It was a sunny and warm day.
The morning light shines through the high courtyard wall onto the bluestone ground. It is so quiet that one almost forgets that this is a border crossing where war is about to break out.
Yuan Xuan and Yuan Nan'an went to the military camp early in the morning. Yuan Heng and Yuan Musheng had been busy for several days and had not been seen for several days.
The mansion seemed deserted, with only Huo Yan and Yuan Zhao remaining in the inner courtyard, plus Yuan Qi Yu who stayed in bed until the afternoon.
"Ah——" Yuan Qiyu yawned and walked out of the room. With his messy hair, he walked towards the main courtyard in a daze.
When he opened the door, he saw Huo Yan combing his mother's hair.
"Daddy...Mom..." Yuan Qiyu's voice still had the laziness of having just woken up.
Huo Yan's hands kept moving, and seeing this, Yuan Qiyu lay on Yuan Zhao's legs and acted coquettishly.
Yuan Zhao touched his head and ordered the servant to bring in water.
When she was about to stand up, Huo Yan held her shoulder with one hand and said with concern,
"You haven't slept well these past few days. Rest for a while. I'll do it."
Without him saying anything, Yuan Qiyu understood what he meant with just one look. He got up from Yuan Zhao and hugged Huo Yan's thigh instead.
Huo Yan took the handkerchief skillfully, pressed his face directly to the edge of the basin, and began to wipe his face with quick and decisive movements.
"What time have you been sleeping? Why are you still not awake?" Huo Yan's voice was low, but it revealed a sense of helplessness and doting.
Yuan Qiyu sniffed and muttered softly,
"Brother Xuan came back very late last night, that's why I slept late..."
After wiping his face, he buried his head in Huo Yan's neck.
These days, his father spends time with him whenever he has time, and he is really happy.
At this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the yard.
"General!" Mo Yu trotted into the yard, holding a letter in his hand and a solemn look on his face.
"What's going on?" Huo Yan put down his handkerchief and stood up.
Mo Yu took a deep breath and stabilized his respiratory tract.
"Urgent news from the capital!"
Huo Yan took the letter handed to him by Mo Yu, quickly tore open the envelope, and quickly scanned the letter paper. His originally calm expression instantly became cold.
His fingertips tightened slightly, leaving several creases on the letter paper.
Yuan Zhao noticed his change at a glance, and couldn't help but put down the comb in his hand and asked,
"What's wrong?"
Huo Yan did not answer immediately, but pursed his lips, put the letter on the table, and looked at Mo Yu beside him.
"Take the little prince to play in the yard."
Yuan Qiyu was staring at the letter in his hand curiously. He was startled when he heard the words, and his eyebrows slightly frowned. He knew in his heart that it must be the adults' business, so he stood up obediently.
"Then Daddy, you guys take your time, I'm going out first."
He ran to the door, Mo Yu followed behind him, and closed the door considerately when he went out.
The room returned to silence. Yuan Zhao looked at Huo Yan's expression and felt a little uneasy.
She was too familiar with Huo Yan's expression. He would only look so heavy when he encountered extremely difficult things.
She stood up and walked in front of him, her voice slightly tense.
"What's wrong? Is there something wrong in the capital?"
Huo Yan looked at her with a complicated expression, and after a moment he spoke in a deep voice,
"Zhao Zhao, Your Majesty... has suddenly fallen seriously ill."
This short sentence was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake.
Yuan Zhao was stunned and could hardly believe his ears.
"What?"
Huo Yan handed the letter to her, his voice low,
"This is a secret letter from your brother. It contains the Imperial Hospital's diagnosis and the movements of the ministers in the capital. His Majesty has suddenly fallen ill and is in a coma..."
Yuan Zhao took the letter with trembling hands and quickly scanned the contents. The more he read, the paler his face became.
"How is this possible...wasn't Father still fine when we left the capital..."
She read the diagnosis from the Imperial Hospital over and over again. It only said that the emperor was in a coma, but the specific cause had not yet been found.
Yuan Zhao took a deep breath and thought of what Zhizhi had said before: In his previous life, his father had been bewitched by a witchcraft...
Could it be that he couldn't escape this time?
But the Bai family is all dead, who could have done it?
She told Huo Yan about this guess. Huo Yan thought for a moment, then supported her shoulders.
"I wrote to tell your brother, don't worry. At least the doctors said that His Majesty is only in a coma and his life is not in danger."
Yuan Zhao suppressed the shock and panic in his heart and nodded.
"What about the government? And the current situation on the border?..."
She didn't finish her words, but Huo Yan understood what she meant. He lowered his eyes and said,
"His Majesty is seriously ill. Your brother is the Crown Prince, so he must be in charge of government now."
Yuan Zhao clenched his hands unconsciously as he thought about the current situation.
My father is seriously ill, so there will inevitably be chaos in the court, and it is inevitable that someone will take advantage of the chaos.
It will definitely not be easy for Yuan Cheng to be alone in the capital.
"Royal brother..."
Worry flashed in her eyes, and Huo Yan took her into his arms, "It's okay, don't be afraid, believe in your royal brother's ability."
Yuan Zhao closed his eyes and sorted out his thoughts.
First, there was a coup in Northern Qiang, Zhizhi's whereabouts were unknown, and war was about to break out.
Now the capital is in chaos again...
It can be said that there are internal and external troubles.
She raised her head and looked at Huo Yan, her voice trembling slightly: "Then you..."
She knew that under such circumstances, Huo Yan would never be able to continue staying in Liangzhou City as an idler.
Huo Yan's Adam's apple rolled slightly, he lowered his head, held her face with both hands, and gently stroked the delicate skin behind her ears with his fingertips, his movements gentle and restrained.
Yuan Zhao looked at him, with complicated emotions surging in his heart.
These days, she has almost gotten used to the two of them being together day and night.
Sometimes I even feel as if the two of us have never been apart from our youth until now.
They were like an ordinary couple, temporarily breaking away from their identities as princess and general in Liangzhou City.
Huo Yan leaned over and gently kissed her lips with a deep lingering feeling.
His eyebrows were gentle, but his eyes were full of reluctance and tenderness.
"Zhao Zhao..." He called her name softly, the voice seemed to flow from the bottom of his heart.
He let her go and stroked her hair.
"Changes in the capital are bound to affect the situation in Northern Qiang. Duoming is definitely not the only one who is risking everything."
Yuan Zhao's hand subconsciously grabbed his sleeve, his voice trembling slightly.
"So... where are you going?"
Huo Yan did not avoid her gaze and whispered, "Yesterday, I received news that General Huo Pingchang will lead his troops to attack Yucheng and Longcheng."
Yuan Zhao's pupils shrank, and he stared at him closely, his heart seemed to be grabbed.
"and you……"
Huo Yan reached out and held her hand, his voice low and steady: "The defense of Yucheng and Longcheng is crucial. I can't just sit back and watch."
"Huo Pingchang and I have a deep blood feud. This time I will definitely end it with him."
A trace of determination appeared in his eyes, and he said softly,
"Zhao Zhao, I should go now."
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