The Western Shu Kingdom gave no response to Great Zhou, but stationed troops in the distance as if to prevent the invasion of Great Zhou’s army at any time.

The message sent this day could be regarded as the last chance given by Great Zhou. If the King of Western Shu still didn’t respond, they would be forced to escort Qiao An back to their capital and confront him face-to-face.

Huo Fenglie had been very busy making arrangements.

Liu Zhenqing was lying in bed with his legs crossed, lost in thought, when he heard that Tang-chengzhu was coming.

Thinking that she had some important business, Liu Zhenqing went out to meet her, and Tang Rou unexpectedly apologized as soon as she saw him.

It turned out that she knew what Tang-furen had done, and was filled with shame.

Liu Zhenqing naturally knew how Tang Rou felt about this matter, so he smiled and comforted her, saying: “It’s no problem, I fooled your mother. This kind of thing can be delayed for a while, and there’s no benefit in drawing a hard line. When I saw your mother, she didn’t seem very well.”

“She is mentally ill. There’s nothing to be done.” Tang Rou’s face was full of worry, because when the army entered the Western Shu Kingdom with the prince, she and Dai Tingyu would be left behind to guard Nanfeng City and prevent any sneak attacks. She was also very busy during this period, and couldn’t keep a close eye on her mother. There were obviously big events ahead, but her mother was always causing trouble.

“Her main concern is likely to pave a safe path for you. But there are no witnesses or evidence for what happened back then, and the parties involved are dead. It is fundamentally impossible to reverse people’s views on the matter. You can make that clear to your mother,” Liu Zhenqing said.

Tang Rou took a deep breath: “It’s not that simple. I know her the best. She has to be strong in everything, and even if she’s beaten like this, she will refuse to admit defeat. Do you think what she said about not seeking status is true? She thinks that a figure like General Huo must leave an heir, and that it’s impossible for him to actually marry a male wife. She is retreating in order to advance.”

Liu Zhenqing’s mouth twitched when he heard this. Great, he had still underestimated Tang-furen.

Tang Rou couldn’t help but say: “I think that unless the two of you are engaged or married, my mother won’t give up. She’s just this kind of fixated person. It’s fortunate that you came to the military camp, and my mother can only bother me.”

Liu Zhenqing’s heart was moved by Tang Rou’s words.

After Tang Rou left, Huo Fenglie returned late at night and found Liu Zhenqing still awake and waiting for him.

Huo Fenglie asked: “You’re not resting?”

“I slept a lot during the day,” Liu Zhenqing replied, looking directly at Huo Fenglie.

Huo Fenglie removed his armor. With lowered eyes, he asked casually: “I heard that Tang-chengzhu came to see you. Was it something serious?”

She would normally come to him if she had any business to discuss. After all, Liu Zhenqing had no official position. Unless it was a private matter, and the most recent private matter was the struggle with Tang-furen.

Liu Zhenqing complained: “She came to apologize. She was too embarrassed to see you, and asked that I convey the message on her behalf.”

Huo Fenglie frowned and said nothing.

Liu Zhenqing had originally been lying in bed and reading a book in his underclothes. Now he was sitting cross-legged, holding his chin in one hand and looking at Huo Fenglie with his head tilted.

Huo Fenglie eventually felt that something wasn’t right with Liu Zhenqing today. When he turned his head to look over, he saw Liu Zhenqing crooking his fingers at him. That gesture was so frivolous, but it moved Huo Fenglie’s heart.

They hadn’t been on intimate terms for many days. Maybe Qing-ge wanted to do it.

Huo Fenglie’s expression was a bit unnatural. He wanted to say that they shouldn’t do it in the military camp, but then Liu Zhenqing said “Come here” in that mild tone of voice.

Huo Fenglie was still like an obedient domesticated dog, and obeyed the order to sit on the bedside.

Liu Zhenqing leaned against Huo Fenglie’s shoulder and played with his hair. His movements appeared relaxed and carefree, but only Liu Zhenqing himself knew how nervous he was. How could he lose his dignity in front of the younger man?

So he opened his mouth to feel him out: “Tang Rou said that her mother might keep bothering you since you’re not engaged yet.”

Huo Fenglie didn’t understand why he was continuing with this topic: “It doesn’t matter.”

Liu Zhenqing really didn’t dare to look at Huo Fenglie. A chill came over him, and he said abruptly: “How about…..consider getting engaged…..”

