Chapter 168 This is too selfish. Who should I write to?
The gates of Zhenyong City were wide open, and the broad main road stretched straight ahead, with banners fluttering on both sides, embroidered with the eye-catching character "严" (Yan), billowing like clouds in the wind.
The Northern Cliff Army, clad in silver armor, marched solemnly down the street.
At the very front of the procession were five or six fully armed cavalrymen, their horses also covered in armor, their hooves thundering steadily, exuding an imposing aura. Surrounding them was a majestic and spacious carriage, pulled by four snow-white, muscular steeds, their strong physiques and synchronized gait further enhancing their imposing presence.
Behind the column, the infantry stood in neat formation, their steps resounding, exuding a chilling aura. Behind them, the cavalry were arranged in orderly ranks, both men and horses silent.
Without drawing their weapons or shouting, the army marched in silence. Standing beside Huan Xun, preparing to join him in welcoming Grand Commander Yan Yue's army, Yu Nie watched the approaching troops from afar. At this moment, he finally felt the terrifying pressure of the Northern Cliff Army.
At that moment, she suddenly understood why the Northern Cliff Army was invincible on the battlefield.
When the entire orderly procession stopped in front of the mansion gate, the imperial guards stood on both sides, protecting the carriage in the center.
One of the armored guards stepped forward to set up the footrests, while another lifted the carriage curtain.
The moment the curtain was lifted, a fierce and eagle-like aura emanated from it.
Immediately following, an official's boot stepped out, and Yan Yue, who had emerged, glanced at the crowd.
Despite living in the Northwest for many years, his eyes still gleamed with intelligence, showing little sign of aging; he was still full of vigor and vitality.
He wore no armor, only a black casual robe with a dark cloak over it, yet his imposing presence was still undeniable.
Watching the figure step out of the carriage, Huan Xun had a faint smile on his face.
Several months ago, he was dismissed from his post in Lingnan and traveled all the way back to the Northwest. He was then transferred back to Jian'an and arrived here again. This was the first time he had met his adoptive father, the Grand Commander who commanded the military power of the Northwest and the whole country.
Immediately, Yan Yue got out of the car.
Upon seeing this, Huan Xun immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Father."
In front of Yan Yue, he always addressed him as "father" rather than "godfather." Yan Yue disliked hearing the latter, finding it too distant.
He looked up and said, "Father, you must have had a long and tiring journey."
"Haha... My son, no need for such formalities. We're family, why bother with all this formality?" Yan Yue patted Huan Xun's shoulder heartily, his gaze sweeping over Huan Xun's face. "Hmm... Let your father take a good look. Has my son grown taller again? And his physique is becoming more and more robust and strong. He's quite like my father was when he was young."
He pinched Huan Xun's shoulder and arm: "You've lost some weight, but have you been eating poorly in Jianghuai these days, or is the war too intense and exhausting?"
Yan Yue treated Huan Xun like an ordinary father and son, even seeming to care for him more. Yu Nie, watching him exchange pleasantries, thought to herself, at least that's how she perceived him.
Huan Xun's smile remained unchanged as he calmly replied, "Father must have not seen me for too long, which is why you seem a little thinner. I am doing well, eating and sleeping well, and my appetite is even better than before."
Yan Yue let out a loud laugh: "Good! Being able to eat and sleep well is the real deal." He reached out and patted Huan Xun's shoulder heavily: "This kind of energy is right. There are still many battles to fight. Our physical condition is our greatest asset."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Yue caught sight of the composed Yu Nie and his tone turned inquisitive: "Who is this lady?"
Yu Nie stepped forward at the opportune moment and, following the proper etiquette for a royal woman to meet a subject, nodded slightly: "I have long admired the great name of the capital, and it is a great honor to meet you today."
She frankly stated her title, as Huan Xun had instructed her not to conceal her identity when facing Yan Yue.
Unexpectedly, Yan Yue was taken aback by her arrival, then burst into laughter and bowed respectfully as a subject.
"Hahaha! I wondered which woman could have my son like this, but it turns out to be my betrothed, Princess Shunhe."
Yan Yue's way of addressing them immediately brought them closer together.
"I have been stationed on the frontier for a long time and was unaware that Your Highness had personally visited the Jianghuai region. Even your son Zijing did not mention it in his letter. It was truly impolite of me."
Yu Nie refused to accept the offer entirely, and said awkwardly, "Grand Commander, there's no need for such formality. How could Shunhe possibly accept such a thing?"
