Chapter 51: It Must be That the Way I Was Rescued Feels Wrong.

"Imperial Brother!" Princess Yongning stepped forward a few steps and grabbed Xiao YuAn's wrist, but the falling force was too great and she couldn't hold on at all, resulting in her falling into the cold water alongside Xiao YuAn.

What the fuck!

Xiao YuAn could guess the beginning, but he couldn't fucking guess the end!

The whole audience screamed in horror! And as soon as Xiao YuAn felt the freezing pool water drowning him, he heard two diving sounds.

Hmm?

Two sounds?

Xiao YuAn covered his mouth to stop himself from coughing and choking, in a hurry he adjusted his breath. He wanted to save Princess Yongning before they fell into the water together. Princess Yongning was right in front of Xiao YuAn and she obviously couldn't swim, she spitted out a big bubble while waving her hands and struggling to get out of the water.

Xiao YuAn managed to hold his breath, and as soon as he was going to swim towards Princess Yongning, he saw red silk shining right in front of him.

Someone grabbed Princess Yongning from behind and brought her to the surface.

As expected, he was too naive!

How could there be less drama when the male lead and the female leads are involved!

AD

How could that be possible!

It could clearly be seen that the two of them fell into the water together, but in the end, no one jumped back and grabbed him!

Look at this protagonist halo!

The hero Xiao YuAn wasn't able to save the beauty. When he was preparing himself to get out of the water, he was suddenly caught off guard when someone grabbed him by the back and was brought into their arms.

"Poof –."

Xiao YuAn was astonished and choked after opening his mouth and breathing some water. As soon as he came out of the water, he coughed for a long time, and his mind exploded in hurt. When he finally looked up, he found out that he was being held by Yan HeQing's arms.

What the fuck!

Did you mistook me for Princess Yongning!

Xiao YuAn covered his mouth and looked around. He found that Princess Yongning was rescued from drowning in the Jade Platform, and she was being held by Xiao PingYang!

What kind of development was that!

Xiao YuAn wiped the water from his face and was pushed ashore by Yan HeQing, then he turned and pulled him up, looking at him with distressed eyes.

Your reaction was too slow! Your first wife was rescued by another person! And that person happens to be your second wife! Aren't you scared that they will think that you don't have a heart?

AD

Either way, both the Emperor and the Princess fell into the water, which scared everyone to death. As soon as the two of them were rescued, they hurriedly took them to the Taiyi Hall, resulting in the birthday banquet to reach its end.

Xiao YuAn stared at the thick two-layer quilt covering his whole body, the charcoal basin beside the bed, the medicinal soup to prevent the cold, and the Imperial Physician that was rubbing his muscles and veins. He asked quietly: "Imperial Physician, I just fell into the cold water, I will not die, will I?"

The Imperial Physician kept his professional smile and added a quilt to Xiao YuAn's body while he was talking about falling into the water.

Xiao YuAn: "…"

The Imperial Physician asked cautiously: "Your Majesty, how are you feeling?"

He felt suffocated.

Xiao YuAn asked him instead: "How is Princess Yongning?"

"Answering to His Majesty, Princess Yongning is perfectly fine, she just returned to Yongning Palace."

Xiao YuAn nodded feeling at ease, and then lifted the quilt: "Then I will go back as well."

"Your Majesty!" The Imperial Physician suddenly shouted, putting the quilt back on Xiao YuAn's body again. "Your Majesty, you must not move, that's absolutely impossible for you right now. You're very weak and you should rest more, you need to take care of the Dragon body1."

You are weak! Your whole family is weak!

Xiao YuAn was completely wrapped in the quilt and only his head was exposed, he felt that he couldn't breathe at all. He thought that the Imperial Physician was actually an assassin that was trying to use the quilt to slowly suffocate him: "Well then, I'll rest. You can go out and call Yan HeQing to come here, I have something to speak with him."

AD

The Imperial Physician obeyed his orders and retired. After a while, the door was pushed open, and Yan HeQing walked in. He stood beside the bed and Xiao YuAn shivered, stretching a hand from under the three-layer thick quilt, he said: "Help me, I will be crushed to death!"

Yan HeQing analyzed the situation for a while, and decided to hold Xiao YuAn's hand putting it inside the quilt once again.

Xiao YuAn: "…"

Yan HeQing said: "You must have a good rest."

After he said that to him, Xiao YuAn lifted the quilt, turned over and sat up: "I don't want to rest, it's just getting dark outside. No one goes to bed so early, I don't care about my health."

Seeing that Yan HeQing was frowning at him, Xiao YuAn took his hand and put it at the side of his neck: "I really am alright. If you don't believe me, you can touch and see for yourself, my meridians are stable, and full of youthful energy2."

Yan HeQing raised his eyebrows lightly, he pressed his thumb against the side of Xiao YuAn's neck, felt the pulse for a while. Then he softly touched Xiao YuAn's side face, circled around his eyes with his fingertips, and finally covered his forehead with the palm of his hand. After that, he nodded affirmatively: "Yes, it seems that you're really fine."

"It also seems that I don't actually have anything to do." Xiao YuAn tidied up his clothes, climbed out of the bed and walked towards the windows, looking like he was really eager to try and leave from there. "Let's go out to play."

"Go where?"

"Outside, to the Imperial City, at the market streets."

Chapter 52: It Must Be That This Way Of Doting On Him Feels Weird.

In the Imperial City, because it was early evening, the lights were beginning to shine, and thousands of candles could be seen being lit for ten miles ahead. In order to celebrate the Emperor's birthday, the market was bustling and it was lively and crowded. People were coming and going like tides.

Xiao YuAn was full of curiosity strolling through the streets, stalls and shops: "It's quite interesting. The Palace is always so boring, I've long wanted to come out and stroll."

Yan HeQing said: "In any way, you are the Emperor. You can take the Imperial Bodyguards and the maidservants with you at any time."

"That's not the same. Everyone else follows me in a state of fear, I feel more at ease with you alone." Xiao YuAn said while looking at the ink painted fan on top of a stall, he didn't notice that Yan HeQing gently hooked his mouth.

The two of them strolled from the West street market to the East street market, where peddlers were shouting and juggling everywhere, and where the children were shuttling through the crowd in their jackets, one after the other, the city was flourishing.

Walking around, Xiao YuAn suddenly saw something and walked into the Shop with his hands down.

It was a Jade Shop. When the owner saw two imposing young men stepping into his shop, he turned his astute eyes and nodded bowing1 his head to salute them: "What can I do for both gongzi?"

Xiao YuAn flicked his fingers through a wide range of dazzling jade until finally he stopped at the most striking place of the Jade Shop. There was a wooden cabinet which contained a jade flute made out of white jade inside. The flute's body was outlined with cloud patterns and had a handing red spike. Even those that didn't know anything about flutes will know at a first glance that this one was particularly extraordinary.

The owner hesitated: "Ah, about this gongzi, you don't know but this jade flute is the treasure of this town's shop and the price…tch-tch, it's quite expensive."

"Oh?" Xiao YuAn chuckled: "So it really is precious. Then can you take it out so I look better at it?"

After thinking for a while, the owner opened the cabinet and took out the Jade flute: "Humble me will give gongzi face2, after all, good things must be shared."

AD

Xiao YuAn took the jade flute and played with it in his hands for a while, then he handed it to Yan HeQing: "Try it out."

Yan HeQing was stupefied: "How did you know that I can play the flute…"

"Because I'm very smart. Now, play it for me."

Yan HeQing took over the Jade flute and placed it on his lips, the melodious flute sounds just like the limpid autumn waters3 and the spring breeze4.

In the original book, it was described for many episodes that Yan HeQing and Princess Yongning played together. The flute and the guqin strings were described at the first half of the book as under the moon and before the flowers5, but Xiao YuAn didn't expect that Yan HeQing's solo play could make people's hearts feel ripples6.

Xiao YuAn, as the President of a company that could memorize the quotations of the Tyrannical Presidents, and a former President that attempted but failed to walk this lunatic road, a President that is still trying to go through the seduction road, in his 20 years of life, he would never think that it will come a day in which he would make use of a President golden sentence, which is what he just did in this situation.

It wasn't even for his own wife, but for a stallion protagonist that could spend a night with ten members of his harem.

Life, it's really tricky, it's unpredictable, it's incredible, it's really…wow, how happy I am!

Xiao YuAn pointed at the jade flute and said to the owner in a bold manner: "It doesn't matter how much this flute cost, I will take it back with me."

The owner's heart was in full bloom7, but he pretended to be distressed: "Gongzi, don't ask for this jade flute so easily, it's worth a hundred liang of gold."

Yan HeQing returned the jade flute to his owner and turned his head to ask Xiao YuAn: "Do you want to buy it?"

Xiao YuAn was smiling from ear to ear: "I want to buy it."

AD

"Do you even have any money with you?"

Can you stop hitting my mind so abruptly?

The two of them left through the window of the Taiyi Hall, and they certainly didn't bring anything with them. Besides, ordinary people wouldn't have a hundred liang of gold with them so casually.

Xiao YuAn thought for a long time and said: "This is the Imperial City, am I right?"

The owner of the Jade Shop thought with pity: This gongzi looked very attractive and intelligent, but in reality, he was very stupid for his young age.

"Then I have a solution." Xiao YuAn pulled Yan HeQing out of the Jade Shop. Yan HeQing was very confused: "Where do you want to go?"

"Wuning Wangfu8."

In the original book, Wuning Wangye was a peculiar character, because he's the worst villain from all the villains of this book, he's not just a cannon fodder like the others.

He mistreated the country and wanted to usurp the throne. Power is the only thing he wants in life, and because of that, he rebelled. And yet, he was described as a good Wangye…

Because he was at the male lead's side.

Wuning Wangye was a foreign relative that was very determined in rebelling. He tried to take the position of the Emperor, but he lacked military power, so he could only join forces with the Southern Yan Kingdom and make use of their troops to rebel.

It could be said that Wuning Wangye was the only connection between Yan HeQing, who was imprisoned in the Palace, and the Southern Yan Kingdom. But then, after the east window incident happened, Yan HeQing fled with glory because he is the male lead, but Wuning Wangye was in a miserable situation instead, and his head was cut off by the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom.

AD

Yan HeQing and Xiao YuAn walked towards the Palace of Wuning Wangye, but they were stopped by the guards when they reached the gate: "Who's there?"

Xiao YuAn replied with a smile: "I came looking for Wangye."

The guard glared at him and roared with great force: "Is really Wangye the one that you want to see?"

Xiao YuAn simply replied: "Yes."

The guard looked at him up and down: "Who are you?"

"If you don't change your name, you can't change your surname9. The name Xiao YuAn, is the name of the President of the Jianghu10 but you can call me President Xiao."

"…" Yan HeQing touched his forehead.

The guard drew out his sword with a brush and in a murderous voice he said: "Where is this madman coming from, leave this place right now, my sword doesn't have eyes."

When he drew the blade out he sent it right towards Xiao YuAn, but Yan HeQing stepped forward and blocked the attack putting Xiao YuAn behind him. He held the guard's hilt and coldly said: "Go and report to Wangye that the Emperor has come to see him."

Chapter 53: It Must Be That He Didn't Understand It In The Right Way.

Both of them were respectfully greeted into the main Hall of Wangye's Mansion, and after a brief moment, a young man dressed in elegant brocade came.

Wuning Wangye knelt down and saluted him: "Your Majesty, for what reason came to honor His Imperial presence in my humble home?"

Humble..humble house?

Xiao YuAn looked around.

Alright, whatever makes you happy.

Xiao YuAn wasn't interested in changing the topic: "I want to borrow money."

Wuning Wangye thought that he had heard it wrong: "Borrow…what?"

"Money."

Wuning Wangye's mind began to think at a high speed.

What does the Emperor mean? Is he doing this deliberately to test him? Or is he trying to ridicule him? And to borrow money? Borrow? Does the Emperor even need to use this word? How much does he even want to borrow, will 10,000 liang of gold be enough. And even if he can get that sum for himself, it still hurts a little bit.

"What's His Majesty saying, why do you need to borrow it, how much does His Majesty need?" Wuning Wangye asked cautiously.

AD

"Quite a lot."

Wuning Wangye's heart began to bleed, could it be that ten thousand liang won't be enough?

"Two hundred taels."

"Ho-how much? Two hundred taels?"

"Yes, two hundred taels of gold. Is it too much?"

"No, not at all, I'll call for someone to prepare it." Wuning Wangye walked out of the main hall not knowing what was going on. He immediately called for his staff and talked about this strange situation. The two of them whispered for a while until finally, they reached an agreement.

The Emperor, he…

Must have felt that his abstinence lasted for too long!

In order to keep filial piety to the late Emperor, the Young Emperor had to clean up his six roots1. This year his birthday was a rare one, and it's hard to avoid some thoughts after all. Because he was worried about being caught doing inappropriate things in the Palace, he must have sneaked out to be able to act on these thoughts!

Yes, that must be the case!

Wuning Wangye was very pleased with this line of thought. He confidently sent the staff to quickly make the proper arrangements, and then went back to the main hall where he said to Xiao YuAn: "Your Majesty, I've sent someone to prepare the two hundred taels of gold, but there's still something I want to discuss with His Majesty."

Xiao YuAn asked puzzled: "Ah? What's the matter?"

AD

Wuning Wangye bowed and said: "This day is His Majesty's birthday and naturally I prepared a gift. I wanted to present it to His Majesty after the banquet, but because of unfortunate circumstances, the banquet hastily ended and I failed to fulfill this wish. Now that His Majesty luckily visited this one's house, it would be a pleasure if my meager gift is accepted."

Xiao YuAn goes with the flow2: "Alright."

"I'll trouble3 His Majesty to come this way."

Xiao YuAn and Yan HeQing looked at each other and walked at the same pace of Wuning Wangye.

Wuning Wangfu was luxurious and magnificent, with carved railing and painted buildings, and a rockery garden with lotus ponds. Xiao YuAn was looking around thinking with full consideration that Wuning Wangye must have accepted some bribes.

The three of them passed through the cloister Pavilion and stopped at the door of the east wing-room. Wuning Wangye made a gesture of invitation and Xiao YuAn opened the door with a little bit of doubt. Yan HeQing followed close behind him and intended to walk inside, but he was stopped by Wuning Wangye: "Imperial Bodyguard xiao-ge4, it's better for you to wait outside."

Xiao YuAn asked: "He can't come with me?"

Yan HeQing frowned and his complexion was looking rather cold.

Wuning Wangye didn't answer, but his smile afforded much food for reflection5.

Xiao YuAn laughed with goosebumps, and vaguely guessed what would wait for him inside.

"Then, wait for me outside." Xiao YuAn patted Yan HeQing on the shoulder.

"Yes." Yan HeQing nodded his head and watched as Xiao YuAn walked inside the wing-room.

AD

The wing-room was huge, and it was surrounded by a fragrant lingering mist. The outer hall was filled with all kinds and rare calligraphy, paintings and treasures. Xiao YuAn walked through the outer hall and entered the inner room, abruptly stopping at once.

On the large bed, the red yarn was entangled, the bedding was messy and the bodies of two beauties loosely dressed in red were intertwined, their skin was rubbing each other. The two of them looked charming and they were panting, their eyes were silky and looking directly at Xiao YuAn.

Xiao YuAn grinned, rubbed his kidney6 and turned away, leaving the two beauties in bed.

Outside the wing-room, when Xiao YuAn just closed the door behind him, Wuning Wangye suddenly approached Yan HeQing and whispered: "Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom, Yan Heqing." Yan HeQing was clearly stunned.

"Yan-huangzi7, It must be hard to be around the Emperor." Wuning Wangye narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone was unclear.

Yan HeQing's eyes opened slightly and flashed inconceivably. He suddenly grasped the handle of the sword resting at the side of his body, his thin lips were slightly pursed, pressing down the emotions in his eyes, they became extremely deep and dark.

Wuning Wangye took another step forward, and their bodies were almost stuck together. Wuning Wangye hooked a smile and covered the hand of Yan HeQing that was holding the sword with his own. This posture and movement were extremely warm, but Yan HeQing wasn't furious, instead, he was shocked.

Because he put something inside his hand.

Chapter 54: It Must Be That He Gave Him This Gift The Wrong Way.

Wuning Wangye lowered his voice the most he could: "Hurry up and hide this on you Yan-huangzi. You can't bear this humiliation any longer, this month is a good opportunity. You must also remember that you and I are on the same side, and if something goes wrong, no one will be able to run away. You must be very careful. "

It seemed that Wuning Wangye wanted to say something else to him, but the door of the wing-room suddenly creaked, scaring him and making him retreat quickly to his previous position. Looking up, his expression was quite puzzled: "What happened? Your Majesty, why did you come out so early, could it be… that my gift didn't satisface you?"

Xiao YuAn said: "I think the money will satisfy me more."

Wuning Wangye turned pale with fright1.

It could be that…

Don't tell me!

Could it be that the rumors about the Emperor being empty of desire, are actually true?!

Wuning Wangye coughed gently trying to cover up his embarrassment and quickly called for someone to bring the two hundred taels of gold. Xiao YuAn wasn't interested in acting polite and quickly took the money: "I've troubled2 you."

Wuning Wangye greeted them by cupping one hand in the other before his chest3. Xiao YuAn turned his head towards Yan HeQing and said to him: "Let's go."

Yan HeQing was soulless4: "Ah?… yes."

Xiao YuAn glanced at him, but said nothing.

In fact, Xiao YuAn knew that by coming to Wuning Wangfu, Yan HeQing would get in contact with Wuning Wangye. But if he doesn't trust Yan HeQing in this situation, he shouldn't have rescued Yan HeQing from the prison in the first place, let alone protect him every time.

Although he had already transmigrated to this book for such a long time, Xiao YuAn always felt like an outsider from beginning to end. He acts indifferent to every character role and just stays there, like looking at a play, how they interpret their sorrows and joys5. The funniest part is that he already knows the end of many events and the fate of many people; he can even guess the thoughts of the people around him. But, in the end, he doesn't know where he will go from now on. He doesn't even understand what's the position of the Northern Kingdom inside his heart, and what position has Yan HeQing in his heart either.

The two of them, with their own worries inside their heads, returned to the Jade Shop. Xiao YuAn finally bought the jade flute without any hesitation and they were cordially sent off by the Owner of the Shop.

The night hadn't ended yet. The market streets were still very lively, the stars were accompanied by the lights and the laughter was accompanied by joy. Xiao YuAn was playing with the jade flute he just bought with quite a lot of money, and thought: I don't know what will happen in the future, so I'll just do what I want for now.

So Xiao YuAn turned around and handed the jade flute to Yan HeQing: "Here, this is a gift for you."

In the eternal Guanghan Palace6 and the Qingxu Hall7, people can live a long life, sharing the beauty of the moon. Xiao YuAn's bright smile shone right into Yan HeQing's clear eyes, the light of the moon can't reach the tenderness of his wam eyes, and the boat full of clear dreams can't hold the crooked corners of his mouth.

When seeing such a gentleman, why would you not feel happy?8

Yan HeQing fixedly looked at Xiao YuAn.

"What are you thinking about?" Xiao YuAn hands the jade flute to Yan HeQing once more.

Yan HeQing took the jade flute and clenched his grip on it for a long time, then, he murmured softly: "I…I…I don't have anything to give you in return. I want to thank you for this."

Xiao YuAn just wanted to wave his hand and say to him that it wasn't necessary, when he suddenly saw what Yan HeQing had handed over to him, which almost scared him to death and made him take a big step back.

Yan HeQing's palms were up, and on top of them, lying quietly in his hands, was a jade hairpin.

AD

This is the relic of Yan Heqing's Empress mother, and it's also the love token that Yan HeQing gave Princess Yongning in the original book.

Ge!

Yan-ge! You can't just give this to him as a gift, even if you give it to him as a thanks gift! Don't you know what this is! Don't you know what it means!

This object can't be given away so casually, don't be such a loser!

Xiao YuAn nervously smiled and waved his hand: "No… no, I don't want a reciprocity for the gift."

Yan HeQing insisted: "I want to give it to you."

Don't mind it! Don't you have anything else!

Xiao YuAn continued to wave his hand: "It's too valuable for you."

Yan HeQing kept himself in silence and stretched out his hand right in front of Xiao YuAn's eyes, without any intention of taking it back.

Xiao YuAn took a deep breath and thought about it for a long time, finally, he decided to take the jade hairpin: "Thank you then, I'll accept it."

Forget it, he'll take care of it for Yan HeQing.

Yan HeQing's lips smiled lightly, his eyes were shining, they were very clear and bright.

AD

Xiao YuAn, while holding the hairpin, was feeling a little bit uneasy, and because of that he said: "If someday you want me to return it to you, I will give it back."

The smiling expression in Yan HeQing's face suddenly banished, becoming a frown instead, he asked him: "Why would I want it back?"

"In any case…" Xiao YuAn coughed to cover up his embarrassment: "Hey, there's juggling over there, let's go and have a look."

After finishing talking, Xiao YuAn took Yan HeQing and ran towards the lively place. Xiao YuAn was restless and ran as fast as he could. Suddenly, he crashed with someone and the both of them fell together, they rolled into a ball, sobbed in pain, and then, froze in place.

Because this voice was very familiar.

Xiao YuAn even forgot to rub where he felt pain, and looked at the person in front of him, he was stunned: "Ning-er?"

"Ah… Imperial…" Princess Yongning covered her mouth and whispered, "Gege?"

Both of them were still staring at each other, and out of nowhere, Princess Yongning was suddenly helped up by someone. Xiao PingYang's tone was anxious, and her eyes were worried, like she was blaming herself: "Are you alright? Do you feel any pain?"

Xiao YuAn was completely dumbfounded.

The second female lead, Xiao PingYang?

Why is this plot line more and more magical!

Chapter 55: I Must Have Helped The Wrong Way.

In the bustling lively street market, the four people looked at each other and the atmosphere around them became very strange and delicate.

Xiao YuAn coughed softly and decided to be the one to break the silence: "Ning-er, why did you come out of the Palace without an Imperial bodyguard?"

"That doesn't matter, PingYang will protect me." Princess Yongning gave a bewitching smile.

WTF?1 When did the female lead and the second female lead establish a revolutionary friendship, is this the first step of harmony for the future male lead harem?!

And if you want to feel protected, you must find Yan HeQing for that, okay!

Wait, this also seems to be the historic face-to-face meeting between the male lead and the female lead!

Xiao YuAn took a deep breath, turned his head to look at Yan HeQing, and then looked back at Princess Yongning. He then retreated quietly, trying to make room for the both of them,

As soon as he retreated this way, he squeezed himself at Xiao PingYang's side. Xiao PingYang was inexplicably pushed away by him, so she could only stand aside.

Yan HeQing saw every single move that Xiao YuAn just made. He frowned slightly and looked at Xiao PingYang unwillingly.

Xiao YuAn stared back at Yan HeQing and thought: Yan-ge, Yan-ge, did you just start to regret giving me the jade hairpin? Nevermind, I… wait why are you…

Why are you looking at the second female!

You'll have your lifespan shortened2! The aura of the female lead can't hold down the second female!

Xiao YuAn's heart feel tangled for three seconds, but still, he decided to stand as the official matchmaker for the first couple. He turned his head towards Princess Yongning and asked her: "Ning-er, where were you planning to go?"

Princess Yongning replied: "I heard that there's lanterns by the river! I've planned to take PingYang with me to look at them."