Huo Fenglie froze.

Since he was leaning against him, Liu Zhenqing could naturally feel this and became even more nervous. “Actually, getting engaged is nothing, it’s a good thing…..”

Even though Huo Fenglie had never confessed for some unknown reason, Liu Zhenqing could sense his feelings. They had done this and that together, and Huo Fenlgie had to have considered marrying him, right? He supposed the other man was too embarrassed to bring it up. If that was the case, he should take the initiative and not compete with Er-gou anymore.

He heard a low, hoarse voice sound from above: “Why are you suddenly bringing this up? What are your intentions?”

Liu Zhenqing was taken aback. There was something wrong with his tone. He looked up, a little confused over Huo Fenglie’s reaction, and found that Huo Fenglie’s black and white eyes were bloodshot as he looked at him with flaring anger.

Liu Zhenqing sat up straight in shock. Huo Fenglie averted his gaze and turned his head, as if the anger just now had been Liu Zhenqing’s imagination.

Frowning, Liu Zhenqing said: “You don’t want to?”

Huo Fenlgie abruptly stood up with his back to Liu Zhenqing. He said: “Qing-ge, don’t you think it’s ridiculous to mention such a thing now? Yes, I don’t want to!”

When he finished speaking, Huo Fenglie rushed out of the tent. Liu Zhenqing was left alone on the bed, with a confused look on his face and heavy mental trauma.

Wait?

Er-gou actually said he didn’t want to get engaged to him?!

Although the timing of his proposal was a bit inconvenient, a little abrupt and unromantic, shouldn’t this be a natural thing between the two of them? Why didn’t he want to get engaged to him?

Was it because his proposal just now wasn’t good?

He’d thought that after making his proposal, he would tell Huo Fenglie about the secret he’d been hiding. He just thought that if they were engaged or married, he and Huo Fenglie would be bound together, and this would give Liu Zhenqing an extra layer of psychological security, as if giving himself grounds to speak. But Huo Fenglie hadn’t given him a chance at all.

Liu Zhenqing was truly angry and annoyed. What did he mean, ah! He was playing with him!

In an instant, many possibilities flashed through Liu Zhenqing’s mind. Had he misunderstood the whole time? Did Er-gou not like him? Was it just brotherly love? Were those kisses and hugs just the product of impulse? Did Er-gou still hold his older brother’s death against him? Or did he not like his current appearance?

No, no, no, he wasn’t a fool. He could sense that although Er-gou was very reserved, he was very obvious. If nothing else, that fellow definitely had impulses toward him.

Damnit, if he didn’t like him, if everything was a misunderstanding and he didn’t want to get engaged to him, then…..then he would use every means to get him to agree. Liu Zhenqing still didn’t believe that his his abilities and charm, he couldn’t win over this stupid dog!

Liu Zhenqing held back his stomach full of questions, but was still so flustered that he couldn’t calm down at all. After getting dressed, he went out to find Huo Fenglie. He must make things clear today.

On the other side, Huo Fenglie had flown out of the tent to an open space and pulled out the Chunjun Sword, swinging it wildly under the night sky. The Chunjun Sword cut through the air with a hum. The surrounding trees seemed to be affected by the sand and rocks sent flying by Huo Fenglie’s raging internal force, dropping their leaves. 

After tossing about as if to vent his anger, he plunged the sword into the ground, holding onto it a bit too fiercely.

Huo Fenglie’s face seemed to be covered in a layer of frost, his eyes full of self-deprecating sadness.

It was fine to be used as a toy for Liu Zhenqing to relieve his loneliness. He despicably enjoyed the chance to be intimate with Qing-ge and wanted to monopolize this opportunity. He didn’t expect any other response from Qing-ge, and only hoped that his desire for this toy was exclusive.

But Qing-ge had actually suggested that he get engaged to Tang Rou over this irrelevant matter…..

Huo Fenglie had no spare time to think about how unreasonable it was that he would “propose that he and Tang Rou get engaged,” because Huo Fenglie blindly believed that since Liu Zhenqing had brought it up, he must have his own considerations. In Huo Fenglie’s view, there were no other possibilities apart from this. But this time, he could not obey.

With a bitter smile, Huo Fenglie pulled out the Chunjun Sword and calmed his emotions. He knew very well that Qing-ge had no considerations toward him, so why go looking for trouble? At most, it would make Qing-ge unhappy, and he wasn’t going to marry anyway.

