In the game between Emperor Yuantai and Fu Shen, he couldn’t just be a chess piece pushed around.
He wrapped himself in the autumn night’s chill, standing in the darkness, seemingly separated from the human world by a barrier, his silhouette bearing an indescribable loneliness.
After a long time, the main hall door was opened from the inside. When Xiao Chun saw him standing in the courtyard, he was clearly startled, suspicion immediately appearing on his face. Fu Shen was farther away, but with his good eyesight, he saw Yan Xiaohan at a glance. Their gazes met briefly in mid-air, then slid away like two swimming fish.
Yan Xiaohan brushed off non-existent dust from his sleeve and walked past Xiao Chun into the room, asking casually, “Finished talking? Seeing the guest out?”
As he walked, cold air swept forward. Fu Shen felt slightly uncomfortable: “How long have you been standing outside?”
Yan Xiaohan misunderstood his meaning and gave a light laugh: “With two high-ranking Northern Yan military officers here, how would Yan dare to offend?”
“I think you’ve gone stupid from the cold,” Fu Shen scoffed, pushing the hot tea on the table towards him.
Yan Xiaohan took his cup from in front of Fu Shen, saying, “Thank you for your consideration, my lord.”
Fu Shen frowned: “…That was my cup.”
“Just warming my hands, I’m not drinking,” Yan Xiaohan said with a face full of innocence. “What does my lord think?”
Fu Shen: “…”
Xiao Chun watched them banter, almost thinking they were flirting, no, confronting each other. If not for his years of understanding of Fu Shen and knowing he didn’t have those preferences, he would have thought they were putting on an act.
“General,” he approached Fu Shen, “Since this matter is temporarily settled, please return to the mansion to recuperate. The carriage is waiting outside.”
“No.”
Two gazes turned to the speaker, with Fu Shen raising an eyebrow.
Yan Xiaohan: “My lord is suffering from a cold, and his leg injury is not yet healed. The mansion lacks medical resources and might worsen his condition.
“Why not stay here and let Shen Yice nurse you back to health before making further plans?”
“What plans?” Fu Shen asked with a smile, though his eyes held no mirth. “The plan to marry you?”