Xiao YuAn nodded his head and his mind started to scheme. He then looked at Yan HeQing and said: "You will accompany Princess Yongning to the river first, I have something to discuss with the embassy of the Western Shu Kingdom." After that, he added, "Protect her."

Let's give the male lead and the female lead some time alone! Xiao YuAn doesn't believe that they won't have any spark! And the heavens will surely help, for example, a little cannon fodder suddenly appears, and ignoring the breath of death he'll make a move on Princess Yongning flirting with her, and then, the handsome protagonist, Yan HeQing, will save her!

Ah, the fucking dog blood3!

But it can't be denied that these types of cliche moments are useful! They work! They're extremely beneficial

Xiao YuAn looked at Yan HeQing, but unexpectedly he didn't see his face in full bloom. On the contrary, Yan HeQing's face wasn't looking good, his eyes were very dark and gloomy. He replied coldly: "At your Imperial Majesty's command."

Alright, pretending to be cool is also a good way of flirting with women. Xiao YuAn believes that he can still understand Yan HeQing's thoughts.

Princess Yongning reluctantly glanced at Xiao PingYang and said to Xiao YuAn: "In that case, Imperial… cough, gege, come to the riverside as soon as you finish talking. At this time, don't talk about business and let's have a happy time instead."

Xiao YuAn nodded his head and watched as the male lead and female lead quietly left away. He had quite a sense of matchmaking accomplishment, and just when he was feeling very complacent with himself, the confused voice of Xiao PingYang came from beside him: "Emperor of the Northern Kingdom, what do you want to discuss about?"

Oops, he forgot that she was still present.

AD

Xiao YuAn was slightly embarrassed, he turned around and tried to find a topic to talk about: "Well… do you like sweets? There's some people here that sell sweets, do you want them? Do you want me to buy you some?"

Xiao PingYang: "…Does Yongning like to eat sweets?"

Xiao YuAn: "…"

No, what kind of situation is this? Don't you know that by knowing the enemy and yourself will get you unscathed through a hundred battles4?

"Ning'er doesn't like sweets."

Xiao PingYang nodded lost in thought: "Oh, then I don't like it either."

Xiao YuAn: "…"

Even though she realized that Xiao YuAn had nothing to actually speak with her, Xiao PingYang still behaved with indifference and didn't ask him why, instead, she suddenly said: "Monarch of the Northern Kingdom, can I forget about our identities and talk with you freely?"

Xiao YuAn suddenly paused, and with a smile on his face he answered: "Of course you can."

Xiao PingYang glanced at him and looked right into his eyes, then, she said: "I suddenly feel that you're pretty much like a brother to me."

"Huh? Why's that?"

"The way you talk, your behaviour, and the most important thing, your eyes are very similar. I just spoke casually, I hope the Monarch of the Northern Kingdom won't mind it."

AD

"No, I don't mind."

Xiao PingYang looked at Xiao YuAn and murmured something that sounded like 'they're both very similar'. Then she said: "Does the Monarch of the Northern Kingdom believe in destiny?"

This change of topic was a bit too sudden.

Xiao YuAn shook his head and said: "I don't believe in it."

He's indeed a socialist successor! Of course he only believes in materialism.

Xiao PingYang added: "Is that so? Then, do you think that your life choices should be decided by yourself instead of just wanting for the death to arrive?"

Xiao YuAn felt that behind these questions, there were some traps waiting for him to jump right towards them, and after he thought about it, he answered her: "Yes."

"Um." Xiao PingYang pretended to be casual and said: "I hope that one day in the future, Yongning will also be able to make her life choices by herself, rather than someone else choosing for her instead."

Why can't you stop mentioning the female lead every three sentences!

After the beginning of this last topic, Xiao YuAn slowly fell into a trance.

Because he remembered the cause of death of Princess Yongning in the original book.

In the original book, Wuning Wangye's plan for rebellion was exposed, and Yan HeQing was implicated. The Emperor of the Northern Kingdom made up his mind to kill Yan HeQing once and for all. He put Yan HeQing in prison, and sent someone to severely torture him. Princess Yongning couldn't bear this and helped Yan HeQing escape from the Palace; but the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom didn't punish her for this because he loved her dearly.

AD

Three months later, Yan HeQing led his army to break through the Northern Kingdom.

When Yan HeQing captured the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom right in front of the Palace's gates, he vented his hatred on him by torturing him to death. Princess Yongning hanged herself with a three-foot long white silk at the Yongning Palace.

Princess Yonging didn't leave any word behind for Yan HeQing, only shame for the Northern Kingdom.

Princess Yongning died, and she didn't express her thoughts for Yan HeQing even until her death. No one knows whether she loved or hated Yan HeQing at the last moment in her life, or both, or neither.

What she left behind for Yan HeQing was just a cold body and a lifetime of regret and pain.

But, if he had the chance to go back in time, would Yan HeQing choose not to break through the Northern Kingdom?

Xiao YuAn doesn't think so, because Yan HeQing was not only burdened by this hatred, but also he had to think of his Southern Yan Kingdom and the thousand soldiers that put their lives in his hands.

He can't believe in fate, but he can choose by himself. But why is this book full of cruel words written with blood everywhere?

In the street market, Xiao YuAn raised his eyes in a daze, and a playful child passed him by. The peddler was shouting, the candlelights were dazzlingly shining, and the passers-by were talking loudly, all of this felt unreal.

"Monarch? Monarch of the Northern Kingdom?" Xiao PingYang called Xiao YuAn trying to bring him back to reality.

"Ah…" Xiao YuAn touched his cheek uncomfortably. "My mind was somewhere else, forget it. Let's go to the riverside."

At the riverside, women and children were laughing and talking, and the lanterns were accumulated at the middle of the river. They were slowly swimming down the river, it looked like the stars were floating in the water.

AD

Both of them found Yan HeQing and Princess Yongning. Princess Yongning was sitting by the river, making a wish to a lantern. When they saw them, she stood up happily and pulled Xiao PingYang to her side: "PingYang, come quickly, let's send the lanterns together."

Xiao YuAn walked towards Yan HeQing and asked him: "Did something happen just now?"

Yan HeQing replied to him in a cold way: "Nothing happened."

Ah? Heavens, where's your helping hand?

Sensing a faint displeasure coming from Yan HeQing, Xiao YuAn asked him strangely: "What's the matter with you?"

Yan HeQing restrained himself, and shook his head.

Princess Yongning and Xiao PingYang finished putting together the lanterns. She jumped over a few times while holding her skirt, smiled lovingly at Xiao YuAn and said: "Gege, we've already finished with the lanterns, we're ready to go back to the Palace."

Xiao YuAn said: "Huh? So early, Then let's go back together…"

"No, you and your Imperial bodyguard will go around the street market to shop a little bit more. We will go back by ourselves." Princess Yongning didn't give Xiao YuAn any chance to reply. Her eyes were brightly shining, and with a smile, she took Xiao PingYang's hand tightly and led her towards the crowd. Soon enough, they both disappeared into the masses.

"Wait…" Xiao YuAn stretched out his hand and helplessly said: "That's not the way back to the Palace…"

Chapter 56: Enjoying A Beautiful Scenery On A Beautiful Day.

Xiao YuAn and Yan HeQing slowly walked side by side on the bluestone board beside the river. There were a lot of candles illuminating the river, it was such a beautiful scenery. Xiao YuAn asked Yan HeQing: "Would you like to put a lantern?"

"No need."

"Then, let's go stroll around?"

"Yes."

Xiao YuAn stopped walking and looked back at Yan HeQing, he asked him with confusion: "Are you angry? What happened?"

He didn't expect Xiao YuAn to see right through him. Yan HeQing concealed his expression and softly answered: "Nothing happened. There's a troupe singing there, do you want to go see it?"

"Let's go, let's go, let's go."

On top of the stage, set up casually with a wooden board and a red cloth, was a man in female clothes1 with his dancing sleeves, singing about a bright and sunny day. Under the stage, there are several low tables and a lot of spectators. The drums were a little loud and the applause was non stop.

After the both of them listened to the music attentively, Yan HeQing suddenly asked: "Do you like the Princess of the Western Shu Kingdom?"

"Ah?" Xiao YuAn was eating melon seeds while listening to the music and Yan HeQing's question caught him off guard, scaring him to death and the seeds in his hands fell. When he finally understood the meaning behind those words, Xiao YuAn reacted with urgency.

What the hell, Yan HeQing was truly angry after all, because he got too close with Xiao PingYang, he started to doubt them both! Yan HeQing, Yan HeQing, you are the one eating in the bowl and looking at the pot2! This is too much, too much.

AD

And how could he dare to touch your wife! Everyone knows that the wife of a stallion protagonist can't be touched! You can't even take a glance at her!

"Cough." Xiao YuAn patted the crumbs of the melon seed on his hands, and after pondering for a while, he finally answered: "I don't like her. Who told you that I'm attracted to women?"

Sure enough, this time, he must rely on sexual orientation to get rid of arousing suspicion!

Yan HeQing's eyes narrowed slightly: "You did say before that you're not a cut sleeve."

"Ah? I said that? When did I say that? Oh, I seem to have said it." Xiao YuAn was stupefied: "That was before, people change over time. I recently found that I'm more interested in men, look at the actor singing on the stage for example, I find him very eye-catching."

Yan HeQing: "…"

Xiao YuAn felt that the air temperature surrounding him got a little colder. Carefully, he looked back at Yan HeQing's face, and couldn't help but cry out inside his heart: I explained it to you but you're still not satisfied! What else do you want me to do! What else should I do!

At the end of the evening, the song ended. The market streets gradually got empty leaving behind the lively hustle and bustle.

Xiao YuAn was still in a good mood and weighed the gold in his hands that was borrowed from Wuning Wangye. He took Yan HeQing towards the most famous wine shop in the Imperial City to buy some intoxicating fine wines and brought them back to the Palace.

Inside the Palace, the both of them came to the sixth floor of the Yuhua Tower. Looking by the fence3 at the bright moon, the high buildings, the boundless mountains and rivers, it was such a beautiful scene.

"Come, let's get drunk and enjoy while we still can4." Xiao YuAn smiled and opened the seal of the wine jar, immediately, a mellow fragrance came from inside the jar.

Yan HeQing seemed to be in a better mood and he took over the wine jar to drink alongside Xiao YuAn.

AD

After being warmed by wine5, Xiao YuAn was slightly drunk. He held his head and looked at the Palace's cornice at the distance, the stars were sparse, and with a soft smile he said: "I never thought that there'll be a day in which I'll be so close with you."

Yan HeQing looked at Xiao YuAn and replied: "Me too."

Xiao YuAn drank the second half of the wine jar, stood up shakily, took a breath and said: "I suddenly want to sing a song."

"What type of song."

"A love song." Xiao YuAn cleared his throat, held onto the railings and began to sing: "You're a mighty and powerful man in a horse, the galloping horse is like the wind! The boundless wilderness wanders with you!6"

"Pft—" Yan HeQing choked after taking a sip of wine and coughed for a long time.

Xiao YuAn looked at Yan HeQing and laughed at him. His smile was indulgent and warm, he shook his body and his feet were unstable. He stumbled and was supported by Yan HeQing. Xiao YuAn held onto Yan HeQing's arm and fell halfway sitting on the ground: "This, this really is a love song, even if you don't believe me, it's a love song. Do you believe me or not?"

Yan HeQing helplessly said: "I believe that you're drunk."

"Well, I am drunk." Xiao YuAn said with a smile: "Because you've become two, there's two of you in front of me."

After he said that, Xiao YuAn grabbed the half filled jar of wine. Yan HeQing fought with him for the wine jar because he wanted to take it away from him. In the end Xiao YuAn held onto it and emptied it's content on his stomach, leaving the almost empty jar on the ground. He then asked Yan HeQing with a smile: "Have you ever thought about the future?"

Yan HeQing gently raised his eyebrows: "The future?"

"Yes, the future." Xiao YuAn leaned on the railing with his elbow around his knee, and a bright smile adorning his face: "I want to find a leisurely village, buy some land, grow a farm, open a wine shop or do business. Although capitalism is rotten, it's still better than not having any money. I'll make some good scholar friends, I won't be deceived and I don't have to suspect anyone7 and there won't be a sword at my neck. I will live a free life, feeling at ease."

AD

Yan HeQing leaned over and looked at Xiao YuAn. He was silent for a long time, like he was waiting for him to keep talking. In the end he couldn't wait any longer, so he asked it himself: "And then?"

Xiao YuAn looked back at him and felt that his eyes were a little bit blurry, so he couldn't focus: "What then?"

Yan Heqing's eyes were very clear and his voice was very soft: "Where am I? What about… what about me?"

"You're… you're…" Xiao YuAn tried to stand up by holding onto the railing, but he became more and more dizzy because of the wine. His mouth was slurred and he couldn't say a word, but in his mind, his voice was quiet and clear.

You're remonstrating with all the Officials in civil and military affairs, you're wielding the sword that controls the whole world, you're sleeping on a bed that is sweet scented. You and me, we're too different. One will leave and the other will be lenient, each in their own happiness8.

Yes, Xiao YuAn understands that even if he's now the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom, he still hopes that Yan HeQing would be able to rule the world.

"You, you may, want to, want to carry me back…" Xiao YuAn couldn't finish his words that he had to lean back against the railing, he was shaking, and half his body fell in the air.

Yan HeQing's eyes narrowed and stepped forward very quickly, reaching out for Xiao YuAn he brought him to his embrace. Xiao YuAn smashed into Yan HeQing's arms and them both hugged each other, because of the force of the impact, they staggered for a few steps. The wine jar was kicked with their feet pouring out the liquor inside, its mellow smell was very intoxicating.

Yan HeQing's heart was so frightened that it was beating like a drum, and Xiao YuAn chuckled twice. With an unrestrained look, Yan HeQing glanced at his eyes that were misty because of drunkenness. And just then, he heard the world of the mortals whispering passionate words at his ear.

On this long night, the wind blew on their sleeves and the red lantern lit up the corner of the balcony. Yan HeQing hugged Xiao YuAn's waist, suddenly leaning over, and kissing his lips. The wine was so fragrant, that it made him forget about the bustling world.

Xiao YuAn was so passionately kissed that he couldn't breathe, and his eyes opened with difficulty, only to feel that his human body was in a trance. His feet were floating like in a dream, like he could fall into the clouds. He grabbed Yan HeQing's lapel and pulled it several times, until a small box fell out of Yan HeQing's sleeves.

This scared Yan HeQing, stopping his actions, he leaned over to pick up the box with panic. But before that, he looked back and found that Xiao YuAn was leaning against the railing, he was so drunk that he passed out.

AD

The small box that fell on the ground rolled out a silk that was only two inches long. Yan HeQing quickly took it back and glanced at it, his eyes were suddenly cold.

On the silk cloth there were only a few words: At the beginning of the third day of March, at the Baili inn on the West side of the Imperial City, I'll be waiting for seven days. Keep the silk cloth as a token.

Today, it's the third day of February.

Yan HeQing folded the silk cloth very slowly, put it back into the box, and hid it into his sleeve. Then, he carried Xiao YuAn on his back, and step by step, slowly walking towards the Imperial bedchamber, trying very hard to be as silent as possible, taking as many breaks as needed.

Chapter 57: Of Course I Choose To Be Considerate Of Him.

The next day at noon, Xiao YuAn was in a daze; he felt his head aching due to a hangover.

He searched through his mind about last night's events and remembered the awesome "Horse set" song. He then dreamed of a Mongolian man with the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear1, he said to him in a charming voice: "Tyrannical President? Have you ever met such a simple, kindest and cute horse rider?"

Xiao YuAn turned around and ran away. While running, he fell into a man's arms and when he looked up, he saw that it was Yan HeQing. Afterwards, the dream became more frightening than the Mongolian man.

In the dream Yan HeQing even kissed him! He kissed him so deeply and affectionately that he couldn't move, this type of kiss made him suspect that it was out of romantic love!

After the kiss, Yan HeQing looked at him calmly and began to sing: "It's a magical road to the sky eeehh?2"

What the hell is this!

The drunken hallucination is really terrible!

Xiao YuAn was rubbing his head when Hong Xiu pushed the door open. When she saw that Xiao YuAn had woken up, she quickly brought up the sobering soup and a hot towel.

After he drank the hot soup, Xiao YuAn slowly came back to normal, then he asked her: "How did I come back yesterday?"

Hong Xiu covered her mouth and smiled warmly: "Answering to His Majesty, Bodyguard Yan was the one that brought you back. His Majesty's plan to win his heart than to act with violence is indeed a successful move."

Xiao YuAn grinned: "Was he drunk? If he was drunk, you must give him a sobering soup."

AD

"Bodyguard Yan was sober last night, but His Majesty was drunk enough to pass out, and that really scared this maidservant to death." Hong Xiu replied. "Your Majesty, would you like for this maidservant to open a window to ventilate the air?"

"Yes, open it."

Hong Xiu walked towards the window casket, pushed it open, and let the warm spring breeze enter the room. Hong Xiu turned to Xiao YuAn and smiled: "Your Majesty, the pear blossom at the corner of the courtyard has bloomed."

"Pear blossom?" Xiao YuAn wanted to look out of the window, but his eyes fell inexplicably on the red hairpin tied at Hong Xiu's bun, the one Xiao YuAn had gifted her before.

Hong Xiu answered him with a smile: "Yes, it is snow white and beautiful. It seems that the temperature will get warmer."

The spring is full of warmth, and the time to part ways is getting closer.

The envoys of the Western Shu Kingdom spent nearly half a month in the Northern Kingdom, and after the spring melted the snow away, they were ready to leave.

With a friendly and diplomatic attitude, Xiao YuAn sent Xiao PingYang and her envoys out of the Imperial City.

Xiao PingYang led the horse in a valiant and formidable way. She said to Xiao YuAn: "Monarch of the Northern Kingdom, we will meet again."

Xiao YuAn replied to her with a smile: "Sure."

Xiao PingYang suddenly chuckled: "Emperor of the Northern Kingdom, if the world is big, you and I will be family."

What the fuck.

AD

Xiao PingYang smiled!?

Who said that the Iron Masked Lady never laughs? What do you mean with this sudden smile?

And what do you mean by becoming family, haven't you read the script? Don't you know that Yan HeQing wants to unify the land under heaven?

Xiao YuAn was still in shock, but Xiao PingYang had already left. She didn't know that the sound of the horse's hoof leaving the Imperial City pierced right through someone's heart.

In spring, the herbs regained their bugs, which provoked all kinds of diseases.

Princess Yongning occasionally will catch the cold and collapse on the bed resentfully, without being able to get up for several days.

Xiao YuAn heard the news and hurriedly went to Yongning Palace to see her. Princess Yongning was lying on the bed, her small face was red, she was coughing, her nose and eyes were red too. She looked extremely pitiful.

Xiao YuAn asked the Imperial physician about her condition, and when he heard that it wasn't a serious illness, he felt relieved. Seeing that Princess Yongning was looking decadent and powerless, Xiao YuAn accompanied her for a long time and talked with her. Then, Princess Yongning suddenly said to him: "Imperial Brother, I like someone."

Hiss3.

Xiao YuAn inhaled and exhaled, and sighed inside his heart: As expected, last time, at the street market, the male lead and the female lead fell in love at first sight! They're worthy of being the official relationship! The heaven is fast! Accurate! And ruthless!

Princess Yongning carefully observed Xiao YuAn's expression. After seeing that his expression changed from surprise to emotion, she felt really nervous for a while and secretly grabbed the corner of the bed, waiting for Xiao YuAn to give her an answer.

Xiao YuAn kind of immersed himself in thoughts, and after a long pause, he said: "…I understand, I completely understand."

AD

Princess Yongning asked nervously: "Imperial Brother, y-you, don't you have any complaints?"

How would he dare to have any complaints!

Xiao YuAn laughed and replied to her: "No, you must be happy. Don't let it burden you, it doesn't matter, really."

Princess Yongning was so happy that she stretched her hands and hugged Xiao YuAn's waist: "Thank you, Imperial Brother!"

Xiao YuAn patted her on the back, feeling in his heart like a father whose daughter had just grown up.

Then, in the next few days, Yan HeQing discovered that Xiao YuAn would always look at him with a strange look on his eyes, which once made him suspect that either his feelings or his secret silk scroll had been discovered.

Later, Yan HeQing realized that Xiao YuAn might have…

Just poor eyesight.

Chapter 58: Of Course I Choose To Forgive Him.

At spring, the work and swallows are abundant, the world is unpredictable.

While Xiao YuAn was thinking that the plot of the original book had been disrupted completely by him, from the General Sun's Mansion came some unexpected news that were beyond his control.

The old General Sun was seriously ill.

General Sun's body didn't collapse out of nowhere. After all, he had been fighting for many years, how could he have a body without any injuries after so many battles. But still, no one expected that he would suddenly fall at this time.

When Xiao YuAn arrived at the old General's Mansion to pay him a visit, General Sun was already at his death bed. He took Xiao YuAn by the hand and burst into tears: "Your Majesty, although you've been confused in the past, you've changed your mind and you're able to know your mistakes and improve what's wrong. This Minister knows that His Majesty has the people in his heart, and His Majesty is a bright Monarch that's worthy of his soldier's trust and is someone worthy of guarding the Country against death threats. But Sun Yuzhong will soon die, and I can no longer go to the battlefield. I can no longer protect the Country, my heart is unwilling, really unwilling."

Xiao YuAn felt like he had a fish bone stuck in his throat1, after a long pause, he softly said: "General Sun, you've worked hard."

Because the old General Sun needed to rest, Xiao YuAn didn't dare stay for too long, and after hearing a few more pieces of advice, he left.

When he came out of the General's official residence, Xiao YuAn bumped into a man.

It was the second male, Li Wuding.

He looked sorrowful and in grief. It seemed that he also knew about General Sun's serious illness. When he saw Xiao YuAn, Li Wuding knelt down and saluted him: "Weichen salutes His Majesty."

"Stand up." Xiao YuAn looked at Li Wuding and his heart was filled with complex feelings.

General Sun can't lead the army anymore, which means that he should transfer the Military power. In the sense of emotion and reasons, Xiao YuAn should give the General's position to Li Wuding. However, Xiao YuAn was hesitant when he remembered that Li Wuding will surely become a traitor in the near future.

"Are you and Xie Chungui getting along these days?" Asked Xiao YuAn.

"Answering to His Majesty, the youngest son of the Xie family is quite capable. Weichen thinks that he will make great achievements in the future." Li Wuding replied.

These two, one betrayed the Country, and the other protected the Country with his own life. But now, they're unexpectedly getting along pretty well?

Even though Xiao YuAn already knows the plot of the original book, he still feels that the fate of these two people is really hard to figure out.

Xiao YuAn nodded and was about to turn away, ready to leave when Li Wuding suddenly called out to him: "Your Majesty."

"Huh?" Xiao YuAn turned his head around to look at him clearly confused.

Li Wuding's eyes were dark, and after a little pause, he finally opened his mouth and said: "Your Majesty, It's necessary to be defensive, even from the closest and intimate person around, or…the Ministers and Dixiong2."

Xiao YuAn stared at him without saying a word. The two of them remained silent for a few seconds until Xiao YuAn asked him directly: "Go to the point."

Li Wuding replied: "Your Majesty, without any conclusive evidence, this official doesn't dare to talk about it."

He's not interested in appeasing people.

Xiao YuAn simply nodded his head, and turned away.

AD

Every year, at the beginning of Spring, there will be some competitions at the barracks of the Northern Kingdom. Firstly, it was meant to abandon the old and welcome the new year. Secondly, it was meant to let each soldier check their own training achievements over the past year.

