In the season of spring, the weather in Datong Prefecture is very pleasant and refreshing. During the day, the doors and windows are left open to let the spring breeze flow through the house, which can dispel all the depressing atmosphere. However, the bitter smell of medicine that has lingered for a long time cannot be easily dispelled.

Feng Ye drank a large bowl of medicine with a frown on his face, his tongue tasting bitter. Just as he was about to open his mouth to complain, Yan Sikong quickly stuffed a piece of candy into his mouth.

Feng Ye held the candy in his mouth and pouted, "My wounds have healed, why do I still have to drink so much medicine every day?"

"You have damaged your vital energy and blood, and your foundation is damaged. How can you recover in a short time?" Yan Sikong said, "This soup, take it as Nan Yu tells you to."

"I think he did it on purpose." Feng Ye snorted, "Where are the others?"

"Busy." Yan Sikong stood up and said, "I'll go..."

"Don't go." Feng Ye held Yan Sikong's hand and looked at him eagerly, "Stay with me."

"I'm just going to get some things. I've read the routine documents submitted by various prefectures the day before yesterday, and I still need to discuss it with you."

"No hurry, let's talk about it later." Feng Ye held Yan Sikong's wrist tightly and said softly, "Stay with me for a while."

Yan Sikong had no choice but to sit down. Since that day, Feng Ye had become even more attached to him than before, and would send someone to look for him if he wasn't there for a moment, as if he was afraid that he would change his mind.

Feng Ye held Yan Sikong in his arms and whispered, "Kong'er, are you really here?"

"I'm here." Yan Sikong had a gentle smile on his lips. "How many times do you want to ask me?"

"I don't know..." Feng Ye said sadly, "I always feel like I'm dreaming, and I'm afraid someone will wake me up."

"In fact, I often feel like I'm dreaming." Yan Sikong smiled faintly, "But now that I'm with you, I feel sober, because most of my dreams are nightmares, and I've never had a good dream like this."

Feng Ye tightened his arms: "From now on, I want you to be this good and this happy whether you are awake or dreaming..." He paused and asked carefully, "Kong'er, are you happy now?"

Yan Sikong raised his head and looked into Feng Ye's eyes: "I have tried to restrain myself again and again, afraid of repeating the same mistakes and being burdened by love. But no matter how hard I struggle, I can't let you go." He stroked Feng Ye's face gently, "I don't want to deceive myself anymore. I am just like you. There is not a day that I don't miss the time when we were in love with each other."

Feng Ye kissed Yan Sikong's forehead: "Even if we can't go back to the past, we can still join hands in the future. We will have new memories. Whatever you want, I will do my best to give it to you. I will make you happier than before."

Yan Sikong looked at Feng Ye's determined and affectionate eyes, unable to hide the throbbing in his heart, and kissed him softly on the lips: "It's a deal."

Feng Ye deepened the kiss, making it earnest and devout. He savored every breath of Yan Sikong and felt that everything about the person in his arms made his heart beat fast - just like when they first met.

After the kiss, Yan Sikong smiled and said, "Why do you taste bitter and sweet?"

"A bowl of medicine and a piece of crispy candy. These are all what you let me eat." Feng Ye sipped lightly on those lips, and then sipped them again, as if no amount of kissing was enough.

Yan Sikong nodded: "Life is full of ups and downs."

"You are right." Feng Ye said softly, "I will listen to you in everything."

The two of them snuggled up to each other, listening to each other's heartbeats, feeling each other's body temperature, and felt that the most reassuring place in the world was right here.

After so many years and so many experiences, they have lost themselves in the process of stumbling forward. The innocence, ambition, and vows of youth have long been changed beyond recognition in the passing of time and the torture of fate. It is human instinct to look back on the past, but even if it takes all the effort, it is not easy for anyone to go back to the youthful days, to find a fragment of the past, and to see the faith and love of the time.

There is no perfect thing in the world, and there is no perfect person. Even with scars all over our bodies, we still have to hold hands and keep moving forward, which may be even more precious.

——

Thanks to Yuan Nanyu's superb medical skills and Feng Ye's sincere cooperation, the arrow wound healed quickly. Feng Ye was able to take care of himself and move freely. An ordinary person would have collapsed after such a torment, but he became healthier day by day.

With the assistance of Yan Sikong and Yuan Nanyu, Feng Ye finally completed the promotion and appointment of the four prefectures. He replaced all the important officials with his trusted capable ministers and generals, and personally inspected the four prefectures.

Yuan Nanyu was promoted to the position of Right Commander-in-Chief of the Five Military Commandery, General of the Cavalry, with a purple seal and a gold ribbon, in charge of the troops of Datong and Xuanhua. His military rank was slightly lower than that of Wang Shen, who was the Left Commander-in-Chief, but only in charge of Qianzhou.

Yan Sikong was appointed as the Minister of State Affairs, and was able to inquire into all matters of the four ministries and even issue administrative orders on behalf of the fiefdoms.

Although there are only four prefectures in the northern border, the official structure is almost identical to that of the imperial court, just like a country within a country. This move will certainly cause dissatisfaction to Chen Yi, but it will help them recruit talented people and will always shock the imperial court. The stronger the northern border is, the less Chen Yi will dare to act rashly.

At the same time, the relationship between Datong and Chahar has become stable again after their mediation. Fengze, who was sent to Nada Khan as a hostage by Princess Zhenbei, will surely become an important figure bridging Datong and the Mongolian tribes in the future. Although Fengye is reluctant, it is irreversible.

The King of Zhenbei will eventually replace the Emperor of the Capital and become the "Emperor" of the people of the northern border.

