In the East Palace, Yuan Jue looked at the absent-minded Huo Fenglie and put down his brush, saying: “Are you so distraught just because Laoshi didn’t come today?”

Huo Fenglie was in low spirits, and didn’t answer. 

Yuan Jue drew closer and asked curiously: “He hasn’t eased up yet?”

Huo Fenglie paused, then shook his head.

Liu Zhenqing had stayed at home for several days, refusing to go out. He even had to ask for leave from teaching Yuan Jue in the East Palace, because Huo Fenglie would go there in his free time to serve as a study companion for him. Liu Zhenqing was like a frightened bird, and it was useless for Huo Feihan or Li Xingruo to reason with him. He was trying to avoid Huo Fenglie as much as possible.

Yuan Jue touched his chin and said: “I figured you would keep being patient. I never imagined you would be so impulsive.”

Huo Fenglie lowered his eyes with a frustrated expression.

Yuan Jue didn’t like seeing his good brother like this, so he said: “Your martial arts skills are so good, just climb over the wall and go see him.”

Huo Fenglie shook his head. He knew that if he did so, Qing-ge would want to see him even less.

Seeing this, Yuan Jue tried again: “How about…..giving up? Becoming brothers again?”

Huo Fenglie shook his head again, eyes firm.

Yuan Jue murmured: “This is really difficult. You won’t give up, and Laoshi won’t accept you, ah. To be honest, Laoshi is a famous romantic, and there are so many people who like him, but I’ve never heard of him rejecting someone so harshly.”

Huo Fenglie’s expression turned ugly at once. It seemed that everyone else was treated gently when they were rejected. Even toward that foreign prince who wanted to force Liu Zhenqing to marry him, Liu Zhenqing hadn’t spoken one harsh word. Huo Fenglie was the only one he seemed to hate and avoid like the plague.

Was it truly impossible for Qing-ge to accept him?

As the two were talking, the Crown Prince strolled in. His original intention was to check up on their studies, but he ended up finding them chatting.

When Yuan Jue saw his father arrive, he immediately sat up straight and held his book, pretending to be deep in study. He even poked Huo Fenglie to warn him, but the other party was too distracted to react, and just bowed respectfully.

The Crown Prince shook his head in amusement at this sight, but didn’t reprimand them. Instead, he sat down and said mildly: “What’s wrong, Fenglie?”

Huo Fenglie never took the initiative to reveal his inner thoughts to those around him, and would basically only say a word or two when his friends took notice. So in the face of the Crown Prince’s concern, he could only stiffly say that it was nothing. 

The Crown Prince observed Huo Fenglie, and said after some thought: “Could it be that you were rejected when you expressed your feelings to Xiting?”

His words hit the nail on the head. Yuan Jue was so startled that the book slipped out of his hands. “Father, how did you know?”

“It’s obvious, ah. Although Xiting likes to be lazy, he wouldn’t take so many days off for no reason. Considering Fenglie’s current mood, it’s pretty self-evident,” the Crown Prince analyzed with a smile.

Yuan Jue looked at him with admiration. Not only had he long seen that Huo Fenglie liked Liu Zhenqing, but he was even fully aware of the current situation.

Huo Fenglie was momentarily stunned, but he didn’t panic or deny it, and just nodded honestly.

Seeing how at a loss the young man was, the Crown Prince said: “There are many who like Xiting, but you are the only one he has avoided like this.”

Huo Fenglie naturally became even more depressed when the Crown Prince said this. An enormous sense of loss and hopelessness almost completely enveloped him, causing the young man with a physique close to that of an adult to instantly transform into a young boy again.

Yuan Jue quickly signaled to the Crown Prince with his eyes, telling him not to provoke the lovelorn boy.

But the Crown Prince continued: “Perhaps this just proves that you are different from everyone else in Xiting’s heart.”

Huo Fenglie jolted and looked up at the Crown Prince.

Yuan Jue was also puzzled: “Father, do you mean that Laoshi also…..”

“Xiting probably doesn’t like Fenglie right now, and just sees him as a younger brother.”

Frustrated, Yuan Jue said: “But Father, you just said…..”

