Chapter 65
At nightfall, Yu Xi returned to the king's tent. Seeing Ling Huanchen guarding the desk, his heart softened. He approached with light steps, so as not to startle him.
Ling Huanchen propped his chin up with one hand, his eyes slightly closed, his breathing shallow, clearly not sound asleep. Yu Xi had intended to carry him to the couch to sleep, but Ling Huanchen opened his eyes the moment she touched his shoulder.
"The King has returned."
Yu Xi had no choice but to sit down. "Don't sleep here. It's different from the palace. It's cold and dewy here. It's easy to catch a cold."
Ling Huanchen let him put the cloak on him, "Your Majesty, you forgot again. I won't catch a cold."
"You should be careful then." Yu Xi looked at him disapprovingly. "Just because it didn't happen before doesn't mean it won't happen again. Huanchen is living as a mortal now, eating whole grains. As long as you eat whole grains, you're bound to get sick like a mortal."
Ling Huanchen remembered that he had been raised on a diet of whole grains since he was a child, and had never suffered from a cold like other people, but he still readily agreed.
"Your Majesty, you must be hungry." He lifted the plate beside him, revealing steaming rice porridge. "I see the food in the barracks is simple, mostly consisting of dry rations. I cooked some rice porridge today, and I've distributed the rest, leaving a bowl for Your Majesty."
Yu Xi took it and took a sip. "It tastes good. Huanchen, don't just care about others and forget about yourself."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I've already eaten." Ling Huanchen watched Yu Xi finish the entire bowl of rice porridge and said softly, "Another day, I'll think of other ways to make the dry food more flavorful."
"Huanchen, don't work so hard. Just let the people below do it." Yu Xi put the bowl aside, covered Ling Huanchen's hand and patted it twice. "I didn't bring Huanchen here to serve others."
"I can't go to the battlefield to kill the enemy, and the military and medical staff are already staffed. I always want to do something for the king." After thinking about it, he could only think of cooking for the time being.
Yu Xi pulled him up and walked to the couch, settled him down, and then got into the quilt herself.
"Huanchen came here with me to do the rare thing for me. There is no need to do anything else."
Selfishly, he wanted to see Ling Huanchen day and night, but he didn't want Ling Huanchen to follow him to the front lines and suffer, so he initially refused to let him go. He wanted to surround his little mermaid with numerous barriers to ensure she would never be affected by the flames of war.
When Ling Huanchen insisted on accompanying him, he did so not only because he couldn't refuse, but also because he wanted to respect Ling Huanchen's choice.
Ling Huanchen let him hold her obediently, "Your Majesty will surely triumph."
Yu Xi tilted her head and placed a kiss on him. "Thanks to Huanchen's good words, I will definitely do it."
The next morning, Yu Xi led his troops to battle early. It was the first time that Ling Huanchen saw Yu Xi wearing armor.
Whether this man is wearing a royal robe or armor, he has an innate dignity and sacredness, like a god descending from heaven.
Ling Huanchen knew that although Yu Xi was going to the battle, he wouldn't necessarily be there in person. Furthermore, it was reported that the enemy was only sending two generals, and King Mingcheng was not skilled in horsemanship or archery, making him unfit for the front lines. Their chief general was a distinguished warrior, though somewhat advanced in years. The deputy general, rumored to be a god of war, was young and aggressive, and not particularly on good terms with King Mingcheng.
With such a lineup, they have a great chance of winning.
Ever since Yu Xi went to war, Ling Huanchen has been sitting in the tent, holding a military book, waiting for Yu Xi to return triumphantly.
"I pay my respects to Your Highness."
Ling Huanchen looked up and saw Ji Yunlou at the entrance of the king's tent. He immediately put down the scroll and said, "Come in quickly."
Ji Yunlou bowed before sitting down, "The injuries of the wounded outside have all been treated."
"Thank you for your hard work, Yunlou. There is no tea here. Have a drink of water." As he said that, Ling Huanchen personally picked up the kettle and was about to pour him a cup.
Ji Yunlou quickly took the kettle and poured it himself, "Your Highness, please don't move. I can do it myself."
"Your Majesty did not order Yunlou to accompany us today?" Could it be because the other party did not bring out the Fengming people?
"According to intelligence, Mingcheng went into battle today, and there was no trace of the Fengming Clan. The King has asked me to stand by."
As expected, "If we face off, how confident is Yunlou?"
Ji Yunlou curved his lower lip and said, "Ten points."
Ling Huanchen was stunned when he heard this, but then he was relieved. The Ji Yunlou he knew was like this, and he never knew what humility was.
"Yunlou, listen, it sounds like a horn." And there was more than one.
Ji Yunlou stood up and said, "Three horn sounds, Your Highness, do you know what this means?"
He had read in military books that three blasts of a trumpet signified a triumphant return. The war had been raging for days, and Yu Xi had just arrived to take command of the battle, and now they had achieved a great victory. This was a good omen and would boost morale.
The two of them left the king's tent one after another, and saw a group of soldiers escorting a man in armor. The man was tied with iron chains, but his head was held high.
The escort team passed by in the distance. Ji Yunlou frowned and did not speak for a long time.
Ling Huanchen called out to him twice, but received no response. He had no choice but to raise his voice, "Yunlou."
Ji Yunlou finally came back to his senses, "Your Highness."
Ling Huanchen looked at the figure in the distance and asked, "Could it be that Yunlou knows this person?"
Ji Yunlou sighed, "I've never seen him before."
