Chapter 55: Blossoms of Peach Flowers

Fang Xu never expected that Old Wu wouldn’t even give him a chance to explain. After leaving those words behind, Wu simply walked away.

“These are all misunderstandings! Truly, all just misunderstandings!” Fang Xu naturally noticed Qiu Chuji standing outside the room, regarding him with a look of disdain. It was as if he were staring at some loathsome insect—not just contempt, but a deep-seated disgust.

“Honestly, it’s all just a misunderstanding! Chuji, let me explain! Things aren’t as you imagine!” Fang Xu desperately hoped Qiu Chuji wouldn’t develop any ill feelings toward him. In Fang Xu’s view, he would need to collaborate with Qiu Chuji in the future, and now was certainly not the time to let their relationship sour.

More importantly, Fang Xu worried that Qiu Chuji might tell Qin Suwen about the incident. If that happened, Fang Xu was doomed—utterly doomed. From what Fang Xu knew of Qin Suwen, even if nothing had happened, her temperament would convince her otherwise, and she would become furious. Fang Xu could not afford to let Qin Suwen be angry with him.

“Get out!” Qiu Chuji saw Fang Xu shamelessly follow him into the room, and looked at him with obvious displeasure.

“Come on, would listening to my explanation really kill you?” Fang Xu was genuinely baffled by Qiu Chuji’s reaction.

“Why aren’t you resting? What are you doing here?” Qiu Chuji asked irritably. Fang Xu didn’t answer right away; instead, he glanced around the room, noting its cozy decor. He hadn’t expected a young Taoist’s quarters to feel so warm and inviting.

“I came to rest with you, of course!” Fang Xu replied with a smile. Qiu Chuji, who had just been about to sip his tea, sprayed it all over Fang Xu’s face the moment he heard those words.

“Really, you didn’t have to be so dramatic,” Fang Xu said, wiping the tea from his face, embarrassed by Qiu Chuji’s stunned expression.

“Wait—did I just hear you right? Say it again!” Qiu Chuji carefully set his tea aside and looked at Fang Xu as though he needed to confirm.

“I said I plan to rest with you. Is that so unusual?” Fang Xu replied nonchalantly, clearly not seeing the issue.

“Why would you want to rest with me?” Qiu Chuji coughed nervously, clearly perplexed by Fang Xu’s intentions. He still couldn’t fathom why Fang Xu would want to share his quarters—did Fang Xu have some ulterior motive?

Recalling Old Wu’s earlier remarks, Qiu Chuji instinctively tightened his grip on his clothing and eyed Fang Xu warily.

“Hey, why are you looking at me like that?” Fang Xu asked, confused by Qiu Chuji’s guarded demeanor, but Qiu Chuji gave no reply.

“Don’t come any closer! If you do, I’ll call for help!” Qiu Chuji warned, his vigilance clear. Fang Xu was left speechless.

“You don’t actually think I’d do something to you, do you?” Fang Xu asked, helplessly. Qiu Chuji nodded, as if to say, “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Sorry, but I’m not interested in men,” Fang Xu clarified, forced to admit his own preferences.

“Right! I’m not interested in men either! So stay away!” Qiu Chuji still clutched his clothes tightly, keeping his guard up.

“Come on! Do I really look like someone who’s into men?” Fang Xu pointed to his fair, handsome face, looking expectantly at Qiu Chuji.

Qiu Chuji seemed to ponder Fang Xu’s words, and Fang Xu felt he’d finally convinced him otherwise.

“But our master warned us never to be deceived by appearances. As the saying goes, you can know a person’s face but not their heart,” Qiu Chuji finally replied, delivering a crushing blow.

“Fine! I won’t explain anything more. Frankly, I just don’t want to squeeze in with those rough fellows, so I chose to rest with you,” Fang Xu said, adopting a “believe whatever you want” attitude.

“So you really do like men!” Qiu Chuji stared at Fang Xu in horror, as if his worst fears were confirmed.

“Alright, alright! I like men, okay? Now come rest—tomorrow will be a busy day!” Fang Xu dragged Qiu Chuji onto the bed. Qiu Chuji was so bewildered he felt his mind had completely shut down, only able to register a roaring in his ears. Then the candlelight in the room was extinguished.

“Wow! The young master’s amazing!” whispered one of the guards hiding in the darkness.

“Incredible! The young master is truly formidable!” The two guards, sent by Old Wu to secretly protect Fang Xu from any misadventures, had concealed themselves expertly. Neither Fang Xu nor Qiu Chuji had sensed another soul outside their room.

The conversation between Fang Xu and Qiu Chuji had been overheard by the two guards, who now felt nothing but admiration for Fang Xu.

“Should we be cautious around the young master?” One guard found himself glancing nervously at his companion’s rear, causing the other guard to shudder.

“I—I don’t think so?” The shivering guard stammered, but instinctively shielded his own backside.

“It’s hard to say. I know plenty of nobles and ministers who prefer that sort of thing. Who’s to say the young master isn’t one of them…” The guard trailed off, unwilling to finish the thought.

Fang Xu had no inkling that rumors about him were spreading once again. If he knew what those two guards were thinking, he would surely teach them why the peach blossoms bloom so brightly. How could they dare spread such rumors without understanding the true meaning behind the flowers’ vibrant red?