Chapter 122: He realized that he knew who King Jin was.
In order to prevent Xie Xuanlan from hooking up with Princess Jin, Zhao Mingchuan invites him to the training ground to wrestle every night.
Every day, Zhao Mingchuan felt sore all over and fell like a broken sandbag. He would fall asleep as soon as he got home.
He thought Xie Xuanlan was the same, but he didn't know that this man was just warming up. After taking a bath and burning incense, he changed into a set of elegant brocade clothes, and went to the Princess of Jin's place to sneak in and pick the lock with a refreshed spirit.
Day after day, you will get to know the taste.
Until one day Zhao Mingchuan caught him taking medicine.
Zhao Mingchuan knew this man wouldn't cry out in pain until he was physically hurt, so seeing him smiling brightly while still taking medicine, he knew something was amiss. He stole some of the medicine residue and asked the doctor about it. The doctor explained that the medicine contained Sophora flavescens and Tripterygium wilfordii, and that it was a contraceptive medicine for men. This immediately left Zhao Mingchuan furious.
Zhao Mingchuan ran to Xie Xuanlan in a rage and asked, "How dare you, you little brat, play tricks on me!"
Xie Xuanlan smiled lazily at him, "You said you were obsessed with martial arts, so I sacrificed my time with my beloved to be with you. Why do you seem so ungrateful?"
"I think you're the one who doesn't know what's good for you!" Zhao Mingchuan said angrily, "Are you planning to rebel just for a woman?"
Hearing this, Xie Xuanlan's smile faded. He said, "You're mistaken. It was precisely because of her that I didn't rebel."
Zhao Mingchuan snorted coldly: "What do you mean?"
Xie Xuanlan showed Zhao Mingchuan the letter from Prime Minister Xie, requesting assistance, and the actual imperial edict. Zhao Mingchuan's face paled after reading it. Although a warrior, he knew what the contents meant.
His voice wasn't as excited as before. After a long pause, he said, "The Emperor wants to harm you, and the Prime Minister needs you. If I were you, I'd probably have no choice but to lead my troops back to Yunjing before the imperial edict is exposed. Only then would I have a chance of survival."
He sighed again and said, "Although I am an old general under Commander Xuan, to be honest, Commander Xuan is only suitable for defending the city. If we are to advance, we still have to rely on you to lead the troops. The war with the Western Tartars is a critical time. How can internal strife hinder the great affairs of the country? The emperor is foolish on this trip!"
Xie Xuanlan smiled and said, "Brother Zhao, if you say so, it's a testament to our friendship. But as for the rebellion, let's forget it."
"how?"
"Princess Jin is the military supervisor. If I rebel, where will I put her?"
"It's all for a woman! If you don't rebel now, will you conquer the world for the King of Jin in the future?"
What a hopeless lover! Zhao Mingchuan was speechless.
Xie Xuanlan said, "Be respectful to the Imperial Envoy. If that day ever comes, your lives will depend on her protection."
In early February, Xuan Zhiyuan mobilized a large amount of food and military supplies back to Tiehuaer City, and fed the elite cavalry of Xizhou so that the soldiers were well fed and the horses were well fed.
Although Xuan Zhiyuan did not know the true content of the imperial edict, his existence was a threat to Xie Xuanlan after all. Cong Ying repeatedly reminded Xie Xuanlan in a subtle way that he should find a way to temporarily control Xuan Zhiyuan.
That night, she had been flipping through the Xizhou market registers until late at night. When Xie Xuanlan arrived, she was still lost in thought. Only after he was carried and held to the bed did she come to her senses and say to him, "Send Xuan Zhiyuan to Beidi to buy horses. He won't be able to take away your military power for at least three months."
Xie Xuanlan leaned over her neck and chuckled, "So that's what you were thinking about."
Cong Ying said, "I am talking to you seriously about serious matters."
"Hmm..." Xie Xuanlan lingered as he began to undress her. "Seriously, Military Supervisor, you're instigating a rebellion."