Although Yan Yue was nominally a subject, even Emperor Zhao Yunfu on the dragon throne would probably have to give him some face. As a princess without real power, she dared not accept the courtesy from the Grand Commander who held a large army.
Moreover, she and Huan Xun were engaged.
This complicated relationship left her unsure how to handle it without being impolite.
Not knowing how to handle the situation properly, she unconsciously cast a pleading look at the person next to her.
Yan Yue didn't care about these things, but asked her in confusion why she was here instead of staying in Jian'an.
Having received her message, Huan Xun calmly replied, "Father, Her Highness the Princess is concerned about the country and especially about the practical effectiveness of the new firearms in the army. She also understands the hardships faced by the soldiers and officers. Therefore, she has come to Jianghuai to use her knowledge to enhance our military prestige."
He didn't explicitly state that he had his reasons for coming here.
But Yan Yue, a man with experience, could easily see through it. His expression carried a hint of teasing: "Your Highness is truly admirable for your concern for military affairs. However, the Jianghuai region is rife with war, unlike the gentle Jian'an. Your Highness's willingness to endure hardship here must also be partly due to you, young man."
Yu Nie blushed at what was said and didn't dare to look at anyone.
Huan Xun did not deny it.
Amidst Yan Yue's hearty laughter.
At this moment, Xie Cheng and Guan Zheng, who had been standing for a while, also stepped forward to greet them.
Xie Cheng was excited when he saw Yan Yue. He clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your subordinate Xie Cheng greets the Grand Commander."
Yan Yue was naturally very close to Xie Cheng and his personal guards, and spoke to them without any airs: "No need for formalities, no need for formalities. Xie Cheng, you have been of great help to the young master. You have made great contributions to the defense of the city this time."
Xie Cheng spoke humbly and greeted her again.
Immediately, Guan Zheng also stepped forward to pay his respects.
After saying a few words to him, Yan Yue turned to Huan Xun and said, "Come on, let's go inside and talk. Let your father hear how much skill my son has acquired."
As soon as he moved, the others followed suit.
The group entered through the vermilion gate and headed towards the main hall.
This house was chosen by Huan Xun last night, who had someone select it so that he could live comfortably.
Yan Yue praised his thoughtfulness, but coughed lightly as he said that he didn't need to go to so much trouble. Although the mansion was nice, he wouldn't be staying for more than a few days. The situation at the front was dire, and now that he was here, he couldn't just sit there. He would soon lead an army to the front to oversee the battle.
As they spoke, the group entered the main hall, where Yan Yue, needless to say, took the seat of honor.
Huan Xun, who had just taken his seat, did not forget what he had said earlier; he clearly would not allow him to do that.
"Father has come to Jianghuai. The matter of the Southern Expedition is the responsibility of the overall commander of the army. It is up to Father to take charge of the overall situation. I am young and inexperienced. I have only been temporarily in charge these days. Now that Father has arrived, it is natural to hand over the command seal. I am willing to lead the Red Armor Guards in the central route as the vanguard and obey Father's orders."
Huan Xun's words were impeccable and sincere.
Regardless, he had to relinquish command.
From an official standpoint, Yan Yue, as the Grand Commander, personally went to the front lines. In terms of seniority, prestige, and rank, he was far superior to Yan Yue. If Yan Yue were to take over the position of Commander-in-Chief, it would be contrary to military law.
Privately, in front of Yan Yue, he had always been a filial, humble, and polite adopted son, and he could not destroy the image of "gentle, kind, respectful, frugal, and modest" that he had cultivated over the years.
Moreover, allowing Yan Yue to follow his instructions and plans would be seen by anyone as a rebellion against the Heavenly Gang.
Especially the most senior generals of the Northern Cliff Army, his uncles, were all Yan Yue's right-hand men.
Although they were warriors who had fought their way to the top, they deeply valued the Confucian hierarchy and etiquette, and were very particular about being proper and justified in their daily lives.
If he shows even the slightest "lack of manners" at this moment, it will inevitably displease them and cause some unnecessary trouble.
Returning power to Yan Yue would allow him to better execute his plans.
It can be considered as letting him do what he wants.
After his words and firm attitude, Yan Yue finally agreed and handed over command of the Red Armor Guards of the Central Route Army to him.
The food was served one after another. During the meal, Yan Yue told him that after the southern expedition ended and Beiye unified the world, he would submit a memorial to the court to allow him to take command of the Xuan Ce Army again.
The Xuan Ce Army was, after all, his own creation, and it was his direct subordinate army, so the significance and feelings associated with it were different.
