When Liu Zhenqing woke up, Huo Fenglie had already carried him back to camp and placed him safely in bed.

Those in the military camp became lively when they saw Huo Fenglie carrying someone back with a smile on his face.

“Did they reconcile?”

“They must have reconciled! Didn’t you see the general taking him back to his nest?”

“I’ve never seen such a silly smile on the general’s face!”

“It’s fortunate that they reconciled. I haven’t dared to breathe these days.”

“Don’t say such things. The general summoned us and I don’t know what it’s about.”

In order to not disturb the sleeping Liu Zhenqing, everyone went to a different meeting place.

When Huo Fenglie saw that everyone had come, he announced only two things.

Firstly, that he and Liu Zhenqing were engaged. Therefore, Liu Zhenqing was the future general’s wife and everyone must acknowledge his identity.

Everyone looked at Huo Fenglie with wide eyes as soon as this news was conveyed, admiration swelling in their hearts once more. This was indeed General Huo, ah. Not long ago, he was like a silly young man who’d fallen in love for the first time, and now he was engaged in the blink of an eye. When the general took action, he was extraordinary.

Secondly, Huo Fenglie would take his own guards to build a special courtyard around the place Liu Zhenqing had proposed.

Huo Fenglie was reluctant to let such a beautiful setting disappear. He wanted to preserve it forever, and even the boat on the lake couldn’t be left out.

Afterward, he handed out the design sketches. After all, he had designed the courtyard in the General’s Manor and was very talented in this aspect, but his mood this time was completely different.

When he had explained everything, he couldn’t wait to return to the tent.

Liu Zhenqing had awoken by this time. He stood up, blinking hazily as Huo Fenglie returned, then said with some dissatisfaction: “From now on, you must wake me up every day when you leave and let me know where you’re going and what you’re doing. I don’t want to wake up and be unable to find my little wife.”

Little wife Huo Fenglie felt somewhat ill at ease upon hearing this. He hurried forward to sit on the edge of the bed, but felt at a bit of a loss when he sat down. He could only look Liu Zhenqing in the face with deep, uncontrollable joy in his eyes. It was still like viewing flowers through a layer of fog, his dream having come true so suddenly that he didn’t know what to do with himself.

Liu Zhenqing took advantage of the situation to snuggle into Huo Fenglie’s arms.

Huo Fenglie was stunned for a moment, then quickly embraced him: “Qing-ge, do you want to sleep some more?”

“Aren’t you going to train?” Liu Zhenqing asked.

Huo Fenglie shook his head: “No need.”

“Then sleep with me for a while,” Liu Zhenqing said in a low voice. His body was as soft as a willow as he clung to Huo Fenglie’s arms.

Huo Fenglie hugged him and laid down.

The two of them gazed at each other as they laid there, and Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but draw nearer.

Although he had gotten used to kissing, every time Liu Zhenqing kissed Huo Fenglie, he sensed that the other party was restraining himself, a bit passive and slow. But Liu Zhenqing also liked this sort of restraint. He deliberately played tricks to tease him and felt Huo Fenglie gradually stiffen. Becoming more and more amused, he ended with a bite to the tip of the other’s tongue.

Huo Fenglie was already used to such things, and lowered his head to look at him with some indulgence on his face.

Liu Zhenqing’s eyes were filled with undisguised lust, endlessly tormenting him.

Grasping the other’s hand, Liu Zhenqing interlocked their fingers:“When we wake up, I’ll write the marriage letter for you.”

“Okay.”

“Do you like the ring?”

“I like it.”

“You have to wear it forever.”

“En.”

“When did you start liking me?”

Huo Fenglie’s arms were warm and cozy, at the most comfortable angle for Liu Zhenqing. He was gradually feeling sleepy, but wanted to talk with Huo Fenglie for a while.

However, Huo Fenglie went quiet when he asked this question.

Liu Zhenqing lifted his eyelids with difficulty to see the other party giving him a strange look. He asked: “Do you not remember?”

“You…..don’t remember?” Huo Fenglie asked.

Liu Zhenqing thought for a moment, then shook his head. He really had no impression. Huo Fenglie was rather clingy to him before, but how could he have known that Er-gou had such thoughts about him?

Huo Fenglie’s eyelashes lowered, concealing a flash of disappointment.

“I actually can’t say specifically when. I had a crush when I was very young. After all, your significance to me was never the same, but it was fixed in place when I saw you pretend to be a bride when you went south with our family. I had a dream that night that we got married, and then…..”

