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As expected, the army set off at the end of winter, and the day they returned to the capital was exactly the beginning of spring. The officials exited the city to welcome them, shouting “Long live my Emperor!” in unison.

They then made their way to the palace, where they took a cleansing bath, removed their armor, and put on their formal attire, finally feeling some relief from the fatigue of the long journey.

Upon returning to the palace, the first thing Jing Ye wanted to see was his beloved nephew.

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One of the palace maids informed him, “Gu Gongzi has been in the Qingyu Pavilion for the past few days, not coming out for meals or sleep. We have already sent someone to inform him. Villa Master Lu has business at the estate and left half a month ago, instructing us to tell Your Majesty that he will definitely return soon.”

After such a long journey, he found he could not see anyone.

Jing Ye felt an inexplicable sense of disappointment. In his arms, Jing Xiao Yun held onto a sticky snack and brought it to his lips, saying, “Susu!” 

Jing Ye smiled slightly, leaning down to nuzzle his nephew’s nose. At least he still had a nephew waiting for him. When he caught sight of Zhao Yue sitting quietly nearby, he pulled him over as well, placing one on each side.

Jing Xiao Yun, not wanting to share his uncle’s affection, turned around and hugged Jing Ye’s waist, declaring his claim.

Zhao Yue looked up at him, wide-eyed and confused.

Jing Ye patted his head and fed him a piece of plum cake, which Zhao Yue licked and swallowed.

Jing Xiao Yun, wide-eyed, immediately swallowed the whole piece of cake that Jing Ye had given him, his cheeks bulging and almost choking.

Jing Ye laughed heartily, playing with the two little ones for a while, but eventually feeling weary, he instructed them to play by themselves on the couch while he went to sleep soundly in the warm chamber.

Gu Hong hurried into the sleeping quarters. Ye Mao, positioned behind the screen, waved him over and pointed toward the warm chamber behind the screen.

Gu Hong nodded and entered. The room was filled with a soothing fragrance, and the drapes hung low, faintly revealing a silhouette.

He approached slowly and stepped on the thick, soft red carpet on the ground. His footsteps were so light that there was hardly any noise.

When he reached the edge of the bed, he lifted the curtain and sat down beside Jing Ye, gently caressing his brows.

Usually a man of many thoughts, Mr. Gu remained still for four or six hours, quietly staring off into space.

Jing Ye slept without awareness of day or night. At first, he felt the blanket and pillow were cold, and his fingertips were icy. Gradually, he warmed up, the soft, warm fabric against his face providing great comfort.

When he awoke, there was still light in the room. One hand was held by someone, with the other resting on the slim and strong waist of the person beside him. Their chests were pressed against each other, allowing him to feel the steady, calming heartbeat.

As Jing Ye gradually woke up and realized who it was, he lifted his hand to touch the person’s cheek and murmured, “You’ve lost weight.”

“As expected, we can’t let you go out again.”

Gu Hong sighed softly, his lips brushing against Jing Ye’s ear, living up to the phrase “ears brushing together intimately.”

From behind the screen, Ye Mao heard the commotion and called out, “Your Majesty has awakened? Do you feel more comfortable? After sleeping for so long, you should get up and eat something, or you might upset your spleen and stomach.”

“Come in.”

Jing Ye slowly sat up, not letting the palace maids tie up his hair. He gathered his long hair to his back, and Ye Mao hurried in with the maids, bringing a face towel, a basin of water, and a teacup for rinsing.

Gu Hong rose from the bed and, while putting on his clothes, draped a white fox fur coat over Jing Ye’s shoulders, saying, “It’s just the beginning of spring; if you’re not careful, you might catch a cold.”

Seeing him dressed and preparing to leave, Jing Ye asked, “Where are you going?”

“There are still a few matters outside that haven’t been resolved; I’ll report back once I’m done,” Gu Hong replied with a bow and took Jing Ye’s hand for a moment. “This subject will be right back.”

Jing Ye nodded, “Coincidentally, zhen has matters to discuss with you as well.”

As Gu Hong exited, Ye Mao was bringing up dinner. After Jing Ye finished his meal, he sat beside the bed to ponder for a moment. When Gu Hong returned and saluted, he came over to sit on the bed and mentioned some important matters from the court.

Jing Ye said, “In pacifying the western region this time, many young generals have achieved great military merit. The court should promote more from this younger generation. In any case, zhen will leave it to you to reward them as customary. Just one matter: Li Tingqiu has performed outstanding service this time. He is a vital asset, and it would be too much of a waste for him to remain in the palace to serve zhen.”

Gu Hong raised his eyebrows, asking, “What are Your Majesty’s thoughts?”

“Zhen thinks of sending him to an important border command to take on the role of prefect, to maintain order in that region; that should not disappoint such a talent.”

Gu Hong smiled lightly, saying, “With Your Majesty’s favor and heavenly grace, General Li would certainly be happy to accept the order.”

Jing Ye paused with the teacup in his hand, replying, “From the sound of it, it seems zhen is wronging him instead.”

“Unfulfilled wishes lead to grievances; isn’t that a form of injustice?” Gu Hong held Jing Ye’s long fingers tightly, “Compared to Ting Qiu, this subject truly is a fortunate man.”

Hearing this, Jing Ye suddenly thought, could it be that Gu Hong knows? That would be too strange—he and Li Tingqiu were far apart, and no one would carry news; how could he possibly know?

Gu Hong looked at him, suddenly tightening his hold and pulling Jing Ye’s lean frame close to him: “Your Majesty also seems tired. Let’s sleep.”

Facing each other, their breaths intertwined and hair mingled, it was naive to think that “sleep” was a static word.

In the presence of such beauty, who could not be tempted? Jing Ye licked his lips, reversed his hand to grip Gu Hong’s fingers, and chuckled softly, “How about I take the position on top…?”

Before he could finish speaking, Gu Hong pulled him down, pushing the fabric aside while smiling, “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, but although this subject is not as skilled in martial arts as Villa Master Lu, this subject can certainly serve you well enough.”

Jing Ye was momentarily speechless.

Gu Hong, usually calm and graceful, now pressed down with some force. He kissed Jing Ye until the latter’s lips and tongue tingled. Unable to help himself, he breathed out softly, “Lighter…”

Gu Hong kissed around his ear, moving to his Adam’s apple and collarbone, while chuckling, “The night is still long. Has Your Majesty not heard the ancients say ‘good preparation is the key to success’?”

The following day, Jing Ye woke up early. The morning court would not resume for several days, so he was leisurely enjoying the flowers and playing with birds, though his waist ached painfully.

Gu Hong had gone out of the palace early. Old Prime Minister Gu was aging. Although he had returned to court, he mainly sat as a stabilizing force, intimidating the other officials; most matters were controlled by Gu Hong. In a few years, the prime minister’s position would likely be handed down to his son.

Jing Ye thought for a moment. The old Prime Minister Gu and the late emperor resembled each other quite a bit, they were too lazy to clean up after themselves, leaving a pile for future generations to handle, using the same lazy tactics one after another.

Ye Mao slipped through the gallery and approached Jing Ye, saying, “Your Majesty, Lord Feng requests to see you.”

Jing Ye was currently feeding a parrot and, upon hearing this, paused, saying, “Have him come in; let him meet me here.”