Ling Huanchen stared at him for a while, without comment or asking any further questions.
The escort team has returned, why is Yu Xi still not here?
Ling Huanchen looked towards the camp entrance and stopped a soldier on the way, "Where is your king?"
The young soldier didn't dare to look up, and hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, the king and the army are behind us and will return to the camp soon."
"Who was the one who was captured?"
The young soldier stammered, "Yes, it's the deputy commander of Mingcheng, Qi Yu."
Ling Huanchen glanced at Ji Yunlou and thought that since he had won the first battle and captured the deputy general, it must be that Yu Xi went into battle personally.
"Is the king injured?"
"No!" The soldier suddenly looked up, saw Ling Huanchen's true face, and immediately lowered his head again, "Your Highness, Your Highness, don't worry, the King is unharmed."
At this time, a large group of people from Youcheng finally appeared in Yingkou, led by Yu Xi riding a tall horse.
While the little soldier was still stammering to comfort Ling Huanchen, Ling Huanchen no longer cared about listening to him and ran straight towards the large group of people.
When Yu Xi saw him coming, he pulled the reins and spurred his horse ahead. When he reached Ling Huanchen, he dismounted and supported him.
"Don't run so fast, or you might fall."
Ling Huanchen was relieved to see that the person in front of him was unharmed. "Congratulations, Your Majesty."
"I've said long ago that Huanchen is my lucky star, and my words will surely come true." After saying that, he pulled the man back to the king's tent.
The generals who had been stationed at the border all year round looked on with envy, "I've only heard rumors before, but now seeing is believing. As the saying goes, I only envy the mandarin ducks, not the immortals."
Ji Yunlou couldn't help but look sideways when he heard a military general suddenly drop a poem. "General, there's no need to envy Yuanyang. Such loving scenes will happen frequently in the future."
The general sneered and scratched his head, "The high priest is making fun of me."
Ji Yunlou shook his head. He was not making fun of anyone. He was just looking for companions who had suffered the same harm.
That night, Yu Xi ordered rewards for the three armies. The soldiers had not seen oil and water for a long time, and they were as happy as if it were New Year's Day.
Yu Xi did not eat with the generals, but took Ling Huanchen to enjoy some time alone in the royal tent.
"Didn't the king say he wouldn't personally participate in the first battle? Why did you suddenly change your mind?"
Yu Xi raised an eyebrow when he heard this. "Today, I saw Deputy General Mingcheng bravely fighting on the battlefield, fighting one against a hundred, and I changed my mind."
Ling Huanchen understood what he meant, "Your Majesty, do you want to take him in for your own use?"
Yu Xi looked back, a smile in her eyes, "The one who understands me is Huan Chen."
Although this man was rumored to be at odds with the King of Mingcheng, he had fought bravely for Mingcheng, so recruiting him would be difficult. He only took a quick glance at him, but he seemed to be someone who would be soft-hearted. However, regarding a conciliatory policy, he probably wasn't interested in money or sex.
"How will the king make this man surrender?"
Yu Xi pondered for a moment, "I'm going to let him go."
Ling Huanchen thought back to the military manual, and there didn't seem to be such a rule. "Let it go, and then catch it again?"
"That's right, put it back and catch it again." Yu Xi put the roasted chicken leg into Ling Huanchen's bowl and said gently, "Rub his sharpness first."
This person is arrogant and proud, so if you can convince him with your strength, it would be a good idea.
Yu Xi personally went to the place where Qi Yu was imprisoned and had him untied. Looking at Qi Yu again, although he was still unconvinced, he always respected those who were stronger than him, even if that person was from the other camp.
"What does King You mean?"
"I am here to let General Qi go back." Yu Xi said this and turned to leave.
Qi Yu wanted to ask something but he didn't have time to do so. The question was stuck in his heart, unable to be released or get out.
As soon as Qi Yu was released, Ling Huanchen, standing in the distance, saw a person in the shadows. After looking carefully, he found that it was Ji Yunlou's figure.
Could it be that he and Qi Yu really know each other?
"Why are you standing outside?"
Seeing Yu Xi coming back, Ling Huanchen smiled and accompanied Yu Xi back to the tent.
"What if he still refuses to surrender after being captured again?"
Yu Xi embraced the person and put him on the bed, very gently, "If he is talented, we can use him for our own benefit. If he is used by the enemy, we can only get rid of him."
Ling Huanchen thought for a moment and said, "I think he will definitely surrender to Youcheng."
Yu Xi kissed his forehead, "How did Huanchen determine that?"
Ling Huanchen blinked, "Intuition."
Since Qi Yu was released, he had not been seen on the battlefield for two consecutive days. He did not go into battle, and Yu Xi did not personally lead the troops, but only commanded from the rear.
It was seven days later when Ling Huanchen saw him again in the barracks. Just like the first time he was escorted, Qi Yu's hands were tied with chains. He followed the soldiers step by step, holding his head high and chest puffed out, not looking like a prisoner at all.
When Yu Xi came back, Ling Huanchen didn't ask a single question about Qi Yu. Instead, Yu Xi spoke up.
"Huan Chen is curious whether he will agree to surrender or not?"
Ling Huanchen raised his eyes and said, "I guess not."
If he had surrendered, he would have been released by now, and why would he still be under heavy guard?
Yu Xi put his hands behind his back and paced in front of the desk, "It's not completely impossible."
The author has something to say:
Thank you "Lanlin" for the encouragement of nutrient solution!
The article is expected to be completed in about a week.
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