Chapter 71: Snow’s Chill
The young eunuch’s face was pale, and he was out of breath from running too fast, now bent over and panting.
Fu Che’s brow twitched. He asked calmly, “What’s wrong? Is it something about His Highness? Catch your breath and speak properly.”
The young eunuch took a few deep breaths. “His Highness, he… I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He’s standing out in the snow like he’s possessed and won’t come in no matter how we persuade him.”
Fu Che was startled and, with his round belly, rushed out.
When he arrived at Xining Hall, he indeed saw Wen Ning’an standing expressionlessly in the snow outside the main hall, as still as if he were in a trance. Xingxing and Liangliang also seemed to be panicking, constantly biting the hem of his robe, trying to pull him back into the hall. Xingxing was not very strong to begin with, and at this moment, it couldn’t move him at all. On the contrary, it was thrown back by the opposing force and rolled a few times in the snow.
“Your Highness, what’s wrong with you!”
Wen Ning’an didn’t say a word, just staring blankly ahead, his hands hanging at his sides as he stood there.
Although it was only light snow now, it was getting heavier. Snowflakes fell on his head and shoulders, accumulating slightly. The night wind was also biting, blowing his long hair and sleeves about.
Seeing his chapped and pale lips and his colorless face, Fu Che immediately had a servant bring a dark black outer robe.
“Your Highness, shall we go in?”
Wen Ning’an said slowly, “Huaitian practiced Annihilating Yang White Bone… for me…”
He still remembered before, when Feng Qi had kissed his forehead, smiling as he took all the blame on himself. “Isn’t it because I was young and impetuous, wanting to reach the heavens in a single step and took a wrong turn?”
And even longer ago, when the two of them were kidnapped and he was poisoned, Feng Qi had held him and said in a panicked voice, “Hey! You can’t die. You said you would help me ascend the throne. I don’t want to be like my imperial father, an emperor all by myself, without even someone to talk to…”
Fu Che was stunned for a moment, then draped the coat over him and pushed him. “Your Highness, the little crown prince is about to freeze. Let’s go in…”
Wen Ning’an stood firm and said woodenly, “It’s all because of me.”
Fu Che said with a worried heart, “The late Emperor’s spirit in heaven will not be at peace if he sees Your Highness in this state.”
“It hurts…”
“Your Highness?”
Wen Ning’an gasped, “It hurts so much.”
Fu Che didn’t know how to comfort him and could only remind him with a trembling voice, “Your Highness, you have to get up early for the enfeoffment ceremony tomorrow. You yourself said that the Li family might make a move tomorrow. The night is already very deep. Don’t let your imagination run wild…”
“Wuying.”
A man in black immediately appeared beside him.
Wen Ning’an said, “Take Eunuch Fu down to rest.”
Looking at the two little ones whimpering at his feet, he added, “Take Xingxing and Liangliang back to the hall as well.”
Fu Che was dragged away. No matter how he shouted, Wen Ning’an was unmoved, whether he was deliberately ignoring him or truly couldn’t hear.
In fact, Wen Ning’an’s mind was in chaos at this moment, and his ears were filled with the whistling of the wind. If he didn’t freeze himself to calm down, he was afraid he would really do something terrible.
There was still no news from Jueyan Cliff. The body couldn’t even be found. He should have known long ago that there was no need to hold on to any lingering hopes.
His heart felt as if a large gash had been torn open, and the cold wind was now constantly pouring in. He couldn’t help but curl up slightly.
There would be no one to lean against him and talk nonsense like a spoiled child, to take every opportunity to take advantage of him. No one would lose control and do outrageous things for him, and then put down the dignity of an emperor and rush to the frontier for him.
From now on, there would be no one who would disregard their own safety for him, who would fear neither Annihilating Yang White Bone nor being crushed to pieces at the cliff.
Feng Qi’s attitude towards him had been constantly changing, changing because of him. But Wen Ning’an had never changed. He had always, always liked him, loved him deeply…
“Heh…”
The snow was cold. It was white everywhere, with frost all around. A touch of black stood in the middle of this world, until dawn.
The King of Hong Xi, Feng Changhuan’s tent was in chaos. A group of imperial physicians and servants with hot water and wet cloths were bustling back and forth. Although there were many people, no one dared to speak except for the sound of footsteps and the clashing of instruments, because Feng Changhuan was sitting by the bed, and the expression on his face was truly terrifying.
Feng Jun lay motionless on the bed, his consciousness a little hazy. The imperial physician was stopping his bleeding and suppressing the poison, preparing to pull out the arrow.
“Your Majesty, the assassin who ambushed with the arrow has been caught.”
Hearing the shadow guard’s words, Feng Changhuan nodded. “I know. Feed him to the dogs.”
Hearing his words, the imperial physicians couldn’t help but tremble. They could fully imagine that if anything irreversible happened to Feng Jun, they would be the ones fed to the beasts… Before, there had been a death row prisoner who had shouted on the execution ground, “His Majesty’s conscience has also been fed to the beasts!” The result was predictable. The death row prisoner was pulled down from the execution ground and taken to the hunting ground instead.
