The peace negotiation was initiated by Jiang Yanhui.
Their hot breaths mingled, and their passionate kisses revealed unspoken feelings of love. Losang nervously clutched the fabric of Jiang Yanhui's clothes at her shoulder, the expensive material crumpling between her slender, white fingers. Losang felt a slight fear, as if Jiang Yanhui were about to devour her whole. Her moist lips grew dry and rough from the constant friction, and as their tongues danced together, her teeth accidentally brushed against her upper lip, causing a stinging pain in Losang's nose. She turned her head away, barely catching her breath, when the next kiss impatiently followed, drawing in the already thin air from her lungs.
Only after both lips had completely lost sensation did Jiang Yan reluctantly withdraw. His dark eyes, filled with desire, stared silently at Luo Sang, who was clutching her chest and gasping for breath. His crimson tongue brushed against her lower lip, which was stained with blood, his gaze unfathomable. His arms were domineeringly and forcefully placed on either side of Luo Sang's body, possessively enclosing her in his territory.
Losang stared blankly, his numb lips regaining feeling. His cheeks suddenly flushed red, and the burning pain on his lips reminded him that Jiang Yanhui's tongue had just licked the blood seeping from the cut on his lip. In the ambiguous yet wildly tense tug-of-war, Losang's legs went weak and his head spun. He tiptoed onto the table, avoiding a certain unspeakable reaction, his misty eyes, glistening with tears, seemed to want to say something but held back.
Glug—
After being hungry for most of the day, its stomach finally gave way, making an untimely rumble, protesting its owner's neglect and mistreatment. Losang, with its flushed face and still dazed from being kissed, looked at Jiang Yan Hui for a moment and clearly saw the smile in Jiang Yan Hui's eyes. Losang immediately lowered its head in shame.
Jiang Yanhui smiled with a good mood, reached out and brushed aside the strands of hair that were falling beside Luo Sang's face, bent down slightly and rested her chin on his shoulder, her voice close to his ear as she asked, "Are you coming or not?"
A tingling, trembling sensation instantly made half of Losang's body go limp. He bit his tongue to avoid making a shameful sound, clutched the woman's clothes at her waist, and shook his head. He wasn't leaving. When he realized he would never see Jiang Yan again, Losang felt as if his life had stopped at that moment. Time seemed to flow slowly and thickly, each passing moment feeling like it was drowning and suffocating him.
Jiang Yan looked down and saw Losang's pert nose and rosy cheeks. A strong sense of possessiveness surged up, like a murmur of longing, but also like a warning containing intimidation, "Even if Urentuya comes to take her away herself, I will not let her go."
The vow was made at this moment, and at this moment, they clearly understood how intense their love for each other was. For those whose love and desire had reached their peak, even a single glance could ignite a prairie fire. Jiang Yan looked away, and Luo Sang lowered his eyes. An undercurrent of tension tugged at their heartstrings.
"Your Majesty, you're back!" Aunt Pan looked incredulous. Jiang Yan had actually returned to the Jiangbei Prince's Mansion from the military camp under the moonlight. If she hadn't seen the servant who had been sent to deliver the message, Aunt Pan would have thought that someone was seeing things.
Aunt Pan was so shocked that she didn't notice the strange posture of Jiang Yanhui and Luosang at first. By the time she took the time to observe, Luosang had already slid off the table and stood properly to the side, keeping a step's distance from Jiang Yanhui as if she were doing something wrong.
Jiang Yan Hui found her little gestures incredibly endearing, which brought her immense joy and made everything around her seem more pleasing to the eye. She took off her thin shawl and draped it over her arm, her long-gloomy eyes regaining their brightness. Smiling, she said to Aunt Pan, "Have the kitchen bring some food."
Aunt Pan immediately understood that the two had reconciled, and she smiled more happily than anyone else. These past few days, Wang Zun had been in low spirits. Outsiders only thought it was due to a relapse of his old illness, but only the servants who had long served him knew that Wang Zun's ailment was psychological. A psychological ailment requires a psychological cure, and fortunately, Ah Chou… oh no, now I should call him Losang, was willing to come back.
"Your Majesty, the food is all warming in the boiler. I'll have it brought over right away," Aunt Pan said cheerfully. Without delay, she ordered the dishes to be served. Instead of eating in the hall, they were taken directly to the main room, where the guests could wash up and rest afterward. The King hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time, and Aunt Pan hoped that Losang's return would allow him to get a comfortable night's rest, and also put their minds at ease.
Jiang Yanhui and Luosang walked one after the other, it was unclear whether one was a half-beat behind or a half-step ahead, they walked side by side, arm in arm.
