The news that Prince Jingyuan was going to return to the court spread quickly throughout the capital. He had been guarding the border for nearly thirty years, and this was his first time back since he left the capital when he was young. But before, he couldn't come back, and later, he didn't want to come back. This distance of only six hundred miles was thrilling at every step.

Emperor Zhaowu ordered the Ministry of Rites to hold a grand ceremony to welcome the princes, especially Prince Jingyuan back to the court. In order to catch a glimpse of Prince Jingyuan, all the teahouses and taverns with good views on his way into the city were reserved early for a large sum of money.

It is said that Prince Jingyuan only brought 2,000 guards this time. Since the border is close to the capital, he naturally cannot bring too many soldiers. Even with these 2,000 people, it is much more grand than other vassal kings.

The capital had never received so many princes at once, so the post stations were naturally insufficient. The Honglu Temple collected many inns and merchants from all around the capital began to gather there, hoping to make a fortune while the excitement was going on.

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, as it was still the national mourning period, people were not allowed to celebrate in a big way, and the most popular lantern festival in previous years was cancelled. Although we could not see the colorful lanterns all over the city, there were still many people wearing masks and strolling on the streets.

Feng Ye and Yan Sikong were also among them.

In order to avoid suspicion and to make things easier, the two of them no longer had any relationship in public. They usually met in the middle of the night, away from the eyes of others. Feng Ye was not even allowed to stay overnight at the Yan Mansion and had to leave before dawn.

They will never miss this opportunity to walk freely on the street wearing a mask.

The two secretly held hands and wandered aimlessly in the crowd. Feng Ye asked, "Do you still remember the first Mid-Autumn Festival we spent together?"

"I have such a good memory, how could I forget?" Yan Sikong chuckled.

"Do you still remember the wish you wrote on the river lantern?"

“Yes.”

Feng Ye suddenly felt a little melancholy: "Did it come true?"

Yan Sikong paused and said, "I don't know yet." He also wanted to ask Feng Ye back, but then he remembered Feng Ye's wish and couldn't ask.

Forever, really too long, who knows.

Feng Ye seemed to have remembered something, and changed the subject, pretending to be relaxed: "When will you tell me what wish you made?"

Yan Sikong chuckled: "Wait until it comes true."

Feng Ye held his hand tightly and looked at the bustling crowd: "It's a pity that there is no Lantern Festival this year, but there are still many people."

"Your father will be returning to Beijing in a few days. So many people have come to the city all of a sudden. Many merchants have rushed here from the outskirts of Beijing to do business, so there are a lot of people during this period."

"My father..." Feng Ye hesitated for a moment, "I haven't seen him for a few years. He is over 50 years old. I wonder if his back injury has improved."

"Your Highness is brave and can still fight on the battlefield. You don't have to worry."

Feng Ye smiled and said, "Yeah, they killed Wala so badly that he threw away all his armor and weapons, haha."

Yan Sikong hesitated for a moment and asked the question in his mind: "Feng Ye, Your Highness... do you know me?"

The two of them happened to walk under a big tree where there was a bench for people to rest and cool off. A crowd of people were gathered there to watch the performances, and there was no one under the tree, so they sat down on the bench.

Feng Ye took off his mask. It was dark and no one could see him. He blinked at Yan Sikong and said, "You are so smart. Guess what."

Yan Sikong also took off his mask and said with a smile: "I can't guess that."

"Guess."

Yan Sikong smiled and said, "I guess... you never said that."

Feng Ye raised his eyebrows: "Oh, why?"

"If you tell His Highness, he will probably ask you to stay away from me. It's better not to let him worry about it."

Feng Ye stared at Yan Sikong's face in the dim moonlight. His fair skin was as smooth as cream under the moonlight, and his deep eyes sparkled like stars. He stroked his cheek gently and said softly, "Yes, he can, but I can't do it."

Yan Sikong smiled tenderly, held Feng Ye's hand, and rubbed his cheek against his broad palm: "What will you do when he returns to Beijing?"

"What do you think?"

"I haven't decided yet."

"I'll listen to you." Yan Sikong said, "Perhaps it's not a good thing to let His Highness know. His Highness probably doesn't remember the events and people from more than ten years ago."

"No, my father remembers." Feng Ye said seriously, "My father admired General Yuan very much, otherwise, he would not have sent people to the northwest to look for you."

Yan Sikong was touched: "If my father was under His Highness's command, he would definitely be able to display his strengths and make great achievements. Anyway... he would not be wrongly killed."

Feng Ye's eyes were a little absent-minded: "If it were true, it would be great. You and I should be childhood sweethearts, growing up together. I would never let you get hurt, and you wouldn't..." He wanted to say you wouldn't become like this, but he swallowed the second half of the sentence.

Yan Sikong had already guessed what he wanted to say and smiled bitterly.

"However, I still want to find a suitable time to tell my father." Feng Ye smiled, "After all, she is his daughter-in-law."

Yan Sikong laughed and said, "You're talking nonsense again."

"I'm not talking nonsense. There were also women who married men in the previous dynasty."

"She is just a male favorite, a concubine, not even a concubine."

"You are different. If I marry you, you will definitely be my wife." Feng Ye's eyes were firm, and he didn't seem to be joking at all.

Yan Sikong was slightly startled. For a moment, he seemed to believe what Feng Ye said, but then he immediately laughed and cried: "You, are..."

The crowd on the side suddenly dispersed. Feng Ye quickly picked up the mask and covered the faces of the two people. He whispered in Yan Sikong's ear: "Let's go to the inn. I haven't woken up with you for a long time."

Yan Sikong held his hand tightly.

The two of them found an inn, but there was only one room left that night, and the price was outrageous. Because the prince had returned to the capital, the prices of many things in the city had increased, and the inn was the first to be affected.

As soon as they entered the house, Feng Ye pushed Yan Sikong against the wall and kissed him passionately. The two of them pulled each other's clothes, and those troublesome fabrics slipped off their bodies one by one and scattered all over the floor. Feng Ye hugged Yan Sikong, turned around and pressed him on the couch, kissing his warm skin with his hot lips.

The two of them absorbed each other's breath, and every touch from each other made them feel excited and unable to control their emotions.

As they were in perfect harmony, heavy breathing and sweet words of love echoed in their ears. Desire sent them to the clouds, and their brains and bodies were equally hot for each other, as if the closer they were to each other, the deeper and more firmly they could possess each other.

I wish this moment could last forever, no matter what the bloody future holds.