Your Majesty, We’re Counting on You to Ruin the Country! 66

Chapter 66: The Crown Prince

At the first light of dawn, the soldiers were already up, either on duty or training. In the Hong Xi military camp, two outsiders, escorted by the Bei Miao delegation, were walking around at ease, attracting the attention of many Hong Xi soldiers.

This was the first time Wen Ning’an and Li Huaisheng had come to the interior of the Hong Xi military camp. In the past, they had only looked down on or observed these white tents with wolf smoke from a distance.

Although the two of them had entered the military camp alone, with tens of thousands of troops stationed outside, there was nothing to be afraid of. That day, after they had fought their way out of the mountains, it was just in time for the reinforcements to arrive, and they were finally saved. The garrison, seeing that the situation was lost, had already fled. The two of them did not delay and, after discussing with the imperial army’s General Yu Jiu, they rushed to see Feng Jun.

Li Huaisheng couldn’t help but sigh, “We have fought so many battles with Hong Xi, and this is the first time we’ve come here to ‘visit.’ It’s really unexpected that Hong Xi would one day become our ally.”

Wen Ning’an just smiled. There are no eternal allies and no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.

“It is precisely because we have fought too many battles with Hong Xi that we have become allies.” Wen Ning’an explained, “In every battle, neither side could gain an advantage. We are too familiar with each other’s strengths and abilities. It is because of this familiarity, and knowing that we cannot easily defeat and incorporate them, that we have turned to become allies. To continue in a stalemate would only harm both sides. The consumption of national strength is of no benefit to anyone.”

Li Huaisheng nodded. “That’s true. Not to mention the pirates along the coast of Bei Miao, there are also Nanxiang, Dongwu, and the countries across the sea, watching covetously.”

As they were talking, they arrived at Feng Jun’s tent. Wen Ning’an examined it and found that it was different from what he had imagined. The tent was luxurious and spacious, more like for entertaining guests than for imprisonment.

After a servant announced them, Feng Jun personally came out to greet them.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“General Wen, General Li, you have worked hard.” As Feng Jun spoke, his eyes couldn’t help but glance at Wen Ning’an. Seeing his calm demeanor and no signs of sadness or despair on his face, he was a little puzzled.

“Let’s go in and talk.”

After stepping into the tent, Wen Ning’an felt a decadent fragrance rush to his nose, and he couldn’t help but wrinkle his nose. One whiff of this fragrance and he knew it was a specialty of Hong Xi—Liren Xing. Although it smelled good, it was really too strong, and he didn’t quite like it.

[Translator’s Notes:Liren Xing: This literally means “A Song of Fair Ladies” and is the title of a famous poem by Du Fu. It’s used here as the name of a perfume.]

Feng Jun said, “This prince knows a thing or two about your plans and has also discussed it with the King of Hong Xi. The mess here will be handed over to him, and General Li will stay to assist… and also to keep an eye on him in case he pulls any tricks. That person is too unpredictable. And this prince will return to the capital with General Wen. Is that correct?”

Wen Ning’an nodded. “Yes. The Left Army and the imperial army will follow us back to the capital. And the Li family’s army will stay here. This is the best arrangement. After all, it would be very awkward for the Li family’s army to return to the capital at this time, and it would also be difficult for Brother Li.”

Feng Jun reminded him, “My Southwest Army is also stationed nearby and can help General Li keep the King of Hong Xi in check. But our fighting strength is not great, as most have already been dispatched to pursue the garrison.”

At the mention of Gao Lan, both Wen Ning’an and Li Huaisheng’s faces turned a little ugly.

Feng Jun shook his head and smiled. “Let’s not stand and talk. Come, sit down and have some tea before you go.”

Just as Wen Ning’an was about to take a step, he felt dizzy, his vision went black, and his head ached as if it were about to split. A wave of nausea also rushed over him.

“General Wen, are you alright?”

The worried faces of Li Huaisheng and Feng Jun gradually blurred, and then the scene before him turned upside down.

Seeing Wen Ning’an’s face suddenly turn pale and his body sway, Li Huaisheng was about to reach out and support him. However, before he could get close, Wen Ning’an’s body swayed and he fell.

“Ning’an!” Li Huaisheng picked him up in his arms and saw that he was completely unconscious. He had clearly fainted.

Feng Jun immediately had a servant go and summon a physician.

“General Li, don’t panic. General Wen has a good constitution. He will be fine. He must just be too tired recently…”

After all, my imperial brother…

Sigh, it’s better not to mention it.

Wen Ning’an lay motionless on Feng Jun’s soft bed, an elderly physician taking his pulse.

“General Wen is fine. Although Liren Xing is extremely harmful to someone who is pregnant, General Wen has a good constitution. Father and son are both safe. Father and son are safe. You two need not worry.” The physician turned and smiled at Li Huaisheng and Feng Jun, who were waiting by the bed, not knowing what a great shock his words had brought them.

Pregnant, father and son are safe?

Pregnant?

Li Huaisheng’s face was blank, but Feng Jun was so happy he couldn’t help but smile.

Seeing their expressions, the physician was surprised. “You didn’t know?”

…

“No wonder! I was just saying, why is General Wen’s body so weak? It turns out you haven’t been taking good care of him.”

Li Huaisheng said with difficulty, “He… is really… pregnant?”