Losang glanced sideways at the woman's face. In the moonlight, Jiang Yanhui's profile was like a handsome sculpture, every angle and contour making Losang's heart race. He couldn't help but lick his swollen, red lips, the sweet taste enveloping his pounding heart.
Strolling under the moon, everything was incredibly peaceful. Losang mustered up his courage and hooked his fingertip around Jiang Yanhui's palm. Jiang Yanhui turned around and held his hand in hers. The warmth of their bodies made him feel incredibly safe.
When they returned to the main house, the food was served right on time. Losang, who was already starving, ate two more bowls of rice. His swollen lips were shiny with oil, and his big, innocent eyes looked at Jiang Yanhui, who hadn't touched his chopsticks much, with confusion. He tentatively took a bowl, ladled some soup, and placed it next to Jiang Yanhui.
Jiang Yanhui picked up the bowl and tasted it. Losang unconsciously became nervous, as if he had personally cooked the soup and hoped Jiang Yanhui would like it. After Jiang Yanhui finished drinking it, a strange sense of satisfaction welled up in Losang's heart. He seemed to understand why Jiang Yanhui had been so enthusiastic about feeding him before. It turned out that feeding someone you like was such a satisfying feeling.
After finishing his meal, Losang patted his slightly protruding belly and leaned back on the soft couch, every pore exuding relaxation and comfort. His eyes, sparkling like glass beads in the candlelight, followed Jiang Yanhui's movements. Love for someone is something that cannot be hidden; even if you cover your eyes and cover your mouth, your body will still unconsciously move closer to the other person.
Upon hearing that the King of Jiangbei had returned to the manor, the guards who had come with Losang were taken aback for a moment. Not forgetting their mission, they carried the letter entrusted to them by Urentuya and, led by a servant, arrived at the main courtyard. Only after receiving permission from Jiang Yanhui did they enter the outer room to speak.
The prolonged hostility had unconsciously made them tense, ready to retreat or fight to the death at any moment. But when they saw the prince with his rosy cheeks and a lazy, happy aura, they all relaxed a little, at least no longer looking like they were about to suddenly attack.
The lead guard solemnly took out a letter sealed with wax from his person, handed it to Aunt Pan for inspection, and then presented it to Jiang Yan Hui, speaking in a somewhat broken Central Plains dialect, "This is a letter from our King to you."
Losang, both curious and nervous, moved closer to Jiang Yanhui, fidgeting with his hands, his eyes filled with unease. The guards had kept it a secret from him the entire journey, and he had no idea his sister had sent a letter. The more they kept it from Losang, the more he felt it couldn't contain anything good; otherwise, why would Urentuya be so wary of him?
The flickering candlelight made it difficult to see clearly. Just as he was about to get a closer look, Jiang Yanhui's light, fleeting gaze fell upon him. Losang immediately stopped what he was doing, pretending not to care as he sat back down on the soft couch. In reality, however, the way he clutched the crumpled hem of his robe completely betrayed his anxiety.
Jiang Yan carefully read the letter, which was only one sheet of paper. As time went on, Losang's anxiety turned into curiosity about the contents of the letter. What could have been written that made Jiang Yan read it so carefully?
Losang thought that Urentuya was his sister and Jiang Yanhui was his lover, so he had the right to read the letter no matter what! Losang found a suitable reason to convince himself, and when he got up to ask Jiang Yanhui for the letter, he heard Jiang Yanhui chuckle, fold the letter in half, put one corner on the candle wick, and soon the flame swallowed the paper to ashes.
"I understand."
The You Clan guards exchanged glances, nodded slightly, and retreated.
Completely bewildered, Losang stared with his round, doe-like eyes at the letter that had turned to ash, finding it hard to believe that Jiang Yanhui would actually burn it. It truly contained content he couldn't even read. Suddenly, his nose itched. Losang tried to hold it in, but couldn't resist, and a sneeze blew away the remaining ashes.
Lausanne: ...
Losang, unwilling to give up, moved his lips, recalling the feeling of speaking in the past, and asked with a slightly awkward accent, "What is it?"
Without the Youzu guards by his side, Losang became bolder in his behavior. He imitated the coquettish scenes he had seen in his memory, leaned against Jiang Yanhui's arms, and sat on the woman's lap, asking again.
Longing for Jiang Yanhui for days had made Losang lose his appetite and look haggard. He had specially applied powder to his face to make his complexion look rosy and bright, which made him even more alluring after their passionate kiss. He sat in her lap, breathing in the fragrance of his cosmetics, subtly teasing Jiang Yanhui.
