Chapter 73 Romantic Encounters in the Car

Northwest, Yumen Pass.

The series of battles came to an end, all lost territory was recovered, and the border was temporarily at peace.

Lou Jin and Ye Xunjin were discussing the subsequent defense arrangements when a fast horse arrived at the military camp with the emperor's edict.

The imperial edict clearly stated: the Rong tribes have retreated and the lost territory has been recovered. King Jin and King Yan are hereby ordered to immediately lead the main force of the army back to the capital in triumph, and their merits will be rewarded.

General Ye Xunjin will remain in the Northwest to command the border troops, cooperate with local officials to pacify the people, allow them to recuperate, and strengthen the border defenses.

This imperial edict was exactly what Lou Jin wanted.

He needed a legitimate reason to lead his troops back to the capital in order to deal with any possible changes in the city.

Leaving the highly decorated Ye Xunjin in the Northwest was both a necessity for stabilizing the border region and a way for the emperor to appease and trust the Ye family.

"Your subject/Your subject receives the decree!" Lou Jin, Lou Yan, and Ye Xunjin received the decree together.

After seeing off the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree, Ye Xunjin looked at Lou Jin and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, the situation in the capital is complicated. You and Prince Yan must be careful on this trip." He already knew some of the inside story and was filled with worry.

Lou Jin nodded: "Don't worry, I'll leave the Northwest to you. I'll handle things in the capital."

He glanced at Ye Xunyang beside him, "Xunyang, come back with me."

Ye Xunjin patted her younger brother on the shoulder, everything was understood without words.

Two days later, outside Yumen Pass, banners fluttered as the triumphant army set off to return to the capital.

Lou Jin rode in the same carriage with Lou Yan, who was still recovering from his injuries, and Yu Beichen naturally accompanied them.

Ye Xunyang, dressed in light armor, rode a horse to guard the carriage.

The army set off, raising clouds of dust.

Ye Xunjin stood atop the gate wall, watching the procession depart until the winding dragon disappeared at the horizon, silently offering his blessings.

The triumphant army marched in a long procession, its banners obscuring the sun, stretching for miles.

The carriage carrying Lou Jin and Lou Yan was located in the heart of the army, and was guarded by elite guards led by Ye Xunyang.

As you leave the bitterly cold northwest and head southeast, the spring becomes increasingly vibrant.

However, this seemingly peaceful journey home was permeated with an invisible tension at all times.

The carriage was spacious inside, with thick cushions. Lou Yan leaned against the innermost soft pillow, his face still pale, but his spirits were still good.

Yu Beichen sat a little further away from him, his eyes lowered as he mixed the medicinal powder in his hands, as if everything in the outside world was irrelevant to him.

Ye Xunyang was originally on horseback guarding him, but Lou Jin called him into the carriage under the pretext of discussing matters.

The car curtains fell, shutting out the noise from the outside world.

Ye Xunyang took off his helmet, his forehead still covered in fine beads of sweat. As soon as he sat down on the carriage shaft, Lou Jin handed him a clean, plain handkerchief.

"Wipe your sweat." Lou Jin's voice was deep, with a barely perceptible gentleness.

Ye Xunyang was slightly taken aback. He took the handkerchief; it was soft to the touch and carried the unique, refreshing medicinal scent of Lou Jin. His ears burned slightly, and he said in a low voice, "Thank you, Your Highness."

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, but his gaze unconsciously drifted toward Lou Jin.

The other person was looking down at the military treatise in his hand, his profile appearing exceptionally clear and handsome amidst the swaying car.

Ye Xunyang's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason. He hurriedly looked away, but his gaze was drawn to the bandage on Lou Jin's sleeve.

"Does Your Highness's injury... still hurt?" he couldn't help but ask softly, his tone full of concern.

Lou Jin paused in his flipping through the book and looked up at him.

Their eyes met, and the air inside the carriage seemed to thicken.

He put down his book and extended his hand to Ye Xunyang: "Come here."

Ye Xunyang's heart pounded like a drum, and he moved to his side as instructed.

Lou Jin naturally took the hand that had been holding the reins, his fingertips gently caressing Lou Jin's cool skin.

"It's alright now." Lou Jin replied, seemingly unrelated to the question, his gaze falling on the two people's clasped hands. His tone was calm, yet carried an indescribable intimacy.

