Yan Sikong felt restless the whole day, so he took leave early and went home. He sat alone in the study thinking. He watched the dusk slowly approaching, the sky light disappeared, and the house sank into darkness, but not even a light was turned on.

He had begged countless people for help in his life. In the most difficult times, he had to beg for a bite of rotten rice to survive. He no longer had much sense of honor or shame. To him, asking for help was nothing as long as he could achieve his goal. But when the person he asked was Feng Ye, he really felt embarrassed.

He laughed at himself, saying that this was the result of acting on one's emotions, and that it did not do any good other than restricting oneself.

Fortunately, he is Yan Sikong, and he is always Yan Sikong. Even though he may hesitate, he will not really waver.

He stood up, strode out of the study, and said loudly: "Ali, prepare the car."

——

Yan Sikong seldom came to the Jingyuan Palace. Most of the time, it was Feng Ye who went to see him. Compared with his simple mansion, this palace was located in the best area of ​​the capital, with convenient transportation links all around, and there were always eyes watching.

When they arrived at the palace, the coachman wanted to knock on the door for him, but he waved his hand to stop him and went to knock on the door himself.

The doorman was a little surprised to see it was him: "Master Yan, I am here to report to the prince."

Yan Sikong said, "I have come to your house more than once or twice, do I need to be informed?" As he said this, he was about to go in.

The concierge stood in front of him and said awkwardly, "Master Yan, please let me go and report it."

These doormen and servants were very observant and used to be very respectful to him, but ever since he was humiliated by Feng Ye at a grand banquet, the news had naturally spread throughout the capital, and now they were not even allowed to enter the gate.

Yan Sikong was not annoyed. He never got angry over unnecessary things and wasted his energy. He said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, little brother."

The doorman closed the door, and Yan Sikong waited outside the door, hearing the sound of trotting coming from inside.

But no matter how long they waited, the red lacquered carved door weighing more than a thousand pounds did not open.

The driver Liu Cheng was waiting anxiously: "Sir, this is too much, let's go back."

Yan Sikong said: "Don't worry, wait patiently."

“…”

A man and a carriage were standing outside the palace gate. Although it was late, there were many pedestrians coming and going. Yan Sikong was handsome, and some people had guessed who he was talking about. They were pointing and talking from a distance.

If someone with a thin skin had been treated like this, he would have walked away long ago, but Yan Sikong wished he could stay longer. It was a taboo for officials in Beijing to get too close to military commanders at the border. Although he had no direct contact with King Jingyuan, he had frequent private relations with King Jingyuan's son, which inevitably gave people something to talk about. In the past, no one said that it was because Feng Ye was young and he was of low rank, but now it was different. King Jingyuan had won the battle, and he was already the future son-in-law. It would be good for everyone to sever the relationship.

After Feng Ye opposed the arranged marriage in the hall and what happened today, the whole world should know that Feng Ye and him were like Guan Ning, and their friendship was over.

Just like this, Yan Sikong stood outside the palace for a full hour. It was a chilly spring day, and he was so cold that his face turned pale and his body was shaking.

At this time, the gate of the palace opened. Yan Sikong turned around and saw Xue Bo. Xue Bo looked helpless: "Lord Yan, please come in."

Yan Sikong bowed and followed Xue Bo into the palace.

The palace was too large and he was still not completely familiar with it. However, he was familiar with the villa where Feng Ye lived, and Xue Boling's direction was obviously wrong.

Yan Sikong did not ask any questions, but just followed silently until he turned the corridor and saw a large house with lights on. Only then did he react.

This is Feng Ye's training room. If the weather is bad, Feng Ye will practice martial arts in this room.

Xue Bo led Yan Sikong to the door and bowed, saying, "Master Yan, please come in."

Yan Sikong walked straight in and Xue Bo closed the door behind him.

The training room was extremely spacious and empty, with various weapons and martial arts equipment placed inside. Feng Ye was standing with his back to Yan Sikong, his lower body steady, holding the bow in both arms, and shooting an arrow at a target in the distance. One could tell without even looking that it was the bull's eye.

The charcoal fire in the house was burning warmly, and Yan Sikong felt the blood in his body become more active. He silently stared at Feng Ye's tall back, clenched his fingers that were still frozen, and said, "Feng Ye."

Feng Ye suddenly turned around, and a sharp arrow flew through the air and hit Yan Sikong in the face.

Yan Sikong had no time to dodge - he didn't intend to dodge, and he didn't even blink.

In an instant, a strong wind blew, and the arrow grazed his temple and hit the door leaf behind him.

There was a loud bang, as if it hit people's hearts directly.

Yan Sikong looked straight at Feng Ye and saw a struggling emotion in those sharp eyes.

Feng Ye said coldly: "Who allowed you to come to me?"

"I have to come to you."