Losang, who had been limp, suddenly straightened up. Her bright eyes widened, and her fair earlobes blushed. She patted the hand that was rubbing her lower back in an ambiguous way and gave Jiang Yanhui a coquettish glare.
Having said her piece, Jiang Yanhui stopped using her hand on his waist, a pleased smile playing on her lips. Because Luo Sang was sitting on her lap, Jiang Yanhui had to tilt her head slightly to meet his gaze. The woman, with her chin raised and eyes slightly narrowed, was exceptionally alluring in the candlelight, like a dashing rogue from a storybook, her handsome face concealing a heartbreaking coldness.
Losang was so mesmerized by the letter that he forgot to ask about its contents. It wasn't until a kiss landed on his lips that he snapped back to reality and pulled away. To avoid being bewitched by Jiang Yanhui again, Losang placed his hands on her shoulders, pursed his lips, and his gaze was exceptionally firm.
“Urentuya wants me to take good care of her only brother.” Jiang Yanhui indulged Losang’s little whims, finding everything extremely amusing. “Although I don’t have a good impression of Urentuya, I can’t deny that she is a good older sister.”
Losang looked intently at Jiang Yan Hui, listening to her continue, "Before we left Lingzhou, Urentuya had discussed with me the matter of finding you, but at the time she was unwilling to go into details, so I didn't know the specific method to recognize the Youbu prince."
“Do you remember the village we passed through on our way to the capital? There was a man there who once delivered things to the nobles of the You tribe. He recognized your extraordinary status by the red mole behind your ear. Dou Yu told me about it, and that's how I guessed your identity.”
Losang's pupils contracted slightly. He never expected that Jiang Yanhui knew about his identity as the prince of the You tribe so early on. He opened his mouth to ask something, but Jiang Yanhui had already answered for him.
"At that time, you were extraordinary in my heart. I admit that I had selfish motives and suppressed Dou Yu's desire to confess. I pretended to be unaware and continued to keep you by my side. Later, at the palace banquet, I finally understood what love was like. I found that I was willing to give the choice back to you and let you choose whether to stay or return to Youbu."
Jiang Yan wiped away the tears that had unknowingly fallen on Losang's face, and the smile on her thin lips was as gentle as water. "Whether you are A Chou or Losang, I hope you can be happy."
——
The night breeze made the branches and leaves tremble, and the leaping flames licked the red candle until it was almost dead. The thin, pearly curtains of the bed still shimmered in the dim light. Losang slept soundly on the soft bed, his fair face pressed against the brocade pillow, his whole body stretched out in comfortable relaxation. Only the faint, sweet, and warm scent in the air revealed the passionate lovemaking they had just shared.
Jiang Yanhui's long, ink-black hair was casually tied back, and the thin shirt she wore was loose, revealing a large expanse of delicate skin on her chest. Her deeply recessed collarbones were exquisitely beautiful, and there were still shallow teeth marks left by someone who had bitten her in anger.
She walked to the window and opened it to let in some fresh air. A gentle breeze, carrying the fragrance of early spring blossoms, wafted in and ruffled the woman's hair. The letter also mentioned something Jiang Yan hadn't told Losang: Urentuya requested to see her one more time, this time asking Jiang Yan to return to her ship.
Even though Urentuya let Losang return to her side, and even though Urentuya and Losang were siblings, Jiang Yanhui still couldn't feel any goodwill towards the ruthless and cold-hearted Urentuya, and had to be wary of her using underhanded tricks behind his back.
Jiang Yan Hui will definitely go to the appointment, not only because of Luo Sang, but also because she will eventually have to sit down and negotiate with Urentuya on the matter of the two countries. However, the scenario Jiang Yan Hui envisions is that the You tribe can no longer sustain the losses caused by the annual war and will take the initiative to seek peace. Or perhaps she will defeat the You tribe, forcing Urentuya to cease hostilities and negotiate peace.
The bed curtains swayed twice. Jiang Yanhui looked up and saw that the sleeping Luosang was rubbing his eyes and peeking out, his dazed eyes searching for Jiang Yanhui's figure. When he saw the person standing by the window, he breathed a sigh of relief without even realizing it. He was afraid that it was all a dream, that he had never left the territory of Youbu, and had never returned to the Jiangbei Prince's Mansion.
Losang's shoulders relaxed, and he quickly walked over in his shoes, softly hugging Jiang Yan Hui's waist. His little face naturally pressed against Jiang Yan Hui's shoulder, rubbing against it again and again.
Jiang Yan Hui deliberately concealed the contents of the letter because she didn't want the innocent Losang to get involved in her feud with Urentuya. But when Losang relied on her wholeheartedly, Jiang Yan Hui's heart softened completely, and she seemed to understand that her tenderness was because she couldn't bear to see him worry.