This rule was set by the old General Sun. And even though he's seriously ill and unable to lead the army, this rule continues.

At this time, several soldiers were setting up the challenge arena, even if it's a temporary ring, it's important for it to be strong.

However, the soldiers were still a little bit exhausted.

Because Xiao YuAn was with them, at the side, clapping.

When they knocked on the wood wedge, Xiao YuAn will clap, so they had to knock on the wood following his rhythm.

Just knock with the rhythm, and-that's-it!

Xiao YuAn would also sing along with the rhythm: "Two tigers, two tigers3. Hello, it's fast over there, slow down, do you understand the four on four claps? Four on four claps."

The soldier that was holding the hammer suddenly collapsed.

He doesn't understand! He really doesn't understand!

A soldier that was next to him patted him comfortably.

Xiongdi4, calm down, this is The Emperor, you can't throw the hammer at him.

AD

Fortunately, after a while, Li Wuding appeared right in time to rescue the group of five rough soldiers that were forced to accept the influence of music teaching.

"Your Majesty?" Li Wuding was surprised and saluted him5: "Why are you here?"

Xiao YuAn smiled mischievously: "There's no reason, I just came to take a look."

Although his statement wasn't false, it wasn't the entire truth. Because General Sun was seriously ill, the position of General was now vacant; Xiao YuAn was still very doubtful whether he should give the position to Li Wuding, so he just came to take a look.

Li Wuding was slightly surprised to see Xiao YuAn dressed in a simple and neat white brocade with long sleeves. He was wondering, why would the Emperor, who always liked to show off, be so modest now.

What surprised Li Wuding even more was that Xiao YuAn only brought with him a single Imperial bodyguard.

The Imperial bodyguard stood quietly behind Xiao YuAn. He wasn't smiling, but he didn't look angry either, yet his presence was extraordinary. But the coldness in his eyes couldn't be ignored.

Li Wuding said: "Your Majesty, the outside is covered with dust, you can go to the military account."

"Yes, I also wanted to ask you something." Xiao YuAn nodded his head, turned around but suddenly remembered something, so he turned back to the group of soldiers who were too afraid to even set up the challenge arena and said to them: "Four claps, strong and weak next strong and weak!"

A soldier that was using the hammer almost hit his hand.

Several people came to the military account, all of them were soldiers that were discussing the matter of the competition. When they saw Li Wuding and Xiao YuAn walking in, they immediately knelt down and saluted the Emperor.

"Stand up, I have something to speak privately with General Li, please go out first." Xiao YuAn raised his hand.

AD

The several soldiers quickly withdrew from the Military account, leaving only Xiao YuAn and Li Wuning behind.

Chapter 59: Of Course I Choose To Hold A Grudge.

One of the soldiers wondered: "Wasn't the Emperor never interested in the barracks? Why did he suddenly come today?" Another soldier with a sharp face and thin eyes sneered and replied to him: "Stupid, General Sun is seriously ill. The Emperor must have come because of the matter regarding the General's position."

"The General's position must definitely go to General Li!" Someone said.

The sharp faced soldier touched his chin: "I don't think so, after all, the close friend of Wuning Wangye is…cough…"

Knowing that he almost consciously said the wrong thing, the sharp faced soldier coughed and stopped talking.

The several soldiers that came out of the military account were about to go to the competition arena, when they suddenly saw an Imperial bodyguard standing at the front of the military account.

The Imperial bodyguard was dressed in dark clothes with black patterns. His eyebrows were sword shaped and his eyes were like stars, they couldn't be ignored. The several soldiers thought about the Emperor and they couldn't help themselves, staring at him more intensively.

At a first glance, the sharp faced soldier suddenly stopped and stared straight at Yan HeQing, after a while, he started cursing: "This son of a bitch, isn't he…"

With that, the sharp faced soldier stepped forward and reached for Yan HeQing's lapel, his mouth made a strange noise: "Ooohhh1, isn't this Yan HeQing?"

Everyone else went stunned and hurriedly walked forward: "Nie Er, what are you doing, this is His Majesty's person."

"Motherfucker, what kind of the Emperor's person? He's from the Southern Yan Kingdom." Nie Er sneered.

"What… Southern Yan Kingdom?" Everyone was surprised.

AD

All of a sudden, Yan HeQing was also shocked for a bit, and after seeing Nie Er's face more carefully, Yan HeQing's expression suddenly changed.

"Eh? Did Yan-huangzi thought of me?" Nie Er laughed disdainfully. "I was the one that escorted Yan-huangzi all the way to the Northern Kingdom. Oohh, did I leave a little impression on Yan-huangzi? I did break your arm on the way, ouch! But now, it looks like it's already healed?"

After he said that, Nie Er reached out to touch Yan HeQing's right shoulder. Yan HeQing blocked him with a cold face and Nie Er abruptly kicked him on the knee, throwing him on the ground. Then he stepped on Yan HeQing, and with a cruel smile he said: "I could expect you to be dead by now after being sent to prison. What I didn't expect was that you'll become His Majesty's dog. You're really difficult to deal with."

In fact, Yan HeQing was perfectly capable of beating Nie Er to a pulp, he just couldn't do it right now because he was in the Northern Kingdom's barracks. If he made any move against the soldiers of the Northern Kingdom, he would bring shame to Xiao YuAn.

"That's enough, Nie Er. If His Majesty hears about this, you will have to bear painful consequences." Someone stepped forward and persuaded him to stop.

"The Emperor? It's even possible for the Emperor to think that the captives of the enemy country are more important than the soldiers that fight for him?" Nie Er said with disdain. Kneeling down, he pressed Yan HeQing's head into the sand, his eyes were glancing at him fiercely. "Yan HeQing, even if you're the Emperor's dog, you still have the blood of the Southern Yan Kingdom in your veins. The Northern Kingdom doesn't welcome dogs like you, do you understand?"

Quick as lightning, Yan HeQing suddenly reached out his hand and grabbed Nie Er's neck. His posture was twisted, and then, he suddenly withdrew his strength. These actions were very quick and neat, almost shocking to death all the soldiers present on the scene.

Nie Er didn't know how to react at all and his throat fell into the hands of his enemy. In the end, the expected pain didn't hit him, because Yan HeQing withdrew his hand in silence.

When Nie Er recovered from his initial shock, he suddenly bursted into laughter: "You don't dare? Yes, you don't dare to start a fight, because this is the Northern Kingdom. But you can still give it a try, do you want to fight? Yan HeQing, I tell you, you're not brave enough to dare, but I dare."

After saying that, Nie Er raised his fist towards Yan HeQing's cheek, but at that instant, he was stopped by someone else.

Xie Chungui firmly blocked Nie Er's fist and frowned: "Nie Er-dage2, what are you doing? There are rules in the barracks, fighting is not allowed."

When Nie Er saw that Xie Chungui stopped him, he wasn't annoyed at all. He replied to him: "Xie-xiao'er3, this can't be called fighting."

AD

"If this isn't fighting, then what is it?" Out of nowhere, a majestic voice came from behind, and Li Wuding looked at Nie Er with anger.

Nie Er knew that he was on the wrong side of the argument, so he just let go of Yan HeQing and stood up.

"Nie Er! You're looking to get punished, aren't you?" Li Wuding stared at him with anger, asking him with a deep voice.

"General Li, please calm down." Someone pleaded for Nie Er. "This man is from the Southern Yan Kingdom. Nie Er's brother died in the hands of the Southern Yan soldiers, so Nie Er he… General Li… This….."

"Fine, after the competition is over, I will punish him with the penalty of ten military sticks." Li Wuding said with a sharp voice, turned around and walked back to the military account.

Knowing that Li Wuding has always rewarded the punishments seriously, no one dared to say anything more, and left one after another with a loud YES!

Nie Er took a last look at Yan HeQing and turned around, placing his arm around Xie Chungui's shoulders and said: "Huh, I was getting rid of the anger inside my heart. These ten military sticks will be worth it. Let's go, Xie-xiao'er. Before the competition starts, let this Gege teach you a few tricks."

Someone laughed at him: "Pull it down, would you? Xie Chungui knows more about fighting than you do."

Nie Er loosened his hold on Xie Chungui's shoulders and jokingly pushed that man: "Get lost! You're talking pure bullshit."

Xie Chungui looked back at Yan HeQing, who hadn't gotten up yet, and after seeing that he wasn't able to clearly see Yan HeQing's expression since he had his head lowered, he no longer paid attention to him and followed the group of soldiers that were laughing and joking in the distance.

As the crowd dispersed, Yan HeQing started to get up very slowly. He held the hilt of his sword resting at his waist with one hand. It was clear that the palm holding the hilt was red and bloody, but Yan HeQing was unaware of this. He finally stood up and straightened his back. He slowly tidied up his appearance and patted the dust off his body. His eyes were slightly cold and lacked any emotion. Yan HeQing raised his head and looked at the Northern Kingdom barracks with these eyes, like looking at a dead object, calm and indifferent.

Chapter 60: Of Course I Choose To Cover Up My Mistakes.

Li Wuding walked back to the military account, and Xiao YuAn, who was sitting cross legged on the felt, looked at him: "What happened?"

"Some soldiers were having a fight. I have already dealt with it." Li Wuding answered.

Xiao YuAn nodded: "Right. By the way, where's General Fan Tong?"

"Your Majesty, you're asking about Fan Tong?"

"Yes, yes, Fan Tong1."

Wuning Wangye's trusted aide is the second candidate for the General's position.

Li Wuding replied: "General Fan doesn't come to the barracks that often."

Xiao YuAn reluctantly held his head with one hand. This was the exact reason why his mind was so entangled: If, according to the original book, he gave the General's position to Fan Tong, then the soldiers of the Northern Kingdom would become more and more dispirited and will not have any fighting spirit.

But, if it were given to Li Wuding, the one that would most likely betray the Country when the time came, then the Northern Kingdom would be like a bird trapped in a cage, a turtle trapped in its own shell, trampled by the armored horses of Southern Yan.

Seeing that Xiao YuAn was silent, Li Wuding sat upright, with his hands on his knees waiting patiently.

Suddenly, a shout of cheers came from the outside of the account, and Xiao YuAn's line of thought was interrupted by it. He then raised his head to ask: "What's happening outside?"

"

"

Li Wuding replied to him: "Someone must have won a competition."

"It started already?" Xiao YuAn stood up. "Let's look at it for a while."

Both of them went out of the Military Account and walked towards the competition arena. Yan HeQing, who had been guarding the Account, kept his eyes on them all the way.

The three of them went towards the contest and after walking for a while, Xiao YuAn stopped all of a sudden. Turning around he took a look at Yan HeQing's palm and reached out to pat the sand off his forehead, then he asked him: "Who provoked you?"

Yan HeQing: "Nobody."

Li Wuding: "Nie Er."

The both of them talked at the same time, but their answers were different.

Xiao YuAn looked at Yan HeQing and then at Li Wuding, then he said to Li Wuding: "Explain."

"A moment ago, my improper discipline in the soldiers led them to fight and I wasn't able to control the fighting, I plead His Majesty to punish m-…"

Xiao YuAn interrupted him: "You mentioned a name just now, could you say it again?"

Li Wuding was puzzled but still answered him: "Nie Er."

Nie Er?

AD

Xiao YuAn positioned his finger against his chin.

The name sounded too familiar, but Xiao YuAn couldn't remember it from the original book just now.

There was another shout and applause coming from the arena, and Xiao YuAn decided to put down the doubts wandering in his mind and looked up instead.

Not far away, Xie Chungui hit the horse and advanced forward. Taking the bow and setting an arrow, he focused himself on stretching the bow at its fullest and then let the arrow go. The arrow hit at the red centre and a young man with high spirits started to applause and cheer. Xie Chungui didn't show a proud look and jumped off the horse, then he bowed in gratitude for those that were applauding for him.

Someone came to report: "General Li, the results of the equestrian competition came out. The first place is for the youngest son of the Xie family, Xie Chungui."

Not surprised, Li Wuding smiled slightly: "Yes, as expected."

After the equestrian challenge, too many people were participating at the Martial Arts competition so they divided the platform into two arenas. Xiao YuAn stood happily under one of the arenas to watch the match with great interest. Suddenly, he heard that a sharp faced and narrow minded soldier stood victorious, and someone shouted: "Yes! That's Nie Er."

Xiao YuAn quickly fixed his eyes on the soldier, but the only thing he saw was the soldier making an extremely provocative gesture towards the arena.

This gesture was directed at Yan HeQing.

When he saw that Yan HeQing looked away, Nie Er immediately sneered.

Xiao YuAn then abruptly realized who this Nie Er was.

In the original book, when the Southern Yan Kingdom was invaded, and Yan HeQing was taken away from the Southern Yan towards the Northern Kingdom, this soldier was the one in charge of him.

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Because his brother died on the battlefield, this soldier felt extreme disgust for the people of the Southern Yan Kingdom, so he used all means to humiliate Yan HeQing all the way back. Not only did he not give food to him, or sometimes he would give him moldy food, but also, he even nearly ruined Yan HeQing's left arm!

Xiao YuAn was very impressed by the original book. This soldier even dared to press Yan HeQing's head into the dirty water and maliciously said: "Aren't you a dog? Why don't you bark? Come on, let's hear your bark, I'll give you something to eat if you bark."

Fine, Xiao YuAn understands that all of these things happened in order to pave the way for the toughening of Yan HeQing.

But he still lamented that there's no other way than to just deal with the plot, and at the same time, he filled a 300 word length comment for the author at the comment section: 'You evil stepmother, please accept this blade as a thank you gift'. There's a trace of unhappiness rising from the bottom of President Xiao's heart. He clung uneasily to the cuffs of his royal dress, and then turned his head to look at Yan HeQing and said: "I feel like I'm wearing a suit and a cigar is in my hand right now, so I will start a new chapter on my road of becoming a Tyrannical President."

Yan HeQing didn't understand him at all: "What?"

Xiao YuAn smiled lightly at him, then he propped himself up to the arena and clapped Nie Er: "Come on, let's have a match."

Chapter 61: Sorry, I Have The Right To Do Whatever I Want.

Everyone was stunned! The young Monarch's face was so tender and delicate, and his body wasn't built. Just now, he shocked everyone because of this unusual action.

Nie Er was also dumbfounded. He breathed with difficulty for a long time, and with some hesitation he said: "Your Majesty… I…weichen doesn't dare, I…"

"Don't worry, just treat me like an ordinary person." Xiao YuAn approached him.

Nie Er looked at Xiao YuAn's thin arms and legs and felt that he could break the Monarch's small body if he touched it casually. His breath was accelerated and hard: "No, Your Majesty, I'm afraid that if I move my hand I will hurt you. It's not good…"

Xiao YuAn smiled slightly, then he abruptly reached out and twisted Nie Er's left arm and pinned him to the ground.

Once again, everyone present was stunned when they saw Nie Er fell to the ground. When he came back to reality, he felt some pain gradually coming from his left arm. He felt anxious and in a hurry he broke away from Xiao YuAn's grip and then turned over.

Xiao YuAn's face showed a light smile, but secretly in his heart he was saying: The body of the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom is too weak! He can't even twist an arm! Do you understand that it's okay to exercise outside the bed once in a while?!

Although he felt frustrated, Nie Er didn't dare to fight seriously with the Emperor. He quickly clenched his fist and said: "Your Majesty is really good at martial arts, but Weichen can't compare with him, I must admit my defeat." Nie Er quickly got down the challenge arena, fearing angering the Emperor.

In the end, it wasn't interesting enough. Xiao YuAn felt embarrassed and that he couldn't show his face in public, jumped down from the arena holding his heart firmly with one hand, then he raised his head meeting Yan HeQing's bright eyes. When he looked at him, it was like a thousand lights were shining inside his pupils, with a soft voice Yan HeQing said to him: "Thank you."

All of a sudden, Xiao YuAn didn't feel so ashamed anymore.

The challenge arena at the side was very noisy, because on the other side was full of fist and punches, they were fighting to the ground.

Xie Chungui went with all of his strength, but still, he couldn't hold Li Wuding's fist.

Someone whispered in a low voice: "How come these two are fighting so fiercely?"

"Sigh, you don't know?"

"What do you mean?"

"General Li said to the youngest son of the Xie family that if he manages to beat him, then he would make him his deputy."

"The youngest son of the Xie family is outstanding, General Li doesn't let the water go1."

"General Li did let it go one time before, but Xie Chungui got so angry that he refused to admit he had won and admitted defeat instead. So after that General Li had been fighting with him with all his strength."

"It turns out it was like this."

In other words, Xie Chungui had already been defeated.

Xie Chungui was half kneeling on the ground, clenching his fist tightly, he seemed disappointed with the end result. Suddenly, he felt a hand touching his head. It was Li Wuding who was patting his head: "There's some progress."

Xie Chungui clenched his teeth and said: "I'm still unable to win against you."

Li Wuding smirked: "You will in the future."

Xie Chungui raised his head, his eyes were burning like fire, and his tone was firm: "I definitely will."

Li Wuding stretched out his hand and pulled Xie Chungui up, looking back at him, he was still smiling: "Yes, I'm waiting for that day to come."

The martial arts competition slowly came to an end. The next day, Xiao YuAn, after tossing and turning all night in bed, finally decided to give the General's position to Li Wuding.

First of all, he didn't want to go the same path as the original book. Secondly, although Li Wuding may betray his country, he still was a close friend of the old General Sun, so it will not be like the original where it was reported that the soldiers were being abusive to the common people.

After receiving the Imperial edict, Li Wuding knelt on the ground and lost his voice for a long while before giving his thanks to the Emperor.

Li Wuding was supposed to hold a banquet in his mansion commemorating such a big event. However he was afraid that because of General Sun's serious illness, it wasn't appropriate to celebrate a happy event. So, in the end, he only invited a few dixiong that fought alongside him in the battlefield. He said to them that it was just a small drinking party to liven things up a bit.

Even though he didn't fight side by side with Li Wuding, Xie Chungui received an invitation anyway.

Xie Chungui attended the celebration banquet for the first time and paid great attention to it. He solemnly discussed the congratulation gift with his mother and family, and then took a carriage to the Li Mansion, dressed in royal clothes.

Although General Li had already made great contributions in war and gained a formidable prestige, his mansion was still very humble. The young boy almost thought that he had gone in the wrong direction.

There were no bodyguards or servants, and a red door god2 painting was posted in front of the narrow vermilion wood door. Xie Chungui walked towards the front door and knocked twice, but then he saw that the door was unlocked. After a little hesitation, he pushed the door open and walked in. What he saw inside was a simple small courtyard, a stone chair, a wooden shed and the entrance of a grapevine.

Xie Chungui was still in a daze when he saw a man walking out of the kitchen, inside it was filled with a little bit of smoke.

Li Wuding, who had a chicken in his left hand and a duck in his right hand, looked at the silk and satin that Xie Chungui was wearing, at the rare and precious gifts in his hands, and then looked down at his own coarse linen clothes: "Uh…this is…that's…stewed duck soup?"

AD

As Li Wuding said that, he raised the white-haired duck with its neck in his hand. The duck didn't succumb to the cruelty of fate and tried to fight against the shackles of being slaughtered by someone. After that, several muddy duck feathers fell slowly into the silk holding the jewels in Xie Chungui's hands.

Li Wuding silently hid the duck behind him.

"You…you…" Xie Chungui stuttered, he was so scared that he started to talk with honorific speech, "Do you cook by yourself?"

Li Wuding nodded with a smile: "I didn't make it clear to you earlier. It's not a feast, rather it's more of having a meal together with the dixiong. In the end you had to spend a lot of time preparing, it was impolite of me."

"It's me…it was me who was the one that didn't understand." Xie Chungui bowed his head, his voice getting smaller as he spoke. Suddenly, someone pushed open the door and entered. It was one of the soldiers, a big bearded man.

His voice was loud and full of vitality, and when he entered through the door, he shouted: "Oooh! Li Wuding! Oops, I should be calling you Great General Li3 now, right! Is the wine ready? Whoops! Who's this? And why are you all dressed up!? Eh, isn't this the youngest son of the Xie family? Hahaha, are you here to ask for a maiden's hand in marriage? Such a shame because there's only rough old men here!"

Xie Chungui lowered his head and was unable to speak. Even in a low voice, he looked extremely embarrassed.

Li Wuding smashed the soldier with his shoulder away: "What? That was such a sour speech, can't you bear to see a young man with a good appearance?"

"Cough! Isn't it a pity for him? Look at the youngest son of the Xie family and how he came to congratulate you in contrast to how you entertain guests dressed like that." The man with a big beard and an imposing aura didn't want to lose. He laughed until he choked with his own saliva.

Li Wuding laughed alongside him, and then whispered to Xie Chungui: "You can go put the gift at the wing room, and, if you don't mind, you can also change into my clothes. Just wait for these people to get drunk. In case they make a scene, you will end up smelling of wine."

"Okay." Xie Chungui nodded.

Li Wuding laughed loudly, and then walked into the kitchen with the chicken and the duck in his hands.

-? The Author has something to say-

As for the President's military force value, he has something to say.

President Xiao: If I could return to my original body, don't even mention Nie Er, Nie 3, 4, 5, 6 or 74, I would even dare to fight Yan-ge 丨 Yan HeQing: Huh?

Xiao YuAn: Uh… nothing, you heard me wrong.

Yan HeQing: You might as well give it a try.

Xiao YuAn: T-try i-it! W-wait! What are you saying!

Yan HeQing: Try it in bed.

Xiao YuAn: Yan-ge! Wake up! The plot hasn't even developed to that stage, not yet !

Chapter 62: A Letter That Holds A Pillar.1

The courtyard wasn't big, and yet, there were so many wing rooms. Xie Chungui didn't know which one should he go in and turned around to ask when he saw the bearded big soldier standing behind him. He smiled and patted Xie Chungui on the head: "Don't worry, Li Wuding's house doesn't have any girls. You can enter whatever room you want, that one is his room where his robes and armor are."

Xie Chungui became more and more surprised with Li's Mansion: "General Li is well-known for his merits, why doesn't he have a wife?"

The bearded soldier coughed and replied: "Everyone wants to marry some girl to him, but he's the one that doesn't want to get married. He says that because he doesn't know if he will live or die on the battlefield, he doesn't want to hurt his unfortunate wife."

Xie Chungui nodded and then walked into Li Wuding's wing room.

Li Wuding's wing room also had a simple decoration. A single bed, a round table, a few low stools, and if it wasn't for the dozen or so crumpled military books filling the book shelves, the room would seem pretty empty. Xie Chungui quickly changed his clothes and couldn't help his curiosity, so he took a military book and looked at it for a little bit. After reading for a while, he realized that some time had passed already, so he placed the military book where it was before and quickly left the wing room.

In the courtyard, Li Wuding was arranging the dishes and chopsticks. Around the big round table were the several soldiers, who already began to drink for some time now. When they saw Xie Chungui returning, the bearded soldier waved at him and urged: "Youngest son of the Xie Family, come quickly! We were just waiting for you!"

The dishes on the table weren't exquisite. These could be described as being simple home cooking, but the taste was actually pretty good. The group of big men were eating happily and soon the meat dishes were almost gone. Unlike the several soldiers that came from the battlefield, Xie Chungui had a good family education ever since he was a child. Compared with the soldiers that were eating directly with their hands, his eating style could be described as being extremely polite.

Li Wuding glanced at the soldiers who were devouring the food like their life depended on it, and then at Xie Chungui, who was slowly eating with his head slightly bowed. He involuntarily smiled, picked up an empty plate and filled it with a large amount of meat and vegetables and then placed it in front of Xie Chungui.

