The north wind blew fine snow across the Gobi Desert, but the bonfire in the military camp was burning brightly.
The victorious soldiers gathered around the fire to roast meat and drink, and their rough laughter startled the crows on the dead branches.
Qi Yan sat alone on a rock on a high slope, his black iron armor reflecting the cold moonlight.
"The general is playing the flute again..." The old soldier beside the fire sighed.
The mournful sound of the flute drifted away on the night wind, the tune was lingering and desolate.
The recruit asked curiously, "What song is this?"
"'Longing'." The old soldier added a log to the fire. "The general plays this every time he misses home."
Qi Yan tilted his head back and took a gulp of the liquor. As his Adam's apple rolled, a line of tears slid down his resolute cheek, soaking his collar.
In fact, he likes this place very much, because the world is vast and he can think about Sheng Xiyan freely. In the capital, he dare not think about her, because he is afraid that he will not be able to control his legs and feet to get closer to her, and he is afraid that he will not be able to control himself and want to look at her a few more times.
A Yan, once you have seen the ocean, all other waters are but puddles; except for the Wushan Mountains, all other clouds are but mounds. There is no room for any other woman in my heart.
But I am not in pain, you don't have to worry about me. I have lived my life to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and I was born for the battlefield.
He was originally the White Tiger Star God in the sky. He was good at fighting on the battlefield and was the right-hand man of Emperor Xuanxi. It was only because he fell in love with the little peony that he fell into the mortal world.
*
At noon, in the west warm room.
“Bang!”
Jiangjiang slammed the Analects on the table, making the teacup clink. "Yuchen! I've taught you this passage eight times!"
Six-year-old Yu Chen sat by the window with his feet up, playing with the Nine Rings in his hands, without even looking up: "Don't worry, big brother, I'll learn after I finish playing."
"You!" Jiang Jiang's eyes turned red with anger, "How can you be the crown prince when you are like this?"
When Sheng Xiyan brought in the palace maids with snacks, she saw her eldest son wiping away tears in anger.
Anyone who has been the boss knows how hard it is.
She put down the silver plate with peony pattern and gently brushed her fingertips across Jiang Jiang's head. "What happened?"
"Mother! Yuchen is so stubborn! I'm so angry! I don't want to teach him anymore!"
Sheng Xiyan jokingly said, "That's bad. Yuchen chased away the two tutors, and you won't teach him anymore. What will he do?"
Yu Chenchong just stuck out his tongue and continued to fiddle with his Nine Rings.
This brother is like an old man chasing him around to study all day long. It’s so annoying!
"The Emperor has arrived—"
Xuan Ling stepped over the threshold, his dark blue Nine Dragons uniform still stained with the scent of ink from the Yangxin Palace.
Jiang Jiang immediately complained: "Father! Yu Chen refuses to study! You should train Yu Yan well. Yu Chen is just a naughty monkey."
Xuan Ling smiled and said, "Yu Chen, your brother is right. Father will not allow you to be the crown prince anymore. From today on, you can go and have fun."
Yu Chen continued to play, his face unchanged, his eyebrows raised. You mean, Yu Yan only cares about reading, a bookworm. Shouldn't the ruler of a country be both civil and military? Shouldn't he be as virtuous and talented as me?
"Baby, let your husband see, is this a new face cream? No wonder your face is so smooth. Give me a kiss."
"Oh, the children are here." Sheng Xiyan was delicate and put her arms around his neck.
Jiang Jiang laughed and said, "I'm used to it. As soon as Father sees Mother, he has to cuddle, kiss, and hug her."
Xuan Ling and Sheng Xiyan were affectionate for a while, "By the way, General, the emperor has just acquired a Ferghana horse. How about taking you hunting tomorrow?"
Jiang Jiang's eyes lit up: "Father, is the Ferghana horse a gift for me?"
Xuan Ling said slowly, "Originally, my father wanted to give it to the crown prince. Since he is no longer the crown prince, I will give it to you. I will also give you a set of deerskin crossbows..."
Yu Chen's ears pricked up quietly.
"Fu'an," Xuan Ling called out, "bring us the divine crossbows that were sent as tribute from the Western Regions."
When the crossbow appeared on the gilded plate, Yu Chen finally couldn't sit still anymore.
The crossbow was completely black, the string was like a silver moon, and a ruby was embedded in the mechanism.
"I want it!" The little guy rushed over to grab it.
The general folded his arms and sneered, "Can you recite The Analects of Confucius: On Government?"
Yu Chen's face flushed red, and he suddenly straightened his back and began to recite in a crisp voice.
The clear child's voice was like pearls falling on a jade plate, and not a single word was wrong.
“…”
Xuan Ling and Sheng Xiyan looked at each other, their eyes full of smiles.
This little devil has indeed memorized his lessons by heart.
Sheng Xiyan leaned close to Xuan Ling's ear and chuckled, "This kid... is obviously very smart, but he pretends to be stupid."
Xuan Ling nodded approvingly. Although Yu Chen was a little naughty, he was strong, smart, and talented. He was a promising person.
*
Twelve years later.
At the first light of dawn, the military flags fluttered loudly.
The emperor and empress personally sent their eldest son to the war.
The general was wearing shiny silver armor, which gleamed coldly in the dim light.
He wore a silver helmet with a red tassel, and the red tassel danced in the wind, making him look even more heroic.
The young general's sword-like eyebrows slanted into his temples, and his eyes were as dark as the night, yet they shone with a sharp light like a cold star.
Under the high nose bridge, the lips were tightly pursed, with the corners of the mouth slightly raised, with a fearless smile.
Sheng Xiyan almost fainted from crying. Ever since Jiang Jiang volunteered to go to the war, she had asked countless times, "Why do you have to go?"
"Mother, I have grown up. My ambition since childhood has been to fight on the battlefield and become a hero like my father. You don't have to worry about me. The emperor and I are waiting for the news of my triumphant return."
Xuan Ling comforted him: "Yan Yan, don't cry. There are thousands of soldiers. We can't bear to part with our son, and the people's sons are also reluctant to part with them..."
Sheng Xiyan hit him, "You didn't give birth to this son, you just say sarcastic things."
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