Chapter 275
One of the four major families, the Yue family of Lanxi along with the martial family of Huo, had been connected for generations due to their ancestral ties. Their main branches in the capital city were also neighbors, so their relationship had always been good. Moreover, with the head mothers of both families expecting children around the same time, the women of the households often interacted. They even promised to arrange a marriage if their children were of opposite genders, making them future in-laws.
Therefore, it could be said that Yue Chen and Huo Luo had known each other since birth. They were born one after the other, attended by the most skilled midwives in the capital. Being frequently brought up together, they naturally became familiar with each other. Their bond was almost as strong as that of blood brothers, despite belonging to different clans.
One was inclined towards literature, the other towards martial arts. Their differing interests often led to clashes, with each looking down on the other and trying to outdo them.
However, despite their occasional disagreements, whenever someone bullied one of them, they would stand united against the outsider. It was as if they were telling everyone that only they could bully each other, and no one else was allowed to.
In their youth, they were evenly matched. Huo Luo, relying on his strength, never showed mercy to Yue Chen, while Yue Chen, using his intelligence, would set traps to make Huo Luo suffer. They would often return home injured, gathering strength to continue their rivalry and make the other admit defeat.
That was where the thieves hid, and faint cries of the girls could be heard. Huo Luo had studied military strategy and knew the tactic of making a diversion. So, he found a haystack in the distance, set it on fire, attracting the attention of the thieves. Sure enough, soon, thieves began to come out one after another to put out the fire, afraid that others might notice the situation here.
Seeing no one coming out, Huo Luo quickly sneaked into the cave to rescue the people.
Upon entering, he saw dozens of little girls, but there was no sign of Yue Chen. Huo Luo became even more anxious. If he didn’t see him, could it be that he was dead?
The girls all begged Huo Luo for help. He quickly approached and cut the ropes on their bodies to free them. After they regained their freedom, he immediately asked about Yue Chen’s whereabouts. However, they said they hadn’t seen any young man, but a girl cried and begged him to hurry to save another sister who had been taken deeper into the cave.
“Big brother, please, that sister was taken away by the bad guys to protect us. I saw… I saw another sister who was taken away before died. She was just taken in. Please hurry to save her!”
With such a plea, Huo Luo had no choice but to go in first. As soon as he entered, he saw a girl in a floral dress, her hands tied to a pillar, trembling with fear and her hair disheveled. Her face was partially hidden, but even so, Huo Luo was stunned by her beauty at first sight.
Her snow-white skin, rosy cheeks, delicate profile, and petite ears—Huo Luo had never seen such a beautiful girl before.
Unlike Yue Chen, who enjoyed playing with little girls and was surrounded by them, Huo Luo found it troublesome and had never found any of the girls attractive. He’d rather look at the weapons his father brought back. However, Yue Chen seemed to enjoy the company of little girls at such a young age, reveling in the pleasure of being surrounded by them. His sweet-talking mouth made both families joke that Yue Chen wouldn’t have trouble finding a wife in the future. Huo Luo reckoned he’d need Yue Chen’s help to figure out how to please a girl.
But this time, when Huo Luo saw this particular girl, it was a completely different feeling. Not only because she didn’t fit into Huo Luo’s rare aesthetic criteria, but also because he suddenly realized that girls weren’t as fragile as he had thought. Even in fear, she didn’t cry.
Then he remembered what someone had just said, that this girl seemed to have suffered for the sake of saving others. Not only was she beautiful and brave, but she also showed kindness and righteousness.
Huo Luo couldn’t describe the feeling he had in that moment. If Yue Chen were there, he might have found the right words, but Huo Luo didn’t have the eloquence of Yue Chen. He could only describe it as if a flower were unfolding slowly before his eyes…
Suddenly, the little girl heard movement and turned her head.
A familiar face appeared completely, and Huo Luo widened his eyes in astonishment. “Yue Chen!”
The flower dried up.
“Huo Luo!”