Liu Zhenqing saw Huo Fenglie pause, as if the subsequent words were difficult to say. He burst into laughter. “And then the candle-lit bridal chamber?”

Huo Fenglie nodded, blushing.

Suspicious, Liu Zhenqing guessed: “Er-gou’s body had reacted when he woke up. How old was he at that time, ah. Let me think, perhaps that was his first time…..”

“Qing-ge, s-stop talking. It’s my fault. I had unrealistic fantasies and offended you in my heart. I…..”

Huo Fenglie was anxious. How could a young man express his thoughts so openly and honestly?

Liu Zhenqing reached out and grasped Huo Fenglie’s chin. He shook it and said: “Bad boy.”

Huo Fenglie’s face reddened.

Seeing Er-gou like this, Liu Zhenqing’s heart raced and he couldn’t help but pretend to tease him.

“If I hadn’t gone to sea at that time, would Er-gou still be lying next to me? Then dream about me…..embrace me…..and beg me to touch you?” Liu Zhenqing said in a seductive tone.

Huo Fenglie was stunned, instantly recalling the embarrassment he’d felt at that time.

Narrowing his eyes, Liu Zhenqing said: “Perhaps you were muddle-headed from sleep and really took off my clothes as if we were in a candle-lit wedding chamber.”

Huo Fenglie’s eyes widened at once, and he shook his head.

Liu Zhenqing: “After all, I sleep like the dead. I wouldn’t notice anything you did to me, even if it hurt…..after it was over, Er-gou might have secretly cleaned me up in order to eliminate the evidence. When I woke up in the morning, I would feel uncomfortable everywhere, not knowing that I was eaten and wiped clean by Er-gou. I would just think it was an erotic dream. Er-gou…..was he good or bad, oh?”

Huo Fenglie quickly raised his hand to cover Liu Zhenqing’s mouth, his face on fire. Liu Zhenqing’s eyebrows curved as he smiled. He suddenly licked Huo Fenglie’s hand, which made him let go in surprise.

Liu Zhenqing turned over and lay directly on top of Huo Fenglie. While nipping the other’s excellent jawline, he said: “What a pity. Er-gou, you know I’m the most soft-hearted. If you woke me up at that time, maybe Qing-ge would have helped you out. If you did anything to me while I was asleep, even if I woke up and found out, I wouldn’t blame you. Who made me care about you the most back then? If your Huo family caught you, they would have definitely given you to me in compensation on the spot to take responsibility. You missed the best opportunity.”

The dignified general who guards the country was teased by Liu Zhenqing until his face and ears turned red. His mind was filled with uncontrollable fantasies, and his body couldn’t help but react somewhat.

Seeing that Huo Fenglie had been teased to his limit, Liu Zhenqing asked with a smile: “Are you eager to find a hole and crawl into it?”

Huo Fenglie returned to his senses and looked over. In Liu Zhenqing’s eyes, his cold face actually looked a little aggrieved.

Huo Fenglie remained silent, nodding in embarrassment. After being teased like this by Liu Zhenqing, who wouldn’t want to find a hole to crawl into in shame?

But in the face of such an Er-gou, Liu Zhenqing had a bad temperament and liked to stir things up. So how could he not do bad things?

He took Huo Fenglie’s hand and brought it behind his back.

Huo Fenglie thought Qing-ge wanted a hug, but in the next moment, his hand was forced to press down on a soft, rounded piece of flesh.

“Right here…..”

Liu Zhenqing’s smiling tone tugged at Huo Fenglie’s every nerve. 

He sat up suddenly, withdrew his hand, and covered his nose.

Liu Zhenqing was startled by his actions. Looking up, he saw a nosebleed spilling between the gaps in Huo Fenglie’s hand.

Liu Zhenqing blinked, then burst into laughter. The entire tent was filled with his laughter, all sleepiness laughed away.

Huo Fenglie could only rush out in embarrassment.

When he returned, he found Liu Zhenqing lying on his side of the bed, holding his head in one hand. Looking at him with a malicious smile, he patted the side of the bed and called him over.

Huo Fenglie couldn’t go over there, so he sat at the table and pretended to handle official business.

Liu Zhenqing saw his low-spirited appearance and knew he had gone too far.

“You promised to accompany me to sleep.”

“I’m accompanying you.”

“I want a hug.”

“You can hug a pillow.”

“Hmph. You’re acting so cold right after getting engaged. As expected, once men attain something, they fail to cherish it. There’s no telling how coldly I’ll be treated in the future…..men, ah, they change their minds so quickly.”

Huo Fenglie’s eyebrows jumped at Liu Zhenqing’s words.