Huan Xun agreed.
Speaking of matters of the court, Yan Yue naturally knew about the death of the Crown Prince.
With Zhao Yunrui gone, among the remaining princes, only Zhao Yuanze and three other princes of marriageable age remained.
The imperial court will not immediately select a crown prince, but the future crown prince will definitely be chosen from among these people.
While Yan Yue was speaking, Huan Xun and Yu Nie beside him exchanged a silent glance.
After the two of them talked about the Crown Prince in the courtyard that night, Huan Xun did not give her an immediate answer.
Yu Nie didn't know if he still wanted to push Zhao Kang to the throne.
Thinking of Zhao Yunze, Yu Nie wanted to probe for information, but when she was about to speak, she realized her current identity and fell silent.
Huan Xun poured wine for Yan Yue, seemingly casually asking, "In your opinion, Father, among the Second Prince, the Fifth Prince, and the Sixth Prince, which one will the Emperor ultimately favor?"
His tone was indifferent, but in his heart he didn't care which of these princes would be able to ascend to the throne.
In his eyes, none of these people were a possibility.
He asked this question simply to go with the flow; he didn't care about the answer at all.
Yu Nie noticed that he had not mentioned Zhao Yuanze at all.
Upon hearing this, Yan Yue put down his wine glass, pondered for a moment, and did not answer immediately.
Based on his understanding of his student, Emperor Zhao Yunfu, in order to balance the court, the emperor would definitely choose a concubine of sufficient birth to win over the emerging or local forces behind her, given that the power of aristocratic families had been greatly weakened.
And now, the emperor is most wary of him.
Therefore, choosing the daughter of a military general whose family has a strong foothold in the army but is not a threat to the imperial power is the most likely and safest option.
If you think about it that way, only the Fifth Prince is suitable.
The fifth prince's birth mother was from the Duan family, and Duan Tingxian was now the only member of the imperial family with a deep-rooted influence in the military.
There was no other choice but the Fifth Prince.
When Yan Yue gave this answer, Yu Nie's mind was also in a complete mess.
The crown prince died earlier than recorded in history; who could have imagined that?
She realized that, in any case, they had to get Zhao Yunfu to choose their people to take the position before the Fifth Prince was put in the position of Crown Prince.
During her time in Jianghuai, she had been exchanging letters with Langxi and the others via carrier pigeon.
However, in his letters in the last few days, Langxi has not mentioned who to choose at all.
She and Qi Xun were probably caught off guard by this unexpected event.
In short, they need to speed things up as quickly as possible.
After finishing their meal, Huan Xun wanted to discuss the next marching route with Yan Yue, while she returned to the mansion alone.
The matter of choosing a crown prince was weighing on her mind, making her restless and unable to fall asleep for a long time.
The candlelight flickered, and even at midnight, she was still wide awake. She wanted to pick up her pen and write a letter to Langxi, reminding her to keep a close eye on the Fifth Prince's movements.
Just as she picked up her pen, she heard steady, familiar footsteps coming from the courtyard.
Before Yu Nie could peek out, the door was pushed open, and a person carrying a slightly cool aura strode in. Huan Xun, carrying the cool scent of an autumn night, strode in, his figure tall and slender in the candlelight.
Yu Nie was speechless. He put down his pen, stood up, and was about to ask him a question when he said, "I saw that the light was still on in your room, so I came over to check. Why are you still up so late?"
As he spoke, he walked over to her, took her wrist, and led her to sit down.
As he moved, he glanced at Cuiwei, who was standing beside him. With just one look, Cuiwei understood and lowered her head, quietly retreating and closing the door behind her.
The room was instantly empty except for the two of them. He no longer had any inhibitions. While playing with her hand, he reached for the blank sheet of paper on the table and turned to look at her: "Who are you writing a letter to in the middle of the night?"
Yu Nie's heart tightened slightly; the blank letter in his hand felt like a hot commodity.
She absolutely could not say that it was written for Langxi. If she mentioned Langxi, he would definitely ask for the reason. Did she expect her to say that she was reminding the Fifth Prince of his movements?
Regarding the selection of the crown prince, they had not yet reached an agreement, and she was unsure whether he still intended to promote Zhao Kang to the throne.
She simply replied, "I wasn't writing to anyone. It was just some private stuff that I thought of suddenly last night, so I wanted to write it down, but then I felt it wasn't appropriate. I was hesitating when you happened to see me."
Huan Xun curled his lips slightly, but did not expose her lie, and put the letter back.
