After finishing her meal with Nan Chu that evening, Qingyin could no longer escape the intense passion of the young man.
At night, the shy flower buds fully bloomed, and even the moonlight couldn't help but be ashamed by the beautiful scenery, hiding half of its face with dark clouds.
But the night is still long, and the flowers will be in full bloom for a long time to come.
...
Three years have quietly slipped through our fingers.
In the fifth year of Chongde's reign, the Qing army achieved successive victories against the Ming Dynasty, which greatly pleased the former emperor, Huang Taiji. He ordered several of the most meritorious generals to return to the capital to receive a celebratory banquet.
Prince Yu, Dorgon, was among them. As a general who admired Lady Zhen Gongfu, Dorgon quickly took notice of Dunjie, who had distinguished himself in battle.
Having been tempered by life and death over the years, Dunjie is no longer the thin and naive man he once was. Instead, he exudes a sharp aura and a mature, dangerous charm forged on the battlefield.
Prince Yu greatly admired this meticulous and bold Sergeant Dunjie, who rose from humble beginnings. Moreover, since Dunjie had no background and a completely blank slate, Prince Yu valued him even more, whether as a confidant or to win him over.
Prince Yu walked up to Dunjie, who was wiping his military knife.
Dunjie quickly stood up and bowed, "Your subordinate greets Your Highness Prince Yu."
Prince Yu stopped him, saying, "Dunjie, there's no need to be so polite."
"How have you been lately? Have you been short of money? If you are, I'll give you extra money!"
“Anything is fine,” Dunjie replied coldly.
The young man's indifference was something Prince Yu was used to, and he, as a highly regarded sergeant, was not angry.
He stroked his chin, looked at the cold-faced Dunjie, and said, "You brat, why are you just like the former Commander of Nanchu, with a cold face and abstinent heart? You don't even find a woman to relieve your desires. Could it be..."
When Prince Yu uttered that familiar name, Dunjie's expression changed. Thinking of Nan Chu reminded him of the beautiful woman he longed for.
Dunjie looked at Prince Yu nervously.
Prince Yu, drawing out a long breath, asked, "Could it be... that you like men?"
Dunjie: "..."
The young man's face was as black as hell.
Without needing to answer, Prince Yu knew he had guessed wrong. He awkwardly scratched his head. "Ahem, it's just that you've been on the battlefield for so many years without looking for women or getting married. Did I misunderstand?"
"But since you don't like men and don't date women, could it be that you have someone you like?"
Prince Yu stroked his chin and said.
Dunjie: You guessed right.
Dunjie turned his head to the side, concealing the longing in his eyes, and said, "If Your Highness has no important matters to attend to, there is no need to concern yourself with me."
"Alright, alright, by the way, there is indeed something important. The Emperor has issued an imperial edict to reward us generals and commanders who have made meritorious contributions in battle. Dunjie, you are included. Are you going back to court?"
Recalling the imperial edict sent by his eighth brother, the emperor, in the court, ostensibly a celebratory banquet praising their successful battle, but in reality, it was meant to warn them upon their return, forbidding them from harboring any other disobedience.
Prince Yu was well aware of Huang Taiji's thoughts, but he only had the ambition to become a general and had no other ambition to rebel.
Prince Yu's displeasure dissipated.
Asking Dunjie was just a side trip; it didn't matter whether Dunjie went or not. If he went, Huang Taiji would just help him rise faster. Even if he didn't go, with Huang Taiji around, he would rise sooner or later.
"I'll go."
A familiar, cool male voice rang in my ears.
Prince Yu looked up in surprise, “Dunjie, you actually went back? I thought… you had no emotions anymore.”
"What does Your Highness think?" Dunjie asked, puzzled.
Prince Yu fell silent, but a thought also arose in his mind. He looked at Dunjie seriously and said, "You don't actually have someone you like, do you?"
"That person can still attend the victory celebration banquet. Since his status is extraordinary, and you are now a promising young general, if you really like him, how about I, as his superior, shamelessly act as your matchmaker?"
After thinking it over, Prince Yu said confidently.
Dunjie's face turned pale, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "No."
“No, why not? Does that person look down on you? Does he look down on someone as talented as I, Prince Yu?” Prince Yu said dismissively.
Dunjie fell silent, his face turning even paler.
Seeing the complex expression on the face of the sergeant he valued, Prince Yu, who was not a fool, guessed a possibility and looked at Dunjie with a complicated expression: "The person you like, your parents don't like? The person you like has passed away? Or the person you like has married someone else?"
Prince Yu asked three questions in a row. When he noticed that Dunjie's expression changed drastically when he asked the third question, his expression changed slightly.
"You really got married?"
Prince Yu said in a complicated manner.
"Then I really can't help you with this."
Prince Yu couldn't even imagine how tarnished his reputation would be if the news of him helping his subordinate steal another man's wife got out.
Finally, Prince Yu patted Dunjie on the shoulder with a complicated expression, "Dunjie, you're still young. Sigh, just forget about that woman. There are so many women in the world, why fixate on just one?"
Dunjie, pale-faced and head bowed, said, "She's different."
Prince Yu was in a headache. When had he ever been so troubled by the fact that his future confidant was coveting another man's wife?
Prince Yu truly never expected that he would face such a calamity.
Looking at Prince Yu, whose eyes held a complex expression, Dunjie said earnestly, "Although I like her, as long as she is another man's wife, I will never do anything immoral. Please rest assured, Your Highness."
Prince Yu: "..."
Now he wasn't worried about his subordinates committing ethical issues, but he was concerned about something else: "So, you won't get married in the future?"
Dunjie's expression was resolute: "My subordinates are only willing to quietly wait for her; they have someone else in their hearts and dare not delay her."
Prince Yu: "..."
Oh no, what do I do if my subordinate is obsessed with romance?
The more joy Prince Yu was when he arrived, the more anxiety he felt when he left.
No matter how complicated his feelings were, the day for his triumphant return had arrived.
The palace was going to hold a celebration banquet, so naturally all the important ministers and officials in the court would bring their wives and children to attend this grand banquet.
Nan Chu was a minister valued by Huang Taiji, and he and his wife were naturally among them.
Qingyin was already rushing to make her court dress for the palace banquet. When Nan Chu heard about this, although he had one, he insisted that Qingyin have her servants make a set of court dress similar to that of the Fujin (consort).
They were dressed like a couple, looking like a married couple.
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