Donning a dejected look, Liu Zhenqing turned around and went to sleep.

Sure enough, after a moment, there was movement behind him. In the next second, a warm body approached and embraced him from behind.

Liu Zhenqing felt Huo Fenglie’s breath on the back of his neck, the other party obediently pressing his forehead against the back of his head.

Even though he knew he was acting, he was still well-behaved and obedient. It was so cute.

Liu Zhenqing wanted to turn around and kiss him.

But as soon as Huo Fenglie felt him move, he held him tightly.

“Qing-ge, stop making trouble and rest well,” Huo Fenglie said in a hoarse voice. Then he added, “I’m begging you to stop teasing me.”

Liu Zhenqing deliberately rubbed against his body and, sure enough, felt something. It was clear that he hadn’t settled down.

His small movements made Huo Fenglie gasp.

“So what if I tease you. Don’t you like it?”

“I like it,” Huo Fenglie said in a dull voice. “But…..we’re not married yet. Qing-ge, please have mercy.”

“You really learned this old-fashioned attitude from your brother!” Liu Zhenqing was frustrated.

The more decent Huo Fenglie was, the more agitated Liu Zhenqing became. The desire to win rose in his heart. He, an old lecher, was going to break this little prude’s discipline and see if he had the ability to stir up the general who guards the country until he lost control.

However, seeing how pitiful he was today, Liu Zhenqing let him off.

On the other side, Yuan Jue had received the confidential letter. It was only a few hundred words long, but he looked at it for a full hour. If he wasn’t able to discern its authenticity, he would have truly had doubts.

Huo Fenglie coveted another man from the Liu family, lost his sense of proportion, and directly tortured Prince Qiao An?

He was in love with another person?

Huo Fenglie had discovered the truth about Qiao An. Yuan Jue was not surprised, but the method of discovery did astonish him. Suddenly, he discovered that he didn’t understand his general.

A year ago, Huo Fenglie was conspicuously apathetic and could even be said to feel hopeless about life, but now he had come alive.

Yuan Jue lightly tapped the table. Glancing over the few words about Liu Xiaozhu in the confidential letter, he frowned in displeasure.

Very soon, a reply was sent back.

Huo Fenglie took the letter to read with Liu Zhenqing.

Liu Zhenqing glanced over it twice and said: “Sure enough, he already knew.”

Huo Fenglie nodded. The letter said that he had originally planned to have Huo Fenglie hand over affairs in the south to his subordinates before the Longevity Festival, and have him secretly return to the capital alone. Since Huo Fenglie had figured things out himself, he would let him finish his operations and then return to the capital before the festival.

Sure enough, when it came to security, Yuan Jue trusted Huo Fenglie the most.

Soon afterwards, news came from Qiao Jin that because Huo Fenglie had placed Qiao An under house arrest and those in the capital couldn’t contact him, they could only reach out to Qiao Jin, who replied: Huo Fenglie discovered that people close to Qiao An were suspected of leaking information to the outside world, so he arrested and tortured them. In order to keep the secret, those people committed suicide. Huo Fenglie was very cautious, and put Qiao An under guard with nobody else around him. Thus, contact was lost, but the plan could still be implemented.

On the surface, Qiao Jin was still one of theirs, so his words were naturally somewhat credible.

At least there wouldn’t be any problems before they rushed back to the capital.

They found Tang Rou, Dai Tingyu, and some of Huo Fenglie’s trusted subordinates, and after explaining everything, they set off.

But their first stop was Medical Valley.

Not only because they promised Liu Zhenqing’s master that they would visit before leaving, but also because they needed Liu Qiao’s body taken care of.

Liu Qiao brought a letter to Qiao Jin. Liu Zhenqing thought they would have to wait a while, but Liu Qiao soon returned.

Liu Zhenqing was surprised that Qiao Jin hadn’t taken advantage of Liu Qiao’s return to make a fuss and keep him there.

But two days later, when the three of them arrived at Medical Valley on horseback, Liu Zhenqing was not so surprised.

“Yo, majestic King of Western Shu, are you guarding the gate here?” Liu Zhenqing asked with a smile when he saw Qiao Jin standing at the entrance of Medical Valley.

Qiao Jin rolled his eyes at Liu Zhenqing and looked at Liu Qiao.

Liu Qiao jumped off his horse and asked in confusion: “Why are you here?”

“Since it’s a miracle doctor treating you, I naturally wanted to come and listen in case you forget anything you should pay attention to, such as what medicinal materials are needed for long-term use. I’ll prepare them for you too.” Qiao Jin took it for granted that he should act as the patient’s family member.