Then, he took her hands and said, "I know you're worried about the selection of the crown prince. Don't worry, the one who will take the throne will not be any of the second, fifth, or sixth princes."
He said it softly, but Yu Nie was so shocked that he was completely stunned, thinking he was hallucinating.
She stared at him in disbelief, and after a long while, she grabbed his arm urgently, her voice trembling slightly: "You...you really don't plan to promote him to the position?"
Huan Xun nodded.
He maintained a close distance between them and explained his original reasons for doing so.
"My original intention in pushing him to the throne was to compensate the Cheng family for the fate of their entire family being beheaded for trying to seek justice for the Red Falcon Clan."
From his words, at that moment, Yu Nie completely understood why the Cheng family had died.
She thought of what he had said before, and then asked, "The case that the Cheng family didn't finish investigating back then, was it the case of the Red Falcon Clan being wiped out?"
Huan Xun hummed in agreement.
Then, he explained in detail why the Cheng family had gotten involved.
"Back then, Qi Xun and I escaped and were rescued by the Cheng family who were returning from Jian'an. When Lord Cheng learned of our plight, he vowed to seek justice for us, but he was framed and killed."
Huan Xun: "That is precisely why I want Zhao Kang to sit on the throne, to repay Lord Cheng's sense of justice."
At this point, he gazed intently at her and said, "The reason I've changed my mind now is because of what you said that day, which I've pondered for a long time."
"The kindness of the Cheng family is a private matter, but the safety of the nation is a public matter. If I were to insist on supporting a foolish ruler for my own peace of mind, causing the country to be in turmoil and the people to suffer, how selfish I would be."
"The only way to make amends is to help Zhao Kang reach the summit."
His tone shifted to a more composed and resolute one: "I have made up my mind that, in addition to exonerating the Cheng family and restoring their innocence in the future, I will ensure the Cheng family's descendants live in peace and prosperity. As long as I live, I will never let them suffer hardship again. This will also be enough to comfort the spirit of my benefactor in heaven."
His words touched Yu Nie's heart like something gently bumping into its softest spot.
She never imagined that he would actually heed her advice that day and seriously consider and make a decision.
She could see that the Cheng family had shown him great kindness, and how difficult it must have been for him to make such a decision that went against his original intentions.
Thinking of this, she felt a pang of pity and emotion, mixed with guilt.
Yu Nie raised her hand and gently stroked his cheek.
The warmth of her palm reached him, and Huan Xun saw the guilt in her eyes.
The heaviness that lingered in his heart from the decision suddenly dissipated.
He covered her hand that was pressed against his cheek, raised an eyebrow and said, "What, is this how you comfort me?"
Yu Nie's face flushed, and she tried to pull her hand away in embarrassment, but he held it even tighter.
She whispered reproachfully, "You're never serious."
She paused for a moment before looking up into his smiling eyes and saying earnestly, "I just feel that what I said has ultimately put you in a difficult position, and you must be feeling bad about it."
Huan Xun didn't speak, but moved closer to her, their knees touching.
He dropped his joking expression, looked at her calmly, and said slowly, "It wasn't difficult. In fact, I should thank you for reminding me. If you hadn't pointed it out, I might have died one day..."
"Don't say that." Without thinking, she raised her hand and covered his mouth: "Don't say such unlucky things."
The fear in her eyes was as if what he said would immediately come true.
The two shadows overlapped and were silently reflected on the quiet window.
Seeing her like this, he felt as if a cat's claw had scratched his heart; it didn't hurt, but it stirred up an endless tenderness within him.
He couldn't help but take her hand that was covering his lips and kiss it.
At this moment, Huan Xun was completely different from usual, like snowmelt after an iceberg melts, with only her reflection in the water.
The boy's gaze upon his beloved was as intense as the midday sun, the surging emotions within so burning they almost melted one's heart.
"I won't say anymore." He stretched out his arms and pulled her into his embrace. "I won't say anything more from now on."
She nestled close to his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, and all the thoughts she had had about the selection of the crown prince fell silent.
In the brief moment of their embrace, a thought surfaced in her mind.
She called his name softly: "Huan Xun..."
"Um?"
"After the world is at peace, will you come with me to see that wishing tree?"
"good."
"You agreed so quickly, aren't you going to think about it?"
"I won't consider it. I'll agree to anything you say," he said.
Outside the window, Cuiwei, who was waiting outside, saw the shadows overlapping on the window.
The smile on his face unconsciously widened.
“That’s wonderful,” she said.
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