Not long after, Feng Ling entered with the help of a maid. Jing Ye observed him closely and noticed that he looked significantly thinner than two months ago. Wearing a scarlet official robe, he still maintained an upright posture like a sturdy pine tree, but his garments swayed as if he might float away.

Yet, there was a lively spirit in his eyes and brows, which made his handsome features even more striking, radiating brilliance.

Jing Ye was momentarily taken aback, recalling the shy youth he had first met, who had possessed such a righteous demeanor. This seemed so much like the person before him now.

Feng Ling bowed and said, “This subject, Feng Ling…”

The parrot on its stand flapped its wings and screeched, “Paying respects to Your Majesty—”

Feng Ling: “…”

Jing Ye couldn’t help but burst into laughter, raising his hand to signal for him to forgo the formalities, “Alright, alright.”

Feng Ling had prepared many words to say, but after this interruption, he found himself at a loss, his face reddening.

Jing Ye pinched a piece of pastry to reward the parrot while asking, “What brings qing here?”

“This…” Feng Ling bit his lip. Observing his expression, Jing Ye guessed, “Are you here on behalf of your friend to speak out against an injustice?”

Feng Ling: “?”

Jing Ye continued, “Xu Ming is a serious criminal of the court and is under escort for questioning; however, he is secretly being tortured.” Moreover, the officials had found out about it. “It would be a case of overstepping authority. Lest he is lambasted as being arrogant due to his accomplishments, some punishment wouldn’t be an injustice.”

Feng Ling hurriedly explained, “This subject means no such thing. The matter this subject wishes to discuss is unrelated to… matters of state between sovereign and subjects.”

“Then what is it?” Jing Ye’s face turned cold. “Is it that you have come to fetch tea and water for zhen, or to make zhen‘s bed?”

Feng Ling stood stunned for a moment and stammered, “This… this subject doesn’t know how.”

Jing Ye was equally astonished. He had expected Feng Ling to take a step back and talk about moral principles and rituals between ruler and minister, but he never expected him to say this.

The two stood silently beneath the eaves, facing each other in quietude.

“This subject, Feng Ling.” Suddenly, Feng Ling swept his robe aside and, to Jing Ye’s astonishment, knelt.

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The parrot flapped its wings but intelligently chose to preserve the atmosphere.

“Has failed to uphold the rules of loyalty and respect between sovereign and minister. This subject has also not shown sufficient filial piety as a descendant. My nature is rough and clumsy, the most trivial of men. If this subject can serve the nation with loyalty, or… remain by Your Majesty’s side.”

“This subject only asks for this; then my life shall have no regrets.”

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When Jing Ye woke up in the morning, there was already no warmth left by his pillow. Lin Xiaosheng must have gotten up a long time ago. 

Ye Mao was helping him change clothes while saying, “The Gongzi has already gone to the government office.”

Jing Ye responded with a “hmm,” and after the maidservants tidied up, he walked through the intricately carved green silk panels and sat down for breakfast.

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As Ye Mao arranged the dishes for him, they had eaten about halfway when Yang Ziran requested an audience.

Ye Mao suggested, “Should we ask General Yang to wait a little longer?”

“No need,” Jing Ye set down his chopsticks and said, “Zhen woke a bit late today; just tell him to wait in the study. Zhen will come right away.”

“Yes,” Ye Mao replied.

Jing Ye emerged from behind the screen and took a seat at the desk. Yang Ziran knelt on one knee and bowed, saying, “Paying respects to Your Majesty.”

“Rise. What is the matter?”

Yang Ziran stood up and said, “The rebel thief Xu Ming has been captured, and the battle is settled. This subject asks Your Majesty to choose a day to return to the court.” 

Jing Ye thought for a moment and replied, “This matter is not urgent; let’s rest for another month. This will also allow the soldiers to recuperate. The journey is long and rushing to set off might only lead to more injuries.”

Yang Ziran bowed and said, “Your Majesty has thought it through; this subject understands.”

Jing Ye sat behind the table, noticing that Yang Ziran still did not take his leave, saying, “If you have something to say, just speak. There’s no need for hesitation.”

“Your Majesty…” Yang Ziran clasped his hands, “This subject would also like to see Lord Feng; this subject has heard he has been seriously injured.”

Jing Ye nodded and said, “You have a close friendship with him; you should go visit him.” Suddenly remembering something, he coldly snorted, “It’s quite a shame he has to recuperate here with zhen.”

Noticing the tone of the emperor, Yang Ziran didn’t dare to respond further. The maidservants came to lead him inside. Upon entering the inner chamber, they saw Feng Ling reclining at the head of the bed, draped in a cloak and reading a book, though he seemed distracted and hadn’t turned a page for a long time.

The maidservant said, “Lord Feng, General Yang has come to visit you.”

Feng Ling suddenly came to his senses and saw his friend winking at him from behind the maidservant, exclaiming in surprise, “You’re here.”

Yang Ziran walked to the bedside, glancing awkwardly at the several maidservants nearby. The maidservants understood and all bowed slightly, chuckling as they exited the room.

Once the maidservants closed the green silk doors leading to the outer chamber and shut the door behind them, Yang Ziran pulled over a round stool and sat down, sizing up Feng Ling. He sighed and laughed, “Ai, I don’t know what great merit you have achieved to earn such favor from His Majesty.”

Feng Ling closed the book and said, “Do you find anything other than mockery amusing?”

Yang Ziran chuckled, “I specifically came to tease you.” He then frowned in thought, saying, “Now that you are residing in this courtyard… From an outsider’s perspective, you are already His Majesty’s person.”

“These empty titles do not come with one to the grave,” Feng Ling said with a slight smile. “Moreover, since I diligently studied the classics and became a court official, this body now rightfully belongs to His Majesty.”

His tone seemed different from usual, carrying a bit of detachment and some resolution. When he spoke the last sentence, his voice softened and deepened, unlike that of a minister addressing a sovereign.

It resembled something like… Yang Ziran felt an inexplicable sensation bubble within him, a feeling akin to the sweet nothings shared between lovers.

“Qing Sheng, is there something else…” Yang Ziran furrowed his brow, sensing that such a tone and demeanor was certainly not appropriate for someone who had just escaped imprisonment.

Feng Ling calmly said, “I have feelings for His Majesty.”

“!!”

Yang Ziran nearly fell off his low stool, forcing a laugh as he said, “Your ability to scare people has become increasingly masterful.”

Feng Ling pursed his lips and replied, “Do you think I am joking with you? Zi Ran, you and I are close friends; I will not deceive you. I will soon write a letter to rescind the engagement; I will not delay Yu Ying’s happiness.”

Yang Ziran was left speechless for quite a while, unsure of how to respond. Finally, he stood up and said, “You should focus on recovering; this matter isn’t urgent. After all, the marriage contract hasn’t been formally negotiated yet, and there’s plenty of time…” He paused before unable to hold back adding, “You should seriously consider this during your recovery.”

Feng Ling nodded, watching him leave.

As Yang Ziran’s footsteps faded, the room was left empty.

“Consider?” He forced a bitter smile and said, “What I fear is that time may be running out.”

Yang Ziran arrived at the study door, where Ye Mao bowed and said, “General, His Majesty is inside.”

Yang Ziran nodded, and as Ye Mao opened the door, he entered and bowed, “Paying respects to Your Majesty.”

Jing Ye was pacing in front of the screen and raised his hand upon hearing, “Rise.”