Huo Fenglie suppressed his restless mood and walked back. On the way, he met the somewhat flustered Qiao An.

“General…..General Huo.” Qiao An was extremely anxious when he met Huo Fenglie.

Huo Fenglie said with a frown: “What’s wrong, Your Highness.”

Qiao An hurriedly said: “I came to see you. I wanted to ask, if the Western Shu Kingdom doesn’t respond tomorrow…..”

“Then we will directly bring troops to escort you there.” Having already said this before, Huo Fenglie was a little impatient, but when asked by royalty, he still had to give him face.

Qiao An gave a couple of dry laughs. Seeing that Huo Fenglie was about to leave, he was a little unresigned and said: “General Huo, would you like to come to my tent tonight? When I return to Western Shu, this opportunity might not come again.”

Qiao An approached suggestively, saying: “Don’t you think sleeping with the king of a neighboring country would be a pretty good experience?

Looking at Qiao An as he drew near, Huo Fenglie’s disgust overflowed: “Your Highness, have respect for yourself and the royal family of Western Shu.”

Qiao An’s expression distorted the instant he said this.

As he watched Huo Fenglie leave, Qiao An scoffed coldly.

Huo Fenglie didn’t head back to the tent, because he didn’t want to see Liu Zhenqing yet.

But within an hour, guards came over. The Huo Family guards were very dutiful, saying that Liu Zhenqing had run out of the tent angrily, but never came back. They had no idea if he was with Huo Fenglie or somewhere else and were a little worried, so they had come to confirm.

Only then did Huo Fenglie know that Liu Zhenqing was missing.

A shout: “Find him!” Sensing their general’s anxiety and uneasiness, the 50,000-strong army searched all night without even finding an ant.

But Liu Zhenqing had simply vanished, and the responsibility of those on the periphery of the camp became greater. 

Liu Zhenqing didn’t know martial arts, and they hadn’t seen anyone come in or out, which meant that a martial arts master must have snuck in and kidnapped him.

Huo Fenglie only knew of one such master.

At this moment, someone hit the gate of their camp with a feathered arrow.

There was a note and a jade hairpin tied to it. Huo Fenglie knew that jade hairpin. It belonged to Liu Zhenqing.

The note read: Young Master Liu has been invited to be our guest. We hope that General Huo will not invade the territory of the Western Shu Kingdom.

The feathered arrow shattered with a crack in Huo Fenglie’s hand. Those around him didn’t dare breathe, because the aura released by Huo Fenglie nearly overpowered them to their knees. Among them were commanders who had followed Huo Fenglie for a long time. They all seemed to find the current Huo Fenglie very unfamiliar, because they had never seen him outwardly express his anger like this.

In a flash, Huo Fenglie raised his head, dark eyes glinting with murderous intent. He murmured: “Qiao An!”

He disappeared right after saying this, and several subordinates chased after him anxiously.

Among the peripheral guards who were questioned one by one, only one group experienced anything while on patrol that somewhat gave them an idea. That was Prince Qiao An, who had gotten lost and clamored for them to take him back. But as guards, they couldn’t leave, so they paid him no attention at all. Afterward, Qiao An left on his own.

But for a martial arts master, a single distraction was enough.

When the subordinates arrived, their legs went weak when they heard screams coming from the tent.

Upon entering, they saw that Huo Fenglie had one of Qiao An’s arms twisted, pressing his sword against his neck with a fierce, Shura-like expression.

“Speak! Tell me exactly what you did!”

When Qiao An saw others arriving, he tried to call out for help. He was the future king of the Western Shu Kingdom. How could he be abused like this? But those people pretended not to see anything and looked elsewhere, allowing Huo Fenglie’s sword to cut into Qiao An’s neck.

Only then did Qiao An realize what it meant for someone to be called the general who guards the country, inferior to one and above all others.

“I’ll talk, I’ll talk…..”

On the other side, Liu Zhenqing was lying in bed when he awoke. He looked at the sunlight. It was already dusk on the second day. He had gone out to look for a certain person, but met Qiao An blocking his way and trying to pester him. He had no patience for this person, but in the next second, there was a pain in his neck and he passed out. 

Liu Zhenqing stood and rubbed his neck, scanning the decor around him with a look of such curiosity that it made the person watching him laugh out loud.