Huo Luo’s facial expression changed rapidly, but he instinctively rushed forward to untie Yue Chen. When he saw the flash of fear in Yue Chen’s eyes, his heart sank.
This guy knew fear too?
Daring to disguise himself as a little girl to lure someone in… No wonder he found her faster than I did. But he didn’t gauge the situation correctly and ended up in danger.
Huo Luo scolded, “Are you an idiot? Who risks their life like that?”
Yue Chen’s demeanor instantly rose when he saw Huo Luo. “I thought I could leave clues behind for the officials to catch them, but I didn’t expect…”
“Your clue was only found by me.” Huo Luo scolded as he untied the ropes and pulled Yue Chen out.
“What do you mean? You came alone? What about those thugs?” Yue Chen, despite being young, was quite sharp and immediately sensed something amiss in Huo Luo’s words.
Huo Luo explained, and Yue Chen’s face changed drastically. “You’re the idiot here!”
Before they could escape, they heard the sudden intensification of the girls’ cries outside. Sure enough, the method of starting the fire wouldn’t distract the enemy for long. Soon, a big man appeared before them. Huo Luo pulled Yue Chen back and lifted his weapon to attack.
Huo Luo had some basic martial arts skills and the advantage of youth, so he managed to catch the enemy off guard initially.
However, the enemy was not only an adult but also a thug, so Huo Luo quickly found himself at a disadvantage, retreating repeatedly.
With a strong force, the big man sent Huo Luo’s weapon flying and kicked him against the wall. Although Huo Luo was trained as a warrior, being so young, he had never experienced such a beating before. The instant feeling of defeat made Huo Luo tremble with hatred.
Yue Chen cried out in alarm and rushed over to protect Huo Luo. In that moment, the big man realized that Yue Chen was not just a pretty little girl but someone to be reckoned with.
The big man suddenly realized something was wrong and immediately shouted outside, “Brothers, we’re being watched! Hurry and move those girls. Once I finish off these two, catch up with us.”
With a fierce expression, the big man approached the two, but he didn’t notice that the cries outside had stopped, nor did his comrades respond.
Yue Chen, glaring angrily at the approaching enemy, stood in front of Huo Luo like a fox with its fur standing on end, trembling uncontrollably but refusing to back down.
However, Huo Luo, barely managing to stand, reached behind him and pulled Yue Chen back. Like an injured lone wolf, he was determined to defend what was his, even if it meant sacrificing himself. In his mind, even in death, he must be crossed before reaching Yue Chen.
As the blade was about to fall, neither of them closed their eyes, staring wide-eyed at their imminent fate.
Just as the two children felt helpless, the sound of a sharp arrow piercing through the air rang out. The arrowhead swiftly pierced through the big man’s heart from behind.
With the blade in hand, the big man suddenly couldn’t move anymore. He stared in disbelief at the arrow that had appeared before him, before finally falling to the ground, unwilling to accept his fate.
Yue Chen and Huo Luo were originally wide-eyed with fear, but they witnessed the sudden turn of events and couldn’t react at first. It wasn’t until the enemy in front of them fell like a mountain that they saw the figure behind, causing their pupils to slowly contract.
It was a figure taller than them by just a head, yet exuding an aura of remarkable stature and nobility. From the exquisite attire, it was evident that this person held a distinguished status. Even in their youth, their beautiful appearance was almost indescribable, transcending conventional beauty standards. Just one encounter with this person would leave an unforgettable impression. They naturally recognized him, having glimpsed him from afar during a palace banquet they attended.
The newcomer was none other than the current Crown Prince, Yuan Ran, holding a golden bow. He looked at them with some surprise.
Perhaps noticing the two children’s bewilderment, Yuan Ran paused, lowering his voice, “It’s alright now. The soldiers outside have taken care of the thieves. Were you two also captured by them?”
Yue Chen and Huo Luo still couldn’t believe the sudden appearance of the Crown Prince. They could only stare dumbfoundedly.
