: One lamp is blown out, two hearts share the same bed.

Chapter 133 One lamp is blown out, two hearts share the same bed

When Liang Shanbo returned to his new home from the camp outside the city, he was immediately struck by the bright and cheerful atmosphere as soon as he stepped into the courtyard.

The new house has been tidied up inside and out, with bright windows and clean furniture. Even the weeds in the yard have been pulled out, the moss next to the stone well has been removed, and the wooden pulley on the well curb has been wiped clean.

Zhu Yingtai, Yu Xian, A Mian, and a group of female soldiers worked together. With many hands and many people, they transformed the originally old and desolate courtyard into a warm and welcoming home in just half an hour.

He entered his bedroom and was slightly taken aback.

In the bedroom, against the north wall stood a brand-new wooden couch, with a brand-new small table at the head of the couch. On the table was a lamp, the oil already filled and the wick trimmed, ready to be lit at night.

Beneath the south window stood a spacious, long desk, still carrying the crisp scent of new wood. A bookshelf stood against the wall, empty, awaiting the arrival of new books. Two rush mats were laid out before the desk, exuding a faint, refreshing fragrance of rush.

With a smug smile, Zhu Yingtai pointed to the newly acquired furniture in the room, her tone carrying a hint of self-satisfaction: "Brother Liang, what do you think? The wooden bed, small table, desk, and bookshelf were all personally purchased by me and the female soldiers in the market. Other items may be scarce in Guangling City, but these ordinary furnishings are still available. I personally picked out these items; although they are not made of the finest materials, they are sturdy and durable."

Liang Shanbo looked around and the more he looked, the more familiar the layout of the bedroom seemed.

The wooden couch against the north wall, the small table at the head of the couch, the long desk under the south window, the two rush mats in front of the desk, and even the placement of the bookshelves all exude a sense of familiarity.

A thought struck him, and a smile appeared on his lips. He turned to Zhu Yingtai and said, "You're quick to tidy up. In just half an hour, you've bought and arranged the wooden bed, small table, desk, and bookshelves. Looking at this bedroom, it seems somewhat familiar. Upon closer inspection, the layout and furnishings are quite similar to our old study room at Wansong Academy."

Hearing him say this, Zhu Yingtai became even more pleased and smiled with her eyes crinkling: "Brother Liang really saw through it! To tell you the truth, I decorated it exactly like the schoolhouse we had back then."

However, back in the school dormitory, Brother Liang and I each slept on a wooden couch, but now we share one. Naturally, we only need one small table in front of the couch; there's no need to put two more. But everything else, I've tried to keep it as it was back then, even choosing a desk that's about the same width as the one in the school dormitory.”

A warm feeling welled up in Liang Shanbo's heart. He looked around the bedroom, which was both strange and familiar. His gaze slowly moved from the wooden bed to the desk, and then from the desk to the window. He sighed and said, "The courtyard of this new residence is quite similar to the rented house we used to live in in Qiantang County. Now you have deliberately decorated the bedroom to be exactly the same as our old schoolhouse. For a moment, it feels like we have returned to Qiantang."

Zhu Yingtai smiled and said, "That's all. Brother Liang, do you still remember the clump of green bamboo planted by the stone well in the corner of the courtyard of that rented house in Qiantang? I plan to find a clump of green bamboo tomorrow and plant it by the stone well in the corner of our courtyard as well."

Not only that rented house in Qiantang, but I also remember that in Brother Liang's old home in Liucun, Shanyin, there was a clump of green bamboo in the corner of the courtyard. That winter, the first time I went with you to see Aunt Jun, the first thing I saw when I entered the courtyard was that clump of green bamboo.

Although Guangling is a somewhat austere place, it is particularly suitable for growing bamboo, and bamboo groves can be seen everywhere outside the city. Tomorrow, let's plant a clump in this corner of the yard, and our new home will become even more similar to that rented house in Qiantang, and will even have a touch of the charm of Brother Liang's old home in Shanyin. What do you think, Brother Liang?"

When Liang Shanbo heard that she had even thought of such a small detail, he was deeply moved.

He looked at her beautiful smiling face and said with a smile, "You've thought of everything. You even thought of bamboo. That's good. Let's plant a clump in the corner of the yard. In the future, when we read or play chess in the yard, the swaying bamboo shadows will make it quite elegant."

Zhu Yingtai grabbed his hand and said eagerly, "Then it's settled. How about we plant bamboo together in the corner of the courtyard tomorrow, Brother Liang?"

Liang Shanbo nodded with a smile, which was considered an agreement.

