Yao Ruyi is the only mushroom spirit in this area. He vaguely remembers that not long ago, a group of people came to his mountain. One particularly handsome man passed by him and a drop of blood fe...
Chapter 86 Ceasefire Agreement: Yao Ruyi likes him, she likes him no matter what, Gu Huizhou thought.
A wave of elation swept through the soldiers of Dayun, and the battlefield, covered in yellow sand, could finally return to peace.
With bloodshot eyes, Han Jiqing rushed into the tent and ordered his men to restrain the foreign envoys. He shouted hoarsely, "Where is the Princess?! Speak!"
"The Eldest Princess?"
One of the ministers had accompanied Xiao Xiaoyuan to the Yun Kingdom for a marriage alliance. He secretly raised his eyes and saw Han Jiqing, immediately realizing, "This! This is their princess's husband!"
Upon seeing this, the foreign envoy immediately begged for mercy, "Your Highness! Your Highness! We are all servants of the Princess, please save our lives!"
"Tell me! Where is she?!"
The longsword was drawn, terrifying the civil officials half to death. "Speak! We'll speak!"
One of the foreign envoys turned pale. "The Princess has been taken to the palace by His Majesty and has been treated to the best food and drink ever since. Why is the Prince Consort so angry?"
They're fed and cared for so well?
Han Jiqing squinted. He knew Xiao Xiaoyuan's influence in Xiao Kingdom, but how could Xiao Xiaoyuan be unharmed when Xiao Zhuyue had caused such damage to the front lines of Xiao Kingdom!
"I'm giving you one last chance. If you don't speak now, you don't need to say anything at all."
"Whoosh—"
With a swift movement, Han Jiqing's longsword pierced the wooden chair. The blade gleamed coldly, sending chills down the spines of the officials. Several civil officials were immediately stunned. "Speak! I'll talk!"
The sky darkened and then brightened again.
In just one night, the Xiao Kingdom's military camp was razed to the ground, Crown Prince Xiao Zhuyue was captured, and several envoys were detained. Gu Huizhou paid no attention to the aftermath. From the moment he saw Yao Ruyi again, he had no time to think about anything else.
"Bite me if it hurts." Gu Huizhou held out his hand to Yao Ruyi's mouth, but Yao Ruyi shook her head. "It won't hurt."
How could it not hurt? Gu Huizhou remained silent, lowering his eyes as he carefully applied medicine to him. The throbbing wound felt like a thorn in the man's heart; every tremor of Yao Ruyi caused Gu Huizhou excruciating pain in his chest.
The application of the medicine was quick and gentle, and Yao Ruyi was even a little drowsy. He opened his eyes groggily and asked, "Finished?"
"Um."
"Then come up and sleep." He had just drunk the medicine prepared by the military doctor and couldn't eat anything, but Gu Huizhou hadn't eaten much either. Thinking that he hadn't rested for a long time, Yao Ruyi quickly pulled him to sleep together.
"You can go to sleep."
Yao Ruyi paused, yawned, and a tear rolled down his cheek. Before he could even raise his hand, Gu Huizhou wiped it away. Mushroom asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, what else do you want to do?"
"I will watch you sleep right here."
"I'm not going to run away." Several days had passed since the war ended, and news of the victory was sent back to the capital by fast horse. Xu Yi probably wished he could come to Guyue City in person to bring the emperor back, but Gu Huizhou just wouldn't budge.
"Let's return to the capital tomorrow; Lord Xu must be getting anxious."
"Xu Yi?" Gu Huizhou asked impatiently. "What's his hurry?"
Now that the war is over, the old emperor of Xiao Kingdom has sent word for peace talks. Li Wenjing and Lan Yan have already set off for Guyue. Once the peace talks are over, this short but intense war between the two countries will be completely over.
"Of course he's eager for you to return to the capital. He was forced to act as emperor for a year when he was just a vice minister, and he looks more than ten years older."
As they talked, Yao Ruyi became more awake. He lay on the bed, not daring to move, and chatted with Gu Huizhou. They took turns saying a few words, and neither of them found it annoying.
"Hmm?" Gu Huizhou frowned, then suddenly smiled. This was the first time Yao Ruyi had seen him smile in the past few days, and Mushroom was overjoyed.
"And what about me?"
Yao Ruyi was taken aback, at a loss for words when Gu Huizhou asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"Am I getting old?"
"Your Majesty has been emperor for so long, yet you remain handsome and beautiful; you will certainly never grow old."
"Beautiful," Gu Huizhou smiled handsomely. He was much thinner than a year ago, with a sharp and angular jawline, but Yao Ruyi still preferred his previous appearance. Looking at Gu Huizhou now, she felt uneasy.
The emperor of Dayun, the holy ruler of the people, couldn't even afford a meal.
"I am so handsome, does the Immortal Lord like me?"
Yao Ruyi smiled sweetly, and he said from the bottom of his heart, "I like it."
"If you like it, then I've served you with my looks."