Although Xie Chungui was the youngest child in his family, he was never granted a favor like this, to eat selected food especially for him. He was so surprised that he repeatedly waved his hands: "General Li, I…"

Li Wuding interrupted him: "It's alright, I don't have so many rules in my house. You must eat until you're full. After all, how can such a young man beat me if he doesn't eat enough to grow strong?"

Xie Chungui squeezed his chopsticks tightly, stopped talking, and started devouring the meat and vegetables that were offered to him.

AD

After three rounds of drinking, the soldiers were quite drunk. When their chopsticks finally fell, they began to talk about their feats in the battlefield and the reason behind why they became soldiers in the first place.

The Xie family joined the army from generation to generation, and ever since Xie Chungui was born, he knew that his fate must be at the battlefield fighting alongside a very powerful army. So, at first glance, when he heard their reasons for joining the army, he felt that they were incredible and surprising.

Xie Chungui was happily nodding his head while listening, and then, he turned to ask Li Wuding: "General Li, why did you join the army?"

Li Wuding thought for a while and then decided to say: "I won't say it, I'm afraid that you will be disappointed."

Seeing that Xie Chungui was reluctantly staring at him, Li Wuding felt helpless: "Fine, I'll tell you. I joined the army because I wanted to survive."

Xie Chungui was caught off guard: "Survive?"

Li Wuding nodded: "When I was sixteen, there was a famine in the village, but because of the war, the last grain has to be handed over to the Imperial Court. It couldn't be helped. In order to be able to eat, I became a soldier."

Xie Chungui asked him again: "What about your parents, siblings?"

Li Wuding put the last bite of rice at the bottom of the bowl into his mouth and softly said: "They all starved to death."

Those five words, spoken with a light voice, weren't as heavy as a feather, but it still felt like a big mountain was crushing Xie Chungui, making him lose his voice.

The lofty beliefs and obsessions of some people are just the bottom line for others to survive.

Even though the banquet was simple, it was extremely enjoyable. The several soldiers stubbornly dispersed in the middle of the night. After Li Wuding sent the several soldiers away, he returned to the mansion and saw that Xie Chungui had already changed into his clothes again. Li Wuding said to him: "That generous gift, would you like to take it back with you? I'm afraid that it's too expensive."

AD

Xie Chungui said: "My parent's kindly send their regards, I hope General Li won't dislike them."

Li Wuding refused again and again, then he laughed out loud and said: "Then I will accept it. When you succeed at the military field, I'll repay it all…. No, I'll double the repayment."

Xie Chungui's eyes brightened with enough light to ignite fire: "Good."

Chapter 63: Shocking Sudden Change.

Some people were happy, and some other were sad.

It's certain that Li Wuding must have been the one in the position of Great General, but at the Palace of Wuning Wangye, the sky was shrouded in clouds.

The young Monarch promised to Wuning Wangye that he would pass on the position of General to his close friend, but now, out of nowhere, he changed his mind and made Wuning Wangye walk on thin ice.

In the dark of the night, at the Wangfu, Wuning Wangye and his advisor1 were discussing this incident: "Wangye, the Southern Yan Kingdom has quietly sent troops to support you. For the major event, regarding the rebellion, you should make a lightning decision2, no delays are allowed."

Wuning Wangye pressed his forehead with one hand and sighed: "But the Emperor doesn't leave the Imperial Palace. Day and night he's…"

His advisor whispered: "Wangye, in a few days, the Emperor will definitely come out of the Imperial Palace."

Wuning Wangye looked at him strangely: "Why?"

The advisor attached himself to Wuning Wangye's ear, murmured in a low voice, and then said out loud: "It depends on what Wangye wants to do."

"Don't you think it would be too sudden to launch the rebellion right now?"

"Wangye, you've been preparing for such a long time, how can this be an abrupt decision? Besides, these recent days the Emperor's temperament had greatly changed. He's not a cut sleeve anymore and he gave the General's position to Li Wuding. Isn't all this a sign for you? Wangye, right now hesitation is prohibited."

Wuning Wangye nodded, and in his eyes there's an evil and desperate brightness.

AD

On the third day after Li Wuding was appointed as Great General, the old General Sun passed away.

On the day of General Sun's death, the Northern Kingdom had the last wave of cold in Spring and the last snowfall. Everything was buried under snow.

Even though General Sun wanted to be buried in a simple way before his death, Xiao YuAn refused and decided that, to be buried as a General, the funeral must be held with the army.

On that day, Xiao YuAn saw Li Wuding and Xie Chungui again. They were dressed in white mourning clothes. They were supporting the coffin and walking towards the graveyard.

General Sun didn't have any heirs, and still, he didn't lack people that were willing to support him.

Some white flags were flying with the wind, and yellow copper coins3 spread across the sky. The sound of sobbing and crying could be heard everywhere as Xiao YuAn stood in front of the tombstone, suddenly feeling like the wind and clouds were weird; as if the world just got colder and somber.

Towards the end of the evening, when the funeral was over, Xiao YuAn returned to the Palace inside the Imperial chariot. He was escorted by his Imperial guards in front and behind him, which made the procession seem like a long and heavy journey.

Hong Xiu, who was walking besides the Imperial chariot, saw that Xiao YuAn was in a bad mood and with a worried voice, she asked him: "Your Majesty, are you feeling okay?"

Xiao YuAn shook his head and said: "I'm fine, it's just that I didn't expect that it would snow again."

Hong Xiu tried to calm him down: "Don't worry, your Majesty, it is already February 28th, this must be the last snowfall of Spring."

Xiao YuAn seemed to catch some important words and his voice suddenly changed: "February 28th?"

Hong Xiu answered him: "Yes, Your Majesty, what happened?"

AD

Xiao YuAn held the side of the Imperial chariot, and some uneasy anxiety gradually filled his heart.

February 28th, in the original book, was the day when Yang LiuAn sacrificed his life for the young Emperor.

In the original book, there was no funeral for the old General Sun. The Monarch of the Northern Kingdom simply went out to play that day. On his way back to the Imperial Palace, an assassination attempt was made by the civilians that weren't willing to deal with his tyranny anymore. As an Imperial bodyguard, Yang LiuAn in order to protect the Emperor's life, gave his in the end.

At present, Yang LiuAn's position was replaced by Yan HeQing.

Xiao YuAn raised his eyes and saw Yan HeQing, who was at the left side of the Imperial chariot. Xiao YuAn took a deep breath and suppressed the uneasiness inside his heart.

No, Xiao YuAn said to himself: He has always been humble, he doesn't squander the national treasury, never collected heavy taxes, not to mention he never punished the common people.

Moreover, he's not even playing around, and the Imperial Palace is not the same as what it used to be, so he shouldn't have anything to worry about.

Xiao YuAn comforted himself a few times, until finally, he felt a little calmer. He raised his eyes and saw Yan HeQing staring at him somewhat anxiously.

Xiao YuAn smiled at him, the atmosphere was inexplicably calm all around. The snow was falling and the clouds were not scattering, instead these black clouds seemed like they were oppressing the city, and the moon gradually disappeared behind them. For a while, the windy night was very dark, and Xiao YuAn wasn't able to see the expression on Yan HeQing's face clearly.

The two of them stared at each other in the darkness, and when the moonlight shined for time to time through the dense clouds, Xiao YuAn's eyes suddenly shrank.

Because a sharp arrow came out of nowhere! And it struck the Imperial chariot, right besides his ear!

Chapter 64: Protecting A Life With Another Life.

WARNING: Graphic description of death.

In an instant, thousands of arrows were fired at the same time. Some of them were impossible to dodge and the Imperial guards, who relaxed their vigilance before, raised their shields turning themselves into hedgehogs. Their dead faces were extremely terrifying.

Xiao YuAn was being protected by Yan HeQing. He raised his sword to block away several arrows and pressed Xiao YuAn behind the Imperial chariot: "Stay here, don't come out!"

"W-wait, h-hold o-on." Xiao YuAn's body was uncontrollably shivering and he was unable to speak clearly. He still got up as quick as he could, and pulled Hong Xiu over besides the Imperial chariot with him as a shelter to block the sharp arrows.

Hong Xiu's left arm was pierced with a sharp arrow and the blood was flowing from the injury, dying her gauze skirt red. Her face was white and her eyes were full of fear, her voice was sobbing: "Y-yo-your M-Majesty, are you okay Your Majesty?"

Xiao YuAn held her wound and started to comfort her: "I'm fine. You don't need to be afraid, you'll be fine too, don't be afraid."

The remaining Imperial guards quickly gathered around the Imperial chariot to draw swords and protect their Monarch. At that instant, there were no more arrows being shot, and after a second of silence in the air, many people dressed in black suddenly appeared from the dark! They didn't even hesitate and immediately raised their sharp swords.

"Protect the Emperor!" The Imperial guards, after shouting, raised their swords to meet with the enemy, but because the other side had too many people, they were being repressed.

There was a bloody smell in the air, and the lights and shadows of the swords were appearing faintly1. Yan HeQing grabbed Xiao YuAn's arm and with an anxious tone of voice he said: "Let's go!"

The voice of Yan HeQing faded when five people dressed in black surrounded them. Their martial arts were exceptional and their swords were fierce, but they didn't touch any vital points in Yan HeQing's body. They were just trying to separate him from Xiao YuAn, however Yan HeQing didn't intend to get separated from him.

With so many people, there was a long standoff, and these several people dressed in black were waving their swords at them. Gradually, Yan HeQing showed some weakness and he was unable to protect Xiao YuAn. As a result, the two of them ended up being separated.

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Yan HeQing's arm was caught by someone and he ended up kneeling on the ground, unable to move. A man dressed in black slowly stepped forward, and when he took off the cloth covering his face, Wuning Wangye's face appeared.

Yan HeQing looked at him, his eyes showing complicated emotions for a moment, his four limbs and bones were gradually immersed in cold. Yan HeQing tried to open his mouth, but his throat felt like being strangled, making his eyes dizzy, and his blood freeze.

Since it was Wuning Wangye the one behind this, that means that these people dressed in black were the soldiers of the Southern Yan Kingdom that were lent to Wuning Wangye, and he was also an important part of pushing forward this plan.

Wuning Wangye chuckled and whispered to Yan HeQing: "Yan-huangzi, you've done a great job in this farce. I know you're supposed to be the Emperor's Imperial bodyguard, rest assured, you don't have to worry about losing your reputation of protecting the Monarch. When I'm done, I'll send you out of the Palace immediately and make you return to the Southern Yan Kingdom."

After saying that, Wuning Wangye waved his hand gently.

"Wait…" Yan HeQing's eyes suddenly shrunk, he was struggling to see at the direction of Xiao YuAn's escape, but he was hit hard at the side of his neck, immediately fainting on the ground.

There were so many people on the other side that it was impossible for Xiao YuAn to run away at all. While he was protecting Hong Xiu, he punched a man's face who was dressed in black, and then he received a sneak attack from behind, someone kicked him making him fall on the ground.

"Your Majesty!" Hong Xiu screamed and stepped forward to help him, but she was pulled away. Xiao YuAn was unstable, and he was immediately pushed down by several men dressed in black. When he looked up, he saw Wuning Wangye looking down at him. He had a crazy smile on his face.

"Your Majesty, in fact, I didn't intend to make such a sudden attack." Wuning Wangye kneeled and looked down at Xiao YuAn: "But, why did you have to give the military power to Li Wuding?"

Xiao YuAn sneered: "Because with General Fan Tong2, the Northern Kingdom will be over."

"Tch tch, Emperor, that's not what you said before. However, there wasn't any faith in those words3." Wuning Wangye narrowed his eyes.

"Wasn't you the one who's words lacked faith, and secretly colluded with the enemy?" Xiao YuAn sneered.

AD

He can't lose his imposing aura! Damn you!

"Your Majesty, even at a time like this, I can't forgive you." Wuning Wangye laughed. "His Majesty can be assured that if the Northern Kingdom is in my hands, it will grow stronger than when it was in yours."

"Hahaha, these men dressed in black are not my soldiers of the Northern Kingdom. You even have to rely on the power of other countries. Who gave you the confidence to say this, and how will you ensure that the throne will be definitely yours?"

"I will be…" Wuning Wangye stood up and slowly raised his sword, his eyes were full of murderous intent. "As long as you're dead, I will definitely take the throne!"

He moved his sword in a treacherous way, and for a brief moment the world went silent. Xiao YuAn slowly closed his eyes in resignation.

"Your Majesty!"

A scream suddenly cut through the sky, and Xiao YuAn abruptly opened his eyes. What he saw was something he didn't want to see in this lifetime.

Hong Xiu stood in front of him. Her body was so delicate, and the sharp blade cut her throat and cheek. Hong Xiu slowly and slowly fell right in front of Xiao YuAn's eyes.

A warm liquid splashed on Xiao YuAn's face, and his body unexpectedly started to shiver.

He can't hear anything, he didn't even hear what Wuning Wangye said to him: "There's still people who are willing to block a sword for you. It seems that you must have had some good points as an Emperor."

He couldn't see. He didn't even see when Wuning Wangye moved his sword again, but then, an unexpected sharp arrow penetrated his arm making him drop his sword to the ground.

He couldn't hear Li Wuding shouting: "Weichen arrived late to protect His Majesty."

AD

He wasn't able to see anything just for a brief moment, but the situation suddenly was reversed.

He came to reality, hurriedly stepped forward and hugged Hong Xiu's body covered in blood tightly, his mind was full of thoughts: How could this happen, how could this end up like this?

Hong Xiu tightly grasped Xiao YuAn's sleeves. Her throat was cut open by the sharp blade and the scar spread to her left cheek, it was shockingly red all over. She seemed to want to say something to him, but when she opened her mouth, her throat was bleeding non stop.

Hong Xiu looked at him twice, opening her mouth and breathing with difficulty, but the blood just kept pouring more and more. Slowly, she reached out to her head and tried her best to remove the red flower hairpin from her hair. With a last effort she slowly placed it into Xiao YuAn's hands.

Xiao YuAn saw Hong Xiu smiling at him sweetly, and that smile pulled the cut wound, making her feel extreme pain. Then, her arm fell on the ground and she no longer breathed.

"It's not… this wasn't supposed to be, it wasn't supposed to be like this…"

When Xiao YuAn heard himself murmuring like this, he felt like his voice was extremely desperate and sad. His body was helplessly trembling while holding the body of Hong Xiu, he seemed to try to stop her body from losing warmth, but all that effort was in vain.

This wasn't supposed to happen like this, the ending of Hong Xiu wasn't like this at all. She should be able to escape from the Imperial City after the Northern Kingdom was broken into, take her brother and sister with her, and spend the rest of their lives in a small village, in peace.

Why is this happening? Why?

This kind of thing.

There was a cruel voice, whispering in Xiao YuAn's ear.

That's right, you clearly knew that after Yan HeQing and Wuning Wangye meet each other, Wuning Wangye will be assisted by the Southern Yan Kingdom soldiers. You willingly passed the General's position to Li Wuding, forcing Wuning Wangye to revolt against this military change.

AD

All of that, isn't that just the truth?

Hong Xiu was killed by you.

Why did you always treat yourself as an outsider? Why did you treat people as you pleased?

For what reason?

The howling wind roared and passed through the place they were at, jiejiejie's4 voice was like a woman cursing and laughing in Xiao YuAn's ear.

Chapter 65: Heartbroken.

The rebellion launched by Wuning Wangye shocked all the civilians and Military Officials at Court. Although Li Wuding had heard some rumors regarding this rebellion a long time ago, and he was on constant alert, he was still too late for the rescue.

Fortunately, the Emperor didn't fault him.

As soon as this happened, the situation suddenly changed. The former followers of Wuning Wangye's political party, and even his close friends, were thrown into prison waiting for the investigation to be carried out. That night, Yan HeQing pushed open the door of Xiao YuAn's Imperial bedchamber and saw him standing by the window; holding a red flower hairpin in his hand and looking at the blooming pear blossom tree at the corner of the courtyard.

The red flower hairpin was still stained with blood, which by now looked almost black.

Xiao YuAn turned around and when he saw Yan HeQing standing in front of him, he asked him: "Why are you here? Is your injury better?"

Yan HeQing looked at him and answered with a very light tone of voice: "I know you can't sleep alone, I came to keep you company."

Xiao YuAn suddenly realized that yes, he had indeed said to Yan HeQing before that without Hong Xiu's company at the side of his bed, he wasn't able to fall asleep.

"Are you… alright?" Yan HeQing asked him carefully.

Xiao YuAn looked down at the hairpin in his hand, and in a whisper he said: "Tell me, if she knew that I'm not the Monarch of the Northern Kingdom, would she still have died for me? She… Below Jiuquan1, will she regret it? And me, why did I let her die for me, why did I…"

Yan HeQing stepped forward, held Xiao YuAn's hand, and covered the hairpin: "You're overthinking."

Xiao YuAn raised his head and looked at Yan HeQing. His eyes looked tired and heartbroken, his clear little sorrowful tears hit right to Yan HeQing's heart: "Yan HeQing, I killed her."

AD

Yan HeQing pitifully reached out for Xiao YuAn's body and embraced him in his arms, gently patting his back trying to comfort him: "It wasn't you, that wasn't your fault."

Xiao YuAn lowered his head, hiding his expression, he clutched Yan HeQing's clothes with force until his fingers became white: "Yan HeQing, will you accompany me tonight?"

"Yes, I'll stay with you."

At night, the wind was cold, and it seemed to cry with resentment.

After Xiao YuAn listened to Yan HeQing's breathing at the edge of the bed for a while, he silently sat up and looked at his sleeping face. Xiao YuAn thought for a long time, and then, reached out and took a key from Yan HeQing's robe.

He carefully got up, dressed himself in a thick cloak, and moving as silently as he could, he slowly walked out of the Imperial bedchamber. The Imperial bodyguards outside the bedchamber were shocked, but after seeing Xiao YuAn making a silencing gesture, they quickly shut their mouths.

Xiao YuAn walked under the desolate moonlight and quietly went to the secondary room beside the Imperial bedchamber. That was where Yan HeQing, his personal bodyguard, lived. He took the key hidden in his clothes and opened the door, walking inside carefully.

With the help of the moonlight, Xiao YuAn looked at the layout of the room for a while. Then he walked towards the bed, bent down, and touched the wood under the bed inch by inch. In vain, Xiao YuAn tried again until finally, he reached the innermost place, and found a small gap. It was a false panel made with extremely rough workmanship, just like it was described in the original book.

Xiao YuAn pulled out a tiny scroll from the secret compartment, opened it and glanced at it. Then he stood up and hid it inside his sleeve. Quietly, he left the room and locked the door.

The next day, when Yan HeQing opened his eyes, he found that Xiao YuAn had already gotten up.

Xiao YuAn was standing by the window, clutching the red hairpin that he gave Hong Xiu as a gift before she died. When Xiao YuAn heard a sound behind him, he looked back at Yan HeQing and said: "Are you awake? Thank you for staying with me, I should go to the morning Court."

"Yes." Yan HeQing looked at his eyes, and saw that they were still warm, but he wasn't able to see the smile in them like before. Suddenly, he realized that something was quietly changing between them.

AD

The thing that should have been so easily noticed by the two of them, suddenly got its cover lifted, standing completely naked in front of them.

It was something extremely serious and cruel.

All of them should have run in opposite directions2 from the start, why are you feeling so concerned now.

Chapter 66: The Human Heart Is Unpredictable.

When they realized this abnormality, silence spread between them. Xiao YuAn repeated what he said previously about having to go to the morning Court, and then got up and left.

Yan HeQing tidied up his clothes and planned to go back to his room. However, just when he had left the Imperial bedchamber, two fierce-looking men came over: "Are you Yan HeQing?"

Yan HeQing frowned: "Yes."

"Come with us."

The two of them seemed afraid that Yan HeQing would try to run away, so they carried him towards the secondary room next to the Imperial bedchamber.

A tall and mighty man was standing in front of the door of the secondary room with a line of soldiers behind him.

The two fierce-looking men clenched their first at this man: "General Li, we've brought him."

Li Wuding nodded and raised his eyes to look at Yan HeQing. His eyes were burning, and he spoke slowly: "Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom, Yan HeQing."

Yan HeQing suddenly understood why he was brought here, and with a cold face, he didn't answer.

Li Wuding also didn't expect for him to answer, and pointing behind him, he ordered the soldiers: "Search."

As soon as this order fell, the door of the room was kicked open violently, and the poor lock fell to one side. Dozens of soldiers entered the room and began to search inch by inch.

AD

The vase was smashed, the table and chairs were overturned, the mattress was pierced, and all the cotton wadding was torn apart. In a short time, the room became a mess, and the dozens of soldiers kept searching in the narrow room over and over again, but in the end, nothing suspicious was found.

Li Wuding's eyebrow gradually became a frown while the time was passing. He walked into the room, paced back and forth, and finally stopped in front of the messy bed that had been turned upside down. He asked the men around him: "Did someone look through the bottom of the bed?"

"Answering to the General, I have."

After thinking for a brief moment, Li Wuding said: "Turn the whole bed over and look through it again."

"Yes!"

Yan HeQing's expression didn't change, but his heart suddenly froze.

With the effort of three soldiers, the whole bed was lifted up. A soldier groped the wood carefully and after a little while, he shouted: "General Li, there's a secret compartment here!"

Li Wuding was slightly pleased and said: "Open it."

The soldier shouted yes, and then opened the secret compartment. To everyone's surprise, there was nothing inside it.

Li Wuding frowned again. He strode to Yan HeQing and stared at him, his eyes gloomy: "Why is there a secret compartment under the bed?"

Yan HeQing stared at him fearlessly: "I don't know."

Li Wuding gritted his teeth, turned his head, and said: "Keep searching."

AD

The group of soldiers almost lifted up the ground, and yet, they still found nothing. Without any evidence, Li Wuding couldn't arrest anyone at will. With desperation, he had to take his soldiers away.

When all of them left, Yan HeQing stood in front of the overturned bed. Looking at the empty secret compartment for a while, he wasn't able to breathe well. He was trembling and felt very uneasy.

Li Wuding was about to leave the Palace feeling very annoyed, when he was suddenly blocked by a man.

It was Eunuch Zhao.

Eunuch Zhao smiled at Li Wuding and said: "General Li, this old servant is in charge of the House of Internal Affairs."

Li Wuding had heard earlier that there was an old Eunuch that served for three generations named Zhao in the Imperial City, but he had nothing to do with eunuchs, so for a brief moment he was very puzzled: "You're Eunuch Zhao?"

"I didn't expect that General Li would recognize this old servant. This old servant was sincerely afraid." Eunuch Zhao bowed his hand and said. "This old servant wanted to ask General Li one thing. This time, you led the soldiers inside the Palace because you suspected that Yan HeQing had something to do with Wuning Wangye, who colluded with the Southern Yan Kingdom?"

Li Wuding thought about it for a moment, and then answered with the truth: "Indeed."

Eunuch Zhao nodded: "This old servant understands and thanks General Li for confirming it to me."

Seeing that Eunuch Zhao turned around ready to leave, Li Wuding quickly reached out his hand and stopped him: "Eunuch Zhao, what does this mean?"

Eunuch Zhao chuckled at Li Wuding: "General Li, men like you that have a righteous temperament pays extra care to the evidence in order to implement punishment, but this old servant is not the same kind of man like you. This old servant just needs to think about how to make His Majesty sleep peacefully1, nothing more."

