WAR PRISONER

War Prisoner Bones Chapter #2 The Boundless Colours of Spring

Author: 梨花烟雨(Li Hua Yan Yu) /Lê Hoa Yên Vũ

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War Prisoner Bones Chapter #2

During the course of a year, the season Su Yi always loved the most was autumn. The skies would seem to hover high above the earth, the clouds would be light, the moon would be bright and the winds would be gentle. Also, in the autumn afternoons, when he was reading a book while reclining on the couch, he would sometimes feel drowsy. When he was floating at boundary between wakefulness and slumber, his mind would quietly think back on some of the happy memories he had of the past. Those autumn afternoons were really a time of such contentment that he found it impossible to describe.

On this day, Wanyan Xu and his son had been wholeheartedly wishing to accompany Su Yi but after they had had their lunch, they were summoned by the Empress Dowager, who wished to have a chat with them. Because she knew of Su Yi's habit of taking a nap in the afternoon, the Empress Dowager did not send for him and recently, Wanyan Xia had been absorbed, day and night, in nursing and tending to two of the precious medicinal plants he had planted, and had not visited Su Yi for a few days. For a long time, Su Yi had not encountered such a quiet afternoon. With his heart at ease, he picked up a legendary work of fiction and settled himself down on the couch that was set below the window. As he looked over the book, he was breathing in the scent of the osmanthus flowers that drifted in through the window and gradually, his movements of flipping the pages of the book began to slow down, and finally stilled completely.

Upon careful inspection, it turned out that his pair of eyes had become half-lidded; his thoughts had drifted to a certain afternoon of the previous year. Among the many sweet memories that Su Yi had, it was also the one memory that Su Yi had kept hidden away.

That incident happened a month after Wanyan Xu and Su Yi had personally taken part in the expedition that had set off to battle against the country of Xiao Ling. On this day, they had finally completely defeated Xiao Ling country and taken thirty-thousand royal soldiers captive. Compelled by the circumstances, the ruler of Xiao Ling had to concede defeat, agreeing to become a vassal state of Jin Liao and also to agree to send tribute to Jin Liao every year henceforth.

Even since Wanyan Xu had Su Yi at his side, his heart had grown more benevolent by the day and so, he released many of the captives and signed a treaty with Xiao Ling country, not even asking for much in the way of tribute. When Su Yi saw that his beloved had learned how to treat others charitably, he heart was much gladdened. Because the war had also been very hard-fought, the two men had decided to let the officers and soldiers of all the upper, middle and lower armies bivouac at the border to recover their strength before making their triumphant return to the capital.

During the past month and for some time before that, both Wanyan Xu and Su Yi had had their hearts worried over the war, their mental and physical energies had been completely consumed by it, and by this time, they were both exceedingly tired as well. It was only now, when peace had been restored to the borders, that the two people could finally relax. When taking a comfortable bath, Su Yi even rested his head on the rim of the pool, and fell asleep while still immersed in the water.

It was not until an indeterminable length of time had passed, when the warm rays of the afternoon sun were shining into the room, that Su Yi woke up from the dark and sweet oblivion of his nap, only to find that he had been sleeping on a broad and solid chest. The sounds of a familiar steady breathing came from above his head, and peering through the layer and layers of muslin drapes, he saw that there was not even a single person in the room. Faint threads of smoke slowly rose in spirals from the censer, scenting the air with a faint fragrance. He slowly retracted his head and pressed his face against the muscular chest of a light wheat colour, quietly listening to each ring of the powerful heartbeat, which was the sound that he found to be the most reassuring in the whole world.