Chapter 89 Fulfilling a vow for your lord is the hardest thing to bear – the kindness of a beautiful woman.
Yang Lingyi smiled and said, "Sister has an exceptional alcohol tolerance, how could you get drunk?"
Shen Lianzhou and Yang Lingyi sat on either side of Yuan Yan, talking to each other and serving her food.
"Sister Yan, eat more meat. Look how thin you've become."
"Your Highness, please try the partridge soup; it's very nourishing."
Yuan Yan had indeed enjoyed the company of beautiful women, with male servants attentively attending to him on both sides. To avoid favoritism, Yuan Yan ate anything fed to him by the two men.
Seeing that she was already more than half full, and that Yang Lingyi and the others still showed no sign of stopping, Yuan Yan quickly picked up the pearl dumplings, one for Yang Lingyi and one for Chen Lianzhou, and stuffed them into their mouths.
"Alright, stop focusing on me, you guys should eat too."
"Hmm..."
Caught off guard, Yang Lingyi's mouth was covered by hers, and she blushed slightly. Knowing that her secret rivalry with Shen Shuqing had been discovered by Sister Yan, she finally stopped and obediently quieted down.
Shen Lianzhou smiled and slowly ate the pearl dumplings.
This was fed to him personally by His Highness, and it tasted quite unique. A sweet feeling spread through Shen Lianzhou's heart.
At a table, Lu Lingyue watched Yuan Yan being intimate with two men, while her own place felt isolated and deserted.
Although he was already used to this kind of scene, his heart was still filled with loneliness and coldness, with a faint bitterness that he couldn't quite describe.
Yang Lingyi noticed his unusual behavior and asked him about it.
"Master Lu, why are you only serving this vegetarian stew? Is there anything wrong with the other dishes?"
Lu Lingyue was surprised that she was being discovered while she was eating quietly. Upon hearing this, she was stunned and didn't know how to explain.
"Dinner was very plentiful. It's not that the dishes didn't suit my taste, it's just that I haven't been eating meat lately, so there were no other dishes," he said softly.
Hearing their conversation, Yuan Yan turned his head slightly to look over, and Shen Lianzhou stopped talking as well.
Lu Lingyue felt a gaze, almost tangible, fall upon him. Knowing it was Yuan Yan looking at him, Lu Lingyue's heart was filled with unease.
"Not eating meat? Why? When did this happen?" Yuan Yan was puzzled by this question. He looked at Lu Lingyue and asked with a slight frown.
"..."
When Yuan Yan asked him a question, Lu Lingyue was momentarily at a loss for words.
Yang Lingyi asked him, "Master Lu, are you feeling unwell?"
Lu Lingyue shook her head slightly: "I feel perfectly fine."
"Why is that?" Yuan Yan asked, his voice tinged with impatience.
Seeing the prince's displeasure, Hengwu worried that her young master might keep it to himself and annoy the prince, so she immediately stepped forward, knelt down and spoke.
"Your Highness, shortly after Your Highness went to war, His Majesty made a vow. If Your Highness returned safely, he would observe a vegetarian diet for one hundred days as a way of fulfilling his vow... Today is the day to fulfill his vow, so His Majesty does not wish to eat meat."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yan asked the system in his mind.
Is he telling the truth?
【Let me see, it's definitely true. Lu Lingyue, that blockhead, didn't say anything caring, but she hasn't been sleeping well since you left.】
Seeking some solace, he practiced asceticism and prayer, hoping you wouldn't get hurt on the battlefield... Later, when you returned, he became like this.
Yuan Yan stared at Lu Lingyue, his brows furrowing slightly.
"If that's really the case, then why are you unwilling to tell His Highness, Lu Shifu?" Yang Lingyi asked, questioning Lu Lingyue.
Yang Lingyi went to the temple to pray for Yuan Yan's safety, but he didn't think there was anything to hide about it.
Yang Lingyi knew how good he was to Yan-jie, and she would treat him even better in return. She simply couldn't understand why Lu Lingyue was being so secretive.
"This was something I did in private, it's not worth mentioning," Lu Lingyue said in a low voice.
Some things take on a different meaning once they're said.
In Yuan Yan's mind now, he is already a sycophantic and heartless person.
Lu Lingyue didn't want Yuan Yan to think that even his actions were motivated by ulterior motives, a show he was putting on to win favor, so she didn't want to say anything.
Yuan Yan didn't speak, but drank a cup of wine.
Is Lu Lingyue's current behavior a sign of regret and an attempt to make amends to her?
Unfortunately... some feelings, once missed, are missed forever, and no amount of regret can change that.
"Your Highness, how about trying this dish?"
Seeing that Yuan Yan was not very interested, Shen Lianzhou knew that His Highness did not want to listen anymore, so she spoke up in time to change the subject.
Seeing the prince's uneasy expression, Hengwu felt slightly uneasy. After returning, he asked Lu Lingyue, "Master, did I say something wrong at the banquet?"
"It's not that you said something wrong, it's that I upset her again." A hint of hurt flashed in Lu Lingyue's eyes, with a faint glimmer of tears welling up within them.
...
That night, Yuan Yan rested in Chen Lianzhou's room.
Shen Lianzhou had been separated from His Highness for many days and was missing him dearly. At Yuan Yan's slightest touch, his body softened like spring water.
"Lotus Boat, play a tune for me," Yuan Yan said.
"But I cannot play the zither..."
Shen Lianzhou's eyes were hazy, her once sharp mind now a complete blank, and she murmured softly.
"It's alright, I know how to do it." Yuan Yan smiled.
The strings were taut and then released, repeatedly plucked, producing clear and melodious low hums.
The music never stopped all night. The musician seemed tireless, plucking and strumming the strings, making the strings sing out high and low notes, melodious and tender.