After he said that, Eunuch Zhao knocked slightly on his back, and slowly walked towards the secondary room.

AD

In Eunuch Zhao's whole life, he had made very little miscalculations. He'd been in charge of the House of Internal Affairs for many years. He was ruthless, determined, and killing people with a simple knife was one of his best tricks.

And yet, he didn't expect that Yan HeQing would've been a part of this. Eunuch Zhao always thought that Yan HeQing, who was willing to become a male concubine, must have broken the backbone of his arrogance. Right now, he felt that he himself became old and easy to deceive. Or maybe it was that Yan HeQing's true colors were being hidden too deeply.

Fortunately, it's not too late to mend the fold after the sheep ran away2. Eunuch Zhao had been inside this Palace for more than 40 years. His best skill is to use torture to pry open a person's mouth.

Chapter 67: Speaking With The Heart.

Xiao YuAn returned early in the morning and took a short break after having lunch. In the afternoon, he read the memorials for half a day. When he saw that the sunlight became dim, he looked up from the pile of memorials, and felt that something was wrong.

Instead of Hong Xiu, a maidservant stepped down to salute him: "Your Majesty, would you like to eat dinner?"

Xiao YuAn nodded. Suddenly, he felt like he could see the silhouette of Hong Xiu, and stared blankly at the vermilion hairpin laying on the table. His chest felt extremely tight and painful. Xiao YuAn stood up wanting to go to the courtyard to get some fresh air. When he walked out of the gate of his bedchamber, that strange feeling surged up once again. He walked back and forth in a dazed state. Suddenly, he realized what was that wrong feeling he felt before: After leaving for the morning Court, he hadn't seen Yan HeQing for the whole day!

Xiao YuAn went back to the gate of his bedchamber and asked one of the Imperial bodyguards that was guarding the door: "Is Yan HeQing not on duty today?"

The several Imperial bodyguards hesitated, but they ended up saying that they weren't sure. One of them replied instead: "Answering to His Majesty, Yan HeQing has been temporarily transported to another Palace."

"Where was he transferred to?"

"Yongning Hall."

"Princess Yongning asked for him?"

"Answering to His Majesty, yes."

Xiao YuAn nodded, inexplicably feeling a little bit lonely, he went back to his bedchamber, losing appetite for dinner. He then stood at the window and stared at the courtyard, thinking about the future.

After a while, Xiao YuAn suddenly frowned.

AD

The Imperial bodyguards are under the jurisdiction of the House of Internal Affairs, and the transfer must go through the hands of Eunuch Zhao. Princess Yongning can't take someone away with just a few words.

Moreover, Wuning Wangye colluded with the Southern Yan Kingdom to launch an attack, which caused the Palace to go into panic. Yan HeQing, who also happened to be the Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom, became the target of public criticism. With such a situation at hand, the idea of him being suddenly transferred to Yongning Hall made him feel that something wasn't right.

Xiao YuAn suddenly turned and rushed out of the Imperial bedchamber. Regardless of the insisting voices of the maidservant and the Imperial bodyguards, he went straight to Yongning Hall.

When he finally reached Yongning Hall he asked the Princess and, as expected, she didn't know anything at all!

Inside his heart, Xiao YuAn was blaming himself for this negligence, and hurriedly walked towards the House of Internal Affairs.

At the House of Internal Affairs, Eunuch Zhao had already heard that the Emperor was approaching. He put down the teacup, tapped his knees, and slowly got up from the chair, saluting at Xiao YuAn: "Your Majesty."

When Xiao YuAn looked at the kind-faced old man, he couldn't help but think about the river of white bones and blood that was hiding behind his back: "Eunuch Zhao, you should already guess why I came here."

"Your Majesty, this old slave that grew up watching everything inside this Palace. What the Emperor is thinking, how can this old slave don't know?" Eunuch Zhao replied. "It is just that His Majesty must understand that after the incident that took place a few days ago, it's necessary to guard against suspicious people, and it's better for His Majesty to not take care of it. This old slave will give the Emperor satisfactory results soon."

"Eunuch Zhao, without any evidence, you can't just act on simple speculations."

"Your Majesty, even if there's no evidence right now, will Wangye's followers be able to keep their mouths shut? At this time, when everyone that has been involved in the matter has been exposed, this old slave just feels that it won't take much time before the truth comes out."

Xiao YuAn's mouth pursed into a tight line. He also knew that Yan HeQing would be persecuted sooner or later the longer he stayed at the Palace. But he didn't expect it would happen so soon.

Eunuch Zhao covered his mouth and coughed twice. His whole person looked more and more bent: "When His Majesty was still a child, he used to listen to this old slave very much. Later, when His Majesty got older, there wasn't a chance for this old slave to advise the Emperor anymore. Now, I hope that His Majesty will listen to this old slave's advice again. Your Majesty, even if you like him, you can't keep him. There could always be a substitute, this break up is not unfortunate. I'm more afraid that His Majesty would hurt himself for the sake of this love."

AD

Xiao YuAn stared at Eunuch Zhao, and for a moment, he didn't know how to answer.

Eunuch Zhao was vicious and cruel, but in this world where Xiao YuAn could hate anyone, he still wasn't able to hate him.

Eunuch Zhao has been inside the Palace for so many years, and every single thing he had done before was with a single purpose in mind.

For the stability of the Northern Kingdom. For the safety of the Monarch of the Northern Kingdom.

Therefore, even if he was abandoned by thousands of people, Xiao YuAn must not be one of them.

"Your Majesty." Eunuch Zhao's voice sounded like a pleading, old and hoarse. "This time, you must listen to this old slave."

Chapter 68: Heartache.

Inside a dark and gloomy room, the candle lights were flickering on and off, giving a weird effect that could bring people's hearts into panic.

In the middle of the dark room, Yan HeQing's hands were tied up with chains and they were hung high. His hair was loose, his upper body was naked, and his skin was covered with shockingly deep and bloody whiplash wounds. Steward Feng, while staring at Yan HeQing, was playing with the iron whip in his hands. This whip was barbed and could splatter someone's skin at each stroke.

"Does it hurt?" Steward Feng laughed and stretched out his hand to press on Yan HeQing's wound, brutally tearing it apart.

"Mnh…" Yan HeQing's body began to uncontrollably tremble all over, and his throat was groaning with suppressed pain.

"Tell me, when did Wuning Wangye and you began to plot the rebellion? Where's the evidence? Ohh, you better listen to me, hurry up and say the truth. If you speak now, you won't have to suffer this kind of pain anymore. Suffering a short pain is better than a long one1." Steward Feng spoke with particular kindness. He was good at persuading people with words2.

However, Yan HeQing didn't appreciate his words and sneered instead, his tone was full of sarcasm.

Steward Feng helplessly shook his head and lashed out at Yan HeQing's body once again. The barb drew up the flesh, leaving behind an extremely deep and bloody wound. Yan HeQing swallowed the screams and sobs so hard that he could barely breathe from the pain.

"At the present situation, it's hard for you to escape alive, so why don't you just admit it and avoid suffering this torture? Perhaps, you're still waiting for His Majesty to come save you?" Steward Feng shook the iron whip on his hand throwing the dirty blood out of it. "Wake up. You conspired a rebellion with the enemy, and you almost got His Majesty killed."

Yan HeQing''s breathing was stagnant, then he gasped full of pain.

"If you're not able to stand this much, then you can just tell me about your collusion with Wuning Wangye. You'll die anyway, it's better to die quickly than to die painfully, so hurry up!" Steward Feng thought that Yan HeQing was finally unable to carry on, so he was trying to persuade him again with some reasonable words. However, Yan HeQing still refused to open his mouth.

Steward Feng repeated his words for a second time, then he tossed the iron whip aside, took a shovel from the wall full of torture devices, and put it into the red charcoal fire standing at the center of the dark room.

AD

Because of the pain, Yan HeQing's breathing was very heavy and slow. His wheezing sounds blended together with the hissing sound of the burning hot shovel, creating an extremely horrific sound effect.

"I was kind enough to give you a chance." Steward Feng turned over the shovel in the charcoal fire and carelessly said: "None of these tactics of mine can get into Eunuch Zhao's eyes. Do you know that he has this rare kind of powder? When sprinkled onto a wound, it will make the victim feel itchy and painful, like thousands of ants gnawing at it. Ah, I've seen it in action once. The man had a horrible and miserable death, his whole body was scratched to feel some relief. So I suggest you, one more time, you better speak up sooner rather than regret it later!"

Seeing that Yan HeQing was still refusing to utter a single word, Steward Feng picked up the red-hot shovel, walked up to Yan HeQing, and blew the shovel to his face without touching it. The shovel was emitting a heat wave. "Will you explain? Oh, can you explain to me why are you being so stubbornly brainless?"

"Alright, I've tried to persuade you enough. Since you're stubborn to death, don't blame me." Steward Feng shook his head and directed the shovel to Yan HeQing's chest.

"Stop!" A furious shout accompanied by the sound of the dark room's door being kicked open interrupted him. Steward Feng's hand suddenly released the shovel letting it fall to the ground.

The first thing that Xiao YuAn saw in the dark room was the miserable state that Yan HeQing was in. Suddenly, he felt like he couldn't breathe at all.

"Your Majesty?!" Steward Feng fell to his knees in fright, as if he was in a war between two groups3, his face turned pale.

Xiao YuAn didn't bother to pay attention to him. He quickly walked to Yan HeQing and untied the iron chains on his wrists. Yan HeQing, who couldn't stand up, fell straight into Xiao YuAn's arms.

Xiao YuAn didn't dare to doubt whether it was too late or not. He embraced Yan HeQing, and rushed to the Taiyi Palace in a hurry.

Yan HeQing, who stood unconscious for an entire day, still hadn't woken up yet.

Xiao YuAn was pacing back and forth in the Taiyi Palace. The old Imperial Physician, feeling a bit scared, tried to comfort him: "Your Majesty, you don't need to worry. His life is not in danger."

Xiao YuAn nodded, and when he saw that the Imperial Physician was pounding the medicine, he took a few steps over and extended his hand: "I'll do it."

AD

The Imperial Physician's face turned pale with fright: "Your Majesty! How can this subject4 let His Majesty do such a thing?!"

Xiao YuAn took the medicine weight anyways: "I'll help you release stress."

He said, regardless of the Imperial Physician's insistence to stop him, and pestered him twice. The old Imperial Physician's heart was at the point of suffering a seizure.

In fact, Xiao YuAn was in a bad mood.

In an extremely bad mood. Because he gradually realized that no matter how much he had changed the original plot before, the overall direction seems to be being pulled back by some kind of invisible force.

However, because Hong Xiu died for him, Xiao YuAn didn't want to just sit still and wait for death to arrive5. He wanted to change something.

For his life was no longer his own, but also the life of the young Monarch of the Northern Kingdom who had been saved by Hong Xiu.

Suddenly, the sound of a porcelain bowl crashing on the floor and Yan HeQing's coughing came from the inner room, startling both Xiao YuAn and the old Imperial Physician. Xiao YuAn stood up immediately, but then he stopped himself.

The Imperial Physician rushed into the inner room. After a few minutes, he walked out in a hurry, reporting to Xiao YuAn: "Your Majesty, he's awake."

Xiao YuAn nodded and took a few steps to the door of the inner room, but he didn't go in right away.

Xiao YuAn has been trying to see himself as an outsider for a very important reason: He doesn't know how to balance the Northern Kingdom and Yan HeQing together.

He always thought that he could be able to ignore the rivalry between the two. While strengthening the Northern Kingdom, he could also protect Yan HeQing.

AD

But in this world, there's no way to satisfy both sides.

Hong Xiu's death occurred so suddenly that it made Xiao YuAn abruptly wake up to reality, making him understand that he has never been an outsider at all. Never. And even if he hadn't realized this issue before, Xiao YuAn would've still hesitated between both sides.

Now, he would not hesitate.

He can't disrespect Hong Xiu's death.

Definitely not.

Xiao YuAn took a deep breath and pushed open the door walking through the inner room.

Yan HeQing, who was sitting on the bed, was bending down trying to pick up the porcelain bowl he'd knocked over when he woke up. When Xiao YuAn walked in, he picked up the porcelain bowl and placed it next to the bed. Carefully looking at Yan HeQing, he asked: "Are you okay? How do you feel?"

Yan HeQing nodded his head. He was enduring the pain he felt on his body, slightly easing his breath rhythm.

"Then you must rest well. I'll come back tomorrow night, there's something I must discuss with you." The hand Xiao YuAn was secretly hiding behind his back was clenched into a fist.

Looking at Xiao YuAn turning away, an uneasiness gradually surged up from the bottom of Yan HeQing's heart. It was the vague feeling that he had experienced before, and now it was growing more and more intensively. "Xiao YuAn." Yan HeQing suddenly opened his mouth to call out for him.

Xiao YuAn slowly turned his head, his warm black eyes fixed right to Yan HeQing's.

Yan HeQing suddenly realized where that uneasiness feeling was coming from.

Ever since Wuning Wangye's sudden attack, resulting in Hong Xiu's death, Xiao YuAn had never smiled at him again.

"Yan HeQing." Xiao YuAn began to speak slowly, as if he was making a final decision. Finally, he continued, his words were like the silver light on a sharp blade, extremely cruel. "You should call me 'Your Majesty' from now on."

Yan HeQing breathed slowly and his back abruptly straightened. His mouth opened blankly, as if he wanted to answer something, but in the end, he couldn't utter a single word.

Xiao YuAn no longer lingered and walked out of the inner room, leaving Yan HeQing completely alone.

For a long time, Yan HeQing's head stayed low, his hand was tightly gripping his chest, and when he touched a wound the pain began to stimulate the nerves. However, Yan HeQing seemed like he was ignorant of this pain and just pressed his heart more intensively, because what was he feeling right now was even more painful than physical pain.

Chapter 69: Life And Death.

Because he was unable to sleep out of grief, he held his clothes up and wandered around. Accompanied by a solitary lamp, Xiao YuAn sat at the table staring at the two hairpins in his hand. One was red and had carved flowers on it, the other one was made out of white flawless jade. Xiao YuAn's mind was still full with the words Eunuch Zhao said to him before: Will Wuning Wangye's followers stay silent?

Finally, he made a decision. Xiao YuAn put away the hairpins, and while holding his clothes tightly, he went to the Taiyi Palace alone.

When he reached the inner room, Xiao YuAn pushed the door open and found Yan HeQing leaning against the bed, patiently waiting for him. Probably because of his injuries, Yan HeQing's face was bloodless and his pale lips were lifeless.

Xiao YuAn had to swallow back the words of concern that wanted to get out as he thought of his next decision.

"Yan HeQing." Xiao YuAn, who stood with his hands down, said in a soft voice, "I didn't expect that there will be some things that we couldn't stop from happening in the end."

Yan HeQing looked at him, remembering the first time he saw him at the firewood room. When Xiao YuAn sat on top of the wood pile, laughingly patting the side next to him, telling him to sit down.

How long has it been since that happened? How long?

Yan HeQing cleared his throat, his voice was hoarse and dry: "Do you believe me?"

Xiao YuAn took out the two-inch scroll and gently placed it on the table: "What do you want me to believe about?"

In fact, Xiao YuAn was seriously asking him about this, but Yan HeQing heard it as if he was speaking sarcastically.

This scroll was like a sharp blade, cutting off Yan HeQing's last shred of hope.

AD

That's right, how could he still dare to ask Xiao YuAn to trust him?

Xiao YuAn was always helpful and friendly to him in every possible way. But what about him? He colluded with people that had some ulterior motives, even causing Xiao YuAn to almost die at Wuning Wangye's hands.

Yan HeQing has been treated by Xiao YuAn with an open heart, and yet, he betrayed him. If he was in Xiao YuAn's position, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.

How could he have the face1 to make Xiao YuAn believe in him again?

Xiao YuAn casually reached out and opened the scroll on the table. "Yan HeQing, I already knew that you wanted to leave. Come to think of it, it's also true that you suffered endless humiliation in the Northern Kingdom and that you feel a strong resentment for this Country. Am I right?"

Yan HeQing lowered his eyes, as if he had turned a deaf ear to his words. The candle flame beside his bed was blown by the cool breeze coming from outside the window. This firelight leaped on Yan HeQing's bloodless face, but couldn't leap into the bottom of his dark eyes.

Endless humiliation and resentment?

That's right, there's no mistake in that.

For him, the Northern Kingdom was just that.

From the very moment the Northern Kingdom's iron cavalry stepped into the Southern Yan Kingdom, there was not a day when he didn't think about taking revenge. Not a day went by that he didn't think of returning the pain that the Southern Yan Kingdom had suffered. Not a day passed by when he didn't think about wanting to escape from the shackles and the cage, escaping the place where the prisoners were engraved into his bones.

Seeing that Yan HeQing was refusing to speak, Xiao YuAn lowered his eyes and continued: "I thought that I could change something, but now it seems that it's useless…."

Yan HeQing finally had a reaction, his fingers slightly moved as he slowly raised his head to look at Xiao YuAn, the bottom of his eyes finally showing some emotions in them.

AD

Seeing the humiliation he suffered and the hatred he had in his eyes, Xiao YuAn carefully glanced at him, Yan HeQing then spoke slowly: "What do you want to change?"

Xiao YuAn suddenly froze.

That's right, what does he want to change?

Does he want Yan HeQing to stay in the Northern Kingdom, because of his compassion and kindness, making him into a slave for the rest of his life as his Imperial bodyguard?

No, he never thought of him that way.

He wanted to see the man in front of him becoming like the one from the original book: Wielding a sword, ruling over the world, ruling over the unified nation.

If that was the case, then what on earth does he want to change?

Right, he wants to keep on living.

However, he's now the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom. He's carrying on his shoulders the backbone of the soldiers of the Northern Kingdom, and the dependence of its people. Regarding history, perhaps the change of Dynasties cannot be avoided. But when you're part of it, the word "Country" will be engraved into your bones, melt into your blood and burn inside your chest.

The later generations will look after it. But at this time, it's the Son of Heaven2 the one guarding the Country gates, and he will die for his Nation!

Why does he want to live? Why is he still trying in vain to survive!

He has been believing his own lies, doesn't he?

"

"

As if Xiao YuAn had suddenly been viciously slapped on the face, he looked right at Yan HeQing, his breath quickened as he mumbled: "So you've always understood…"

His voice gradually became weak, and Xiao YuAn slowly became mute, unable to utter a single word.

It turns out that Yan HeQing had always been seeing things clearly, only he himself was the only one foolishly trying to think of himself as an outsider.

Yan HeQing suddenly laughed, his eyes overflowing with blood and trembling with endless pain, but the corners of his mouth slowly curled up as he said: "Xiao YuAn, between the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Yan Kingdom, only a life and death3 situation can exist. But Xiao YuAn, towards you, I…."

"That's enough." Xiao YuAn interrupted Yan HeQing. He slowly raised his head, only indifference was remaining in his originally warm eyes. "If the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Yan Kingdom can only share a life and death fate, then you and I will have to share that same life and death fate."

When Hong Xiu died, Xiao YuAn hid his own self away.

Ever since Hong Xiu died for the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom, he had decided to become the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom once and for all. Ever since Yan HeQing said that the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Yan Kingdom couldn't live together.

Then he, the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom, couldn't live together with Yan HeQing.

Xiao YuAn's voice was like the last straw, landing lightly on Yan HeQing's shoulder. His eyes were like a candle that was about to burn out, vivaciously shaking with a faint light.

He felt like his body was pulled in half. One half was looking at the ruined and desolate Southern Yan Kingdom Imperial City. The other half was looking at Xiao YuAn, who was laughing recklessly on the Yuhua Tower that day.

Both parts of his body were festering faintly. Naturally, because of this pain, Yan HeQing hardly wanted to keep on living4.

The inner room was in complete silence for a while, only the sound of their breathing could be heard.

AD

After some time, Xiao YuAn slowly took out a small white porcelain bottle from his sleeve, he walked to the bedside and handed it to Yan HeQing.

Yan HeQing stared at the small porcelain bottle and stretched out his hand to hold and fondle it. He asked with a hoarse voice: "What's this? Are you going to….."

Are you going to kill me?

Xiao YuAn didn't answer him.

Yan HeQing inhaled deeply: "Xiao Yu-…"

Xiao YuAn interrupted him, his voice was absolutely determined: "Call me Your Majesty."

"Xiao. Yu. An." As if on purpose, Yan HeQing shouted out Xiao YuAn's name, one word at a time. His eyes were fixed on Xiao YuAn, as if he was about to devour him. He held the porcelain bottle tightly in one hand, his knuckles were white and his fingers blue. "Xiao YuAn, do you really want me to drink this thing?"

Xiao YuAn's eyes fluttered for a moment, feeling like he had a fish bone stuck in his throat5, then hesitantly nodded his head very slowly.

"Fine, then I'll drink it." However, when Yan HeQing said those words, he seemed to have used all the strength he had left. His eyes finally darkened, like burned out ashes, and after struggling for a bit, only despair remained. Yan HeQing opened the white porcelain bottle and drank the bitter liquid in a violent way.

After drinking, Yan HeQing stared intensely into Xiao YuAn's eyes, as if he wanted to see through Xiao YuAn until the very the end, wanting to rip out the soul behind his eyes, and then open his body, so that this soul could take a good look at his unwillingness and desperation. "Xiao YuAn, why did you have to be reborn as the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom, why….."

His limbs became weaker and weaker, and Yan HeQing's voice gradually faded away. Soon, he held his forehead and fell forward. When Xiao YuAn saw that Yan HeQing was about to fall off the bed, he quickly stepped forward to hold him firmly.

When Yan HeQing's consciousness began to fragment, he heard Xiao YuAn's voice as if it was at the distance: "I don't know, maybe…. It was so I could meet you…."

AD

Seeing that Yan HeQing was completely unconscious, Xiao YuAn let out a long sigh. For one, this sigh represented that he didn't have any other alternative. As for the other reason, he felt extremely helpless.

Xiao YuAn saw himself laughing recklessly not so long ago, when he vowed to be honest with Yan HeQing and said to him: "Yan HeQing, do you want to become my Imperial bodyguard? I'll protect you and I will never let anyone hurt you."

And now, he was doing the exact same thing he said he wouldn't let happen.

However, this was also the last time he would protect Yan HeQing as the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom.

After this, there will not be a second time.

If there's any chance to meet each other again in the future, it will be at the arms of war.

That night, at the gate of the Palace, a carriage was stopped by the Imperial guards. After a little bit, it was let through again. After leaving the Imperial City, the carriage ran straight to the west post station and never came back. When the Captain of the Imperial guards heard this news, he yelled at them: "General Li said that the horses and carriages leaving the Imperial City should be carefully searched and checked out these days!"

"But…" A young Imperial guard touched his head and replied feeling extremely wronged. "That carriage had His Majesty's instructions."

"…..His Majesty's instructions, ah. Fine, you guys continue with the vigilance, and by the way, what day is today?"

"Today's the third day of March."

"Ah, the third day of March." The Captain looked up at the overcast sky.

"Tch. The weather is changing."

Chapter 70: I'm Sorry, The Heavens Do Whatever They Want.

On the fourth day of March, the second day after Yan HeQing quietly disappeared from the Palace, Li Wuding finally managed to get everything out of Wuning Wangye's followers' mouths.

Without hesitation, Li Wuding immediately led his troops into the Palace. But when he got there, he was informed of the surprising notice that Yan HeQing had already escaped from the Imperial City.