——

Yan Sikong planned a route for Feng Ye to inspect the four prefectures. This would be Feng Ye's first tour of his own "territory". He had to verify the local officials and understand the local customs and people's livelihood. This journey would take about a year.

When Yan Sikong arrived at Feng Ye's house, he found him practicing boxing in the yard. He performed a set of Shaolin Seven Star Fist with great power and sharpness as a blade.

Hearing the footsteps, Feng Ye stopped his move. He took the towel handed to him by the maid, wiped the sweat off his face, and looked at Yan Sikong with a smile.

"Has Nan Yu allowed you to practice boxing?" Yan Sikong frowned and asked, "Although your injury has healed, your body still needs to be recuperated."

"I'm just conditioning myself," Feng Ye said. "This set of boxing can strengthen my body. If I don't move, I'll die of boredom."

Yan Sikong said in a blaming tone, "Your moves are so cruel, how can you say that you want to strengthen your body?"

Feng Ye smiled and said, "I am very strong now, which shows that this punch is effective."

"The bitter medicine is effective." Yan Sikong shook the scroll in his hand, "This is the route for inspecting the four prefectures. Let's discuss it."

Feng Ye let Yan Sikong into the house and dismissed all the servants.

Yan Sikong spread the scroll on the desk and gestured carefully: "Look, Datong is right in the middle. I think, while the weather is warm, I can go north to visit Xuanhua and Liaodong first, then come back in winter, and then go to Qianzhou in the spring next year. How about that?"

Feng Ye stood aside and nodded: "Okay."

"The counties I picked all have their own special features." Yan Sikong pointed at the map, "For example, Qianghua County is rich in cotton and has a single tax. Mairong County has many mountains, forests, and bandits, and the people suffer greatly. And this one..."

"You make the decision." Feng Ye stared at Yan Sikong with a smile, "You are now the Grand Marshal of my Northern Territory. I will go wherever you tell me to go."

Yan Sikong raised his eyebrows: "What if I ask you to follow me to Liaodong now and retake the seven states of Liaobei?"

"Yes, sir." Feng Ye said without hesitation.

Yan Sikong smiled and sighed: "It's a pity that the time has not come yet."

"I know." Feng Ye reached out his hand and stroked Yan Sikong's cheek. "I am not yet firmly established. I have been fighting for years, and my army is old and my people are exhausted. You are thinking about the seven states of Liaobei, and so am I."

Yan Sikong said sadly: "The seven states of Liaobei are the knot in my heart for my whole life."

The tragedy of his life began when Han Zhaoxing lost Qingzhou and Emperor Zhaowu gave up the seven states of northern Liaoning. Since then, there was no natural defense in eastern Liaoning, and the Jin soldiers marched straight down, harming the people of eastern Liaoning for nearly 30 years. If it were not for the little Guangning who took on the task in times of crisis and blocked Zhuoletai's troops twice, the Central Plains today might have been ruled by barbarians.

He was determined to spend his entire life to regain the seven prefectures of Liaoning from the Jin people for the sake of his country and the people. Zhuoletai's defeat gave them hope of victory.

"It is also the pain in the heart of every Dasheng man." Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong with a firm gaze, "Kong'er, I can take back the Hetao area, and I can also take back the seven states of Liaobei. Three years, we will use three years to rest our troops and nourish the people. When the day comes when the soldiers are well-trained and well-fed, we will lead the Feng family army across the Huangshui River, completely annihilate the Jin soldiers, and drive them out of the territory of Dasheng forever."

Yan Sikong nodded vigorously. He touched Liaoning on the map with his hand excitedly. Although he is no longer young, his ambition is not old. He can shine on the road ahead at any time.

Feng Ye hugged Yan Sikong from behind, put his big hand on Yan Sikong's hand, slowly inserted his slender fingers into his fingers, and then held it tightly: "The great ambitions you and I made in childhood, I will always keep them in my heart."

"I know, and I never dare to forget." Yan Sikong said bitterly, "At that time, I always thought that when I grew up, I would be able to strengthen my ambitions. Now that I look back, I realize that life is not in our control. Even if I try my best, I may not be able to achieve even one iota of my goals."

Feng Ye lowered his head and gently kissed Yan Sikong's snow-white neck: "As long as we still have a breath left, it's not the time to give up."

Yan Sikong narrowed his eyes: "Yes, it's not the time to give up yet."

Feng Ye tightened his hands around Yan Sikong's waist, and his other hand wandered over his chest. His soft lips moved up from his neck, kissed his cheek, his earlobe, and then reached his lips.

When Yan Sikong felt that the part of Feng Ye that was pressed against him had a strange reaction, he immediately straightened his body.

After Fengye's injuries healed, he became restless.

The two of them haven't been intimate for a long time. Feng Ye has never concealed his desire, and Yan Sikong is not against it. He just worries about Feng Ye's injury and doesn't allow him to do anything reckless.

But as Feng Ye's body recovered, he became more bold and urgent.

Yan Sikong seemed to have just woken up from a dream. He grabbed Feng Ye's hand that was about to reach into his clothes and said in an embarrassed tone, "Don't you see what time it is?"

"It's the perfect time of spring." Feng Ye's breathing was a little rapid.

"It's broad daylight!" Yan Sikong struggled but failed to break free, "Feng Ye, your..."

"My wounds have healed long ago." Feng Ye bit Yan Sikong's neck gently, "How long do you want me to endure this?"

"I... am here to discuss matters with you." Yan Sikong recalled the past love affairs. Feng Ye's unruly behavior was still vivid in his mind. He was really at a loss for a moment.

"We've discussed this. I'll do as you say." Feng Ye held Yan Sikong tightly in his arms, allowing him to feel his surging desire through his clothes. He pressed his soft lips against his ear and whispered, "Kong'er, I want you."