"I didn't say that."
"Then, do you dare to let the court know what you just said, dare to let the King of Jin know?"
"Prince Jin, he—woooo—"
His lips and tongue were bitten, and the remaining words were drowned by the surging red waves.
A low, hoarse voice chuckled softly in her ear, like a falling feather: "I told you not to mention him in bed, or I'll punish you."
It was clearly him who started it... Cong Ying was so angry that she kicked him.
Time and again, he lightly brushed aside the topic and avoided talking about it, as if he didn't realize that he was walking on a knife's edge and didn't care how to protect himself in the future.
Ying had a vague worry about his reaction, and this vague worry finally became a reality after a thrilling battle.
Xie Xuanlan had told her he was going to conduct a military exercise, but he had taken most of the elite cavalry with him and disappeared for six days. Six days later, he was carried back on a stretcher, with several wounds in his back, deep enough to reveal the bone. If he breathed too hard, the wounds would bleed, quickly soaking through the bandages.
He had a high fever but was still somewhat conscious. When he heard her sobbing and calling him, he slowly opened his eyelids.
"Five thousand versus thirty thousand, I won. If it had been another six months, the Western Tartars wouldn't have been able to gain any influence..." He comforted Cong Ying, "Shouldn't you be happy, Lord Supervisor?"
Cong Ying felt his words tearing at her heart: "Why should I be happy? The credit won't even be given to me!"
Xie Xuanlan raised his hand and wiped the tears from her face: "This world will also be yours in the future... Isn't it because of this that King Jin is willing to let you go? With you by my side, how dare I disobey you..."
"You're the one who's greedy and reckless, so why are you framing others? You're just being mean and self-righteous!"
Cong Ying slapped his hand away and walked aside to calm down.
Xie Xuanlan wanted to hold her hand, but he felt severe pain and dizziness. His eyelids gradually became heavy and he became unconscious. When he fell asleep, he didn't even feel the flesh being cut off by the doctor from his wound.
She turned away from the firefly, unable to bear to watch, tears falling.
…
Xie Xuanlan slept deeply, and his consciousness drifted to a place that did not belong to him.
He fell asleep due to a serious injury, but woke up seriously ill. The people guarding him were not Cong Ying and the military doctors, but the eldest princess and Doctor Zhang.
Xie Xuanlan asked in surprise: "Where's Ah Ying?"
The princess wiped her tears and said, "This child is confused because of her illness. Ah Ying went to Xizhou two months ago. I said long ago that she should come back and stay with you in Yunjing..."
Xie Xuanlan had a splitting headache and frowned as he pressed the throbbing veins on his forehead.
"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more," the princess said quickly. "But I have a letter from her. Let me show you."
Xie Xuanlan took the letter. It was the same letter that she had burned in front of Cong Ying. She had indeed rewritten it and asked someone to send it to Yunjing.
The outside of the wax seal was written with "From His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin", but the letter inside the wax seal was written with "Greetings to Sanlang".
Xie Xuanlan was stunned, and for a moment he suspected that Cong Ying had sent the letter to the wrong person.
In the letter, she mentioned the imperial edict and asked Prince Jin to investigate the matter in the court and make arrangements to buy more time for Xie Xuanlan.
These are all normal, but the abnormal part is the ending of the letter:
"...The weather in Xizhou is cold, and a drop of water turns to ice in an instant. Seeing Sanlang's hardship now is like seeing you in person. I realize it's too late to pity him. Since I'm by his side, I can't help but neglect you. However, although we are far apart, our feelings are the same. I hope you will wear more clothes, eat more, and be safe and worry-free."
Xie Xuanlan couldn't understand what "Seeing Sanlang's hard work today is like seeing you in person back then" meant?
The King of Jin grew up in Yunjing. When did he ever go to Xizhou?
Why did she call King Jin "Sanlang"?
A strange and earth-shattering idea flashed through Xie Xuanlan's mind. He wanted to think about it carefully, but he felt a tightness in his chest and suddenly fell on the bed and coughed.
