Chapter 31: United by a Common Foe
Qi Xiao knew that Fu Yunzhi was a proud person, but Fu Yunzhi had cried for him until he had lost all semblance of his usual image.
Qi Xiao also knew that Fu Yunzhi was an arrogant person, but Fu Yunzhi had secretly painted a room full of his portraits.
“I should have known sooner…”
Qi Xiao pressed his lips against Fu Yunzhi’s again, deepening the kiss.
Fu Yunzhi struggled with all his might, but Qi Xiao held him as if he had gone mad.
After an unknown amount of time, Qi Xiao was finally willing to move his lips away, but his hands still held Fu Yunzhi tightly.
“Qi Xiao! Let go of me!”
“You’re crazy!”
“Yunzhi, I like you, you know that,” Qi Xiao smiled. “Why didn’t you tell me you like me too?”
“I don’t like you!” Fu Yunzhi said angrily. “You’re overthinking it!”
“Those paintings?”
“Just for practice,” Fu Yunzhi said, his cheeks flushed. “I’ve painted other people too. Don’t be so conceited.”
Qi Xiao leaned in close to his ear. “I didn’t know you wanted to marry me so much.”
Fu Yunzhi’s ears instantly turned red. He understood what Qi Xiao meant. He must have seen one of the paintings, the one depicting him and Qi Xiao getting married…
“Yunzhi… baby, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Qi Xiao kissed his forehead.
Fu Yunzhi didn’t understand what “baby” meant, but when Qi Xiao said it, his tone was so gentle and intimate, his voice filled with doting affection. It must be some kind of pet name, he thought.
He frowned and forcefully pushed Qi Xiao away.
Qi Xiao watched him leave his embrace, puzzled. What is Yunzhi being so awkward about?
Could it be that he’s shy?
In that case, I’ll take it slow, Qi Xiao thought. There’s no need to rush.
He didn’t press the issue and simply pulled out a chair to sit down. “I came to find you, the acting Prime Minister, to discuss some official business.”
Fu Yunzhi deliberately chose a chair furthest from him.
“What is it?”
“Didn’t we mention Prince Huaide before? My father had some dealings with him in the past and is probably the most familiar with him among the older generation. I wrote to my father and sent him the portrait. He said that Prince Huaide’s youngest daughter’s features are indeed quite similar to that pirate king. It’s about an eighty percent chance it’s her.”
Fu Yunzhi nodded and pondered for a moment. “If that’s the case, then this matter is truly linked to treason, and we can have the court issue an official wanted notice.”
“Then I’ll leave this matter to you.”
Just as they were speaking, the lieutenant of the imperial guard commander, Mo Yan, rushed in.
“General Qi! I’ve finally found you!”
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Qi Xiao frowned. “Did something happen?”
The lieutenant handed him an urgent dispatch sent by a fast horse.
Qi Xiao glanced at it, and his brow instantly furrowed, his expression turning grave.
“What happened?” Fu Yunzhi asked.
“The Emperor and his party were ambushed by Sheng Luo troops on their way to Shahan. They are unharmed for now, but they are requesting reinforcements,” Qi Xiao said, standing up. “I’ll go to the military camp to prepare. I need to leave the city to find them. The closest town to them is Bincheng, and the troops there are not enough to provide support.”
“The other generals are also at the military camp, just waiting for you to go and discuss a plan,” the lieutenant said.
Qi Xiao turned to Fu Yunzhi. “Come with me.”
Fu Yunzhi shook his head.
“Come with me,” Qi Xiao repeated.
Now that they had finally come to an understanding, he didn’t want to be separated from Fu Yunzhi. Besides, Fu Yunzhi’s attitude always made him feel uneasy.
After the lieutenant left, Fu Yunzhi smiled. “I will make preparations here. When you bring the Emperor back, we will get married.”
Hearing this, Qi Xiao thought he was hearing things.
M-married?
Looking at Fu Yunzhi’s rare, gentle smile, Qi Xiao awkwardly rubbed his face. “Okay… okay!”
Happiness had come too suddenly. He was so shocked that his steps became unsteady.
His dream of over a decade had finally come true. He had thought it was an extravagant hope, but now it was real and right in front of him. If it weren’t for that worrying dispatch today, this would have been the happiest day of his life!