Yang Ziran straightened up but cast a brief glance at the emperor’s dragon robe as it swayed with movement, feeling a twinge of regret as he thought about Feng Ling’s ambiguous words.

How could the resplendent sovereign seated on the dragon throne hardly be the subject of a minister’s lighthearted affection?

Jing Ye said, “Zhen remembered there were some things zhen wanted to ask you. Before we set out, zhen heard about your sister’s marriage to the Feng family.”

Yang Ziran hurriedly replied, “It’s just a matter of the elders’ inclinations; nothing has been concluded yet.”

“The parents’ commands and matchmakers’ words,” Jing Ye said. “If the marriage is to be finalized, why did Feng Ling come along with the army to Qingzhou?”

“Well…” Yang Ziran didn’t dare speak the truth and could only stammer, “This subject doesn’t know.”

Jing Ye frowned. Yang Ziran didn’t know what he was thinking himself; he slightly raised his head and glanced at the young emperor.

The emperor was dressed in formal attire, the dark robe trimmed with gold thread, appearing solemn and dignified. Yet, his features were handsome but too soft, with a tall stature that leaned a bit towards being too slim.

While Yang Ziran lamented the difficult love life of his good friend, he couldn’t help but consider that, though the emperor held power far and wide, if Feng Ling truly became a consort… this could lead to complications in regards to positioning… cough, cough, forgive me for such thoughts.

After discussions among the logistics officers and generals, it was proposed that the army rest for a month before returning to court, and Jing Ye approved.

“At this rate, by the time we return to the capital, it will already be spring,” Jing Ye said, holding the document while glancing out the window. Things had been busy over the past few days, and he was slowly winding down. The war had settled, and the heavy burden had lifted, allowing him to relax considerably.

Ye Mao served him more tea while saying, “Fortunately, Lord Feng’s injury is healing quickly. Although the journey is long, it shouldn’t be too troubling.”

Jing Ye responded, “En.”

As their conversation continued, a maid outside said, “City Lord Le, His Majesty is napping inside.”

Then came Le Zhenghuan’s voice: “What does it matter?” His tone was lighthearted, “I’ll just sit at the bedside and watch him sleep.”

The maidservants laughed, saying, “City Lord, don’t say that. Last time you said the same thing, and as a result, His Majesty couldn’t sleep well all afternoon and had no energy to review the memorials, and you nearly got us all scolded by Ye Gonggong.”

Le Zhenghuan ignored them, passing through the screen. He saw the emperor leaning against the desk reading, then walked over and hugged him, saying, “Ah, it’s so warm.”

Jing Ye grasped his hand. In truth, how could a young martial artist be afraid of the cold? It was actually him who suffered from insufficient vital energy, always having cold hands and feet.

Le Zhenghuan rubbed his nose against Jing Ye’s neck and sighed comfortably, “What’s the point of sitting here? Let’s lie down on the bed and talk.”

Jing Ye understood his intention and said, “Zhen wants to quietly read for a while; if you wish to talk, zhen will have Ye Mao accompany you.”

Ye Mao was startled and exclaimed, “This servant must serve Your Majesty…”

Le Zhenghuan huffed, “I heard that person is still indoors recuperating and has nearly been here for half a month.”

Jing Ye replied, “In a while, we will be setting off; moving around too much would rather delay the healing process. Why make things more complicated?”

“More complicated?” Le Zhenghuan raised an eyebrow, leaning closer, their breaths mingling, “I think it’s more about you being concerned. After all, that person is your heart’s delight…” His tone had a hint of playful jealousy.

Jing Ye realized that while Le Zhenghuan was here, he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on reading, so he helplessly put the book down and said, “Where did you learn these words? You sound just like a jealous woman.”

“Why would I need to learn? I’ve always been this way.” Le Zhenghuan moved even closer, his lips brushing against Jing Ye’s mouth, softly teasing as he whispered, “Don’t let Lin Xiaosheng come today; I want to sleep with you.”

“You…” Jing Ye pinched the young man’s cheek and was about to respond when he heard a fluttering at the window. A white pigeon had landed, tilting its head to observe the two.

Jing Ye stood up to get some rice to feed it. Le Zhenghuan was left grasping at thin air, rubbing his nose as he met the white pigeon’s gaze: “Tsk, palace folk can’t fight, but training doves is quite a talent. I wonder how they would taste if roasted.”

The white pigeon shook its wings, watching the proud and fierce young man with an air of wariness.

Jing Ye took down the paper scroll attached to the pigeon’s leg, which was covered in ink marks.

The first half contained Gu Hong’s written words discussing important matters from the court, along with reminders for Jing Ye to take his medicine and take care of his health. The latter half was just idle chatter from Villa Master Lu, mentioning how Jing Xiao Yun had been snacking every day and had gained more than a little weight, and Zhao Yue could now walk, following Jing Yun everywhere, perhaps to the point of falling in love with his big brother…

A pigeon trained for delivering messages across distances had carried this long-winded piece of drivel.

Jing Ye knew it was absurd, yet he couldn’t help but smile.

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Le Zhenghuan leaned in and glanced at the letter, saying, “When we reach the capital, just wait and see if I don’t give him something to remember.”

Jing Ye was aware that he still held a grudge from their encounter outside Pingyue City and laughed, “That was so long ago, why are you still holding onto it?”

Le Zhenghuan suddenly pushed his beloved onto the couch, biting down lightly on his Adam’s apple, “I would remember it even after a hundred years.”

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The city of Qingzhou fell, and Xu Ming was defeated in battle, fleeing in panic. Jing Ye sent Yang Ziran to pursue him while the iron was hot.

The one who opened the city gates to welcome the emperor was Xu Ming’s confidant of many years, named Dong Qichang. Lin Xiaosheng asked Jing Ye, “How should we handle this person?”

Jing Ye glanced at the reports before him and said, “Dong Qichang has been by Xu Ming’s side for many years, and Xu Ming values him greatly, giving him countless favors. Yet, the moment he sees his master defeated, he kicks him while he’s down. Truly, he is an ungrateful wretch.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Lin Xiaosheng replied, “But if we punish this person, I fear it will instill fear in the surrendered subjects within the city, sparking further unrest.”

Jing Ye said, “Spare his life, and send him away casually. Zhen does not wish to create a second Xu Ming.”

Lin Xiaosheng nodded, stood up from his chair, and bowed, saying, “Although military affairs are tiresome, Your Majesty should also take care of your health.”

Jing Ye smiled and said, “Zhen has tried to read fewer memorials.”

Lin Xiaosheng raised his head and said, “Your Majesty, while managing military affairs, you also look after Lord Feng. This subject fear you may become too fatigued.”

His straightforwardness was reasonable, yet there was an undercurrent of jealousy. Jing Ye felt a bit embarrassed and pretended not to hear.

Seeing the emperor fall silent, Lin Xiaosheng understood that he would never concede to moving Feng Ling back to the military camp for recuperation, and could only bow before withdrawing.

After Lin Xiaosheng left the room, Jing Ye stood up and tossed the reports back onto the table. This study was connected to the adjacent bedroom, with several intricately carved doors in between. Jing Ye turned around the screen and entered the bedroom he usually napped in.

Feng Ling lay on the bed he used for napping, eyes tightly closed, still in a coma.

The maidservants brought in soup and medicine, bowed to Jing Ye, and moved to the bedside. The young servant attending Feng Ling helped him sit up so the maidservant could feed him the medicine.