“Wait…”
Feng Jun had always admired assassins and shadow guards who were loyal to their masters, selfless, and would carry out any order unconditionally. So, he grabbed Feng Changhuan’s hand and, enduring the pain in his shoulder, said in a hoarse voice, “Let him die a normal death. This is too inhumane.”
No matter how evil a person was, they shouldn’t be fed to beasts. This went against Feng Jun’s beliefs, and he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart. An emperor originally had the right to control the life and death of others at will. Precisely because of this, shouldn’t they have a more righteous understanding?
“Hmph.” Feng Changhuan said, “Consider it accumulating blessings for you.”
“Thank you…”
The imperial physician had Feng Jun bite down on a soft cloth.
“Wait a moment.” Feng Changhuan stopped the physician’s hand. “Will it hurt a lot to pull out the arrow?”
The physician lowered his head and said with a trembling voice, “Yes… Mafeisan will affect the blood circulation, so it cannot be used for now.”
Feng Changhuan then carefully avoided the wound on Feng Jun’s shoulder and gently held him in his arms.
The imperial physician held the arrow shaft and said to Feng Jun, “Your Highness, please relax, or it will hurt more.”
“Alright…” Although Feng Jun agreed, his body was still tense with nervousness and fear. Seeing this, Feng Changhuan smiled and took out the cloth that Feng Jun was biting. The next moment, before he could react, he lowered his head and unexpectedly pressed his lips against his.
…
Feng Jun: “???”
Taking advantage of this moment of distraction, the imperial physician immediately made a decisive move and pulled the arrow out completely!
“Mmph!”
Feng Changhuan only felt the body in his arms convulse and tremble, and he held him even tighter. The touch on his lips was very soft. He had originally just been pressing against them, but in the end, he couldn’t help but pry open those rosy lips and his tongue went in to plunder.
The two of them were pressed tightly together. Feng Changhuan could see Feng Jun’s fluttering eyelashes, which were gradually being moistened by tears.
After the kiss ended, Feng Jun had already fainted from the pain. Feng Changhuan sighed, wiped the tear stains from his cheek, and then placed him back on the bed for the physician to bandage.
Only then did Feng Changhuan realize that after seeing Feng Jun really cry, it wasn’t interesting at all.
He didn’t want to see it again.
After leaving the tent, Feng Changhuan looked at the sky. The night was deep, and it was past midnight. They wouldn’t be able to rush back to the capital.
“Your Majesty.”
An adjutant rushed over. “Your Majesty, there seems to be a change.”
Feng Changhuan nodded, signaling for him to continue.
“According to reliable sources from our scouts, Nanxiang has also sent out troops. But they are closely following the Li family’s army, and the Li family’s army is ignoring them. It seems the two sides have formed an alliance. Nanxiang is marching cautiously, choosing routes that are difficult for ordinary people to detect, so we have only just received the news. And the news transmission in the capital is even slower. They probably don’t know yet.”
“This is interesting,” Feng Changhuan licked his lower lip. “We can’t rush back. The military strength in the capital of Bei Miao was originally a little tight, and the two sides were evenly matched. Now that the Li family’s army has colluded with Nanxiang, it’s a completely different story.”
“Your Majesty, what should we do?” These past few days, almost the entire military camp could see that their emperor was very interested in the envoy from Bei Miao, Prince Feng Jun. They must be on the same side as Bei Miao now.
“What else can I do? Besides sending a message to the capital via a fast horse, I can’t let our army grow wings and fly to the capital to rescue them.”
Feng Changhuan didn’t care at all whether Bei Miao fell or not. He even occasionally thought that it would be good if it fell. That way, Feng Jun would have no home to return to, nowhere to go, and could only be protected by him.
The waterways in Nanxiang were well-developed, and it was known as the water city. The people of Nanxiang lived by the water and deeply worshipped the gods of water, rivers, and the sea, as well as the color blue. Thus, their tents were also a light blue.
In the main tent, a man and a woman were studying a map in detail.
The man was dressed in black to hide his identity, and his face was covered, so his features could not be seen. But the woman beside him was graceful and dignified, with a myriad of charms. Her lips were a crimson red, her eyes like silk, and a single glance from her was bewitching. Her long, dark hair was casually draped over her shoulders, with only a blooming peony tucked by her cheek, setting off her skin, which was like congealed fat.
This person was the Empress of Nanxiang, Nan Xiliu.
Nan Xiliu smiled. “We are now closely following the Li family’s army, and I have successfully formed an alliance with them.”
“Thank you.”
Nan Xiliu looked straight at the man’s eyes. “It is because of you that I have made an exception and taken action, letting the usually peaceful Nanxiang be drawn into this chaos.”
If not for this man back then, I would have lost my life long ago.
The man did not reply.
Nan Xiliu shook her head and smiled bitterly. “Alas, it is a pity that I, a dignified empress, am left to guard an empty chamber, waiting for many years for nothing.”
She would never be able to get this man. She had no chance before, and it would be even more impossible in the future.
As they were talking, an adjutant requested an audience from outside.
“Your Majesty, the Li family’s army has made a move.”
Nan Xiliu nodded, took the battle robe from the side, and smiled. “Let’s set off too.”