"Pfft." Yao Ruyi couldn't help but laugh. He had never known he would like a beautiful person so much. "Your Majesty is handsome. I like you."
"I love you too." Gu Huizhou held Yao Ruyi's hand as if it were a precious treasure. He gently leaned down and softly licked the corner of Yao Ruyi's mouth.
These past few days, whenever he closes his eyes, he can recall the way he first saw him: his Ruyi scepter standing alone in the middle of a sea of blood. If he had been even a step later…
Will he never see him again?
A tear rolled down the corner of the man's eye. Gu Huizhou suddenly increased the force of his kiss, biting the person beneath him. But he didn't touch Yao Ruyi's body; he didn't dare, afraid that Yao Ruyi would be in pain.
"Hmm—"
"Gu...Gu Huizhou!"
"Yao Ruyi, I'm afraid." The man laughed self-deprecatingly. "You must stay by my side forever."
With her head spinning, Yao Ruyi subconsciously followed Gu Huizhou's lips, "Okay."
The man's eyes were dark. "Don't forget what the Immortal Lord said himself."
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. Li Wenjing and Lan Yan arrived in Guyue. Xiongqiao City, where Xiao Kingdom was originally stationed, was also taken over by Yun Kingdom. Officials would be appointed there, so there was no need to make too many plans now.
The two of them had just gotten off the carriage when they hurriedly headed to the commander's tent.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!" Li Wenjing exclaimed excitedly, unable to believe that a war had only lasted a year!
He had discussed the war with Xue Qingping, and they both thought it would take at least three years, but they never expected...
"Your Majesty is the reincarnation of a true dragon, the reincarnation of a true dragon!" Xue Qingping said before Li Wenjing set off.
Now, seeing the vast expanse of yellow sand beyond the Great Wall, Li Wenjing believed it.
Which emperor could personally lead an expedition for such a long time, and yet they won! They won!
The old man's eyes reddened with emotion, and his voice trembled as he knelt on the ground with a thud, "On behalf of the people of Yun, I thank Your Majesty!"
With reddened eyes, Lan Yan said, "Your Majesty, I thank you!"
Yao Ruyi was mostly recovered. He sat on a chair to the side and watched. Although it was a chair, the wooden chairs of today were not as comfortable as the chairs in the capital. Moreover, his injuries were still tender, so Yao Ruyi did not dare to lean on it. He gently placed his hand on it and watched this scene with a smile in his eyes.
He harbored a small, smug desire, a figure standing respectfully behind the two ministers, bowing earnestly to Gu Huizhou, his heart filled with pride.
Gu Huizhou nodded, "The peace talks will be left to my two ministers."
Li Wenjing's eyes flickered. What were they saying, Your Majesty? Their Emperor had personally led the expedition. If the two of them couldn't even handle a mere peace negotiation, how could they possibly have the face to return to see the Emperor?
The two men exchanged glances and shouted in unison, "Your Majesty, rest assured, your subjects will certainly live up to your expectations!"
Gu Huizhou waved his hand, and the two of them left.
Seeing the curtain fall, Yao Ruyi got up and walked towards Gu Huizhou, swaying slightly in front of him. Gu Huizhou reached out and said, "Come here, let me hold you."
Yao Ruyi shook his head, then, mimicking the actions of the two who had just knelt, said, "Your subject kowtows—"
Before she could finish speaking, Yao Ruyi was surprised to see Gu Huizhou stand up. The man frowned but smiled, and amusedly pulled her back to his chair. "Knock? I forbid you to knock."
"Yao Ruyi, you do not need to kowtow to me."
Mushroom smiled and said, "You'll have to kowtow when you go to court someday."
"Attending court?"
Gu Huizhou smiled faintly, "What does the Nineteenth Prince want to do? The Court of Judicial Review, the Imperial Academy, or a high-ranking official?"
"Anything is fine with me."
He doesn't care about any official position as long as it benefits the people.
"Well, then we'll wait until the adults have completed their scientific expedition before making a decision."
Yao Ruyi nodded. It was much more comfortable for him to be nestled in the man's arms than in the previous place. He couldn't help but move his body and find a comfortable position to take a nap.
"Tsk."
Yao Ruyi looked up. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing." Gu Huizhou said with a smile.
"Nothing?"
"When have I ever lied to you?"
"..."
"..." The emperor coughed lightly, unusually trying to justify himself, "I didn't lie to you."
Yao Ruyi seemed to understand but not quite. He leaned on Gu Huizhou's shoulder, closed his eyes, and soon fell asleep.
The wind howled outside the tent, but inside it was warm as spring, with a roaring fire so bright that one didn't even need to wear a thick outer robe.
Gu Huizhou gently touched Yao Ruyi's brow, his obsession intensifying. No one knew how much he wanted to hide this person in the room and never let him out again.
"Yao Ruyi, you belong only to me."
But he couldn't. This mushroom had lofty ambitions, and the emperor's love was intense to the extreme. He murmured, "My little nineteenth..."