Feng Ling’s teeth were clenched tightly, unable to take in the medicine, which dripped down his chin and onto the quilt.

After watching for a while, Jing Ye extended his hand and said, “Zhen will do it.”

The maidservant hurriedly passed him the bowl and spoon, then stepped back. Jing Ye sat by the bed, scooped up the dark medicine, and brought a spoon to Feng Ling’s lips, saying, “Feng qing?”

Feng Ling’s fingertips twitched slightly. Jing Ye pressed the jade spoon against his lips and gradually fed him the medicine.

When Ye Mao and the military doctor entered, they saw this scene. Ye Mao narrowed his eyes and glanced at the military doctor, who wisely lowered his head.

The military doctor was there to change the dressings on Feng Ling’s legs. Jing Ye watched as he applied the medicine and asked, “Will there be any aftereffects once this injury heals?”

The military doctor bowed and replied, “Although Lord Feng’s injury looks terrible, it hasn’t harmed any vital areas. Given time, he is sure to recover completely.”

Jing Ye sighed with slight relief and nodded, pressing his fingers against his temples, saying, “You were recommended by zhen‘s imperial physician. Do not let zhen down.”

The military doctor hurriedly said, “How could this subject dare?”

After the military doctor finished changing the dressings and withdrew, Ye Mao led him out, saying as they walked, “Doctor Fang’s skills are commendable, but you should know that some things should not be spoken lightly.”

The military doctor nodded cautiously, “Of course.”

Ye Mao smiled and said, “Good. The carriage to take you back is right outside the gate. Please return home, and when Lord Feng recovers, His Majesty’s reward will surely not be lacking.”

The military doctor nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes.”

Back in the bedroom, the maidservants tidied up and bowed before leaving. Ye Mao stepped in, bending slightly, and said, “Your Majesty, you seem weary. Why not take a rest?”

Jing Ye glanced at Feng Ling, who showed no signs of awakening, and couldn’t help but sigh, turning to leave.

Feng Ling woke up around nightfall, just as a maidservant came to light the lamps. She caught a glimpse of movement on the bed, and seeing him slowly open his eyes in a daze, couldn’t help but call out, “He’s awake, he’s awake!”

Jing Ye was reviewing reports outside and hurried into the inner chamber, with Ye Mao hastily following behind.

When Jing Ye arrived at the bedside, he saw Feng Ling’s expression gradually clear and called out, “Feng qing?”

Only then did Feng Ling realize that the person before him was Jing Ye, wearing a ceremonial crown and robes adorned with a dark blue dragon pattern, his black hair tied back. 

Feng Ling moved his fingers slightly, carefully studying Jing Ye’s facial features, and slowly said, “This subject… has some inconveniences and cannot greet Your Majesty.”

Jing Ye helped him sit up and placed a soft pillow behind him, saying, “There’s no need.”

“This subject…” Feng Ling opened his mouth but suddenly felt an iron sweetness in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The fresh blood fell on the quilt, soaking it into a deep brown stain.

Jing Ye was startled, and even Ye Mao was taken aback, saying, “What… has happened to Lord Feng?”

“Go call the imperial physician!” 

Jing Ye took a deep breath, raising his hand to wipe the blood from Feng Ling’s lips with his sleeve. Feng Ling grasped his wrist and said, “How can this subject dirty Your Majesty’s clothing?”

A surge of anger rose in Jing Ye, and he flipped his hand to use the sleeve to wipe again, coldly saying, “It is already stained.”

Feng Ling looked down at the bloodstain on the sleeve, remembering what the imperial physician had said about young people spitting blood: it was certainly not a sign of longevity. He recalled what Elder Xing had said before he lost consciousness, and it likely rang true.

He stared blankly for a long time before releasing Jing Ye’s hand.

Jing Ye asked, “What happened after you were kidnapped by Seventh Master Xing?”

Feng Ling remained silent for a long time before saying, “This subject is just a military scribe and should recuperate in the military camp, not stay in the residence of the emperor…”

Jing Ye felt a mix of amusement and anger: “Is it that you avoid zhen like venomous snakes?”

Feng Ling replied, “Your Majesty treats me too well; this subject cannot bear it.”

Jing Ye fell silent, retreating to the table and turning his face away.

Feng Ling quietly observed him.

What use was kindness towards someone who may be dying?

The imperial physician hurried in to take Feng Ling’s pulse. Jing Ye stepped away and asked him questions outside.

“Is it some chronic illness, or perhaps…” Jing Ye pondered, “poison?”

The imperial physician shook his head and said, “There are no abnormalities visible in the pulse; in fact, it is steadier and more forceful than when he was in a coma.”

Hearing this, Jing Ye said, “This is indeed strange.”

The imperial physician said, “Though such occurrences are rare, there are records in medical texts. In the past, there were cases of seemingly healthy individuals suddenly spitting blood, yet their bodies turned out healthier than before, as if they had unblocked their meridians.”

Jing Ye asked a few more detailed questions and decided to observe for two days.

After finishing, the imperial physician was dismissed at Jing Ye’s approval.

He originally intended to speak with Feng Ling about this, but felt that what he had said previously was truly maddening and decided he should let him stew in worry for a few days. He ordered Ye Mao to prepare dinner and did not check on Feng Ling, instead returning to his chambers to dine and turn in for the night.

In the middle of the night, he was startled awake by a nightmare. Jing Ye sat up, steadied himself, and called out, “Ye Mao?”

Ye Mao hurriedly entered from outside, rubbing his hands and bowing, “Your Majesty, would you like a cup of hot tea?”

Jing Ye nodded. Ye Mao quickly went out to bring tea. After sipping a few times, Jing Ye suddenly said, “Did you not light the incense today?”

Ye Mao replied, “Your Majesty mentioned the scent was too overwhelming the night before, so this servant had the servant remove it.”

Jing Ye remembered, “Indeed, that did happen; zhen actually forgot.”

Ye Mao asked, “Shall this servant light it again?”

Jing Ye shook his head, “No need. Though it helps with sleep at night, it makes zhen dizzy during the day while reviewing memorials. Go get zhen a book and bring a lamp here. Once you finish, you can rest outside.”

“Understood.” Ye Mao bent slightly, showing a worried expression, and quietly instructed the young servant waiting at the door, “Go invite Lin Gongzi here.” After that, he went to move the lamp and fetch the book.

Jing Ye leaned back on his pillow, clearly fatigued but unable to sleep. After waiting for a while without seeing Ye Mao come back, he heard the door to the outer chamber creak open and then close again.

Light footsteps approached. As the person stepped into the inner chamber, Jing Ye finally saw who it was.

Lin Xiaosheng had been roused in the middle of the night and had not secured his hair. His dark hair, tied back simply, flowed down behind him as he wore a long coat. He entered and said, “Your Majesty, are you not sleeping well?”

Jing Ye was momentarily taken aback, realizing this was indeed another of Ye Mao’s machinations. Helplessly, he said, “You have come over at this hour.”

Lin Xiaosheng did not approach the bed right away but instead stood by the warming stove to warm his hands and body before walking to the bedside, removing his outer coat to sit beside Jing Ye.

Having a warm body beside him was indeed comforting, and Jing Ye made room, at which point Lin Xiaosheng asked, “Your Majesty, are you still unable to sleep?”

Jing Ye felt Lin Xiaosheng’s hand close around his, warmth gradually seeping in.