Concerned that the two children might be injured, Yuan Ran approached to check on them. Suddenly, they both knelt down before him, bowing to the Crown Prince.
Upon hearing the two children addressing him as the Crown Prince, Yuan Ran knew they must have seen him before.
Inquiring about their identities, he learned the whole story. Yuan Ran furrowed his brows slightly, “You made a mistake. It’s good to be fearless in the face of difficulties, but smart people shouldn’t take risks without certainty. I believe you’re intelligent, so don’t make such mistakes again in the future. Otherwise… you might end up implicating your friends.”
If it were lessons from family members, even if they were severe, the two children would have forgotten them or even disregarded them, feeling superior. However, after the Crown Prince’s words, delivered in a gentle tone, both couldn’t help but cry, feeling self-reproach, regret, and sadness. They both thought that what the Crown Prince said was right, and they almost harmed each other.
Yue Chen kept rubbing his eyes, while Huo Luo looked up, holding back tears, crying for the first time after being scolded.
Yuan Ran reached out and gently patted their heads, saying nothing more.
Outside, there were officials and soldiers everywhere, all awaiting the Crown Prince’s orders. Yuan Ran quickly arranged everything with a few words. The surviving thieves were all captured, and the young girls were all taken care of.
At this moment, members of the Yue and Huo families approached, first bowing to the Crown Prince in gratitude and apology, before finding their respective children. Seeing Yue Chen’s appearance, members of the Yue family were enraged and moved to attack, but this time, Huo Luo stood directly in front of Yue Chen, shielding him.
Seeing the situation and noticing that both children were injured, the families decided to postpone scolding them and focus on getting them treated first. They agreed to deal with them later.
After putting Yue Chen and Huo Luo on the carriage, Yuan Ran mounted his horse with his entourage and departed. However, the two children couldn’t take their eyes off the imposing figure of the Crown Prince. It was only when the figure disappeared from sight that they finally looked away.
Suddenly, Yue Chen spoke up, “Thank you… Huo Luo.”
Huo Luo was startled by this. It was probably the first time Yue Chen had thanked him in his life, and it felt as refreshing as unlocking a blocked meridian. However, he also felt guilty. “It was His Highness who saved us, not me.”
“No, you did.” Yue Chen’s eyes shimmered. He knew that if Huo Luo hadn’t arrived in time, he would have been discovered as a male and likely killed. So it was Huo Luo who saved him. Yue Chen silently vowed that he would never forget this favor. In the future, he would think more carefully and protect Huo Luo in the most comprehensive way possible, ensuring he wouldn’t easily get hurt.
While Huo Luo thought Yue Chen was comforting him, he secretly turned his head to look at Yue Chen, his dark eyes shining with determination. In his heart, he swore that if he couldn’t protect Yue Chen this time, he would definitely protect him next time. He would never let Yue Chen show that fearful expression again. Yue Chen should be proud and confident—that’s the Yue Chen he knew.
But as he kept looking, Huo Luo became uncomfortable. “Stop wearing women’s clothes in the future. You look terrible. I’ll have nightmares.”
Yue Chen was taken aback for a moment before instinctively retorting, “Who says so? Everyone says I’m a pretty sister. It’s just that you have no taste. You’ll definitely end up being a bachelor for life, and you’ll never get married.”
“You’re talking nonsense! I won’t be a bachelor! Stop cursing me! If I end up being a bachelor for life, you won’t get married either!” Huo Luo immediately became angry.
Well, even though they were good brothers who could face hardships together, they still enjoyed teasing each other.
The next day, after the trial was over, Yue Chen and Huo Luo were still kneeling in the ancestral hall as punishment when they heard that both the Yue and Huo families had received rewards.
It turned out that the Crown Prince was responsible for this case. The reason why the clues left by Yue Chen were not discovered by anyone was because there was an internal thief in the official office who destroyed some of the evidence. Only Huo Luo, who knew Yue Chen well, and the exceptionally clever Crown Prince were able to successfully find their way through. Additionally, the Crown Prince noticed the fire set by Huo Luo, which enabled him to arrive in time. Therefore, they both contributed to solving the case. The internal thief was found and dealt with by Yuan Ran, so Huo Luo and Yue Chen naturally deserved a reward.