Li Wuding, feeling deep remorse, went to Xiao YuAn's Imperial bedchamber to ask for forgiveness. However, when he reached the bedchamber, he was informed that Xiao YuAn was not inside but in the Yuhua Tower.

On the sixth floor of Yuhua Tower, Xiao YuAn was drinking wine depressingly alone. When he heard that Li Wuding came requesting for admonishment, he nodded his head in agreement.

Li Wuding walked and cupped his fist, kneeling on one knee: "Your Majesty, the case has been thoroughly investigated. Wuning Wangye colluded with the Southern Yan Kingdom to launch a rebellion. I've dealt with all the people involved, but…. The Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom, Yan HeQing, escaped from the Palace at some unknown time. Weichen is extremely ashamed, I've failed His Majesty."

Xiao YuAn, who was feeling extremely guilty, covered his mouth and coughed lightly. Facing Li Wuding's seriousness, Xiao YuAn, who felt very ashamed, guilty and embarrassed, suddenly patted the railing: "How do you usually take care of things? This can't be forgotten, General Li. How can we let such an important person escape just like that?"

Deduction of wages, deduction of wages. Cut the bonus, cut the bonus.

Well, this is a good opportunity.

Li Wuding said: "I ask His Majesty to punish me."

"Punishment…. Here, your punishment is to drink these three jars of wine." Xiao YuAn moved the wine that was resting at his side, towards Li Wuding.

Li Wuding, who thought that he misheard, raised his head in disbelief: "Ah?"

AD

"Drink." Xiao YuAn simply replied with a more shocking word, opening the seal of the wine jar, and handing it to Li Wuding.

Li Wuding had no other choice but to drink with Xiao YuAn.

And then, after many drinks, they got drunk.

It's okay to get drunk, once in a while.

And it's even better to get wildly drunk together with someone else.

Xiao YuAn then said that he wanted to sing. When he began to sing, the lyrics he sang were: It was you who wanted to be apart in the first place, if we separate, we separate1.

Li Wuding, who's usually an unruffled and serious man, howled to show off how he could crush a big stone with his chest.

He took a really big rock.

This wasn't the end of it. Xiao YuAn cleared his throat and came over to talk to Li Wuding: "You don't need to read Military books all day long. Can't you go get yourself a wife? In the end, you're the second male. Why should all the girls belong to Yan HeQing?"

Li Wuding hit an empty wine jar and his whole face was red: "The youngest son of the Xie Family, Xie Chungui, is really a young talent ah. Your Majesty, you don't know, but last time he shot an arrow he blinded a bear. The imposing way the arrow penetrated the clouds was extremely high spirited."

Xiao YuAn stammered: "I know which girl is better for you in this book, what kind of girl you'll like, and I will guide you on how to properly court her."

Li Wuding hesitated a bit and then replied: "And now, Xie Chungui and I are in a Martial Arts constant competition. I feel like I'm less capable than I desire2, before it was very clear that I could easily win over him. But his progress is horrifying fast."

AD

Xiao YuAn answered with a flustered tone of voice: "The plot is here to develop Yan HeQing's black belly, do you think you'll get gouged out by him the next time you two meet?"

Li Wuding staggered and replied: "Xie Chungui says that he wants to fight against the world in the name of the Northern Kingdom, what an ambitious young man."

Xiao YuAn said: "That's right, I know you. I know all about you, cheers!"

Li Wuding replied: "Right, when you're drinking with a close friend, even a thousand cups will still be too little3, cheers!"

Their conversations weren't even on the same page. After finishing their cups of wine, the two confidants went and vomited while holding onto the railing.

The next day, Princess Yongning came to the Imperial bedchamber to greet Xiao YuAn, who was suffering a hangover and a headache, and to gossip: "I heard that General Li, who woke up drunk yesterday, was so ashamed that he tried to jump down from the Yuhua Tower?"

Xiao YuAn: "This….."

Princess Yongning pinched a melon seed from the table and rubbed it: "Did you hold him….."

"What? I didn't, I definitely didn't. Don't talk nonsense." Xiao YuAn denied it three times.

Princess Yongning's face was full of knowing smiles: "Imperial Brother, I haven't said anything yet."

Xiao YuAn: "…"

Princess Yongning continued: "Then he did hold you…4"

AD

Wtf?

Where's the supposed innocent mind?!

Did you switch personalities with someone else?!

What's more, Li Wuding is a straight man. Can he even become gay? And even if he wants to become gay, he'll become gay by Yan HeQing's extremely handsome face, do you understand!?

Bah, what a good pile of bullshit5.

Yan HeQing is the male protagonist of a stallion novel. No matter how handsome his face is, he's still more handsome for girls' taste.

"Imperial Brother." Princess Yongning put down the melon seed in her hands, patting away the crumbs, and asking perceptively: "Are you in a bad mood?"

Xiao YuAn looked at Princess Yongning and suddenly wondered whether in the original book, if the Princess had known beforehand that Yan HeQing would annihilate the Northern Kingdom, would she still have helped him escape? And what was the last thing on her mind when she hanged herself?

"I….." Xiao YuAn clenched his hands slightly, closed his eyes, and said: "I knew something was wrong but I still did it."

Princess Yongning was startled, but then said with a smile: "Imperial Brother, there's no such thing a right or wrong. Otherwise, why would you do it if you knew it was wrong? This is just like putting two objects on a scale in your heart, which side is heavier? It's whichever way it goes, on the other side just remains the guilt."

Xiao YuAn lowered his eyes, slightly startled.

Perhaps Yan HeQing was more important in his heart than what he previously thought.

Now, however, it's not the time to be disappointed.

As things stood now, all Xiao YuAn had to do and think about was how to preserve the Northern Kingdom.

Princess Yongning chatted with Xiao YuAn for a while, and after seeing that he was no longer preoccupied, she left feeling more at ease. Xiao YuAn was planning to have a good rest when he suddenly remembered something.

Wait a minute? Aren't Princess Yongning and Yan HeQing in love with each other?

Why was it that now that Yan HeQing has suddenly disappeared, Princess Yongning was acting as if nothing had happened?

Xiao YuAn couldn't think of a reason why she didn't react at all. He could only attribute everything to the fact that the male lead and the female lead must have a heart of gold and they don't need to worry about each other.

After all, in the second half of this stallion novel, as long as there was a good-looking girl, she would surely fall in love with Yan HeQing and devote herself to him for three lifetimes. Therefore, Xiao YuAn naturally ignores these logic problems.

In order to protect the Northern Kingdom, Xiao YuAn began to leave the thoughts regarding the original book behind. He changed the five days per week system of the Northern Kingdom to a daily Imperial Court. By devoting himself to the politics of the Northern Kingdom, his body, which was not strong enough to begin with, was becoming thinner and thinner.

Xiao YuAn thought, well, even if he was the socialist successor of the 21st century and knew little about the rules of ancient law, after so many years of reading history, he believed that he could be able to select and appoint talents and care for the common people's needs.

As long as the Northern Kingdom's state treasury wouldn't be empty, he would be able to fight a war and give full support to the army. Even if Li Wuding betrayed the Country, Xie Chungui would be able to hold on, and when the armies face off against each other, they will survive until the middle of winter. Moreover, Yan HeQing's army was formed by Southerners, and because they were unable to withstand the cold, it would be very likely that they would retreat.

After stabilizing and slowly reorganizing the Court Councilors, the Northern Kingdom will not collapse so easily! They can survive!

Xiao YuAn suddenly changed from a fatuous Monarch who was addicted to male lust, to a wise and open-minded Emperor. Naturally, this issue became the first topic of discussion on the Imperial City.

Some people were saying that the late Emperor manifested himself in him, while others said that the young Monarch was stimulated by the sudden attack of Wuning Wangye.

Among so many disturbing voices, only Princess Yongning ran to the Imperial bedchamber and said to Xiao YuAn: "Imperial Brother, you should have a good rest. Don't overwork your body and compromise your health."

"I'm fine, I'm perfectly fine." Xiao YuAn rubbed the corners of his eyes, they were bloodshot and his voice sounded extremely tired. "Ning'er, I can't talk to you today, we'll talk early tomorrow. I must finish reading these memorials."

Princess Yongning wanted to say something to him, but decided to hide those words, and with a soft sigh, she left.

Thanks to Xiao YuAn efforts, the Northern Kingdom, which before was gradually declining, began to slowly improve.

And just when Xiao YuAn thought that he could breathe with peace, he was forcefully slapped in the face by the heavens.

At the end of May, there was a great drought in the Northern Kingdom. The rain didn't fall, and out of 10 houses, 9 were deserted6. There were starving people everywhere.

In the original book, there was no such disaster in the Northern Kingdom at all.

Chapter 71: I'm Sorry, But The Corrupt Officials Can't Do Whatever They Want.

Ever since the ancient times, natural disasters have heavily damaged the Country. Even the most prosperous times aren't able to stand it, let alone a Country that's on the verge of collapsing.

This sudden drought really caught Xiao YuAn off guard.

What's even more overwhelming to Xiao YuAn is: In the original book, the Northern Kingdom didn't experience this.

Although the plot of the original book had changed a lot because of Xiao YuAn's actions, all these changes were motivated for a reason.

However, the current natural disaster was completely unpredictable.

After all, because of this drought, all of Xiao YuAn's previous efforts would've been in vain.

Under the treacherous wind and clouds, Xiao YuAn could faintly hear how the Heaven's will couldn't be disobeyed. It was the Northern Kingdom who cursed him for letting Yan HeQing go. The mountains, the rivers and the Country were on Xiao YuAn's shoulders, and once again, he felt extremely overwhelmed.

However!

The history of materialism, after a long road of development, had finally progressed from shallow atheism to materialistic awareness!

How can you, as the fourth generation of young good men who helped co-built socialism, be so easily defeated by fate?!

On behalf of Marxism, Xiao YuAn made an indecent gesture towards the Heavens, and then began to prepare for the drought relief.

AD

However, he's not afraid of the Heavens as his opponent, he's more afraid of the people surrounding him that are like pigs.

Because of the incompetence of the Monarchs of the Northern Kingdom in the early years, the Country treasury was not full at all. And now, it has exhausted its granary with the sole purpose of the relief of the common people. However, when it was distributed among every town, this one ended up filling the belly of the corrupt Officials.

Xiao YuAn worked really hard to help the common people for several weeks. But, instead of reducing the numbers of refugees, they increased, and they ended up gradually filling the Imperial City.

These son of a bitches are really bold!

Xiao YuAn was so angry that he ordered Li Wuding to investigate this matter thoroughly. In the end, this investigation led to the implication of several Senior Officials that stayed in high positions of power for two generations!

A few of these old Ministers were kneeling in the Court Hall, and then dozens of other Ministers knelt with them, pleading for mercy.

Xiao YuAn, who had already overworked himself to death, was now even more annoyed.

Li Wuding stood at the Court Hall with his fist cupped: "Your Majesty, only by distinguishing clearly between reward and punishment1, can the sky and the waters be clean. Ever since ancient times it has been said: If the Son of Heaven breaks the law, the common people will be condemned as well2. If the rotten parts of a tree aren't dug up, the more rotten they will get! Only when the Officials are free of corruption, can a Country become strong!"

"Li Wuding! Your speech is wildly arrogant3." Suddenly, a Minister got up and retorted angrily. "In those years, when the late Emperor founded the Country and pacified the Nation, which of these old Ministers didn't make great achievements and were blessed by the Heavens? Even the late Emperor honored them three times. Just because you're acting indifferent and heartless today, do you think you're worthy of benevolence and righteousness4?"

Li Wuding sneered: "Benevolence and righteousness? Do people in a stinking mud hole deserve to speak of benevolence and righteousness? Only by punishing the evil can we promote the good. The way to rule a Country is to exterminate the traitors! And you have the nerve to plead mercy for them?"

"You're being ungrateful. If you cover up virtue with every wrong5, of course I will naturally be compassionate and ask for mercy!"

"Ha6—-" Xiao YuAn, who hadn't spoken until now, suddenly snickered. "Are you done arguing?"

AD

The several people present at the Court Hall kneeled down in succession and stopped talking.

Xiao YuAn stood up and stared at everyone kneeling below him. His eyes were cold and with one sentence at a time, he said: "If you plead for them, then who is going to plead for the common people that are dying of starvation? Who will plead for those whose families have been destroyed? When you were stinking of wine and meat, did you ever think for even a single moment that there were white bones lying at the door of your Mansion? And for those of you who are pleading, don't think I don't know who you are actually pleading for. You're clearly pleading for yourselves! Not because I didn't let Li Wuding continue the investigation, does immediately mean that I'm ignorant of your wrongdoings."

Those old Ministers could never have imagined that the Emperor, who once listened to everything they said, would actually punish them so heavily.

Some of them would cry out in remorse, feeling a chill passing through them. Some others could see their own innocence.

Li Wuding raised his head and looked at the upright posture of the Imperial Court, and his hands gradually clenched.

He had fought alongside the old General Sun, and had his own ambitions, but he gradually became disappointed in the wine and meat excessivity in the former Emperor's banquets, in his promiscuity. In the honeyed words, and sword in the belly7 of the whole Imperial Court.

He had dreamt of his hometown countless times, of the skinny darkened bodies of those starving children. He had also dreamt of the battlefield, of a sharp blade piercing through his Xiongdi's chest, waking up covered in sweat, only to turn around and face a Country whose Monarch was lustful and treacherous.

So Li Wuding kept asking himself, for a Country where the common people are suffering every day, is the sacrifice of the Officials and Soldiers really worth it?!

And now, from a hidden place inside his heart, it began to reignite the belief of wanting to serve the Country once again.

Chapter 72: I'm Sorry, But The Protagonist's Halo Really Does Whatever It Wants.

After punishing the Corrupt Officials, Xiao YuAn gave relief to the common people once again. This time, he supervised it personally and urged for the refugees to get settled down.

At this time, there was news coming from the Southern Yan Kingdom: While the Southern Yan Kingdom quietly restored its Country Military strength, it was also recruiting troops and horses.

Xiao YuAn eyebrows knitted into a Sichuan1 character.

These news came a full month earlier than in the original book.

He knew that Yan HeQing had a special plug-in2, but why did it become a VIP protagonist plug-in?! Give this villain a break can you?!

Are you in such a hurry to conquer and destroy the Northern Kingdom?

Thinking back to the final words the both of them said before breaking apart, Xiao YuAn only felt a splitting headache.

"Your Majesty." The maidservant beside him called for him in a weak soft voice: "Your Majesty, would you like to rest for a while? You haven't been looking good lately."

Xiao YuAn waved his hand: "Summon General Li Wuding."

Li Wuding soon entered the Hall of the Imperial bedchamber. Xiao YuAn cleared his throat and asked Li Wuding: "Have you heard the news from the Southern Yan Kingdom?"

Li Wuding nodded and calmly replied: "Your Majesty, it has been many years since the late Emperor marched to the South. Now the Southern Yan Kingdom can't be underestimated. Weichen believes that we should be the ones making the first move."

"

"

Xiao YuAn didn't expect Li Wuding would be so wary of the Southern Yan Kingdom. He was stunned for a brief moment. After all, because of the original book, he has always regarded Li Wuding as an ally of Yan HeQing.

What kind of situation is this? The second male dislikes the male lead?! A plug-in vs a plug-in?! It's so exciting!

Fight! Fight!

"Cough…" Xiao YuAn covered his mouth and coughed lightly. "I understand what you mean, but because of the drought relief I gave before, the national treasury is almost empty. I'm afraid we can't hold up years of war."

"Your Majesty, we don't call that war" Li Wuding smiled slightly. "We call it a mere greeting."

Dear friend, why are you hiding a dagger in that smile3? Why is there a needle hidden in the cotton wadding4?

But Xiao YuAn likes it!

Xiao YuAn asked: "What do you mean?"

Li Wuding replied: "Mobilizing the men and horses, wandering around the borders of the Southern Yan Kingdom will intimidate the soldiers and raise our prestige before the people. Their Country was once devastated by our powerful army. Once bitten by a snake, ten years of fear5. Even if we can't stop them from recovering their Southern Yan Military power, at least we can still make them nervous and slow down the recruitment speed."

Xiao YuAn excitedly patted Li Wuding's shoulder: "Don't worry! I'll definitely find a proper match for you!"

Unlike the original book, you won't have to watch Yan HeQing steal all the pretty girls for himself! That's our main goal!

Protect your life! Protect the Country! And fight the male lead!

AD

The villain turns over a new leaf, not a salted fish6, and the second male snatches the girls! Gasp!

There was no time to lose. The Northern Kingdom began to reorganize its troops and horses. And although it was Li Wuding's strategy, Xiao YuAn didn't dare to send him in person, just in case Yan HeQing used his words skills to persuade Li Wuding to surrender in advance, he wouldn't know where to cry.

After thoroughly thinking about it, this heavy responsibility in the end fell on Xie Chungui's hands.

Although Xie Chungui was only nineteen years old, being young and reckless, he still could take the overall situation into consideration. Moreover, because of the original book, Xiao YuAn understands that Xie Chungui's loyalty to the Northern Kingdom couldn't just be described with simple words.

After nearly a month of preparations for the war, as soon as the troops were about to be dispatched in three days time, a war report suddenly came to the Northern Kingdom.

Some barbarians led their troops to disturb the North borders, and took over the next city.

This was something that the Northern Kingdom didn't experience in the original book.

After Xiao YuAn got this war report, he felt numb for a long time. He felt powerless, and then this feeling spread all over his body. His hands and feet were icy cold and his heart was depressed. Suddenly, he felt that his internal organs began to churn, and he started to cough violently.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, are you alright?" The maidservant was so frightened that her face turned pale.

"It's alright, I'm fine." Xiao YuAn gritted his teeth and covered his throat, pressing back all his emotions.

Now, sending troops to resist the barbarians means that the previous plan to intimidate the Southern Yan Kingdom can only be reduced to an empty talk. The Northern Kingdom's troops would even get scattered as a result.

Why is this happening?!

AD

This barbarian invasion, just like the previous drought, is something that doesn't happen in the original book!

Without any antecedent or premonition, it just appeared out of thin air. Everything was like an invisible net, dense and overwhelmingly trapping Xiao YuAn to the point where he can't move anymore. Whenever he tries his best to get rid of the shackles, no matter what he does, everything is in vain.

Spitting out his own heart and spilling his blood7, he took so many troubles8, only to be met with a darker and deeper despair?

Is there really no way for the two, releasing Yan HeQing and preserving the Northern Kingdom, to coexist?

Xiao YuAn's eyes were closed as he forced himself to calm down and think about countermeasures. Finally, he said in a low voice: "We will still send troops to intimidate the Southern Yan Kingdom. For the time being, the city will cede to the barbarians."

The next day, however, Xie Chungui knelt down in the Palace main Hall.

"Your Majesty!" The young man yelled from the top of his lungs. "My great Northern Kingdom has never ceded land to bribe foreign Countries! To show such weakness right now, it would break our bones and destroy our souls! I would like to lead the troops to the North border and resist against the enemy! Either we drive the barbarians out of our Country's territory, or…." Xie Chungui stopped himself, his eyes were burning like fire, shaking the mountains and rivers. "I'll be buried in a horse hide9, never returning to my homeland again!"

Xiao YuAn restrained his eyes in silence, and his tightly pursed lips were faintly trembling.

"Your Majesty!" Xie Chungui added, "If you don't agree, Chungui will kneel down here and never get up again."

Chapter 73: I'm Sorry, But The Male Lead Can Really Do Whatever He Wants.

In the original book, Xie Chungui was the last inch of pride and the last strand of the Military spirit of the Northern Kingdom.

A nineteen year old boy with his own persistence, passions, and beliefs.

That's the persistence of refusing letting a strong enemy invade the Country's territory even if the outcome is to be trampled by thousands of Military horses.

Xiao YuAn knew that having Xie Chungui stationed at the front line now, despite the Country being invaded, must be worse than killing him.

Moreover, if they don't take care of the barbarians at the North border, they will surely become even more aggressive. And by the time the Southern Yan Kingdom sends its troops to fight, perhaps the Northern Kingdom will face the situation of being attacked by an enemy from both sides.

Xiao YuAn closed his eyes and thought for a while. In the end, he sighed and slowly raised his head: "Get up."

Xie Chungui didn't comply with this order, he kept kneeling on the ground: "Your Majesty!"

Xiao YuAn angrily clapped his chair and stood up: "Get up! Lead the troops to the North border and recuperate the city. What a lack of authority to treat us as bullies! Make sure you kill them all! Make them beg for their ancestor's help! They will not dare to come to the Northern Kingdom in their next life!"

Xie Chungui's heart trembled and his eyes glowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

When Xie Chungui left, Xiao YuAn sat down slowly, covering his aching chest. His eyes were slightly dispirited, as if he had lost his mind after trying his best. He took out a wooden box from his sleeve, there were two hairpins quietly lying inside, one was red and the other one was white.

"Why is it always like this…" Xiao YuAn murmured in a low and resigned voice.

AD

There were decadent mundane voices answering this question inside Xiao YuAn's heart, but he wasn't willing to listen to them, not a single word.

The Northern Kingdom was prepared beforehand, and with a Military order, Xie Chungui could leave the next day. It was just a matter of changing the destination from the Southern Yan Kingdom to the North border of the Northern Kingdom.

In the dark moonlight, at a Military tent, Li Wuding called Xie Chungui to drink wine with him: "In a few days, you will be on the battlefield for the first time. I'll give you some words of advice, will you listen?"

Xie Chungui took up his porcelain cup and drank the liquor in one single gulp: "General Li, please tell me, Chungui is all ears."

Li Wuding shallowly smiled: "Protect the country, protect your Xiongdi, and also… Protect yourself."

Xie Chungui's eyes were very firm: "Chungui will always keep these words in mind."

Li Wuding was helpless: "Don't promise so fast, you must carefully remember the third advice."

"I'll remember." Xie Chungui heavily nodded his head, like a child that's attentively listening. Full of ambition, he spoke boldly: "I want to break through those barbarians' Military tents, exterminate the desert, and exterminate their clan. Let them know what will happen if they decide to invade our Northern Kingdom!"

Li Wuding raised his big palm and covered the black hair on top of Xie Chungui's head: "You're still young, and yet your brain has good thoughts. If you win, come back as soon as possible and fight with me again!"

Xie Chungui was caught off guard while drinking which made him cough until his face was blush red, he refused to accept this: "I'm already nineteen! I'm not so young anymore!"

Li Wuding laughed: "Do you even have a wife? Aren't you still young then?"

Xie Chungui frunced his lips and said: "General Li doesn't have a wife either, does that mean that General Li is still young?"

"

"

"Hey! You're changing the topic. You really believe I won't fight you, do you?" Li Wuding pretended to get angry as he raised his hand to punch Xie Chungui.

Xie Chungui was not convinced as he lowered his head waiting to get beaten. After seeing the awaited slap was falling on his head, Li Wuding suddenly stopped the force and just lightly touched Xie Chungui's head. Li Wuding then chuckled: "Seriously, you must hurry back after you win, I'll grant you a celebratory banquet!"

"Yes!" Xie Chungui clenched his fist, his eyes were burning: "General Li, one day, I will fight alongside you on the battlefield!"

"Yes, of course we will! Come on, let's drink on behalf of your triumphant return!" Li Wuding held up the porcelain cup filled with the strong liquor and drank alongside Xie Chungui.

Juvenile madness, only juvenile madness can make such a promise of a future fight? Gathering and dispersing1 are determined by karma2.

August… September… October.