“En, a little.”

Their gazes met, and it was unclear who acted first. In any case, they quickly gripped each other’s hands, their foreheads touching, lips entwined in a gentle kiss.

“Mm… ngh…”

As Jing Ye kissed, his eyes glistened with moisture, a flush creeping onto his cheeks. Lin Xiaosheng, as he kissed, observed him and felt that the gentle and kind emperor during the day now had a slightly enticing allure.

The flickering light illuminated the room, and the faint fragrance of Lin Xiaosheng’s clothing mixed with the warmth of their embrace, almost intoxicating.

Jing Ye strained to pull himself back to rationality and, with slightly trembling hands, separated their tightly pressed bodies, saying, “Zhen… zhen wants to sleep.”

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Lin Xiaosheng paused his hand that had slipped under Jing Ye’s clothing, touching his waist and placing light kisses on his lips.

“Sleep.”

Jing Ye quickly lay back under the covers, pulling the blanket over his head. Lin Xiaosheng followed suit, resting beside him and gazing at the soft white curve of his neck.

The night passed without dreams.

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This was a picturesque little town in Jiangnan. As the New Year approached, the usually quiet streets, where the wind blew gently and the people lived in peace, had come alive with laughter and chatter.

Most pedestrians were dressed in new clothes made for the holiday. As people came and went, two children, beautifully dressed and resembling miniature jade dumplings, stood out particularly. Behind them were two individuals—one with striking features wearing a green silk headband, and the other handsome and graceful—who were Le Zhenghuan and Lu Baizang.

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Jing Xiao Yun was engrossed in the snacks that Uncle Lu had made for him, happily nibbling on one in each hand, oblivious to the gazes from those around him. Zhao Yue, who was even younger, remained very quiet, his dark, shiny eyes quietly observing the crowd passing by.

The two adults appeared to move casually, but no one can get within three feet of the two children.

Le Zhenghuan glanced at the crowd surrounding them and frowned, saying, “Running around indoors is fine, but why come all the way here?”

Lu Baizang, lazily, replied, “Even for pet cats or dogs, you have to take them out to get some fresh air. Just bear with it.”

He only dared to say this here. If Jing Ye were to hear his precious nephew being compared to a pet cat or dog, someone would probably be in trouble for half a month.

Since last year, Jing Ye had been less involved in governmental affairs due to his poor health. Now, he was gradually recovering and only handled extremely important matters, leaving the routine affairs to Gu Hong and Lin Xiaosheng.

The weather in the Jiangnan region was mild, so Jing Ye decided to visit Heyun Town for the winter, not only for the suitable climate to recuperate but also for another reason.

While nibbling on his snack, Jing Xiao Yun was suddenly attracted by a beautifully colored object and quickly took a few steps forward, his little mouth slightly open, eagerly gazing at the sugar figurines displayed in the shop.

Lu Baizang glanced at the row of sugar figurines, bent down to pat Jing Xiao Yun’s head, and reassured him, “Sweetheart, those aren’t meant to be eaten.”

Jing Xiao Yun looked up at him, and the two shared a long gaze. Seeing that Lu Baizang had no intention of agreeing, he pouted and tears welled up in his eyes.

Lu Baizang furrowed his brow. He had various ways to deal with the complex thoughts of adults, but he found it hard to manage these little sprites.

Le Zhenghuan was more direct. With a cold snort, he stepped forward to pick up Zhao Yue, who quickly grabbed hold of the table leg holding the sugar figurines to express his support for his big brother.

Le Zhenghuan’s movement froze. The child’s body was so delicate; what if he accidentally broke him?

The adults and children stared at each other for a long time, and Lu Baizang was the first to relent, waving to the shopkeeper, “Do you sell sugar figurines here?”

The shopkeeper hurriedly ran over, first surprised by the striking appearance of the two pairs of father-and-son, and then quickly said, “The ones displayed are just samples and can’t be eaten. It’s the New Year, and we’ve sold out of sugar figurines; I truly apologize.”

Le Zhenghuan finally picked up Zhao Yue, saying, “Then let’s go buy somewhere else.”

The group then visited other shops, but all were sold out.

Lu Baizang helplessly looked down at Jing Xiao Yun, saying, “See, there aren’t any. Can we go home?”

Jing Xiao Yun gazed up at him with wet eyes.

Lu Baizang: “…”

So, the group returned to the first shop. Jing Xiao Yun and Zhao Yue sat side by side on the long bench, while the two adults sat at the table and started molding sugar figurines.

Lu Baizang was very skilled in culinary arts, so he molded the sugar figurines effortlessly, with smooth and beautiful gestures.

Le Zhenghuan, however, was clumsy. Although martial artists were known for their precision in strength, he could not understand why the figures he molded turned out to be so… incredibly ugly.

Le Zhenghuan slammed the sugar figurine onto the table, and the formed confection crumbled beneath his hand, angrily exclaiming, “Why does Li Tingqiu get to take Ah Ye out to the gardens when I can only sit here molding sugar figurines for little children!”

The table fell silent.

Jing Xiao Yun, sensing that Uncle Le’s mood had soured, obediently kept quiet. At that moment, Zhao Yue spoke up.

He extended his pudgy little hand, pointing at the crumbled sugar, and sweetly said, “Ah… want to eat this candy.”

Le Zhenghuan: “…”

At this time, Jing Ye was slowly walking through the long corridor with Li Tingqiu, stepping delicately over the snow-covered branches of a plum grove.

Jing Ye said, “Is the old madam from Jiangnan?”

Li Tingqiu nodded, brushing away the plum branches that brushed against Jing Ye’s hat, replying, “My grandmother is from here, and after marrying to the north, she still longs for this place. After I turned ten, she moved back here and never wanted to go back north.”

Jing Ye smiled, “Nostalgia is a good thing.”

Li Tingqiu turned slightly, focusing his gaze on Jing Ye. Usually, everyone gathered around to keep Jing Ye company, or they were in groups of two or three. Rarely was there a situation like now, where Jing Ye looked only at him and spoke solely to him.

Though it was taken for a fact that when the emperor spreads grace, he must distribute his favors evenly, a person’s deep affection still fostered an insatiable desire for possession.

As the two engaged in casual conversation, two young maidservants approached, one of them cheerfully holding a vase of red plum blossoms. Upon seeing Li Tingqiu and Jing Ye, they quickly bowed and greeted, “Young master, Jing Gongzi.”

Li Tingqiu asked, “Where are you taking the plum blossoms?”

One maidservant smiled, “These plum blossoms are particularly beautiful. We’ve cut a vase to deliver to the old madam’s room, but we have more tasks. Could we trouble the young master and Jing Gongzi to take it there on your way?”

Jing Ye replied, “Sure.” He reached out to take the gorgeous vase filled with bright red plum blossoms and held it to his chest.

The maidservants expressed their thanks and smiled as they walked away.

Jing Ye, holding the flowers, accompanied Li Tingqiu to the bedroom of Old Madam Li.

At over eighty years old, the old madam was slightly unclear-minded but still recognized her grandson. However, upon seeing Jing Ye behind Li Tingqiu, she paused and asked, “Which family’s young lady is this?”

One of the maidservants serving the old madam bursted into laughter and said, “Mistress, you are mistaken, what young lady is there? This is Jing Gongzi.”