Even though Yuan Ran didn’t praise them at the time, he later applied to the Emperor for rewards for the two of them, directly stating that they were both excellent—one brave and the other intelligent.
As a result, Yue Chen and Huo Luo’s reputations began to grow.
After receiving their rewards, the two of them met.
Yue Chen directly said to Huo Luo, “I won’t play around anymore. I plan to focus wholeheartedly on studying, and in the future, I want to follow the Crown Prince.”
Huo Luo smiled and replied, “It’s rare that we have the same goal. I also want to follow the Crown Prince, so I need to train in martial arts seriously.”
“Then let’s make a promise. In the future, we’ll be the right-hand men of the Crown Prince, one in literature and the other in martial arts, assisting the Crown Prince in governing the country.”
“Yes, let’s make that promise!”
Before, both of them dominated their respective fields with their natural talents. However, after this incident, Huo Luo intensified his efforts tenfold to study martial arts, while Yue Chen immersed himself in reading, combining their innate abilities with hard work. Their remarkable growth amazed those around them.
However, Huo Luo no longer engaged in serious conflicts with Yue Chen. Even if Yue Chen played pranks on Huo Luo, he did so with restraint. Nevertheless, there was an underlying trend of Yue Chen exerting control over Huo Luo in their relationship.
Perhaps it was because martial artists couldn’t fully exert their dominance without using force, or maybe Huo Luo realized that decision-making was safer when guided by advisers. Or perhaps it was just a matter of habit turning into instinct, where Huo Luo felt compelled to obey whenever Yue Chen gave a serious order. Naturally, Yue Chen never abused this privilege.
Until the emergence of top scholars in both literature and martial arts, their talents shone brightly. However, despite their remarkable achievements, they faced challenges, particularly when the crown prince encountered difficulties. In response, they chose to adopt a passive approach to safeguard their own interests.
However, after several years, when the crown prince returned, their path forward reappeared. They still chose to follow the crown prince, eventually assisting him in ascending to the throne as emperor.
Their relationship underwent significant changes throughout these events.
……
Three months after the imperial wedding, Lin Tangping, the newly appointed Minister of Works, sent a matchmaker to the general’s residence to propose a marriage alliance with the virtuous daughter of the Huo family, Mo Jiahui.
Their relationship had matured naturally, so there were no obstacles to their union.
On an auspicious day, the general’s residence joyfully sent off Mo Jiahui in grand style as she married into the Lin family. Huo Luo personally escorted his sister out. The lively atmosphere in the general’s residence dispelled the lingering shadow of conflicts between Huo Luo and his family in the past.
At the celebratory banquet in the Minister of Works’ residence, some ministers caught sight of Yue Chen.
Yue Chen, as the prime minister, visiting the Minister of Works’ residence posed no issue. However, considering the previous relationship between the Yue and Huo families, Yue Chen’s absence from the Huo family indicated that the cessation of interactions between the Yue and Huo families was not unfounded.
With the imperial wedding already taking place, the affairs of Huo Luo and Yue Chen were naturally not kept secret, though they were not entirely public either. Both families vehemently denied any association when asked publicly, while covertly facilitating meetings between their children and potential suitors.
However, judging from the expressions of Minister Yue and General Huo, no girl dared to intervene rashly, fearing humiliation. So, the situation remained stagnant. Everyone understood that behind the scenes, both families were forcing them, making it difficult for them to openly be together.
People at the same table chatted and joked with Yue Chen, while those at different tables secretly observed. They happened to see Huo Luo striding over, leaning on the table with one hand, leaning close to Yue Chen’s ear, whispering something. Their intimate behavior was obvious to anyone who wasn’t blind.