The physician asked doubtfully, “Can this be faked? I’m telling you, you absolutely must not let General Wen overexert himself anymore. The reason he suddenly fainted this time, the conflicting fragrance was just a trigger. The main reason is that he has been sick with worry, his heart full of unresolved sorrow, coupled with overexertion and excessive movement.”

The physician reiterated, “It is mainly these emotions in his heart that have caused the qi and blood to be blocked. You may not know, but General Wen’s body is already in chaos!”

Li Huaisheng sighed. “Thank you, physician, for the reminder. We will definitely take good care of him.”

“That’s right. This child is only three months old and very fragile.”

“Oh my, General Wen is awake.”

Wen Ning’an’s long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and then he slowly opened his eyes. In a daze, he heard someone say something about “child” and “three months,” and he couldn’t help but have a guess in his heart.

Seeing him awake, the physician couldn’t help but hold his hand and start nagging, “General Wen, for the sake of this child, you must take good care of yourself.”

Wen Ning’an’s face was blank.

“Ning’an…” Li Huaisheng was a little worried.

The next moment, he saw a faint smile slowly creep onto Wen Ning’an’s lips.

Li Huaisheng was shocked. This was the first time in these past few days that he had seen a sincere smile on his face.

Wen Ning’an gently placed his hand on his own abdomen and stroked it. This is my and Feng Qi’s child… This is Feng Qi’s flesh and blood…

Feng Qi’s flesh and blood is now alive and beating in my body.

Feng Jun rewarded the physician with some silver and had him leave. After he left, Feng Jun sat down by the bed and smiled. “General Wen, you are carrying the little crown prince, the future Son of Heaven of Bei Miao.”

There was an unconcealable joy in Feng Jun’s tone. Wen Ning’an looked up in confusion and met his sparkling eyes.

“General Wen, now that we have my imperial brother’s legitimate bloodline, our plans will have to be changed.” With that, Feng Jun patted his own chest. “This prince finally doesn’t have to inherit that what’s-it-called throne.”

Li Huaisheng looked at him with a smile. “Your Highness, the throne is the supreme glory that most people in the world covet. Why do you avoid it like a snake?”

Not just avoiding it like a snake, but with a face full of disgust…

Feng Jun opened his folding fan and smiled. “Then this prince is one of the few.”

He had his shadow guards stand guard by the tent to prevent any eavesdropping, while he himself discussed the next steps with the two generals in detail.

Feng Jun smiled and fanned himself. “This prince was the only one in that celebratory banquet who survived and has always been favored by His Majesty. From this, you can see that compared to the throne, to reviewing memorials and listening to ministers nag every day, this prince still prefers pleasure and romance, reciting poetry and writing prose. Being a prince, I can still be high and mighty, surrounded by beauties, with endless silver to spend, and I don’t have to bear the heavy responsibility of the country.”

Wen Ning’an propped himself up on the bed and leaned against the headboard. “What does Your Highness intend to do?”

Feng Jun said, “I will immediately write an imperial edict, enfeoffing the child as the crown prince, and General Wen as the regent to temporarily manage the affairs of the court.”

Wen Ning’an reminded him, “I am not married to His Majesty. Without a name or status, how can people believe this child belongs to him?”

Feng Jun blinked and smiled. “The general is not without a name or status. When you return to the capital, after removing the plaque of the Golden Throne Hall, you will be able to see an imperial edict. With that edict, there will be absolutely no problem with this child.”

“An imperial edict?” Wen Ning’an frowned. Could it be that Feng Qi had foreseen this?

Feng Jun smiled. “My imperial brother once told me that as long as the evil technique lurked in his body, his life would be in danger. To prevent his beloved from being bullied after he suddenly died, he had already secretly arranged everything.”

Wen Ning’an stared blankly at him, not knowing how to respond.

“Besides, the matter of the child cannot be faked,” Feng Jun smiled. “Let them check the flower name register in the inner palace, and they will know. The favor General Wen has received must have been well-recorded by Fu Che. Besides, the flower name register can be faked, but the child cannot. Have you heard of the child-testing medicine?”

Wen Ning’an nodded.

“At that time, we will take the child’s blood and the blood His Majesty left in the alchemy room and test it with the child-testing medicine, and we will know the result. Now that the child is not yet born, we can neither prove that he is His Majesty’s heir, nor can we prove that he is not. Before that, we can just use my title as a prince and that imperial edict to suppress them.”

Li Huaisheng looked calm and showed no strong reaction, just saying in a business-like tone, “In that case, it is better for me to follow the team back to the capital to protect the crown prince and the now-inconvenienced Ning’an. The Li family’s side can be barely avoided. In any case, it is my own private matter, and under the bigger picture, there is no need to worry. Your Highness is used to dealing with the King of Hong Xi, and only with you here can we be at ease.”

Feng Jun sighed.

Although he didn’t want to be the emperor, he wanted to stay here even less. Being with Feng Changhuan, he was on edge every day, living a life more painful than a prisoner.

But now, he knew no martial arts and couldn’t be of any help to Wen Ning’an, and Li Huaisheng was a straightforward person, slightly inferior in terms of wit. So, he had no choice but to make do.

Feng Jun felt a dull ache in his head.

And after leaving the tent and seeing Feng Changhuan standing not far away, as if waiting for him, he felt his head ache even more. Not just ache, but with a faint tendency to explode.

Feng Changhuan leaned against a tree and asked, “That day, you seemed to have said you wanted to take me to a fun place to please me?”

Feng Jun: “…”

He sighed. “Your Majesty, please.”