He immediately suppressed his smile and asked, "Have you found lodging for Yinsheng and the eight female soldiers? We're new here, so this matter can't be delayed. We can't let them stay home forever."

Zhu Yingtai nodded and replied with great familiarity, "Brother Liang, don't worry. With Xiaogu's servants helping out, and using the pretext of 'joining the army,' we found them easily. Eight female soldiers share a small courtyard in that alley to the south. Although it's smaller than our place, it's clean and tidy, enough for them. Yinsheng rented a room in another small courtyard, also in that alley to the south, which was very cheap."

Seeing that she had made such a proper and thoughtful arrangement, Liang Shanbo was very satisfied and asked no further questions.

He glanced at the sky outside the window and smiled at Zhu Yingtai, saying, "It's almost time. Let's go to Xiaogu's place for a meal, so as not to keep Xiaogu and his wife waiting."

Zhu Yingtai nodded and immediately went out with Liang Shanbo, walking along the alley towards the residence of Xiao Hu and his wife.

Zhu Yingtai was also quite capable in managing the household.

She not only cleaned up the new house and arranged the bedroom in half an hour, but also tidied up the kitchen.

Two new earthenware pots were placed in the kitchen, just like the kitchen in the rented house in Qiantang. Both pots boiled water at the same time for convenient bathing.

Both Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo had a habit of bathing, and after a long day of travel, they would feel uncomfortable if they didn't bathe.

When Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai finished their meal at Xiao Hu's residence and returned to their new home, Yin Xin and Yin Sheng, the siblings, had already prepared half a bucket of warm water in the kitchen and carried it into the bedroom, steaming hot.

Liang Shanbo first took a bath in his bedroom, washing away the dust and fatigue of the day's journey. The hot water soaked his skin, steaming his pores and making him feel much more relaxed.

After bathing, he changed into clean clothes, and next was Zhu Yingtai's turn to bathe. While he was at it, he put on a thick outer robe, pushed open the courtyard gate, and walked out of the alley alone to stroll casually on the main street of Guangling City.

Under the cover of night, the main street of Guangling was desolate and bleak.

The rammed earth road surface has been worn with deep ruts by passing vehicles.

Most of the shops on both sides of the street have their doors boarded up, and the few that do emit a dim light have their doors half-closed, as if they are ready to go out at any moment.

There weren't many pedestrians on the street. A few vendors returning home late hurried past with their necks hunched over. On the street corner, an old woman with a stall was hunched over, tidying up her bowls and dishes. Her figure looked particularly lonely in the dim light.

A few barks came from afar.

The patrolling soldiers had already marched past in formation, their swords and spears gleaming, and the daggers at their waists jingling with each step.

This important town in the Jianghuai region already appears desolate and bleak during the day, and becomes even more somber and chilling at night.

Liang Shanbo walked alone in this unfamiliar city, but he did not feel lonely. He knew that if he walked back to that alley and pushed open that courtyard gate, there would be a lamp waiting for him, and a wife who cared for him and whom he cared for would be waiting for him.

After strolling around for a while, Liang Shanbo returned to his new home.

Zhu Yingtai had just finished bathing, her long hair still wet and cascading over her shoulders. Standing inside the main room, she held a handkerchief in her hand, gently wiping the water droplets from her hair. Seeing Liang Shanbo enter from outside the courtyard gate, she smiled sweetly and asked, "Where have you been, Brother Liang?"

As Liang Shanbo took off his outer robe, he said with a smile, "While you were bathing, I took a stroll in the streets. The streets of Guangling are quite deserted at night, with hardly any pedestrians."

The two entered the bedroom together and sat down side by side on the edge of the wooden couch.

The lights in the room were already on, casting a warm yellow glow.

Zhu Yingtai turned her head to look at Liang Shanbo and said softly, "Brother Liang, are you going to study tonight? Or would you like to rest early?"

Liang Shanbo also turned his head to look at her. She had just taken a bath and changed into a plain white dress. Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, the ends still slightly damp. The heroic spirit between her brows was concealed by the languor and gentleness after the bath, making her even more beautiful and charming, with a delicate and graceful charm.

His heart fluttered, and he reached out to brush her cheek, tucking a damp strand of hair behind her ear. He said softly, "Get some rest. We've both been traveling all day and are tired. There's always tomorrow."

His gaze lingered on her face, and his voice grew even gentler: "Although this is the first time I've stayed in this bedroom, the furnishings here are exactly the same as the old schoolhouse. It's as if I've returned to that time, except that back then we each had our own bed, with a distance of five or six feet between us, so I couldn't even touch you if I wanted to."

