group of men. Cheng Qianye stared at him subconsciously.

“Your vision is good. He has a great figure.” Yao Tianxiang’s shoulder was resting on Cheng Qianye as she nudged her and said, “Let me tell you, for a man, everything depends on his waist. If he has a strong waist, then…. Mmm.”

Cheng Qianye covered her mouth, preventing her from finishing her obscene speech.

At that moment, Mo Qiao Sheng was obviously tense as he stood in the water. His limbs were rigid as he grasped firmly onto a float, his body’s movements clearly extremely uncoordinated.

“Don’t be so nervous, relax, how can you learn like this?” Sima Tu said, “Look, your Master and the Princess are watching you from the boat.”

Mo Qiao Sheng glanced at Cheng Qianye who was on the side of the boat. He closed his eyes resolutely and plunged into the water.

Sima Tu lifted up Mo Qiao Sheng who was choking on the water and laughed and said, “What are you doing? I’m teaching you how to become familiar with the water, not how to die.”