The Foolish General's Mute Spouse - Chapter 11

11: “What’s So Small?”

Fu Yu’an frowned and said, “You know what I mean. Since you helped me keep the secret that I’m not mute, I naturally wouldn’t betray you. What’s there to hide?”

Qi Ren stubbornly refused to admit anything, using his muscular physique to play the innocent fool with a straight face.

Looking at the sharp, handsome face in front of him making silly expressions, Fu Yu’an felt a headache coming on.

Forget it, forget it. Whatever he is, at least we’ve managed to send away the servants the First Madam sent over. Tomorrow, I’ll have Xiao Zhu hire some trustworthy people from outside. At least the small courtyard will be filled with people I can trust.

I wonder what he saw that made him cause such a scene, claiming someone had stolen my dowry. Xiao Zhu didn’t find anything missing earlier. It’s really strange.

“Go wash your face. Let’s go.” Fu Yu’an walked over and pulled his arm. “Go to bed early. Where did you go playing this afternoon? You’re covered in dust!”

Qi Ren obediently stood up, looking down at him with a grin. “I went to find Xiao He. He even gave me some pastries! We caught a bird in the tree, but there was only one, so I let him have it. Do you want it?”

“I don’t.”

Fu Yu’an helped him take off his outer robe, answering expressionlessly.

Hearing this, Qi Ren felt a little disappointed but still let Fu Yu’an undress him. He lowered his head, watching his every move, and after a while, couldn’t help but reach out and touch his head.

Soft and warm, just as he imagined.

Fu Yu’an, with his head bowed and a gentle, harmless demeanor, was incredibly alluring. Qi Ren swallowed hard, feeling that he looked familiar but couldn’t remember where he’d seen him before.

Or maybe I saw someone who looked like him in the southern border camp? No, no, those were all rough men. How could there be someone so delicate and beautiful!

He’s only seventeen, right? Or eighteen?

So small…

“Huh? What did you say?”

“??”

Did I say that out loud?!

“What’s so small? What are you talking about?” Fu Yu’an straightened up and stared at him, asking again.

Qi Ren was at a loss for words, unsure how to explain without revealing that he was perfectly normal.

Pretending to be a fool is hard, he thought.

Pretending to be a fool in front of Fu Yu’an is even harder, he thought again.

“I said your hand… is so small! Look!” He reached out and grabbed Fu Yu’an’s hand, enveloping it tightly. The touch was warm and dry. Qi Ren smiled and showed him, “It’s much smaller than mine!”

Fu Yu’an: “…”

“Why did you have to get poisoned like this?” Fu Yu’an sighed.

Qi Ren thought he was feeling sorry for him and was deeply moved. But the next moment, Fu Yu’an shattered that sentiment:

“If you had just turned into a child, that would be one thing. But to only have your mind regress like this… Now I understand why Concubine Jue often got angry when raising the Second Prince. Honestly, if it weren’t for the jade pendant the Second Madam gave me, I would definitely find a way to send you as far away as possible!”

Qi Ren: “…”

What a cruel heart!

“An An, you don’t want me anymore! Do you not want me? You’re disliking me!” Qi Ren threw a tantrum, rolling around without a care for dignity. Just as he was about to lie on the ground and kick his legs, Fu Yu’an quickly pulled him up.

“I didn’t say I don’t want you!” Even with his good temper, Fu Yu’an was at his limit. He couldn’t help raising his voice, his clear, youthful tone devoid of the usual forced maturity. His shout made Qi Ren’s ears tingle with pleasure.

Qi Ren snorted, quickly undressed, and casually threw his clothes on the floor. He turned his back to Fu Yu’an, grinning from ear to ear.

Fu Yu’an really didn’t want to deal with him. Tomorrow was the day to return to the palace, and he knew the palace would send someone to summon him. He had no idea how to handle that, and now he had no energy to play along with Qi Ren’s antics.

Fu Yu’an picked up the clothes from the floor, put them away, and muttered, “Believe what you want” before climbing into bed, wrapping himself tightly in the blanket, and pressing against the inner side, motionless and sulking.

Only then did Qi Ren feel that he had gone too far with his joke. But since he was playing the fool, he wasn’t inclined to apologize. He simply blew out the candle and waited for Fu Yu’an to calm down on his own.

The moon hung high in the sky, and Qi Ren tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He reached under his pillow, feeling the book there, and hesitated whether to throw it away.

Beside him, there was a rustling sound as Fu Yu’an turned over, facing him.

Qi Ren turned to look at him and whispered, “An An? An An—are you asleep?”

Fu Yu’an: “…I’m asleep.”

“If you’re asleep, how can you still talk?”

“I’m talking in my sleep.”

“…”

“What’s wrong?” Fu Yu’an opened his eyes, looking exhausted, as if he had been woken up by Qi Ren’s ghostly calls.

He couldn’t see Qi Ren’s expression clearly, but Qi Ren could see his sleepy face perfectly.

It was only at night that he could talk to him like this. During the day, Fu Yu’an pretended to be mute and rarely spoke. Hearing his slightly hoarse and soft voice now completely captivated Qi Ren.

His chest tightened, and he took a few deep breaths, but it didn’t help. He could only stare at the pale collarbone exposed by Fu Yu’an’s loose undergarments.

“What’s wrong? Do you need to use the restroom?”

The collarbone moved, and Qi Ren swallowed hard, shifting his gaze to Fu Yu’an’s face. He stammered, “I… uh, need to pee. I’m scared to go alone…”

Fu Yu’an yawned, so drowsy that he could barely keep his eyes open. He really didn’t want to get up and deal with this, thinking that he needed to finalize his escape plan as soon as possible.

It’s like taking care of a child. Who wants to be a makeshift mother every day?

Qi Ren, on the other hand, was full of energy, clearly having stayed up late without sleeping. But Fu Yu’an was too tired to care.

The restroom was near the courtyard gate. Fu Yu’an led the way, trying to find the path by the moonlight, while Qi Ren followed, pondering where to bury the thing under his pillow tomorrow.

“Hurry up!” Fu Yu’an leaned against a tree, squinting and urging him. Qi Ren obediently went, but as the night wind blew, a faint crying sound reached their ears.

Fu Yu’an heard it too and immediately woke up.

Qi Ren’s eyes sharpened, instinctively wanting to catch the person, but he quickly remembered his act and put on a pitiful face, clinging to Fu Yu’an. “Did you hear that, An An? It’s so scary in the middle of the night…”

“Probably just a stray cat. Don’t be afraid.” Fu Yu’an smiled and patted his shoulder. “You’re a grown man. Be brave!”

Qi Ren nodded tearfully, putting on a convincing act of fear, and tremblingly entered the restroom.

The cool breeze carried a petal that landed on Fu Yu’an’s clothes and slipped into his collar, sending a chill down his spine.

He shook his clothes indifferently, trying to pinpoint the source of the crying.

The sound was soft and delicate, like that of a young woman.

Although he didn’t believe in ghosts, hearing the crying twice in a row made him think someone was deliberately trying to get his attention.

Qi Ren came out, rubbing his arms as he walked over. “Let’s go back inside!”

Fu Yu’an nodded, letting him cling to his arm, and they returned to the room in silence.

Once the door was closed, the crying could no longer be heard. Fu Yu’an didn’t mention it again but remained silent, drinking a cup of cold tea before going back to bed.

Qi Ren could only lie down beside him. When he heard Fu Yu’an’s steady breathing, he carefully got out of bed, opened the window, and jumped out.