However, Yue Chen frowned and said a few words, then pushed Huo Luo away. Huo Luo’s face immediately darkened, unexpectedly pulling Yue Chen’s arm in public as if to take him away.
But Yue Chen suddenly shook off Huo Luo’s grasp, raised his head, and scolded him. The two of them froze in place until someone at their table felt the tension and intervened, persuading them to calm down.
Only then did Huo Luo turn and leave.
People around them felt like the two had quarreled. See, except for the emperor and empress, it’s too difficult for two men to be together in this society.
As the banquet dispersed, Yue Chen felt a bit tipsy and made his way back to his residence.
The carriage had just stopped at the door when it encountered another carriage about to leave.
Yue Chen got off the carriage and watched as the other carriage slowly passed by. Just as it stopped, someone’s head popped out—it was Dai Heng, who greeted him with a smile.
Yue Chen looked at the bruises on Dai Heng’s face and chuckled, “Did you spar with little sister again? How come she’s even hitting the guests now?”
Dai Heng rubbed his cheek where the bruise was and said, “I was letting her win. Seeing her unhappy, I decided to let her vent.”
Yue Chen’s expression changed slightly, and he was about to speak when he saw another person stick their head out, looking at him with a meaningful smile.
“Prime Minister Yue, you seem to be enjoying yourself. Leaving us to deal with the awkwardness?” Dai Xueyang smiled.
Yue Chen said, “Are you sure it wouldn’t be more awkward with me there?”
Dai Xueyang shrugged helplessly. “Well, when General Huo just returned, Madam Huo said a few words, and then they started arguing. If you were there, the Huo family’s women would probably be even more upset. Don’t worry, I declined anyway. Madam Huo and the others were just grasping at straws. It seems the noblewomen of the capital are afraid to approach you two.”
Yue Chen smiled faintly and bowed, “Apologies for the disturbance.”
Dai Xueyang knew Yue Chen was speaking on behalf of him and Huo Luo, so he smiled and said, “I hope one day you two will be like the Emperor and the Empress, finally together. Don’t give up halfway and cause trouble for other girls.”
“I’ll take in your blessing. We won’t,” Yue Chen replied.
With that, Dai Xueyang waved his hand and left with Dai Heng.
Yue Chen didn’t go to the Huo residence because he knew things would only get worse if he did. He could only return to the Yue residence.
Since they weren’t married yet, they couldn’t live separately from their respective families.
As soon as he returned home, Yue Chen encountered the elders of his family. He initially wanted to avoid them, as their relationship had been tense lately. Yue Chen now held the most power in the family, and even though it wasn’t like the situation in the Huo family where Huo Luo was the only child, the members of the Yue family still hoped Yue Chen would leave heirs behind. So whenever they had the chance, they would try to persuade him.
Sure enough, someone stopped Yue Chen and said, “I heard that the Huo family has already found a suitable match for Huo Luo. Tomorrow, your mother will bring some portraits for you to consider…”
Yue Chen stopped in his tracks and sighed, “Don’t push me.”
“Outrageous! Who’s pushing you? It’s you who are pushing us now! Let me ask you, can the Yue family ignore this? Can you bear to see the end of the Huo family’s lineage? Don’t you value Huo Luo? Then don’t harm his prospects. If you voluntarily step back, Huo Luo will be obedient. Don’t you understand?”
“If necessary, take concubines first. Actually, I think you and Huo Luo don’t have to be so strict. Leave behind heirs first. If you two love each other, can we still stop you?” advised a female elder.
Yue Chen faced the lecturing elders with a cold expression, “I thought I made myself clear enough. How many times do you need to repeat the same question before you’re satisfied? I’ll remember the Yue family’s legacy. When the time comes, I’ll choose a child from my cousins and personally educate them, ensuring they become a qualified successor. As for my marriage, don’t meddle in it. Don’t push me too hard, or I…” Yue Chen didn’t finish his sentence, but his icy gaze made it clear enough, leaving the Yue family elders speechless.
