General’s Gown Chapter 14

Chapter 14 Huacan Qing Gu Part 4 

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“What exactly did I do?” Helian Rongchuan asked with a smile. 

Yan Changqing paused and voices the terrible thought that had been circling in his mind from the moment he was affected by the Gu: 

“Our whereabouts along the way were kept strictly confidential. Why were we caught in Hundred Cliff Stronghold? Did they know in advance?” Yan Changqing asked: “If your Royal Highness doesn’t want to do this business, just say so.” 

“Heh, so you suspect that I colluded with Nan Yao’s worms?” Helian Rongchuan’s face didn’t change colour: “Then tell me, what is my purpose in doing this?” 

Yan Changqing looked at him coldly: “What is the purpose? Your Highness should know best in his heart.” 

If you are using the person, do not doubt them. If you doubt them, do not use them. At first, Yan Changqing didn’t doubt Helian Rongchuan, only thinking he was a dude who was although not very serious, turned out to be quite capable. But this time, Da Yan had known their identities and their whereabouts like the back of his hand and set a trap early on. Yan Changqing was slightly shaken by his thoughts. 

The Dong Yun had always been very stingy with selling their share of temper snow stones. In addition to Dong Yun making a big profit from the battle between the Yan Kingdom and the Bei Rong Kingdom, their treasury was very full as is. But this time was like a child’s play. The Yan Kingdom agreed to sell a large amount of what they regarded as treasures at a low price. The only reason was that the second prince of Dongyun was playing a trick. Colluding with the Nanyao people to prevent them from reaching the trade would ignite another war between Nanyao and Yan Kingdom. 

The Dongyun people were far away from the war due to their geographical advantages, but they liked watching other countries fight to make war money. This kind of thing has been done by Dongyun people many times over the years.

Helian Rongchuan had an innocent expression: “This Royal Highness only has General Yan in his heart. I don’t know anything else——” 

Yan Changqing: “…” 

Seeing Yan Changqing’s face flush again put Helian Rongchuan in a good mood. Not caring that there was still a silver sword at his neck, he fished out round and half-riped spring jujube. While watching Yan Changqing’s face, he continues to crunch down on it.

Yan Changqing took a deep breath. Why is it that seeing Helian Rongchuan riled him up every time? 

Helian Rongchuan glanced over deducing that Yan Changqing was on the verge of attacking him. He took out a scroll of brocade and silk papers from his pockets in a hurry. Shaking his fingers lightly, he inadvertently revealed a corner of the big red jade seal. 

Contract letter! 

Helian Rongchuan said: “On this journey, you and I have had quite a few ups and downs. To avoid the long nights I sent people to speed things up and have my father sign the contract letter in advance. This saved us some delay and added some adventure. I just didn’t think—” Helian Rongchuan sighed, and his expression was a little melancholic: “Unexpectedly, it still made Daren suspicious.” 

The contract letter unfolded, and it was the price and share of the temper snow stones agreed upon between the two countries this time. There was no omission at all. The bottom had the royal totem mark of Dongyun, the exquisite eagle through the clouds. The design was divided into two sides, and one side has been stamped with the seal of the Dongyun Emperor. 

Helian Rongchuan nonchalantly took the half-signed roll and stuffed it into Yan Changqing’s hands, looking up at him with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes: “Is Yan Daren relieved now?” 

Seeing the seal was like seeing the Emperor. It was the trust certificate between the two countries. As long as one held this document, no one can comment against this trade.

Yan Changqing frowned slightly. Were the twists and turns in Yaocheng really just accidental? 

No——

Yan Changqing felt that something was wrong, but he couldn’t quite put a finger on it. 

The facts were right in front of him. No matter what, the man in front of him really did help him out a lot and had indeed saved him in a critical moment. While he, as soon as he woke up, drove a knife to someone’s neck. Isn’t it kind of… biting the hand that fed him? It seems that he was too emotional and unreasonable. He might have taken things too far this time.

It’s really strange. Since meeting this person, why has he been acting so impulsively? 

Thinking of this, Yan Changqing couldn’t help feeling a little ashamed and regretful, but with a cold expression on his face, he withdrew his sword with a swish. 

Without the threat, Helian Rongchuan lazily picked up another jujube. While gnawing, he continued casually: “I thought you were so angry, putting a sword on my neck, because you wanted to ask me how I saved you.” 

This sentence hit the most hidden and fearful point in Yan Changqing’s heart. 

Yan Changqing’s face flushed, unable to say a word. 