Just like that, three months passed by, and news of victory came one after another from the Northern Kingdom's North border. Xie Chungui really didn't disappoint Xiao YuAn. Not only did he drive the barbarians out of the Northern Kingdom, but also beat them so badly that they wrote letters of surrender, crying for mercy, saying that they wouldn't dare to invade the Northern Kingdom's territory ever again.

Xiao YuAn, who had been depressed, thought that he could finally take a breath. However, who could've known that this breath of relief had to be slowed down halfway through, because he then was almost heartbroken by some thunderbolt news that came out of the blue.

The Southern Yan Kingdom has launched a Northern expedition!

A Northern expedition!

Yan HeQing! He's coming up to fight! He's fucking arriving to fight the war!

Xie Chungui, he hasn't come back from the Northern Kingdom's North border yet!

AD

Hasn't come back!

Xiao YuAn felt that he was going to vomit out blood for real.

This isn't the fucking same as the original book!

The Northern expedition was supposed to happen in December!

Why have you come a whole month ahead of time!

Yan HeQing, are you really so eager to destroy the Northern Kingdom?!

Xiao YuAn's body was badly trembling as he wrote an Imperial edict, urging Xie Chungui to hurry back to the Imperial City, while first sending Li Wuding to resist the enemy.

In November, the Southern Yan Kingdom's cavalry lingered on the border between the two countries.

The drums of war were ferociously beating, as well as the trumpets of the camps. A voice that proclaimed the hatred towards the Country could also be heard, the flowers will fall like tears, and the birds were frightened to death.

To Xiao YuAn's surprise, Li Wuding led his troops to confront Yan HeQing. The two sides didn't give up against each other, which caused them to be in a standoff for nearly a month.

The Western Shu Kingdom, who was an ally with both Countries, didn't send troops to support Yan HeQing, but neither to support the Northern Kingdom.

The Northern Kingdom wasn't a match for Yan HeQing's army just like in the original book, and they couldn't defeat them. However, the efforts of General Sun and Li Wuding in training their soldiers were not useless!

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Listening to these war reports coming from the front line, made Xiao YuAn no longer feel as depressed as before. The fire that was originally put out by the cold water seemed to be ignited again, it was weak but full of hope, stubborn and unwilling at the same time.

In a few days time, when Xie Chungui returns from the North border and joins forces with Li Wuding to resist Yan HeQing, the Northern Kingdom might be able to resist!

Chapter 74: Lead The Yulong Sword To Die For The Monarch.1

The war raged from November to January.

In January, the roads were completely blocked by the heavy snow, and the weather was icy cold.

Xiao YuAn originally thought that the soldiers of the Southern Yan Kingdom wouldn't be able to withstand the cold weather, but the more they fought, the more courageous they became. By contrast, the Northern Kingdom became extremely dispirited. Because the granary wasn't full and it was gradually emptying due to the constant war. Xiao YuAn was still in the process of collapsing.

The team designed to deliver the Military rations suffered from an avalanche and was wiped out.

Xiao YuAn, who was far away in the Imperial City, became extremely anxious when he received the news. He ended up hammering his fist on the throne and his knuckles turned bloody red from the force.

The Minister reporting the news knelt down and shouted: "Don't worry, Your Majesty! General Xie Chungui has already been sent back to transport the second batch of Military rations to the front line!"

Xiao YuAn didn't respond. He twisted his hands tightly together, pressing them against his lips, and bit his knuckles. When he felt the pain, he realized that his knuckles were already bleeding.

In the original book, because the treacherous Officials cut off the front line Military rations, Li Wuding was forced to betray the Country. This time, Xiao YuAn managed everything himself, supervising from time to time that the rations were enough and could be delivered without delay.

But in the end, he was defeated by the Heavens.

Xiao YuAn once again bit his knuckles, the taste of blood permeating his mouth: "The second batch of Military rations must be delivered, and we must catch up with them."

Right at that moment, Li Wuding, dressed in a Military war robe, was sitting alone in the tent looking at the map, his expression was frowning and pondering. Several deputies came into the tent, the cold snow that entered was accompanied by the strong wind. Nie Er, who was really impatient, stepped forward and asked anxiously: "General, the rations are scarce and the news of the reinforcements are delayed. How can we fight if we're hungry?"

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Li Wuding put away the map and looked up at the group of Soldiers, his eyebrows knitted into a Sichuan2 character: "How long can the current rations last us?"

Nie Er replied: "Only a day or two."

Li Wuding pinched his eyebrows: "Is the road to the rear3 open?"

"The snow is too heavy to get past the troops…."

Li Wuding no longer spoke. He stared at the map resting in his hands, as if he wanted to pierce it with his eyes.

"General, I've seen that the Southern Yan Kingdom has been reorganizing its troops with great fanfare recently. It looks like they're preparing to attack the Imperial City with one single stroke." One of the deputies said.

"This fucking snow doesn't stop falling, but it does when the motherland sends the rations, blocking our roads, motherfucker." Nie Er suddenly started to curse in an outburst.

Li Wuding exhaled a long breath, seemingly helpless, desperate, lamenting and determined. His eyes dropped, like a silent solemn sculpture, his words were also cold and harsh: "I want make an attack."

"How do we attack them?" A deputy asked him.

Li Wuding raised his head and glanced at the deputies: "By robbing their rations."

"Robbing the Southern Yan Kingdom's army rations?" The deputies were shocked: "But the granary is heavily guarded, if we're not careful, we'll be wiped out."

"We'll first send a small group to the rear of their large army and pretend to have a sneak attack, that'll cause a commotion and attract their attention. Then we'll send 3000 elite soldiers to the granary, even if we can't rob the rations, we can still burn it." Li Wuding raised his head and asked: "What do you guys think?"

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"I think it will work!" Nie Er agreed, "It's better to take the initiative than to just wait for death to arrive. If we can burn down their granary, it'll also buy time for our reinforcements!"

With no one questioning him, Li Wuding drew up a detailed battle plan and began to hesitate over the candidates.

This battle was extremely dangerous whether it was a sneak attack or the robbery of the rations. They're outnumbered and only suitable for quick combat, if there's any hesitation and delay or if the Southern Yan Kingdom discovered them, they would lose everything.

Li Wuding thought for a long time, and in the end, he decided that he would be the one to lead the troops to rob the rations.

"I'll pretend to launch a sneak attack then." Nie Er volunteered.

Li Wuding's face revealed his doubts a little bit late.

Although Ni Er was experienced in the battlefield, he's still impulsive and reckless, his shadow was one of a rash and young man. This time, when he pretends to launch a sneak attack, he must not entangle himself with the enemy troops, otherwise, it will be hard to defend themselves.

"General Li, I know what you're hesitating about. But you don't need to worry, I won't confront them, moreover, I'll ask the soldiers to tie a bundle of straw behind their horses. The sound and dust made by the straw dragging on the ground will create the appearance of a huge army, that will certainly disturb them!" Nie Er urgently suggested, fearing that Li Wuding would belittle him.

"That's good!" Li Wuding nodded his head. "You must be very cautious and careful! The rest of you will stay here!"

Chapter 75: Pitiful Bones Laying By The Wuding River.1

WARNING: Graphic description of death, by the end of the chapter.

Later that night, the battle flags flapped fiercely in the bitter cold wind, and the seemingly thin Military tents were stationed as if they could be overturned at any moment by the storm.

From inside a Southern Yan Kingdom's Military tent, a melodious flute sound came out, as if it was telling a secret hidden at the bottom of a hundred feet of ice. Then, suddenly, dense cracks started to appear on the ice surface, and the flute sound suddenly stopped.

At that moment, Yan HeQing frowned, taking the jade flute from his lips and held it in his hands. Examining it carefully, cautiously and lovingly as the curtain of the tent was lifted. A middle aged man, dressed in a Military battle robe, walked in with his hands down. With a beard adorning his face, and an awe-inspiring aura, his face also resembled Yan HeQing's, but this man's face was also weather-beaten, and his eyes were filled with the vicissitudes of the human world.

Yan HeQing quickly half-covered the jade flute with his sleeve and stood up to respectfully say: "Uncle."

Looking at Yan HeQing, Xue Yan said in a deep tone of voice: "The recent successive victories in the war have been hard on you, take an early rest and nurture your strength."

Yan Heqing replied: "Thank you, Uncle."

Xue Yan patted Yan HeQing on the shoulder, and his eyes fell on the jade flute in his hand. Xue Yan scrowled and his eyes became severe: "HeQing, think about your deceased parents, think of the people and soldiers of the Southern Yan Kingdom. Don't forget your family and Country's hatred."

Yan HeQing looked down, the hand holding the flute gradually clenched: "HeQing understands."

When Xue Yan looked at Yan HeQing, his gaze had three parts of love, and seven parts of severity.

Just like to every parent, a child is still a child to them. Even if they're already established, formed a family, and have solved everything on their own.

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Xue Yan felt exactly that for Yan HeQing.

Xue Yan remembered a time from when Yan HeQing was still a child. While the other Princes of the Southern Yan Kingdom were squabbling, trying to gain the favor of their parents, the Emperor and Empress, Yan Heqing was the only one among them that, while holding a Military book of war, came to him and asked: "Uncle, this land is divided into fours Kingdoms, eventually, that will lead to a turmoil. Does the Southern Yan Kingdom have the Military power to fight against it?"

At that time, the youth's eyes were like stars, shining at the Nine Heavens2, and the dawn of life under the vast sky.

Xue Yan had long known that Yan HeQing was extraordinary. He knew that the Southern Yan Kingdom would have a different kind of glory in Yan HeQing's hands. However, he never expected that the Southern Yan Kingdom would also experience a disaster that nearly destroyed the Country.

The Northern Kingdom's Southern expedition almost slaughtered the entire Royal Yan Family, and the land was also divided up by the Eastern Wu Kingdom, by robbing the owner while his house was on fire3. Xue Yan, after enduring thousands of hardships, finally managed to rescue Yan HeQing from the Northern Kingdom.

He was once a teenager in the tribulation of losing all his youthfulness and innocence. And hidden in the deep of his eyes, was a hateful rage. That was what Xue Yan wanted to see from Yan HeQing, a will that was strong enough to shake heaven and earth.

But now, that anger seemed to be mixed with other emotions, like a clear spring in the yellow sand, like a narrow boat in the vast sea, like a faint hope in a desperate situation. However, that kind of sentiment can only arouse a deeper despair inside the heart.

That hint of emotions was extremely well hidden by Yan HeQing, leaving Xue Yan having an unknown guess.

Xue Yan looked at the jade flute in Yan HeQing's hand, a series of questions rolling back and forth on his throat and lips. But in the end, he didn't ask. He just nodded his head with a wooden face and turned around ready to leave the Military tent, when suddenly, a soldier appeared to report from outside the tent.

"Reporting! General Xue, Yan-huangzi, a sneak attack by the Northern Kingdom troops has been spotted in the West!."

"What?" Xue Yan frowned, "Now? How many soldiers?"

"Answering to General Xue, the snowstorm is too strong to see clearly, but there should be about ten thousand by the sound!"

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Xue Yan nodded: "I didn't expect that they still had such energy. Very well, since they don't have the strength to oppose us, we'll wipe them out in one fell swoop. HeQing, you'll lead the troops to resist the enemy."

Yan HeQing nodded and stood up, placing the jade flute into the wooden box and putting it away. Then he turned around and accidentally touched the Military book by the table, which then fell on the ground, the front side turned upwards. On the other side, the word "rations" was written on it. This appeared to be a coincidence, however, it was an act of the Heavens.

Yan HeQing reached out and picked up the Military book. Suddenly, his heart felt as if it was being clunched hard. He took two deep breaths, looked at the Military Book with the word "Rations" written in front of it, and raised his eyes asking the General and soldiers: "Where's the granary located in our barracks?"

"Answering to Huangzi, it's located in the East."

Yan HeQing stretched out his hand and slowly closed the Military book. His deep, dark eyes flashed with an inch of ruthlessness and clarity.

"General Nie, the enemy hasn't come out to fight."

Hearing this report from his subordinates, Nie Er's face turned blue as he started to scold: "Damn it! Are they all fucking bastards? We're in front of your barracks, and you're still not coming out? Wimpy thieves!"

Although his curses were strong, Nie Er's heart was feeling uneasy precisely because the enemy, the Southern Yan Kingdom, didn't come out to meet them. If he didn't make any moves, he wouldn't be able to distract the troops attention. After all, the robbery of the rations was an extremely dangerous task!

Nie Er's adam apple rolled up and down, as he held the horse's reins tightly. His forehead was dripping with sweat, even on this freezing cold day: "We will make the first move."

"General Nie?! There are only a thousand of us!" The Soldiers stared at him, their eyes overflowing with incredulity.

Giving up the first step in this specific battle means that there's no possibility of getting back up and escaping.

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However, if they don't attract their attention, this battle may fail altogether. And then, when the Southern Yan Kingdom attacks the front line barracks in a single stroke, how will the hungry soldiers of the Northern Kingdom fight? Once the gate of the barracks is broken, the Northern Kingdom's borders would have to surrender, and its territory will only be trampled all over!

Nie Er took a deep breath, the blowing wind was as sharp as a knife, as he screamed: "Attack!"

Right at that moment, Yan HeQing was standing in front of the barracks. He was dressed in a white feathered crown of silver armor, with a heart protection mirror in front of his chest, his long sword was at his hip, calm and steady. He looked at the dust rising from the horse's hooves coming from the distance, then he turned his head and asked his deputy General, "Has General Xue led his troops to the storage area?"

The deputy General reported4 in a loud voice: "Yes!"

Yan HeQing's lips slowly hooked up into a cold smile as he turned his horse around and coldy said to his deputy General: "Very well, I'm going to meet them head on. You lead the troops to cut off the back roads."

The two armies soon confronted each other. However, the Northern Kingdom only had a thousand soldiers, how could they be able to defeat the Southern Yan Kingdom's troops of tens of thousands of Elite Soldiers?

After a few rounds, Nie Er was overturned by Yan HeQing, who stepped on him the same way Nie Er stepped on Yan HeQing before. Then Yan HeQing didn't hesitate to cut off Nie Er's left arm with his sword.

Nie Er covered his wounded cut off arm and howled miserably. His voice was almost distorted due to the heavy pain, and as he laughed, he also started to curse: "Yan HeQing, you hated it right? You really hated the torture I gave you when you when you were brought to the Northern Kingdom? That's right, you're able to take revenge now, but don't ever forget that you did become a dog of the Northern Kingdom. No, you're still a dog of the Northern Kingdom…."

Before he could finish his speech, Yan HeQing raised his sword and expressionlessly slashed his throat. Nie Er could no longer make a single sound, his throat wound was bleeding with every inhalation he took. The view was extremely horrifying. His body was being stepped on by Yan HeQing, just like if he was a dog, crawling on the ground and twisting his body.

Nie Er struggled to raise his head and look towards the East, it seemed that he wanted to know whether Li Wuding was doing well. However, he wasn't able to see anything in the distance. The Heavens and the earth were vast, and the only thing he gazed upon was the white freezing snow. Gradually, his eyes darkened, indicating that the shared hatred the Countries had, once again, grown deeper between them.

Chapter 76: They Can Only Live In Chungui's Dream.1

The sky was grey and snowy above Li Wuding, who was leading three thousand elite soldiers, to crawl through the snow near the Southern Yan granary storage area. The cold made these soldiers' hands and feet feel numb as they slowly advanced. The body parts that weren't covered, felt extremely itchy and painful every time they had to move, even for a little bit.

All of a sudden, a riot came from the Southern Yan barracks, and the soldiers ran westward with torches. Li Wuding seized the opportunity and quickly sneaked into the storage area with his troops.

The infiltration was a smooth success. However, precisely because it was too easy, Li Wuding had an uneasy feeling growing inside his heart. He saw that the granary of the Southern Yan Kingdom was close at hand, and it was extremely silent around the area.

"General?" The soldiers were waiting for Li Wuding's next orders.

Li Wuding's breathing became more and more heavy. Looking around, it was so dark that he wasn't able to see anything other than pitch blackness. Even more, it was so silent that even the sound of a needle falling to the ground could be heard. Suddenly, there was a flash of light coming from the distance and Li Wuding's eyes narrowed as he started to shout hoarsely: "Retreat!"

But it was already too late. The troops led by Li Wuding were soon surrounded by the Southern Yan Kingdom soldiers, which had been waiting to ambush them here beforehand!

In an instant, the battle cries sounded through the skies, as if they were trying to slice open the dark firmament!

Li Wuding didn't panic, instead, he raised his sword to resist the enemy. He clenched his teeth so hard that he almost broke them. Inspired by this fierce spirit, the Northern Kingdom troops who've felt discouraged, began to gather up strength to break through this siege!

However, they were at the barracks of the Southern Yan Kingdom after all, so in the end, they were outnumbered. After several sword slashes, the Northern Kingdom's soldiers fell down one by one. Red blood fell on their bodies, making them look fierce and dazzling.

Xue Yan shouted with a deep voice: "General Li, you don't need to keep struggling. If you surrender, you can still save your life."

As soon as these words fell, Li Wuding suddenly ordered the soldiers to give up breaking through the siege and turned towards the granary. When they approached the granary, there were no more than 100 Northern Kingdom soldiers left. Because of this complicated situation, Li Wuding led the remaining soldiers to hide inside the granary and blocked the door with all their strength! However, outside the granary were tens of thousands of Southern Yan Kingdom troops surrounding it.

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"General Xue, the remnants of the Northern Kingdom's army escaped into the granary. Should we break through quickly to prevent them from burning the granary?" The deputy General came to report the situation to Xue Yan.

Xue Yan shook his head: "There's no need for that, they're already a turtle trapped inside a jar2. If they decide to burn down the granary, won't that mean that they would also burn themselves alive?"

After he said that, Xue Yan went to the granary to negotiate. Once he was in front of the granary, he shouted with a loud voice: "I've long heard of the great General Li and his achievements, but I do not wish to fight a war against General Li. Besides, the Northern Kingdom's Emperor is well known for being fatuous and treacherous, making the Northern Kingdom people's lives kind of country is not worth General Li's protection. Why don't you surrender to the Southern Yan Kingdom and save those common people from their misery? The Southern Yan Kingdom is virtuous and capable of appointing a great General as yourself, we will certainly not treat you badly."

"General Li…"

Inside the granary, Li Wuding slowly wiped off the blood on his face. When he heard the deputy General's voice trembling and calling out his name, he raised his head and looked around. More than a dozen soldiers of the Northern Kingdom, with all varying degrees of injuries, were supporting each other. All of them were pale, knowing that their opportunity has been lost and there was no hope for the future.

"General, there's no way back for us." The deputy General said.

The deputy General's voice was like a cold dagger, each of his words stabbed right into Li Wuding's heart.

Li Wuding was at a loss of words, he stood up and raised his eyes. His expression was like a broken flag flying in the strong wind, completely desolate and unyielding. Outside the granary, the voice of Xue Yan persuading him into surrender pierced through Li Wuding's ears, like a poisonous wine brewed with honey. It was a desire for life and a curse to loyalty.

Inside the granary, the eyes of the soldiers fell on Li Wuding's body, their gaze a thousand times heavier. He took a deep breath, but he couldn't inhale it. His head raised as he asked them: "Do you wish to live?"

Not a single voice was heard, no one answered. Everyone kept their heads down in complete silence.

They thought, who doesn't want to live? Who wouldn't want to be born in a peaceful and prosperous age3, with a complete family? All of them were young Officials and soldiers in the prime of their life. Who has never dreamt of rebuking Heaven and Earth4, and who hasn't thought of a happy and healthy future?

As if a hundred years had passed, the deputy General who called Li Wuding before, finally made a move. He stood up slowly and walked towards the door of the granary, step by step.

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Li Wuding, who looked at him without saying a word, didn't stop his actions.

The deputy General, wounded from the enemy's sword, stumbled with every step he took. The red blood dripped down his lower leg and onto the floor, leaving a trail of blood that led towards the door of the granary. He stood in front of the granary door, took a few breaths, and slowly reached out his hand.

Li Wuding's originally emotionless eyes gradually widened.

Because the deputy General didn't open the door! Instead, he took the fire fold5 from out of his clothes!

The deputy General turned around and bared his teeth in a smile. His appearance was one of no more than nineteen years old, and there was even a hint of youth and inexperience in his smile as he lit the fire fold, humming out a song.

It was a folk song of the Northern Kingdom, about prosperous times and peace. When the Officials and soldiers held events, they would often sing it around the campfire.

Gradually, all the other Officials and soldiers inside the granary began to sing along with him. Their singing voices slowly began to overshadow the voice of Xue Yan trying to persuade them to surrender.

Accompanying the song, Li Wuding saw the old General Sun telling him that the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom was trying to become a good ruler. He saw the figure of Xiao YuAn at the Imperial Court, fiercely punishing the corrupt Ministers because of the suffering of the common people. He also saw Xie Chungui laughing wantonly at him, with his porcelain cup filled with wine under the moonlight. This young man also said to him: General Li, for the years of the lands of this Country, I'll share both the honor and the disgrace with the Northern Kingdom!

Li Wuding laughed up to the heavens. He sang loudly alongside the Officials and soldiers, when suddenly, some tears burst out of his eyes.

Black smoke soon emerged from the granary, and Xue Yan was horrified, quickly calling out for water to put out the fire. The folk song of the Northern Kingdom gradually disappeared, buried in the raging fire. The flames blazed into the sky, burning down the bodies, bones, and loyalty of the Officials and soldiers of the Northern Kingdom.

The wind and snow howled, as if it was buying the rise and fall of a Nation, and the bones of its heroes.

The folk song of the Northern Kingdom gradually drifted into the sky from the barracks of the Southern Yan Kingdom, pushing away the black clouds and stopping the falling snow. However, a hundred miles away, the reinforcements led by Xie Chungui were rushing to the border city, with the emergency Military rations accompanying them. The fire and the morning light lit up together, and Xie Chungui squinted his eyes as he saw the outline of the border city not far away.

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A soldier said to Xie Chungui: "Deputy General Xie! Look, the snow has stopped falling and the rations will soon be delivered. After you and General Li meet up, we will definitely be able to keep the Southern Yan Kingdom out of our borders!"

There was a bright light shining inside Xie Chungui's eyes, it was the anticipation of being able to fight alongside Li Wuding.

Because the weather was getting better, the soldiers who were delivering the rations supplies were in high spirits. Suddenly, they loudly began to sing the folk song of the Northern Kingdom, singing about the prosperity and peace of the Northern Kingdom. This song accompanied Xie Chungui all the way to the border city.

Xie Chungui laughed and shouted out loud from outside the city: "General Li, we've brought the ration supplies! Open the gates!"

With the singing voices sounding them, the heavy gates slowly opened, and Xie Chungui's smile gradually disappeared from his face.

Life was truly unpredictable. Just a few hours before their arrival, everything happened because of a few hours of difference.

If Xie Chungui had arrived a few hours earlier, perhaps Li Wuding wouldn't have resorted to rob the enemy's rations.

But there's no such thing as "what if" in this world. Only a quiet sigh is left behind, written in history books, and the weeping remorse from who knows who.

Chapter 77: As The Wind Blows, The Whole Country Is Broken.1

The granary of the Southern Yan Kingdom was completely burnt down, giving the exhausted soldiers of the Northern Kingdom a chance to catch their breaths. For the next three days, all of the soldiers in the Northern Kingdom defending the border city were mourning, as if they were about to blend into the snow.

Another three days passed until the war news reached the Imperial Palace.