Jing Ye was draped in a grand red cloak of wool. The old madam’s eyesight was unclear, but upon looking more closely, she saw a tall, handsome young man.

Looking at Jing Ye, the old madam seemed to recall something, her eyes blinking as tears unexpectedly fell. She told Li Tingqiu, “Your aunt loved to wear red on snowy days, and she often picked flowers to cheer me up. This child resembles her so much…”

The maidservant quickly chimed in, “Again mistaken, Mistress! The second master is the young master’s uncle, how can he be an aunt?”

The old madam chided her, saying, “Young children mustn’t speak carelessly.” Then, looking at Jing Ye, she waved him over, “You, child, come here.”

Jing Ye glanced at Li Tingqiu, handed the plum branches to the maidservant, and approached, saying, “Old Madam?”

The old madam’s bony fingers stroked his cheek, tears gleaming in her eyes. Although she had aged, one could still see the spirit and beauty she possessed in her youth from her features and expressions.

The old madam examined Jing Ye closely for a moment, and then a smile appeared on her face, “What a good-looking child, you seem gentle too.”

She lowered her head, trembling fingers removing a gold bracelet with entwined lotus vines from her wrist, handing it to Jing Ye.

“Dear child, I will entrust Ting Qiu to you.”

Jing Ye glanced at Li Tingqiu with a smile, gently clasping the old madam’s hand.

After sitting for a while, the old madam felt tired and went to the inner room for a nap. Jing Ye and Li Tingqiu stepped out, retracing their steps.

Jing Ye opened his hand, revealing the gold bracelet resting in his palm, jokingly saying, “The dowry is all prepared; Lady Li, should we choose a date for our wedding?”

Li Tingqiu remained silent, but after taking two steps, he suddenly grabbed Jing Ye’s wrist and pressed his slightly cool lips against him. Jing Ye, responding instinctively, held the back of his head, and the two kissed amidst the gently falling snow.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

On the other side of the little town, in a pastry shop, Le Zhenghuan secretly selected the most acceptable sugar figurine from those he had molded, wrapping it up and hiding it in his clothes.

Zhao Yue held a string of gelatinous things that didn’t resemble any shape and licked it slightly, only to exclaim at how sweet it was, “Ah… woo.”

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As evening approached, the guards at the city gate reported that the army led by Xu Ming, comprising more than a hundred thousand men, had stationed itself at Qingzhou, which was only a few hundred miles away from Yingzhou. 

Jing Ye pondered for a moment in the room, then made up his mind and said, “Let’s first send someone to guard around the residence of Seventh Master Xing, to see what his intentions are before making a decision. The only issue is that his martial arts are too skillful and he may easily detect us.”

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Le Zhenghuan saw that he was in a difficult position and said, “There’s no need to worry about this. The Pingyue Riders have many skilled scouts. Although they may not be able to withstand him in a direct confrontation, it should be possible to observe his comings and goings around his abode.”

“Good, then we’ll have to trouble your subordinates a bit more,” Jing Ye pressed his temples, with a hint of doubt in his expression. “But why has he come to Yingzhou? Even if he has great martial arts, he cannot fight against an army of one hundred thousand.”

Maybe it’s because of what happened back then?

This Seventh Master Xing, although known for his erratic temperament and variable moods, is also a pitiful person. Years ago, he was once a court official, but due to a wrong step during a coup, he ended up imprisoned by the female emperor. His elder brother’s family and his own wife all fell ill and died in prison; his wife was pregnant at the time and died when their child was eight months along. 

But he didn’t die; instead, he was released from prison and vanished without a trace for over a decade. When he returned to the capital, he had already become a rebel assassin who tried to kill the female emperor but failed, and was locked in a dungeon for years. He acted mad at times but could also show mental clarity sporadically, at other times speaking nonsensically.

After Jing Ye’s father ascended the throne, for reasons unknown, he released this man.

These old matters, containing a mix of truth and falsehood, were recorded in the account books of Qingyu Pavilion. How Seventh Master Xing transformed from a frail scholar into a expert master who shook the martial world, how he got entangled with Xu Ming, training a team of iron guards for him, and why he was secretly infiltrating Yingzhou now; all of this weighed heavily on Jing Ye’s heart.

As night fell, Feng Ling was invited for a visit, and Elder Xing brought him to a lakeside pavilion at his residence, setting up a table to drink.

According to etiquette, Elder Xing was an elder and should not sit at the same level as Feng Ling, yet he insisted on inviting Feng Ling to sit in the honored position and repeatedly encouraged him to drink. Feng Ling had no choice but to accept and drank two cups.

After another cup, Elder Xing raised his glass and smiled, “Qing Sheng, you and I can be considered scholars, right?”

Feng Ling was momentarily taken aback, sensing he had something more to say, so he responded, “Elder Xing is overly modest.”

Elder Xing shook his head and said, “Listen to me. For the first half of my life, I, Xing Zheng, was merely a weak scholar with no power to even strangle a chicken. I thought that relying on a few scrolls of sage teachings would ensure my survival and governance of the world, ha ha!… Who knew that halfway through, I would fall victim to treachery, losing my wife and child, my family ruined, and myself…”

Feng Ling was first surprised by what he said, but when he saw him becoming increasingly agitated, with a look of sorrow and rage on his face, he felt something was off and stood up, saying, “Elder…”

“Stay seated.” Elder Xing turned his head to look at him, his eyes brimming with intense light, but this gaze seemed to carry a hint of madness.

“You are of the Xing family’s bloodline. Back then, I endured humiliation to survive, entrusting you to Lord Feng, and now that you have grown up, you must… must not let Zhao Ziying (the female emperor’s name) that wretched woman’s…”

“Elder, be careful with your words!”

Feng Ling finally sensed that something was wrong, never expecting this Elder Xing to speak in such a wild manner, revealing unmistakable signs of madness.

“Don’t believe me?” Elder Xing leaned on his cane and stood up, a smile at the corner of his mouth, “Back then, when I was captured by that wretched woman, someone told me that my elder brother’s child was not dead but had been secretly taken out of prison. At that time, I could have escaped from the capital, but I encountered a couple surnamed Feng outside the city, begging me to save their two lives and the child in their arms, saying that the child was the heir of the Grand Imperial Censor Xing, with proof to confirm it.”

“That couple is now your father and mother.”

Feng Ling frowned tightly, stepping back a step, “Your words are absurd, I dare not believe it. The sky is dark; I must take my leave.”

As he spoke, he turned to leave, but after taking two steps, he heard the old man laughing behind him, “Ha ha ha… Where do you think you’re going?”

Feng Ling suddenly felt the effects of the wine surge, his vision blurred, the world spun, and before he knew it, he had collapsed to the ground, gradually feeling his eyelids grow heavy and losing consciousness.

Jing Ye, covered with a thin blanket, sat beside the incense burner, his fingers tracing the surface of the report paper, lost in thought.

Ye Mao stepped into the room and said, “Your Majesty, Lin Gongzi has returned and seeks an audience.”

Jing Ye said, “Quickly grant him entry.”

Ye Mao bowed, “Yes.” After exiting, a short while later, Lin Xiaosheng entered with his hands folded in his sleeves, wearing a black mink cloak embroidered with gold thread. He was already striking in appearance, taller than most, and now he seemed even more imposing, exuding a dignified presence.

Lin Xiaosheng said, “Your Majesty, a city official went missing an hour ago.”