Liu Zhenqing had already been helped off the horse by Huo Fenglie. He stepped forward and said: “Little demon, you’re rather attentive.”

Qiao Jin looked at the two of them and said: “I hear you’re engaged?”

“News spreads quickly.” Liu Zhenqing said in surprise, “What, did you bring us an engagement gift?”

“Why should I give you a gift?”

“I’m your cousin, ah. We’re each other’s only living relatives.” Liu Zhenqing spoke so emotionally that Qiao Jin almost felt sick.

He scoffed coldly: “I’m just here to warn you that it’s not only Western Shu that knows about it. Other countries should have received word, and you’ll be the focus of the enemy’s attention from here on.”

Huo Fenglie, who had not yet spoken, frowned when Qiao Jin said this.

Liu Zhenqing shrugged and said with an indifferent expression: “As the general’s wife, it would be strange if everyone wasn’t paying attention to me. A person like me is destined to be unable to hide in the background. It’s no use worrying about me.”

“Who’s worried about you, ah? I’m worried about Liu Qiao. He’s following you now, and if something were to happen, he’ll be the first one to get hurt. Envoys are coming to court at the Longevity Festival, but I can’t go. You behave yourself and don’t cause trouble for Liu Qiao,” Qiao Jin said directly.

Before Liu Zhenqing could react, Liu Qiao’s slap had already landed on the back of Qiao Jin’s head. “Mind your tone around Master. He’s your cousin.”

Qiao Jin staggered from the blow, feeling angry and aggrieved. He could only glare at the extremely biased Liu Qiao.

There was a fuss amongst them for a while, and someone from Medical Valley came to pick them up.

Ordinary people couldn’t enter Medical Valley because it was full of traps and poisons. Even the most capable masters could only narrowly escape death.

When Liu Zhenqing and the others were brought in, the first person they saw was Han Ye.

Han Ye and Liu Qiao were acquainted. Liu Qiao had run off before he could be cured, which made a doctor like Han Ye feel upset for a while. Seeing that Liu Qiao had come back again, he declared that the treatment would be completed properly and also scolded Liu Qiao with a venomous tongue. Because this was the King of Hell, even though Liu Zhenqing was dissatisfied with Liu Qiao being scolded, he could only rein in his anger.

It was fate that Song Xingmu and Liu Qiao had once more become Han Ye’s patients.

Liu Zhenqing took Huo Fenglie to see his master.

The master saw that everyone was safe and sound, and hadn’t heard that there was a war outside. He inquired about the situation and felt a little better.

Then Liu Zhenqing said: “Master, Huo Fenglie must serve you tea.”

“Ah?”

“We’re engaged.”

“Ah!”

“The wedding date will be set after a while, and I’ll invite you to the capital to act in place of my parents.”

“Good.”

His master should be aware that his disciple would never let go of someone he was interested in. He was a cunning fox, and it was only a matter of time before that person was captured.

“By the way, since Master is serving in place of my parents, he should prepare a dowry for me. There’s no need for anything else, just enough good medicine.” Liu Zhenqing said shamelessly: “Otherwise, your disciple will be laughed at when he marries into the Huo family, and sister-in-law, who is actually my sister-in-law now, will bully me.”

Master: I really want to expel this unfilial disciple at once. He hasn’t even learned skills yet, but he’s draining his master dry. My poor pharmacy, ah!

In short, the master drank Huo Fenglie’s tea first, and after Huo Fenglie and Liu Zhenqing finished kowtowing respectfully together, they talked for a short while. The master didn’t entertain them, but told them to make their own arrangements while he planned to go and study new medical techniques.

Liu Zhenqing said quickly: “Master, please check Fenglie’s pulse.”

“What’s wrong? Do you feel uncomfortable?” the master asked.

Huo Fenglie gave Liu Zhenqing a strange look. After all, there was nothing wrong with him. But he still stretched out his hand obediently.

The master began to feel his pulse and said after a moment: “He is recovering well. There are no problems.”

Liu Zhenqing said with a serious expression: “Really? But our intercourse isn’t going well. Master, please take a closer look…..”

Before Liu Zhenqing could finish speaking, a blushing Huo Fenglie stopped him: “Qing-ge!”

The master was already blue in the face. Should this be spoken of in front of the elderly? The master rolled his eyes and said: “Don’t worry, he’s very well. If there’s a problem, it must be that you’re not charming enough!”

“Really? Er-gou, am I not charming enough?” Liu Zhenqing gave Huo Fenglie an anxious look.

