bless
"So you are?" The Khan looked Zhou Ziliang up and down as he saw him kneeling beside Tang Feng. Zhou had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, with a hint of ruthlessness in them; he was clearly a seasoned general.
"Indeed," Zhou Ziliang replied calmly, his expression unwavering. Over the years, Zhou Ziliang had never feared anyone. He had seen all kinds of grand occasions. He had accompanied his father on campaigns at the age of twelve, received an official title at fourteen, and was stationed on the frontier at sixteen. Now, facing the Khan of the Qiang and Hu tribes, he showed no sign of backing down.
"So what if he is? If I want Tang Feng to stay, then I will keep him." Seeing the Khan's increasingly hostile tone, Zhou Ziliang smiled and said, "I already told the princess yesterday that I don't care whether Xiao Feng can come back with me or not; what I care about is whether Xiao Feng is willing. If Xiao Feng really wants to marry the princess, I won't stay here any longer. But Xiao Feng wants to go back to Xiling with me. I've said it so many times, but the Khan is still pestering me, even resorting to using his power to force Xiao Feng to agree. So, I'd like to ask, is the Khan looking for a husband for the princess, or is he just trying to fill his own slave base?"
"Insolence! Who do you think you're talking to?" The burly man stood up, walked up to Zhou Ziliang, and stared at him.
"I am speaking to a father! If the Great Khan wishes to discuss this matter with me as a member of the National Army, he should do so in the main hall, not here. The princess is your family, and you are protecting her, but isn't Xiao Feng also my family in Yanyun? Using my family's happiness to gain your family's happiness, Great Khan, do you not feel guilty, both publicly and privately? Will you feel at ease if the princess and Xiao Feng live together in the future?"
After Zhou Ziliang finished speaking, he also began to reconsider the issue. Actually, Haqiya had approached him yesterday and told him that Tang Feng's sweetheart was a man. He had been holding a grudge only because he couldn't bring himself to let Tang Feng leave. Letting Tang Feng marry Haqiya was something he really needed to reconsider. After all, Tang Feng didn't like women, and no matter how hard his daughter tried, it would probably be futile.
"Is the Great Khan facing some difficulty?" Seeing that the Great Khan remained silent for a long time, Zhou Ziliang looked up and asked, "If the Great Khan doesn't cancel the wedding now, I'm afraid he'll be the one being gossiped about later!"
"Father Khan... listen to your daughter this time! Let Tang Feng go! Even if he didn't marry me, Tang Feng and his delegation created such good things for our Qiang and Hu people. For that reason, let it go..."
"This... But, Hachiya, don't you like him?" Seeing his daughter speaking up for Tang Feng, the Khan was somewhat puzzled, but still chose to respect Hachiya's opinion and let Tang Feng and the others leave.
Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang reached the palace gate when Haqiya caught up with them and called out, "Tang Feng! Wait! Wait for me!" Tang Feng turned around and saw Haqiya chasing after them, so he grabbed Zhou Ziliang's arm. "Princess... is there anything else?"
"Don't call me princess... Can you please call me by my name like before?"
Tang Feng stood there without moving, pondering for a moment before sighing, "Sigh, why did you do this... Hachiya?"
"I heard from Zhou Ziliang... that when you were controlling the floods in a certain place in Yanyun, you encountered a couple. You were seriously injured at the time and were rescued by them. Later, to express your gratitude, you chose to help that person get married. Is this true?"
Tang Feng nodded. "That's right. During the flood control efforts in Daze, I was framed by villains, and it was thanks to you two that I was saved from danger. But so what? I've said before, once you enter the gates of a noble family, it's like entering a deep sea; from then on, we're strangers. Let's not meet again; seeing you would only bring more sorrow."
"No! Tang Feng, listen to me. Since I just persuaded my father to let you go, it means I've already let go. You're a grateful person. I know my birthday is in two days, a day of universal celebration. Could you stay with me and celebrate it before you leave?"
"Why are you doing this...? Since it's a celebration for everyone, it's pretty much the same whether I'm there or not!" But seeing Hachia so dejected, Tang Feng couldn't refuse. "If... if you stop bothering me... then I promise you."
Tang Feng handed Haqiya a handkerchief. "Don't cry. It's not worth it for me. I'll keep my promise." Haqiya took the handkerchief and said, "Tang Feng... thank you!"
Back at the post station, Zhou Ziliang grabbed Tang Feng and asked, "Are you really going to celebrate the princess's birthday with her?" Tang Feng was a little confused by Zhou Ziliang's sudden tug, and it took him a moment to react before he answered, "Huh? Ah! Yes! What's wrong?"
"Xiao Feng has never celebrated my birthday," Zhou Ziliang leaned down, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he looked at Tang Feng. Tang Feng pushed Zhou Ziliang back slightly. "Yes, yes, yes, I'll make it up to you every single time from now on. Didn't I celebrate your birthday before? I don't believe it." Tang Feng genuinely didn't believe it. Compared to loving Zhou Ziliang, Tang Feng could only feel ashamed of himself compared to the previous owner of this body. The reason he could like Zhou Ziliang was fundamentally because Zhou Ziliang liked him, while the previous owner of that body... being rejected by Zhou Ziliang so many times yet still standing strong like a cockroach, Tang Feng truly admired him.
However, Zhou Ziliang scratched his head sheepishly, "You did celebrate my birthday before, but I refused. Back then... you were too scared to come to my house, so you just sat in the carriage all day. At first, I tried to persuade you to go back, but it was no use, so later..."