Jing Ye paused, looking up and asking, “Who?”

Lin Xiaosheng replied, “The Hanlin Imperial Secretary… Lord Feng Ling.”

Jing Ye’s hand trembled as he held the brush, his wrist accidentally slipping into the inkstone, staining it with a large blot of ink.

Before the two could finish speaking, they heard the door creak open again, and a youth clad in flowing red stepped in, just behind Lin Xiaosheng. He had heard Lin Xiaosheng mention Feng Ling’s disappearance and said, “Seventh Master Xing has also vanished. He must have taken the person out of the city.”

Jing Ye had already stood up, saying, “The city gate is now closed. We need to send people to surround Seventh Master Xing’s residence and search the house to see if anyone is left behind.”

Hearing about the missing official made his heart skip a beat, especially when the missing person turned out to be Feng Ling. He got up to order Ye Mao to prepare the carriage, but he was stopped by Lin Xiaosheng, who said, “I’ve already sent people to do it. The night is deep and the dew is heavy; Your Majesty should take care of your health.” As he spoke, he removed his own cloak and draped it over Jing Ye’s shoulders, tying it firmly.

This action was unexpectedly intimate, causing Le Zhenghuan beside them to glare in surprise. 

Lin Xiaosheng’s fingers were cold, brushing against Jing Ye’s neck, bringing a cooling sensation that strangely put one’s heart at ease. Jing Ye’s hand tightened and then relaxed, his anxiety gradually calming down. He adjusted the cloak and hurried out to mount his carriage.

Le Zhenghuan lazily followed behind everyone. Seeing Jing Ye get on the carriage, he also mounted his horse. A mounted guard approached him and whispered something, to which Le Zhenghuan replied, “No need, you all go back.” The guard complied and retreated.

He had long known that Feng Ling had dealings with Seventh Master Xing, but he was too lazy to mention it. First, he had heard about Seventh Master Xing’s entanglement with the Feng family from his father; it was not his matter, so why intervene? If the old man Xing came to find him, wouldn’t it be difficult to dismiss him? Second… Jing Ye seemed overly concerned about this Feng Ling.

Just thinking about it made him uncomfortable.

Ahead, the carriage and guards had already moved far away, and Le Zhenghuan slowly urged his horse to follow.

Feng Ling, slipping in and out of unconsciousness, was taken away overnight. When he woke up the next day, he found himself in a locked confinement room, with all the doors and windows secured. Shortly thereafter, two people entered to deliver food. When he tried to engage them in conversation, he suddenly noticed they didn’t have tongues; they had been cut.

The two placed the food down and stepped aside. He knew he was now a prisoner. He casually ate a meal, tidied his clothes, and sat quietly at the table. Before long, he saw Elder Xing enter with a cane, striding toward him, and said, “I will ask you once more, will you come with me?”

Feng Ling said, “Absurd.”

Elder Xing’s face turned angry, but he suppressed it, saying, “You are still stubborn and unrepentant.”

Feng Ling replied, “Let me go, and I’ll return to the capital to ask my parents. The truth will naturally be revealed.”

Elder Xing’s eyes became fierce, saying, “If your parents are willing to acknowledge it, will you then come with me?”

Feng Ling’s gaze swept over the mute servant standing beside him, secretly lamenting how vicious this person was to cut out their tongues. However, he remained expressionless and refused to say anything no matter how Elder Xing twisted the truth.

Seeing that he was unyielding, Elder Xing said harshly, “If you won’t acknowledge me, fine. For each day you deny me, I will keep you locked up for a day. If worse comes to worst, I’ll personally end the life of this unfilial son and go to the Yellow Springs to bow and apologize to my elder brother!”

Days passed like this. Elder Xing came daily to question him, but Feng Ling never uttered a word. He was trapped in a small room, sitting in silence, and sometimes, when he could hardly endure it, he would dip his finger in the water and doodle on the table.

Elder Xing was indeed not in his right mind, often bursting into rage, easily smashing the furniture in the room. Feng Ling observed it all but remained calm; he never believed what Elder Xing had said.

One day as Elder Xing entered, Feng Ling was drawing with his finger on the table. Hearing the door push open, he quickly wiped away the water stains from the table. Elder Xing entered, darkly locking eyes with him for a moment before suddenly swinging his cane.

Feng Ling felt something rush past him with gusty wind. Suddenly, pain shot through his calf, and bending over, he fell to the ground.

Elder Xing had indeed broken his leg.

“Wretched son! You dare to recognize a thief as your father!”

Feng Ling felt cold sweat bead on his forehead, but his expression remained calm. A broken leg was an immense agony, yet this frail scholar didn’t even emit a sound, enduring the pain silently.

Feng Ling supported himself on the ground, smiling as he said, “Elder, after mastering a whole set of martial arts, you seem to have forgotten the books you’ve read. My father has been a loyal minister for both emperors, serving in office for over thirty years with diligence, above having no shame towards the emperor and below having no shame towards the people. How could he possibly merit the title of ‘thief’?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Elder Xing was taken aback by his endurance. After a long pause, looking as if he had exhausted his strength, he returned the cane to a resting position and said, “You… well, I will give you another half month to consider. If, after half a month, you still haven’t awakened, then wait for your untimely death.”

Feng Ling managed a smile through the pain, feeling as if the pain had slightly lessened, but his vision darkened, and he collapsed.

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Since he was like this, it wouldn’t be good for Jing Ye to scold him, so he walked across the courtyard and ordered the black-clothed guards: “Go clean up and treat those who are injured.”

The black-clothed guards hurriedly retreated, leaving a few with only minor scratches standing guard around the courtyard.

Ye Mao stepped forward and pushed the door open. Jing Ye entered the house. The maids in the courtyard and the manservants stayed to clean up the mess.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Le Zhenghuan walked beside Jing Ye and wanted to pull him with one hand, but Jing Ye turned around and smiled at him: “You’ve been fighting for a long time, have a sip of tea.”

Le Zhenghuan’s hand missed its target, and he didn’t know whether the other did it accidentally or on purpose, so he came right up and hugged him.

The two were about the same height, but Jing Ye was much thinner. At this moment, when he touched the young man’s back, he could feel the smooth and powerful muscles even though there was a layer of clothing between them.

Le Zhenghuan clasped his hand and said with burning eyes: “Originally, I wanted to go to the capital to find you, but my dad didn’t allow it and even locked me in a dungeon. Hmmph, does he think I will admit defeat after being locked up for half a month?”

Jing Ye was stunned and said, “You ran out again? What if he locks you up again?”

Le Zhenghuan said proudly: “I’ll just run away again, and the distance gets farther every time. Later, he chased me to Qinzhou, met his old sweetheart, and stopped chasing me. So I came to the capital to find you, but who knew you left.”

It was almost half a year from the time Jing Ye left Pingyue City to the time he set off for the expedition. He originally thought that this young master was just attracted by a moment of novelty, just like a child playing with a toy, refusing to let go at first, but after a long time, he would gradually forget about it.

Who knew he would be so stubborn?

Jing Ye sighed inwardly, and his expression softened unconsciously. Le Zhenghuan was secretly happy when he saw his change of attitude. He held his hand and said, “Now I have found you. When that Xu Ming is defeated and made a prisoner of war, you will follow me back to Pingyue City… okay?”