...
The next day.
When Yuan Yan arrived at the study, Zhang Xiaoju, who had mostly recovered, was already waiting there.
Upon meeting Yuan Yan, Zhang Xiaoju first thanked the Prince's Mansion for taking care of her during her recovery period before getting down to business.
"Congratulations, Your Highness, on your great achievement and being appointed as the Grand General of the Phoenix Guard." Zhang Xiaoju cupped his hands in congratulations.
"The people are all praising Your Highness's achievements, and even I have heard quite a bit about them these past two days."
"Your Highness's talents are now on full display, and your influence in the court is growing stronger, showing signs of overshadowing Prince Qi."
Zhang Xiaoju smiled and said, "As the saying goes, 'He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world.' I would like to offer my congratulations to Your Highness in advance."
"It hasn't come to that yet. I know what I'm doing. Lady Zhang, there's no need to flatter me."
Yuan Yan, however, was very clear-headed. She didn't like hearing such polite words, so she shook her head and said, "If you have anything to say, please speak frankly."
“That’s exactly what I wanted to say. It is precisely at times like these that Your Highness must not be careless. Although the situation is currently favorable, no matter how inactive the Prince of Qi may be, he still has a group of supporters in the court.”
Zhang Xiaoju said, "Take Grand Tutor Wang, for example. He is a loyal minister who wholeheartedly supports King Qi. With people like him around, as long as King Qi doesn't make any major mistakes, his foundation will not be shaken for the time being."
"Your Highness, now that you have the upper hand, you must remain calm and not be impatient or do anything out of line that would give others something to talk about."
Yuan Yan nodded: "Rest assured, Lady Historian, I am not such a frivolous and flamboyant person. I will not ruin my future for the sake of temporary glory."
Zhang Xiaoju: "Your Highness's character is clear to even a petty person."
"It's not just Your Highness; everyone in the Prince's residence and the soldiers under Your Highness's command must act cautiously during this period and lest they be plotted against and do anything that would tarnish Your Highness's reputation."
Zhang Xiaoju proceeded with extreme caution. Now that she had staked her entire future on Yuan Yan, she had to be even more careful in considering the new master's future, not wanting any unexpected events to affect Yuan Yan's ascension to the throne.
Yuan Yan: "The Lady Historian's consideration is very thorough. From today onwards, I will be even more disciplined with my servants."
Seeing that Yuan Yan had listened to all her words, Zhang Xiaoju felt a little gratified. In the past, when she was in the Prince of Qi's residence, she had to think carefully before speaking when advising Yuan Jing, for fear of saying something unpleasant and displeasing the Prince of Qi.
But now that it's Yuan Yan, she doesn't need to worry about so much. As long as it makes sense, Yuan Yan will listen to her.
This is the enlightened ruler that Zhang Xiaoju has been longing for.
Zhang Xiaoju felt a surge of emotion as he looked at Yuan Yan, increasingly convinced that he had made the right choice.
...
After Zhang Xiaoju left the study, Yuan Yan summoned Aman, Cheju, and others.
"You will accompany me to take the prisoners."
"Who are you referring to, Your Highness?" Aman scratched his head.
Che Ju reminded her, "Who else could it be but Duan Xuchao from Wu Kingdom?"
Ah Man suddenly remembered, "Oh, it's her! I'd completely forgotten about her."
Yuan Yan left Duan Xuchao hanging for a day or two, but now that he had some time, he prepared to deal with the matter.
"Let's go." Yuan Yan led them outside the prison.
The prison was dimly lit, and the air was damp and musty. Duan Xuchao had been there for several days and had long since grown accustomed to the quiet. She sat silently in a corner, awaiting her fate.
Just as footsteps approached, the jailer opened the door and led her out.
"Pah, this Wuguo man is quite composed." The jailer couldn't help but spit when he saw Duan Xuchao's expression.
"Come out, an adult wants to see you."
When Duan Xuchao was brought in by the jailers, she was wearing prison clothes and her hair was unkempt, but she still stood up straight and did not look dejected.
"Men, remove General Duan's shackles," Yuan Yan ordered.
Che Ju and another servant immediately stepped forward and removed Duan Xuchao's shackles and chains.
Duan Xuchao looked up at the sound and saw Yuan Yan sitting in the main seat.
"King Qin, I am already a prisoner. Kill me if you want. But don't waste your energy. I will never surrender."
Duan Xuchao had overheard Yuan Yan's words about persuading her to surrender while he was in the prison cart that day, so he knew her purpose when he saw Yuan Yan this time.
Upon hearing this, the jailer immediately kicked Duan Xuchao, "You scoundrel, how dare you speak to His Highness like that?"
Yuan Yan thought they were in the way and said, "You can leave."
The jailers quickly withdrew.
"General Duan, don't speak so absolutely," Yuan Yan shook his head.
"General, you should have been beheaded on the day of the prisoner presentation ceremony, just like your comrades. But I think it would be a pity for you to die here, given your bravery and skill in battle. That's why I asked His Majesty to spare your life for now."
Duan Xuchao: "The King of Qin will probably be disappointed. I am by no means a coward who fears death. I will not sell everything and cut down my former comrades just to save my own life."
Her tone was firm, and she was clearly not someone who could be easily persuaded.
Yuan Yan paused slightly, having roughly figured out Duan Xuchao's temperament, and changed his approach.
"I have fought the general on the battlefield... What does the general think of my martial arts skills?"
"The King of Qin's martial arts are indeed extraordinary." Duan Xuchao admitted that, judging from the situation that day, if the fight had lasted longer, he might not have been Yuan Yan's match.
“Then take a look at my capable generals. Their martial arts skills are not necessarily inferior to yours,” Yuan Yan said, his gaze sweeping over Aman and the others.
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