After Lu Xuan finished speaking, Liu Tan's face, which had remained calm even when facing the Xiongnu King, suddenly heated up. His heart skipped a beat, and he looked away in panic, stuttering a little: "How...how...how do we talk?"

Lu Xuan saw that he couldn't help but shrink back. He seemed to be a different person from the one who rode on the battlefield without any fear and even dared to shoot a bow at the Huns.

For a moment, Lu Xuan even wondered if he looked so fierce that he scared people like this.

So he spoke more softly: "You can talk however you want, but we have to reach a conclusion."

I had always thought that this was just my wishful thinking, so I would be happy as long as I could be closer to Liu Tan, and I didn't dare to ask for too much.

But since the last meeting before the New Year, he keenly noticed the softening of Liu Tan's attitude.

You know, after Liu Tan rejected him, he not only became more polite in his words and deeds, but also kept his distance from him.

Although he was forced last time, Liu Tan accepted the fact of sleeping next to him well, and this time he was even willing to hold hands with him in public.

This was a signal. Lu Xuan had always been good at seizing opportunities. Otherwise, given his age and the current situation of the Wusun children, it would have been impossible for him to wander around the Xiongnu territory and escape unscathed.

So he immediately proposed to have a talk. If it went well, maybe he could get what he wanted. If it didn't go well, then... he would keep trying.

After hearing the first half of his sentence, Liu Tan wanted to say that there was nothing to talk about, but after hearing the second half, he was immediately blocked and could only look at Lu Xuan with great resentment.

Everything must come to an end, and you still say that any negotiation is acceptable.

Lu Xuan was so aroused by his glance that she almost lost control of herself. She pinched her palms hard to make herself look like she was talking about business instead of being blinded by beauty.

Seeing that he was still silent, Lu Xuan said, "If you can't figure it out, then let me do it."

Liu Tan tightened his grip and bit his lip. He knew that at this moment he should control the rhythm of the conversation so as to achieve his goal.

But the problem is that he doesn't know what his purpose is!

Forget it, since Lu Xuan said he wanted to talk about the Han Dynasty and Wusun, then let’s talk about it. This issue is indeed the biggest problem between them.

Just as Liu Tan was thinking this, he heard Lu Xuan speak directly: "Then let's talk about us first."

Liu Tan almost choked on his own saliva. He glared at Lu Xuan. Why didn't this guy follow the rules?

Lu Xuan smiled and said, "Solve this problem first, and the other problems can be solved."

Liu Tan's heart moved, and then he heard Lu Xuan say, "Liu Tan."

Liu Tan was startled. He had never heard Lu Xuan call him by his full name like this. When he looked up, he saw that Lu Xuan had a very serious expression, but there was a burning attachment in his eyes.

Lu Xuan said softly, "Liu Tan, I like you. To use the words of you Han people, I am attracted to you."

Liu Tan's face flushed, from his waist to his neck. He lowered his head and covered it up by drinking water before whispering, "This...you...you've already said it."

"What I said before doesn't count." Lu Xuan said sincerely, "Back then, I was young and impulsive. I thought I should express my feelings when I liked someone, but I never thought about what to do after I liked someone. But now... I dare to say it out loud, which means I am able to take the responsibility involved. So I hope you can consider it carefully."

Liu Tan went along with it and said, "Then... I'll think about it for two days."

Lu Xuan was almost amused by his anger: "I thought you understood that running away wouldn't solve the problem."

Liu Tan said smoothly: "Escape is shameful but useful."

Lu Xuan: ???

Seeing that Lu Xuan kept silent with his eyes downcast, Liu Tan's originally straight back bent slightly, and for a moment he felt like he was being bullied.

The girl came to him to confess her love, not to perform crosstalk, so it seemed a bit excessive of him.

Liu Tan took a deep breath, feeling that dragging it on like this wasn't a solution. He could speak frankly with Huo Guang, so why was he so cowardly when facing Lu Xuan?