Huo Fenglie couldn’t take it anymore. He hugged Liu Zhenqing and covered his mouth, then apologized to the master — whose mouth was twitching — and took him out.

But how could Liu Zhenqing let him off? They were only scratching the surface these days, and it was torture. It had taken two lifetimes for him to be enlightened, ah. Liu Zhenqing didn’t want to waste time. They had come here for a short rest anyway, and Medical Valley happened to be a good place to do it.

Therefore, Liu Zhenqing took Huo Fenglie to soak in Medical Valley’s medicinal hot springs that night. His purpose was obvious and unconcealed.

But half an hour later, Liu Zhenqing slumped by the pool with lifeless eyes, slowly sliding downward. The medicinal spring made the red marks on his body even more beautiful.

His line of sight focused on the person in front of him.

Under the strong moonlight, his strong body seemed to be enveloped in a sheen of silver light. Every inch of his contour lines exhibited a balance of strength and beauty. It was just that his hair was a little disordered, as if someone had grabbed it and messed it up.

Liu Zhenqing looked at Huo Fenglie and saw the jut of his throat roll slowly. The other pursed his lips and collected the traces around the corners of his mouth.

Even an old lecher like Liu Zhenqing blushed and said in embarrassment: “It’s dirty.”

Huo Fenglie’s face went red. He stepped forward and hugged Liu Zhenqing. The tattoo on his body had appeared in its entirety, and it seemed to turn into willow vines and wrap around Liu Zhenqing.

It was this body that had pinned him down beside the pool and struck first…..

“It’s Qing-ge…..I like it all. It’s not dirty,” Huo Fenglie whispered.

Liu Zhenqing returned to his senses and kicked his legs in the pool with some dissatisfaction. Huo Fenglie had drained him of all strength. How could he do anything else? He had obviously been afraid of what Liu Zhenqing would do and did this on purpose. Bad dog.

But Liu Zhenqing refused to admit defeat: “Er-gou, come up here. Let me try too.”

The body holding Liu Zhenqing quaked. Then Huo Fenglie said clearly for the first time: “No. Qing-ge can’t.”

“What a double standard. Why can’t I do it?”

Huo Fenglie gazed down at Liu Zhenqing, his eyes full of affection: “You just can’t.”

After saying so, without waiting for Liu Zhenqing to retort, Huo Fenglie began to touch Liu Zhenqing again.

It wasn’t until Liu Zhenqing was completely exhausted that he took him back.

Liu Zhenqing’s attack had failed, and he was depressed again. If his master hadn’t said there were no problems, he would have had some doubts.

Three days later, everyone set off again.

The master and Han Ye also had a rough understanding of what they would face.

When bidding them farewell, Han Ye couldn’t help but say: “The emperor’s safety is being looked after by so many people. There should be no reason for you to go, right? You’re going to get married. Wouldn’t it be good to wait until General Huo takes care of those troublesome matters and comes back?”

Liu Zhenqing said with a smile: “I’m not protecting the emperor, I’m accompanying Er-gou. Now that we’re engaged, I’ll naturally go where he goes. Do you want me, your master, to stay alone in an empty boudoir just after getting engaged?”

Han Ye couldn’t stand it, and rolled his eyes.

The master gave him a serious look.

After Han Ye left, the master said: “It’s not just for Fenglie.”

Liu Zhenqing’s expression remained unchanged. “What is Master saying?”

The master scoffed coldly and said: “Before, you were trapped for life due to your loyalty to Crown Prince Jing Yang, but now…..”

“Now it’s your disciple who is trying to trap Huo Fenglie, and won’t let him go even a step away.” Liu Zhenqing said: “I am willing, and I’ll endure hardship gladly.”

The master stared at Liu Zhenqing vacantly for a moment, then said with a sneer: “You said before that you only liked him a little bit.”

Liu Zhenqing said shamelessly: “All little bit according to time, not degree.”

The master and Liu Zhenqing joked back and forth.

“That’s good. The boy’s obsession with you won’t be in vain. After many years’ wait, he finally got what he wanted.”

When Liu Zhenqing spoke about Er-gou, his heart felt warm. He turned to give a solemn salute, then said: “Don’t worry, Master. I don’t miss my previous life, and in this life, I’m reluctant to part with him. So no matter what situation we may encounter, I will put myself and Er-gou first and everything else second. This time, your disciple is living for himself.”

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T/N: We’re heading into the endgame! Some of my favorite chapters are coming up.

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Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three << Table of Contents >> Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Five