Liu Zhenqing turned to look, and found the handsome youth he had met once sitting there. Liu Zhenqing looked at him carefully this time, and the more he looked, the more apprehensive he became. 

Qiao Jin saw that Liu Zhenqing was cool-headed and unafraid when he woke up, just looking around for a while and staring at him, and he gradually grew uncomfortable.

“What are you looking at!” Qiao Jin said. “Do you know who I am? Do you know where you are?”

Know who he was? Liu Zhenqing looked at Qiao Jin and suddenly let out a heavy sigh. This strange behavior confused Qiao Jin even more.

“You…..you’re not afraid?” Qiao Jin said in amazement.

Liu Zhenqing relaxed his posture and took the time to tidy his mussed hair and clothes right at the bedside. “What’s there to be afraid of? You kidnapped me just to threaten Huo Fenglie, which is quite clever. You know I’m his weak point and can be used to restrain him, so you must treat me gently so that he doesn’t get angry and flatten your Western Shu.”

Qiao Jin was really speechless. This was the first time he had witnessed a hostage behave in such a way. But after some thought, he figured Liu Zhenqing was just putting on a front.

“Weakness? You think too highly of yourself. I just thought you were of some use to Huo Fenglie and wanted to use you to buy some time. After all, you’re just Huo Fenglie’s male favorite, not a legitimate existence. I’m actually worried that I kidnapped the wrong person. If you aren’t important to Huo Fenglie, all of my effort will be in vain.”

It had to be said that Qiao Jin’s words stung Liu Zhenqing. Wasn’t he similar to a male favorite? After all, that person didn’t want to get engaged to him.

Seeing that Liu Zhenqing had a bad expression, Qiao Jin immediately felt that he had the upper hand. “So be sensible and cooperate obediently, and I will leave you a way to survive when the time comes.”

“So if I don’t cooperate, I’m ignorant?” Liu Zhenqing retorted.

Qiao Jin choked.

“When will the time come?” Liu Zhenqing asked. “How much time are you trying to buy?”

Qiao Jin was agitated: “Why do you talk so much?”

Liu Zhenqing shrugged, having already mentally determined many things. For example, that Qiao An was on Qiao Jin’s side, or was serving the same person. What they had really been doing for so long was delaying Huo Fenglie’s return to the capital.

Liu Zhenqing pondered as he tidied himself without pause, and suddenly found that his hair pin was missing. “Where is the person who kidnapped me? Have him come out, I want to meet him.”

Qiao Jin stared blankly: “Aren’t you being too presumptuous, making demands of me?”

Liu Zhenqing said with a smile: “I’m just curious about his identity. After all, he’s a martial arts master who can infiltrate a 50,000-strong military camp as if it’s deserted. And he must be the one who survived that last fight with Huo Fenglie, whose martial arts are the strongest I’ve ever seen. Can’t I meet him? I’ll cooperate with you obediently without making a fuss or being a threat. You won’t refuse this minor request, will you?”

Qiao Jin narrowed his eyes. He waved his hand, and a tall figure in black flew down.

Liu Zhenqing’s squinted eyes immediately locked onto that person. The man stood silently. It seemed that as long as he didn’t speak, he could be used as a silent backdrop. Although his face was still covered, those two eyes were still the clearest Liu Zhenqing had ever seen. He knew this was Liu Qiao.

His throat tightened uncontrollably, and his voice was a bit unsteady: “Still wearing a mask?”

“What are you doing? Do you plan to remember your enemy’s face so you can take revenge later?” Qiao Jin asked with dissatisfaction.

“A martial arts master like him shouldn’t be afraid of showing his face,” Liu Zhenqing said with a smile.

Liu Qiao lowered his mask without a care, and his pretty, delicate face came into view. Different from Bai Yu’s elegance and softness, although Liu Qiao looked delicate, he seemed to have the aura of a sharp blade. At first glance, he looked like a martial arts practitioner who was not easy to deal with. If looked at closely, one part of his cheek had a slightly uneven skin tone. It was originally a brand mark scar, proving that Liu Qiao was a slave, but Liu Zhenqing didn’t like it and asked his master to remove it for him. Thus, the area with the mark appeared slightly pinker than the rest.

Seeing his old friend again momentarily put Liu Zhenqing in a daze. He could only stare at Liu Qiao blankly, confirming over and over that he was still alive…..he was really still alive.