Thinking of this, Liu Tan suddenly slammed the table, startling Lu Xuan across from him. Looking up, he saw Liu Tan looking at him with clear eyes. "If you want to talk, then we can talk, but I won't hold back."

Lu Xuan instantly emerged from his frustration and loneliness, and said in a deep voice, "You speak, I listen."

Liu Tan placed the water cup on the table and said, "There are too many ties between you and me. You said you understand this matter, so I won't say much. You said before that you wanted to discuss the Han and Wusun, and the future. To put it bluntly, our relationship is inseparable from the relationship between the Han and Wusun. I... I can't give up everything, and neither can you."

Liu Tan's heart was beating fast. This was the first time he had directly expressed his concerns to Lu Xuan, and it was also the first time he had let Lu Xuan know his distrust.

I like him but I don't trust him at the same time. I wonder if Lu Xuan will feel sad?

However, Lu Xuan unexpectedly sighed and said, "I knew it. Never mind. Since that's the case, let's talk about the Han and Wusun first."

Liu Tan said subconsciously: "I can't make the decision on this..."

Lu Xuan said decisively: "You can."

Liu Tan looked up at him, and Lu Xuan said firmly, "You can."

I can give in for you.

Lu Xuan didn't say this out loud, but Liu Tan seemed to understand.

Lu Xuan continued, "The Western Region is too small."

Liu Tan was stunned for a moment, unable to keep up with Lu Xuan's rhythm.

Then he heard Lu Xuan say, "I think the vast grasslands north of Shuofang City are quite nice."

The vast grasslands north of Shuofang City? That's the Xiongnu's territory!

Liu Tan suddenly understood something and looked at Lu Xuan. Lu Xuan stared at him closely and said, "My target this time is Madam Fan City."

Liu Tan was shocked and at the same time thought, "As expected."

Lu Xuan led his men to wander around the Xiongnu territory not simply for revenge, but more for other military purposes. The fact that he was able to rush to Shuofang City quickly also showed that he originally wanted to go to Lady Fan City.

However… after hearing that Lu Xuan's target was Madam Fan City, he couldn't help but whisper, "Madam Fan City is mine."

Lu Xuan laughed: "Then I'll give it to you."

Liu Tan had always been arrogant because of his favor. He treated Liu Che and Liu Ju the same way, and he treated Lu Xuan the same way. Seeing Lu Xuan's happy agreement, he even dared to say loudly: "Langjuxu Mountain and the vast sea are mine too!"

Lu Xuan had no bottom line: "Then I'll beat it down and give it to you."

Although it was not very appropriate, he inexplicably thought of a sentence: I will give you my country to please you.

His face, which had just cooled down a little, couldn't help but heat up again. He turned his head and said, "I... I can beat it myself. Just take care of yourself."

Lu Xuan sighed: "If you continue like this, I can only set my sights on the Xiongnu royal court."

Liu Tan: Does Wu Shilu know that you are so arrogant?

Lu Xuan looked at his speechless expression and smiled, "It would be better if I went to rob the Xiongnu, right?"

The Western Regions were barren, and if they wanted to develop and get more resources, they naturally had to plunder, either from the Central Plains or from the Huns.

Liu Tan sighed: "And then what? The Wusun replaced the Xiongnu?"

Lu Xuan was puzzled: "Then this area is not the territory of the Han people?"

Liu Tan was stunned for a moment: "The Han Dynasty's territory?"

Lu Xuan said as if it was a matter of course: "Am I not the Wusun King of the Han Dynasty?"

Liu Tan looked at Lu Xuan and for a moment he couldn't figure out whether he was joking or not. He pondered for a long time, and finally gave up. After all, they were already going to have a frank talk, so he might as well be direct.

So he asked directly: "Can you bear it?"

Lu Xuan's heart skipped a beat: "What should I endure?"

"Tolerating having someone else control everything you do, tolerating the possibility that your actions could at any moment become a weapon for other officials to attack you, tolerating...being forever inferior to others?"

Liu Tan leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp, and asked with full pressure: "Can you bear it?"