They were all men of action, so the discussion didn’t last long. Qi Xiao only stayed in the military camp for a short while before leading a troop of soldiers out of the city.
Fu Yunzhi stood on the city wall, watching. Qi Xiao rode Winning Wind at the head of the procession, looking valiant and heroic, a towering figure.
Qi Xiao turned and saw him on the city wall, smiling and waving.
“Goodbye.”
Fu Yunzhi was taken aback, then mouthed back, “Goodbye.”
The capital of the Shahan Kingdom was in the center of the great Shahan Desert. Rong Feijun and his party were on the outskirts of the desert, still nearly a week’s journey from the capital.
They had set up camp behind a sand dune to rest. Mo Yan and Rong Feijun were in the main tent, looking at a map and discussing their next plan.
“After the last surprise attack by the Sheng Luo army, we lost sixteen men, and half of our provisions and water.”
Hearing Mo Yan’s report, Rong Feijun said, “After a few hours of rest, we will set out immediately and get to the capital as soon as possible.”
The last time Sheng Luo had attacked, their camp had been by a river, so they had been able to escape along it. But this time, the area was empty and open. Besides facing the attack head-on, there was no other way.
“Send some men out to scout,” Rong Feijun said. “See if there is any quicksand or any special geographical features nearby.”
“Yes, sir!” Just as Mo Yan was about to leave the tent, someone came in to report, “Your Majesty! The Sheng Luo men have caught up!”
Mo Yan waved the scout away and then knelt on one knee. “Your Majesty! This general will take you and leave secretly. The remaining men can at least buy us two more days. That way, Sheng Luo won’t be able to catch up.”
“Leave the remaining men as a shield?” Rong Feijun frowned.
“It is an honor for all Langxuan soldiers to die for Your Majesty,” Mo Yan said with a firm voice. “If you don’t believe me, just ask anyone outside the tent. No one will be unwilling.”
“I am unwilling.” With that, Rong Feijun took his personal sword and walked out of the tent.
If it really comes to it, Mo Yan thought, at worst, I’ll just be insubordinate once, knock him out, and take him away. Once we’re safe, he can do whatever he wants to me when he wakes up. Even if he wants to execute me, it doesn’t matter.
The tents were taken down, and the soldiers stood guard with their weapons.
The sound of horse hooves grew closer. Rong Feijun listened carefully and turned to Mo Yan. “Have you noticed anything strange?”
“Strange?”
“The sound of the hooves is coming from two different directions.”
Mo Yan was stunned. There were only two possibilities: either reinforcements had arrived, or the Sheng Luo army had split into two groups to surround them. The latter was obviously more likely. He didn’t think anyone from Langxuan could have arrived so quickly. Even reinforcements from the nearest town wouldn’t be this fast.
Mo Yan moved behind Rong Feijun, but before he could raise his hand, someone exclaimed, “It’s the Shahan people!”
They saw a troop of horsemen approaching from behind, the banner flying with the symbol of Shahan. The Sheng Luo army also seemed to have noticed them and had slowed down, as if considering whether to advance.
Shahan was behind them, Sheng Luo in front. But one was an ally, the other an enemy.
Mo Yan breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his hand. Now that the Shahan people were here, there shouldn’t be a problem. Shahan and Sheng Luo were old enemies, and the Shahan people were fierce fighters. Their chances of winning against Sheng Luo were high. How had he not thought of it? The closest to them now was, in fact, Shahan.
“Your Majesty! Why are you in such a mess, hahahaha!”
Rong Feijun heard a familiar voice and looked up to see the King of Shahan, Wulanbaer, riding a fierce warhorse at the head of the procession. They were moving quickly, and the strong wind blew Wulanbaer’s already messy hair into even more disarray.
“Let’s go and drive these Sheng Luo people back to their homes!” Wulanbaer shouted.
Rong Feijun smiled and also ordered his men to mount their horses and attack Sheng Luo alongside the Shahan people.
Wulanbaer pulled on his reins and rode beside him. “Let’s have a competition? See who can take more heads.”
“Alright!” Rong Feijun smiled.
With that, the two of them whipped their horses and galloped to the front of the procession.
Seeing this, the Shahan people shouted “Karong,” while the Langxuan people shouted “Long live our king,” cheering on their respective kings. For a moment, the cheers shook the heavens, and morale soared.
“Charge—!”