When he asked Liu Qiao to carry out that mission, it was actually to protect him. Liu Zhenqing knew that although he was highly skilled in martial arts, he was simple-minded. He felt far from good at the time, and feared that he wouldn’t leave his side, so he made him leave in advance.

He had clearly arranged ways out for the people around him, but few of them had good endings. Seeing Liu Qiao again now, Liu Zhenqing’s heart was somewhat comforted.

The kid standing before him was still well, and he didn’t look like he was having a bad time, either. This was truly enough.

“Hey, how long do you plan to look?”

Suddenly, Qiao Jin appeared in front of Liu Qiao. He seemed to really hate the way Liu Zhenqing was looking at Liu Qiao, and Liu Zhenqing was slightly startled by this food-protecting behavior.

After thinking about it, he could basically figure it out. They had been together all this time, and he was Liu Qiao’s unfinished mission.

But Liu Zhenqing didn’t recall making such a request.

Liu Zhenqing tilted his head to look at Liu Qiao and asked: “What is your name?”

He wasn’t sure if that name was still in use.

Then he heard Liu Qiao say: “Liu Qiao.”

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth rose slightly. He said: “Liu Qiao? You owe me a hairpin. You took mine and now I can’t put my hair up.”

Liu Qiao stood in amazement.

Thinking that Liu Zhenqing was mocking Liu Qiao, Qiao Jin grew angry. “Someone bring Young Master Liu a box of hairpins!”

Someone soon arrived with a box of hairpins. Liu Zhenqing selected one and said to Liu Qiao: “You pulled it off, so you’re responsible for putting one back on.”

“Are you seeking death?” Qiao Jin said furiously.

Liu Zhenqing raised his eyebrows. It seemed he was very protective of his food. He took the hairpin back and put it on by himself.

“Do you plan to keep watching me like this? Shouldn’t the King of Western Shu be very busy?” Liu Zhenqing asked.

Qiao Jin scoffed coldly and said: “Let me ask, the rumors about me and Tang-chengzhu were your doing, weren’t they?” Qiao Jin was still a bit anxious about this matter. He felt that a trick had played on him, and found it difficult to bear.

Liu Zhenqing smiled and said: “You started it. I just copied you.”

Qiao Jin’s eyes narrowed. He said: “It turns out you’re this clever? What a talent. Hey, would…..would you consider being mine?”

Liu Zhenqing was stunned. He silently raised his hands and hugged himself, staring at Qiao Jin in astonishment.

Qiao Jin said angrily: “What are you thinking! Like I could take a fancy to you! I meant as my subordinate!”

Liu Zhenqing said at once: “You gave me a fright. But being your subordinate isn’t as good as being the general’s wife. An intelligent person should know who I’d choose, right? So why ask me this?”

Qiao Jin smiled: “Idiot, you’ve forgotten what I just said. You’re just his male favorite, not the general’s wife. Huo Fenglie will never marry in his life. And even if he does marry one day, it will definitely either be because he was forced to by others, or because he took a person home as a decoration.”

Liu Zhenqing grew angry: “What do you say that, ah?”

Qiao Jin seemed to have finally found a way to deal with Liu Zhenqing, and opened his mouth maliciously: “Because he has someone he loves deeply. Do you know who that person is?”

Stunned, Liu Zhenqing wavered for a moment: “Who?”

Liu Qiao glanced at Qiao Jin and said: “Hey.”

Liu Zhenqing looked at Lui Qiao as if in realization, and immediately became even more confused. If Liu Qiao had known, why hadn’t he told him back then? Was there really someone else? 

Qiao Jin said: “Telling him the truth isn’t a bad thing, and prevents him from being kept in the dark. Perhaps if he knows, he’ll consider becoming my subordinate.”

“Who is it?” Liu Zhenqing was truly anxious.

Qiao Jin raised his head and said contemptuously: “To be more precise, you’re a substitute. Because that person is someone from your family, Prime Minister Liu, Liu Zhenqing. How unexpected!”

Liu Zhenqing: …..

“Oh.” The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth slowly rose. “What evidence do you have that Huo Fenglie liked Liu Zhenqing? Why can’t I believe it? Please show me proof.”

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Chapter One Hundred Sixteen << Table of Contents >> Chapter One Hundred Eighteen