Yan Xiaohan hinted, “Your Majesty, the Jingning Marquis’s leg injury will never heal, so he cannot lead troops, but the Northern Yan cavalry remains under his control. He has only the Empress as his sister. If you treat the Empress well, the Northern Yan cavalry will naturally be a great asset to the court.”
The Emperor persistently asked, “What exactly is going on between you and Fu Shen?”
Yan Xiaohan, not expecting the Emperor to be more interested in his personal life than state affairs, could only say, “Your Majesty, I am naturally inclined towards men and will never have offspring.”
I want his military power, and conveniently becoming his husband does not conflict with this.
Although love is limited, power is more important than love.
He described himself almost exactly like Emperor Changzhi. Emperor Changzhi felt a deep resonance and understood the implied promise of “no heir,” was satisfied with his tactfulness, slightly relaxed his guard, and no longer pursued the matter with the Xue family. He generously waved his hand and said, “No more. You may retire.”
Yan Xiaohan bowed and left.
News soon came from the north. The Northern Yan cavalry stationed in Ganzhou launched an attack on Ningzhou, and the unfortunate Ningzhou rebels once again opened their gates, being swept away like scattered iron by the Northern Yan army. Two days later, the Northern Yan army recaptured the entire Ningzhou region.
Along with the battle report sent to various regional governors and the new southern court was a personal letter from the Northern Yan commander, Jingning Marquis Fu Shen.
During the morning court, Yan Xiaohan’s hand trembled beneath his wide sleeve, but no one noticed his unusual state or cared about the contents of the letter. Everyone was consumed by the same shocking fact: Fu Shen had returned.
Only the Northern Yan cavalry truly embodied the spirit of “defending home and country.” Not even the Southern Court, which claimed legitimacy, could match his mobilization power. Within half a month, regional governors responded one after another. Huainan and Xiangzhou dispatched troops, pushing the Dache army’s defense line north of the Han River. With Fu Shen in command, the Northern Yan cavalry advanced like a thunderbolt, quickly recapturing counties west of Chang’an.
In April, the Southern Court launched a two-pronged attack northward, with one route joining the Huainan army to attack Xuzhou, and the other combining with Xiangzhou and Northern Yan armies to surround Chang’an.
May 16th, at the foot of Rooster Cry Mountain, Tangli Town. Only a small contingent of Dache troops remained, easily swept away by the Northern Yan army. Near Tangli Town, a deep river called the Ziyang River flowed eastward into the Han River. Fu Shen led a cavalry unit to patrol along the river, confirming no enemy ambush. When looking into the opposite forest, he saw moving shadows and heard horse hooves approaching the riverbank. He beckoned a young soldier: “Go around to the other side and investigate who they are.”
Just as the soldier was about to obey, someone from the opposite side seemed impatient and rode out from the forest. Fu Shen turned at the sound and unexpectedly met the eyes of the rider.
His mind went blank.
Yan Xiaohan froze like a wooden stake, unconsciously pulling the reins. The horse neighed sharply, nearly throwing him off.
Fu Shen squeezed his horse’s sides, approaching the riverbank, about to call out for identification when he saw Yan Xiaohan, like a wandering spirit, ride to the river’s edge and step into the water. As the horse feared the deep water, Yan Xiaohan dismounted, quickly shed his heavy clothing, and dove into the swift current.
Fu Shen almost went mad: “Yan Menggui! Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
He dismounted, rushed to the riverbank, and ordered his soldiers to bring a rope.
Fortunately, it wasn’t summer, and the river wasn’t swollen. Yan Xiaohan, with decent swimming skills, grabbed the rope Fu Shen threw and was pulled ashore. Exhausted, his chest heaving, unable to speak or even breathe easily, he stared fixedly at Fu Shen, his eyes bloodshot, looking like they might bleed.
Before Fu Shen could feel joy, he was startled. He had never seen such an impulsive approach.
Harsh words were already in his throat, but the moment he moved, Yan Xiaohan suddenly lunged, clinging to him tightly as if afraid he would escape, wet and desperate.
His raging fire instantly burned down to a weak wisp of white smoke.
Fu Shen closed his eyes hard, his mind blank. After a moment, he raised his hand and embraced Yan Xiaohan’s slightly trembling back, fingers tightening.
“I’ve been thinking of you day and night… finally seeing you for real.”
As soon as he could speak, it proved that his most excited moment had passed, and he had become a clear-minded normal person again. Fu Shen relaxed slightly, looking at his face, reaching out to wipe away the water droplets on his eyelashes, and suddenly laughed: “I’ve been holding you for so long, why haven’t you called me even once?”
Yan Xiaohan was stunned.
He dared not.
Fu Shen smiled: “Hmm?”
The person in front of him was real, warm and vivid, capable of both action and scolding.
Yan Xiaohan closed his eyes, a water droplet sliding down from his eyebrow, this sound seemingly draining all his courage.
“Jing Yuan.”
Fu Shen held his hand, pressing heavily on the acupoint on his tiger’s mouth, and responded: “Hmm.”
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Yan Xiaohan was startled by the pinch on the back of his hand, suddenly opening his eyes wide.
The dream was over.
He was still here.
Fu Shen withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened, casually saying: “Done? Let’s go, are there still your people on the other side of the river, go…”
Yan Xiaohan quickly grabbed him, lowering his voice: “My lord, can you have your people step back?”
Fu Shen: “Hmm? What for?”
Yan Xiaohan: “I want to kiss you, right now, I can’t wait.”
Fu Shen: “…Look around, is this appropriate?”
Yan Xiaohan frankly said: “You said yourself, whatever I want, you’ll give me. I want to kiss you.”
The accompanying soldiers were craning their necks, eager to turn their ears into rabbit ears. If he were to kiss him now, Fu Shen’s dignity would be completely lost. He coughed dryly, his momentum involuntarily dropping: “Let’s owe it for now, don’t be too presumptuous just because you’re favored.”
Yan Xiaohan’s eyes curved in a smile, in an instant, it was as if all the spring light of heaven and earth was contained in this smile, even Fu Shen’s heart, hard as iron, trembled slightly: “You… never mind, how many people are on the other side? Who’s leading the troops?”
“I brought a dozen people to scout ahead, the main army is behind,” Yan Xiaohan unhesitatingly spilled all his secrets: “General Zhao Xi Cheng is leading the troops.”
“General Zhao, that’s easy,” Fu Shen suddenly remembered something, “Hmm? How did you come along?”
Yan Xiaohan touched his nose, embarrassed: “I’m not skilled in military affairs, this time I shamelessly begged the Emperor to get a supervisor position.”
Fu Shen laughed very ungraciously: “What must come will come, just accept it.”
Yan Xiaohan looked at him helplessly yet indulgently. Fu Shen waved a soldier over, handing him his waist token: “Go to the other side, give this to General Zhao, tell him the Northern Yan cavalry is stationed in Tang Li Town, I’ve detained the supervisor for him, let him enjoy a few peaceful days.”
Yan Xiaohan: “Jing Yuan…”
“Yes, I hear you,” Fu Shen openly held his hand, turning to the dumbfounded soldier: “Welcome General Zhao to visit, let’s discuss how to take Chang’an City.”