The Minister was trembling as he presented the report: "Your Majesty, General Xie has successfully sent the Military rations to the border, but General Li, he… He…"

When the Minister's words weren't finished, Xiao YuAn's chest suddenly began to ache, which made his brow frown and he could hardly breathe. He tightly grasped his chest above his heart as he heard the voice listing off all his vain attempts to change the fate of the Northern Kingdom. This was also the voice of the Northern Kingdom's demise.

"Your, Your Majesty…. General Li, he…."

Xiao YuAn closed his eyes wearily. The Minister didn't need to finish his words, because he already knew what he was about to say.

Li Wuding has rebelled.

"General Li, he… led three thousand Elite soldiers to sneak into the enemy barracks, trying to rob their granary, but…. But… They were caught in the enemy's trap, and all, the whole army was destroyed… No-none, none of them survived."

Xiao YuAn suddenly opened his eyes and abruptly stood up as if submerged in a trace. He was short of breath and his lips were pale and trembling: "You… What did you say… Wh…."

Before he could finish his words, Xiao YuAn suddenly gurgled violently, red blood flowing out of his mouth and spilled all over the ground. This scene shocked the eyes, and astonished the heart2.

"Your Majesty!" There were several people alarmingly shouting around him.

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Xiao YuAn covered his bleeding mouth, only to feel his ears ringing and his head exploding. He found himself unable to hear anything, as if there was a huge depression inside his heart, clogging up his body with strangling pain.

How could this happen?

Wasn't Li Wuding the second Male Lead?

How could he die just like that?

Why wasn't there treason and why were all of them killed in the battlefield instead?

All of a sudden, Xiao YuAn's eyes were filled with Hong Xiu. She stood in front of the window, the pear blossoms silently falling like snow. She turned her head to look at Xiao YuAn and smiled at him: "Your Majesty."

Xiao YuAn took a sharp step back and looked up again, his eyes were full of helplessness and despair.

Did he really change anything? Like the death of Hong Xiu? Why, why, why was it like this? He was just trying to protect the Northern Kingdom, but why did more people have to die every single time?

His ears heard a hissing sound that exploded inside Xiao YuAn's mind, like a jiejiejie's3 sly laugh, mocking his incompetence and the fact that he had three thousand more life debts hanging on his shoulders.

After a few days of hard work and continuous blows, Xiao YuAn finally couldn't hold on anymore. An empty blackness surrounded him as he slowly fainted on the ground.

When Xiao YuAn woke up, he immediately saw Princess Yongning sitting on the edge of the bed, her eyes were red from crying. When she saw that he finally woke up, she asked him in panic as she sobbed: "Imperial Brother, how're you feeling? Are you alright?"

Xiao YuAn reached out his hand and gently caressed her hair: "I'm fine, don't worry."

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Princess Yongning lowered her head and rubbed the corners of her eyes. She almost burst into tears once again.

"Ning'er, can you promise me something?" Xiao YuAn braced himself to sit up on the bed.

"Yongning promises, as long as Imperial Brother is well, Yongning will promise anything." Princess Yongning raised her head.

Xiao YuAn laughed and his eyes became warm and watery: "No matter what happens after today, you must live and not seek death, do you understand?"

Princess Yongning looked puzzled, but still nodded her head, with a solemn and serious expression.

Xiao YuAn pressed his heart, that was still throbbing with pain, and asked: "How is the front line?"

"Answering to His Majesty." A Minister by the bedside reported hurriendly: "Deputy General Xie has taken over General Li's position, and has been reorganizing the troops and is in process of dispatching troops for revenge."

Xiao YuAn gave a soft 'hmmm' as he leaned on the bed with his shoulders slightly collapsed, his lips slightly open and his eyes looking dispirited. He seemed to be thinking about something, and after a long silence, he spoke again: "I want to… go to the altar for sacrifice of the Temple of Heaven."

The sacrifice of the Northern Kingdom required live sheep and pigs. After listening to this, the Minister replied: "Weichen will go and get everything prepared."

Xiao YuAn said: "No, no need to prepare anything, just three incense sticks will do. I'm not offering a sacrifice to the Heavens."

For a brief moment, the Minister was startled. When he came back to reality, he went to prepare the trip.

Later at dusk, despite his discomfort, Xiao YuAn went to the altar at the Temple of Heaven outside the Imperial City.

Ironically enough, the last time he came here, Yan HeQing was still by his side. As well as these ninety-nine steps, and the setting of the sun that seemed to dye everything in bloody red.

It was just a few months ago, but it felt like a lifetime had passed already.

Xiao YuAn knelt at the altar in the Temple of Heaven. The wind and snow was howling and the cold was piercing. Xiao YuAn, who was holding three incense sticks, took a deep breath of cold air as he kneeled down.

After worshiping for a while, he raised his eyes. His whole body was trembling and tears were flowing like a fountain. The thin snowflakes fell on Xiao YuAn, but it seemed that even that slight touch would crush him. The howling wind was strong, like the low roar of three thousand angry ghosts. Those mournful voices pressed on his head, asking him why he had let Yan HeQing go in spite of the safety of the Northern Kingdom. He murmured, his voice choked with weakness: "I've really tried my best, I'm sorry…. I'm sorry…."

In January, the snow brought down a great cold front.

Xie Chungui led the army, desperately fighting for two whole months. However, in the end, he was still defeated.

The Northern Kingdom was unable to regain their power.

And two days later, tens of thousands of horses and soldiers broke into the City walls.

Chapter 78: Last Night, There Was A Spring Breeze On The Small Building.1

The wind coming from the North swept past the ground covered with white grass and snow in succession. Xiao YuAn woke up one night only to see the dead branches outside the window. Hanging from the branches were crystal clear ice flowers, and the crows were howling miserably from the cold. It was so quiet that if four needles fell, he would be able to hear the sound of them hitting the ground.

The maid who helped him fall asleep yesterday had already disappeared, and when Xiao YuAn had risen from his bed, what welcomed him was the sight of complete chaos. His Imperial bedchamber had been ransacked of valuables, and all the gold and silver had disappeared too.

However, Xiao YuAn wasn't surprised. Ever since the Southern Yan Kingdom stationed themselves outside the Imperial City the previous day, the Imperial Palace had been in chaos. The Royal relatives, Minister and subordinates, all of them had run away. There were smashed things scattered all over the place, the original majestic and peaceful Imperial Palace has ceased to exist.

Xiao YuAn lifted the quilt to get up and began to dress himself. However, these heavy patterned clothing were so complicated that Xiao YuAn couldn't figure out how to wear them properly. In the end, he just casually wrapped himself in a thick coat, a random outer robe, wrapped himself in cotton fur, and then walked out of the bedchamber.

All the Imperial guards and servants had already escaped from the Imperial Palace. The Ministers who had advised him several times to escape a few days ago, were also long gone. The Palace, which was originally full of songs and dances, now looked extremely desolate and chaotic. This was the sight of rising and falling; some people were so angry they could vomit, others felt such bitterness they could only cry like the crows.

Xiao YuAn stepped in the snow and walked all the way to Yongning Palace. When he passed by the Yingfeng Yulu Pavilion, he couldn't help but stop in his tracks.

The original Pavilion with its golden tiles and red eaves, was now piled up with broken tiles. The original prosperity cannot be seen anymore. By looking at this Pavilion, he could almost see Yan HeQing sweeping the snow as if in a trance. After a while, he settled his thoughts and left in a hurry.

Yongning Palace was also a mess. There were clothes scattered all over the floor, and there were broken wood debris. Xiao YuAn suddenly felt very anxious and hurriedly rushed into the main Hall.

What Xiao YuAn never expected was that Princess Yongning's bedroom was actually the same as usual. Princess Yongning was sitting in front of the dressing box, dressed in a plain white robe. There were no servants around, and she was alone, applying makeup on her eyebrows and lips. When she heard some noise, she turned her head. When she saw it was Xiao YuAn, she smiled warmly: "Imperial Brother." Xiao YuAn saw Princess Yongning standing up, waving her sleeves and dancing. When she finished she asked him with a smile: "Was it beautiful?"

Xiao YuAn said: "Very beautiful."

This was no longer a prosperous Imperial Palace, instead, this was a dilapidated Palace. And yet, there's still a place to sing; where some things have remained the same, but people have changed, becoming completely fearless.

AD

Princess Yongning drew up her sleeve and asked: "Imperial brother, do you have any regrets?"

Xiao YuAn was stunned for a moment, as if he heard the voice of the Nation ringing in his ears again. A voice that cursed him for letting Yan HeQing go, and even for the fall of the Northern Kingdom. But still, he said with a smile: "No."

"Is that so?" Princess Yongning lowered her eyes: "I really envy Imperial Brother."

Xiao YuAn stepped forward: "Ning'er, are you afraid of the breaking of the Country?"

The corners of Princess Yongning's mouth were slightly raised, but she was inexhaustibly remorseful: "Yongning is not afraid of the Country's destruction, nor do I fear the death of my family. The only regret I have is, that at that time, at that time… I didn't show her my feelings, I didn't speak with my heart, and now, if we don't see each other again, I'll be reduced to tears. I only wish for her to have a lifetime of peace and well-being."

Xiao YuAn reached out and stroked Princess Yongning's hair: "You will see each other again, don't worry. I'll let him2 come see you."

Princess Yongning suddenly raised her head, her breathing was unsteady: "But, but, how can I let her come see me, how can I let her see me like this, reduced in such a situation?"

"Don't worry, he will definitely want to see you. You just have to wait here, you can wait for him, I promise you." Xiao YuAn showed a shallow smile, but his eyes were full of pity: "Ning'er, don't feel guilty. You don't have to care about what happened, you must not blame yourself. Life is short, and there's no way back to what home was before. Since you two adore each other, then you two must be together. And when you see him again, forget about everything else and just go with him."

Princess Yongning's eyes had a little bit of confusion in them, as if she was half-aware of what Xiao YuAn's words meant, but she still nodded her head regardless.

Xiao YuAn breathed a long sigh of relief, as if he had dropped a big stone from his heart. He reassured Princess Yongning a few more times before turning away and leaving.

Suddenly, heavy snow fell from the sky, as if to add more desolations to the already depressed Palace. Xiao YuAn slowly walked back to his bedchamber, but suddenly stopped not far from its entrance.

Because there was a man standing at the entrance of his bedchamber.

Chapter 79: There Aren't Any Wild Geese Flying South Of The Mountain.1

The man should have been waiting for him for a long time, his clothes were wet from the falling snow, and his shoulders were covered with a layer of frost. The man hunched his back, covered his mouth and began to cough incessantly, as if he was a withered branch that could break at any moment, so fragile looking.

Xiao YuAn took a few steps forward, and his voice stuttered from surprise: "Eunuch Zhao, why didn't you…. why…. haven't you left yet?"

"Your Majesty." Eunuch Zhao's voice was very hoarse: "If His Majesty hasn't left, how could this old slave dare to leave?"

Xiao YuAn was momentarily moved, he even told Eunuch Zhao to hurry and enter the Imperial bedchamber.

Eunuch Zhao saw that Xiao YuAn's clothes were messy and quickly helped him to fix them. The Emperor's clothes were complicated to wear after all. Eunuch Zhao lowered his head and devoted himself as usual, as if today was just an ordinary day.

"Eunuch Zhao… Do you blame me? Do you blame me for not listening to your advice in the first place?" Xiao YuAn took a deep breath and finally asked:

"Your Majesty, this slave is too old to remember what he said to His Majesty to make him feel so concerned." Eunuch Zhao said.

Xiao YuAn felt like he had a fish bone stuck in his throat2 and stuttered for a long time. In the end, he was unable to utter a single word.

"Your Majesty, wait, you really want to…." Before Eunuch Zhao was able to finish his sentence, he suddenly started to cough violently, his voice sounding as dull as if it came from his chest.

Xiao YuAn quickly reached out and patted him on the back, this made Eunuch Zhao so terrified that he tried to stop him.

Xiao YuAn helplessly withdrew his hand as he said in a low voice: "Yes, my only wish is for the enemy soldiers of the Southern Yan Kingdom to not harm the common people of the Imperial City. Eunuch Zhao, you better go, there's really no need to stay here."

AD

Eunuch Zhao's back suddenly became even more hunched over, he was like a fire that had burned out, with only a few irreversible ashes left behind. With a trembling voice, he finally said: "Your Majesty, let this old slave bundle His Majesty's hair one last time, just like when His Majesty was still a child."

Xiao YuAn nodded and casually pulled out a wooden chair to sit down. Inside this messy bedchamber, it wasn't easy for Eunuch Zhao to find a gray hair band, and when he found one, he carefully tied Xiao YuAn's hair. As if he had accomplished something important, he breathed a sigh of relief. Eunuch Zhao then bowed down to his knees and turned around to walk out of the bedchamber.

He dragged his body and walked against the wind and snow, his body looking so small and thin between heaven and earth. As he walked out of the Imperial bedchamber, he kept on walking until he reached the altar of the Temple of Heaven. While walking up those ninety-nine steps, the intense coughing almost made him lose his step, which almost resulted in him falling down to a certain death.

Eunuch Zhao stood on top of the altar of the Temple of Heaven, and then prostrated in admiration3. After that, he said: "I, surnamed Zhao, have been living inside this Palace for more than 40 years and served three generations of Emperors. I'm grateful for the Emperor's kindness, and I hope that under the Yellow Springs I can serve the late Emperor once again. Today, knowing that the Heavenly ritual requires a living sacrifice, I pray to the Heavens that they will listen to this old slave's words. I'm not asking for the young Emperor to bath in glory and be wealthy, I just wish for him to live a healthy life without great sorrows or serious diseases. This old slave would like to sacrifice his body to the Heavens for this wish."

After finishing his prayer, Eunuch Zhao stood up slowly, his kneecaps bones trembling due to the cold. He stood on the altar of sacrifice, facing the wind and snow, and then he jumped down from the altar without hesitation.

As soon as the blood was spilled on the weeds, the hair band on Xiao YuAn's head suddenly snapped.

Xiao YuAn, who was stunned for a moment, leaned over to pick up the gray hair band and used the red and white hair pins to hold it together. After securing them together, he put them inside his inner clothes. Then, with both hands holding the State Seal4 and the map of the Northern Kingdom, he walked out of the Imperial Palace.

The snowstorm in the Northern Kingdom howled bitterly, painting everything with the white snow. The Imperial City that had more than a thousand homes, was completely desolate, not a single human figure could be seen. There were white banners hanging on each door, giving the atmosphere of a city that had been dead and in silence for thousands of years.

Xiao YuAn stepped in the snow and slowly walked towards the gate of the Imperial City. He was only wearing a thin white coat, and the cold wind was piercing into his bones, mercilessly taking the warm temperature out of his body. Xiao YuAn took a deep breath, his throat was dry and painful, and his limbs were gradually feeling numb.

But he cannot stop.

Because he could hear the faint sound of weeping and sobbing, but he didn't know where it was coming from. This miserable and mournful cry, accompanied Xiao YuAn all the way to the gate of the Imperial City.

Xiao YuAn stood beneath the dark grey gate of the Imperial City, and tried to look far into the distance.

AD

In the distance, he can already see the general appearance of the Southern Yan Kingdom's troops. The vast army that was partly hidden under the snowstorm, this looming outline, was the nightmare of the Northern Kingdom. Xiao YuAn exhaled a white fog, lowered his head, and slowly wiped the snow off the State Seal in his hand. After doing that, he slowly started to walk towards the Southern Yan Kingdom's army.

Over the past 40 years, the country has been home to three thousand li5 of mountains and rivers. Every step Xiao YuAn took, the snow under his feet made a slight creaking sound. This was the anguish cry and howl of the soldiers who had killed the enemies and died in the battlefield for the Northern Kingdom, as if they were announcing their reluctance and sorrow with bloody tears.

Xiao YuAn walked up to the Southern Yan Kingdom's army, holding the State Seal and the map of the Country in his hands, he raised them high in the air, and then knelt on the ground.

As soon as his knees hit the ground, Xiao YuAn heard the sound of the Northern Kingdom collapsing behind him; just like the falling snow, wordless and uncommunicative6.

Xiao YuAn, who was still kneeling on the ground, took a deep breath and shouted with all his strength: "On this day, this sinner who has lost his Country, will be removed from the throne and the crown will leave his head, will also wait for his punishment. He will hand over the State Seal and the map of the Country. He just has one wish, don't harm the common people in the Imperial City."

"Report! General Xue, Yan-huangzi, the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom has come alone to surrender!"

Inside one of the military tents, Yan HeQing and Xue Yan, who were discussing the final invasion of the Imperial City, suddenly heard the report from the deputy.

Yan HeQing's pupils suddenly shrank, and not even bothering to put on his fur coat, he hurriedly got up, intending to walk outside the tent. However, a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder in tight grip.

"HeQing." Xue Yan's voice was calm and majestic.

Yan HeQing stopped, but he didn't turn around.

Xue Yan's heart was startled and his brows tightly frowned, he vaguely caught the hidden emotions of Yan HeQing. Then, he said to the deputy General: "Wait outside."

AD

The deputy General cupped his fists7 and left, leaving only Yan HeQing and Xue Yan inside the military tent.

"HeQing, let me ask you something. That jade flute that you're extremely protective of, is it a gift from the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom?" Instead of loosening his grip on Yan HeQing's shoulder, Xue Yan exerted even more force.

Yan HeQing, who stood silent for a long time, in the end replied: "Yes."

Xue Yan bit down on his teeth and his eyes were extremely dark. Yan HeQing was the child he had raised himself, needless to say, he had already known it inside his heart.

The silence was like an invisible net, tightly entangling the two of them. After a long time, Xue Yan withdrew his hand and said: "Stay here and don't move. I'll go first to see if the Northern Kingdom is lying."

"Uncle, I'll go with you… " Yan HeQing turned around. His eyes were firm and persistent, his tone of voice was calm and unhurried.

"HeQing." Xue Yan suddenly interrupted Yan HeQing. He lifted the curtain of the military tent. The snow was being blown by the wind, whistling away the warmth of the tent. Xue Yan looked over his shoulder at Yan HeQing: "You're the Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom, not the male concubine of the Northern Kingdom."

Yan HeQing's eyes suddenly darkened, and his head dropped. His eyebrows were hidden in the dark, not a hint of brightness could be seen.

Xue Yan didn't shut up just because of Yan HeQing's change of attitude. He refined his words into a sharp blade, ruthlessly cutting Yan HeQing's wounds deeper. He wanted Yan HeQing to remember that compared to the hatred in the name of his lost family and devastated Country, the love between youngsters wasn't worth mentioning at all: "HeQing, you represent the soldiers of the Southern Yan Kingdom, the people who were once ruined by the Northern Kingdom. Under your feet, the corpses of your parents are buried, and over your head, there are the grieving souls of the common people. Have you already forgotten the tragic scenes the Southern Yan Kingdom's destruction suffered back then?"

After finishing his speech, Xue Yan lifted the curtain and left. The northern wind was mournful and cruel.

Well, we did got played by the author with the cliffhanger of the previous chapter (I did tought it was YHQ who stood in front of XYA's bedchamber the first time I read the novel) In the end, it was Eunuch Zhao, who sacrificed himself for the sake of his Emperor. (´;д;`)

But they're so closeeeeee… (screams)(;`O´)o

Chapter 80: Ever Since We Went Our Separate Ways, Why Have You Become So Thin?1

Xiao YuAn knelt in the snow for a long time. The falling snow soaked through his clothes and the wind froze his wet clothes, turning them cold and hard. Just when Xiao YuAn felt he could not hold on any longer, he heard the sound of hoofbeats coming from the front. He raised his head against the wind and snow, however, he couldn't see that familiar silhouette.

Does Yan HeQing not want to see him?

Was it intolerable to see him?

No, definitely not. He wasn't worth making Yan HeQing feel intolerance.

That's right, Yan HeQing doesn't even care about him at all. Even when Xiao YuAn was surrendering to him, Yan HeQing didn't even bother to come see him.

The corner of Xiao YuAn's mouth raised in a bitter smile.

What was he expecting? Was he expecting for Yan HeQing to be kind to him just because of their former interactions? Perhaps what he had done wasn't worth mentioning for Yan HeQing at all. He also knew how much humiliation the Northern Kingdom put Yan HeQing through when he stayed there. Yan HeQing had hatred inside his heart, how could he put other things under his eyes.

Even though he told Yan HeQing about his previous life, maybe from beginning to end, in Yan HeQing's heart, he was still the young Emperor of the Northern Kingdom; the Ruler of the Country that destroyed his, the Ruler of the Country that captured him and wanted to imprison him as a male concubine. According to Yan HeQing's reclusive character, perhaps the intimacy he showed to him before was just a disguise to save his own life. Perhaps Yan HeQing had always hated him as much as the original.

Xiao YuAn's thoughts were pulled back by the sound of the horse's hooves stopping in front of him. After the deputy General whispered some words with Xue Yan, he rode forward and suddenly whipped Xiao YuAn's frozen hands with a whip.

Instantly, the State Seal, the map, and some blood tumbled down on the snow. The blood mixed together with the snow, dying it bright red; as Xiao YuAn inhaled fiercely, trying to swallow the sobs inside his throat.

Seeing that Xiao YuAn didn't lie, the deputy General dismounted, picked up the map and the State Seal, and then handed them over to Xue Yan: "General Xue, I've confirmed that there's nothing wrong with these."

Xue Yan looked with a cold stare at Xiao YuAn, nodded to the deputy General, and then led the army into the Imperial City.

Xiao YuAn followed behind the cavalry line of the Southern Yan Kingdom. His hands were tied to a horse by the reins, and he was being half dragged, half walking towards the Northern Kingdom's Imperial City.

The cold invaded Xiao YuAn's muscles and bones, and his eyes were blurred. He was too weak and too exhausted to keep up with the speed of the horse's pace. He staggered as he was being dragged along, and his wrists were bleeding due to the friction from the reins.

The army of the Southern Yan Kingdom set foot on the land of the Imperial City of the Northern Kingdom in a mighty way, announcing the complete annihilation of this Country's long history.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried horses' hooves came from the rear of the army, and as Xiao YuAn raised his head, the familiar figure of a man was reflected in his eyes. His silver spear, red tassel, and a mighty sword were on his person. His appearance was dignified and his posture was straight, just as described in the original book.

Xiao YuAn's mind suddenly went blank for a moment. There was no fear, no panic, and no resentment inside of him. When he looked at Yan HeQing without fear, it was like watching an unhappy, but shocking appearance.

Yan HeQing turned over and dismounted from his horse, then he quickly walked to Xiao YuAn. However, all of a sudden, someone riding a horse stopped right in front of him.

"HeQing." Xue Yan's face was filled with hidden anger: "What do you think you're doing?"

Yan HeQing bowed respectfully to him, but he had no more words to say, as he bypassed the horse in front of him without looking back.

Xue Yan quickly dismounted his horse and blocked Yan HeQing's path with his own body. His blue veins showed on his forehead as he gnashed his teeth in anger2: "HeQing, have you forgotten who the enemies of our Country are?"

"I haven't forgotten." Yan HeQing's eyes were as cold as black jade: "I've led the army to break through the Northern Kingdom, and once the shame of the past is gone, the hatred between us will disappear."

Xue Yan was startled for a moment, and his lips trembled slightly: "Fine. Even if that's the case if you were to protect the former Emperor of the Northern Kingdom, what will the world say? They'll say that you're willing to become a male concubine slave for the rest of your life, they'll say you've broken your spine! And what will our Officers and men think? They'll think that you only care about love, that you're not worthy of being the Emperor of the Southern Yan Kingdom!"