Before he left, Shanghai reminded him to be gentler when dealing with his wife, to discuss things with him first, not to lose his temper all the time, and to let him see his maturity…

Hmmph! How was he ever immature?

Jing Ye listened to what he just said, and his tone became much gentler, saying: “City Lord… Okay, Ah Huan, you have done a lot for me for nearly half a year, thank you for your earnestness. But you are still young now, seeing someone and thinking he’s pretty good, you think you like him, but the world is actually so big. Once you walk around and truly understand love, you’ll realize that what you’re feeling now is nothing more than childish fancy.”

Le Zhenghuan stared at him, and after he finished speaking, he said: “You don’t have to say anymore, I understand. You are reluctant to leave those people and don’t want to go back with me.”

Jing Ye was speechless, paused, and simply said: “You are right, I already have companions, how can I abandon them and follow you? Besides, I am a dignified man, do you think I will allow myself to be your concubine?”

“Who asked you to be my concubine!” Le Zhenghuan said. Just as he was about to explode in temper he stopped himself in time. He took a few breaths to calm down and paced back and forth by the table in frustration.

Jing Ye sat down at the table and took a sip of tea. Seeing that he was frowning and looking troubled, he suddenly felt that the fierce young master of Pingyue City was quite cute, so he couldn’t help but smile.

Le Zhenghuan had been pampered since he was a child, and had been surrounded by martial arts masters like the moon was surrounded by stars. Even though he endured a lot of hardships in martial arts training, when had he ever been rejected like this?

But when he was about to lose his temper, he remembered Shanyue’s threat: “If you can’t hold back your temper, you will be like the old city lord, chasing the person you love to the ends of the world without being able to get close at all. We’ll see where you end up crying.”

As Jing Ye sat he gradually felt tired, and slowly closed his eyes.

Suddenly, his forehead felt warm, and he saw Le Zhenghuan squatting down, holding his hand with one hand, and placing his other hand against his forehead.

Le Zhenghuan said: “Your forehead is so cold.”

Jing Ye hummed. As a martial artist, the palms of his hands were hot, dry and warm, which made him feel even more sleepy.

Le Zhenghuan simply leaned forward to pick him up and carried him to the bedside. He helped him lie down with awkward hands and feet, took off his socks and covered him with a brocade quilt.

Jing Ye leaned his head on the jade pillow. Before falling asleep, he felt the boy hugging him, his body warmth transferring over to his own.

After a good night’s sleep, Jing Ye woke up early in the morning. There was still warmth on the spot next to him. He sat up and shook off his drowsiness, then got out of bed and called Ye Mao to come in and change clothes.

But on the other side Feng Ling didn’t fall asleep all night, and when he got up in the morning, he had heavy under eye circles. When writing documents in the morning, he made ten mistakes in just a hundred words, and finally stopped writing.

Ba Yuan grinded the ink for him and said stupidly: “My lord, you didn’t eat enough during breakfast?”

Feng Ling glanced at him and suddenly said: “Ba Yuan, do you have someone you like?”

Ba Yuan: “Huh?”

He fell in a daze, and with a mistake of his hand, he knocked down the inkstone on the edge of the table, which hit his foot sideways, causing him to jump on the spot in pain.

Feng Ling had no choice but to order him to sit on the footstool to rest. Ba Yuan sat there, thinking about who knows what, his face flushed.

Feng Ling understood and asked him: “Who do you like? Have you ever expressed your feelings to that lady?”

Ba Yuan shook his head and muttered something in a voice like the sound of a mosquito.

Feng Ling said: “You don’t want to tell me?”

Ba Yuan still shook his head: “He is a person with a noble status like my lord. I am of low status and is not worthy of him.”

Feng Ling: “…”

“I have liked that person for a long time.” Ba Yuan sniffed, “Even if there is no result, I still have to tell him and seek an ending.”

Feng Ling was silent for a long time, his eyes dimming slightly.

The master and servant looked at each other in silence for a while, then Feng Ling said: “Take the military book that General Yang asked for that day. He asked me to send it to him at the military camp.”

Ba Yuan suddenly came back to himself and hurriedly went to the shelf to take down the military book and followed Feng Ling out.

The two walked to the military camp outside the city. Most of the soldiers recognized Feng Ling. When they saw him coming, they took the initiative to lead him to Yang Ziran’s tent.

Feng Ling lifted the curtain and went in, only to see two chairs inside the tent. Yang Ziran sat on the one on the right, and an old man sat on the left. He had a frail appearance, and his fingers twirling his beard were very skinny. There was also a wooden cane hanging on the side of his chair.

Yang Ziran smiled and said, “As soon as we mention him, he has come.”

The old man turned his head, and Feng Ling couldn’t help but be slightly surprised. He bowed and cupped his hands, “Elder Xing.”

“Qing Sheng, how was the march?” Elder Xing’s eyes lit up, he grabbed his cane and stood up.

Feng Ling cupped his hands again and said, “Tiredness is inevitable, but thanks to Elder Xing’s guidance, this junior has benefited a lot.”

“Good, good.” Elder Xing stroked his beard and said with a smile. Seeing that he was not making a false excuse, the look in his eyes became more and more pleased, “I was afraid that you would suffer and blame this old man for urging you to come.”

Elder Xing was dressed as a Confucian scholar, but he was a man of jianghu. He visited Feng Manor a few months ago and showed great interest in Feng Ling. He stayed for two days and then left. He then returned to the capital a month ago and saw Feng Ling’s depression, thus persuaded him to go out with the army.

At that time, Feng Ling was unwilling to marry Yang Yuying and was in a state of confusion. When Elder Xing suggested this, he immediately went to seek help from Yang Ziran and then left for the northwest.

After Elder Xing chatted with them for a while, he stood up and said, “Qing Sheng, if you have some free time tonight, how about coming to my place for a drink?”

Feng Ling stood up and said, “Elder Xing invites me, how can I refuse.”

Elder Xing nodded with satisfaction, waved his hand to gesture at the two of them not to send him off, and went out laughing.

When he had left, Yang Ziran sat back in his chair and said: “This Elder Xing looks like an old scholar, and he has a very weird temper. You should be more careful.”

Feng Ling glanced at him and said, “He is an elder and I am a junior, so naturally I have to respect him.”

Yang Ziran shook his head and said, “Just be careful.”

When Jing Ye returned to the courtyard from the meeting hall, he saw the young man practicing his cutlass. The blade was cold and his movements were sharp.

It was only because of his weakness last night that he allowed him to stay. Jing Ye sighed helplessly, avoided him and headed towards the house, but was hugged from behind.

Jing Ye said, “I’m going in to change clothes first, and we’ll talk later.”

Le Zhenghuan sniffed his neck and said, “I have something to tell you.”

Jing Ye said, “What is it?”

“Seventh Master Xing has entered Yingzhou City.”

Jing Ye frowned, turned around and said, “How do you know?”

Le Zhenghuan said: “When my subordinates entered the city they saw his mute servant driving a carriage towards the city. I have competed with that mute servant before, and I am very familiar with him.”

Seventh Master Xing, a martial arts elder as famous as the old City Lord Le. He trained a team of iron guards for Xu Ming, who was Pingyue’s opponent this time.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Such people were difficult to deal with.

Le Zhenghuan held Jing Ye’s hand and raised his eyebrows in silence. He would not say that Seventh Master Xing seemed to be looking for that person named Feng Ling…

Towards love rivals, it was better to eradicate them resolutely.

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