The Crown Prince smiled: “In Xiting’s heart, you grew up under his watch. It can be said that no matter how you look now or how old you are, in his eyes, you are still the same little baby he saw when he first delivered you. So no matter how much you pester him, no matter how you pursue him and express your love to him, he will only feel awkward and uncomfortable.” 

The Crown Prince analyzed the dilemma Huo Fenglie was currently faced with. He knew that in his heart, Qing-ge had never treated him as a man and an equal.

That was why he had wanted to wait a little longer. But he also understood that with the age difference between them, there was almost no time left, which was why he was so impulsive that night.

When he saw Huo Fenglie’s eyes gradually darken with sadness and despair, the Crown Prince smiled and said: “If you can’t do without him, then find some way to change the status quo.”

“There’s a solution to this situation?” Yuan Jue asked in surprise.

“Of course there is.”

Huo Fenglie’s eyes immediately lit up, and he fixed his gaze on the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince said unhurriedly: “Leave the capital. Leave him.”

Huo Fenglie’s expression changed several times, and he couldn’t speak for a moment.

Yuan Jue quickly said: “Father, he doesn’t have feelings for him in the first place. If Fenglie leaves, won’t he have even less of a chance?”

The Crown Prince touched Yuan Jue’s head and said: “If he doesn’t leave, he will always be that child in Xiting’s eyes. For some things, there can be no construction without destruction. After a long while apart, the relationship between the two will naturally change. It will cause Xiting to no longer see him as the child he once was, so that the relationship between them can develop anew.”

The Crown Prince looked at Huo Fenglie and said: “But there is always a risk. Just like Jue’er said, there may be even less of a chance, or nothing may change. Fenglie, it all depends on your choice.”

An hour later, Huo Fenglie received a decree from the Crown Prince and took it back to the General’s Manor. The entire place was in chaos, and Huo Feihan was even called back from the barracks. He stared at Huo Fenglie kneeling in the ancestral hall with a look of shock.

Looking at Huo Fenglie’s straight back, and hearing the clamor of the other family members around him, he ultimately sighed and said: “Since the Crown Prince has given a decree, this is how it is. Fenglie will be going with us in three days.”

Huo Feihan turned and informed Uncle Tian about the situation. Uncle Tian was nervous. The situation in the west was not worth the two brothers of the Huo family going to war together. To put it bluntly, at least one seedling should be left behind. If both of them were to leave, the General’s Manor would be empty.

“Why is this happening, ah!” Uncle Tian pulled at his beard. “First Young Master, why not try to dissuade him, and call the Madam back to speak with him together? No, not her. He listens to Young Master Liu the most. I’ll go find him now. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also favors him. As long as Young Master Liu petitions him, he will definitely withdraw his decree and allow the Second Young Master to stay.”

Huo Feihan immediately grabbed Uncle Tian. Even though he wasn’t perceptive about things like this and didn’t know the specific reason, Huo Feihan also understood that his didi’s decision was probably because of Liu Zhenqing. And judging from his expression, there was no room for negotiation. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken the decree back without consulting them first.

Liu Zhenqing had also heard the news at this point, because while Li Xingruo was currently at his residence discussing the matter of their master coming to the capital, the servants of the General’s Manor rushed in to give her the news.

The two of them were stunned to hear this. Liu Zhenqing instantly stood up, his face pale.

Whether day or night, Liu Zhenqing had been in a state of anxiety these past days. His mind kept going over the events in the peach blossom grove, making him extremely flustered and nervous. He hadn’t wanted to hear any news about Huo Fenglie, but unexpectedly, the first bit of information he received shocked him to death.

“What is he going to do? Go to the battlefield? If he wants to become a military official, can’t he just take it slow? What is the point of directly receiving a military position? Huo-dage hasn’t even gone to battle yet. The world is so peaceful, and there are so many grown men. How can a young kid like him be given a chance to charge into battle!”

Li Xingruo was confused as well. She stood up and said: “Do you want to go back with me and inquire?”

Liu Zhenqing was about to agree, but then a thought occurred to him and his face darkened. “I’m going to see the Crown Prince!”

Having said this, he rushed to the East Palace. But the Crown Prince wasn’t there, and he was only able to catch Yuan Jue.