Five days later.
As the year drew to a close, the city of Guyue was unusually calm, with sunny days that seemed almost too bright. The once blood-soaked battlefield was now filled with people, the two nations standing in opposition, just like the soldiers who had fought in the past.
The envoys from both countries stood at the front, exchanging friendly gestures with clasped hands.
A ceasefire agreement has already been signed. In exchange for losing three cities, the Xiao Kingdom has gifted the Yun Kingdom several thousand taels of silver and countless grains.
The red seal was stamped onto the cowhide with a "clang," marking the end of the war between the two countries in history.
A hundred meters from the front line, Gu Huizhou and his men sat in the dragon carriage. He squinted at the scene opposite him. The Xiao Kingdom envoys bowed and scraped to Li Wenjing and his companion, afraid that a disagreement would lead to another war.
It's not that Yun Kingdom can't fight now, it's Xiao Kingdom.
Yao Ruyi sighed, "It's been so long, and they haven't inquired about Xiao Zhuyue's whereabouts at all."
"They couldn't be happier."
Yao Ruyi was taken aback, and Gu Huizhou raised an eyebrow, "Watch."
Yao Ruyi looked over upon hearing this.
"Xiaoyuan!" Han Jiqing's eyes were red. The dignified general actually cried when he saw the woman he loved. His tears were blown away by the wind, and his smile was reassuring. "You're back."
Xiao Xiaoyuan looked exactly the same, but her face was pale and ashen. She walked step by step from behind the Xiao Kingdom's envoy toward Han Jiqing, "Ji—"
Before anyone could react, Xiao Xiaoyuan fainted.
"Medical officer! Medical officer!" Han Jiqing panicked, furious, his eyes flashing as he looked sharply at the Xiao Kingdom envoy. "What's going on!"
"General! General, please calm down! This has nothing to do with us!" The old minister quickly tried to distance himself from the matter. They were just messengers; if the princess's serious illness were to be linked to them, what would become of them!
“That’s right! It has nothing to do with us!” One of the officials’ faces flushed red and then turned pale. “If the general wants to settle accounts, go find Xiao Zhuyue! We know nothing about this.”
Han Jiqing ignored this completely, "Medical officer! Quickly bring me a medical officer!"
The military doctors were all packing their things in the city, and it would be a while before they arrived. Han Jiqing suddenly thought of Yao Ruyi, and he immediately turned his head to look at the dragon carriage.
"Your Majesty—"
"Don't worry, General." Just as he was feeling flustered, a woman stepped out of a carriage opposite him. She was slender and dressed in gorgeous clothes, with her breasts half-exposed, but no one dared to look at her.
Who would dare look? This is the favored imperial concubine in the Xiao Kingdom's palace these days!
Yao Ruyi's pupils constricted. "Li Yunyun!" She really wasn't dead!
Gu Huizhou nodded, "The provisions in the camp were brought by her."
Li Yunyun took two steps forward. She had hardly changed from two years ago, but her eyes and tone were very different. Every smile and frown exuded the majesty of an empress.
The woman smiled faintly, "General Han, rest assured, I have been thinking of Her Highness the Princess these past few months. No matter who Xiao Zhuyue doesn't give face to, she has to give me some respect. The Princess is feeling very upset, and it's no wonder she fainted from anger when she saw you, General."
"When the general and princess mend their relationship in the future, they will surely be loving and affectionate for a hundred years." Li Yunyun was supported by a group of maids, who were intentionally or unintentionally looking at her belly.
Han Jiqing's forehead veins bulged. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"General, you're too kind."
From afar, inside the imperial carriage, Yao Ruyi witnessed this scene and exclaimed, "Your Majesty, she is pregnant."
"That's why the old emperor ignored Xiao Zhuyue."
Yao Ruyi understood. "The eldest prince has returned to the capital, and the imperial concubine is pregnant. Xiao Zhuyue has also suffered three consecutive defeats. If I were the old emperor, I wouldn't want him either."
"Oh?" Gu Huizhou seemed to understand something. "If I am defeated, will the Nineteenth Prince still want me?"
"What nonsense are you spouting now?"
Yao Ruyi hummed and refused to speak. He leaned against the car window frame and looked into the distance. Although it was far away, he could still see clearly.
"Ruyi, I want to hear what you have to say."
He asked three or four times in a row. If anyone else had dared to ignore the emperor like this, they would have been dragged out and beheaded long ago. But this person was Yao Ruyi, and Gu Huizhou was enjoying it.
"I...I want it." Her ears turned red with embarrassment, and Yao Ruyi turned her head away, unwilling to look at the man who was smiling so seductively. He was doing it on purpose; he just wanted to hear her say that she liked him. "Whether I win or lose, I will love you."
The man smiled, savoring the words. "I understand."
Yao Ruyi likes him, and she likes him no matter what, Gu Huizhou thought.
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The main story is nearing its end. [Sprinkling flowers]