The servant brought a basin of water to wash him. A gentle and pale face was reflected on the clear water of the golden basin which was swaying slightly.
It's the face of Prince Jin.
Xie Xuanlan raised his hand and touched it, his eyes filled with confusion: Who is he?
…
It was like a big dream. When I woke up again, I was back in Tiehuaer City, smelling of blood.
Outside the city lord's building, the wind and snow were howling, and the sound of patrolling soldiers could be heard faintly. The room was warm as spring because of the stove and charcoal basin. Through half a felt curtain, Cong Ying was seen sitting around the brazier, carefully examining the border map.
Zhao Mingchuan came to visit, and Cong Ying whispered something to him. Zhao Mingchuan clasped his fists and turned away.
It must be because Cong Ying has made great efforts in the aftermath work these days, otherwise Zhao Mingchuan, the arrogant and reckless man, would not be so obedient.
Xie Xuanlan looked at her quietly without saying anything for a long time, until Cong Ying realized that he was awake.
"You're awake. Are you hungry? There's minced meat simmering on the stove."
Her tone was gentle, not as angry and sad as before she fell into a coma. Moreover, she was not surprised at all that he woke up after being in a coma for such a long time.
Xie Xuanlan narrowed his eyes and thought of a possibility.
When his soul wandered to the Prince of Jin's mansion in Yunjing and briefly became the Prince of Jin, where did the Prince of Jin go? And who was in his body at that time?
Seeing his strange expression, the smile on Ying's face gradually faded, and he called out tentatively, "Sanlang? Ziwang?"
Xie Xuanlan pondered for a moment and shook his head slowly.
Cong Ying asked again, "Is it His Highness?"
Only then did Xie Xuanlan nod.
Then Cong Ying breathed a sigh of relief: "What a close call! I was careless just now and thought I said something wrong and gave it away."
Xie Xuanlan was also afraid of revealing his true intentions, so he didn't dare to speak easily. He just imitated the King of Jin's habit and covered his lips with his hands and coughed twice, and kept silent, pretending to be deep.
Cong Ying sat on a low stool, leaned over the edge of the couch, held his hand, and gently stroked the lines on his palm.
She whispered, "Actually, I dreamt of this scene. Back then, you beat the Prince of Huai for a few words, and the Prime Minister took you to plead guilty, and whipped you ten times in front of everyone. You were afraid people would find out because of me, and when you saw me crying beside the couch, you told me not to mourn. Sanlang, do you still remember?"
Prince Huai had died a long time ago. What life was she asking about, and which Sanlang was she asking about?
Xie Xuanlan lowered his eyes and stared at her: "I remember... but I was only mean to you in front of others. Didn't I apologize to you later?"
He didn't remember, he was just guessing based on his feelings, what he would do if he were faced with this situation.
Cong Ying smiled, her eyes curved like an autumn moon. "Well, your whip wound hasn't even healed yet, but you're already imitating Lin Xiangru, carrying a thorny branch to apologize. Is that an apology? It's coercion."
Xie Xuanlan said: "If you feel distressed, your anger will naturally subside. It's all that matters as long as it works."
Cong Ying said, "I was thin-skinned before, but it doesn't work anymore. I'm angry anyway."
"What do you want me to do?"
Cong Ying said, "If you are fine, and he is safe, and you both don't have to suffer, then I won't have anything to be angry about."
Xie Xuanlan raised his hand and rubbed her temples, only to feel a knot in his throat.
He finally figured it out. He knew who he was and who the King of Jin was.
No wonder Taoist Taixiao gave him the same half of the treasure mirror as King Jin. No wonder he sometimes had strange dreams, and sometimes his soul was not attached to his body, as if two souls were in the same body.
No wonder Prince Jin gave him a strangely familiar feeling.
With a character as steadfast as Ah Ying, how could she be so sentimental and indecisive if she didn't know that the man was herself in her previous life?
...God played such a big joke on me.
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