“I have to go out tomorrow.” Jiang Yanhui lowered her eyes and gently massaged Losang’s lower back. “Urentuya asked me to meet her on the ship. You stay at the manor and wait for me.”
Losang pursed his lips unhappily, knowing that the letter was not simply about telling Jiang Yan to take good care of him.
Regardless, Losang was worried that his sister might do something to Jiang Yanhui. During his time in the You tribe, he had heard some of their discussions about Jiang Yanhui. He felt both fear and hatred towards Jiang Yanhui and was trying to find ways to get rid of this renowned and invincible war god.
Losang tugged at Jiang Yan Hui's sleeve and shook his head. He had to go with her; in case, in case his sister did something to Jiang Yan Hui, his presence could protect her, at least ensure Jiang Yan Hui's safe departure.
"Listen to me." Jiang Yanhui curled her lips casually, as if they were going on a leisurely spring outing rather than some dangerous place. "If you go, I'll be distracted. My eyes will always be glued to you. How will I be able to talk business then?"
It was rare to hear sweet words from Jiang Yan Hui's mouth, and Losang was so overwhelmed by the beauty that she nodded in agreement in a daze under his sweet offensive. When she woke up the next morning and watched Jiang Yan Hui's departing figure, Losang was filled with deep regret.
——
A gentle spring breeze rippled the surface of the lake. The two boats maintained a relatively safe distance in the center of the lake. Jiang Yanhui boarded the small boat and headed towards the boat from Youbu. Lang Rong and Deng Jiajin also boarded the boat together.
Countless gazes fell upon Jiang Yan Hui as they climbed onto the deck, filled with curiosity, hatred, and anger. They had finally gotten their chance to bring Jiang Yan Hui back to their territory. Unfortunately, their leader had forbade anyone to touch them today, so they could only watch helplessly as Jiang Yan Hui and the others entered the cabin.
"They looked at us as if they wanted to devour us alive." Deng Jiajin rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. She had been in Lingzhou for two years and this was the first time she had dealt with the You Clan people face to face. They were all big and burly, and there was a strange sense of oppression in front of her.
Upon learning that he would be boarding the Youbu ship, Lang Rong's brow remained furrowed. Fortunately, he didn't ramble on this time. He gripped the sword at his waist, maintaining a state of alert readiness for battle, and asked with concern, "Will everything really be alright?"
“If Urentuya really wanted to attack us, she would have done so the moment we boarded the ship.” Jiang Yanhui was quite leisurely, even admiring the structure of the Youbu ship. He tapped the wall with his knuckles to make sure there were no hidden rooms around before pushing the door open and entering.
In the conference room of the ship's cabin, Urentuya leaned back in her chair with an air of self-assurance, her lowered gaze sweeping over Jiang Yanhui and Lang Rong and Deng Jiajin behind her. She lingered on Lang Rong's sword for a couple more seconds before looking away.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Jiang Yanhui pulled out a chair and sat down, her sharp edge undiminished. "I should finish dealing with the matters within the manor before coming here."
“I don’t agree to Losang going back, but no matter how much I explain the reasons to him, it’s no use. He’s single-mindedly focused on returning to your side, even at the cost of his health.” Urentuya’s eyes were filled with displeasure as she looked at Jiang Yan Hui. If it weren’t for the deep care Losang had for her, Urentuya would have really wanted to take this opportunity to teach this proud son of heaven, the King of Jiangbei, a lesson.
"However, I didn't invite you here today for the matter of Lausanne, but rather to discuss a cooperation that would benefit both of us."
"Oh?" Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow. Urentuya's words were never very credible to her. She chuckled and tapped the table with her fingertip. "Why don't you tell me first?"
The conversation continued until midday when the sun was blazing. Under the complex gazes of the You tribesmen, Jiang Yanhui and the others disembarked safely. Once they were a little further away, Lang Rong, noticing the You soldiers on the deck had shrunk to mere black dots, finally asked, "Is what she said really credible?"
“We have received definite information that the You tribe does indeed have conflicts with the Keshenqin tribe, but it has only been a minor skirmish for the past year before it has escalated into a major conflict.” Deng Jiajin squeezed Qin’s sweaty palms, wiped them clean on her clothes without making a sound, and continued to analyze for Lang Rong in a calm tone: “The Keshenqin tribe was previously divided into five small tribes due to internal strife, until it was unified and merged by the new leader before the new year. The new leader is ambitious and has declared that she is a child of the grasslands and will unify the various tribes of the grasslands on behalf of the gods.”