After all, they had argued over the same topic countless times before. Some of the more distant relatives had been too aggressive with their words, and Yue Chen had once taught them a lesson from elsewhere. While he hadn’t acted against the main family yet, his intimidation had been effective. So, the Yue family elders didn’t dare to push too hard. Seeing Yue Chen’s stern expression, they gave up.
Compared to the situation in the Yue family, things were much worse in the Huo family.
After all, the elders in the Huo family were all direct female relatives, which meant that Huo Luo couldn’t exert any influence and could only endure the situation.
With the plan to get along with Dai Xueyang falling through, the Huo family still wanted to use the opportunity to brainwash Huo Luo. They couldn’t accept the idea of the family line ending with this generation. They had sacrificed a lot in the past to preserve this last bit of heritage. They had a different mindset from the Yue family and didn’t believe that a child could be with Yue Chen while taking concubines to have heirs. They knew Huo Luo too well and understood that only if Huo Luo gave up Yue Chen could it work.
Huo Luo gritted his teeth as he was punished to kneel again. He could hear the reprimands from his mother and grandmother in his ears.
Even Little Sister Huo couldn’t bear it and said directly, “Back then, it was Brother Yue who always helped us navigate through the palace, ensuring our safety. How can you say we should cut off ties with Brother Yue?”
Old Madam Huo and Madam Huo were flushed with anger and embarrassment.
“Yue Chen is a good child, but what they are doing is absolutely unacceptable and goes against all principles,” Old Madam Huo exclaimed angrily.
“That would make the Emperor and Empress guilty of the same crime, wouldn’t it?” Little Sister Huo retorted.
Old Madam Huo was momentarily speechless, but Madam Huo said, “You don’t understand. Sooner or later, His Majesty will take other consorts, and there must be heirs.”
“Impossible!” Little Sister Huo insisted. “They won’t. Just like Eldest Brother and Eldest Brother Yue, they can’t tolerate others. Even I, as young as I am, understand this principle. Why can’t you see it? Are you hoping for Eldest Brother’s happiness or just for him to produce children for the Huo family?”
Little Sister Huo became agitated and was immediately slapped by Madam Huo. Despite holding her face, she remained defiant. “I’m right. You’re pressuring Eldest Brother for the sake of children, aren’t you? Fine! In the future, can my children serve as descendants for the Huo family?!”
Madam Huo was about to strike again.
Huo Luo moved to intervene, but was restrained by Old Madam Huo’s dragon-headed cane. “Kneel properly! I don’t care what you think. As long as you bear the Huo surname and acknowledge your ancestors, you will set aside thoughts of Yue Chen and immediately marry and have children! Come, swear it! Swear to your ancestors!”
Huo Luo gritted his teeth and looked at the ancestral tablets ahead, resolutely declaring, “Ancestors above, I will apologize in the future, but in this lifetime, I will not marry or have children. I am inseparable from Yue Chen.”
Huo Luo’s words further enraged both of them, and Old Madam Huo resorted to family discipline once again.
After a round of whipping, Huo Luo’s back was a bloody mess. It wasn’t until Madam Huo’s heart softened that she pleaded with Old Madam Huo to stop and allowed for him to receive treatment for his wounds.
Huo Luo walked back to his courtyard alone. As soon as he entered his room, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, sensing the presence of another person in the room.
Sure enough, upon entering the inner chamber, he saw Yue Chen.
“I thought you weren’t coming?”
“Little sister said you were punished again,” Yue Chen said as he approached, pulling Huo Luo to sit down and examining his back. He frowned and fetched scissors and a medicine box.
“Did little sister bring you in? She must have endured a lot. She was slapped because of me arguing with my mother.”
“You and your sister are both impulsive. You don’t know how to play it smart,” Yue Chen said as he tended to the wounds.
“When it comes to family, you can never play it smart. Didn’t you also refrain from truly harming your direct relatives?” Huo Luo sat upright, unaffected by the pain. With Yue Chen’s presence, his mood improved.