"Oh," Tang Feng replied casually, not minding at all. After all, he wasn't the one waiting outside to celebrate Zhou Ziliang's birthday. However, Zhou Ziliang thought he was angry and followed Tang Feng into the house, cautiously saying, "Xiao Feng... I didn't mean to ignore you before... Don't be angry."
"Huh? You're still thinking about that? I'm not angry, not angry at all," Tang Feng waved his hand and smiled. "I'm in a good mood! Come with me for a walk later."
"In a good mood?" Zhou Ziliang thought he had misheard and hurriedly caught up with Tang Feng, saying, "Xiao Feng, didn't you say you wouldn't go out on the street? Didn't you say you'd throw up if you smelled that odor?"
Just as Haqiya said, her birthday was a day of universal celebration. No wonder the Khan dotes on him; Tang Feng specially changed into a festive outfit that day. It was the same outfit he wore when he accompanied Bao'er to his wedding. Tang Feng quite liked the white top with red trim—it was both festive and elegant. "Let me tell you! I haven't worn this outfit in ages. I gave Haqiya plenty of face; if she still kept nagging, I'd have to give her a good scolding."
"You're still cursing at her? Aren't you afraid she'll arrest you again?" Zhou Ziliang bent down to tie Tang Feng's belt, then playfully flicked his nose. "Let's go! Didn't we say we were going to give the princess a surprise today?"
Tang Feng tugged at his clothes. "Come on, come on. I sent Liu Yiwan and Qin Liuliu out early this morning. I finally got to go out with you, and having this tagalong makes me feel uneasy." But as soon as Tang Feng opened the door to the inn, he was hit by the pungent smell of roasted mutton. Tang Feng took a few steps back, the smell hitting him like a ton of bricks, his stomach churning. Zhou Ziliang finally witnessed what Tang Feng meant when he said he'd vomit at the mere smell. After vomiting until his stomach was empty, Tang Feng leaned against the wall to catch his breath. "Let's go! I should have just not eaten."
Zhou Ziliang patted Tang Feng's back and said, "Why don't you go back and drink some water to calm down?"
"I just vomited my stomach dry and you're still offering me water?" Tang Feng took the handkerchief from Zhou Ziliang and wiped his mouth. "It's alright, it's alright, come on, come on. I haven't had a happy time going out to play in ages. I feel much more at ease with you here. When I take Liu Liu out, I'm always afraid of losing him. And also..." Zhou Ziliang held Tang Feng's hand, listening to Tang Feng ramble on and on.
Haqiya was already waiting for Tang Feng at the city gate. Seeing Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang arrive, she waved to Tang Feng, "Where have you been? Why are you so slow?" Tang Feng put his hands behind his back, "It's your birthday today, so naturally I had to dress up nicely. Let me tell you, you're very lucky. This outfit is the wedding dress I wore when I helped Bao'er enter the family in Daze. I've attended quite a few banquets, big and small, in Xiling, but this is only the second time I've worn it." Haqiya didn't know what to say for a moment, so she changed the subject, pointing upwards and saying, "Didn't you tell me to find the highest point? See that watchtower on the city wall? That's the highest point in Sangyan."
Zhou Ziliang was terrified upon hearing this. "You dare to go looking for a pillbox? If we mess this up, we probably won't be able to leave again!" Tang Feng secretly shoved Zhou Ziliang. "Get lost! I know what I'm doing. Don't jinx it." Tang Feng and Haqiya went up to the pillbox. Originally, Zhou Ziliang was about to go up too, but Tang Feng stopped him. "Ziliang, don't go up. I... have something to say to Haqiya."
"Okay, then be careful." Zhou Ziliang didn't ask why, he just nodded in agreement. After Tang Feng followed Haqiya up, he took out fireworks from behind him and said, "You Qiang and Hu people don't have these. I put a lot of thought into this. In our Yan Yun, fireworks symbolize celebration and blessings."
After Tang Feng finished speaking, he squatted down and lit the fireworks. Haqiya stood behind him, fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, and softly asked, "What... what do you want to wish me?" Tang Feng turned around, ran over, and covered Haqiya's ears. Suddenly, a loud bang rang out, and brilliant fireworks burst into the sky. The sparks reflected in Haqiya's eyes like twinkling stars. At this moment, Tang Feng said, "I wish you... that the red phoenix will not cover the distant Penglai Mountain, and that a young man will learn to paint his eyebrows." Haqiya stood aside, staring blankly at Tang Feng. This person was leaving tomorrow, leaving her nothing behind. It was truly just like that day in prison. Just as Tang Feng had told her in prison, he was like a gentle breeze across the grasslands, arriving softly and leaving without a trace, like fireworks that were gone after they were over, leaving not even a lingering impression. But for some reason, the weight on Haqiya's heart suddenly disappeared, and she felt much lighter. Perhaps she had let go of herself, released her obsession. Tang Feng's decision not to let Zhou Ziliang come up might have been a way of giving her a final moment of dignity. Haqiya smiled and said to Tang Feng, "Tang Feng... goodbye. I wish you and Zhou Ziliang a life of resounding success and radiant beauty."
"I'm not leaving until tomorrow, isn't it too early for you to say that today?"
"It's different. Today I'm saying goodbye to the people I love; tomorrow... I'll be saying goodbye to my friends."
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