The dark and cold tunnel, the crossed fingers, the soft, forbearing sob, the kiss…These images were still crystal clear in his mind. But no matter how much he tried to recall the person’s appearance, he could only see a hazy blush. 

Was it an illusion due to being affected by the Gu, or did Helian… 

No! It can’t be!? 

After a long while, Yan Changqing finally asked with some difficulty: “Then how did you…save me?” 

Helian Rongchuan spits out a jujube core casually, then puts his arms behind his head. He said, “I simply cut down Da Yan with a single knife, then carried you out. By the way, I even set the place on fire to teach those children a lesson.” 

“…nothing else?” 

He was poisoned at the time, sunk into the sea of desire, and was in agony. Could it be resolved so quickly by fainting?

Helian Rongchuan looked up at Yan Changqing with a puzzled look, and asked, “Nothing else? What else did you want me to do?” 

Yan Changqing: “…”

How could he ask about this sort of thing! 

Was it all… a dream? 

After being affected by the Gu, it’s not like he didn’t have strange hallucinations. All of this was so odd… 

Helian Rongchuan looked at Yan Changqing’s red ears but didn’t say anything. He smiled secretly, but he looked serious on the surface: “It’s okay if Yan Daren doesn’t want to say. But since you mentioned it, I remember now. In that secret room that day, the general’s behaviour was very interestiingg—” 

Helian Rongchuan deliberately stretched out the last word and caught the panic hidden in Yan Changqing’s eyes. He paused. After a moment, he said, “You were very —— enthusiastic ——” 

“Nonsense!” Yan Changqing shouted violently, but he felt a little guilty in his heart and lacked confidence. 

Helian Rongchuan didn’t change his face, “Fortunately, you met a pure-hearted man with little desire and without the need for chaos just like Liu Xiahui.” Helian Rongchuan squinted his eyes and pointed at himself without a blush. 

… 

Shameless… 

Of all the words in the world that can be used to describe people: “pure-hearted” and “little desire”, would have nothing to do with Helian Rongchuan. 

Yan Changqing knew that this person was beginning to blabber on again, so his heart was a bit relieved. 

If something happened, he believed that Helian Rongchuan would never joke about it so presumptuously. 

Yan Changqing gave him a cold look, then turned around and left. 

The guard Ah Jing who was not far behind him scratched his head and asked curiously: “Yan Daren, who is Liu Xiahui you guys mentioned earlier? He also saved you?”

(Liu Xiahui = He was a man of eminent virtue, and is said on one occasion to have held a lady in his lap without the slightest imputation on his moral character.)

“Also” and “Save” – these two words gently pierced Yan Changqing’s proud nerves. He stopped and glanced down at Ah Jing. Crossing his slender fingers, he gently cracked his knuckles.

 “It seems that you need to read more.” 

Ah Jing couldn’t help shivering. 

Whoever thought that as soon as his front foot entered the house, a gust of wind followed Helian Rongchuan. The chubby guard behind him was holding a large basket of yellow and reddish, crispy spring Jujubes, panting and placing them at the door. 

Helian Rongchuan didn’t regard himself as an outsider at all and grabbed the white porcelain teacup that Yan Changqing had just put on his lips. He raised his head and drank a clean sip, and smiled brilliantly: “The tea here is the most flavorful.” 

Handsome, leisurely, and unrestrained, he revealed a smiling face, with a little water glisten on his thin lips. Yan Changqing’s heart moved. He felt something inexplicable. He seemed to feel strange feelings for those lips. 

When this feeling came out, Yan Changqing was shocked. He had a pure heart and few desires. He had been dedicated to his country for so many years but now being affected by some parlour trick Gu technique, he is getting confused about his desires?! 

As he continued reproaching himself, an arm came over from behind him affectionately. This shock was not small. Yan Changqing turned sharply and stood vigilantly at the corner farthest from Helian Rongchuan.

“What are you doing!” 

“What are you doing?” 

Helian Rongchuan opened his hand. His palm had three ripe, round, yellow and red big spring jujubes: “Please eat a jujube, I picked out the sweetest.” 

“…” 

Yan Changqing turned his head away: “I don’t want any!” 

Helian Rongchuan’s five fingers gathered together, and he took the Jujube back, still smiling: “I know it’s common for Master Yan not to give face——it’s fine, I’ll give it to others.”

Yan Changqing turned his head and couldn’t help asking, “Who are the others?” 

They only arrived a few days in Yaocheng, he was a Dongyun person, who would he possibly know?

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