The emperor shook his head.
That's too deliberate!
Both Ye Jingchen's words and his impassioned manner seemed deliberate.
But his carefully groomed successor, his most beloved child, was clearly more important than the often overlooked 200,000 border guards.
Going to the northern frontier is inherently risky, and seizing control of the Divine Might Army from Xie Shaoling and his son will not be easy. The emperor doesn't mind giving Ye Jingchen some more leverage.
Therefore, the day before Ye Jingchen left, the emperor gave Ye Jingchen half of the tiger tally that could mobilize the border troops.
"This is for your survival. You must keep it safe and don't let the Xie family find out!" the emperor instructed.
A father worries when his son travels a thousand miles. That night, the emperor kept Ye Jingchen alone and gave him many instructions.
Ye Jinghe waited outside Chengqian Palace, watching the time pass by, but his brother still hadn't come out. He wished he could rush in and rescue his brother.
In fact, he did try to go in, but Zhang Shunde persuaded him to stay, saying that it would put His Highness the Crown Prince in a difficult position.
When Ye Jingchen finally came out, Ye Jinghe pulled him away without even glancing at the emperor.
The emperor watched Ye Jinghe's departing figure and sneered.
"Brother, you're leaving tomorrow. I'm so sad to see you go. Can I sleep with you tonight?" Ye Jinghe said sweetly, hugging Ye Jingchen's arm.
He wanted to cherish every moment before his brother left!
“I’m also reluctant to part with you, but I have to travel tomorrow, so I need to rest well today and conserve my energy. You don’t want me to fall asleep on horseback tomorrow, do you?” Ye Jingchen asked, stroking Ye Jinghe’s head.
That's all he can do now, just a few more times. Once he comes back from northern Xinjiang and the child is all grown up, he won't be able to touch him anymore.
However, if Ye Jingming proves himself, he might already have some kids to take care of by then.
Just thinking about the newborn, sweet and soft little baby is enough to melt his heart.
Ye Jingchen stroked Ye Jinghe's head, but his thoughts had already wandered far away.
Ye Jinghe had no idea that while his good brother was stroking his head, he was thinking about other little brats.
"Then—brother, while you sleep, shall I watch over you?" he asked reluctantly.
not good!
If Ye Jinghe were to stay by his bedside, Ye Jinghe probably wouldn't close his eyes tonight.
Children are growing rapidly, and staying up late can negatively impact their height!
"It's only been two years since we last met, I'll be back soon!" Ye Jingchen politely declined.
"After two years apart, will my brother have forgotten me?"
Although his brother had not yet left, Ye Jinghe had already begun to feel sad.
"No! You are my favorite younger brother, how could I forget you? I will miss you, and you should miss me too! When you miss me, write to me more often!" Ye Jingchen said.
"If I write to my brother every day, will he find me annoying?" Ye Jinghe asked cautiously.
"I'm overjoyed, how could I possibly find you annoying? It's settled then, you write me a letter every day, telling me about the latest happenings in the capital, and I'll write back to you when I'm not busy!" Ye Jingchen said quickly.
Other kids might not be able to keep writing to him every day, but he believed Ye Jinghe could definitely do it.
He's the best behaved!
"Your Highness, it's inconvenient to travel. Are you really not taking us with you?" After finally persuading Ye Jinghe to go to sleep back at the East Palace, she had to face the worried Fangfei and the others.
"There can be no women in the military camp. Even if I am the crown prince, I cannot openly violate the rules of the military camp, so I really cannot take you with me!" Ye Jingchen refused decisively.
"Then how will you dress and wash every day? Who will serve you meals? Who will wash your clothes, make your bed, and provide you with blankets—"
"Stop!" Ye Jingchen said hastily, feeling a headache coming on.
"Look what this is!" He held out his hands to Fangfei and the others.
“But your hands are so precious, how can you do such rough work? Besides, you don’t know how to do it!” Fangfei understood what he meant, but her worries did not diminish.
"I can! Really, I can! Even if I can't, I can learn. I'm so smart, what can't I learn? Trust me, I can take care of myself! Besides, the Princess needs you more than I do!"
"Follow the Princess's instructions carefully. The work she assigns you is far more meaningful than being palace maids in the Eastern Palace!"
After sending Fangfei and the others away, Lin Xun came again.
"It's one thing that His Highness didn't take me with him when he went to suppress the bandits last time, but why didn't he take me with him this time when he went to the Northern Frontier? I am the commander of the Eastern Palace Guard, and it is only right that I should be by His Highness's side. The Duke and the Heir Apparent also think so!"
Lin Xun was also dissatisfied with Ye Jingchen's arrangements and even dragged in the Duke of Anguo and his heir.
“I need you to stay in the capital to look after my friends and my businesses. These are my foundation and very important to me. Wei Yi and the others are not of high enough status to handle many things, so I can only ask you for help.”
"Bringing half of the Eastern Palace Guards is enough. If there is real danger on the battlefield, it would be meaningless to bring all of the Eastern Palace Guards."
"My maternal grandfather and uncle will understand me! All my decisions are based on ensuring my own safety!"
After Lin Xun left, Ye Jingchen met with the chief eunuch and head maid of the Eastern Palace to arrange things after his departure.
That night, Ye Jingchen met with wave after wave of people.
After everyone had finished meeting, he still had to personally pack up some things. These included the hidden weapons that Chenxi had given him over the years, as well as the crossbows, daggers, and other lethal weapons he had received for his birthday. He had always kept these himself and had never let Fangfei or the others touch them.
These are all things that can save your life after you go to the Northern Frontier. Even on the battlefield, some things can be surprisingly effective, so Ye Jingchen plans to bring them all.
The next day, before dawn, he was woken up by Fangfei and the others.
He wanted to dress and wash himself, but the girls of the Fang generation wouldn't allow it and insisted that they do it for him.
Their eyes were either red-rimmed or had dark circles under their eyes, which made Ye Jingchen feel a little sad.
Ye Jinghe was still standing to the side, looking at him longingly, like an abandoned puppy, which made Ye Jingchen feel heartbroken.
After having breakfast, Ye Jingyan came to find him with her entourage.
They would leave the imperial city together and travel to the border of Yongzhou before parting ways.
Ye Jingchen personally led Bai Ling out of the stables, and several eunuchs helped him carry the bundles he had packed. Under the escort of half of the Eastern Palace Guards, they left the palace in a grand procession to meet up with Xie Chang'an.
After leaving the city, Ye Jingchen saw the emperor dressed in casual clothes, along with his brothers and sisters (excluding Ye Jinghe), Gu Beichen, and Yun Shu.
Yesterday, his father specifically told him that he didn't need to go to Chengqian Palace to say goodbye in the morning. He thought his father didn't like farewell scenes, but he didn't expect that he would be waiting for him here.
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