“That’s because they also understand my bottom line. If they cross the line, I can be ruthless too,” Yue Chen said coldly.
“Are you saying I’m not ruthless enough?” Huo Luo turned to look at Yue Chen.
“No, in your situation, even if it were me, I would find it difficult to act… After all, their position is correct. Compared to me, your burden is heavier. You’re the only male heir of the Huo family. If it really came to it…”
Suddenly, Huo Luo reached out, grabbing Yue Chen’s arm and pulling him into an embrace. His sharp eyes, akin to a wolf’s, stared fiercely at Yue Chen, his displeasure evident from his expression at Yue Chen’s words just now.
“Is it meaningful to say such things now? Do you even know who’s been spreading rumors all over the capital, causing those with ulterior motives among the young ladies to reject my family’s proposals? Isn’t it all because of you?”
Yue Chen looked at Huo Luo and finally smiled. “What else could it be? Did you think I would give up on you?”
Huo Luo kissed Yue Chen’s flushed cheek and then spoke, “Yes, that’s the Yue Chen I know. I can’t bring myself to act, nor do I know how to, but as long as you don’t harm my loved ones, you can do anything for our future.”
Yue Chen’s gaze darkened as he couldn’t help but loop his arms around Huo Luo’s neck, deepening the kiss.
As the kiss ended, Huo Luo rubbed his nose against Yue Chen’s and in a low, husky voice, he said, “Yue Chen, if the Emperor and Empress could reach that point, so can we. I will never let you down, and you can’t let me down either. Otherwise… I’ll kill you, got it?”
Yue Chen chuckled, feeling much lighter now. The one who falls in love first loses, and deep down, Yue Chen still feared Huo Luo’s hesitation, even if it was just a tiny bit, it could be fatal to him.
He was genuinely afraid of what he might do if they didn’t make it to the end.
Fortunately, every time, Huo Luo would give him a firm answer, firmer than before, making Yue Chen feel reassured forever.
Feeling lighter, Yue Chen couldn’t help but tease Huo Luo, his laughter both ambiguous and enticing. “Oh? Kill me? How do you plan to do that?”
Already seated on his lap, Yue Chen shifted a bit closer.
Huo Luo’s gaze shifted in an instant, but just as his hand was about to move, Yue Chen, in a serious tone, said, “Come on, the medicine is applied, it’s time to bandage it.”
Huo Luo seemed to hold his breath, almost glaring at him fiercely, as if accusing him of being mean.
Yue Chen couldn’t help but chuckle at being teased, and then released Huo Luo. He propped himself up on Huo Luo’s shoulder, intending to get up. “Alright, no more playing, it’s really time to bandage it, you…”
But before Yue Chen could fully get up, Huo Luo pulled him back again, this time with more force. Yue Chen was lifted off the ground, and the way he sat down was controlled by Huo Luo, turning into straddling. Yue Chen’s waist was curved by the pull.
In an instant, on the stool, the two were intimately close together.
Yue Chen immediately said, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, no more jokes, about your injury…”
“It’s too late!” Huo Luo exclaimed angrily.
The next moment, the sound of clothes being pulled drowned out Yue Chen’s attempts to persuade him.
After some time, a loyal servant came to deliver medicine. Standing at the door, while calling out, he heard the sound of furniture moving, as well as faint, husky voices.
The servant, who had experienced this situation before, immediately realized what was happening, blushing profusely as he hastily retreated.
Yue Chen’s fragmented and disjointed refusals continued, but gradually, his words became incoherent.
This time, the two seemed to lose control a bit, as if to relieve the pressure of dealing with their families, they both transformed into expressions of love for each other.
Until dawn broke, and Huo Luo fell into a deep sleep, Yue Chen clumsily got up to continue tending to his wounds.
After managing to do so, Yue Chen curled up in Huo Luo’s arms.
The two quietly snuggled together, their hearts still intertwined despite the difficult situation, unwavering in their affection.
However… how to deal with this one remaining obstacle?