Yuan Jue understood the moment he saw Liu Zhenqing approaching. His expression was full of concealed thoughts: “I….I don’t know anything.”

Liu Zhenqing laughed coldly and said: “I haven’t had time to give the Crown Prince the few essays the young prince has written recently…..”

Yuan Jue sent him an aggrieved look: “Laoshi, why are you making things difficult for me?”

“Tell me what’s going on! Why did His Highness suddenly…..”

“Fenglie asked for it himself.”

Liu Zhenqing was stunned. He’d thought that the Crown Prince wanted to guide Huo Fenglie to become a military official early……and he almost laughed out of anger when he realized what was going on. He’d avoided Huo Fenglie, and now the kid was angry because of the rejection and wanted to avoid him? 

“He’s this angry with me? Who’s the one who deserves to be angry, ah?” Liu Zhenqing muttered in vexation.

Yuan Jue mumbled softly: “How could he dare be angry with you…..”

Liu Zhenqing glanced over at him.

Yuan Jue coughed: “He was troubled over you, and Father gave him an idea. He’s seeking an opportunity to…..”

Liu Zhenqing was momentarily baffled, but once his mind cleared, he understood Huo Fenglie’s intentions.

Liu Zhenqing’s lips trembled: “That fool, does he think that leaving will lead to a new beginning? What is he thinking!” After saying this, he turned and left the East Palace.

When he asked Huo Fenglie before whether he wanted to pursue the scholarly or martial arts, Huo Fenglie had said he wasn’t sure. And now, just because of a romantic opportunity, Huo Fenglie had chosen the martial path. This was so careless that it was simply crazy.

Liu Zhenqing rushed to the General’s Manor in a rage. Without taking time to join up with Huo Feihan and Li Xingruo, he hurried to Huo Fenglie’s courtyard under Uncle Tian’s instructions. But as soon as he stepped through the courtyard gate, he saw that the windows of the main room were wide open, and could see the screen concealing the bed.

What happened there that one day at noon instantly flooded Liu Zhenqing’s mind.

Liu Zhenqing momentarily paused, and his expression changed several times.

Uncle Tian called to him in confusion, and at that moment, Huo Feihan and Li Xingruo had heard news of his arrival and came over as well.

Just as Liu Zhenqing was about to speak, he suddenly turned around and looked as if he was going to leave the courtyard. 

“Zhenqing?” Huo Feihan called out.

Liu Zhenqing raised his head with a dry laugh, saying with an uncomfortable look on his face: “I was shocked when I first heard about it, but now I’m able to think about it calmly. Since he has chosen to become a military official, he will have to go to the battlefield sooner or later, and this is better than just listening to lectures at the Imperial Academy. Plus, he’ll be following you. It will be good for you to lead him into this minor conflict. There’s no reason to stop him from going.”

Huo Feihan actually thought the same, for which reason he had never considered asking Liu Zhenqing to dissuade Huo Fenglie. Although Huo Fenglie would listen to anything Liu Zhenqing said, how could their relationship develop this way?

After analyzing the situation with Li Xingruo, they understood the principle of destruction before construction. Huo Fenglie wanted to fight for hope, and they were unable to object.

But seeing Liu Zhenqing slowly lowering his eyes in frustration, Huo Feihan understood his reluctance and said: “It won’t take too long. Two years at most, and I’ll send him back.”

Liu Zhenqing forced himself to smile. He had no desire to talk anymore, and left the General’s Manor directly.

He knew that the Crown Prince had provided Huo Fenglie with a solution not only to help him, but for other reasons as well. It was because of this that he wouldn’t dissuade him. With their separation, perhaps Liu Zhenqing could successfully marry someone else, or Huo Fenglie might forget his improper affections after so much time apart. So no matter how he looked at it, this was the best choice for both him and Huo Fenglie.

But…..why was he so reluctant? He’d felt an emptiness in his heart the moment he heard the news, and had nearly lost control and gone to stop him.

It was likely because the four of them had always been together. With Huo Feihan and Li Xingruo gone, he would have still had Er-gou. But now Er-gou was going too, and his closest bonds in this world would be severed.

---

Consider donating via Kofi here!

(Alt Universe) Extra 19 << Table of Contents >> (Alt Universe) Extra 21