"But you, with your hands worn red from traveling for days on end."

"It's not that precious. I'm tough and won't hurt." He tried to pull his hand away, but Lou Jin held it even tighter.

"Don't move." Lou Jin's voice carried an unyielding tone. With his other hand, he took out a small white jade porcelain box from somewhere, opened the lid, and inside was a crystal clear ointment.

"Mr. Yu prescribed it; it promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis."

He took a small amount of ointment and carefully applied it to Ye Xunyang's slightly reddened knuckles and palms.

Ye Xunyang stood stiffly, after all, Yu Beichen and Lou Jin were still in the car. He lowered his head, not daring to look at Lou Jin.

"Your Highness... I can do it myself..." he said softly.

Lou Jin glanced at him, a hint of amusement flickering in the depths of his eyes: "What? Have I not served you well?"

"No!" Ye Xunyang hurriedly denied, his face turning even redder, "It's just... against the rules..."

"Rules?" Lou Jin snorted softly. "In my eyes, you are the rule."

After applying the medicine, he didn't immediately let go of his hand. Instead, while still shaking hands, he slowly drew circles on the thin callus between the thumb and index finger with his thumb, lingering with a hint of ambiguity.

Ye Xunyang shuddered, as if a tiny electric current surged through his body from their skin touching. He looked up and met Lou Jin's deep eyes, where his own flustered and shy appearance was clearly reflected.

The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the sounds of intertwined breaths and increasingly loud heartbeats.

Although the conversation was conducted in low voices, it could be clearly heard in the relatively quiet carriage.

Lou Yan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.

He looked at his usually cold and taciturn third brother, who was now holding the hand of the Ye family's young man, his tone carrying a gentle teasing tone he had never heard before.

Ye Xunyang blushed, looking secretly pleased.

Lou Yan was slightly taken aback at first, then understood. The corners of his resolute lips curved upwards almost imperceptibly before he closed his eyes again, as if he had seen or heard nothing.

But the slightly relaxed shoulder line revealed a hint of relief.

Yu Beichen, sitting on the other side, never looked up from beginning to end.

He didn't pause for a moment while mixing the medicine powder, as if he was completely immersed in his own world.

However, if someone looked closely, they would notice that his fingertips holding the medicine spoon tightened slightly, and his earlobes turned a very faint pink.

He couldn't help but recall certain feelings that he had deliberately suppressed in his heart.

He could only focus more on the medicinal herbs in his hands, trying to ignore the unsettling atmosphere around him.

Just then, the voice of Ye Xunyang's personal guard captain requesting instructions came from outside the carriage, breaking the romantic atmosphere inside.

Ye Xunyang abruptly pulled his hand back, quickly stood up, and awkwardly lifted the car curtain to climb out, his ears turning bright red.

Lou Jin watched his hasty retreating figure, a faint yet genuine smile curving his lips. He gently rubbed his fingertips, which had just applied the ointment, as if still savoring the delicate touch.

A brief silence returned to the carriage.

Lou Jin calmly straightened his sleeves, as if nothing had just happened.

Lou Yan closed his eyes, but spoke softly, his voice still weak from his injuries, yet teasing: "You've made rapid progress."

Lou Jin remained expressionless, picked up the warm ginseng tea beside him, and took a sip: "Your Majesty should focus on recovering from your injuries."

His tone was calm, yet he tacitly accepted Lou Yan's teasing.

Yu Beichen finally finished preparing the medicine and poured the powder into a small porcelain bottle, making a crisp clinking sound.

He stood up, walked expressionlessly to Lou Yan's side, and said in his usual cold tone, "Your Highness, it's time to change the dressing."

He skillfully untied Lou Yan's clothes, his movements professional and efficient, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Lou Yan.

Lou Yan obediently raised her arm, but her gaze fell on Yu Beichen's lowered eyelashes, her expression complex.

Lou Jin watched from the side, taking in the emperor's gaze and Yu Beichen's deliberate aloofness. He understood, but said nothing.

Everyone has their own path to walk and their own emotional challenges to overcome.

Just then, the situation outside the carriage suddenly changed, and the ambush in Falling Eagle Gorge suddenly erupted! Crossbow bolts pierced the air, and shouts of battle shook the heavens!