A few days later, an urgent military report arrived from the border at the court.
According to reports from Qi Ci, the two forces that had split off from Tianheng Kingdom had merged and started harassing the border. It seemed they wanted to take advantage of the Great Zhou’s recent stabilization, as well as the recent floods and snow disasters, hoping to attack the Great Zhou and gain some benefits.
However, the floods and snow disasters had been successfully dealt with by Yuan Ran, and they had little impact on the Great Zhou. It could be said that the enemy’s information was not accurate, leading them to attack hastily.
The ministers in the court mocked those separatist forces, but Yuan Ran understood at a glance. Those people didn’t really dare to attack the Great Zhou; they were just trying to stabilize military morale and gather support, much like what Yu Suoxi had done in the past. Whoever wanted power would harass their archrivals and then establish an image in the minds of the people. In Lin Qingyang’s words, it was like grinding dungeons to gain experience.
However, Yuan Ran, this big boss, wasn’t easy to provoke, even if it was just a minor disturbance.
“The Great Zhou absolutely does not tolerate any force encroaching on its territory!” The resounding slogan naturally garnered support from both the court and the people. Under Yuan Ran’s leadership, the national pride of the Great Zhou had reached an unprecedented high.
However, Yuan Ran directly addressed the cabinet, saying, “I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. Our the Great Zhou territory is about to expand. Gentlemen, can you imagine how to deal with those two areas next?”
Initially, Yuan Ran didn’t intend to deal with the separatist Tianheng; he wanted to develop people’s livelihoods first. But since they had offered themselves up, it would have been awkward to refuse.
So Yuan Ran directly ordered Huo Luo to lead the troops to attack.
With this decree, everyone was puzzled. Didn’t General Qi handle the border? Could it be… that the Emperor was dissatisfied with General Qi?
Huo Luo was also puzzled, but he listened to Yuan Ran’s words. He just didn’t know how long it would take to return from the expedition. Yue Chen was the prime minister and naturally couldn’t leave, so there was no other way but for him to expedite things himself.
However, Yue Chen seemed to freeze, as if he had thought of a possibility, so he looked towards Lin Qingyang.
Lin Qingyang smiled slightly at him, and Yue Chen understood. He looked at Yuan Ran with some disbelief, feeling grateful deep down.
Seeing Yue Chen’s reaction and his expression of gratitude, Lin Qingyang felt a bit uncomfortable. He shifted in his seat, lamenting the trouble he had gotten into.
In fact, they had received the news long ago, but the military report had only just arrived.
At that time, Yue Chen and Huo Luo were often in low spirits because of family matters. The two families no longer interacted, and they couldn’t ask Yuan Ran for a marriage decree. Yuan Ran also didn’t intend to meddle in their affairs, thinking it was something they had to solve on their own. But the two of them were in a dilemma until the Dai siblings came to report military affairs in the capital and were invited to the Huo family for a banquet. Dai Xueyang came to Lin Qingyang to complain about this, and Mo Jiahui and Little Sister Huo had also approached Lin Qinglan for help before, wanting to know how their family had agreed to Lin Qingyang’s approach, hoping to persuade their family.
Lin Qingyang didn’t want his friends to always be one step away from happiness, but he didn’t have a solution himself. The situation in the Yue family was fine, but the situation in the Huo family was truly unique, so he had to seek help from Yuan Ran.
With a new confidential letter in hand, Yuan Ran slowly made a request, “The temporary imperial residence in Wuxin Mountain has just been built. Let’s relax there for a day. Maybe I’ll figure something out.”
And then Yuan Ran had an idea.
Author’s note: Every couple faces different situations. Yuan Ran has no family left, Yang Yang’s family has been through a lot, and he’s always been thought of as a homosexual man. Qi and Ning only has each other, so once they overcome their inner struggles, they’re fine. It’s only Huo and Yue who face the most common but also the most difficult challenge. But with the Emperor and Empress’s help, everything will be easily resolved.
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