"Why." Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong's red cheeks, and his heart was as uncomfortable as a cat's paw. He wanted Yan Sikong to get out as soon as possible, but he knew that he couldn't bear to see Yan Sikong step out of this door.

Yan Sikong blinked and said bluntly: "I come to ask you for the Crown Prince and Concubine Hui."

Feng Ye threw the bow in his hand to the ground and growled, "Get lost!"

Yan Sikong felt a little bitter in his heart. He tried hard to hide his emotions and said seriously: "You also know that they are innocent. The assassination was done by Xie Zhongren and Concubine Wen..."

"I said, get lost." Feng Ye bared his teeth. "You just remembered that I'm useful now, isn't it too late?"

Yan Sikong closed his eyes: "I know you pleaded for the prince in the morning court."

"I think that censors should not speak nonsense and should report the truth. This is the duty of an official, but that's all."

"Protecting the prince is also the duty of a minister."

Feng Ye strode over and pointed his slender finger at him: "You are not qualified to talk to me about the duties of an official. You have framed an official of the imperial court twice and stirred up trouble in secret. Which of these is what an official should do? If I tell anyone about any of this, you will die ten thousand times!"

"But you won't tell."

"Yan Sikong!" Feng Ye was so angry that he wanted to strangle him to death.

Yan Sikong said softly: "Feng Ye, I'm sorry."

Feng Ye was stunned and stared at him coldly.

"I'm sorry about Wan Yang."

Feng Ye sneered: "You came to me because you need something from me, and you don't even try to hide it?"

"You're right. If the prince hadn't been in trouble, I would have held back... not come to you." Yan Sikong looked Feng Ye in the eye and said slowly, "The relationship between you and me was not the right one. This day is only a matter of time. I don't know which daughter you will marry in the future, but you will marry her and have many children. You are the only son of King Jingyuan, and it is your responsibility to continue the bloodline of the Feng family. When that day comes, you will only laugh and say 'you are young and frivolous', right?"

Feng Ye clenched his fists, his heart aching: "In your heart, my feelings are nothing but frivolous!"

"I wouldn't say it's frivolous, but compared to continuing the family line, you and I both know which is more important."

"No, it's because you never took it seriously, so you thought I wouldn't take it seriously either." Feng Ye's eyes gradually turned red. "I said before, I love you ten points, and you only love me one or two points, that's all."

Yan Si's heart ached so much that even breathing became difficult: "Feng Ye, how can feelings be measured? I am different from you. I have a blood feud, how can I indulge in romance like a young boy who knows nothing about the world!"

"I never asked you to give up revenge. I was even willing to help you. I could tolerate you getting married and having children, but that woman couldn't be Wan Yang!" Feng Ye said hatefully, "And you hid it from me. In order to become a royal consort, you even hid your marriage to my cousin. Are you in such a hurry to get rid of me?"

"No." Yan Sikong shook his head sadly, "I didn't mean to hide it from you, I just didn't dare to tell you. When I knew about it, the teacher had already obtained the emperor's approval. Could I regret the engagement? Could you break the engagement? Did you hear what Xie Zhongren said in the palace that day? How could I dare to let you disobey the emperor's order for me?"

"What if I am willing?" Feng Ye gritted his teeth, "Have you ever asked me if I am willing?"

"Have you ever thought about your father?" Yan Sikong trembled, "Have you ever thought about how much danger you would bring to King Jingyuan if you acted impulsively?"

"How stupid do you think I am? I only needed to ask my father to write a letter to marry Wan Yang off to someone else, but by the time I knew about it, it was already too late!"

"Who will she be betrothed to? A noble family? A scholar? Don't you understand His Majesty's intention? His Majesty wants to betroth Prince Jingyuan's niece to a poor scholar!" Yan Sikong raised his voice, "He will not let the Feng family have another powerful relative!"

Feng Ye was slightly startled, then sneered again: "You, Yan Sikong, are extremely smart, no one can defend you, it's too late to say all this now, and it's a fact that you deceived me, and it's also a fact that you want to marry my cousin, and you still have the nerve to come to me, get out, get out now."

"Feng Ye, are you going to ignore the safety of the prince just for the sake of our personal relationship?"

Feng Ye said coldly: "Who will be the crown prince and who will be the emperor in his Chen family, do you really think it is important to my Feng family?"

Yan Sikong knew in his heart that this was indeed not important to the Feng family, so Prince Jingyuan did not get involved in the dispute over the crown prince. As long as he could hold the military power in his hands, even if a dog sat on the throne, it would not harm the foundation of the country.

Feng Ye's cold and ruthless look hurt Yan Sikong so much. After all, he had seen this man's gentle and affectionate smile.

Yan Sikong clenched his fists and took a few steps towards Feng Ye.

Feng Ye's heart was pounding and he was uncontrollably nervous. Even when facing a huge army with arrows and rocks flying all around him, he had never been so nervous.

Yan Sikong bent his knees and knelt in front of Feng Ye.