Now we sleep in the same bed. This journey, from Caoqiao Pavilion to Guangling City, from brothers to husband and wife, has truly not been easy. Perhaps it's because these old memories have flooded my mind, but tonight I feel as if this night is worth a thousand pieces of gold, and I can't bear to let it pass so hastily.

Zhu Yingtai immediately understood, a faint blush rising to her face. She lowered her eyes, bit her lower lip, then raised her head, her eyes brimming with a mixture of shyness and sweetness: "Let's blow out the lights. This is our first time staying in this new house, so it's better to turn off the lights. It feels uncomfortable to leave them on."

Liang Shanbo nodded and said with a smile, "Then I'll trouble you, Ninth Sister, to blow out the lamp, just like back in the school dormitory, where you blew out the lamp almost every night."

Then I watched you get up from the couch, walk to the small table, bend down and blow out the lamp, then return to your own couch, your figure flashing and disappearing in the darkness. Sometimes I couldn't help but wonder when I could finally be without that five or six feet between us, when I could share a bed with you and sleep side by side.

Zhu Yingtai softly hummed in response, a sound that seemed to contain a thousand tender feelings.

She rose and walked to the small table, bending down to blow out the lamp. The flame went out abruptly, and a wisp of smoke rose and dissipated into nothingness.

In the dim light, the two undressed together and lay down together under the thick cotton quilt on the wooden bed. Unlike back in the school dormitory, when she blew out the lamp, they would each turn around and undress separately in the darkness, each getting into their own quilt.

In the dim light, the couple shared a tender moment of intimacy. The wooden bed creaked softly, and moonlight streamed in through the window, bathing the room in a gentle glow.

Tonight, there's no bowl of water in the middle of the dorm from back then, nor are there any secrets that can't be revealed. There are only two people, a bed, a quilt, and an affection that has only grown deeper with the passage of time.

Peace returned to the bedroom.

Zhu Yingtai gently buried her face in Liang Shanbo's arms. The lingering pleasure from just now still echoed in her heart, but she was, after all, Zhu Yingtai, not a woman who was only interested in indulging in the pleasures of love.

She spoke softly, "Brother Liang, I am naturally happy and proud of you for being appointed as a military advisor and leading elite troops as the vanguard. However, after calming down and thinking about it carefully, I can't help but feel a little worried. Serving as a military advisor and leading the vanguard is certainly a good way to make a name for yourself, but once war breaks out, you will be the one to put on your armor and charge into battle, facing the Qin army on the battlefield. Arrows have no eyes, and weapons are merciless."

She held him tighter, as if that would protect him and keep any danger away from him.

Liang Shanbo lowered his head, resting his chin on her forehead, and said gently yet firmly, "Ninth Sister, don't worry. We've been together for almost four years, don't you know my abilities? With my skills, I can protect myself on the battlefield and won't easily get into trouble."

He patted her back and continued, "Besides, I am, after all, a military advisor who commands the vanguard, not an ordinary soldier. Even if I were to don armor and go into battle, I would not easily charge into the fray myself. Deploying troops, directing operations, and assessing the situation are my duties. Even if I were to personally charge into battle, I would be surrounded and protected by Luo Ning, Chen An, and a group of other guards. I would not easily risk my life by charging into battle alone."

You can rest assured, I will protect myself, not only for myself, but also for you. I promised you, we will study together for the rest of our lives, month after month, year after year, until we grow old together.

Zhu Yingtai listened quietly, then softly hummed in agreement, already feeling a sense of peace and reassurance after being comforted by him.

The next morning, a thin layer of white frost had formed on the stone well railing in the courtyard of the new house.

Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai came together to plant bamboo by the stone well.

Zhu Yingtai sent someone early this morning to find a clump of green bamboo. The bamboo roots were firmly tied with grass rope and soil. The bamboo stalks were not thick and were still young, but the branches and leaves were lush and green.

Liang Shanbo picked up a shovel and dug the soil beside the well, while Zhu Yingtai stood to the side, supporting the clump of green bamboo and instructing him, "A little to the left," "A little deeper," "Don't go too deep, the bamboo roots are afraid of waterlogging."

After digging the pit, the two of them straightened the clump of green bamboo, filled it with soil and tamped it down, and then fetched well water to irrigate it. The well water was icy cold to the touch in the morning, and when it was poured onto the soil around the bamboo roots, it quickly seeped in, leaving only a few dark, damp marks on the surface of the soil.

After a long while, the clump of green bamboo finally settled in the corner of the yard, and the new bamboo stood tall and graceful.

Zhu Yingtai straightened up, looked at the clump of new bamboo, and then at Liang Shanbo standing beside her. She felt a sense of accomplishment, but even more so, a feeling of warmth.