Deng Jiajin turned her head slightly to look at Jiang Yanhui, "According to the topographical map in your tent, the You tribe is sandwiched between Lingzhou and the Keshenqin tribe. If the Keshenqin launches an attack on the You tribe, she will be attacked from both sides. Therefore, negotiating peace with you through your relationship with Losang is the most appropriate choice for Urentuya at present."
Deng Jiajin analyzed the situation thoroughly, which means she must have done a lot of research in private. She probably had been waiting for the opportunity for a long time, but she didn't expect it to come so quickly.
"According to my opinion, it is feasible." After analyzing the situation, Deng Jiajin began to explain her point of view. Naturally, she would avoid war if possible, saying, "The leader of the Keshenqin tribe has ambitions that are definitely not limited to the grasslands. After the grasslands are recovered, he will definitely set his sights on the Central Plains, which will then become a formidable enemy. It would be better to reach an agreement with the You tribe and help the You tribe take down the Keshenqin tribe."
As Deng Jiajin hesitated, unsure whether to say something, Jiang Yanhui looked over as if she had noticed something and said, "You can speak your mind."
Exhaling slowly, Deng Jiajin said, "After careful observation, I feel that Urentuya values her younger brother extremely. With Losang as a hostage in your hands, I imagine Urentuya wouldn't dare to go back on her word."
Lang Rong suddenly turned her head and looked at Deng Jiajin in shock. They all knew about the relationship between Jiang Yanhui and Luosang. Even if they had such thoughts in their hearts, they would not easily say them out loud. After all, civil officials are bold and dare to say anything.
The words are harsh, but they are indeed true.
Jiang Yanhui chuckled lightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Whether a consensus could be reached with the You tribe would depend on reporting the matter to His Majesty in the capital.
——
The cooperation with the You tribe was no small matter. Jiang Yanhui and the others returned to the military camp and recounted the whole story to Dou Yao. It would be most appropriate for her to report to the Emperor in her name via letter. After dealing with everything, it was already close to dusk when she finally had some free time. Jiang Yanhui politely declined Dou Yao's suggestion to stay and rest for the night, and rode away from the military camp on her black cloud-like horse, her robes fluttering in the wind.
They rode swiftly all the way, arriving back in Lingzhou City at night. Jiang Yan dismounted at the gate of the Prince's mansion, tossed the reins to the horseman, and walked steadily into the mansion.
A dark, shadowy figure rushed towards her, and before she could even see what it was, it pounced into Jiang Yan Hui's arms, clinging tightly to her waist.
Jiang Yan hugged Losang tightly, put her arm around his shoulder, and felt much lighter after a gloomy day. "Running so fast, aren't you afraid of falling?"
Losang raised her little face, and the flickering candlelight under the eaves illuminated her bright eyes. Her eyes were wet, clearly showing signs of crying. She bit her lower lip and glared at him silently. Her puffed-up cheeks and angry expression were not intimidating at all, but rather made her look adorable.
Jiang Yan asked, "You've been waiting for me to come back?"
Losang nodded, his tongue twirling as he awkwardly said, "Worried."
He tapped Jiang Yan with his fingertip.
Last night, Losang agreed not to go with Jiang Yan, but he couldn't stop worrying. So today, he couldn't sit still or eat, and just squatted at the door, anxiously waiting for Jiang Yan to return. As the sun rose higher and higher, Losang's worries grew; as the sun set, his anxiety intensified.
Aunt Pan and Uncle Ban's attempts to persuade him were useless; Losang was frighteningly stubborn in some ways. He secretly wiped away his tears, and after crying his fill, he cheered himself up and continued to squat by the door waiting for Jiang Yan to return. Fortunately, she did come back.
Anticipating that he would lose his appetite after leaving Losang, Jiang Yan returned to Xi'an and had a servant bring food to his room. She then took Losang's hand and walked towards the main house, briefly telling him about the day's events to put his mind at ease.
Losang listened attentively, his big, bright eyes blinking thoughtfully. He shook Jiang Yanhui's hand, knowing that a single glance was enough to understand his thoughts.
Jiang Yan replied, "If it can avoid war, my elder sister will agree, but it will be a little unfair to you."
Losang didn't understand why Jiang Yanhui said that. There was no conflict between Youbu and Lingzhou, and he could stay by Jiang Yanhui's side with peace of mind, which seemed like a good thing no matter how you looked at it. Although Losang didn't understand what Jiang Yanhui meant by feeling wronged, he still smiled and shook his head, hugged Jiang Yanhui's arm, leaned softly against him, and relied on him completely.
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